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Five Guys vs. Smashburger: Who’d You Rather?

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The voting is not over this week, you have one more ballot to cast.  Food Adventures asks ‘Who’d you Rather?’  This installment pits two fairly new burger chains against each other, Smashburger versus Five Guys Burgers and Fries.   Both eateries are popular casual dining spots, so this promises to be a tight race.  Please comment below on which one you would rather do, and why !

Here is the opinion of your Food Adventurers:

Hungry Jax’s Vote:  Smashburger

“I like Smashburger’s sandwiches better. I think the Smash fries at Smashburger are tasty.  No hanging chads on this ballot!”

The Big Ragu’s Vote:  Five Guys

“Five Guys burgers taste better and are more filling.  I think pound for pound, you get a better bang for your buck at Five Guys.  I like Smashburger, I just like Five Guys huge burgers better.”

Dearest Food Adventure Fans: Who’d you rather: FIVE GUYS or SMASHBURGER?  Do you like the gourmet options of Smashburger and their smash fries made with rosemary, garlic and olive oil?   Do you prefer the no frills double burgers at Five Guys and their fresh sliced fries made with peanut oil?  Let your voice be heard and comment below !

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The Best Diner You Never Heard of: George’s

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On North Dixie, there is a restaurant that you may not have heard about.  In fact, Food Adventures agrees, it has some of the best casual food in the Miami Valley.  This no frills diner is called George’s Family Restaurant.  We say no frills because they concentrate on what is really important, great food and great service.  There are so many exceptional things to eat at George’s that it’s tough to decide where to begin.  From grits to Greek food, this menu is not quite your typical diner.  What is typical here is tasty entrees.

Let’s start with one of their specialties, Broasted Chicken.  This trademark cooking process involves placing marinated and breaded chicken in a pressure cooker.  Broasting uses less oil than conventional deep frying.   The chicken comes out cooked perfectly, with a taste that will leave you smiling.  George’s Family Restaurant also offers something we had never seen before, Broasted Fish !  In fact, they have a fish fry every Friday featuring broasted pollock.  The dinner includes fries and coleslaw for just $8.99.  You can even get broasted potatoes instead of fries.  Sometimes, there is nothing better than a good fish fry for a Friday Food Adventure.

George’s has also built its reputation on their burgers.  Fresh, handmade patties cooked just the way you like them.  We tried an incredible creation called the  Inside Out Mushroom Swiss Burger which has the swiss cheese and mushroom packed inside the burger patty itself.  The result is a juicy, cheesy beautiful burger that made us want to hug the cook.

A family run restaurant with Greek roots, George’s stays close to their heritage.  They offer a few Greek menu items including a Hot Greek Plate which includes Gyro meat, grilled chicken, pork slouvaki, spinach pie, peppers, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, pita bread and tzatziki sauce.  On the recommendation of the waitress, we tried the homemade spinach pie.  What we received was a fluffy, flaky, large slice of heaven.  We felt like Apollo after one taste.

Are you a breakfast food fan?  George’s Family Restaurant serves breakfast all day.  The breakfast menu is extensive and served up hot and fast, which are words sometimes used to describe our tastebuds  Lots of diners were eating breakfast during our dinner stint.  One young foodie even held up his pancake for us to compare it to Big Ragu’s head.

The desserts at George’s are seasonal.  That is because they are homemade and vary upon what the kitchen is preparing that day.   The menu has so many good items from golden fried onion rings, to Mac-n-Cheese, and hand dipped shakes.  So many good eats, so little time.

Our trip to George’s is yet another example of  why we seek Food Adventures.  It has all the hallmarks like family owned, relatively undiscovered, and unique, delicious food.  Even the waitresses were amazing.  Many of them had worked there for years, and were very accommodating.  So we ask our fellow foodies, do you want some fantastic diner style food? By George’s, you got it !

George’s Family Restaurant is located at  5216 N. Dixie Drive, you can take  exit 57  Wagner Ford Road off I 75, turn left on Wagner Ford and right on Dixie and the diner will be on the right.

