The Root Beer Stande
Dayton, OH 45420
By Lisa Grigsby
We all have them, we all need them… guilty pleasures. As we get older, we try to eat healthier, but once in a while, you gotta splurge. Dayton is a great place to do so. Sure, there is fear in seeing the calorie count, and scary scale readings the following week… but sometimes you gotta have a ghastly, full blown Food Adventure.
So without further ado, we present present our list of the Top 15 Guilty Food Pleasures of the Dayton Area:
15) THE FOOTLONG CHILI DOG at THE ROOT BEER STANDE: Long and strong, we came to get the friction on. This wiener is a mouthful of goodness and a ruined shirt waiting to happen. Eat it in your car, roll up the windows so no one can see,. But we know… this is one of your guilty pleasures.
14) FRICKER’S RIBS & WINGS DINNER: This huge meal comes with a half rack of ribs, those famous fried chicken wings, cole slaw, roll and an side. Finger lickin’ good, and a naughty belt buster for sure.
13) THE PEANUT BUTTER SUNDAE at JET FREEZE: Homemade peanut butter sauce, ice cream, whip cream, nuts and a cherry on top. The peanut butter sauce alone is so sinful that it catapults it onto the list.
12) THE BROOKYLYN BRAWLER PIZZA at JOHNNY’S SLICE of NY: When you serve a giant, stuffed pizza as big as a spare tire, it has to be a guilty pleasure. Big eaters of the Miami Valley come from far and wide not only to eat this giant creation, but to see if 2 of them can finish it in 30 minutes or less to get on the wall of fame. Filled with various meats and cheeses, this guilty pleasure is for serious eaters.
11) THE SEAFOOD PLATTER at TREASURE ISLAND: Deep fried scallops, a cod filet, frog legs, fried shrimp and stuffed crab on a plate with 2 sides. You can taste it all, but don’t test your cholesterol that day. The over the top moment of this dinner is when they serve you some drawn butter for dipping. Oh, behave !
10) ALL-YOU-CAN EAT FISH at the HASTY TASTY PANCAKE HOUSE: For just $7.25, you can literally fill yourself to the gills. Breaded and crispy, it is one of the best ‘bangs for your buck’ as far as sinful meals go. The fish is Alaskan pollock, and when you add the sides, rolls and butter slabs, the wheels come off the diet train.
9) BROASTED CHICKEN at GEORGE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT: Deep fried in a pressure cooker, this stuff is guilty fun for the while family. Moist inside, the chicken is always cooked to perfection. Get some heavenly comfort food sides and complete this trip to dream street.
8) CRISPY SHRIMP at NORTH CHINA: One of our favorite Chinese restaurants serves us a sweet sauced, deep fried shrimp dish that will knock you on your socks. The taste, the crunch, the bites of sauce mixed with rice. Overdone richness? Guilty as charged.
7) POTATO SKIN CUPS at ANGIE’S FIREHOUSE: Stuffed with chili, bacon, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, green onions, jalapenos and sour cream they are a beautiful piece of work. You will find yourself eating an entire plate of these and passing out in a food coma.
6) BISCUITS & GRAVY at TANK’S: Delicious, artery clogging goodness. Although this legendary spot on Wayne Avenue has many treasures, we find this to be our most guilty pleasure.
5) THE HOT FUDGE CAKE at FRISCH’S: We know, this is semi-local and more of a regional treat, but it deserves a spot on our list. Hot, steaming fudge, hitting the cool cake and ice cream. The feeling of the whip cream and hot fudge on your lips is worth every calorie.
4) THE PANZAROTTI at MAMMA DISALVO’S: This is pretty much a calzone that is the size of a small kid. Imagine an extra large pizza full of toppings and cheese, that has been folded in half. Served with dipping sauce, it is like cutting into a turkey to begin eating. Go all out and dip your forkfuls into marina or ranch. It is absolutely delicious.
3) THE HOG BURGER at VOLTZY’s: Voltzy says he named the burger after his ex-wife. All we know is that this mammoth 20 ounce burger melts in your mouth, and you find yourself saying “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”
2) CASSANO’S BIG CHEESE PIZZA: Like Vic Cassano Sr said “It’s one heck of a pizza.” That famous Cassano’s crust and sauce, loaded with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, olives and finished off with a m0und of cheese. The proof is in the taste.
1) THE “BIG BO BJ” at B&B CARRYOUT: Get your mind out of the gutter, this is a breakfast sandwich. And it is one helluva guilty pleasure. This craziness is a bun with sausage, a fried egg, a hash brown patty, American cheese,strips of bacon and hot pepper cheese. You won’t feel that guilty, because the every bite is just so darn good. A handful of greasy, gooeyness, with great flavor. If you haven’t tried the Big Bo BJ, you need to grab yourself one.
Do you feel guilty yet? Naughty nibbles indeed. Honorable Mention to : Paragon Supper Club’s Paragon Supreme Dessert- a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream mousse, Marion’s Super Cheese Pizza – delicious, Tank’s Chili Cheese Fries-out of this world, and Submarine House’s Super Duper Cheesesteak– triple the meat and cheese & 16 inches long.
DID WE LEAVE ANY OUT? WHICH OF YOUR FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURES SHOULD WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR LIST??
Please comment below and let us know !
For more fun from Dayton’s one-of-a-kind foodies visit FOOD ADVENTURES with THE BIG RAGU, CHEF HOUSE and HUNGRY JAX on FACEBOOK and “like” us HERE .
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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.
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.
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.
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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