Broadway Cafe, Trotwood

  We stopped off at the Broadway Cafe for lunch.  I have passed by probably 8 or 9 times, and they always seem to have a loyal fan base.  This was my second time eating here.  It has a brick interior, and is part of a very small strip mall on the west side of the street. (Union Road becomes Broadway)  After parking, I noticed something that is a little unusual in this day and age - one of the businesses is a training facility for boxers.

  Visually, the place looks clean and tidy, though I did notice a bit of something sticky on the table.  I was surprised at how much carryout business the place is evidently getting - quite a few folks came in to pick up orders while we were eating.

  I learned a bit of local history as well - another benefit of the customization that is possible with locally owned restaurants.   This is a true "mom & pop" style place.  I had seen a camping trailer once that said "Trotwood" on the back, but I assumed someone had just added that on.  It turns out that there was actually a Trotwood Trailer company, which made recreational camping trailers for decades starting in about 1930.  If you eat at the Broadway Cafe, you can learn about some of the history of the company from various wall displays.

or you can read more here:
http://www.tincantourists.com/wiki/doku.php?id=trotwood

  It took about 18-20 minutes for all of the food to come out, which is about average.  Some of the breakfast specials I've seen advertised are very inexpensive, and the overall prices here are decent.  There are daily specials, plus the menus have additional ways to save, such as buy 4 subs, get 1 free.

  If you get the "chix rice", which turned out to be a rice soup with chicken, you may want to tell them to dial down the spices a notch.  I've had it twice here, and the first time it was almost too spicy for me to finish.  The second time I stopped by and tried it, it was fine.  Perhaps the first time someone just put a bit more of the spices in than normal.

  The mushroom & swiss burger had some huge mushroom slices on top, but not quite as much cheese as I would have liked.  The beef patty gave the impression that they made it up from scratch, which is the way I like it. (instead of a frozen patty from some multi-pack)  The reuben surprised me in the other direction - more cheese than I expected, and beef instead of ham.  It turns out that I grew up eating a variation of the classic reuben sandwich - my Mom typically made it with a slice of ham with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye bread.  However, since the menu did not list the ingredients, I had to look it up when I was surprised.  It turns out that a classic Reuben typically has corned beef or pastrami, and not the ham I was used to.

  I'll definitely go back, and next time I'm trying one of their calzones.

Broadway Cafe
203 North Broadway, Trotwood
(937) 837-6555
Sunday 7-9
Mon.-Thur 7-10
Fri.-Sat. 7-11


Copyright 2012 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com

Ruby Tuesday - buy 1 get 1 free coupon

  I ate lunch at the Miller Lane location Ruby Tuesday today.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, and wasn't able to get photos or scans this time around.  I decided on the Parmesan Shrimp Pasta for $13 on their lunch menu.  This is described as "Tender, spicy shrimp are seasoned and sautéed, then served over penne pasta in Parmesan cream sauce and accented with diced tomatoes."

  I evidently wasn't paying enough attention to the description when I ordered, otherwise I would probably have noticed the word "spicy" in there.  When I ordered, I thought this would essentially be cheesy pasta with shrimp.  It turned out that the shrimp was covered with some sort of creole inspired spiciness.  It didn't burn, but it did make my eyes water a bit, and certainly cleared out my nose.  However, I'm notoriously sensitive to spicy food, and although I would have preferred less seasoning, this wasn't too much for me, and so I doubt that it would be a problem for most folks.  I finished and enjoyed every bite.

  Also, I came across this coupon, which we could have used today.  It is buy one get one free at Ruby Tuesday, good through the 13th.  Notice that there are some limitations on the coupon.

website: www.rubytuesday.com
Vandalia, Centerville and Troy locations
telephone: 937-454-0535
hours: Sun 10-10, Mon.-Thur. 11-11, Fri. & Sat. 11-Midnight

Copyright 2011 by Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com

Lost in Translation?

