Now that the brutal winter season has passed us, we finally have the chance to sit outside and appreciate tasty food. Does anything sound better than that? If you are anything like us you choose to sit at the tables outside rather than inside the restaurant any opportunity you get; depending on the weather of course. With nice weather in mind, picture eating a burger, pizza, salad, whatever you fancy. Wind blowing in your face with the sun shining down, hearing the commotions outside. 

Liking the thought of that? Well then let us give you some options of restaurants in Dayton where you can bring that vision into reality. 

WARNING, the following images will result in either grumbling stomachs or pure envy that you are not consuming these foods/drinks at this very moment. We know that was how we were feeling looking into each of these. 

Old Scratch Pizza

800 Patterson Blvd | Dayton | oldscratchpizza.com 

To start off we obviously have to talk about one of the best dishes on the planet, pizza. Whoever invented the cheesy, crunchy delicacy is in my eyes, a gift to society. 

They are a walk-in-only restaurant that offers Neapolitan-style pizza along with other options such as salads, “fire-roasted veggies,” and they even cater to those who are sensitive to gluten and those who are vegans. The interesting and convenient aspect about this restaurant is that they cook their foods in ovens set to 800-1000° making it faster to cook rather than having to wait around for your food. To the point where you could have your food prepared in two minutes or less. 

Observing the menu they have a variety of pizzas to choose from, our personal favorite, the Margherita. Priced at $11, fresh mozzarella and basil topped onto tomato sauce along with Romano and olive oil, my mouth was watering just by reading the descriptions. 

Besides food, they also offer a variety of different drinks. Be sure to ask what wine is on tap when you visit. All cocktails are $9 and range from options like a Mule Italiano, to a Blood Orange Sangria. 

“Never have any complaints going to Old Scratch. A tad longer wait due to covid regulations. Meatballs were great, per usual. Pizza came out nice and hot. Staff is always friendly. We were in the back room, and waiters continually checked in on us. Everyone loved the olives. They are definitely a must when visiting here!” -Yelp Review 

Lily’s Dayton 

 329 E 5th St | Dayton | lilysdayton.com‍

Want to feel like you have left Dayton and entered the kind of restaurant you would go to on tropical vacation? Lily’s Bistro is the place for you. Decorated with numerous plants and string lights, the aurora of this restaurant will have you forgetting about that annoying work call you have tomorrow. 

Lily’s offers American Southern-style dishes complimented by Polynesian and other tropical types of foods; not to mention their cocktails and local craft beers. 

Popular meals like their fried chicken shrimp, grits, and deviled eggs surely provide a strong compulsion to get a taste of what they have to offer. They have both brunch and dinner options. We chuckled at their “Hangover Bowl” listed in their brunch menu which consists of a “big bowl” of home fry seasoned tater tots, scrambled eggs, slow-roasted diced onion, and pepper sofrito, with a side of white cheddar cheese with toast. You can add vegetarian gravy or Cajun sausage white gravy. 

They have three outdoor patios all botanical-themed. That sun shining down imagery we had mentioned before can be covered if you choose because they have umbrellas stationed at each table outside! 

“Lily's is always an excellent choice! From their spacious patios to their airy indoor spaces, there is no bad table. The chef is always spot-on with both seasonal and daily specials. If you are a connoisseur of fancy mac & cheese, you've got several menu options on any given day. Salads, sandwiches, dinners, and brunch...you can find it here.” -Yelp review‍

Eudora Brewing Company

3022 Wilmington Pike | Kettering | eudorabrewing.com

What was that line by Zac Brown Band? “Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand. Life is good today.” Who doesn’t love a brewery with all the options of beers you could ask for. 

With their 8,000 square-foot taproom and a 4,000+ square-foot patio, they provide tons of room for your friends and family to sit and relax while sipping a beer. You can even play pool, darts and get this, cornhole! 

Eudora Brewing has a “Brew-Your-Own” option where you can schedule an appointment online to come in to brew your beer. You choose your ingredients and after about two and a half hours and a fermenting process of 3-5 weeks, you can come back in to pick up your special bottle. 

