Dayton937

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

Dayton Dining

Warped Wing Sets Opening Date for Mason Location

By

Warped Wing Brewing Co. is excited to announce the Grand Opening of their new Mason, Ohio location! The Warped Wing Brewpub & Smokery is located at 5650 Tylersville Rd (at the corner of 42 and Tylersville Rd) and the Grand Opening will take place on Friday, February 4th. The 13,000 square foot facility boasts a large Taproom featuring a menu filled with smoked foods along with an outdoor biergarten opening in the Spring, a small pilot brewing system, and flexible event space.
“It was definitely a unique and rewarding experience melding what was once an old world Irish pub and a fine dining restaurant into a brewery and taproom but our contractors and design team knocked it out of the park,” said Nick Bowman, VP of Sales & Marketing at Warped Wing. “I’m proud of what we’ve put together and excited to share it with the Mason community.”

Brewmaster & Managing Partner John Haggerty is also looking forward to the new space opening in Mason. “I am looking forward to working on some collaboration beers with our fellow Masonians! We already have something in the pipeline with Sonder, a Hoppy Red Rye Ale, and am looking forward to getting together with the other guys in town. It will be great to rub elbows with these guys and be able to learn how they think about beer” said Haggerty. The Sonder collaboration beer, Ryesing Tides, will be on tap for the Grand Opening.
 
Erin O’Neill, Culinary Director & Director of Retail Operations, will bring an innovative and eclectic menu to complement the robust beer selection, similar to that of the Warped Wing Barrel Room & Smokery which opened in Fall of 2020 in Springboro. There will be a major focus on smoked meat/food items and many of the dishes will feature Warped Wing beers as ingredients. “The smoker is delivered and the smell of smoking meats will soon fill the air” said O’Neill. “It is very exciting to bring our Warped culinary experience to Mason and the surrounding areas. We are building a great team and are excited to put our stamp on an already great food scene.” 
Other libations will include hard cider, wine, and a spirits menu with a focus on specialty cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic options like mocktails and housemade sodas, like Root Beer.

Warped Wing Brewpub & Smokery – Mason
5650 Tylersville Road
Mason, OH 45040

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thurs 4pm-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-12am
Sun 11am-9pm

Family Owned Mexican Restaurant Opens On Airway

By

La Casa de Los Primos Mexican Restaurant opened today at 11 AM! Located at 4770 Airway Road (in the spot that formerly housed Xuan and Linh’s). A true family business José Osnaya has partnered with his cousin Juan Soto and their families  to bring you authentic Mexican food.  They’ll be open seven days a week serving up lunch and dinner.  There is currently no liquor license, but they are hoping to add one down the road.

Here’s a look at their menu:

Mz. Jade Serving Up Soul Food in Middletown

By

Originally from Detroit, Jade moved to the Butler County area 10 years ago, and started her business in 2018 on Yankee Road, where she set up tents and cooked outside to serve the Middletown community with her homemade meals. “Growing up with my Grandmother, she taught me everything. I still remember her recipes, but as I got older, I started making my own recipes,” Jade says. “I still use her recipes daily because she was the best.”  Mz. Jade’s Soul Food Cafe then moved to the Middletown’s Pendleton Art Center and then to Murphy’s Landing.

Now she’s moved the business again to its new home in the former Gracie’s at 1131 Central Ave.  Mz. Jade says she’s “excited to finally have a fully loaded soul food restaurant and a liquor license.” The business is indeed a family business with her sister serving as the bar manager and her son and fiancee in the kitchen.  The menu is packed with soul food favorites including greens, smothered pork chops, catfish and oxtails.  But if you can only try one thing, Mz Jade say’s “don’t miss the meatloaf.  You can have it smothered in gravy, bbq sauce or plain, but like everything else on her menu it’s made with love. She says she learned that from her grandmother and she’s proud of the comfort food she’s serving, just like she got growing up at her grandmother’s table.

On the weekend Mz. Jade offers a special extensive seafood menu, but she shared with us you can get their three seafood boils any night of the week when you dine in.

Once she settles into the new space she’s also thinking of adding a Southern brunch on Sunday that will feature fish and grits, salmon patties and more.

