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Food Adventures

Whats up? Doc’s Place in Lebanon

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Fillet Mignon dinner at Doc’s Place

Just south of Dayton, in the town of Lebanon, is a place where pub meets grub.  Doc’s Place isn’t your usual watering hole.  For example, they have a chef, Carlos Silveti who has culinary experience in Spain and Italy.  The result is a fresh menu in a historic building.  Doc’s place is located among the shops of  Downtown Lebanon.  The menu ranges from wings, salads and soup to steak and fish entrees.  Truly a treat, and truly a spot where foodies feel welcome.

Deep Fried Green Beans

Our Food Adventure ran the gauntlet of much of the menu, as  The Big Ragu tried fillet mignon, crab cakes, and fried green beans.   All of the menu items were spot on, even pub favorites such as wings and fried calamari.  The restaurant has personality, located in a building that was erected in 1896.

Crab Cake Dinner

Half of Doc’s Place is a bar, and the other half is a dining room.  The popular place is not very large, so you can expect a small wait at peak times.  We suggest you get there early, bring a group of friends, and share the tastes of this family owned eatery.  Whether you try a hand cut steak, or some specialty items made from scratch, Doc’s Place is another Lebanon treasure.  Stop in and get a prescription for your appetite, because the food here is just what the Doctor ordered.

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Have you tried the food at Doc’s Place ??  Tell us your thoughts below !

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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 !

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Coopers’s Deli: The Big Apple Comes to Dayton

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Want to have a taste of the NYC in the DYT?  We know a Food Adventure spot that lights up our appetites like a sign on Broadway.   Cooper’s Deli recently opened in the Shoppes of Oakwood and is creating quite the buzz.  The restaurant specializes in New York Style deli sandwiches as well as  homemade soups, salads, a kids menu, and desserts.  In addition to top notch food, the restaurant offers delivery within a two mile radius, an incredible rooftop patio, beer, wine selections, wheelchair accessibility, and two levels of indoor seating.

The Pastrami Sandwich may be the star of the deli

The Big Ragu spoke with, co-Owner Dan Apolito who traveled to New York City on a “Deli” tour in 2011, tasting various meats and securing the best for Cooper’s Deli.  New Yorkers take pride in their deli’s and Apolito is bringing that mindset to Dayton.  Cooper’s Deli uses the same corned beef and pastrami that is used in the world famous Stage Deli in New York City.  The meats are shipped directly to Dayton from New York City.  The Corned Beef and Pastrami served here are not your typical run of the mill deli meats.  The proof is in the taste.

The Cooper’s Salad is loaded with everything under the sun, pulling no punches.

The pastrami melts in your mouth…you won’t get that at your local $5 sub shop.  Other sandwiches that we tried included: The Reuben which is quite possibly the best reuben that Dayton has to offer.  The Corned Beef is flavorful, plentiful and further proof of the quality of food that Cooper’s Deli is serving.  The Turkey sandwich is basically a mound of turkey breast stuffed between a layer of herbed goat cheese and cranberry-orange chutney on Challah bread.   Vegetarians may enjoy the Garden Grilled Cheese, which consists of four cheeses, artichoke, tomato, and spinach.  We would highly recommend all four sandwiches.

Every menu has a monster dish and Cooper’s is the “New Yorker Sandwich.”  This big sandwich sells for $15.50 and is large enough for two people, like most of their sandwiches.  The “New Yorker” consists of 12 ounces of pastrami and corned beef, sharp cheddar cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing, all on fresh marble rye bread.  For deli connoisseurs, this is the promise land.  How lucky we are to have the taste of Manhattan, Brooklyn, or the Bronx shipped fresh to Dayton via Cooper’s Deli.   These sandwiches are not only fresh, they are piled high and thick.  Be careful not to unhinge your jaw biting into one of these marvelous deli features.  Click here to view their entire menu.

The Huge “New Yorker Sandwich”: 12 ounces of NY Pastrami and Corned Beef

Make sure you get to Cooper’s Deli and dine on the patio overlooking downtown Oakwood, or take a taste of  Big Apple “to go.”   Either way, there is no place like Cooper’s Deli in Dayton, or in Ohio for that matter.

Have you been to the unique Cooper’s Deli ?  If so, please leave your Food Adventure feedback below !

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Food Adventures Invades the “Taste of Centerville”

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The 2nd annual “Taste of Centerville” happened on June 15 in the Heart of Downtown Centerville from 6-9 pm.  The event benefited Food4Summer, which is a charity started by partnerships between Centerville churches.  Food4Summer  furnishes nutritious meals to low income children in the Centerville area when school is out for the summer.

The Taste of Centerville started at the registration booth where we paid $20 each to sample items from various Centerville eateries.  Many local businesses opened their doors and offered discounts to participants of the event.  Centerville is the home of The Big Ragu, so we had to check out this event.  It was a classic Food Adventure, and the photos tell the story on this one.

Key Lime Pie Cupcakes from Sweet Dot’s Cupcakes in Cross Pointe Center.

 

It was a hot evening, but it did not stop us from hitting every food booth along the “Taste of Centerville.”   We walked the four corners of the event, emotionally eating our way through warm and cheerful Centerville.  There were a slew of vendors, but The Food Adventures Crew is here to sort them out for you.

Meadowlark Restaurant ‘s Hot Dogs with Slaw & a Spicy Relish .. Amazing taste!

Below is a list of each restaurant and our favorite food selections from each booth:

Meadowlark – Chef Wiley wowed the crowds with her spin on a Classic Slaw Dog.  A filling, refreshing taste at one of our favorite places on earth.

Sweet Dot’s Bakery Cafe – The friendly manager of this establishment gave us small Key Lime Cupcakes with Icing.  These tiny bites were terrific, with the homemade taste of love in every morsel.