  Wow - I came across this yesterday at a dollar store in the SE Dayton area.  Although I certainly watched the show as a kid, I've never before seen anything branded with the Lassie trademark.  Perhaps the show is still really popular down there in Brazil, where this candy originated.  I think something was lost in translation when they put the caption "Lassie Flavored" on there!  Don't hand these out for Halloween Trick-or-Treating, or you might make the kids cry!

Thanks for your clicks - they help feed the hungry!

  Have you ever wondered what happens to the Google Adsense pennies earned when you kind folks click advertisements on this website?

  At least half (50%) of it goes to charity.  This year I've picked Heifer.org as the recipient.  Your clicks have helped provide 300 dollars worth of help to destitute folks in Honduras.  What I truly like about the Heifer project is that they don't just hand out food once.  Doing that helps a bit short term, but doesn't do anything to help solve the long term problem.

  Instead, Heifer helps people with education, tools and animals.  Yes, animals!  They provide everything from bees to apple trees, sheep to hens, and the training to properly raise them.  Over time, a single apple tree can provide a lot of food for a family.  Bees can provide honey, hens give eggs, and sheep provide wool.  The animals also reproduce, which means that the size of the flock can increase.  All of these can not only make the difference between a family going hungry, but with a little work the family can sell some of the eggs, honey, etc., lifting the family out of poverty.

  Most of us here in the U.S. can regularly enjoy going out and enjoying a variety of restaurants.  However, lots of folks across the world struggle just to have enough to eat.  Before you go out to eat the next time, I'd like to invite you to help take part in this program.  Your clicks have already helped the folks down in Honduras, and I thank you very much for that.  I'd like to challenge you to go a step further, however.  Would you be willing to donate the amount you might spend on eating out the next time to help change a family's future - even if it is just $10?

  If so, please take a moment to look over some of the current giving opportunities.  Thank you very much!


Select a specific outreach:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.6057771/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp

Donate a particular animal:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/

According to BBB wise, 79% of donations go to programs, 15% to fundraising, and
6% to administrative.  Heifer has helped over 13 million hungry families since 1944.


Copyright 2011 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com

Marion's Piazza - 46% off this week

  If you are new to the Dayton area, or somehow have only enjoyed pizza from a national chain previously, consider trying out Marion's Piazza.  Marion's is a small local chain of pizza places, complete with arcade.  Marion's was a go to place for various TV personalities in the 60's & 70's when they visited Dayton, and on the wall you will likely recognize some of them.  I would go into more detail, but I reviewed Marion's just last year.

  I got to enjoy a couple of pizzas at Marion's yesterday, when a group of folks met there after church.  I'll admit that normally paying almost $30 for a couple of pizzas puts them out of my everyday price range.  However, once a year Marion's has a huge "percent off" sale to celebrate their anniversary.  This year, the savings amounts to 46% off up to two pizzas, with coupon - almost half off!  It was great seeing the price on the receipt go from $29.xx (with tax) down to about $15.

  In the past they have had this sale on one day only, which meant that you had to be willing to brave up to 3 hour long lines in order to enjoy the big discount.  This year Marion's is trying something different.  Instead of just offering the discount on a single day, they are allowing folks to come in on several.  The discount is available, with coupon, from Sunday the 14th through Thursday the 18th.  I'm happy to report that my wait time yesterday was about 7 minutes to place my order, and a grand total of about 20 minutes before we got our pizza.  The place was pretty busy, but there were a few open tables.  Be prepared to bus (and perhaps even wipe down) your own table, because some folks leave all of their things behind at the table, and the restaurant staff is a bit overwhelmed.

  Since we had too much pizza to eat in one sitting, I boxed up the pizza.  I noticed that they have an interesting guarantee:

  If you buy your pizza and it is burned, undercooked, doesn't seem to have enough toppings, or for whatever reason you just don't like it after trying it, they will make you another one, free of charge.  However, you have to call them right away, on the same day.  Plus, you can't have eaten more than 1/4 of the pizza - no eating all but one piece, then calling to say you weren't satisfied with it.  I'm glad to see them placing this prominently on every box.

