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Bourbon chicken

Bourbon Street Cafe: Oooh, That Chicken….

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Bourbon Chicken – Their signature dish and main draw

Bourbon Street is again on Brown Street, and has been for a while.  The Bourbon Street Grill and Cafe is in a no frills dining room where the line can get long, but it goes fast.  From UD Students, to locals, people come from all over.  Whether for a work lunch, or taking dinner home, people are getting wise to this place.  Why? It is simple – GOOD FOOD, GOOD VALUE!  And …. oooooh that chicken, …. people go crazy over it !

This place is EXACTLY what Food Adventures is about… a locally owned spot where practically everything on the menu is a winner.  We should know it, because in the 6 or 7 times we have visited, Bourbon Street Grill & Cafe, we have tried practically every menu item.  And that’s what sets our blog apart.

Located at 1043 Brown Street

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on BOURBON STREET GRILL & CAFE:

— Located at 1043 Brown St. in Dayton, they are open everyday from 11am-9pm, except Sundays when they are closed.

— Owned by Hassan Abdalla, who moved to Dayton as young adult from the Middle East.  He always had the dream of being a pilot.  His father passed away unexpectedly, forever prolonging that dream and Hassan found himself working in kitchens to make ends meet.  He worked himself up

Blackened Salmon over Corn and Potatoes

to high end restaurants, like L’Auberge.  He then decided to open his own business, for years doing catering and festivals.  He opened a restaurant on W Second Street, then took an opportunity on a new location on Brown Street.

— They still cater and make several festival appearances during the year.

— Note that their chicken is grilled thigh meat, that is pulled and finished on the flat grill and cubed.  The result is a one of a kind, almost melt in your mouth taste.

— Helpful and hard working staff, always busting their butts to fill orders.

We first were exposed to these guys at festivals, and after eating their food at Big Brews and Blues, then Garlic Fest, we have been hitting the brick and mortar location regularly.  Over time, the Food Adventure Crew has developed a list of Bourbon Street Grill and Cafe’s absolute best dishes.  Or as we call them, our patented “Must Eats.”

Spicy Chicken over White Rice

 

MUST EATS at BOURBON STREET GRILL & CAFE:

— BOURBON CHICKEN:  The signature dish.  The mother ship on a plate.  We suggest white rice or spicy rice with this, although many enjoy lo mein noodles or steamed vegetables as a side.  When they serve this chicken, they scoop it up, then get another scoop of sauce and drizzle it over top.  We drool every time.

Sides served right out of the piping hot steamers

— BLACKENED SALMON:  Cajun spices dust the pan seared salmon filet.  Again we suggest it over rice, but there are so many choices from beans to corn to potatoes, the sky is the limit.  But the Salmon… holy cow is it good.

— SPICY CHICKEN:  This is the Big Ragu’s favorite dish.  He sweated in the summer heat and got lit up at a couple of festivals but it was worth it.  He likes the spicy chicken poured over white rice, to cool down some of the heat.  But choose whatever side you want.

Havent had cornbread this good since Burbanks

— CORNBREAD: An incredible throwback to southern style cornbread.  One slight problem, they do not have butter on site.  So if you are eating in, byob – “bring your own butter.”  We could eat a brownie pan of this stuff.

— THE CHEESEBURGER: A 1/3 pound burger patty loaded on a sturdy bun with all the fixins.  They top it off right.  A delicious mix of flavors, napkins recommended for this one.

Honorable Mention:  — The PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH is a nice surprise (get extra mayo).  Also, the BLACKENED SEA BASS is delicious.

Even their Burger surprised us

From salads to beans, to edible fried tortilla bowl options, you have an open canvas.  With so many good entrees and sides to choose from, you can get lost in their menu.  One thing you wont lose, is a lot of money, because the menu is a great value.

Now you know about this stellar place on Brown Street.  Go check out Bourbon Street Grill & Cafe and make your own combinations.  It is a great place, with an incredible owners story behind it. A story of hard work and perserverence.

Make sure you browse the photos below in our picture gallery.  Our food pics are incomparable.

Remember, we are not food critics, we are 3 people with a passion for food.  Follow Food Adventures on our Facebook Page by clicking HERE.  It is a foodie’s paradise.  Also, catch our upcoming appearances on DaytonFoodies.com since 2008.