Of course, if you are choosing to simply sit down to drink there are countless options to choose from; not just beer as well. 

And if you’re hungry, why not try one of their street tacos? The Adobo Chicken taco sounds delicious, or maybe the Carne Asada. If you can’t choose just one kind, then order a flight! 

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“What a place! The staff here was incredibly friendly, the food amazing (we ordered the cauliflower appetizer and locally baked cookie), and the beer SO good! I love that they do flights here (3 or 6). They follow covid precautions very well and we felt more than comfortable being here. Everyone was happy with what they ordered and we will for sure be back because we love to support local! :)”-Yelp review

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar

515 Wayne Ave | Dayton | wheatpennydayton.com

Not trying to be biased to pizza, but also we’re about to be biased to the heavenly Italian dish once again; we have here another restaurant that has a “Pizza Menu,” BUT there are other options. The lunch and dinner options, as well as their specials, sound positively breathtaking. 

Their menu consists of a large variety of different foods from salads, to cooked vegetables, to “Plate dinners.” They have beer, wine, and even house-made sodas. 

To circle back to food, when observing their menu one of their plate dinners stood out to us, “Grilled Strip Steak with Porcini Rub.” A 12 oz steak rubbed with a housemade spice mix of dried porcini mushrooms, coarse salt, crushed black pepper, and Spanish paprika. 

We may have been converted from pizza... and don’t even get us started on the desserts. “House-made Buckeye Ice Cream,” and “Apple Crumb Crostata with Créme Anglaise;” this whole calorie deficit idea may have to be ignored for a day.

“Clean and social distancing observed. All employees in masks and tables cleaned between patrons. Winning.

Years ago my Mom made a spinach lasagna, and my husband and brother were brats saying lasagna was never meant to be green. I laughed and ordered here...they had me at paper thin pasta. And yes...it was paper thin. And everytime I think of this dish (every day since eating there last week) I salivate. One of the best things I ever put in my mouth. I will be back for more of this!” -Yelp review

The Trolley Stop 

530 E 5th St. | Dayton | trolleystopdayton.com 

The surrounding area of the restaurant offers retail shops and taverns! Fun fact, the Trolley Stop is the oldest operating tavern in Dayton. The reputation of the restaurant is having delicious homemade food with a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy it in. A pool table, party room, and access to books to read are just a few of the activities offered at this restaurant besides eating. 

But to get to the most important part of the restaurant; the food. Among their many options of appetizers, soups, and salads, as far as a main course goes, there are options of sandwiches, burgers, bowls, and tacos. They have Spaghetti Tuesdays for $8. 

They have a large brunch selection as well, foods like breakfast tacos (can be made vegan) and even a vegan tofu scramble. 

As far as drinks they have a Trolley mimosa, Trolley Peach Bellini, and a Trolley Irish Coffee which is Jameson, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and freshly-brewed coffee. 

“LOVE the Trolley!

It's the perfect spot for lunch with salads, sandwiches, and apps that are the perfect mix of bougie and bar. They have a great patio when the weather cooperates.

The Trolley is also one of our evening faves for shots and live music. Parking can be hinky since it's in the OD, so be prepared to walk a block or two to get there.

Definitely recommend!!” -Yelp review

Salar Restaurant and Lounge 

400 E 5th St. | Dayton | salarrestaurant.com  

They have two outdoor patios and two full bars. As you can see from the photo above the scenery is gorgeous. 

If you are seeking a private dining experience for an event or celebration, there is a list to choose from: Chef’s table, Bubble room and lounge, Twig room, and Pisco bar.

