24 Must-Try Local Restaurants in Dayton Ohio
Dayton is full of interesting attractions and historical sites. Before, while, and after you explore them all, you’ll need something to eat. Fortunately, the city has more restaurants than we want to count. Since we couldn’t possibly list all of the best local restaurants in Dayton Ohio, we’ve provided a list of a few of our favorite restaurants in Dayton.
Quick Bites
Canal St. Arcade & Deli
Offering a relaxing place to grab a quick lunch, Canal St. Arcade & Deli serves a diverse range of sandwiches. It has artisan bread baked and delivered fresh every day, and it uses Boar’s Head and Smoking Goose meats.
The restaurant makes pizzas, offers gluten-free and vegetarian options, has a full-service bar, and has vintage video games for entertainment as well.
Latin Arepas Food Truck
Bringing the flavors of Caribbean, Columbian, Latin American, and Venezuelan cuisines to Dayton, the Latin Arepas food truck on Monument Ave. has a carefully created menu.
Made with local ingredients, it’s one of the only Dayton Ohio restaurants where you can get street food to suit any palate.
Burrito King Restaurant
Burrito King Restaurant can certainly satisfy any cravings for Mexican dishes. However, it serves more than tacos and burritos.
The Mexican restaurant’s menu includes burgers and sandwiches too. You can even visit the restaurant for breakfast.
Family & Casual Restaurants
George’s Family Restaurant
Proudly serving locals and visitors since 1994, George’s Family Restaurant offers fast and friendly service. The extensive menu features the famous spinach pie and the half-pound classic cheeseburger that has been dubbed the best in Dayton.
Even Dayton Magazine has named it the best family restaurant in Dayton!
The Flying Pizza
Opened in downtown in 1971, The Flying Pizza is a no-frills, family-owned restaurant that serves New York-style and Sicilian-style pizzas. It uses only fresh ingredients and makes all of its doughs and sauces in-house.
You can order full pizzas or pizza by the slice, and white pizza and 9-inch gluten-free pizzas are available upon request.
Old Scratch Pizza & Beer
A walk-in, casual restaurant, Old Scratch Pizza & Beer has a casual, communal dining hall. It uses an 800-degree, wood-burning oven to craft Neapolitan-style pies.
Alongside pizzas, the restaurant serves better-than-average salads and has vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. On tap are 20 local and regional beers.
Sky Asian Cuisine
If you have a hankering for Asian cuisine in an authentic Japanese atmosphere, Sky Asian Cuisine is the place to go. The restaurant uses only natural, fresh ingredients to create healthy, expertly prepared food.
Best of all, your meal is cooked right before it’s served to you, so the chef can tailor it however you want it. This makes it one of the most dietary-accommodating restaurants in Dayton Ohio.
Bars & Pubs
Bar Granada
Known to locals as the best craft tequila bar in town, Bar Granada is a hot spot with live music. This pan-cultural venue is located on the Greater Miami River and hosts a variety of local artists, celebrating Dayton’s rich history and diversity.
The margaritas are particularly exceptional, but you can order wine and Spanish draft brews too. In addition to the drinks, the restaurant makes delicious Latin arepas and Venezuelan cuisine.
Newcom’s Tavern
A family-owned bar in the Oregon Historic District of Dayton, Newcom’s Tavern is known as a gathering place in the community. It’s named after Colonel George Newcom, one of the city’s first settlers.
The tavern reflects the original 1796 tavern where the community and travelers congregated to have a drink and relax after a long day. It’s one of the best places to get draft beers and ciders and cocktails.
Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery
Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner, Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery keeps a revolving selection of 20 beers on tap, which is the largest in the Oregon Historic District. The full-service bar opened in 2011, offering a comfortable setting and superior service alongside superb food.
The kitchen features two flat-top grills, making it one of the only Dayton Ohio restaurants that creates truly vegan dishes for those on special diets. Additionally, it serves a range of unique, homemade dishes.
Fifth Street Brewpub
As a co-op brewery, Fifth Street Brewpub gives you a place to meet and laugh with family and friends. It’s tucked among Victorian cottages and homes in St. Anne’s Hill, and it calls a historic 1856 building its home.
The Ohio brewery gave the building a face-lift in 2012, providing indoor and outdoor dining to the community.
Upscale Local & Romantic Restaurants
Salar Restaurant and Lounge
For an upscale dining experience, Salar Restaurant and Lounge is a fantastic option. Located in the Oregon Historic District, the restaurant has a world-fusion menu that features French, Mediterranean, and Peruvian-influenced dishes.