Murray’s Cheese – This New York company sells its cheeses in Kroger.  We enjoyed the Aged Cheese Plate with 3 pieces of savory and delicate cheeses.  Great stuff !

Graeter’s served up samples of their light and refreshing Peach Ice Cream.

Savona – Offered a gourmet Grilled, Stuffed Free Range Chicken Skewer appetizer.  The chicken on the skewers were rolled in a way that it was like Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu on a stick.

LaRosa’s Pizza – We were pleasantly surprised with their fantastic Boneless Wings.  They had 3 great sauces that tickled our tastebuds.

Graeter’s Ice Cream – Refreshing Peach Ice Cream cooled us off on this evening.  Always busy, this Cincinnati company has a good following in Centerville.

Horton’s Hoagies – New family owned restaurant with fresh hoagies and subs.  We loved their Sub Samples, and are eager to visit this place !

The Melting Pot – They offered Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries and Rice Crispie Sticks.  Irresistible treats at this booth!

DiBella’s Old Fashioned Subs – Huge samples of Turkey and Ham Subs on various types of buns were stacked at this booth.  Big mouths needed for these big sandwiches.

Louisiana Grill’s Bourbon Chicken over Rice

Louisiana Grill – The friendly staff served out sample tastes of Bourbon Chicken Over Rice.  It was a rich and flavorful combination.

Johnny’s Slice of NY Pizza – Of course we loved another chance to taste a small slice of New York.  Owner Michele and her daughter served up delicious sample squares.

 

Unhinged – Not a food store, but they hand fed us tasty treats and told us home baked goodies are in the lobby from time to time.  Definitely a place to visit again!

City Barbecue – The Pulled Pork and Pulled Chicken station was phenomenal.  They had each of their BBQ sauces out, so you could drizzle your own topping to the slow cooked goodness.

Panera Bread – We enjoyed the Pastry and Cookie Display, and sampled some tasty homemade items.

Mama Disalvo’s – One of our favorite stops had a Salmon Rigatoni in a Creamy Tomato Sauce.  It was amazing how our samples were cooked to perfection.

Pulled Pork Sliders from Archer’s Tavern.. everything they serve is good!

Unique Celebrations Tea Room – Hospitality was second to none, and they had some Homemade Light Desserts that were simply dreamy.

Archer’s Tavern – Pulled Pork Sliders Topped with Slaw gave festival goers a great taste of a great eatery.  Even owners Dan Apolito and Mike Fullenkamp were on hand.

Sam’s Club – This station passed out bottled water, so we wouldn’t pass out from dehydration!

Sweeney’s Seafood – We tasted the wonderful Grilled BBQ Shrimp on the patio and met the new chef.  We could have eaten the entire display.

Smoothie King – The samples of Strawberry Smoothies were so good, that The Big Ragu dribbled some down his shirt.

Buffalo Wings and Rings – They walked around handing out samples of Garlic Parmesean Boneless Wings and Hot Buffalo Boneless Wings too.

The Hot Sex Roll from Kabuki. We ate a lot of these hoping to reap some kind of benefit.

Kabuki – Earlier in the month, we received a personal invite to the festival from Kabuki’s management, for which we are grateful.  This station was one of our favorite stops of the night.  The Hot Sex Sushi Roll and Playboy Sushi Roll were so good that it caused us to do erotic dance moves on the spot.

The Water Store – Ionized Water with a unique, fresh taste.  We loved the friendly staff and the great tasting ionized water that you can have in your home by purchasing their attachment.

Caribou Coffee – No coffee, but instead they gave out Sparkling Teas and Juices.  A most refreshing station on this night, so we went back for seconds.

The Big Ragu devoured this Jimmy John’s Turkey sub in record time

Jimmy John’s – Freshly wrapped Turkey and Ham Subs were given out by the friendly greeters.  The freshly shredded lettuce gives their sandwiches a nice crunch and flavor.

Whew!  What a FOOD ADVENTURE !!  It was nice to see a community get together for a great cause and enjoy some wonderful food.   THE BIG RAGU is looking forward to next year’s “Taste of Centerville.”

Were you at the June 15th event?  If so, please leave your thoughts and comments below!

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Brixx Ice Company’s Menu is a Grand Slam

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Brixx Ice Company is much more than “that place across from the Dragon’s Stadium.”   Locals may be aware of their good beer tap selections and drink deals before the baseball games.  What most Dayton foodies don’t know, is that this place has a strong menu.  Brixx’s owner Chris Bhai keeps striding to bring fantastic food selections to go along with his restaurant’s fantastic patio view.  A self taught chef, Chris brings his spicy spin to traditional favorites, and hits a few home runs of his own with innovative menu items.    These meal selections are being gobbled up by hungry patrons and with summer in full swing, this eatery gets quite crowded.

Homemade, Hand Rolled Philly Cheese Steak Egg Rolls

 

The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax enjoyed a peaceful, sunny, Saturday afternoon recently on Brixx’s patio.  We sampled some Summer Shandy and the  newly acquired Third Shift Brewing Company draft choices.  Also sipped, was the new Angry Orchard Hard Cider by Sam Adam’s breweries.  As we enjoyed the day we ordered an appetizer that has become one of Brixx’s calling cards, gourmet egg rolls.  Egg rolls??  Yes, egg rolls.  Brixx hand wraps these homemade beauties in forms of interesting twists such as cheese steak egg rolls and vegetable curry egg rolls.  We went for the cheese steak egg rolls, which blew us away.   Served fresh and piping hot, the cheese and steak inside melted in your mouth.  They even served a side of cheese queso for dipping and it was pure cheese steak utopia.