Brunch, dinner, dessert, and carryout are all options for food. Some brunch options are Hill’s farm chicken and waffles, which is pecan encrusted, deboned Ed Hill Farm's half chicken, fried in clarified sage butter served with buttermilk waffles and Bourbon Old Fashioned syrup for $25. The chorizo omelette is another brunch option that looked particularly delicious; Mexican chorizo with cilantro, red onion and queso fresco topped with salsa Criolla served with a mixed green salad tossed in balsamic vinaigrette and grilled rosemary bread for $18.50

Entrees worth taking a look at, in our opinion, is the Duck Ragu which is maple leaf farms duck confit on top of herb pappardelle with wild mushroom sauce topped off with arugula and parmesan Reggiano cheese. And the Faroe island salmon, a pan-seared salmon filet with roasted baby carrots, yucca cakes, and arugula tossed in champagne sauce 

While this restaurant may be a tad more expensive compared to the others, the food quality absolutely seems to be worth it. It’s the kind of food you cannot get easily anywhere else. 

“Dare I say the best pork shank of my life?

Stopped in on my 2 day trip in Dayton and felt a little underdressed but our server made us feel at home and took great care of us.

Everything came out nicely paced, drinks were always full, and the food was just incredible.

Don't hesitate. You want to eat here!” -Google review

Mudlick Tap House

135 E 2nd St. | Dayton | mudlicktaphouse.com 

The name of the restaurant comes from its past history of its famous Mudlick Whiskey. It has been explained that the secret to its amazing taste was the mineral-rich waters from the Mudlick Springs. 

Entrees are located under “Fare” on their website. They have shareables like buffalo spring rolls and chicken nachos. Perfect to split if you don’t want an entire meal.

Some tasty entrees to pick from are hanger steak and fries, Moroccan sweet potato hash, and of course, crab cakes! 

There is also a section on the menu called “handhelds,” they are all different kinds of sandwiches that come with a side of boulder canyon kettle chips. Some of those include a classic Rueben, a meatloaf sandwich, and a “proper” grilled cheese. We’re a sucker for good grilled cheese. As opposed to a typical grilled bread and cheese dish, they add spinach pesto. 

Mudlick Tap House not only serves tasty food but also is a proud supporter of the Dayton Foodbank. The mission of the food bank is to help those who are hungry throughout Miami Valley. Each month a portion of sales goes to the “Good to go Backpack” program which helps over 1,500 kids in the community.

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“We recently moved downtown Dayton and have been asked by many what our favorite restaurant is. Within walking distance of home, Mudlick is it. The food is always good and the service is better. I recommend saving room for dessert, even if it means skipping an app or getting an entree salad (my daughter's preference). The patio is awesome and very dog-friendly. We'd probably eat here more often if the prices were lower, but you get what you pay for, I guess. Oh, and if you drink cocktails, order a Bumbu Punch.” -Yelp review

Jimmie’s Ladder 11

936 Brown St. | Dayton | jladder11.com

The owner of the restaurant, Jimmie Brandell started working in the business at age 16. On November 11th, 2011 he opened up Jimmie’s Ladder 11; both he and his two sons work at the restaurant. This restaurant appears to be a more laid-back setting which is refreshing if you do not feel like getting dolled up for dinner. 

Jimmie’s Ladder is open from 11 am-9 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 11 am-10 pm Friday and Saturday. 

Their patio location was listed among the 7 great bar, restaurant patios in the Dayton area. 

There is an almost rustic, old-fashioned theme to the menu when searching for it online. It creates a very genuine feeling looking at it. 

No surprise that this place has great ratings, there is a variety of foods to choose from. Sandwiches, greens, soups, deli, pizza/ calzones, quesadillas, burgers, chicken, and pasta. We think even the pickiest eater could find something to eat here. 

The tastiest thing we saw on the menu was the chicken cordon bleu for $13. It is a grilled chicken breast topped with shaved ham, swiss cheese, and honey mustard; all placed into a toasted burger bun. 

“This place has something for everyone! I came here for the first time about 2 years ago with a group of friends and couldn't decide what to get because everything sounded so good. They have burgers, speciality sandwiches, pasta, chicken dishes, quesadillas, salads, etc. I finally went with the chicken quesadilla and it was incredible! I was literally blown away by how delicious it was.” -Yelp review

If in Dayton, how do you even choose from a list like this?

If your stomach hasn’t growled once or if you haven’t suddenly felt a craving since reading this we don’t know what else we can do. 

The next time you’re in Dayton, Ohio be sure to check out some of these restaurants!