With your meal, you can enjoy a handcrafted cocktail made by highly trained and certified bar staff. You can also arrange private dining at the restaurant.
Roost Modern Italian
One of the best places to get Italian in Dayton, Roost Modern Italian is overseen by Chef Dana Down, who has been voted the best chef in the city. His menu features fresh seafood, steak, chops, and, of course, pasta dishes.
The traditional meals are made using modern techniques and unique flavors.
Wheat Penny Oven & Bar
Taking pizza to a whole new level, Wheat Penny Oven & Bar makes the fun and informal pie more sophisticated. Everything here is homemade, and the owners believe in flavor, texture, and sharing with the community. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options are available.
On top of that, the restaurant has a bar with an impressive selection of spirits, fresh herbs, juices, and homemade bitters and syrups. You can order from wine and craft beer lists as well.
Oakwood Club
For the ultimate fine dining experience, go to Oakwood Club, where the goal is to be the best rather than one of the best. The restaurant was founded in 1962 and has continued to have high-quality food and service.
The kitchen uses only the finest products and ingredients. For instance, it has stringent meat and seafood standards. The staff does its best to accommodate dietary needs and culinary tastes too.
Don’t forget to check the extensive wine list!
Meadowlark Restaurant
At Meadowlark Restaurant, you get another fine dining experience. This chef-owned restaurant uses high-quality ingredients to create imaginative, bright-tasting dishes for the American palate.
The pancakes are the talk of brunch, the mashed potatoes are fluffy, the cornbread and pickles are housemade, and burgers are always on the menu. Also, the full bar has a wide selection of spirits for cocktails, craft brews, and wines.
Jay’s Seafood
Jay’s Seafood Restaurant has been a Dayton legend, serving the finest and most extensive seafood selection since 1976. Experience culinary excellence at its finest in the Historic Oregon District of downtown Dayton, Ohio.
Jay’s provides casual dining with five-star cuisine and has been voted the best seafood restaurant in Dayton.
Coffee Shops & Bakeries
Winans Chocolate + Coffee + Wine
Whether you need a jolt of caffeine in the morning or middle of the day, Winans Chocolate + Coffee + Wine has the drink for you. The coffee is carefully selected and roasted in small batches, delivering world-class flavor.
Using recipes dating from 1961, the chocolates and confections pair well with the coffee. You can even learn more about the candy-making process during a Winans Chocolate Factory tour. Of course, wine is served in the evenings.
Salt Block Biscuit Company
New to Dayton, the Salt Block Biscuit Company just opened in September 2020 and is already making quite a splash. The bakery and cafe serves breakfast and brunch along with desserts.
The main menu attraction is, of course, biscuits — which come in four or five varieties. You can top your biscuits with housemade spreads, butters, and infused honey, or order a sandwich.
Tea biscuits, cakes, cornbread, cobblers, and seasonal cookies are available as well.
Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar
To really perk up (or wind down in the evening), head to Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar. This downtown joint opened in 2015 with a mission to provide excellent coffee by day and wine by night.
Unique to the many Dayton Ohio restaurants, its beverages are named after people who have had a significant impact on the city.
Ghostlight Coffee
If you’re in Historic South Park, you’ll find Ghostlight Coffee. The coffeehouse was established in 2011 and has become a local favorite for meetings — both friendly and business.
In 2019, the company opened a second location in Midtown. Both locations feature baked goods made from scratch.
Ice Cream & Dessert Shops
Airline Dairy Creme
To satisfy the kid in you, get a taste of some of the best soft-serve Ohio ice cream in Dayton at Airline Dairy Creme. This shop is famous for its peanut butter shakes and Oreo cyclones, but it has a range of flavors and specials too.
You can order hot fudge sundaes, banana splits, shakes, soft pretzels, soups, burgers, and more.
Sweet P’s Handcrafted Ice Pops
With a name like Sweet P’s Handcrafted Ice Pops, you can expect delicious homemade cold desserts. This family business puts love into every batch of ice pops so that you get joy out of every bite.
You can choose from more than 200 flavors, including seasonal and sugar-free favorites, and more flavors are always in the pipeline.
The Cookieologist
For a more solid dessert, stop by The Cookieologist. The owner and chef considers himself a “cookie junkie” and believes that nothing is better than freshly baked cookies.
Serving baked-to-order goods, his mission is to put a smile on your face with sweet treats.
Do you have a favorite Dayton Ohio restaurant? Let us know in the comments below!