In the past 2-3 months, Natalie has been producing a lot of content around new places to try and what the local chefs are making. Here are those that stood out ... you can practically smell the food photos.
Greek Street
Natalie reports Greek Street in Centerville offers local craft beer, Greek beer, single pour wines and half bottles or full bottles of Greek wine. The signature cocktail is the Santorini Sunrise featuring fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, blood orange vodka, campari, simple syrup and mint. Take a look one of the photos Natalie shot while visiting this eatery:
Credit: Natalie Jones
Credit: Natalie Jones
Click here to read more about Greek Street, which is located at 101 E. Alex Bell Road Suite 186 in the Cross Pointe Shopping Center.
Tokyo Grill & Sushi Buffet
This is an all-you-can-eat sushi bar and hibachi grill in Beavercreek near the main entrance of The Mall at Fairfield Commons. From Natalie’s story: Customers start by choosing ingredients such as vegetables and meats to build their own hibachi bowl. While the chef cooks the dish, customers may get items from the sushi bar and hot bar. The sushi bar includes many different types of rolls including a fried spicy salmon roll, fried chicken roll, California roll, spicy tuna roll, dragon roll and avocado roll. The hot bar includes spring rolls, crab rangoon and other fried foods, in addition to gyoza, honey chicken, General Tso chicken, BBQ beef, stuffed mushrooms and much more.
Here’s a photo that made me need to check this place out:
Credit: Natalie Jones
Credit: Natalie Jones
Natalie has a cool job, plain and simple. Another Tokyo Grill photo:
Credit: Natalie Jones
Credit: Natalie Jones
You can read more about this place here.
Hello Thai
Also located in Beavercreek, Hello Thai is operated by Suwapat “Sue” Whitted, the owner of Thai Kitchen in Miami Twp. and Thai Table in Washington Twp., along with her sushi chef, Saard “Art” Sabsombat. It has a family-friendly, casual atmosphere with a full bar.
In her article, Natalie made four food recommendations for diners at Hello Thai. Check that out here.
The photo shows The Shimmy Crispy Roll, which features shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, carrot, masago and scallion topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce.
Smales Pretzel Bakery
Natalie went to Smales Pretzel Bakery on Valentine’s Day, when the business is super busy making heart-shaped pretzels. She joined them in making some (there’s a video on the Dayton Daily News TikTok page). It is located at 210 Xenia Ave. in Dayton.
Natlie’s article says the pretzels go into a 1960s oven that turns in a circle. After eight minutes, they are done. Read more here.
Tom & Dot’s Gelato Shop
Here’s my problem: I. Love. Gelato. So when Natalie submitted this story for publication, I knew I was in trouble. But it wasn’t what I thought: Tom & Dot’s Gelato Shop is now serving lunch, selling sandwiches and daily soups. And that’s what is revealed in Natalie’s photo:
Credit: Natalie Jones
Credit: Natalie Jones
The Miamisburg eatery is family-run and it has six sandwiches on the menu. It also features a large variety of rotating gelato and sorbetto flavors sourced from Villa Dolce, a company based out of Italy with a headquarters in Arizona. Read more.
Jollity
Natalie reports that Jollity, located in Dayton’s Fire Blocks District, revamped its menu at the beginning of 2024, bringing it back to the restaurant’s original intention of offering small, sharable plates. Chef Zackary Weiner, who owns the restaurant with chef Brendon Miller, said that was always the intention.
The menu features three sections with eight to 10 vegetable plates, five to seven meat plates and five to seven fish plates. Portions are smaller than what was previously offered, but this change is reflective in the price.
Credit: Cole Carpenter
Credit: Cole Carpenter
Jollity is located at 127 E. Third St. in Dayton. Click here to read more about it.
Tastemakers: Dayton Daily News dining
Natalie has been behind the scenes in the kitchens of local restaurants, talking with chefs and learning what they do. Check out some of her latest “Tastemakers” features:
Butter Cafe owner shares recipe for Irish Farmer’s Omelette
Dayton’s Salt Block Biscuit Company owner has small town roots
Lily’s Dayton executive chef’s deviled eggs are tested by other chefs
Val’s Bakery grows in Dayton: ‘I’ve always wanted to be downtown’
Contact us
If you are a chef or food business owner who wants Natalie to consider writing about your business, email her at natalie.jones@coxinc.com.
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