Leo Bistro

Leo Bistro to Reopen July 11th

June 25, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Art Institute has announced plans to partner with Ohio company AVI Foodsystems, Inc. to bring a new dining concept to Leo Bistro at the museum. The Bistro is set to reopen on Wednesday, July 11.

“After reviewing a number of options, we are excited to partner with AVI Foodsystems, Inc. as Leo Bistro’s new manager, offering a new model that will best meet the needs of museum guests and the downtown community,” said The Dayton Art Institute’s Director & CEO Michael R. Roediger. “Beginning July 11, Leo Bistro will be open during all regular museum hours, offering a variety of fresh food and drink options.”

Leo Bistro will feature a fast casual concept, serving freshly made Boar’s Head deli sandwiches, soups, and bakery items from Boosalis Bakery of Centerville, as well as proudly serving hand-crafted Starbucks coffees, other specialty beverages, and a selection of beers and wines. Leo Bistro’s new selections and extended hours are being added to better respond to customer feedback and interest. Museum members will continue to receive a discount on purchases at Leo Bistro.

AVI Foodsystems, Inc., based in Warren, Ohio, is America’s largest, family-owned and operated food and hospitality provider, serving clients in the business, education, healthcare and leisure sectors. Celebrating nearly 60 years of continued success, AVI continues to grow and expand into new geographic markets and business segments.

“Thank you to everyone for your patience during this transition,” added Roediger. “We hope you will visit for lunch, a snack, or a cup of coffee, and that you will meet friends and business colleagues often at Leo Bistro.”

According to the DAI, “each month there will be 1 or 2 featured sandwiches using that month’s featured meat. For the month of July the featured meat will Bourbon Ridge Ham, and we should have more info on the sandwiches and upcoming features in the next few days.”

On an ongoing basis some of the featured sandwiches and salads may be:

The Tuscan Sandwich (rosemary sundried tomato ham, sundried tomatoes, asiago cheese, lettuce,)
Authentic Italian (genoa salami, pepperoni, provolone, ham, sundried tomatoes, lettuce)
Ovengold Turkey (turkey, imported swiss, lettuce)
The Rodeo (London broil roast beef, Vermont cheddar, lettuce, onion, horseradish sauce)
Turkey Cobb Salad
Chef Salad
Chicken Caesar Salad

For more information about The Dayton Art Institute and Leo Bistro, please visit the museum’s website at www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278).

Change Coming To Leo Bistro

July 21, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

– The Dayton Art Institute’s Leo Bistro will receive a new look this summer, when Bernstein’s Fine Catering takes over management of the restaurant on August 7.

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Adam Baumgarten and Steve Bernstein, co-owners of Bernstein’s Fine Catering

“We’re excited to welcome Bernstein’s Fine Catering as our new manager for Leo Bistro,” says The Dayton Art Institute’s Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. “They bring a wealth of experience and innovative culinary ideas to the Bistro. It’s been wonderful working with Elite Catering as Leo Bistro’s manager over the past two years. Renee McClure and her team have been an invaluable asset as we developed long-term plans for Leo Bistro. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Elite as a preferred caterer for events at the museum.”

Bernstein’s Fine Catering, one of The Dayton Art Institute’s preferred catering partners, has been serving the Dayton region since 1988. Bernstein’s is an owner-operated, full-service off-premise catering company that believes food is more than just a preference; it brings people together. With more than 25 years in the hospitality industry, Bernstein’s started with a simple goal: to provide exceptional food and outstanding service to the Dayton, Ohio area.

In 1988, Steve Bernstein opened the “Uptown Delicatessen” in Clayton, Ohio, a kosher style deli and restaurant that quickly gained a following. Bernstein had previously worked for The University of New Mexico food service, The University of Dayton’s food service and other companies within the hospitality industry. Soon after opening the “Uptown,” Bernstein hired Adam Baumgarten as a dish boy at the age of 15. Baumgarten worked his way into food prep and eventually management upon graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2006, Baumgarten became a partner/co-owner in the business.

There’s A New Thursday Night Dinner Spot – $40 Gift Certificate Giveaway

February 11, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Make plans to head to Leo Bistro Thursday night for dinner. As part of Dayton Art Institute’s new hours Leo Bistro is now open from 4-8pm every Thursday night. With a new menu featuring Tuscan Flatbread Pizzette, cabbage rolls, salads, sandwiches and more. Thursday evenings will also feature half-price bottles of wine and specialty Filet Burgers. Leo Bistro is powered by Elite Catering and features an innovative menu that demonstrates what happens when food meets art!