Mz.Jade’s SoulFood

1131 Central Ave
Middletown, OH 45044

(513) 571-1150

Hours:

Mon: 11:30am – 9pm
Tues & Wed: 1-10pm :
Thursday: 1-8pm
Fri & Sat:  1pm – 9pm
Sun: noon – 7pm

OLR All You Can Eat Fish Fry

By

Doors open at 5:30 pm with food service beginning at 6:00 pm.
All you can eat Icelandic cod, chicken strips, fresh sausage (hot and regular), French fries, salad, cole slaw, cabbage and noodles, Joe’s famous deserts and as always…popcorn, ice cream, coffee, beer and soft drinks.
Remember, Chef Joe and the crew makes everything from scratch so it is always fresh and delicious!
Raffle prizes and 213’s available at each fish fry.
Tickets are now $18 each up until the day of the fry & $20 at the door.
For more information or to get tickets, call (937) 228-8802
Sorry, No one under age 21 permitted.

Young’s Dairy Celebrates 153rd Birthday

By

Young’s history begins in 1869 when relatives of the Young Family built the red barn.  Hap Young bought the 60-acre farm and house shortly after the end of World War II.  For the next 10 years, Hap and his three sons, Carl, Bob, and Bill, farmed the 60 acres, plus up to 500 additional rented acres.  They grew grain, raised hogs, and milked cows.

In 1958, the Young Family decided to try to sell  Jersey milk directly to the public.  The first sales room was a modest operation.  They built a 10’ by 10’ room onto the end of the milk room.  The equipment was also modest – some glass jugs, a refrigerator, a cash drawer, and the honor system.  The customer would drive up, open the refrigerator, get his gallon of milk, leave an empty jug and the money, and drive away.

There was a market for farm fresh milk, so in 1960, we build and opened their first real dairy store.  They started dipping ice cream in this store.  They also added other dairy products, like cheese, and snack foods.  This building is attached to the big red barn and is where they make our ice cream today.

In 1993, we added the first activity at Udders & Putters – an 18-hole, farm theme miniature golf course.  1995 marked the first year for our driving range.  1996 saw the addition of a state of the art 9 position batting cage which features softball and hardball pitching machines.

We opened a new full-service restaurant, The Golden Jersey Inn in 1998.  This beautiful timber frame building restaurant features great country style food with a generous helping of friendly service.

In 1999, they built Barnabe’s Walnut Grove, to host group picnics, family reunions and company picnics. Located just south of our popular Udders & Putters area,  Barnabe’s Walnut Grove can easily serve groups with  home cooked meals and delicious homemade ice cream from 50 to over 5,000!  They built an additional 18-hole miniature golf course in 2000 to keep up with the demand for miniature golf.

They added Cowvin’s Fast Slide in 2008 – a 30’ slide with a couple of bumps on the way down. They started making Young’s Farmstead Cheese in July 2009.  Uusing only milk from their herd of Jersey cows to make the cheese, they make Cheddar, Colby, Baby Swiss, Jersey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gouda and Fresh Cheddar Curds.

They continue to make improvements each year, adding  new walking paths, installed ball dryers and a cover home plate area so they can operate the batting cages in the rain and have added to the landscaping around the farm. In 2017 Young’s on the Moove, their food truck hit the road.

To celebrate Young’s Jersey Dairy‘s birthday, from Jan 14- 17 they’ll be offering the following specials:

Dairy Store Specials:

$1.53 off all cones, all burgers, Deep Fried Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds, Chedda Cheese Crispys, 4 Pack Homemade Buckeyes, 1/2 Gallons of Homemade Ice Cream and kid’s meals

Souvenir Birthday Bowl with the purchase of the 153rd Anniversary Sundae: Includes vanilla and strawberry ice cream with chocolate and strawberry topping, whipped cream, nuts, a cherry and a homemade chocolate chip cookie for $4.95 and a festive ceramic bowl to take home!

Udders & Putters Specials:

$1.53 off games of miniature golf and medium bucket of golf balls

Young’s Farmstead Cheese Specials:
Special sampler package of four kinds of Young’s Farmstead Cheese $7.99
Two different samplers featuring eight of their farmstead cheeses made on our farm from our delicious Jersey cow milk.  Bring home (at least) one of each sampler.

