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chicago gyros and dogs

The Best Italian Beef Sandwich in Town!

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As many of you all might know, I have often craved a classic Italian Beef sandwich like I used to get back home in Chicago at places like Al’s #1 Italian Beef  or Portillo’s Italian Beef.  Perfectly spiced roasted beef, slow-cooked to tender perfection served on a Turano orgnella French rolls, topped with giardiniera and  served with au jus for dipping.  For those not in the know, Chicago-Style Hot Giardiniera is an amazing condiment used to add an explosive burst of flavor to some of their famous dishes like Italian Beef Sandwiches and deep dish pizza.  Loaded with finely chopped veggies, spicy peppers, olives, oil, and oregano, this flavorful addition will quickly earn a spot on your condiment shelf.

Here’s where we’ve found Italian Beef sandwiches in the Miami Valley:

Giovanni’s in Fairborn makes a pretty good one,  Served warm on soft bread with lots of meat, and the dipping juice is on point!

Home Sweet Home in Englewood has their spin. Sliced Beef, with Giardiniera, Provolone Cheese. Served with Au Jus. and it comes with a side! Haven’t tried it, but it’s on the list.
Many people around town have recommend Chicago Gyros and Dogs Beavercreek.  According to their menu they serve up Chicago style beef in Au Jus with sauteed green peppers and onions on a Gonnella roll.  But when I went it was served on a hoagie roll, which just doesn’t hold up for the dipping. But they do get props for the hand cut fries.
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Jasper Kitchen + Bar in Xenia has a sandwich they call “The RBF” on the menu, they describe as roast beef topped with melted provolone, giardiniera and dusted with parmesan on a hoagie roll, that is on my “to eat” list. 

 

I finally found one that lives up to my memories!

Had one at Tony & Pete’s in the Fireblocks downtown last week and all I can say is Wow! My fellow foodie Bryan Suddith went on my recommendation yesterday and here’s what he had to say: “This may have been the best sandwich I’ve ever had in Dayton. I said what I said. The Italian beef from Tony and Pete’s was as near a perfect sandwich as I’ve had in our fair city. And I’ve had a few. Don’t ask. I did drink the au jus like a fine soup after my sandwich was finished. Without shame.”

Extreme Eats at Chicago Gyros & Dogs

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The Italian Beef Sandwich and Bacon Fries

We found a spot for a true Food Adventure.  It is an eatery which gained some fame on Wilmington Ave, then moved to a shopping strip on Indian Ripple Rd, not far from the Greene.  Chicago Gyros and Dogs is bustling and people coming in and out for carry outs, or to dine in, means they are doing something right. Their wacky menu features all types of one-of-a-kind sandwiches.

Let’s learn about this eatery with the extreme menu, that brings hungry Daytonians back for more.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on CHICAGO GYROS AND DOGS:

This is “The Dougie” – it needs extra cheese to make it perfect

 

— Owned by a father and son, this local business has two locations:
3979 Indian Ripple Rd, Beavercreek  and
201 W McMillan St, Cincinnati near the campus of University of Cincinnati.

— Hours of the Beavercreek location are:
Monday – Saturday: 11am – 9pm
Sundays : 11am – 6pm

“The Fedyk “- A dog covered with chili , cheese and fries

— Menu features various takes on Gyros, Vienna Beef Hot Dogs, Burgers, and Fries.  The menu has options and add-ons that let you create your own monster sandwich.

— The biggest tip is to take advantage of their incredible lunch specials from 11am-2pm. You can save from 2 to 5 bucks with upgrades and more.  Each day has a different deal, check the chalk board near the counter for specials and deals.

 

We scoured the menu and have been there a half-dozen times.  We still have a couple of items to try, but we definitely have the feel for the menu enough to give you our patented “must eats.”

The Nasty Nati – 2 burgers, gyro meat,bacon, jalapenos and 2 kinds of cheese and more

 

“MUST EATS” at CHICAGO GYROS and DOGS:

— “THE DOUGIE” with EXTRA CHEESE:
This is a grilled cheese sandwich with gyro meat in it as well.  The regular menu item comes with one slice of cheese which just isn’t enough.  Make sure you order this deliciously toasted bread sandwich with extra cheese.  It makes all he difference.  Add some Tzatziki sauce and you are right where you wanna be.