Leo Bistro also serves lunch, Tuesday – Sunday, with a menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees, as well as desserts. You will find daily specials, a children’s menu, “Quick Takes” items for museum guests, and a new wine/bar/appetizer list.

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Beer-battered Atlantic Cod with Parmesan Garlic Fries

You can make reservations by calling 937-512-0146 or email them at [email protected]

Here’s a peek at some of the new menu offerings:

Appetizers

Bruschetta Board –Red and Yellow Tomato Bruschetta mix,
complimented by an Olive Tapenade and a White Bean Relish withMascarpone Cheese, Honey Goat Cheese, and a

Sun Dried Tomato Cheese Spread served with Olive Oil Toasted Crostinis 8.99

Stuffed Mushrooms (3) – Italian Turkey Sausage,Spinach, Roasted Tomatoes, and a blend of spices 5.99

Mac & Cheese Croquettes – Breaded Macaroni and Cheese Rounds, fried and served with a
Spicy Ketchup dipping sauce (3) – 5.99 or (5) – 7.99

Leo Bistro Entrees:

Tuscan Flatbread Pizzette –An 8” flatbread topped with a rich Spinach Dip, Roasted Tomatoes,

Fresh Mozzarella and Red Onions 7.29 ~add grilled chicken for 2.00 more

Fish & Chips– Beer Battered Atlantic Cod paired with our Parmesan Garlic Fries and

served with Malt Vinegar and Tartar Sauce 9.99

Cabbage Rolls –Fresh Boiled Cabbage Leaves stuffed with Ground Sirloin, Wild Rice, Onions and

Peppers topped with a Light Tomato Sauce and served with a side salad 9.29

DMM Giveaway

We’ve got a $40 gift certificate to Leo Bistro for one of our loyal DMM readers. For your chance to win, fill out the form below, like and share this article on your facebook or twitter page and use the hashtag #DMMFreebie! We’ll announce the winner Friday, Feb 13th.

Congrats to our winner Mike Teague!!

Dayton Art Institute Announces Leo Bistro Winter Hours

January 7, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

From November 22, 2013 through January 5, 2014, Leo Bistro welcomed guest purveyor Ghostlight Coffee of South Park on weekday evenings. “Ghostlight at Night” featured exceptional coffees, espresso drinks, locally sourced snacks and speciality cocktails from The Dayton Cocktail Co. Special events included a Repeal Party and a Belgian Ale tasting.

Beginning Wednesday, January 8, Leo Bistro will be open 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, unless special programming is scheduled in the museum. For the most up-to-date information, check The Dayton Art Institute’s website, at www.daytonartinstitute.org/leobistro, or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Leo Bistro will remain open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. on Sundays.

Bottled drinks and a selection of favorite local snacks will be available for purchase at the Guest Services Desk during all hours the museum is open, and a seating area will be available for museum guests just outside The Museum Store or in the General Motors Entrance Rotunda.

Leo Bistro will be available to schedule private events from 4 – 8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Please contact Kevin Tunstall (937-512-0162 or [email protected]) or Diane Haskell (937-512-0131 or [email protected]) to book your business meeting, reception, buffet or seated dinner.

The Dayton Art Institute enjoyed hosting Ghostlight Coffee during the 2013 holiday season and encourages everyone to visit Ghostlight’s location on Wayne Avenue. The museum looks forward to welcoming guests to its many exhibitions, social events and educational programs in 2014.

The first of these new events and programs takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8. Warm up your Wednesday night at The DAI, with the debut of the museum’s new “Side By Side” docent program at 6 p.m. Rick Hoffman and Janet Estep will join forces to compare two narrative paintings in the museum’s collection: the Master of Marradi’s Judith and Holofernes and RobertBrackman’s Life About Me. Which painting was likely stripped from another object? Which one speaks to a Ukrainian heritage? Learn the back story with this lively discussion in the museum galleries.

Side By Side gallery talks take place on select Wednesday evenings, and they are free to members and included in the price of general admission for non-members. Meet in the museum rotunda at 6 p.m.

Start the evening or continue the fun afterwards by joining Director of Engagement Jane Black in Leo Bistro for a related pairing. In homage to the Master of Marradi’s Judith and Holofernes – Italian wine and beer, or a fine espresso from our “Dada Java” machine. And as a nod to Robert Brackman’s New York City in the 1950s – an assortment of spiced cocktail nuts. This limited menu will be available from 4 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8.