Devil Wind Beer Dinner

By

We’re starting 2022 off in style as we welcome back Phatty Wagon for another beer dinner! Join us on Tuesday, January 11th, at 6:00 for an incredible seven-course meal that will leave you full and satisfied. This months menu includes:
Sun dried tomato bruschetta
Mini cabbage roll
Reuben soup
Winter vegetable chop salad
Bravard Farms grilled lamb chop w/rosemary gremolata w/lemon dill rice & honey balsamic seasonal vegetable
Chocolate stout pot de creme
Burrata w/peach coulis
Tickets are $35, and include 5 five-ounce beers serve throughout the meal.

Taco Bell’s Taco Lovers Pass – Taco A Day for 30 Days

By

Taco Bell is giving you a reason to run to the border daily.  They have just rolled out a Taco Lover’s Pass for just $10 that will entitles you to one taco per day for 30 days. The pass is only available through the Taco Bell app, where you can order food ahead and access other rewards.

Once purchased through the app you’ll d get access to a secret menu that lets you pick which taco you’ll like to redeem at a participating location.

You’ll be able to get a single taco per day and can choose from the:

  • Crunchy Taco
  • Crunchy Taco Supreme
  • Soft Taco
  • Soft Taco Supreme
  • Spicy Potato Soft Taco
  • Doritos Locos Tacos
  • Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme

Taco Lover’s Pass will be available as a one-time purchase but can be re-purchased when the original 30 days is over.” It also said that it’ll be available “for an extended limited time.”

Girl Scout Cookie Season Has Started- Don’t Buy Cookies From Parents!

By

1. Goal Setting – Girls set their own goals and contribute to setting troop/group goals.
2. Decision Making – Girls decide how to spend their troop/group proceeds.
3. Money Management – Girls tally orders, count change and budget.
4. People Skills – Girls interact with a variety of people and understand the importance of customer service.
5. Business Ethics – Girls learn how important it is to be honest, meet deadlines and properly market a product.

 

2022 Cookie Menu

And as I do each girl scout cookie season I share this story:


I admit I was a girl scout. And for those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that I was determined to sell more cookies than any of the other girls. I went up and down my street, knocking on doors for orders. I called all my relatives and perfected my telemarketing skills. I asked my dad to get his co-workers to buy from me. And he said NO! But he did offer to take me to work so I could ask for the order. I worked hard and sold hundreds of boxes and was sure I’d win the Cookie title.

Well as it turns out, I didn’t. Some little girl named Susie did. She lived down the street from me and I never saw her ask any of our neighbors to buy cookies. I asked her how she did it and she said it was easy-her mom and dad got all the orders for her. I was mad and didn’t think it was fair and complained to my dad about it. He told me life wasn’t fair, never would be, but that I’d really won, and I’d appreciate it some day when I realized that I had gotten much more out of it than Susie had. Not what a 9 year old girl wants to hear. So I’m sure I sulked around for a while, until something else captured my attention.

But now many years later, I get it. My dad was right- I had won! I’d learned how to set a goal, prospect customers, perfect my sales pitch, work on my organizational skills, plan the logistics of delivery, handle money, make change and enjoy quite a few cookies, too!

And that’s why I implore you to only buy cookies from Girl Scouts. I know there are many well intentioned parents that want to help their daughters, and help support the troops so they can put on all the programs they have scheduled; but please help them by letting them sell!

And I still pledge to buy cookies from any girl scout who asks.  The Girl Scout Cookie Program®, helps girls learn the essential skills they need to become effective leaders, manage finances, and gain self-sufficiency and confidence in handling money.

Did you know that every service provided by Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is subsidized for our members? It costs $320 per girl to give her the Girl Scout programmatic experience for just one year. The Girl Scout Cookie Program not only gives girls funds for the troop, but it also supports all of our services to volunteers, Caregivers, and girls. Proceeds from the Cookie Program also helps maintain our camp facilities and properties so they are not only adventurous but safe for our girls. It is important to remember that “council” is all of us. Every penny from the Cookie Program stays within our council after we pay our vendor and program costs.

Now with the Internet and rise of e-commerce, girls scouts are using the power of technology to expand their sales channels. Last year I got email solicitations, skype sales calls and still ran into a few girl scouts in front of stores.

The Digital Cookie® platform helps girls superpower their cookie sales as they go beyond the booth with mobile and online channels. That’s right. The platform is a fun, educational tool that helps girls run and manage their Girl Scout Cookie business online.

