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Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

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New Owner Breathes Life Into Dog’s Breath Tavern

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Gary Leasure, New Owner of Dog’s Breath tavern

Been chasing your tail looking for a good watering hole?

New things are happening under the woof, err. roof at Dog’s Breath Tavern on Whipp Road in Kettering.  New owner Gary Leasure has already set some of his vision in motion.  Keeping with the dog theme, he has revamped the menu and promises even more improvements and innovations.

As for drinks, he is focusing on having beer available from every Dayton Brewery.  You could literally do a brew tour without leaving your bar stool.  He is working out distribution with some of the breweries, and has some Dayton beers on tap already.  Right now they have Toxic, Warped Wing, and Yellow Springs Brewery beer on draught.  Dog’s Breath will feature Ohio Breweries on tap as well.  Click HERE for full beer list.

Gary has owned bars before and he hopes to use his experience to make some big changes.  Some things to look for are pool leagues, dart leagues, karaoke,  NFL game specials, new HD TV’s, and bands every week.  The huge restaurant provides a great venue for live music, and a fun atmosphere for watching sports.  Unofficially, one area could be called the “Dawg Pound” and another the “Jungle.”

“Shed” what you knew about this place and let us “retrieve” the scoop on this revamped spot.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

 — The tavern is located at 1912 E. Whipp Rd in Kettering,

— Hours are:  Mon – Thurs: 3pm – Midnight,   Fri – Sat: 11am – 2:30am, Sun: 11am – Midnight

— FREE POOL on Tuesday nights

Homemade “Bones” like this Ham and Cheese Roll

— Wednesdays are Warped Wednesdays, $1 off Warped Wing pints,  and open mic night

— Thursdays Trivia Nights and $1 off all bottle or draft IPA’s

— Fridays is karaoke and Saturday they have live bands !

 

MUST EATS:

— HAND ROLLED “PULLED PORK BONE” (Egg Roll): The pulled pork bone is served with cole slaw for “dipping.”  They hand roll their homemade egg rolls. Let us tell you, this is their signature appetizer, and some good stuff.  If you don’t like pulled pork, you gotta try the Ham n Cheese rolls, the Turkey Club rolls or the Reuben rolls.  They are all fantastic and made in house !

— DEEP FRIED PRETZEL BITES: Yes deep fried..  This twist on a familiar favorite will make  you “roll over and beg for more !”  The taste is a bit crispier and the pretzels are dusted with a cinnamon spice and some soft of  hot spices.  The bites are served with a honey mustard for dipping that is essential.

Yellow Springs Beer, Warped Wing and more on tap NOW at Dog’s Breath Tavern

— THE DOUBLE BUTTER BURGER: 2 burgers and a mountain of a sandwich.  Here’s the secret: before they cook the burgers on the tabletop fryer, they slap each side with some butter.  You can taste the difference. And cheesey?  OMG they put a ton of American cheese on this one to hold it all together.  Top it how you want it and go town like a hungry Rottweiler.

Honorable Mention: The Buffalo Wings aren’t bad, and go great with a local beer.

The owner promises even more good things to come.  Look for the menu and kitchen to expand, and for some more unique food items and local beers.

So don’t bark, just take some bites at Dog’s Breath Tavern soon.  It is a heck of a place to enjoy some adult beverages, watch some football, shoot pool or take in a live band.  We won’t “hound” you any more.

Speaking of a howling good time, make sure you “LIKE” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE !  Over 3,000 loyal fans can’t be wrong !

Check out our photo gallery below from our visits to Dog’s Breath Tavern !   You won’t see this anywhere else…. Dog Breath’s Full Menu —>  Page 1      Page 2

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Jimmie’s Ladder 11: Great Food in a Historic Firehouse

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Jimmie’s Ladder 11 on Brown Street. A “hot time in the old firehouse”

What better place for a Food Adventure than a historic Dayton Firehouse?  But atmosphere isn’t everything , you gotta have good eats too.  Jimmie’s Ladder 11 at 936 Brown St. is one of Dayton’s best examples of a great menu in a great venue.  The restaurant is located in what used to be an old city firehouse back in the days when the engines were run by horse drawn carriages.  Dayton Fire Department memorabilia lines the walls of this beautiful dining area.  Antique wood floors and walls throughout the building develops a warm, nostalgic feel.  But The Food Adventure Crew knows, the decor is just the beginning.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Jimmie’s Ladder 11 is located in a historic Dayton Fire Department Building built in 1892.