For more information about Leo Bistro and The Dayton Art Institute, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to also connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

Ghostlight Coffee Celebrates Second Anniversary With Second Location Announcement

November 14, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

In November of 2011, things changed in South Park. With the opening of a cozy coffee shop who focused on high quality, hand crafted beverages and snacks, suddenly the Dayton community began to flock to this Wayne Avenue location.

Owner Shane Anderson explains that Ghostlight Coffee is a “multi-roaster

Owner Shane Anderson

shop,” featuring a rotating selection of coffees from many of the best roasters in America, including Deeper Roots Coffee (Cincinnati), MadCap Coffee (Grand Rapids, MI), Handsome Coffee (L.A.), Bows & Arrows Coffee (Victoria, B.C.) and Sightglass Coffee (San Francisco). Ghostlight was voted “Best of Dayton – Best Cup of Coffee” in 2012 by the readers of ActiveDayton.com & Dayton Daily News.

Ghostlight Coffee has become a popular “community minded” coffeehouse, hosting many AfterHours events such as music and poetry and featuring local artists on it’s walls. It has gained popularity amongst touring musicians for it’s “listening room” atmosphere, different from most bar venues that these musicians frequently encounter. It also has become the home of the “Gem City Poetry Stage” and previously hosted the popular “Story Slamm” series until they moved to the larger Dayton Black Box theatre. Just recently they opened a meeting room which doubles as a quiet study space for it’s many university students and professors. The business will soon expand services to offer coffee & espresso bar catering for events and online ordering of coffees and gift boxes for individual and corporate orders.

But with their second anniversary comes another expansion: Ghostlight at Night in the Dayton Art Institute!

Ghostlight at Night will feature hand-poured, artisan roasted coffees by Ghostlight Coffee and hand-crafted signature cocktails by the Dayton Cocktail Co., as well as a small-plate menu of sharable snacks. Ghostlight at Night hours will be Tuesday – Friday, 3:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., beginning Friday, November 22 and continuing through January 3.

“The holidays are a busy time here at the museum, and this wonderful new partnership with Ghostlight Coffee allows us to offer guests a unique evening experience in Leo Bistro,” says The DaytonArt Intitute’s Associate Director Jane A. Black. “Ghostlight at Night will complement Elite Catering’s weekday lunch and weekend brunch service at the Bistro.”

Ghostlight at Night will host several evening events at the Leo Bistro location, including:

“The Art of Coffee” Tastings Events, including November 22nd…Tasting of the new Panama Geisha coffee, roasted by Deeper Roots Coffee. The roaster will be on hand to talk about this rare coffee varietal.

“The Art of the Cocktail” Events, hosted by The Dayton Cocktail Co., including December 5 Repeal Day Party, featuring prohibition era cocktails and punches.

Live Music at Leo Bistro, including December 6, featuring The Soucek Jazz Trio, a popular ensemble comprised of area music educators frequently performs at the Wayne Ave. coffeehouse to a packed house.

In addition to Ghostlight at Night, Leo Bistro will continue to offer full lunch service, powered bty Elite Catering. A full menu of soups, sandwiches, salads and entrees is available Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Leo Bistro also offers a weekend brunch menu, servedSaturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon – 5 p.m.

Ghostlight at Night is part of a host of holiday-related events and programs at The Dayton Art Institute. These include the special exhibitions Object of Devotion and Elizabeth Turk: Wings, now on view through January 5; the Hall of Holidays exhibition Marc Chagall: Jerusalem Window Lithographs, on view November 29 – February 23; an artist-decorated holiday tree and ornament silent auction, November 26 – January 5; holiday-themed Super Saturday Family Days on December 7, 14 and 21; the Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out presentation Spontaneous Fantasia on December 5; and a special holiday Afternoon Musicale with David Wion & Friends on December 1.

Leo Bistro Makes McClure Official

September 16, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Leo Bistro, the restaurant at The Dayton Art Institute, will go on hiatus for the week leading up to The DAI’s biggest event – the 42^nd Annual Oktoberfest on September 27 – 29. Leo will take a vacation and be closed for business, September 23 – October 1, while the museum grounds and surrounding streets are being fenced; set up with temporary electrical power; and blocked by stages, tents and crowds of fun seekers.