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Lots to See at Blind Bob’s

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The Italian Burger

Tucked into the Oregon District is a pub with personality called Blind Bob’s.  Cheap drink specials and a unique spin on food has locals becoming loyal regulars.  The Big Ragu first heard of Blind Bob’s through word of mouth, all of which was good.   We were lucky to visit the eatery for a DaytonMostMetro.com Happy Hour event in late summer.   On our next Food Adventure to Blind Bob’s, we ate dinner with Heater from the Dayton Dragon’s.  You never know who or what you are going to see at Blind Bob’s.

You want unique?  How about a cream of pickle soup that is one of their most popular items?  It is sweet, creamy and will leave you wanting more.  Also addicting is the Hummus and Pita Chips appetizer.  You can’t go wrong with homemade pita chips and creamy hummus.

Pickle Soup – This is a must eat !

Blind Bob’s burgers are top notch, with specialty choices like the Italian Burger which is a  half-pound patty, stuffed with provolone, basil, and green peppers. It is then topped with marinara and caramelized onions.  Is your mouth watering yet?  The burger was juicy and the toppings were amazing.  Another specialty sandwich we would highly recommend is the Crabby Patty which includes a handmade crabcake on a bun.  It is topped with sauteed onions, peppers, and provolone cheese, smothered in herbed aioli.  It will have your taste buds rocking and rolling.

Other great menu items worth a try are the Ultimate Falafel Wrap and the Grilled Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich.  Actually, they call the choices “sammiches” on the menu.  You know it tastes good with a name like sammich.  We were pleasantly surprised and “blindsided” by the superb menu that quenched our Food Adventure appetite.

Just a buck on Monday nights – Mickey’s 16oz

Drink specials?.. Yeah they have those.  Everyday prices are $2 Miller High Life and $1.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers.  On Monday’s the Mickey’s 16 ounce cans are only a buck!  Happy Hour at Blind Bob’s means $2.50 well drinks and 75 cents off all bourbon.  They have an eclectic selection of a few drafts, one of which Big Ragu loved called Leinenkugel’s  Lemon Berry Shandy.  It was refreshing and fruity, so The Big Ragu checked his man card at the door and ordered another.  We also enjoyed a bottle of “Hop Baron.”

But there is more to see at Blind Bob’s.  Their website calendar is packed with trivia nights, karaoke, open mic nights and live bands.   The historic building lends itself to the charismatic appeal of this locally owned eatery.   Blind Bob’s is definitely a great place to grab dinner and an adult beverage.  With a fun atmosphere inside and the Oregon District right outside, this place is a blast.  So, next time you are wanting something different for a bite and a drink, ask yourself: “What about Bob’s?”

Have you been to Blind Bob’s?  Please comment below and tell us what you thought of this Dayton pub. 

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Food Adventure to Benjamin’s the Burger Master

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The namesake of Benjamin’s the Burger Master

Who is the master of making burgers and other things in Dayton?  The answer is Benjamin’s the Burger Master on North Main Street in Dayton.  This unique restaurant is in old building that used to be a “Red Barn” in the 1970’s.  The menu not only has burgers, but they have some Southern, soul food offerings.  The Big Ragu loves to stop in for lunch and it is worth fighting the busy crowd for a taste of some good home cooking.

Skillet Cornbread

The burgers are nice and juicy and never frozen.  They are hand pressed, made to order, and the meat melts in your mouth.  However, many people are finding out that Benjamin’s the Burger Master offers incredible southern cooking that is just as good, if not better than their burgers!   Want authentic  soul food?  They have perfectly cooked Southern fried chicken and skillet cornbread.  Other sides like fried okra, white beans and collared greens put the exclamation point on a great lunch or dinner.

Southern Fried Chicken Dinner, 2 sides and cornbread

The homemade menu does not stop there.  Benjamin’s the Burger Master offers a Fried Fish Platter every Friday.   They also sell BBQ Beef Ribs everyday by the rack or by the bone, in either sweet, spicy, or smoky sauce.  How is that for Southern cooking?  The meals are very reasonably priced, which keeps us coming back for more.

