Both of our daughters are here this Christmas. Whenever they are in town they take their mother out to Butter Cafe (1106 Brown Street) for breakfast or lunch. They like the gluten-free selections, which one of them needs, and they like the ambience. I mentioned that to the restaurant’s owner, Amy Beaver.

“I’m glad to hear that your daughters like the atmosphere here. We’re close to the University of Dayton, and this was once student housing. Even though we can seat 72 patrons the place has a homey feel because it’s divided into smaller spaces that used to be bedrooms or living rooms. We’ve also tried to add some things that add to the warm feeling – like the murals Tiffany Clark painted outside our windows.”

“We offer a broad selection of breakfast and lunch items including some gluten-free and vegan options. Whenever I come across an interesting new recipe I look for a way to tweak it to make it my own. I also think about whether I can do something similar that is vegan or gluten free.”
I asked how she came to open Butter Cafe.”When I was growing up Dad worked in resorts around Hilton Head. Now he and my mother have a restaurant in Michigan, so I’ve been around the food business my whole life. We have a large family and we all had to pitch in and help. Since I was 7 I’ve gotten a charge out of making people happy by giving them food I cooked. I still feel that way, which is why I run a restaurant.”
“A partner and I opened this place 15 years ago. The business has done well but it hasn’t been a smooth ride. I had to get through the sudden unexpected death of my partner, and then the Covid pandemic. I’m so glad my sister Amber moved here in 2020. She’s been a great addition to the restaurant. She does a lot of our baking, a job that my late partner did.”