Dayton, OH

[X-band '01]

I'm surprised no one has thrown this softball yet:

For those of us who may be venturing north to see XU-UD later this year, anyone know any good eats or other places up there?

[xeus]

If you must stay in Dayton long enough to have to eat its food, I recommend the grilled cheese and tomato bisque at CitiLites, located in the Schuster Center. But your best bet is (as always) to get the F out of Dayton and hit Marion's Pizza or Bill's Donuts in Centerville.

[Pablo's Brother]

Pine Club on Brown street near UD's campus.

Great steaks - especially for the price. Ruby's is better - but much more expensive.

Too bad it is not open on Sundays.

[PM Thor]

Sinners.

I HATE dayton.

[STL_XUfan]

Dave Attell said it best: "I was in Dayton, Ohio. You ever been there? Ya? You know what’s a fun thing to do there? Pack up and get the fuck outa there."

[X Factor]

One of the few places I'd recommend in Dayton:

Southpark Tavern (http://southparktavern.com/)

Awesome craft beer on tap and some of the best pizza I've ever had.

[xeus]

Pine Club on Brown street near UD's campus.


I second that. Great place, excellent steaks. But bring cash - they won't take your credit card.

[GuyFawkes38]

I happened to have to drive through downtown Dayton last summer. Before that, I thought that all of the negative remarks by X fans about Dayton were overblown.

I was shocked by how empty downtown was. The Dayton area has about 500,000 people in it. Shouldn't that support a more thriving downtown. Very odd.


Dave Attell said it best: "I was in Dayton, Ohio. You ever been there? Ya? You know what’s a fun thing to do there? Pack up and get the fuck outa there."

I loved Attell's "Insomniac" series on comedy central.

[X-band '01]

I second that. Great place, excellent steaks. But bring cash - they won't take your credit card.

They don't accept credit cards up in Dayton? What century is this - do I have to pay them with golden nuggets instead?

[AdamtheFlyer]

They don't accept credit cards up in Dayton? What century is this - do I have to pay them with golden nuggets instead?

We only take Yen. Pine Club and Marion's Pizza don't take credit cards because there's no need to give up the fees. They lose zero business. Packed, always. Old men roll in with wads of hundreds by the car load. Although for a steak I prefer the Oakwood Club or Grub Steak, which is just a half mile or so off I-75 at the Dayton Mall exit. Like most well known places around a town, Pine Club is overrated. The stewed tomatoes are great, but the steaks are average.

El Meson is a fantastic Hispanic restaurant in West Carrollton, very near I-75. Basically any Hispanic cuisine but Mexican. Cuban, Spanish, Dominican. Really great stuff, the owner travels a lot and changes the menu several times a year. South Park Tavern is great. Golden Nugget, just a couple miles south of campus, is the best breakfast place.

Downtown Dayton sucks because the city administration is completely incompetent. They tried to get a Banks style project surrounding Fifth Third Field but just never went through with it. The company that owns the Dragons is going through back channels trying to drum up support for a downtown arena (10-15,000 seats) to be built and can find no support. Guess they're fine having event/concert/shopping dollars going to Beavercreek and Fairborn. It's a shame. Between the Dragons stadium, Oregon District and the two theaters (Memorial Hall and the world class Schuster Center) downtown Dayton has real potential, but no one wants to actually do anything.

The Oregon District is pretty cool, but you have to watch your back after 10PM or so if you're going pub crawling. It's not overly bad, but less safe than other bar districts in Columbus, Cincy/Newport or Indy. Definitely wouldn't recommend a group of less than 4 at night.

[GuyFawkes38]

We only take Yen. Pine Club and Marion's Pizza don't take credit cards because there's no need to give up the fees. They lose zero business. Packed, always. Old men roll in with wads of hundreds by the car load. Although for a steak I prefer the Oakwood Club or Grub Steak, which is just a half mile or so off I-75 at the Dayton Mall exit. Like most well known places around a town, Pine Club is overrated. The stewed tomatoes are great, but the steaks are average.

El Meson is a fantastic Hispanic restaurant in West Carrollon, very near I-75. Basically any Hispanic cuisine but Mexican. Cuban, Spanish, Dominican. Really great stuff. South Park Tavern is great. Golden Nugget, just a couple miles south of campus, is the best breakfast place.

Downtown Dayton sucks because the city administration is completely incompetent. They tried to get a Banks style project surrounding Fifth Third Field but just never went through with it. The company that owns the Dragons is going through back channels trying to drum up support for a downtown arena (10-15,000 seats) to be built and can find no support. Guess they're fine having event/concert/shopping dollars going to Beavercreek and Fairborn. It's a shame. Between the Dragons stadium, Oregon District and the two theaters (Memorial Hall and the world class Schuster Center) downtown Dayton has real potential, but no one wants to actually do anything.

The Oregon District is pretty cool, but you have to watch your back after 10PM or so if you're going pub crawling. It's not overly bad, but less safe than other bar districts in Columbus, Cincy/Newport or Indy. Definitely wouldn't recommend a group of less than 4 at night.


I was going to note in my post that the only good aspect of downtown is that ballpark. Looks great.

yeah, the tough part about revitalizing downtowns is that the first people to invest typically fail. If only you get a bunch of people to invest at the same time. That's where having a proactive local government helps.

[Pete Delkus]

Tool Town Tavern - Casual restaurant and bar located in the B Concourse of the Dayton Airport.

http://www.flydayton.com/uploads/images/AB6U7116.jpg

[chico]

Pine Club is great. Steaks might not be as good as Precinct but you get out of there for less than half the price and the steaks are pretty close. You also don't have to pay extra for sides - I recommend the double hash browns with extra sour cream.

I hear Mamma DiSalvo's is very good Italian.

[AdamtheFlyer]

I was going to note in my post that the only good aspect of downtown is that ballpark. Looks great.

yeah, the tough part about revitalizing downtowns is that the first people to invest typically fail. If only you get a bunch of people to invest at the same time. That's where having a proactive local government helps.

Yeah, the stadium is great, but it suffers from the same thing that plagues Cincinnati until the banks/casino are fully up and running. 8,000 or so people go to the game, then go home. Same with a show or concert at one of the theaters. There's almost nothing to do in walking distance.

[GuyFawkes38]

Yeah, the stadium is great, but it suffers from the same thing that plagues Cincinnati until the banks/casino are fully up and running. 8,000 or so people go to the game, then go home. Same with a show or concert at one of the theaters. There's almost nothing to do in walking distance.

Yeah, it's too bad Mount Adams and Mainstrausse (2 really fun bar districts, IMHO) aren't closer to the GABP.

Very slowly, bars and restaurants seem to be popping up in downtown the past 5 years. But they aren't really easy to find. I think the banks will help with providing an obvious area to eat and drink and shop before and after games.

[xu95]

I would second Mama DiSalvos. Also, isn't the bar Walnut Hills owned by a Xavier grad? I know it was at least some years ago.

xu95

[ballyhoohoo]

I will admit, once a year i trek up to Dayton and spend a day at Wright Pat, I could spend days in that place, and it is free.

[xu95]

I will admit, once a year i trek up to Dayton and spend a day at Wright Pat, I could spend days in that place, and it is free.

Lucky for you that is actually Kettering. THat can be considered acceptable.

xu95

[American X]

They don't accept credit cards up in Dayton? What century is this - do I have to pay them with golden nuggets instead?

Because they invented the cash register and never moved on. Do you realize everything in stores would be free if not for Dayton?

Erma Bombeck was a whore.