Philly cheesesteak

Lo Mein Noodles Option

The staff is one of the hardest working in town

Corn and Blackened Salmon

Menu

The Gyro

Spicy chicken and rice

Grilling Chicken

Dining Room

Potato side with salmon

Tilapia – edible bowl

20 Reasons to Hit Friday’s Sons of Italy Food Truck Rally

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Zombie Dogz will debut 2 new dog flavors!

This FRIDAY July 15th, at 5pm, 18 local food trucks will descend on the Bella Villa Hall on County Line Rd, around the corner from the Greene.  If you have been to the Italian Fall Festival, then you are familiar with this venue. But Friday showcases different activities and outside vendors.  It promises to be a fun filled, family friendly event and a wonderful evening.

Dont miss this chance for an incredible FOOD ADVENTURE !

Spicy Chicken with White rice from Bourbon Street Grill – a MUST EAT

HERE ARE 20 REASON’S to COME TO THE FOOD TRUCK RALLY at SONS of ITALY’S BELLA VILLA HALL in Beavercreek/Kettering

1 ~ ZOMBIE DOGZ WILL INTRODUCE TWO NEW DOG FLAVORS:
Garlic inspired for sure, the flavors are super secret and are being finalized as you read this.  No one is telling, not even the zombies!

 

2 ~ THE HOLY CANNOLI:
A deep fried cannoli made at the Sons of Italy booth.  It is a gooey, creamy walk down dream street.  So rich and wonderful, it is like a religious experience.

 

The Garlic Mohawk Burger

3 ~ BELLA SORELLA’S “BIG FELLA” PEPPERONI PIZZA:
Have you tried their hand made dough, stone baked pizza?  Fresh ingredients and that good Italian flavor, makes this a MUST EAT at Garlic Fest Weekend !

 

4 ~ THE “SPICY CHICKEN WITH WHITE RICE”  from BOURBON STREET GRILL: Be prepared to launch your tastebuds to the moon on this one.  A perfect, not too spicy blend of shredded chicken and sauce, poured over white rice.  So addicting you will want seconds.  Warning! – you will crave this stuff the next week, and we are not responsible.

Fresh Pizza from Bella Sorella Pizza Co.

 

5 ~ BEER TRUCKS and INCREDIBLE FOOD VARIETY IN ONE PLACE:
Beer trucks? YES !  18 food vendors with various menus?  This will give you over 100 food choices.  Hello foodies, you have found your paradise… GarlicFest weekend be thy name !

 

Jimmie’s Ladder 11 Streatery is bringing Garlic Roast Beef with Horseradish Aoli and more

6 ~ “THE ONION STRAW BURGER” from THE HORSELESS BUGGY EATERY:  
One of the best burgers in Dayton, hands down. A pile of crunchy onion straws, on a thick, juicy fresh burger.  Awww man give us one now to sink our teeth into.

 

Peanut Butter Cupcake from Go Cupcake

7 ~ “THE WICKED SWEET BREAD” from THE WICKED WICH’ of DAYTON FOOD TRUCK:
Sweet, cinnamon sprinkled bread, with a sweet drizzled icing.  It makes for a buttery, cinnamon taste and a match made in heaven.  So simple, so good ….

 

8 ~ “THE KIWI/ BLUEBERRY / COCONUT” ICE POP from SWEET P’S:
On a warm July evening, nothing says refresh me like a hand crafted ice pop from local vendor, Sweet P !  This combo is in the “cool me down” hall of fame !

 

Ritter’s sundae’s will cool you down at a Summer rally

9 ~ “GARLIC INFUSED CRAB MACARONI n CHEESE” from PA’s PORK:  
New Item! King Crab, macaroni, cheese and Italian Parsely on top.  Take a bite then slap yourself to get that silly look off your face.  Oh, it’s that damn good…

 

10 ~ QUESADILLAS at THE PAINTED PEPPER FOOD TRUCK:
Juicy, flavorful and loaded, these quesadillas are fantastic food on the go.  The Texas Caviar chicken quesadilla is a fave… but so are the wings and corncakes…so many MUST EATS, so little time.  It is hard to nail down just one item from this great truck.

 

11 ~ BOCCE BASH TOURNAMENT:  

Bocce Bash for beginners – sign up NOW !

5:30pm starts the 1st ever “BOCCE BASH” for beginners.  The cost is $10 per person and you need 4 to a team.  Sign up immediately by clicking here.  Winner gets $200 !

