Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Dayton

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Dayton? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Coldwater Cafe

4.9

4.9 (3070)

$31 to $50

American

Tipp City

About the restaurant

This restaurant housed in a former bank building in the heart of downtown Tipp City offers quality dining in a small-town setting. The decor is warm and welcoming and is a delight for the senses. The fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere while the full bar allows patrons a relaxing stop while awaiting a fabulous meal. The inviting atmosphere encourages relaxed conversation. You may be surprised to find that a restaurant in such a small town has some rather sophisticated choices on the menu alongside your more normal fare, with entrees such as ostrich being offered. If you are looking for a decadent dessert, look no further than the butter-drenched English Tea Cake! An easy drive from all points in the Dayton area, words cannot do it justice. A visit is a must and will be the first of many.

Top review

Joshua

Dined 4 days ago

The scallops made me rethink all of my life choices I shouldn’t have waited 33 years to eat them.

Silas Creative Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (438)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Versailles

About the restaurant

Fresh + Unexpected Dining
Serving up an eclectic mix of globally inspired cocktails, wine and chef-driven cuisine, one would never guess that the key ingredients to Silas's success are sourced from a farm just down the road.

A bright sunlit space by day and a cozy candlelit venue by night, our main dining room makes an impact with contemporary decor and comfortable seating that’s swanky and sophisticated yet approachable to all.

Top review

Caroline

Dined on Sep 10, 2024

Kitchen is absolutely outstanding. Every dish was beyond our expectations. 5 stars all the way

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Experience

Silas Tasting Experience

Coco's Bistro

4.7

4.7 (2190)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Dayton

About the restaurant

You'll always feel welcome at Coco's.

We're a Dayton Original, an independent restaurant where you can have your power lunch, a rehearsal dinner, a fun night, or a place to propose. You'll enjoy contemporary American food, always with amazing service, and reasonable prices for wine and spirits. Thank you Dayton - we love you as much as you love us.

Top review

Dona

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

Great Experience, Plenty of space and could enjoy conversation, tasty appetizers and a varied menu. Give it a try

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Primo Italian Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (219)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Middletown

About the restaurant

Five simple words comprise Primo Italian mission statement.
Promise to our guest the best experience with our
Responsible team, we promise to
Improvise and make sure we create
Memories on every single
Occasion. PRIMO.

Top review

Michaelvip

Dined 4 days ago

Another fantastic dinner at Primo. We’ve visited and enjoyed their other location (Prime Cincinnati) but this one is much closer and offers some other entrees like pasta that our kids enjoy more than steak or seafood. This is the first time we tried the chicken Parmesan (great) and the pork chop is a hidden gem. The service has always been great and the so is the ambience. Thanks for another fabulous visit.

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Experience

Happy Hour Every Day 4-6pm

Rusty Bucket - Dayton

4.7

4.7 (248)

$30 and under

American

Dayton

About the restaurant

Rusty Bucket is a casual neighborhood tavern serving the highest quality food and beverage in a “come as you are” setting. Scratch kitchens, fresh cocktails, and the perfect pour are our craft. Our associates are welcoming, and our hospitality naturally makes us the local hub where friends and family frequently gather to share in a good time.

Top review

Daniellevip

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

We both had the pork tenderloin sandwich. It was flavorful and tender. I had the wheat bun and he had it with the sesame seed bun. It's not a small sandwich. It definitely filled the bun. The onion rings, as always, were piping hot, crispy and large in size. The cole slaw never disappoints. It has large chopped vegetables in it and it's not swimming is liquid. The gin and tonic is always good as is the margarita. Sue, the manager, stopped by to check on us and said that it was good to see us again. We really enjoy Rusty Bucket. The food has improved so much that this is now our go-to spot because we always have a good meal and great service.

Club Oceano Seafood & Bar

4.6

4.6 (1270)

$30 and under

Seafood

Dayton

About the restaurant

Club Oceano Seafood & Bar is committed in delivering exceptional cuisine and attentive
service. Our founders, with over 50 years of restaurant industry experience, believe in simple
food preparations using the finest ingredients to create a joyful journey for your palate. We cut and filet our fish in-house. It is a time consuming task to ensure the quality of our food.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined 5 days ago

Always fresh seafood - the seared tuna was divine! I wish the wine list had more Italian, Spanish, French and red wines! California cabs get so boring! The bar area could be expanded - it was very busy in the bar and quiet in the restaurant - seems like the demographic population prefers bar dining. We are monthly regulars

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Chilled Seafood Tower

The Troll Pub at the Wheel House

4.5

4.5 (245)

$30 and under

American

Dayton

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Troll Pub - Dayton!

The Troll Pub is a unique dining experience that features a Gastro-pub style menu with a wide selection of great tasting food items, craft beer, and an atmosphere like no other.

Top review

Jillvip

Dined 2 days ago

Great service. Comfortable. Good food too. I will definitely be back

Corner Kitchen - Dayton

4.4

4.4 (437)

$30 and under

American

Dayton

About the restaurant

The grand reopening of Corner Kitchen was Friday, February 18th, 2022! We can't wait to surprise and delight you with our modern take on steak and seafood immersed in our newly renovated bistro space. Experience a new aesthetic and taste the eclectic with the incredible flavors of our chef-driven menu.

Dinner service is offered Tuesday through Sunday. Weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday between 11:00am and 3:00pm. Reservations available now.

Chef Gavin has provided great specials like Tapas (small plates) every Tuesday through Thursday. Be on the lookout for more of Gavin's creative food specials every week.

Top review

Brian

Dined 6 days ago

Went back to Corner Kitchen for our anniversary dinner, amazing as always. The ribeye was amazing and she loved the steak and frites. The mule cocktail was perfectly made.

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4.4

4.4 (378)

$30 and under

American

Dayton

About the restaurant

The Foundry Rooftop restaurant is located on the sixth floor of the AC Hotel in downtown Dayton. Inspired by the fire within foundries, the factories that produce metal castings, this wood-fired kitchen embraces the flame. Devour new takes on internally-inspired cuisine with our Loaded Potato Pizza and Ingot Crab Crakes, or our signature Foundry Reuben and Charred Meatballs. Hearty, midwestern favorites from Chef's David Belknap and Jason Findley anchor our menu like our Crispy Pork Belly and 24-Hour Chicken. And with a combination of smoked whiskeys, classic cocktails, and local beers, you’ll always have the perfect pairing of spirits to enhance the heat of your meal. Made for Dayton locals, or those local for the day, we invite you to join us on our open-air rooftop patio for dinner, drinks and celebrating your most special occasions with a private event.

Top review

LaShea

Dined 2 days ago

The food is absolutely the BEST in Dayton. It's full of flavor and you can tell that the food selections have been well thought out and whatever I get there from the bisque to the wood-fired pizza, it's always just uniquely delicious. The drinks are also creative and very very good. Hats off to Chef Jason!

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Experience

Salsa Brunch

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Dayton

4.3

4.3 (335)

$30 and under

American

Dayton

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Angela

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

Quick service and friendly waiter, good portions for food.

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