“When Leo Bistro reopens on October 2, it will be fully powered by Elite Catering, and there will be a new, innovative menu that demonstrates what happens when food meets art” said Jane A. Black, Associate Director of The DAI. “You will find daily specials, a children’s menu, a ‘Quick Takes’ menu, and a new wine/bar/appetizer list. There will also be a calendar of exciting new special events taking place at the Bistro.”

The museum remains committed to providing a place where guests may enjoy refreshments whenever the museum is open. A full menu of soups, sandwiches, salads and entrees will be available from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and an array of lighter items and beverages will be available until the museum closes at 8 p.m. Leo will introduce a marvelous new weekend brunch menu, served 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and noon – 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Renee McClure, owner of Elite Catering

“It’s rather difficult to reach the museum during the fourth week in September, so it is a good time for Leo to take a break from day-to-day operations,” said Renee McClure, Elite Catering’s Chef/Owner, “We will be planning new items for our full-service weekday lunch menu, as well as enticing appetizers and drinks for the afternoon and early evenings. And we have some new-to-the-area food concepts for the weekend that are not to be missed!”

Renee McClure is a Dayton native, growing up in Beavercreek and graduating from Wright State University, with a BS in Business Management. She started Elite Catering in 2000 when her own search for a dynamic caterer left her empty handed. Over the past 13 years, she has spent much of her time not only learning new and creative ways to prepare and serve remarkable food, but also how to showcase it through artistic plate and buffet displays. Today, she shares her joy of great food and design through Elite Catering and now Leo Bistro.

Learn more about the menu and Leo special events when visiting Oktoberfest! The Elite team will offer tastings and give out deals at two new Oktoberfest-related preview events, the Young Professionals happy hour event, 5 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, and the Business Lunch, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday, September 27. They will also be previewing items in the Bistro at the Oktoberfest Preview Party on Friday, September 27, 7 – 9 p.m.

For more information about Leo Bistro, Oktoberfest and The Dayton Art Institute, please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to also connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers. Look for the hashtag #OktoberfestDayton for the latest Oktoberfest updates.

ABOUT THE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE

As one of the Miami Valley’s premier fine art museums, The Dayton Art Institute offers a full range of programming in addition to exhibiting its collection. Galleries hours are Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 5 p.m. With support from the Chase Endowment Fund, suggested admission to the museum’s permanent collection is $8 adults, $5 seniors, active military and groups. Admission is free for museum members, students (18+ w/ID) and youth (17 and under). Some special exhibitions, programs and events may carry an additional charge and include admission to the museum’s permanent collection as part of that price. Free parking is available at the museum and the facility is fully accessible to physically challenged visitors. The DAI’s Museum Store and Leo Bistro are now open during regular museum hours. For more information, please call 937-223-4ART (4278) or visit www.daytonartinstitute.org. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The DAI also receives support from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.

Chef Dana Downs leaves Leo Bistro at the Dayton Art Institute

July 31, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 1 Comment

Today is a day of change at the Dayton Art Institute, as Chef Dana Downs and her crew were seen moving out of the building. Today was the last day serving food, after a very successful launch of Leo Bistro six months ago.

In a prepared Statement the DAI says:

The Dayton Art Institue will be undergoing an evaluation of its restaurant as the
operating partnership with Veritas Foods comes to an end.

“We thank Veritas Foods for their work in helping us open Leo Bistro and wish them well in their endeavors, “said Executive Director Michael R. Roediger. “The needs and priorities of both organizations have changed since the Bistro opened, and we mutually agreed that it was in everyone’s best interest to move in a new direction.”

The change will not affect services for any weddings, events or meetings already scheduled during regular museum hours,
offering lunch via counter service Tuesday through Saturday, 11am – 2pm and Sunday noon – 2pm. A new 5 to 8pm
menu will be available in the near future- please check the website for details.

Leo Bistro opened in February 2013 and features a casual, relaxed atmosphere with free Wi-Fi, made possible by a
federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Bistro offers a variety of soups, salads and appetizers, sandwiches and entrees, as well as desserts. “Leo to Go” has food and beverage options for museum guests,
such as bottled waters and sodas, snacks, coffee and espresso beverages, wine, beer and cocktails. Museum members
receive special discounts and offerings at Leo Bistro.

Chef Dana was not reachable for a comment. We do know that a new interim operator will be in the kitchen as 8am tomorrow and they are prepared with a menu that still celebrates food as art!