Confession: I am 8 weeks overdue for an article here at Dayton Most Metro.
I’ve been working on my latest piece in my Quest for the Best series. See past Quests here. I just can’t pull the trigger. Calling a place the best is hard to do. Too much drama from the local foodie scene when you label it the best.
My Quests started a long time ago. 5-6 or 7 years ago I created a Pad Thai crawl. My group ponied up $50 and we ate Pad Thai 5 times in one afternoon. Eat. Rest. Drive. Eat again. Repeat. Started at noon at the Greene and finished at Thai 9 at 5:00. A while later I wrote it up as my quest to find the best Pad Thai in Dayton. I don’t recommend that volume for anyone in a day.
I repeated that same format with a taco crawl, four stops, three hours. I’ve done epic 8 or 10 restaurant crawls in Kansas City in 48 hours. Same in Memphis. Austin. Once did 4 BBQ places in one day here in Southwest Ohio.
In case you are wondering, my favorite BBQ in all of Southwest Ohio is either Just Q’in (Walnut Hills) or Combs BBQ in Middletown. Here in Dayton I like most all, City, Oink, Smokin, Fat Backs, and FlyBy are all legit and doing good stuff with BBQ here. If I didn’t list a local brick and mortar store in Dayton just now, that was on purpose. Either I don’t like it, or it doesn’t count as a BBQ spot for me.
Bryan tackling the beef rib at Franklin BBQ, Austin Texas
I later wrote about the best Reuben in Dayton. I had Reuben sandwiches at 17 restaurants over an 8 week period. That’s two a week or more for two months. I thought I found the best. I really just found my favorite.
All this to say, in recent weeks and months I have seen the worst in foodies when the subject of “Wheres the Best?” arises in a conversation.
If I have learned anything its that best is subjective. There are no standards for best Pad Thai and when you factor in regional tastes or the chef putting it together its impossible to decide on the standard for best. Same with biscuits and gravy. Or tacos. Tacos people! Tacos are more regional in Mexico than pizza in the US.
What people are asking, when they ask for the best, is this: What is your favorite?
Asking that question takes away the debate. My favorite my not be your favorite. But no matter what the sauces are, or the cut of meat, my favorite is still my favorite.
In third grade, Jennifer Whitley quietly smoked the rest of Mrs. Hopkin’s class in the 50 yard dash. She was not the best runner. She was simply the fastest runner in the class that day. And for many days and years ahead. There’s a difference. Best. Fastest. Favorite. That is also the day I learned I would never be on the track team.
When we say best, we say favorite, and when we say favorite, we often mean personal or nostalgic. I am an unabashed Skyline Chili guy and Cassano’s pizza guy. I love them both. Unashamed. Those two places were a big deal in the small town I grew up in. I have close personal memories of dining with my family at the Lebanon London Bobby’s and later Cassano’s pizza. Up here, closer to Dayton, Marion’s is an institution. For many of the same reasons.
Recently I had the best service and the best complete dinner I’ve had this year. It was at Jay’s Seafood in the Oregon district. I had never been there. My tastes tend more to Abners, Taco trucks and low brow BBQ, not fine dining.
But. Jay’s did not disappoint. If I shared the menu with you, someone would tell me how they got better scallops or white fish or spinach salad somewhere else in town. Maybe the fried oyster was not the best. But it was perfect for me. Delightful crispy fritter with a well cooked tender oyster tucked inside. Having lived in Florida on the coast and in Louisiana near the coast, it was as good as I ever had. If I called it the best, someone would call me out for knowing nothing about fried oysters. If there was a technical error, it was never observed under the lighting of perfect and attentive service, a romantic dining room and gorgeous dinner partner.
I’ve had similar perfect nights at Mamma Disalvos, Treasure Island, Oakwood Club, Pine Club, and Thai 9 has never let me down. Some will comment and disagree with my experience, saying theirs wasn’t the same. Your experience and my experience don’t have to be the same for them both to be true.