Benjamin’s the Burger Master is another Dayton Food Adventure opportunity, that cannot be missed.  Eateries like this is why our blog exists.  We love informing foodies about locally owned places, that they may not know about.   Get to Benjamin’s the Burger Master for some good grub on North Main Street.  Now you know, they have mastered more than the burger!

Please leave a comment below if you have been to Benjamin’s the Burger Master !

Food Adventures has a Facebook page here, so “like” us !!

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Food Adventures Get Lucky at Dunaway’s Beef and Ale

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Summer Shandy and a Brooklyn Lager

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, Dunaway’s Beef and Ale in Troy, Ohio is gearing up for their annual event.   With huge crowds and outdoor tents, Dunaway’s  hosts one of the biggest St. Patty’s Day parties in the Dayton area.   Big Ragu and the Food Adventures Crew visited the pub recently and was impressed with the menu and drink offerings.  Since 1991 owners Brenda and Sandy have offered good food and spirits to the Troy faithful.   Known for their roast beef, the friendly staff is always eager to share the daily specials and 11 draft beer choices.  Dunaway’s is a mom and pop place.  It is in an old house facing main street, and is big on personality.

We were seated at our table and promptly ordered a couple of pints.  The Big Ragu grabbed a Brooklyn Lager, which is brewed in Utica, NY, then we went for a Wisconsin favorite, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy.   We decided to order some cheese and crackers to match our beers.   We grabbed a jalapeno stuffed hot pretzel, because pretzels go well with beer.. right??

Our favorite appetizer of the day was the peel and eat shrimp.  The shrimp were like our own personal pot of leprechaun gold at the end of the rainbow.  Served cold and with Cajun spice on the shells, they were downright addicting and to die for.  The fresh shrimp sparked our taste buds, and paved the way to try some more specialties.

Dunaway’s Pastrami Sandwich

Dunaway’s menu is heavy on sandwiches and pizza.  We ordered an incredible looking pastrami sandwich which was enormous!  This huge, flavorful sandwich was pure heaven.  The Big Ragu ordered a burger with everything on it.  Plenty of toppings adorned the perfectly cooked hamburger, which was more than a handful.

Your Food Adventurers sampled other items like fish, and the very tasty pizza.  The pizza sauce has just the right amount of kick and will satisfy your cravings for a decent pie.  One special item offered on the menu is the “Garbage Truck Pizza.”  This pizza is loaded with toppings including fresh mushrooms, garlic, onions, tomatoes, sausage, pepperoni, ham, meatballs, black olives, green olives, ricotta cheese, banana peppers, and you can request jalapenos!  How is that for a deluxe pizza?

Another menu item worth mentioning is their “6-Pound Sandy-wich.”   They tout this challenge as “1 person, 45 minutes to eat it and it is free.”  This mountain of a sandwich is filled with beef, ham, turkey, corned beef, pastrami, cole slaw, American cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, horseradish and fries.  It is probably easier to find a 4 leaf clover than beat this monster.

The Hamburger at Dunaways

Dunaway’s  also offers soups, salads and has a full catering service for your next party.  They pride themselves on using local meat markets and vegetable farms including Caven’s Meats, Bowman Landis, Fulton Farms, and Troy Meat Shop.

This place has everything you need for a fun, casual dining spot.  Locally owned, with good food, good drink in a unique atmosphere, it is everything we look for in a Food Adventure.  Just a couple of minutes off of Interstate 75 in Troy, put this place on your radar for good eats.  Don’t forget to grab a pint and toast to St Patty’s day, no matter what day it is!

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Have you been to Dunaway’s Beef and Ale?  Please comment below!