 

12 ~ “THE MAC n CHEESE CROQUETTES” from HUNGER PAYNES:  
Mac & Cheese Croquettes with Garlic, Smoked Gouda, Cheddar, Green Onions, and Garlic Sour Cream Sauce.   Flavored croquettes, are the scrumptuous staple that launched their food truck.  You gotta try these.  We are excited for more great eats from Andy and his crew.

 

White Hots and Red Hots from Kowalski Hots

13 ~ “THE PEANUT BUTTER CUP CUPCAKE” from GO CUPCAKE:
Rich and chocolatey.  What else goes better together?  Indulge in one of the best sweet treats at the rally. One of those bites that you have to sit down and just take in all the flavor.

 

14 ~ “GRILLED RED HOTS or WHITES HOTS with GARLIC SAUCE” from KOWALSKI’S HOTS: 

COLD BEER HERE !

Remember hot isn’t spicy – it is short for Hot Dog in this case.  And these casings are authentic hot dog brands only found in upstate New York.  Zweigels and Hoffmans are just two of the brands he offers.

 


15 ~ “THE DISTINGUISHED DARBY” from CHEEKY MEAT PIES:  
Steamy ground beef goodness, with cheese stuffed into a delicate pie crust.  So delicious and unique, this is one of our favorite food truck items.

16 ~ EMPANADAS from EL MESON:  
They have so much good food to offer it is hard to pick just one.  The empanadas are a great pocket of flavor on the go at a rally.  Their cornbread pattie style Arepas are also tremendous.

 

17 ~ “THE ROAST BEEF PO’BOY” from JIMMIE’S LADDER 11 STREATERY:

Pa’s Pork will be pulling some bones

Oh boy, this might be the mother of all sandwiches at the rally.  Roast Beef on a bun served with lettuce, tomato and a horseradish aoli, this promises to be a huge hit while they last!

 

18 ~ “THE STREET STYLE CHICKEN GYRO” from GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK:  
A one of a kind gyro with pickled onions and a one of a kind tzatziki sauce.  We cannot reiterate enough that you must get the chicken gyro and get it “street style.”  The “shrimp gyros street style” are a lighter take on a great thing. Opa!

 

Chicken on a spindle at Greek Street Food Truck

19 ~ “THE TURTLE SUNDAE” from RITTERS FROZEN CUSTARD:  
Hot fudge, caramel and toasted pecans with vanilla custard adorn this sundae.  Just sinful, and yummy.  Turn out the lights and call the law, we dont care if we ever get well!

 

20 ~ “THE GARLIC MOHAWK BURGER” from MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL:  
It is a massive creation from our pal chef Aaron who does it all to the max.  Get a napkin, because it is a delicious, “goodness drippin on the chin” kinda time.  It is a rowdy Food Adventure on a bun.

 

There you have it, take a bow if you can eat all of the above items in a night.  We have a feeling  you might need some help, so bring your friends out and share some bites.  That’s

Hunger Payne’s Mac n Cheese Croquettes

what a fun food truck rally is all about!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON HOW TO GO:

— WHEN:  JULY 15th from 5pm til 9pm

— WHERE:  2625 COUNTY LINE RD, BEAVERCREEK, OHIO at the BELLA VILLA HALL

Onion Straw Burger from Horseless Buggy

— WHAT:  One of Dayton’s biggest FOOD TRUCK RALLIES EVER!  18 vendors!

— WHAT ELSE: FREE ADMISSION! BEER TRUCKS!  LIVE ACOUSTIC BAND !  CRAFTS!  KIDS STUFF!

Bring a lawnchair to sit and relax all night !  There is plenty of eats to go around!  Join Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu for a night of Food Adventure fantasies.

Get restaurant info, original food pictures and Miami Valley Must Eats, by “liking” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here.

 

 

 

Sweet P’s Handmade Ice Pops

El Mesons Empanadas

Garlic Roast Beef Sub from Jimmies Ladder 11 Streatery

A Cheeky Meat Pie

Holy Cannoli – deep fried !

Texas Caviar Chicken Quesadilla from Painted Pepper Food Truck

Wicked Bread from Wicked Wich’ of Dayton Food Truck

THIS FRIDAY 5pm – 9pm

A Chicken Gyro – Street Style – from Greek Street Food Truck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al’s Smokehouse: Ribs at 4am? YES !!! **$20 Gift Certificate Contest**

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Ribs that make you say “DAMN!”