So, for my best of list this year I offer this instead, my favorite foods and where to get them:
Italian – Mamma Disalvos
Deli – Zink’s Centerville (Pork tenderloin is ridiculous)
Burger – Disalvo’s Deli (Thursday’s only)
Taco – Garcia Mobil truck (3rd and Huffman)
Pizza – Cassano’s or Old Scratch
Pad Thai – House of Thai (Beavercreek)
Cuban Sandwich – El Meson (best con gris too)
Biscuits and Gravy – Tanks or Mom’s (if you know you know) (Franklin Ohio)
Falafel – Carmen’s Deli
Reuben – FlyBoys Deli
Fried Chicken – Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Gas station, Stroop and Far Hills
Bakery – Big Sky
Chili – Slyder’s Tavern
Wings – Lock 27
Patio – Trolley Stop (I can’t wait to be there again)
Bar – Lily’s
I know what is going to happen. People are gonna see this list. They are going to comment, sure that is good, but have you had…..? The chances are I have. I probably really have tried your spot. So let’s remember. I’m not saying the best. I am saying this is my favorite.
Falb’s tenderloin and rings.
For the record, Zink’s makes a fantastic burger, always cooked perfect. Carmen’s Deli makes a great Reuben. FlyBoy deli has a reuben pizza that will have you rethinking your life. It’s that good. Tank’s burger and those fries. Killer. Thai-9 has my favorite Red Curry and their sushi is top notch. Yummy Burger has great Pad Thai if a burger isn’t your thing. Company 7 has great wings and bbq too. Jimmy’s Ladder 11 has a shrimp po’ boy that reminds me of Baton Rouge. For a burger and beer, its hard to have a better experience than Blind Bob’s and their wings are legit too. Fastest lunch under $10? Falbs.
My favorite calamari ever was at Oakwood Club, my most memorable black and bleu burger came from there too, same night. That night was a celebration. Friends. Drinks. War stories. The food just came and we shared and ate. I remember the people as much as the calamari, cocktails and that burger that arrived just as the kitchen was closing. Are there better burgers? Maybe, but that night, well that can’t be done again. You see, the calamari was just one part. It was the experience as much as the perfect cut, tasty tempura or the accompanying sauce. Favorite. Not best.
So, tell me your favorite, leave a comment and tell me yours!
Restaurant dining this December looks like most of 2020: dining outdoors where possible and getting takeout or delivery. This holiday season, local restaurants are ramping up their offerings up with special menus for holiday dining. There are feasts with traditional roast turkey or ham as the centerpiece as well as modern twists on festive meals.
316 Tap & Barrel Grill
Tokyo Grill
Please place your order by Monday, December 21st by 5 p.m.
5770 Wilmington Pike
Roost Modern Italian 
As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to wreak havoc on Dayton’s small businesses, the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the City of Dayton announce a new strategy aimed at increasing potential for sales of downtown’s collection of local restaurants, pubs, retailers, and other downtown businesses. Starting today, Dec. 17, customers can access 
It was over a year ago that Elsa’s co-owner Jason Hemmert signed a lease to take over the old Buffalo Wild Wings Space in the Springboro shopping and now it’s finally time to start pouring the Bad Juans. For those not familiar- Simple, pure and lethal. This is for the heavy hitters who like to get down to business and gulp ’em down. They are however served with a tiny straw and a lime wedge for those who like to sip these slowly and savor the experience.
The menu represents a lot of the traditional Elsa’s fare- taco’s, burrito’s, quesadillas and fajita’s.
Elsa’s Boro Cantina
Dayton Metro Library is working to bridge the digital divide with Get Connected, an exciting new initiative made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and CARES Act funds. Get Connected will provide four months of FREE internet access to 800 local households in need. The program launches on January 5, 2021, and applications will be accepted through February 27, or until the 800 household maximum is reached.
How does it work? Dayton Metro Library is the initial account holder of record. The Library will cover the cost of Spectrum broadband service and equipment for four months. After that time, participants may choose to transfer the service into their own name, or they may return the equipment and let the service end. Those who choose to transfer service may be eligible for reduced rates through Spectrum’s Internet Assist Program.
Giving restaurant gift cards make it easy to treat someone special to a meal, and many eateries reward your generosity. Restaurants commonly offer gift card deals, providing you with a little something extra when you purchase a specified amount of dining credits. Take a look at some of the gift card deals we found out there, most of the deals below are available now through December 31, 2020. We’ll continue to update this list, if you know of a deal we should add, please send us an 
Milanos
Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant is looking forward to the holiday season and planning several events for their customers to enjoy.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian American Tradition, features fish and seafood-centric cuisine, prepared with Italian flair. If you would like to join them on December 22, 2020 for this event, there will be only one seating for dine-in beginning at 6:30pm, and reservations are required. Curbside pick-up is available from 4-6:00pm and may include bottles of wine to pair with the dinners, if desired.