That means more ways for her to learn, and more ways for you to buy and support her success. It also means more opportunities to power new, unique, and amazing experiences that help her learn essential life skills, soar in confidence, discover the leader within, and have a ton of fun!

With the Digital Cookie platform, girls can:

  • Gain new essential business and social skills in a fun and engaging way.
  • Invite cookie customers to easily order and pay for cookies online and through their mobile app.
  • Earn funds to power amazing troop activities for her and her troop!

In a recent study by the Girl Scouts Heart of the South, they documented skills the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches, which girls can apply to everyday life:

  • 85% increased their money management skills as they developed budgets, took cookie orders and handled customers’ money.
  • 83% developed business ethics, learning to fulfill promises to customers and considering how best to contribute to their communities with their earnings.
  • 80% set goals and created objectives to reach them.
  • 77% made important decisions, learning to work as a team to develop a business plan, deciding when and where to sell cookies, and determining what to do with the money they earn.
  • 75% developed people skills, learning to talk to, listen to and work with different kinds of people.

Many successful businesswomen and community leaders say they got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies. So when your local Girl Scouts come calling with this year’s best-selling cookies, remember you’re saying hello to tomorrow’s business leaders.

 

Don’t know a Girl Scout? You can still help girls learn essential skills and do amazing things by buying cookies at your local cookie booth. Enter your zip code in the “Find Cookies!” tool for a list of scheduled cookie booths in your community. Click here for more info.

Want to support but don’t want cookies?

Donated cookies purchased will be given to multiple charitable organizations, including those in health care, military and veterans groups and food pantries.
$5.00

A Very Zen Birthday Benefit with the Rubi Girls

By

January 7 is the birthday for both Devin and Tori, and Zen Lounge is throwing a party to celebrate them and benefit David’s Place at Daybreak. Join us for a lunch special, Happy Hour, or Karaoke Dinner with the Rubi Girls with a portion of all proceeds for the entire day will be donated to David’s Place at Daybreak.

 

11:00 – 3:00 Lunch Special: choose any 2 traditional sushi rolls and either a miso soup or house salad for $12.50 3:00 – 6:00 Happy Hour: $1.00 off all alcoholic beverages, appetizers, and traditional sushi rolls 5:00 – 9:00 Karaoke

Dinner with the Rubi Girls: stop in and enjoy 2 of the best Japanese imports, sushi and Karaoke, with our special guests: the Rubi Girls 9:00 – close Cocktails

The 2022 Ale Trail Passport Challenge Is On!

By

It’s a new year and for beer lovers that means the challenge to complete the 2022 Ale Trail Passport book!  Participants will complete the trail by visiting each brewery on the list and collecting all the stamps.   The goal of this project is to show a collective support for all of our great local breweries from Middletown to Springfield.  This is the 6th year that passports have been issued. Last year over 15,000 passports were printed.

This year their are 27 stamps you must collect to claim your prize.  While several of the breweries have two locations, you only need to visit one to get your stamp. Pick up your passport at any one of the participating breweries:

Alematic Artisian Ales – Huber Heights
Bock Family Brewing – Washington Township
Branch & Bone – Dayton
Carillon Brewing Company – Dayton
Crooked Handle – Springboro
Dayton Beer Co.- Dayton
Devil Wind Brewing – Xenia
Eudora Brewing Company – Kettering
Fifth Street Brewpub – St. Anne’s Hill
Figleaf Brewing Co – Middletown
Hairless Hare Brewery – VandaliaHeavier Than Air Brewing Co – CentervilleLock 27 Brewing – Dayton & Centerville
Loose Ends Brewing Company – Centerville
Luck Star Brewery – Miamisburg
Moeller Brew Barn – Maria Stein, Troy and Dayton (spring 22)
Mother Stewarts – Springfield
N.E.W Ales Brewing – Middletown
Nowhere in Particular – Kettering
Pinups & Pints – Medway
Rolling Mill Brewing Company – Middletown
Southern Ohio Brewing – Beavercreek
Star City Brewing Company – Miamisburg
Toxic Brew Co – Oregon District
Trail Town Brewing – Yellow Springs
Wandering Griffin Brewery – Beavercreek
Warped Wing – Dayton, Springboro, Mason (open soon)
Yellow Springs Brewery – Yellow Springs

Once you’ve collected all your stamps you can present your passport to receive this pint glass.