— Family owned restaurant with a stellar service staff.

— Owner Jimmie Brandell worked at the Upper Krust for 17 years honing his restaurant skills.

— Wide variety of menu choices from Burgers and Sandwiches, to rare Upstate New York favorites

Creole Cheesecake is not a Dessert, it is a Savory Appetizer

— Nice selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles.  They even feature a fire hydrant tap.

— Live Music on weekends, showcasing eclectic local bands

— Private Party Loft available for special events or parties

— Outdoor dining area overlooks a bustling Brown Street

Let’s dive into the menu, with FOOD ADVENTURE’s MUST EATS for JIMMIES LADDER 11:

Grab a fork and follow us…

Paisano Pasta Chips – Fresh Deep Fried Pasta, “Italian Nachos”

CREOLE CHEESECAKE – Probably one of the best appetizers in Dayton.  This unique menu item is not a dessert.  It is a casserole type dish served in slices.   The “cheesecake” is stuffed with Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, smoked Gouda, Cream Cheese, Onions, and Peppers.  Slightly “fiery,” but mostly rich and tasty.

NEW ORLEANS GUMBO – Made from scratch daily, this hearty gumbo is simply amazing.  Bursting with Chicken, Shrimp, and Andouille sausage, this is a “must eat” with the perfect heat.  We are addicted and after one cup, you will be too.

VODKA RIGGIES- You won’t find this Upstate New York  favorite anywhere else in Dayton.  Jimmie’s wife, Sue is from Utica, NY where this dish originated.  Creamy tomato sauce is blended with vodka, chicken and rigatoni, then finished with peppers.  There is some spiciness to this pasta plate, but we won’t have to hose you down afterwards.  One of our favorites for sure.

NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE –  One of the best we have ever eaten.  Again made from scratch, this is a cross between the Upper Krust Cheesecake and the ones you find in New York City.  We love this stuff.  Order a piece for a rich, sinful taste of dreaminess.

LADDER 11 SANDWICH – The kitchen starts out with either a hoagie roll or rye bread.  They add some Romanian style Pastrami and Corned Beef.   Top the whole thing off with the house-made, hand-cut Cole Slaw.   The final touch is a drizzle of house-made Russian Dressing.  Are you licking your chops yet?

Honorable Mention:

The Hamburger – You might hear fire truck sirens in your head, because for 6 bucks, this platter is a steal.

Tom Turkey – A throwback to the Upper Krust sandwich.  You cant go wrong with turkey and creamy house-made cole slaw chopped that day.

Paisano Pasta Chips – Could be described as “Italian Nachos.”  Homemade pasta, deep fried and topped with Italian Sausage, Onions, Peppers, Mozzarella and Provolone.  The concoction is finished off with a delicious Asiago cream sauce.

New York Style Cheesecake – Unbelievably good

Jimmie’s Ladder 11 is a Dayton original.  No trendy stuff here.   The Ladder 11 staff has brought together good, affordable food and fun surroundings.   They even have great salads and vegetarian choices.

If you have not had a chance to visit this establishment, take some time to check it out.  We frequent this place because we love the menu and beer selection.  The service is always spot on as well.  Got a hungry stomach?  Put that fire out by visiting Jimmie’s Ladder 11.

Want some more “hot” scoop from some “fiery foodies”?  Then “like” Food Adventures  on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Browse through our incredible photos below for a thorough look at the menu.  We aren’t a “one dish Trish,”  we write informed stories after trying various menu items during numerous visits.