” Mom !!! The Meatloaf !! “

Our special moment was interrupted by the owner and server telling us that we have to try the Kobe Meatloaf sandwich.  Meatloaf ??? Yes, meatloaf.  We took the leap of faith, and also decided to try another unique dish, Chicken Korma.  Chicken Korma is Brixx’s spin on an Indian dish and was inspired by the owner’s  father.  Both dishes were very tasty.   The incredible meatloaf sandwich has a glaze sauce that is sweet and spicy and it made the dish even more superb.  It tasted like an incredible burger.  We are hooked!

The Chicken Korma was a colorful and tasty dish.  It is thinly sliced chicken breast tossed in a curry masala.   The colorful dinner also includes corn, green beans and onions over a bed of rice.  It is flavorful with the perfect amount of heat.  It was also served with a few small pieces of naan bread.

Other Food Adventure favorites include Fire Bites (deep fried jalapeno slices), and of course the “Build your Own Brixx Burger.”   Hungry Jax  also enjoys the Chicago Beef Sandwich, homemade waffle fries and the breaded mushrooms.

A fantastic Indian dish called Chicken Korma

Brixx Ice Company has live music on Friday and Saturday evenings and some pretty good drink specials.   Who doesn’t love a great deal?  They have a pretty extensive cocktail menu, and of course one of the best patio dining areas in town.  Now you know, location is not Brixx’s only strength.  The owner has presented a new take on familiar menu items, and hit them out of the park!  Slide into Brixx Ice Company, a true Dayton original and check it out yourself.

Have you had a chance to visit Brixx’s Ice Company ?  Please leave your input below !

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The Root Beer Stande, Dayton’s Essential Part of Summer

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Every summer has a “must do” activity.  When it comes to food in the Dayton Area, one such tradition is The Root Beer Stande.  It has everything you could want in a Food Adventure.  There is nostalgia, fun, good eats, and great drink.  Located at 1727 Woodman Drive, this restaurant has been a Dayton summertime staple since at least the 1960’s.  Originally an A&W Root Beer Stand, it changed to The Root Beer Stande decades ago, delivering great, casual food ever since.  Gone are the rollerskating waitresses, but much has remained the same over the decades.

A Dayton Summer Tradition – The Root Beer Stande

This place is  a “Drive-in” where patrons drive up, park and are served in their vehicle by “car-hops” who work on tips, just like waitresses.  There is  car port parking where oldies tunes are heard overhead on a speaker system.   Parking is also available in various uncovered spots around the building.  It is a great dining experience, and the young staff is very friendly.  When they are busy, you may have to wait a little bit to get your food, so don’t go there if you are in a hurry.   The fun begins when you pull in, and one of the cute servers slaps a small plastic sheet on patron’s windshields with a serving number.  After your order is taken, make sure you roll your window up a third, so they can place the tray with your food on the window as an overhang.  One little known tradition is that putting your car headlights on lets the server know that you are ready to leave and need to have your tray removed.

Happiness in a Mug

The Big Ragu have been frequenting this establishment since 1973 and has some recommendations.  First and foremost, nothing beats one of their cold root beers on a hot summer’s day.  In our opinion, this is the star of the menu and of course their namesake.  Homemade root beer with an original taste is why we love it.  Our tip here is to make sure and order the root beer in a glass mug, because it just doesn’t taste as good in paper “to go” cups.  The root beer here is so good, that your Food Adventurers have been known to order a second mug during the meal.

The Big Ragu loves a good hot dog and The Root Beer Stande serves up some decent “short dog” and “footlong” options.  We usually get the footlong hot dog.  It is simple and the taste is a great memory from our childhood.   Various topping choices include mustard, relish, chili, ketchup, onions and more.  Grab one and enjoy the view.

The Big Ragu loves their hamburger options and usually grabs a “Ladyburger.”  Yes, we realize the name of this smaller hamburger may be a bit embarrassing, but The Big Ragu is in touch with his feminine side from time to time.   The Big Ragu also recommends that you try the deep fried mushrooms.  Beware, these breaded mushrooms are made to order and served hot, so do not scald yourself by biting into one of these crispy, yet juicy treats.

Nothing fancy – just an irresistible footlong topped with chili and onions

Other favorite menu items include Root Beer Floats and Onion Rings.  The two page menu can be viewed by clicking here for page 1 and here for page 2.   The Root Beer Stande is not just for summer anymore!  The owners have extended season hours, making this spot on Woodman Drive available almost year-round!

Take some time to make The Root Beer Stande your destination this summer.  Kids love this place, and the family, fun atmosphere promises to produce memories that will last a lifetime.   Summer may heat up, but you can always cool down at The Root Beer Stande with a mug of Root Beer!

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Have you been to Dayton’s favorite “Drive-In” Restaurant, The Root Beer Stande?  Please share some memories below!

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Sweeney’s Seafood House: Ocean Paradise!

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Grilled Blue Marlin

Sweeney’s Seafood House is revamping some things, while keeping old menu favorites.   Food Adventures spoke with one of the managing partners, Lisa Long, and learned Sweeney’s will be redecorating and even changing serving plates in the near future to keep up with the times.   Located in the heart of Centerville at the intersection of State Routes 725 and 48, Sweeney’s is one of the jewels of the Gem City.

Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu absolutely love this dining spot for many reasons.  Hungry Jax enjoys their flounder and other fresh fish dinners which are baked, deep fried, grilled or broiled.  Fresh seafood in Dayton, Ohio?  You bet!  The new kitchen chef is bringing in whole fresh fish, which he then carves into fillets for a fresher tasting product.  Chef House is also excited to try some of the daily specials such as the recently featured grilled blue marlin and homemade soups like lobster bisque.  The Big Ragu can also be found sampling the handful of unique draft beers like Bell’s Oberon Ale which are rotated regularly.