Restaurants Taking a Little Extra Time Off

By

After a very busy holiday season, many on our local eateries will be taking some time off.  Here are one’s we know so far.  If you know of one, send us a note or list it in the comments below.

Ashley’s Pastry Shop
Closed for vacation through Jan 10th, will reopen Tues, Jan 11th at 7am 

Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company
will be closed Jan 1 -11 and will reopen Jan 12th at 7am 

Bear Creek Donuts
Will reopen on Jan 7th

Grist Provisions
Will reopen at 10am on January 12th.

Hole N One Donuts
will reopen Jan 7th

Jay’s Seafood
Reopening Wednesday January 12th.

Jet Freeze
Will be closed 12/25-1/9 Reopening 1/10 12pm-7pm

Mamma DiSalvo’s
Will close Jan 1 – 11 and reopen on Jan 12th

Rumbleseat Wine
Closed Jan 1 – 6

Slyders Tavern
Closed through January 16th

Stone House Sweets Bakery & Coffee House
will reopen on Tues, Jan 11th

The Barrel House
Will be closed Jan 1st-6th.

The Dayton Woman’s Club
Will be closed January 1st – 14th

The Donut Haus
Will reopen on Jan 7th

The Winds
Closed for our winter break January 1-19, 2022. Will reopen Thursday, January 20 at 4pm for dinner.

Venecia Italian Restaurant

will be closed for vacation through January 19th. Will reopen on January 20, 2022, at 11 AM!

Remembering Dayton’s Closed Restaurants- 2021 Edition

By

For another year plagued by the pandemic, we are pleased to report that less restaurants closed this year than in each of the previous 4 years.  Here’s a look back at those eateries we lost in 2021:

 

Heavenly Indian Grill, a kosher Vegetarian eatery featuring Chaat, tandoori, curries, and other South Indian specials was located on St Rt 741.  When  was Lexis Nexis employees began working from home, they saw a downturn in business and just couldn’t sustain the levels needed to succeed.

Gyro Palace on Airway closed in January, only to be replaced just a few months later by Gyro Maximus.

Even the chains felt the drop in business as Fuzzy Taco announced in January of 2021 that its Beavercreek location will be closing its doors permanently, like many other businesses throughout the pandemic. Fuzzy’s isn’t gone forever though, the restaurant has another location in Cincinnati.

Crossroads BBQ and More, the locally owned and operated  restaurant, which moved into a former Cadillac Jack’s space in Fairborn in April 2019, shut its doors in January as its owners announced on their restaurant’s Facebook page.

Mimi’s Cafe at the Greene closed in February after nearly 15 years in business.  When Mimi’s Cafe opened in 2007 the then fast-growing chain was owned by Bob Evans Inc. Bob Evans sold the brand to Dallas-based Le Duff America Inc. in 2013.  At one point they had almost 80 locations, but according to their website, they are now down to about 40 restaurants.

Sushi Hana, the  Japanese and Korean Restaurant located on Lyons Road since 2013 closed rather quietly in February.  At first it posted temporarily closed signs and then just never reopened.

St Anne The Tart, after two highly successful years in February they announced they were shutting down as  owner Megan Smith declared she’d “channel our efforts into new projects and begin looking for a space that will let us grow long-term in this new era of social distancing.”  Earlier this month Smith shared in an email that though she’s been looking she just hasn’t found a spot that’s right.  She did announce she is working on a cookbook and she was “putting all of my best effort and energy right now into a way in which we can still do community well together—something that feels in line with the ideals and mission we all seem to have in common.”

Lefty’s Eats & Espresso Xenia, a second location for this sandwich and coffee shop just didn’t seem to have the momentum to keep the Xenia spot afloat, as the owner announced the closing on their Facebook page in March of 2021.

Gigi’s Gyro’s in Miamisburg, which opened in August of 2018 and was slowly expanding to offer a number of international product for sale shut their doors for good in March of 2021.

Stillwrights, makers offine small batch moonshine, bourbon and rum  shut down in May of 2021.  In an unusual move Cincinnati Distilling Company bought Stillwrights brand after the Fairborn-based distiller announced its permanent closure in May.

