Pizza Factory review

  If you've ever looked over the menu at Dayton's Original Pizza Factory, you'll probably notice the variety.  They have a Reuben pizza, seafood pizza, whole wheat crusts, and nearly 40 toppings you can choose from, including 6 different cheeses.

  If you think that a pizza place that offers a choice between green and black olives is great, how about broccoli, pickles and lamb as options?

  We tried the Greek Gyro with double lamb, double feta cheese, onion, black olives, tomato and hand tossed crust.  Since it was buy 1 get 1 free Monday, we also got a Seafood Blanc with whole wheat crust, shrimp, imitation crab, with a bit of tomato and onion and some cheddar added.

  I'll have to say that of the two, we enjoyed the Greek Gyro pizza the most, and I enjoyed the feta cheese taste quite a bit, and the lamb. (probably because I grew up raising sheep for 4-H, and we had lamb several times a year)  I'd score it a 9/10 overall.  The Seafood Blanc pizza fared less well, and we had quite a bit left over.  I'm not sure if it was the onion, imitation crab, or exactly what.  All I could tell was that it simply had a somewhat strong fishy taste to it, and that's saying something considering that I like to eat canned fish occcasionally, and sheepshead (freshwater drum) caught from Lake Erie.  I think I might have preferred a seafood pizza with clams, fire roasted shrimp some scallops and oyster sauce.

 

  Overall, I would definitely suggest giving the place a try if you're tired of pizza the same old, same old way.  It's clear they are using quality ingredients, and they are really offering some unique combinations.

Note: take advantage of their Buy 1 get 1 free deal (for pickup) on Mondays!

website: http://pizzafactory.biz/
telephone: (937) 224-4477
address: 1101 Wayne Ave. Dayton, OH 45410

Copyright 2013 Dayton Dining   www.DaytonDining.com

Trish's Cafe & Catering

  Here's another place that I had driven past dozens of times, but never quite found the time to stop and try their food.  We ended up going on Tuesday night, since there was a sign up advertising that as trivia night, starting around 6:30.

  The place looks pretty inviting on the outside - check out the menu photo:

  That looks a lot like a cafe, right?  However, as soon as you go inside, you realize it is more or less a bar, and not a cafe.  The lights were turned down too low, and the music was turned up too loud.  If you like 70's rock where most of the songs weren't popular enough to get replayed on the radio much, then this might be the place for you.  Well, that isn't entirely fair, since I did recognize a couple of the songs, including one by Bob Dylan.  Then again, how can you not recognize when Bob Dylan is singing anything?  I was also glad we did not sit anywhere near the door.  Even though we sat all the way across the room on the far side, we could still certainly feel a cold draft whenever anyone entered or left the restaurant.

  While we were looking over the menu, I noticed that the floor was missing quite a few floor tiles.  The place seemed to have loyal regular customers who were rather vocal.  I guess they were trying to talk over the music.  Waitresses were attentive.  I decided to try the ribeye steak, some onion rings and hash browns.  It took about 25 minutes for the food to arrive.

  The steak impressed me as far as flavor and portion size.  I believe they may have used a rub of some type, because it was juicy and didn't need any sort of sauce.  However, as you can see in the photo above, it had a bit more fat on one side than I would have expected.  I think they should trim a big section of fat like that rather than serve it.  Like so many other places, the hash browns weren't really browned very well, even though I asked them to please make them crunchy.  They tasted fine, but the texture throughout wasn't crispy like I'd like.

    The side salad was ornamental, cute, didn't skimp on the tomatoes, and had more than just 1 type of lettuce.

  I truly enjoyed the onion rings.  I guess I have gotten to the point where I expect places to bring out "pieces parts" onion rings, made out of onion bits instead of true rings.  These were crispy, thin and very tasty!



  Oh, I almost forgot, we did hang around to take part in the trivia contest.  It was not digital or online like it is at some of the sports bars around the area - where you compete against players all over the place.  Instead, a guy on crutches who most of the regulars knew came out and read the questions.  The first round questions were easier than expected, but the second and third rounds had a lot of tougher questions.  I enjoyed it overall, but unfortunately, the guy reading the questions kept getting the numbering messed up.  He would finish question 4, then suddenly he was saying we were on number 6, etc.  How hard is it to use a pen to check off the ones you have finished?  This really got annoying, because it happened on every round at least once.  Of course, then you're wondering if you're going to get marked off because your answers are on the wrong line, or something like that.

  I would probably give this place a 6 out of a 10 on atmosphere, 8 out of 10 on the food, and 8 out of 10 on the service.  If they would have a better variety of music and not play it as loud, it would go a long way towards improving the mood of the place.

Address: 112 South Main Street   Union, Ohio
telephone: (937) 836-1093

copyright 2013 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com

Have you ever run into a restaurant not accepting cash?

  Last weekend, I went with a group to the Trotwood McDonald's for lunch.  I was the first up to the cash register, and placed an order for just over $10.  I looked in my wallet, and all I had was a $50, a couple of $1's, and about a dollar in change.  I got out the $50, then fished around for exact change so they could just give me bills back.

No, the one I was trying to use didn't look like this.

There is an official proposal to replace the current

Grant $50 with something like this one, though.