The Best Raw Oysters in America

The Big Ragu prefers to sit in Sweeney’s bar area for some appetizers and the before mentioned draft beers.  The Big Ragu says the best raw oysters he has ever had in his life are the “Raw Chokers” at Sweeney’s Seafood House.  Ragu has had oysters at Emeril’s restaurant.   Ragu has eaten oysters from Rhode Island to Florida and high scale places in Vegas, but these are the best.  These gigantic Chesapeake Oysters are served over ice, on the half shell for $2.49 each, and worth the price for an incredible treat.  The Big Ragu also recommends that you try their fried calamari.  It is hand cut into strips and hand breaded.  The calamari is some of the best you will ever eat and sometimes so large that you could mistake a piece for a chicken strip!  The bartenders Doug and Sam are fantastic and very attentive.   Some little known trivia is that the bar at Sweeney’s and the connected cabinets were purchased from the old Tequila Willie’s restaurant that was near the Dayton Mall.

Located in Centerville

There is definitely a buzz of energy in this place over the new owners with a fresh attitude.  The Big Ragu is excited to see what the new chef will be offering in the coming months.   We were also happy to learn that many of the favorite menu items will remain unchanged.  Sweeney’s remains an inviting place, with friendly service.  For the feel of a New England Seafood House right here in Dayton, give Sweeney’s a try.  Take our tips, or explore the menu as part of your own Food Adventure!

BREAKING NEWS!! Extended Hours !!  Sweeney’s will now be open every night of the week.  Restaurant hours will be 4pm – close Monday-Saturday and Sundays 11:30am – close.  The dinner menu each day will be accompanied by special features throughout the week.

You can check out Sweeney’s entire menu here, but it won’t have their daily specials which are too fresh to print!

Please become an official fan of FOOD ADVENTURES with THE BIG RAGU and CREW on FACEBOOK by clicking here and “liking” our page.
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THROWDOWN ! June 9th: Voltzy’s vs. The Hamburger Wagon

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Legend vs. Legend… Icon vs Icon .. At the Rock N Green Tomato Festival in Miamisburg on Saturday, June 9th, their will be a battle of epic proportions.  Two Dayton burger favorites will battle it out in an Old Fashioned Throwdown, and Dayton will never be the same.   The match up is VOLTZY’s vs THE HAMBURGER WAGON !  They will go toe to toe in a brawl to settle it all, and each burger joint is depending on your vote!

To vote in this clash of the burger titans, you have to go the Rock N’ Green Tomato Festival, which is in downtown Miamisburg, near Ron’s Pizza.  The contest begins June 9th at 1pm.  Buy a burger from both places and cast your vote.  The winner will be announced sometime around 8pm.

The first three votes cast will be Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu, here they are….

HUNGRY JAX VOTE:    THE HAMBURGER WAGON is the best !  “The Hamburger Wagon” is a great display of simplicity in its finest form.  It doesn’t need to be masqueraded in sauces.  This crispy little burger is topped with pepper, a pickle, and an onion slice the size of a car’s hubcap.  The Hamburger Wagon has been serving up the best burgers for almost 100 years.  The Hamburger Wagon gets my vote !”  —Jax

THE BIG RAGU’S VOTE:   VOLTZY’S is the best !  “Voltzy’s melts in your mouth.  I love a burger that has good condiments and cooked onions.  Voltzy’s burgers are ground fresh everyday and never frozen, so it is a great tasting burger.  In fact, Voltzy’s is the best burger I have ever eaten!  Plus, you have to love the fact that each burger is cooked by the master himself, Voltzy!  I love them both, but VOLTZY’S gets my vote !!”— The Big Ragu

 

CAST YOUR VOTE  at the Rock  N Green Tomato Festival on Saturday, June 9th and be there when Voltzy’s and The Hamburger Wagon collide .

For more details on the festival, please visit rockngreentomato.com.

Feel free to leave your comments and thoughts below about this THROWDOWN!!

Become an official fan of CHEF HOUSE, HUNGRY JAX and THE BIG RAGU by visiting our FOOD ADVENTURES page on FACEBOOK and  “liking” us !!! Click HERE to do so !!

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Food Adventures visits The Market on Wilmington Pike

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The Market on Wilmington Pike

Summer is a great time to have a cold beer or glass of wine on a deck or patio.  It is also a time of enjoying a good cigar while outside golfing with friends or just relaxing.  We found a nice little Food Adventure spot where you can get wine, beer, cigars, Greek specialties and more.  It is called The Market and is a family owned and operated shop on Wilmington Pike in Kettering, not far from Rahn Rd.  The place is not huge, but it is packed with a wide variety of beer, wine and cigar selections.
Owner George Karras says the best way to check out their special offers is to visit their website here.  We saw some interesting things that were “off the beaten path.”  We also discovered that this Mom and Pop place can help place special orders for  “hard to find items!”

Beer at The Market: Too many brands to choose from?  The Market has mix and match specials.  Certain unique beers this month are $4.99 for each 6-pack and $3.99 for each 6-pack if you order a case.  There are beers in almost every nook and cranny of this store.  There is also a walk-in “Beer Vault” keeping brews ice cold at 33 degrees.   The Big Ragu picked up a rare treat in a 32 ounce Sol Beer Bottle from Mexico for only $1.99.

Wine at The Market:  Through buying various close-out specials, The Market is able to offer good wines at good prices.  Again, it is all about selection here.  The staff is knowledgeable and can help sort out the various offerings.

Cigars at The Market:  Want variety? There are 400+ cigar choices in the walk-in humidor.  There are also close-out bundles, and specials that made us do a double take.  We even found a few good stogey choices for under $2 each!  Any of your cigar questions are easily answered by longtime employee Russell, who will bend your ear about his favorites and steer you towards some good “sticks.”