Cafe 1610, the all vegan spot in Dayton that opened in the District Provisions spot on Wayne Ave in September of 2020 with three partners, Molly Blackshear, Xtine Brean and Cathy Mong, wasn’t open long before Xtine Brean stepped away from the business. In a video announcement on the Café 1610 Facebook in May of 2021  co-owner Molly Blackshear made the sudden announcement that Dayton’s only all-vegan restaurant would be closing at the end of the month, relocating, rebranding and “starting pretty much over in a sense.” In November they announced they would be doing some pop up shops under the Bee Vegan label.

Xuan Vietnamese, a small family owned eatery on Airway, was doing pretty solid business, until the pandemic.  His daily lunch rush from the base was gone.  Then in January  he came into work one day and smelled gasoline and saw “Fuck U China Virus” graffitied on the side of his restaurant’s building. He was shocked and he and his wife felt unsafe.  In late February a fire broke out and was being investigated as arson.  A rise in attacks against Asian-Americans combined with the economic impact of COVID-19 has left many Asian-American-owned businesses struggling. Xuan closed in May of 2021. But there is some happy news for Noop’s business.  He has now opened a stall at the 2nd Street Market, operating as HomeStyle Thai Bistro.

Texas Beef & Cattle Co, which had operated for five years on West Third Street in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood struggled during the pandemic to maintain the hep they needed to run the restaurant.  Inconsistent hours and that lack of help seemed to be the final nail in the coffin of this barbeque business.  According to their website, they are still doing catering.

Paradise Key Cafe, 1060 Patterson Road in the Breitenstrater Plaza  closed permanently in July of 2021.  The restaurant’s chief executive officer Jennifer Lynn Jones posted this on Facebook: “With a heavy heart, I am sorry to announce that Paradise in Kettering has closed its doors due to under performance. When we took over, we had hoped to bring the party to this location, but we just couldn’t quite get it to where it needed to be.” 

Las Piramdes, the Centerville eatery closed this summer on July 6. The 6290 Chambersburg Rd, Huber Heights location remains open.  Fabian Leon, son of one of the Las Piramides founders mentioned that the building had been sold. We’ve since learned that owners with Fireside Café in Liberty Township, purchased the building on 101 W. Franklin Street and will be opening The Brunch Pub.

Rapid Fired Pizza closed two underperforming units in August. Both 2001 E. Dorothy Lane in Kettering & 1200 Brown St. were shut down.

The Patriot Eatery & Pizzeria which took over the location that had once been  Starlite Restaurant & Diner on Smithville Road  in 2016. In August of 2021 they announced via their Facebook page “Thank you for your support and your smiles and business. It’s been a pleasure serving you these past few years. Please stay safe and happy. Lots of love the Patriot family. One big hug going out to y’all.”  On Nov. 4, Patriot Eatery and Pizzeria reopened for carryout and delivery at 2119 Germantown St. in Dayton. Delivery is  available through the delivery apps DoorDash and Uber Eats. To order, customers should call 937-496-5734.

Fino Sur opened in May of 2020 to serve authentic Peruvian cuisine.  The food was good, but the business never built up enough of a following and closed in Oct of 2021

Panera Bread closed down two of it’s established locations this past summer, one on St Rt 725 near the Dayton Mall, which had operated since 2005 and the other in downtown Centervile on St Rt 48 next to Square One Salon, but announced they would be replaced by a a new and larger location that would also have a drive-thru.  That new location opened in October.

This Medway restaurant had been serving the community for 80 years as The Tavernette.  In 2015 John & Kelly Hill  purchased it and then in 2020 decided  with the mandatory shut down brought on by the Corona Virus, the time was right for the change to 316 Tap & Barrel Grill.  With sporadic shut downs during the pandemic, they announced via Facebook that the were closed until further notice.

With over 40 years of success at the original Little York Tavern and Pizza, owner Matt Hentrick decided to open a second location in Kettering on Dorothy Lane in a building that had most recently housed Arepas & Co.  Opened in October of 2020, is was a struggle. That location has housed many  previous tenants, and once again proved to be unsustainable and just closed recently.  Luckily this closed has no effect on the original Little York location!

Owning a restaurant has always been a hard career choice, but add a pandemic, staffing struggles and supply chain issues and it’s understandable why so many of these places had to close.  We wish all the owners much success as they start new chapters in their life and applaud those that have already done a reinvention.

Have we missed one of your favorites that closed this year?  Leave us a comment below.

Zero-Proof for 2022!

