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italian beef

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.”

Buckin’ Donkey Grille: The Menu Will Kick Your …

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Beef on Weck – Old Style Taste

The Food Adventure Crew have been tackling the only Polish-Irish Pittsburgh Bar cuisine in Dayton for months now.  Today, we share these experiences with you.

Our weekly Food Adventure installment brings us to The Buckin’ Donkey Grille at 3808 Wilmington Pike in Kettering.  Sure, being Cincinnati Bengals fans, we have to stomach the Steelers posters, but the food is worth it.

Our friend, owner Sean Mckown, has worked in various restaurants, but honed his skills cooking for his buddies.  Over the years he has tweaked recipes and invented menu items that are remarkable comfort food.  Sean is a laid-back guy with a great sense of humor.  You can often catch him mingling with patrons as he is in and out of the kitchen.  Sean is our kind of guy, making food that his friends love.  He experiments in the kitchen, and has perfected his dishes over the years.  This is yet another locally owned spot, where almost everything is made from scratch.

Sit back, saddle up as we take you for a ride on the Buckin’ Donkey menu highlights.

 

Here’s the Skinny:

Sean McKown, Pittsburgh Native and owner of Buckin’ Donkey Grille

— Inventive, homemade menu with one-of-a-kind items or Chef Sean’s twists on standard favorites.

— One section of their menu is Breakfast, served all day

— Locally owned, sports bar atmosphere

—  Great drink specials:  In May, bottles of Corona are only $2.  Last month, Red Stripe beers were only 2 bucks.

— The large outdoor patio will get some good use this summer.

 

Must Eats:

— The Jumbalaya – spicy and addicting, Sean has been making this masterpiece in a cup for over 15 years.

Banana Peppers Stuffed with Chorizo and Cheese

— Old Style ChicagoWeck – A favorite of most of our friends.  Slow cooked Italian beef, marinated in au jus.  The weck bun makes the sandwich along with a dash of horseradish.  You want authentic, you got it.  Get your kimmelweck on.  Stop slobbering and order one.

— The Pork Belly Burger. – This is a favorite!  It is a burger of 80/20 beef, topped with cheese and strips of pork belly.  Inventive and delicious.

— Stuffed Banana Peppers – Stuffed with chorizo and cheese, these long sliced banana peppers melt in your mouth.  Warning: Your taste buds aren’t going to believe this.  Talk about original, try these on for size.

Frosted Flake French Toast – They serve breakfast all day

— Frosted Flake French Toast – It is what it says.  French toast, coated with Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal.  So good and rich, that Tony the Tiger himself would be proud.  It is a savory breakfast item that immediately makes you feel like you are at home.

— The Pierogie Burger – A burger topped with a couple of pierogies.   Big Ragu loves these so much, it makes him want to dance to polka music.

— Shrimp Po’ Boy – We recommend the grilled shrimp version.  It is an amazing take on this Louisiana style sandwich.

— Homemade Desserts – Not many restaurants have the chef’s mom making the pies from scratch.   Buckin’ Donkey Grille does.    There is no set dessert menu,  so whatever she made that day, is what’s available.  Don’t worry though, they are all good.  You have to try the peanut butter pie, strawberry shortcake and the cheesecake.   We would run topless across lanes of traffic on Wilmington Pike to get a taste of these.  Another incredible unique favorite is their homemade walnut pie.  We are willing to bet that nobody else in Dayton serves walnut pie.  If someone else does, we will let you kick us in the walnuts.

Homemade Walnut Pie

There are so many great flavors on this menu, it is hard to pick just a few favorites.  Other honorable mention specialties that we recommend include The Reuben Sandwich and The Cuban Sandwich.  The grilled wings are great and so are the hand breaded deep fried pickle slices.  Also, the thin sliced onion rings are so good that we have been known to arm wrestle over the last forkful.  If you are feeling sassy, try the Porky Pig Burger, a pork/beef mix burger served on a doughnut!  It was definitely a unique tasting sandwich.

Also, don’t forget that Buckin’ Donkey Grille has $1 hot dogs and $2 chili dogs during every Cincinnati Reds Game!   They also feature live music on Saturday nights and trivia on Wednesday nights.

There really is no secret to this place.  The formula is great food at fair prices.   The servers are also very personable and attentive.  Sean McKown did it right.  Many Daytonians are grateful that he has brought a sampling of Pittsburgh to the Gem City.  Make sure you visit this seemingly typical sports bar, with the uncommon fare.  We know why they named this place the Buckin’ Donkey Grille, because the menu is kickin’ ass.

Browse through all of our original food photos from Buckin’ Donkey Grille in the album below.  Drool bibs not included.

Who else is ‘buckin the trends’ and settin’ the trends? … Food Adventures!  Ride us and ‘like’ us on Facebook by clicking HERE !

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