Greek Specialties at The Market:  The Karras family is very involved in the Dayton Greek Festival, and you may recognize George from the festival band.  The Market gives George a chance to showcase some Greek Specialties that are rare finds in the Dayton area.  First off, there are Gyro Kits for under $10.  The Market also has homemade tzadziki sauce for sale that is  made with goat’s milk-yogurt.  Other Greek goodies include Mytzithra, Kefalotiri, Kefalograviera, and Kasseri which are all cheeses made with sheep or goat’s milk.  This  is definitely Food Adventure material.

The Market is a great place to run in and out, or to take a half hour and explore.   It is a unique place with unique offerings.   Grab a gallon of milk, or a Hefeweizen beer.  There is no other place like it in Dayton.  What impresses us most about The Market is the affordable selection.  Good deals on good products throughout the store.  This Market is definitely one worth checking out.

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Have you been to The Market?  Tell us about your experience by commenting below!

 

BW3 Introduces Breaded Chicken Wings to Dayton Area

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NEW ! Breaded Wings at BW3

Hey Food Adventure fans, we have a tip for you!  For a limited time only, in the Dayton area, Buffalo Wild Wings (formerly BW3) has added a breaded wing option to their menu.  Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu took a moment to try them, and we think they are great !  They are a cross between KFC’s hots wings, and BW’3 boneless wings.  Curiously, these wings have only one bone, not only the “drums” but the “flappers” too!  This makes for easy eating.

Breaded wings may be ordered in any sauce, or ordered dry with a side to dip.  Any way you fry them up, we think they are pretty good.   According to Buffalo Wild Wing’s Website, the breaded wings will not be a permanent menu item, and are only available in a few select cities.  Try them out for yourself, and let us know what you think.   May we suggest a large draft beer to help tune up your taste buds, or put out that spicy fire on your tongue.  Are you unfamiliar with Buffalo Wild Wing’s sauces?  Food Adventures recommend the Spicy Garlic, Sweet BBQ or Asian Zing sauces as our three favorites.

If you have tried the breaded wings option at BW3, please comment below and tell us your opinion.

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Kabuki: Colorful Plates, IncredibleTastes

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Sushi is probably one of the most beautiful foods that you will ever eat.  Whether cooked or raw, nothing beats the taste of freshly made sushi.  Chef House, Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu know two types of people, those who love Kabuki Korean & Japanese Restaurant in Centerville, and those who have not been there.  In a small, stand alone building on 848 S. Main St, Kabuki offers up Korean and Japanese specialties with an extensive and inventive menu.  They make great fresh food, and they do it right.

The Rock n Roll Sushi Roll, beautiful and delicious

Jax loves to indulge in the “Rock n Roll” sushi roll.  This colorful display consists of flying fish roe, shrimp tempura, crab, & cream cheese deep fried then topped with three kinds of sauce.  Definitely one of the most flamboyant and tasty dishes you will ever have.  Chef House enjoys the “Boston Roll.”  This is a simple sushi roll combining the tastes of cooked shrimp, lettuce, avocado and cucumber with Japanese mayo sauce.

The Spider Roll at Kabuki Korean and Japanese Restaurant

The Big Ragu would recommend you try the “Spider Roll”, which is made with Soft Shell Crab for an extremely delicate and a rare tasty treat.  Is fresh raw sushi your gig?  If so the Big Ragu would recommend the salmon, tuna or any sashimi listed on their menu.

This restaurant serves miso soup or spicy noodle soup with entrees and sushi dinners.

Kabuki has much more than just sushi or soup. They offer a Japanese Dinner menu with Teriyaki dishes and many more entrees.  Kabuki also features a Korean Menu with noodle specialties and other dinners like Hue Dup Bop.   Sounds like a Hanson song, but instead it is mixed raw fish and vegetables over steamed rice served with Korean sweet & spicy sauce.

The common denominator of the menu items is that they are fresh, tasty, and presented well on your plate.  Every time we have been to Kabuki, the servers were friendly and attentive.  Check out this family owned restaurant for a romantic date, or a fun culinary experience.   It may be a small place in size, but Kabuki delivers big on flavor.  We cannot think of a better place for a true  FOOD ADVENTURE!

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Have  you been  to Kabuki?  Please  share your opinions below !!

 

Homemade Goodness at Sunrise Cafe

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In order to retain our sanity, Food Adventures must leave the “bubble” of the suburbs and get back to food basics.  The village of Yellow Springs, Ohio is the perfect destination to achieve this feat.  Yellow Springs has scenic parks to hike, eclectic shops to explore, and some of the tastiest eateries to fill a belly.  One of our favorite places to eat is the Sunrise Cafe.  Located at 259 Xenia Avenue, Sunrise Cafe offers a full service menu which also includes a kid’s menu.  The quality of food is exceptional due to the fact that they use local produce and don’t own a deep fryer or microwave.  The small dining room is usually pretty packed, so the virtue of patience might have to be drawn up.  Keep in mind…….homemade food takes time to prepare and it’s worth it!

 

We decided to try the Huevos Rancheros which can be ordered in a half or full size portion.  Corn tortillas, black beans, two eggs (with the yolks intact!), salsa, and sour cream.  There is nothing better than breaking the yolk and opening the flood gates onto the black beans for a tasty combination.  The other dish  we tried was the breakfast sandwich which contained local eggs, cheese, and sausage on a homemade english muffin.  No fast food restaurant’s breakfast sandwich can compare!  Higher quality produce and your hands are not dripping with grease!  The sandwich also came with a side of breakfast potatoes which complimented it perfectly.

 

 

Breakfast Sandwich with local Eggs, Cheese, & Sausage on a homemade English Muffin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try the Sunrise Cafe the next time you venture to Yellow Springs, Ohio and taste the difference of good, local produce!

