Free valet parking as you pull up on Third Street in the Webster Station area of downtown Dayton and enter the doors of the newly opened Sueño. Once inside you immediately feel like you’ve left Dayton and arrived in a hip dining establishment in a large city! The atmosphere is impressive as soon as you enter.

Greeted by a lovely staff and escorted to our table we pass a busy bar. Across the dining room from our table is a platform kitchen with wood fired open flame oven.

We are greeted by Jade our informed server and her assistant Marie. Jade took us on a tour of the menu with answers to all of our questions and fabulous suggestions.

From the Botonas (snacks for sharing) menu we chose guacamole and sikil p’ak (pumpkin seed hummus) both served with house made chips topped with a little cumin and acid(lime juice). Both were amazing and delicious!

Then it came time to choose entrees – Jade was careful to suggest just how to place the order so that everyone’s food arrived at the same time. From the platos pequeños (small plates) menu my friend chose Taco de Cochinita – three tacos with Adobe marinated pork, salsa tamulado and pickled red onion.

From the Hearth menu another friend selected Carne Asada. Beautifully seasoned steak bavette with chimichuri and frijoles charros. I chose the pork al pastor with grilled pineapple, caramelized onion and morita salsa. These dinners are large enough to share – but we didn’t! Two of us also ordered from the Verduras (vegetables) menu a dish of charred corn mixed with cascabel spice, cilantro, queso fresco and crema mixed together and served cold. This was a great balance to the dishes that were a taste explosion.

As if that wasn’t enough…we had to have something from the Postres (dessert) menu – there are two options so we chose one of each. A scoop of Mexican chocolate (house made) ice cream topped with pieces of spicy pepita (pumpkin seed) brittle and arroz con leche – rice pudding with roasted summer peaches and marscapone.

This is a dining experience and one that lends itself to a fabulous date, celebration or just a Wednesday night dinner – in a place that takes you away!

Do yourself a favor and make reservations now!