  Keep in mind that Marion's is CASH ONLY - no credit cards.  They also have one line for ordering pizzas, another line for picking up your order, and a third line to order drinks, so that may be a bit different than what you are used to.

website: (including store locations)    http://www.marionspiazza.com/

Copyright 2011 Dayton Dining

www.DaytonDining.com

Company 7 Barbecue

  Company 7 Barbecue could easily be filed into my "round tuit" file - meaning that I've meant to get around to it for quite a while.  I actually first visited the place way back before it opened, in early December of last year.  I was just going to leave a note, and found the doors open.  I went inside and got a quick tour before anyone had eaten there.  Although I meant to drop by for a meal several times, this was the first time that it worked out.

  One of the things that impressed me the most was that diners are greeted with a choice upon entering.  In a hurry, and need to be served quickly and with minimal wait and service?  Then go through the quick service line, which reminds me a lot of a cafeteria lunch line. (the food has still been slow barbecued for hours and hours, ahead of time)  Do you have plenty of time and desire full service?  If so, head over to the smaller bar area, which has the feel of a sports bar, complete with big screen TV's.  This area is bright and the music is louder.

  The service here is excellent - when one of our drinks was drained, they noticed almost immediately, swooped in and refilled it, without us having to wait or even ask!  I love the "six alarm" numbered regional barbecue sauces.  While you might think that they progressively have more heat, only number 6 seemed to have much pepper heat.

  The place has a firehouse theme, which works well considering that this is a barbecue place.  The family that owns it had several generations as volunteer firemen, and also made emergency responder equipment as a family business.  Barbecues were common at the firehouse, and after they sold the family business, they decided to open up a firehouse themed restaurant.  A couple of their barbecue sauces have placed as high as #2 at national barbecue cookoffs.

  I ordered a large beef brisket, with a side seafood salad and side of sweet potatoes.  I decided to start out with the sweet potatoes, which were fantastic, and did the name justice!  They were so creamy and tasted like they had plenty of brown sugar.  Afterwards, I felt like I didn't really need any dessert.  I then proceeded to the seafood salad, which had just a bit of crunch.  It had just a tad more salt than I am used to, but I think perhaps I have just been paying a bit more attention to my salt and sugar intake.  Really, it was some of the best seafood salad that I've had, and I didn't expect that at a barbecue place.

  The large beef brisket was sliced into about 5 slices per inch, with a nice sized serving.  When I attempted to pull pieces off with my fork, the meat came apart in large, succulent flakes.  It was fun trying out the various barbecue sauces on the meat.

  The facility is also very clean and tidy, and has an arcade. (I enjoyed a game of air hockey)  I noticed that they have an open mic night Friday evenings, and on Saturday evenings they have a live band.  They also have a weekday lunch special Mondays through Fridays from 11 to 2, for just $5.50.  This includes a sandwich, chips & pickle spear.  You have your choice of smoked sausage, sliced turkey, pulled chicken, sliced beef brisket or pulled pork.  This would be a very inexpensive way to try out some of their selections.

hours: Sun. 11-7,   Mon.-Thur. 11-9,   Fri. & Sat. 11-10
address: 1001 S. Main St. (route 48) Englewood  (SW corner intersection Main & Wenger Rd.)
telephone: 937-836-2777
website:  http://www.company7bbq.com/

$100,000 Build a Better Burger contest

  I thought I would pass this along, in case any of you would like to win $100,000 in cash.  If you think you have a creative, original recipe for a burger that not only tastes but looks good, then why not enter?

http://buildabetterburger.com/

  Enter the contest by clicking under "Enter Your Recipe Here".  Even if you don't win, they have over 5,000 different burger recipes in their database, so it might be something interesting to try on your grill.  If you enter and win, please let us know!


Copyright 2011 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com