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Check out the full menu and weekly specials from Sunrise Cafe by clicking here![album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/SunriseCafe/]

 

Treasure Island Supper Club: It’s Like a 70’s Food Adventure

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Not a Restaurant, This is a Supper Club

A dimly lit dining room, 1970’s furniture, hustling staff and bustling patrons.  This is not a restaurant, this is a Supper Club.  Treasure Island is everything you could ask for in an old school eatery.  Located in the heart of Moraine, Ohio, it has great service, great food and classic ambiance.  This place is like a scene out of  the movies “Saturday Night Fever” or “Looking for Mr Goodbar.”  When you enter Treasure Island Supper Club, the carpeted lobby has a metal railing staircase that  leads to bathrooms and a party room on the second level.  What other place has that?  But it doesn’t end there, we are just getting started.  As you pass from the lobby into the eating area, you notice a room with lighting so low that you cannot tell if it is noon or midnight.  The bar area is a low seat bar with the bartender working in a “pit” even lower than the bar patrons.  The bar is adjacent to a walkway that leads to the dining room.  The walkway is lined with wooden spindles that were hand carved by the restaurant owner.  In fact his woodwork is throughout the supper club.   We were expecting to hear “bow chicka wow wow” music, but that did not happen.

Baskets of Butter and Lance Crackers at Every Table

 

A hostess greets you near the walkway and puts you on the waiting list, or seats you promptly.   You will be seated in a leather 70’s style booth or some old school table and chairs.    Even the water glasses are old school, and we love it ! On the table in a wicker basket, are various types of Lance crackers and butter packets.  We ate  a lot of melba toasts, crackers and captain’s wafers leaving our table strewn with Lance cracker wrappers.    Our Food Adventure Crew lives for unique places like this.  Our server who waited on us was fantastic.  She was a throwback to the days when waitresses were career waitresses for decades at the same restaurant.   She brought our salads and a basket of poppy seed bread that was still warm, so we put the butter packets to good use.

We were then served a shrimp cocktail appetizer that stayed in theme with the 70’s nostalgia.  The huge shrimp were served in a silver goblet lined with green decorative lettuce.  the shrimp were already partially dipped in the cocktail sauce inside the goblet.  These were some of the largest and best tasting shrimp we have ever eaten.   Make sure you don’t miss out on this old school shrimp cocktail or you will be squirming in your  red leather chair.

The Best Shrimp Cocktail Ever

We saw a customer being served a large corn fritter that looked good, so we decided to order one too… good move.  The homemade, handmade corn fritter is served with maple syrup packets and simply melt in your mouth.  We sat their enjoying the appetizer feeling like we were in an episode of “Starsky and Hutch.”   The fritter was cooked perfectly, nice and moist on the inside and golden brown on the outside.  In the restaurant lighting it looked like a brick of gold from Fort  Knox.

After stuffing ourselves with crackers, bread, butter, salad and appetizers, our main entrees arrived.  One of us had ordered the baked halibut dinner.  It was served old school style with dunking butter!  It also came with a baked potato, decorative parsley, and large sides of butter and sour cream.  Again 70’s additude toward cholesterol and fat!  The fish was firm yet fluffy and  absolutely delicious.  The baked potato was perfectly cooked as well.  The Big Ragu’s entree was the seafood platter.  How old school is the name of  that dish?  The dinner was served with frog legs, fried shrimp, crab cakes, fried scallops, and fried oysters.  The dinner was very rich, but tasted incredible.  It was served with a side of hash browns that didn’t disappoint.  After finishing  our meal, we thanked our waitress and  the assertive busboys.

Perfectly Baked Halibut

 

As we walked out of the restaurant we joked about coming back for a picture outside the restaurant dressed in 7o’s Afro wig, terrycloth shorts, and pulled up white socks with stripes.  It was  another successful Food Adventure!     Our visit here was fantastic, truly enjoy Treasure Island Supper Club and had one of our better Food Adventures here.  If you have not been here to try the great food you are missing out on a taste bud experience!  It is a fun place to dine with some of the tables hollowed out with golf or Vegas decor behind tabletop glass.   The Big Ragu and Crew highly recommend that you visit Treasure Island because they do things right, and have not changed their successful formula.     The simplicity of good food and good service is timeless, no matter what the decade.   If you visit this supper club and you see a couple of guys with cheesy 70’s mustaches, or Dirk Diggler haircuts, it just may be your Food Adventures Crew and the Big Ragu, incognito!

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Have you been to Treasure Island Supper Club?  If  so, did you get your 70’s groove on at this phenomenal spot?  Please leave your comments below !

Treasure Island’s menus for  lunch and dinner may be viewed  by clicking HERE.

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Getting Fresh and Organic with The Food Adventures Crew

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Green B.E.A.N Delivers Fresh Fruit and Vegetables to Your Door

Farmer’s Markets are more popular than ever in a time when our country has an increasing desire for organic food products. People are more aware now than ever of the food they put into their bodies and are striving to improve their dietary habits.  Food Adventures is always trying new things.

You have seen the word “organic” placed on food labels, but what does it mean? Conventional foods can carry harmful pesticides and are fertilized with synthetic chemicals. Organic foods use natural fertilizers, devoid of synthetic pesticides. If you buy organic, you are decreasing your families’ risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. Organic foods also help reduce the amount of agricultural chemicals that affect wildlife and water quality, and organic produce also protect one of our nation’s most valuable resources — top soil. It’s something to keep in mind the next time you are buying produce, and a reason why Farmer’s Markets have been so successful over the years.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to them.  Food Adventures is grateful for the farm markets in Dayton.

We would like to introduce you to Green B.E.A.N. Delivery.  Sort of a “Farmer’s Market on wheels.” Green B.E.A.N. was started up by three college
friends from Indiana University in 2007, Matt Ewer, Beth Blessing, and John Freeland.  Their common goal is to provide healthy, local food and make it more convenient, accessible, and affordable. B.E.A.N. stands for: Biodynamic, Education, Agriculture, Nutrition(Try saying that fast three times fast!).  Green B.E.A.N. is a grassroots effort; a network of farmers and artisans providing customers with organic and locally made products. John Freeland is the Vice President of Green B.E.A.N. Delivery and contacted us to try out what they have to offer.

