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Y! MyWebSome not-too-pricey, not-too-cheap hidden gems
Comment: Do you know of any "hidden gem" restaurants that deserve to be a bit less hidden. Nominate your favorites
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The basics: 725 Lyons Road (just off Ohio 725) in Washington Twp [Map]. (937) 435-0624. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, dinner only on Saturdays, closed Sundays.
Why it's a gem: This charming little Thai restaurant gets lost in the 725 restaurant crush, but the atmosphere, service and food make it worth the trip.
Dishes to try: Rangoon Sticks ($5) with garlic and chive, Pad Kapow-Basil Stir Fry ($7.95-$8.95 for lunch portion, $11.95-$14.95 dinner) with your choice of meat (including alligator), Twice-Cooked Fish ($14.95), chunks of catfish deep-fried and stirred with spicy sauce and kaffir lime leaves.
Web site: www.bahnmai.com
Bob Silva with entrees in his restaurant Bahn Mai Thai Cafe, 725 Lyons Rd. in the Washington park Plaza Shopping center. The basics: 5900 Bigger Road, Kettering [Map]. (937) 436-1128. Open seven days a week.
Why it's a gem: A menu that far exceeds expectations for a tavern. You can't go wrong with any of the specials offered on Friday and Saturday nights. Is it a bar or is it a restaurant? The answer is: Yes.
Dishes to try: Do not miss the Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Remoulade appetizer ($3.25) , or the Barbecue Rib Dinner ($23 for a full slab, $11.50 for half), which includes two sides. If you're a fan of the specials, arrive early to ensure they don't run out.
The basics: 965 W. Main St., Tipp City [Map]. (937) 667-6664. Open Monday through Saturday for dinner, lunches on Thursday and Friday only.
Why it's a gem: Well-executed Asian and fusion cuisine makes this worth the trip to Tipp (who else besides me misses the Chin's restaurant in downtown Dayton? Sigh ...). Art Chin is still serving some of the old "Pacific Rim" favorites, as well as a seasonal menu that will tempt diners.
Dishes to try: Asian Pesto Chicken (chicken breast marinated in an Asian pesto, grilled and stir-fried with sun-dried tomatoes, bok choy leaves and bowtie pasta, $6.25 lunch/$13.95 dinner); Singapore Noodles (chicken, shrimp and pork with a touch of curry and heat. Dry stir-fried with angel hair pasta and finished with peanuts and lime wedges, $6.25/$13.95). The decadent Chocolate Wonton dessert ($4.75), featuring three wontons served with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, is a treat worth ordering. The lemon and ginger ice creams made in-house — that are sometimes featured specials — are also worth seeking out.
Web site: www.chins-ginger-grill.com
The basics: 35 E. Main St., Tipp City [Map]. (937) 667-0007. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Why it's a gem: This eclectic little restaurant in downtown Tipp City serves up perfectly executed, creative dishes in a rustic, charming atmosphere. Sometime in the summer of 2008, it will move a block or so to the west, into a former bank building, but let's hope nothing else changes. Funky, great little wine list, too.
Dishes to try: Mussels Sambuca ($8.95), Pecan-encrusted Tilapia ($16.95), Ostrich Filet with cherry demi-glace ($18.95) any fruit pie they're offering ($3.95). The pie is limited, so be sure to order it when you order your appetizers and entree to stake your claim, especially if it's the cherry pie with the crumb topping.
Web site: www.coldwater-cafe.com
The basics: 8794 Ohio 274, Kettlersville, northwest of Sidney. From Dayton or points south: I-75 north to Ohio 274, head west. The restaurant is about four miles from the interstate [Map]. (937) 693-6432. Open daily.
Why it's a gem: Great German specialties that hit their peak the first Wednesday of every month, when the restaurant offers a full German dinner buffet. Other specials include a diner buffet every Friday and a lunch buffet on Sundays; "Crabby Monday" dinners; and an extensive, very tempting beer selection.
Dishes to try: Hit the buffets to try 'em all, or check out the Pork & Kraut ($8.95) or German Melt sandwich ($5.95).