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Tank’s Bar & Grill: An Original Dayton Food Adventure

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Wednesday’s Special: Roast Beef Hot Shot a “Must Eat”

Some things are just Dayton born and Dayton bred.  Tanks Bar & Grill on 2033 Wayne Avenue is a Dayton icon, much like The Wright Brothers, U.D. Arena and Dr. Creep.    Opened in 1987 by Dan “Tank” Tankersley, the restaurant has become legendary in a short time.  Although named for the owner, Tank’s name fits well because  they bring out the heavy artillery in their food offerings.  With a kitchen that opens very early and closes very late everyday, this is our kind of place.   A place for foodies, heck it is more than that, it is a place for serious eaters.   Loyalists have given Tanks a cult following, yet many suburbanites are unfamiliar with the spot & want to know,  “Why all the love?”   The answer is big portions of tasty food in a no frills atmosphere.  This is an not a wuss place, the old house has character and if these walls could talk, there would be some good stories.  You gotta love a place with 2 menus at all times.

Get your eat on, you are in the right spot.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Open 7am – 2am everyday, plenty of time for a Food Adventure

— They serve breakfast all day.  Brings a tear to our eye.

— Old School Joint where you wont leave hungry.  The plates are big, but the prices are decent.

If you eat one thing at Tank’s, make it a Burger !

— The Beer Selection is immense.  Lots of weird beers and unfamiliar bottle labels to experiment with and a few seasonal beers on tap too.

 

MUST EATS:

— TANK’S BURGERS:  Are you kidding?  If you go to Tank’s and eat one thing, make it a burger.  People drive-in from all over the place for this stuff.  This is one of the finest burgers in Dayton.  You gotta’ try one.

— OMELET TANK’S WAY: This is a 10 egg omelet with over a dozen choices for ingredients.  A massive, tasty creation with a cheap price.  Chef House goes for the 6 egg omelet called the “girly.”

— ROAD KILL CHILI: As the menu says, this isn’t normal possum, it is the Oakwood kind.  All kidding aside, this hearty chili is a warm splash of happiness.  Doctor it up with some hot sauce and you have yourself one of the best chili’s in the area.

— HOMEMADE CHIP DIP: This isn’t store bought dip, it is made on site.  When you are sluggin’ down a lot of beer, this creamy item is a pretty good accompaniment.

Order off the menu: Get a Turkey Reuben with Slaw instead of Kraut

— WEDNESDAY SPECIAL ROAST BEEF HOT SHOT: An open face sandwich with roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Comfort food at it’s best.  It is a big portion, and again the price is right.  You might want to take a nap an hour after eating this beast.

— HUSHPUPPIES:  These homemade balls of deep fried love are almost as big as baseballs.  Throw a few down your gullet or at your friends.  They have a savory flavor with an addicting taste of sweetness.

— REUBEN:  An amazing Reuben sandwich.  Great bread, makes this sandwich in our humble opinion.  No explanation or elegant description needed.  Just eat it.

 

 

Breakfast All Day, Everyday

Here is a Food Adventure exclusive **SECRET**:  This is NOT on the menu so you will have to ask for it.  Try the Turkey Reuben and ask them to put cole slaw on it instead of sauerkraut.  It is an incredible sandwich that you have to request.  After you are addicted, you can thank us later.  We are serious eaters, we know this shizzle.  We don’t read the menu to tell you about things. We actually eat the food, all of it!    Ask Dayton Mayor Gary Letizell who joined us for one of our Tank’s trips with his assistant Shelly.   They realized this was a Food Adventure almost immediately.

Honorable Mention menu items are the fluffy Waffles, Grilled Cheese Tank’s Way, and the specialty hash browns served in heaping mounds.   And all you fellow foodies, make sure you get the fresh cut fries as a side instead of chips, or we will run you over in a Sherman tank.

Tank’s Bar & Grill has earned its stellar reputation.  It’s not trendy, it isn’t the flavor of the month, nor is it a swanky place where the pretty people eat.   What you see is what you get, and the patrons keep coming back.    If you have not visited this place, make sure you put it on your Food Adventure Hit List.  Daytonians love Tank’s, and so do your humble Food Adventurers.  

Like Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !  We are not food critics, we are just two guys that love to eat.

Check out more than 40 food porn pictures of various Tank’s Bar & Grill favorites in our Food Adventures Photo Album, below.

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