You’re tipsy.  You are out late with your friends at the Oregon District or downtown, and you need  some food.  Well, Al’s Smokehouse and Cafe is the word on East Third.   Open until 5am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, it is the perfect spot to satisfy your late night hunger pains.   This little known Dayton secret serves up tasty, soulful selections from Ribs to Burgers at incredibly cheap prices.   Located  at 140 E. Third St, Al’s Smokehouse is also a great place to catch a quick lunch.  A Food Adventure is in order here ANY time.

Owner Al Shamburg learned cooking from his father who was from Treasure Island, Jamaica.   Al honed his culinary and catering skills over the past 20 years, building quite a reputation in Dayton and Springfield for incredible tasting food.  Through the years, this self-made-man worked hard to buy his equipment and finally open his own restaurant.  He has hired a great staff like his sister Stephanie, and head cook Tyrone, who worked in Dominic’s kitchen for 17 years.  The result is a delicious, affordable menu, with consistent quality.

 

HERE’s THE SKINNY:

Owner Al Shamburg & Head Cook, Tyrone

— Al’s Smokehouse Menu features fantastic BBQ, and delicious soul food like bourbon chicken and collared greens

— Open LATE on weekends til 5am for all you fellow Food Adventurers

— Breakfast served ALL DAY

— Prices so cheap, you won’t believe your eyes

— Friendly servers, veteran cooking staff and a no frills, casual atmosphere

MUST EATS:

— Banana Pudding: We are going to start with a homemade dessert that knocked our socks off.   Deliciously sinful, this is the real deal.  No canned stuff here!  Don’t expect us to share !

— The Smoked Pork Chop – Smoked and drizzled with secret marinades, it is almost like a steak.   The Big Ragu says this is the best pork chop he has ever tasted.

— The Ribs:  They are smoked for 8 hours, they are brushed with a signature bbq sauce.  Meaty and moist, they pack a wallop of flavor and the namesake of this restaurant.  Only problem is, they are so good that sometimes, they sell out!

“The Shamburger” – hand made, fresh patty

— “The Shamburger”: Hand packed and never frozen, the juicy burgers are good deal at 4 bucks.  Want to go full out?  Get the “Cry Baby” which is the Shamburger with a fried egg and cheese.

— Baked Mac n Cheese: Homemade and so good you will flip. Somebody in the kitchen knows what they are doing at Al’s Smokehouse!

— The Wings: Big and juicy, but the secret is in the tangy sauce.  Get the BBQ wings and be ready to lick your fingers.  You can try the other sauces later, like Jamaica Jerk or OMG Hot wings.  On Monday night the 50 cent wing deal is a steal !

— The Shrimp Cheesesteak: A seafood version of the famous sandwich.  Resembling a Shrimp Po’ boy, it is one heck of a sub.  Delicious!

Honorable Mention:  The Pulled Pork Sandwich is a solid choice.  Also,  we like the homemade Greens for an authentic soul food side.  Want to know a secret?  Al’s has a killer Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, and it isn’t even on the menu.  Ask for it by special request.

Food Adventures has found yet another unique spot for good food at reasonable prices .   We are serious eaters. We don’t do a “drive-by” one time visit to a restaurant and then write our articles.  Instead, we visit a place multiple times before it is worthy of a  Food Adventures share on Dayton Most Metro.   Al’s Smokehouse in no exception.  We have eaten almost everything on their menu.   From the Fish and Grits to the Pancakes and Home Fries.  The popular Bourbon Chicken has a honey and spice flavor with hint of Jerk seasoning.  You get a slight touch of Al’s Jamaican roots with this dish.   Al explained to us that his Bourbon Chicken is made with ‘small hen meat.’  He feels they taste superior to regular chickens.

Who else in Dayton makes Fish and Grits???

The story of this restaurant is simply a hard working family, who is putting their heart into this locally owned eatery.  So what are you waiting for?  If you are anywhere near downtown, or want a casual trip to the city for some grub, check out Al’s Smokehouse.  It isn’t fancy, just some tables and chairs.   But the FOOD.. aw the FOOD.. is some great decor, for the stomach!

Want to see more of Food Adventures?  “Like” them HERE on Facebook !

 

Who wants a $20 Gift Certificate to Al’s Smokehouse?  One lucky fan who comments below will be chosen at random.  Please tell us your comments about Al’s Smokehouse, below!  Let us know why you love Al’s, why you would like to try Al’s, or why you want that gift certificate ???  GOOD LUCK !!

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