 

— “THE FEDYK”:
Named after University of Dayton Football 2005 offensive lineman Dan Fedyk.  It’s a hot dog with mustard, onions, chili, cheese, fries and cole slaw.  This was our favorite dog on the menu.  It takes two hands to eat, and can quickly turn sloppy.

 

The Chicken Philly Gyro

— THE NASTY NATI:
This is the monster of the menu.  Instead of buns, it is served between two regular sized pitas.  It starts with two beef patties with provolone cheese, topped with gyro meat and Bacon.  Next it drizzled with nacho cheese and sprinkled with jalapenos and grilled onions.  It is then covered with Tzatziki sauce.  This sandwich is work of art and is a 10 napkin minimum.  This thing is so big , 2 people could share it.  This menu item defines the word “Food Adventure.”  Not for the squeamish, no rules here.

 

—THE CHICKEN PHILLY GYRO with EXTRA TZATZIKI SAUCE:
A huge heaping pita with grilled, diced chicken breast.  It is filled with Onions, Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Provolone & Mayo.  Add some extra tzatziki sauce and request that they grill the onions too.  This is a huge sandwich and very filling.  All of the menu sandwiches are large, so it is par for the course.

The Gyro Sandwich – hidden below are tomatoes

 

— THE REGULAR GYRO:
The basic Gyro sandwich is great.  It is stuffed with meat and is like what you get at the Dayton Greek fest, but about 4 times the meat inside.  It also has a lot of onions on it and a couple of tomatoes.  We prefer to ask that they grill the onions.  Just a tip, to lessen the sharpness of that raw onion that some people love.

The Dayton Dog is covered in fries

—  THE DAYTON DOG:
This is a Vienna Beef Hot Dog on a poppy-seed bakery bun, with Mustard, Relish, Onions, Sport Peppers, Fries.  The sports peppers are hot and will sneak up on you.  It is a delicious dog, paying homage to the Gem city, with a little heat!

 

— THE CHICAGO DOG:
We again start with the poppy-seed bun and a Vienna hot dog.  Those hot dogs pop when you bite into them.  They have a little “snap.” It is topped with Mustard, Relish, Onions, Sport Peppers, Tomato, Dill Pickle, Celery Salt.  This is probably their signature dog. Again, watch those sports peppers, they will light you up!  So delicious, that you will crave them later.

The Chicago Dog

 

— THE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH:
This is not the Italian beef you are used to having.  This one has more onions and green peppers, making he dip into the au jus tricky.  This sandwich is loaded with toppings.  It is a huge meal in itself, and if you want more beef, less toppings, the more traditional order would be the Italian Beef with no, or light onions and green peppers.

 

—“CARDIAC” FRIES:
Oh, dare to indulge on this one.  These fries are topped with a scoop of Bob Evans sausage gravy and  covered in shredded cheese.  Get a fork, and go to town.  These were absolutely delicious, and our tip here is to ask for extra gravy.  Yeah .. we said it .

 

Cardiac Fries

The key here is that there are a lot of choices, so building or choosing a sandwich is easy.  The problem is picking which one or 2 to try, because you can have many favorites on this menu.  Chicago Gyro and Dogs has a lot to offer and the prices are very affordable.  The staff at the  Indian Ripple location are knowledgeable and friendly.

Although this place does have a decent cult following, and seems to do a brisk business, many people have yet to visit this establishment.  Check it out, as summer is a perfect time for Dogs and Gyros !

Thank you for reading this week’s article.  We have a Food Adventure feature article right here, each and every week on Dayton Most Metro.  For even more Food Adventures, like us on Facebook and discover why we are Dayton’s favorite food blog since 2008.

Chicago Dog

Bacon Fries and Italian Beef

“The Dougie”

Regular Gyro

Old location on Wilmington Ave

They have a Food Truck !