By

Ghostlight Coffee started selling zero-proof spirits in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shane Anderson, owner of Ghostlight Coffee, and his wife Lezley Pisone, had been diving into the world of nonalcoholic spirits at home and wanted to share the opportunity with the Dayton community. What started as a single shelf of products has transformed into a full-fledged bottle shop located inside the historic coffeehouse located on Wayne Avenue.

The Bottle Shop by Ghostlight boasts a varied selection of zero-proof spirits and “social beverages,” as the shop calls them. Customers can choose from familiar spirits such as gin, whiskey, tequila and rum (all with no alcohol) as well as pre-mixed “cocktails” and unique herbal elixirs. A variety of sparkling beverages and “clean” wines, non-alcoholic craft beer, cocktail syrups, aperitifs, aromatic bitters and more, all crafted without alcohol, open up wonderful tasting experiences for any palate.

“I have been more than pleasantly surprised to experience some bar cart staples’ and unique herbal elixirs that are now a part of my evening ‘unwind’ ritual,” said Pisone, who chooses an alcohol-free lifestyle but has experienced the taste of popular cocktails in the past.

The demand for better non-alcoholic beverages has been growing rapidly since the start of the pandemic. Prior to recent years, those abstaining from alcohol for any reason often had few choices. Water, soda, or if you were lucky, a tonic with lime was probably the best you’d find at a party or bar. “Sober bars” and non-alcoholic cocktails have been popping up with greater frequency nation-wide, but the Ghostlight Coffee Bottle Shop will be the first of its kind in Ohio.

Ghostlight also has a line-up of bubbly Brut Champagne and Rosé stand-ins such by TÖST, Zilch and Jøyus for those who would like to provide these non-alcoholic options for your wedding or other celebratory events. These will be available by the bottle or to pre-order by the case.

‘We recently came to the rescue for a local couple that was hosting an alcohol-free wedding,” said shop manager Jennifer Piasini. “The couple had ordered multiple cases of TÖST, a dry sparkling white tea beverage, but the delivery was delayed. They came into the shop and cleared our shelves so they could have a toast at their reception!”

The Bottle Shop was purposefully completed just in time for “Dry January” to support those who may be adjusting their habits in the new year. Ghostlight plans to offer a limited menu of zero-proof cocktails so new customers can taste and experience some of the most popular products. The Bottle Shop will also host special events such as a zero-proof cocktail class led by former Ghostlight barista and level-three sommelier candidate Evan Danielson on Friday, January 21.

The Bottle Shop by Ghostlight Coffee is located inside the existing coffeehouse at 1201 Wayne Avenue. Hours are 1:00pm-6:00pm Monday through Saturday, but additional shopping may be done by request with Ghostlight Coffee manager Jennifer Piasini, (937) 985-2633 Ext. 1 or [email protected].

 

New to Zero-Proof?  Shane and Lezley Share Their Favorites:

Pisone is partial to a classic gin & tonic with Monday Gin and Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic Water. Anderson, on the other hand tends to mix up an evening Old Fashioned with Monday Whiskey and a WithCo mixer. The couple mutually enjoy the calming Three Spirits Nightcap as a tremendous end of day cocktail.

Ghostlight Coffee manager Jennifer Piasini enjoys a refreshing Spirito Fresco with Free Spirits Gin, Jo Snow Aperitivo Spirito and Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic. She also has found the Waterbrook Winery Chardonnay a terrific alternative. Explore more of our favorites online.

Zero-Proof Cocktail Recipes:

French 75 – a festive non-alcoholic take on this celebratory cocktail
1 oz. Ritual Gin
1⁄2 oz. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

1⁄2 oz. Simple Syrup
3 oz. Chilled Jøyus Brut Garnish with a Lemon Twist

Maple Old Fashioned – a classic 2 oz. Monday Whiskey
1 tsp. Pure Maple Syrup
4 dashes DRAM “Black” Bitters Garnish with a Cocktail Cherry Stir with ice cubes

Three Spirits Julep – choose your own adventure! Use either the energizing Livener or the mellowing Nightcap by Three Spirits to make this delicious cocktail your own.

