Food and drink dominate, with half of the 101 categories relating to one or the other or both.
Other areas in addition to food and dining and bars and nightlife are: outdoors, active lifestyle and recreation; shopping; services; culture, music and entertainment.
Not surprisingly, the categories of food and beverage caught my eye, and I found perusing the finalist list of great interest.
It’s an entertaining exercise ruminating on the spots and individuals I thought should win, who I was surprised didn’t make the list of nominees, and in some cases a few that I was surprised did. I was reminded of fond favorites that I have visited recently, beloved businesses I haven’t seen in a while and a few that I will be making my maiden voyage to soon.
Voting is now open at Dayton.com and will close on Dec. 20. The poll is interactive, customizable and easy to use. It even makes social media sharing a piece of cake. Visit www.dayton.com to let your opinion be known.
Whether you vote or not, the lists of dining related nominees below are fun to peruse and a solid way to find something new to liven up your dining routine.
BEST ASIAN FOOD
Ozu852
Sky Asian Cuisine
Thai 9
Shen’s Szechuan and Sushi
CJ Chan
China Cottage
Linh’s Bistro
Ginger & Spice
Akashi Sushi Bar
Kabuki
Fusian
BEST BAKERY
ele Cake Co.
Twist Cupcakery
Dorothy Lane Market
Ashley’s Pastry Shop
Cake, Hope, & Love
Moore Dessert Please
BEST BBQ
PA’s Pork
City Barbeque
Smokin Barrels, LLC
Company 7 BBQ
Smokin’ Bar-B-Que
Texas Beef and Cattle Company
Fatback’s Barbecue
Hickory River Smokehouse
OinkADoodleMoo
Double D’s BBQ
BEST BLOODY MARY
McGillicutty’s Pub
Bunkers Bar and Grill
Tank’s
Mack’s Tavern
Blind Bob’s
Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery
Lily’s Bistro
Trolley Stop
Mudlick Tap House
Meadowlark
BEST BREAKFAST
Bunkers Bar and Grill
Golden Nugget Pancake House
Tank’s
Blueberry Cafe
Butter Cafe
George’s Family Restaurant
BEST BRUNCH
Lily’s Bistro
Meadowlark
Butter Cafe
Blueberry Cafe
First Watch
Fifth Street Brewpub
Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery
The Dublin Pub
George’s Family Restaurant
Mudlick Tap House
BEST BURGER
Slyders
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Tank’s
Slim’s Neighborhood Bar & Grille
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Archer’s
Blind Bob’s
Voltzy’s
George’s Family Restaurant
Benjamin’s the Burger Master
BEST CHEAP EATS
Taqueria Mixteca
Tank’s
Hamburger Wagon
Hasty Tasty
Taco Loco
Slyders
George’s Family Restaurant
BEST COCKTAILS
Century Bar
Julia’s Nite Club
MJ’s on Jefferson
Salar
Wheat Penny
Hawthorn Grill
Lily’s Bistro
Club Masque
Coco’s Bistro
Corner Kitchen
BEST COFFEEHOUSE (CHAIN OR LOCAL)
Ghostlight Coffee
3rd Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar
Boston Stoker Coffee Roasters
Press Coffee Bar
Starbucks
Warehouse 4
Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees
Dino’s Cappuccinos
BEST COLLEGE BAR
Milano’s
Timothy’s
W.O. Wrights Grill & Pub
One Eyed Jacks
Tuty’s Bar And Grill
Flanagan’s Pub
The Fieldhouse
BEST CRAFT BEER SELECTION
Bunkers Bar and Grill
Dayton Beer Company (downtown Dayton)
Chappys Tap Room & Grille
Ollie’s Place
Crafted & Cured
BEST DELI
Flyboy’s Deli