The Nasty Nati is served like this- you have to assemble it

Lunch Specials

Nasty Nati cut in half

Store Front on Indian Ripple Rd in Beavercreek

The Chicago Dog

 

 

 

 

Food Adventures’s Small Bites for 3/1/2012

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Welcome to the latest “Small Bites” feature from Food Adventures

Small Bites is our bi-weekly article that highlights of some of our favorite local food and menu items.

We are not food critics, we are just two guys that love to eat. Big Ragu and The Food Adventure Crew  check out places off the beaten path, mom and pop establishments, and little known dining spots of the Gem City and beyond.

This Small Bites installment features the following:

THE PIZZA AT SOFT ROCK CAFE:

Deluxe Pizza at Soft Rock CafeOk, so you would not think Dayton’s top karaoke bar would be known for its food.  However, this Centerville hot spot has customers talking about its great pizza.  Delivered to your table piping hot, the pizzas are heavy on taste, and light on your pocketbook.  Soft Rock Cafe owners Curt and Mark decided to streamline their menu to a handful of items, anchored by their thin crust pizza.  Soft Rock’s kitchen guru Lisa has perfected her pizza making, to the delight of many hungry karaoke fans.  We suggest you try the deluxe pie, the more toppings the merrier!  Trust us on this one, it is a pizza that will have you singing its praises!

 

THE FISH AT ALTER HIGH SCHOOL’s FISH FRY:

Fried Fish Topped with Tartar Sauce

In the lenten season of fish fry’s, this one stands out as a favorite.  Heck.. or should we say “Hecht,” because many local fish frys like this one are run by the famous Hecht family.  Besides the Alter Fish Fry, the family runs about 9 other fish frys, including St. Francis of Assisi Parish, St. Albert the Great Parish and Incarnation Parish events.  The Alter fish fry is said to crank out about 1,200 pounds of fish.  What is the secret to the great taste?  Is the the fresh Atlantic cod fillets? Maybe it is the batter recipe that includes an egg wash, then a mixture of cracker meal, corn meal, salt and pepper before hitting the deep fryers.  What’s not to love?  The once a year event ticket prices are $12 for all you can eat fish, fries, bread, cole slaw, 3 alcoholic beverage tickets, and free soft drinks.  The condiment tables feature cocktail sauce, malt vinegar, ketchup and a wonderful tartar sauce mixed with a hint of horseradish.  Next year don’t miss this event, or it will be the “big one that got away.”

 

THE GNOCCHI AT MAMMA DISALVO’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE:

Mamma DiSalvo’s Homemade Gnocchi

Gnocchi, say it with us folks, is pronounced “Nyaw-kee.”  This small pasta dumpling is usually the size of a large bean and made with potatos.  A filling dish for even the biggest appetites, this meal has been perfected by the kitchen staff at Mamma DiSalvos.  From Mamma’s homemade sauce, to Bobby and Nick DiSalvo’s added touch, the gnocchi dinner at DiSalvo’s is an event in itself.  The pasta is topped with an incredible marinara sauce and freshly grated Parmesean cheese.  The meal is served with meatballs or Italian sausage, uh-oh, The Big Ragu is the only Italian we know that doesn’t like meatballs or Italian Sausage.  Oh the shame!  Whether you eat or share this meal, you will be happy with the rich, full flavors.  This dinner is worth the wait and price, because some of life’s homemade treasures take time to create.   To see the rest of their amazing menu and  homemade authentic Italian meals, click here.

 

THE DAYTON DOG at CHICAGO GYRO’s and DOGS:

The One and Only “Dayton Dog”

Food Adventures loves a good hot dog.  On a whim, he went into a small eatery on Wilmington Pike and Irving Ave called Chicago Gyros and Dogs.  There he tried some of the best hot dogs he has ever eaten.   One of his favorite was the “Dayton Dog.”   This hot dog is a handful, and loaded with toppings.  The Dayton Dog starts with a poppyseed bun, and a Vienna Beef Frank.  It is then topped with relish, onions, the painfully hot sport peppers, and a mound of fries.  This hot dog will light you up with heat, but it delivers on taste.  For around $3 you too can try this original Dayton creation!  The menu also features some fabulous Greek Gyro sandwiches as well.  This is one restaurant that we are happy to say is “going to the dogs!”

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