The basics: 3 E. Market St., Germantown [Map]. (937) 855-2111. Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Why it's a gem: A charming, rustic atmosphere in a small town, and the authentic cooking of Francesco Farinola, a native of Bari, Italy. And new this spring: a liquor license! Francesco's can now serve wine. But don't expect the family vibe to change.
Dishes to try: Insalata Campagnolo ($11.50), Baked Ziti Barese ($8.50), Chicken Scarpariello ($12.50), Gooey Butter Coffee Cake ($3.95).
The basics: 4250 Chief Woods Lane, Dayton [Map]. (937) 299-6161. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays.
Why it's a gem: There are supper clubs, and then there's Treasure Island ... the mother of all local old-school supper clubs. Decked out dimly with dark woods and rich burgundy booths accented by colorful light fixtures that hang low, the nautical-themed restaurant has the power to transform you to the golden age of supper clubs where no meal was ordered without a cocktail to complement it.
Dishes to try: The cold chicken Island Salad Supreme ($5.95) is a favorite, but all of the heaping salads are winners depending on what you're looking for. Monday night's Broasted Chicken special ($8.95) and Friday and Saturday nights' Prime Rib special ($19.95 for a regular cut, $21.95 for a heavy cut) are not to be missed. Order the potato boat side or the corn fritters with syrup for a rich, savory treat to accompany dinner.
Comments
By SARAH YOUNG
April 29, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
WE WERE AT THE DOCK IN ENON SAT. NIGHT. OH WHAT A NEAT PLACE! IT HAS GREAT FOOD,DECOR, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE WERE EXCELLENT. AND , OF COURSE, THE FOOD WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! YOU HAVE GOT TO GO AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL PONDS ,OUTSIDE SEATING , AND THEY ALSO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT,WHICH IS GREAT!!!!CHECK IT OUT!!! NOT LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE AROUND
By SARAH YOUNG
April 29, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
WE WERE AT THE DOCK IN ENON SAT. NIGHT. OH WHAT A NEAT PLACE! IT HAS GREAT FOOD,DECOR, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE WERE EXCELLENT. AND , OF COURSE, THE FOOD WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! YOU HAVE GOT TO GO AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL PONDS ,OUTSIDE SEATING , AND THEY ALSO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT,WHICH IS GREAT!!!!CHECK IT OUT!!! NOT LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE AROUND
By SARAH YOUNG
April 29, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
WE WERE AT THE DOCK IN ENON SAT. NIGHT. OH WHAT A NEAT PLACE! IT HAS GREAT FOOD,DECOR, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE WERE EXCELLENT. AND , OF COURSE, THE FOOD WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! YOU HAVE GOT TO GO AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL PONDS ,OUTSIDE SEATING , AND THEY ALSO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT,WHICH IS GREAT!!!!CHECK IT OUT!!! NOT LIKE ANY OTHER PLACE AROUND
By GERRY WELLS
April 27, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
THIS IS THE BEST EVER!! IT HAS EVERYTHING, FOOD ,DECO, OUTSIDE SEATING, PONDS AND THE BEST FFOD AND SERVERS! THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT AND THE ENTERTAINMENT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. YOU HAVE GOT TO GO THERE!!!!
By GERRY WELLS
April 27, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
HAVE YOU NOT BEEN TO THE DOCK IN ENION, OHIO ? IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR THIRTEEN YEARS AND NO BODY HAS MENTIONED THEM. THEY HAVE THE BEST DECO. AND THE BEST FOOD. IN THE SUMMER TIME THEY HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR SEATING WITH THE PONDS. IT IS JUST LIKE BEING ON THE ISLANDS. WE WOULD HIGHLY RECEMMEND THIS RESTAURANT TO EVERYONE. EVERYONE THAT WORKS THERE ARE SO NICE AND THE PEOPLE THAT OWN IT ARE SO GRACIES.THE ENTERTAINMENT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD! I
By Publius
April 21, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this
Treasure Island’s main attraction for me is the old-fashioned overbuilt salads.
By Suzanne
April 10, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this
We love Troni’s, a small Italian restaurant in a small strip mall near the intersection of Wilmington/Dorothy Lane in Kettering. The prices are very reasonable and the food is great. The garlic rolls are something you don’t get at other places and the dough they use for their Stromboli’s is wonderful.