Charlie’s Deli & Catering
DiSalvo’s Deli
5th Street Wine & Deli
The Deli and Top of the Market
Dot’s Market Bull Pen Diner
BEST DESSERT
Chocolate Stout Bacon Cupcake (Ginniebug Creations)
Killer Brownie (Dorothy Lane Market)
Ice cream (Young’s Jersey Dairy)
Jo Jo’s Lava Cake (Fifth Street Brewpub)
Tiramisu (Mamma DiSalvo’s)
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding (Hawthorn Grill)
Chocolate Torte (Lily’s Bistro)
Beer Cake (Sea Jax Tavern)
Espresso Creme Brulee (Coco’s Bistro)
Butterscotch Pudding (Corner Kitchen)
Caramel cupcake (Moore Dessert Please)
BEST DINER
Hasty Tasty
Sam and Ethel’s (Tipp City)
George’s Family Restaurant
Dixie Diner (New Lebanon)
Waffle House
Abner’s Diner
BEST DIVE BAR
Mack’s Tavern
Red Carpet Tavern
Shroyer Inn
Oscar’s Bar & Grill
MacDiggers Pub
Kingspoint Pub
BEST DONUTS
Bill’s Donut Shop
Jim’s Donut Shop
Stan the Donut Man
Bear Creek Donuts
BEST FARMERS MARKET
2nd Street Market
The Heights Farmers Market
Yellow Springs Farmers Market
Troy Farmers Market
Best Fine Dining
Coco’s Bistro
Pine Club
Oakwood Club
Salar
Coldwater Cafe
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Rue Dumaine
Meadowlark
Corner Kitchen
Roost Modern Italian
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Zombie Dogz
The Wicked ‘Wich of Dayton
The Drunken Waffle
Hunger Paynes
Ramen Rickshaw
DD Sandwiches and Subs
BEST FRENCH FRIES
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
The Dublin Pub
Penn Station
McDonald’s
Sea Jax
Lock 27
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Basil’s on Market
Corner Kitchen
Roost Modern Italian
BEST GAY BAR
MJ’s on Jefferson
Club Masque
The Stage Door Musical Bar
The Right Corner
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Mack’s Tavern
MJ’s on Jefferson
The Pub (The Greene)
Fifth Street Brewpub
Bar Louie
Lily’s Bistro
BEST ICE CREAM
Graeter’s
Young’s Dairy
Ben & Jerry’s
JD’s Old Fashioned Frozen Custard
Ritter’s Frozen Custard
Cold Stone Creamery
Jet Freeze
Fronana
Ducky’s
BEST INDIAN FOOD
Amar India
Ajanta Restaurant
Jeet India
Maharaja of Dayton
India Chaat Cafe
BEST ITALIAN FOOD
Mamma DiSalvo’s
Franco’s Ristorante Italiano
Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen
Tony’s Italian Kitchen
Troni’s Italian Restaurant
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Roost Modern Italian
Giovanni’s
Spaghetti Warehouse
Deroma Italian Restaurant
BEST LATE-NIGHT GRUB
Tank’s
MJ’s on Jefferson
Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery
Mack’s Tavern
Smokin’ Bar-B-Que
Waffle House
BEST LOCAL BREWERY
Crooked Handle
Hairless Hare Brewery
Warped Wing Brewery
Yellow Springs Brewery
Fifth Street Brewpub
Toxic Brew Company
Dayton Beer Company
BEST LOCALLY MADE SPIRITS
Belle of Dayton
The Spirits of Yellow Springs
Buckeye Vodka
Stillwrights Distillery
Staley Mill Farm and Indian Creek Distillery
BEST MARGARITA
El Toro
Elsa’s
Hawthorn Grill
El Meson
Chuy’s
Carmel’s
La Fiesta
El Rancho Grande
BEST MEDITERRANEAN/GREEK DINING
Olive Mediterranean Grill
Pasha Grill
Gyro Palace
Greek Isle Deli
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
El Toro
Taqueria Mixteca
El Rancho Grande
Taco Loco
Los Reyes
BEST PATIO
Trolley Stop
Wings Sports Bar & Grille
Fifth Street Brewpub