Orders are Delivered in Green B.E.A.N Coolers

We went to the Green B.E.A.N. Delivery website and set up our accounts. We found the website to be easy to navigate and place orders.  They have various
produce bins ranging in price from $35 to $49. They also have a ‘break-room bin’ which helps encourage healthy eating in the office.  You can also customize your order by choosing from forty different items that are in season. We decided to let Green B.E.A.N. send us whatever they wanted…..mystery is always more fun!

When the time came for our delivery, we were greeted at the door by a big green bin.  Food Adventure time !!!  This was exciting — like having a farmer’s market delivered right to the front door.  We both opened our bins like kids open up presents on Christmas Day.  Inside sits a cooler with an ice pack so your produce remains cool if you have to work a long day.  We ordered the $35 bin and were impressed with the amount of produce received.  Some of the produce we received included: broccoli, carrots, celery, mangos, avocado, grapefruit, apples, tomatoes, asparagus, potatoes, lemons, spinach, green beans, onions, and pears all fresh and ready to eat! Green B.E.A.N. Delivery also has an option to add groceries to the bins.  Some of the items offered include: dairy, meats, eggs, cupcakes, bulk foods, and beverages.

Lots of Fresh, Organic and Healthy Items to Choose From

When you sign up for Green B.E.A.N, you can choose to receive your bins either weekly or bi-weekly and you can cancel your membership at any time. The bins can either be delivered or you may choose to pick them up. Delivery areas include: Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, Louisville, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus. If you don’t see your location on the delivery map, give them a call at (513) 761-BEAN (Cincinnati-Dayton) or (614) 352-2845 (Columbus). Check out the website for membership information, recipes, and the online store.

We were very impressed with the quality of produce that we received and highly recommend Green B.E.A.N. Delivery. We would like to thank John Freeland of Green B.E.A.N. for allowing us to take part in a delectable delivery.  We received some incredibly fresh produce delivered right to our front doors without a glitch! Give Green B.E.A.N. Delivery a try by contacting them at www.greenbeandelivery.com or by phone.  Try going organic to improve your health and buy local to help out our communities!

Have you used Green B.E.A.N. yet?  If  so,  please comment below.

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The Big Ragu Gears up for the 2012 “A World A’Fair”

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Mark your calendars, local foodies !!! May 18th -20th, 2012 at the Dayton Convention Center is the “World A’Fair.”  For those who don’t know, this International Festival has been a Dayton tradition for over 40 years.   “A World A’Fair.”  features food, dancing, music, costumes, and cultural exhibits that represent the ethnic backgrounds and cultures of the residents of the Dayton area.  What better way to sample cuisine from around the world all by taking a few steps?

According to the World a’Fair Website,“Folklore Around the World” will be this year’s cultural theme.  All of the participating countries will present folk traditions at their booths.  Native American singing and dancing will be the Featured Entertainment. Spanish Flamenco dancers will be new entertainment for this year.

But you know your Food Adventurers visit this International Festival for one thing… FOOD !! In between hugging accordion players, and dancing with exotic women in traditional garb, we like to hit the booths for some international tastes.

 

The Food Adventures Crew would like to share some of our annual food favorites found at the “World A’Fair.”

The Creme Puffs at the South Slavic Booth are Incredibly Good

South Slavic Booth: The Creme Puffs here are to die for.  They have traditional choices as well as chocolate ones.

Germany Booth:  Everyone enjoys the Bratwurst here.   We prefer loading it up with sauerkraut and mustard for that perfect bite.  The soft pretzels are not bad either !

Scotland Booth:  Daring Food Adventurers should try the Haggis .. it is a traditional Scottish dish.  This version is ground liver meat served with crackers.  Can you handle the real deal?  Not your style?  Then try their “Bridie” meat pie for a more tame dish.

Ireland Booth: The Beer here is the main attraction, but kids love the Irish Pub Fries.

Dutch Booth:  Try the Appelflappen (fritters), and enjoy the women cooking in traditional outfits.

Greek Booth:  The Gyros are fantastic here.  They are the same group that makes the gyros and chicken gyros for the Greek Festival.  The onions on the gyros make it fun to breathe on your friends afterwards.

Mexican Booth:  The tacos and empanadas are made to order at this booth.  The prices are cheaper than most other booths.

The Italian Wedding Cake is a Must

Italy Booth:  Sure you can grab a freshly grilled Italian sausage with peppers and onions, but may we suggest their fabulous desserts?  The Italian Wedding Cake is phenomenal and filled with strawberries and whipped cream.  The Tiramisu and Cannoli are also top notch.

Korea Booth:  The Veggie Dumplings were incredible.  The dumplings

are huge and have a great, fresh taste.

Lebanon Booth: The Falafel is our favorite offering!  This veggie patty is served in a pita for a great tasting sandwich.

This festival is close to The Big Ragu’s heart.  We have some great childhood memories of coming to the World a’Fair with our parents and grandparents.  You may even see The Big Ragu volunteering at the Italy food booths!  This event is a true Dayton tradition, and May 18-20th is your chance to leave your mark on the legacy.

Veggie Dumplings from the Korean Booth

The secret to this festival is to visit many booths and try different food offerings.  You never know what you are going to discover.  A World A’Fair is a perfect excuse to take an afternoon, or an evening and escape everyday life for a couple of hours. and immerse yourself into different cultures and different foods.