2 oz. Three Spirits Livener OR Nightcap 1⁄2 oz. Simple Syrup
3-4 dashes DRAM “Citrus” Bitters 10-12 Mint Leaves
Muddle Mint Leaves with Simple Syrup Mix well with remainder of ingredients and crushed ice
Garnish with Mint Leaves

Restaurants Serving Christmas Eve & Christmas Dinner

By

For most families, returning to the same Christmas traditions year after year is a big part of what makes the holiday so special.  Still, you might be looking to shake things up a little bit in 2021…in which case, checking out these restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day could be a great idea.   We’ll be updating this story as more restaurants reveal their plans.

Amar India
2751 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459  (937)
439 – 9005

Open Christmas Eve 11.30am —–8.00pm
Open Christmas day  11.30am—–8.30pm

 

Bright Moon Buffet

2900 Wilmington Pike Kettering, OH 45419.    (937) 999-4108

Come join us for a variety of foods our our buffet!  We will be open 11am- 9:30pm Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Butter Cafe

1106 Brown St, Dayton, OH       (937) 985-9917

Will be open Christas Eve 8-2, closed Christmas Day

Carvers Steaks & Chops
1535 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township.   (937) 433-7099

Make your reservations today and Enjoy Dinner with us on Christmas Eve from 4 to 9pm

Chappy’s Social House

7880 Washington Village Drive, Centerville, OH 45459    937-439-9200
Open 4-8pm Christmas Eve

Cooper’s Hawk
5220 Cornerstone North Blvd. Centerville, OH 45440     937-900-9463

Christmas Eve hours 11am -9pm, closed Christmas Day

Firebirds
3500 Rigby Road, Miamisburg, OH, 45342 937-865-9355

Open Christmas Eve 11am – 9pm, Closed Christmas Day

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
4432 Walnut Street Dayton, OH 45440   937-320-9548

Serving Christmas Eve Dinner starting at 4pm.  Reservations suggested

 

Fu Mon Lau

2008 Miamisburg Centerville Road Dayton, OH 45459.    (937) 293-2211

Open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 11 to 10:30pm

Giovanni’s


215 W Main St Fairborn, OH 45324    (937) 878-1611

Serving from 11-8pm on Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day

Jaqua’s at The Greene

81 Magnolia Lane, Beavercreek, OH 45440.    (937) 702-9006

Open Christmas eve from  11am to  7pm

Jay’s Seafood

225 E 6th St, Dayton, OH 45402    (937) 222-2892

Open 4-8pm on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day

Mudlick Tap House

135 East Second St. Dayton, OH 45402    (937) 895-4066

A Griswold’s Christmas Eve Brunch- seating begin at 10am
Enjoy a Griswold themed brunch menu! Kids are most certainly welcome (kids menu will be available!) Reservations are limited so make yours today!

Pasha Grill

72 Plum Street . Beavercreek 937-429-9000
Open 11am – 10pm, also open Christmas Day 11am -9pm

Redland’s Grill/J Alexanders

7970 Washington Village Dr Dayton, OH 45459.   (937) 435-4441
Open Christmas Eve 11:30am – 9pm, closed Christmas Day

Roost Modern Italian

534 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District.    937-222-31–
Open Christmas Eve 5-11pm

Smith’s Boathouse Restaurant

439 North Elm Street Troy, OH 45373     (937) 335-3837
Christmas Eve Brunch with Santa. 11am -6pm

Thai Kitchen

8971 Kingsridge Dr, Dayton, OH       (937) 436-5079
Open 11:00 am-2:30 pm, 4:30 pm-9:00 pm Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Thai Table

5841 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429     (937) 739-5841
Christmas Eve, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Christmas Day 12pm – 10:30pm

The Caroline On the Square
5 South Market Street, Troy, OH 45373    937-552-7676

Christmas Eve reservations start at 3:00 pm, with the last seating at 8:30 pm
Closed Christmas Day.

Tokyo Grill & Sushi Buffet

1061 Miamisburg Centerville Road
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Watermark
20 S 1st St, Miamisburg, OH 45342.    (937) 802-0891

Serving Christmas Eve from 4:30-8:30pm, Closed Christmas Day.

Have Some Cake at Yellow Springs Brewery!

By

And on earth, peace (and cake for all).
We’re releasing Peace of Cake, a German chocolate cake stout, just in time for Christmas! Draft and cans release in our Taproom on Thursday, December 23rd at 1pm.
This full-bodied beer was crafted with cake from our friends at Yellow Springs Baking Company, and features delicious notes of coconut and chocolate. (9% ABV)