The Dublin Pub
TJ Chumps
Lily’s Bistro
Bargos Grill & Tap
Basil’s Dayton
BEST PIZZA (LOCAL OR CHAIN)
Marion’s Piazza
Dewey’s Pizza
Old Scratch Pizza
Joe’s Pizzeria
Wheat Penny
Cassano’s
BEST PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH
Flyboy’s Deli
Wheat Penny
Coco’s Bistro
Franco’s Ristorante Italiano
Thai 9
Lily’s Bistro
Coldwater Cafe
Citilites
BEST PLACE FOR A PICNIC
John Bryan State Park
Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark
Carillon Historical Park
Hills and Dales MetroPark
Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
RiverScape MetroPark
BEST RESTAURANT TO TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWNER
Pine Club
Marion’s Piazza
Fifth Street Brewpub
Thai 9
Wheat Penny
El Meson
Meadowlark
Oakwood Club
Coldwater Cafe
Corner Kitchen
BEST SANDWICH
Lady Marmalade (The Wicked ‘Wich of Dayton)
The Liberty Reuben (Flyboys Deli)
War Pig (The Drunken Waffle)
Super Cheesesteak (Submarine House)
The Ruck (Dublin Pub)
Salmon B.E.L.T. (Fifth Street Brewpub)
Avocado and Goat Cheese BLT (Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery)
My Way Grilled Cheese (Tank’s)
The Bradshaw Bird (Mack’s Tavern)
Jaxwood Club (Sea Jax)
BEST SEAFOOD
Jay’s Seafood
Sea Jax
Red Lobster
Sweeney’s Seafood
Bonefish Grill
The Dock
Best Secret Menu Item
Philly Beer Cheese Steak at Flyboy’s Deli
Dumpster Fries at Rooster’s
Hula Hoops from Blind Bob’s
Savage Wings at Sea Jax Tavern
Garlic Salad at Red Carpet Tavern
Jalapeno Ranch Dip at Chuy’s Tex-Mex
BEST SPECIALTY FOOD MARKET (ETHNIC, GOURMET, ETC.)
Dorothy Lane Market
Frieszell Liberty Gardens
Jungle Jim’s
La Michoacana
Wise Choice British Foods,Gifts & Candies
BEST STEAK (CHAIN OR LOCAL)
Pine Club
Oakwood Club
Texas Roadhouse
Carvers Steak & Chops
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
LongHorn Steakhouse
The Paragon Supper Club
BEST SUSHI
Ozu852
Ariake Sushi Bar
Thai 9
Fusian
CJ Chan
Akashi
BEST TACO
El Toro
Taqueria Mixteca
Taco Loco
Chiapas Mexican Grill
Taqueria Garcia
BEST VEGAN DINING
Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery
Wheat Penny
Meadowlark
Christopher’s
Butter Cafe
BEST WINE SELECTION (RESTAURANT)
Corner Kitchen
The Wine Gallery
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Oakwood Club
Coldwater Cafe
BEST WINE SELECTION (RETAIL)
Ray’s Wine Spirits Grill
Arrow Wine
Dorothy Lane Market
Belmont Party Supply
Bodega Wine and Specialty Foods Market
BEST WINGS
Bunkers Bar and Grill
Roosters
Lock 27
Fricker’s
De’Lish Cafe
FRIENDLIEST STAFF / BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Flyboy’s Deli
Bunkers Bar and Grill
George’s Family Restaurant
Mack’s Tavern
MJ’s on Jefferson
Corner Kitchen
Dayton Eats looks at the regional food stories and restaurant news that make mouths water. Share info about your menu updates, special dinners and events, new chefs, interesting new dishes and culinary adventures. Do you know of new exciting format changes, specials, happy hours, restaurant updates or any other tasty news you think is worth a closer look at? E-mail Alexis Larsen at alexis.e.larsen@hotmail.com with the information and we will work to include it in future coverage.
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