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Get a Fresh Food Adventure at Voltzy’s

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Upon entering Voltzy’s Rootbeer Stand, we heard a gruff voice say “Where the Hell you been?”  We said you must have us confused with someone else, this is our first time here.  Voltzy himself looked at us and said.. “I know! I have been here for 21 years waiting for you, where the hell have you been?”  It is fresh service like this and fresh hamburgers that have made Voltzy’s a Dayton original, and the owner a local icon.  His “shtick” for a good natured ribbing of his new customers is part of the whole experience.  But make no mistake, people come here for the food, and you arent around 21 years in the restaurant business if you dont deliver on taste. Click here to see a video of Voltzy asking where you have been.

Voltzy at the Grill

Located at 4668 Springboro Pike in Moraine,  Voltzy’s has been serving up their special hamburgers that are ground fresh every day, so their hamburger meat is never frozen.  He uses 80/20 chuck and it is just the right combo for a juicy mouthful.  All sandwiches are cooked to order.  He also steams the onions on the flat top grill with his burgers.  Oh but dear fellow foodies, you must know this, Voltzy’s has more than burgers.  His menu is extensive and unique, with many sandwiches, sausages, and hot dog creations named after special people in his life.    They even have a 17 pound hamburger on the menu called the “Bill Clinton Divorce Finale” at the great price of just $40.

In the wintertime, Voltzy prepares soups from scratch for his hungry customers who want to warm up.  Customers like them so much that last winter he sold 900 gallons of soup!  While we were visiting the restaurant, two customers ordered a gallon of the stuff! Being soup connoisseurs, we were very impressed with Voltzy’s homemade creation of “Cream of Vandalia Onion Soup.”  Yes, that spelling by Voltzy is done on purpose as a shout out to the Dayton suburb.  We also loved Voltzy’s homemade  Cream of Potato Soup, and some would tell you his favorite menu items at Voltzy’s are the soups.

Voltzys Burgers are #1

The Big Ragu loves Voltzy’s fresh burgers like “The Murph” which is a double cheeseburger with onions and peppers.  We also thought the Patty Melt was incredible.  Your Food Adventurers had a couple of Root Beers too, which were some of the best we have ever tasted.  Want Value? then try Voltzy’s “10 burgers for 10 bucks deal,” which could feed 2 or 3 people… or one Ragu.

During the summer, Voltzy drops the soups and features “Slaw Dogs,” which are said to be out of this world.  Voltzy told Ragu, “Wait til you try the slaw dogs, I’m gonna feed you till you explode.”  Aww that’s sweet, and would be a Food Adventure first.

Voltzy’s is a unique place, and was a perfect stop on our list of Food Adventures.  In fact, we had to come back twice to try more menu items.  We sampled the burgers and even tried a wrap called the “Fazio” that had sausage, ham, peppers, onions, cheese and 2 fried eggs.  This wrap was huge, and trying to finish it was a Food Adventure in itself.  Other interesting food items were the fried mac n cheese, deep fried pickles, and the philly cheesesteak.  We also saw some nice looking coney dogs leaving the kitchen.

Voltzy making his Cabbage Roll Soup

Like the owner,  Ft. Wayne Indiana native Rick Volz, Voltzy’s Restaurant has personality.  They are proud of their menu and even proud that they have a bathroom at the new facility.  The restaurant is literally a lobby and an outside patio that they have enclosed.  We love the place and when we sat down with Voltzy, we saw that he is a good, hard working, regular guy.

Want some tips about Voltzy’s? Make sure you bring cash because they do not take credit cards!  Voltzy’s can get busy, so we recommend that you call ahead with your order.  Please remember Voltzy’s hours of operation are Monday -Saturday from 11am – 2pm.

Big tastes come out of this small kitchen, which in the future hopes to open up a covered car-port and extend their hours.  Get yourself to Voltzy’s in  Moraine, and when you come in, prepare to hear some of Voltzy’s unique humor.  Do not be surprised if he asks “Where the hell have you been?”  Tell him you were reading about him on Food Advetures, Dayton’s favorite food blog on DaytonMostMetro.com!

 

 

Please leave comments and thoughts about Voltzy’s below.

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