All of the information can be found on  www.worldafair.org.   Tickets are $5 in advance, or $3 for children at any Kroger location.  Tickets are also sold at the door for a couple of dollars more.  You can also check out the website and find opportunities to volunteer for a country’s booth.  However you decide to participate, make sure you visit this festival, bring friends, or kids and create some memories.

Have some memories to share about A WORLD A’FAIR ???  Are you coming to the 2012 event??  Please comment below!

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Food Adventures at Dayton’s Best Chinese Buffets

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Big Ragu at Asian Buffet with a Rice Krispie Tower and Crab Leg on top

Gluttony.  Local Dayton Chinese buffets are the perfect place to feed this deadly sin.  Sure, The Big Ragu and Crew have reformed themselves and would rather visit North China Restaurant or China Cottage.  However, once in a great while, we feel the need to hit the troughs at a local Chinese Buffet.   Where else can you get all-you-can eat General Tso’s Chicken and stir fry green beans next to some pizza?  There are so many Chinese Buffets to choose from, and your Food Adventurers have hit almost all of them.  So let us share with you some of our favorite things about those local places with tin pans, large spoons, and some unidentifiable dishes.

Don’t spread bullcrap at trying to “keep it as healthy as possible” because you are trying to impress a nagging mom of two.  Instead, hit the crab rangoons, and dessert. We have also upset more than one buffet runner and cook by scooping up the last of the coconut shrimp.  This deep fried shrimp dish can be found at many of the buffets, and if you see it, you better make sure you get out of our way.

The Big Ragu goes for the fried shrimp and fish dishes, big surprise, huh?  But the Big Ragu is also known to put raw oysters, mussels, peel and eat shrimp, and crab legs into legendary piles on his plates.  He also shares the love of sushi, and has made many of those chefs earn their money.

Where are some of our favorite spots and their strengths?

Check out this Official Food Adventure Hit List for feasts as massive as the Great Wall of China:

Always Piles of Crab Legs at Asian Buffet

Asian Buffet on Miller Lane in North Dayton:

A huge complex that used to house a Ryan’s Buffet,  is one of our favorites.  First, they are the only buffet that we have been to that does not skimp their crab legs.  For us this is a sign of love.  They pile huge mounds of crab legs on the buffet and keep them coming during the feeding frenzy, when other buffets leave an empty pan of cloudy water.  Asian Buffet also has a pretty decent sushi bar.  We found many choices and they were decorative and true to form.  Someone here is a legit sushi chef.  We also love the hibachi grill offered here.  Pile up your favorite raw meats and vegetables, and watch the kitchen staff stir fry it in your favorite sauce.  Overall this is probably our favorite Chinese buffet in the Dayton area, and we always leave miserably full, yet satisfied.

 

Golden Dragon on 725 in Centerville:

One of our more popular places to overeat, this place is a little pricier than the others, but their overall selection is one of the best.  For some reason, we have seen the most interesting characters at this buffet, maybe it is because of the interesting food.  The Big Ragu loves the whole tilapia dish served in a ginger sauce with scales on and bones in.  Tastes great if you can stomach the appearance.  We load up on Coconut Shrimp here.  Sweet milky goodness, and it tastes pretty fresh.  The huge salad bar is one of the freshest, and also features large peel and eat shrimp.  Another bright spot is that they have raw oysters on the weekends.  We like to visit some of our favorite staff members here including “Cherry” and “Chin.”  Other highlights include a small sushi bar that tends to have raw fish choices,  and a full hibachi grill.  they also have the best stir fried green beans in Dayton.  But beware, sometimes they will substitute the avocado and celery in the sushi with green beans or peppers, which is just wrong.

 

 

Hibachi Grill and Buffet on Stroop Road in Kettering:

Mussels in Cilantro Sauce at Hibachi Grill & Buffet

Another former Ryan’s buffet restaurant this buffet has a few new items that deviate from the norm.  We noticed they have a big more “American” food than the other Chinese Buffets.  We assume it is to appeal to kids.  The main attraction here is the Hibachi Grill with bigger quality meat varieties than other places.   They stir fry your choices right in front of you, and offer homemade sauces to cover your raw choices.  Two other things we really liked here were the hand breaded sole fillets, and the mussels marinated in a cilantro sauce.  In fact, the Big Ragu would say the mussels here are one of the best items he has had on a Chinese Buffet.    This place gets busy and has one of the lower prices of the other buffets, because they do not offer crab legs.

 

Eastern Buffet on State Route 741 in  Moraine:

Crab legs here and butter galore.  They have decent desserts and have recently added a sushi and hibachi area.  The choices are pretty much what you can expect from the other buffets.  Nothing outstanding but a solid original that the other buffets may have copied.

 

China Garden Buffet on Woodman Drive in Kettering and on State Route 73 in Springboro:

The Woodman restaurant was the scene of the famous “Ung Ghaa” episode.   One of the waitresses said “ung ghaa” after watching The Big Ragu get a heaping plate of crab legs.  Needless to say, he was not their favorite table on that night.   The crab shells flew on this Food Adventure.  They have nice decor with some of the paintings looking like HD televisions.  The food is pretty good here and the soft serve ice cream is one of the better things when compared to the other restaurants.  But be careful, if you take the last crab leg in the dish, you may get a raised eyebrow from the staff.  We are pretty sure we earned legendary status on Woodman Drive after our food quantities consumed here.  The Springboro location has some of the lowest prices we have seen for buffets, and is a steal of a deal for food offered.  They have hand breaded fish at the Springboro location, which looks to be tilapia.

 

QQ Hibachi Buffet on Wilmington Pike in Bellbrook:

One of the weaker ones on our list, this restaurant is typical of what you would expect.  If you are in a pinch it will do.  The strong point here is it is a very clean and new environment and their hours seem to be later than other buffets.

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We want to hear your feedback on these buffets!  Have you been to these places?  Is there a good one on the list that we skipped? Please comment below !!

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