  The cashier said "Sorry, we don't take that here."  I said what do you mean - you won't take cash as payment?  She suggested that I walk all the way over to Lowe's, get change, and then come back, or that I use a credit card. (we try not to use credit cards for restaurant spending - too easy to go over budget)  I was spending over 20% of the bill on their food - it's not like I was just buying a burger or two and trying to get the rest back as cash.  After a little bit of back and forth, they suggested I just get change elsewhere.  I told them that was exactly what we would do, and the group went across the street to Burger King, where I used the exact same 50 dollar bill and got change back for my purchase. (BTW, thanks guys, for being understanding when I wanted to stick to my principles, and not "go into debt" to pay for my meal)

  I was a bit annoyed at the time, even though I'll admit that the McDonald's does have a couple of signs posted saying they do not take 50's.  Evidently that location has either had trouble with counterfeits or robberies. (if they take larger bills, they have to keep more cash on hand to make change)  Anyway, I had to rethink the whole cash issue.

  I've always thought that places HAD to accept cash, since it essentially says right on the bills that they are "good for all debts, public and private".  However, if a place makes you pay BEFORE you get your goods, there is no debt, since you pay up front.  That means that they can legally refuse to accept certain bills if they want to.  Gas stations can be the same way if they want, since these days they tend to make you pay up front, instead of after pumping gas like they used to.  As far as restaurants go, the sit down ones that have you pay after eating must take any high denomination bill you offer as payment, whether they want to or not.  This is because you have a debt to them you are trying to pay, since you already consumed the goods, and now owe them.  Therefore, I guess I'll never have to worry about this at a sit down, slow food restaurant.  However, I may have to get used to it at fast food places.  I guess I learned something about cash this week.

 

  Looks like the cops nabbed somebody in the picture above, doesn't it?  Maybe the guy in the red and yellow was trying to pass a counterfeit $50 at the same Trotwood McDonald's, but it looks like he didn't get very far.

  In all seriousness, this is definitely not the first time that problems have arisen over the various cash policies in place at different McDonald's restaurants.  In fact, sometimes the disagreements can get quite ugly.  Take for instance this case of two drunk women trying to pass a fake $50 bill, then getting angry and slapping the cashier when he starts to check the bill for authenticity.  The women not only cuss him out, they go over and around the counter, pressing a physical attack when he retreats.  Things don't turn out the way they expect, though.  The cashier they are attacking is not some meek guy who will keep taking it.  He spent years in prison for assault and battery, and can only be pushed so far before defending himself.  (warning, rather violent youtube video with some cursing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxRSLXjaWtI

  If you think about it, $50 isn't a lot of money any more.  In fact, if you do a little math, you'll find out that a $50 bill today has the same buying power as 5 dollars and 23 cents did back in 1950.
(check out the CPI calculator below, to compare buying power through the ages)
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

   I can pretty much guarantee that none of the McDonalds restaurants back in 1950 would have rejected a $5 bill.  Since the $50 today has the same buying power, they shouldn't be rejecting it, either.  If they want extra assurance, perhaps the Trotwoods McDonald's should try what another restaurant in their chain did:

  I really wouldn't mind the quick hassle of flashing my wallet, and I'm guessing that anybody else paying with a genuine bill wouldn't mind that much, either.  It's a lot better than being told to walk over to Lowe's to get change, or being told you HAVE to use a credit card.  A sign like this would probably also get rid of a lot of the trouble with anyone thinking they could easily pass off a counterfeit bill, but doesn't restrict good citizens from using cash, either.  I think this would be a much better solution for everyone.

Buy 1 Get 1 Free offers at Burger King, through Amazon Local

* ALIVE AGAIN, Monday October 22!*
 looks like folks are getting a 2nd chance at it... but a limit of 1 certificate for each this time around


Today only Amazon Local is offering buy 1 get 1 free offers for Whopper, Original Chicken Sandwich and smoothies at Burger King.  Although the deal is only good for today, there are two things to keep in mind:

1) you can "buy" (for zero money) as many of these as you want
&
2) You can start redeeming the certificates tomorrow (October 19) through November 4

Here's the link:

http://local.amazon.com/national

  I called a couple of Burger King restaurants in the Dayton area, and the folks who answered the phone at both restaurants said they definitely would accept these certificates.

  Although this is the first time I've ever heard of Amazon Local, evidently it has been active for months.  It is pretty much like Groupon and Living Social.  Usually you buy very discounted offers, and have a limited time to use the certificates.  If you already have an Amazon account, it is very simple to log in, "buy" your certificates for free, and then view and print the certificates within a few minutes.

  In this particular case, you can get a dozen if you want, then print them out and use them later.  Don't try to rush right out and use them today, though, because they are not valid until the day after you purchase them.

  If you like Burger King's Whoppers, Original Chicken Sandwiches, or smoothies, this might be a great deal for you, especially if you have a big appetite, or often have a second person to feed.  You'll have 17 days to buy 1 and get 1 free.  Limit is 1 coupon per visit.  This might also be good for an outing for a small group or club.

Copyright 2012 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com

China Hut, Trotwood

  We stopped by China Cottage in Trotwood recently.  I had no idea what I was in the mood for, exactly, but I do tend to like Chinese food.  One of the first things you'll notice when you go inside is the large saltwater aquarium that dominates the center of the restaurant.  There is a large fish that reminds me of a huge variation of an angelfish that swims around in there.  It is probably a foot tall and a foot long, and fun to watch while waiting for the food.

  Of course, the finest ceramic ware historically came from China, which is why you may have heard of it referred to as "fine china".  This restaurant has a nice ornamental display.

  After looking over the menu for about 8 minutes, I decided to try something I don't believe I've ever had before, the moo shu beef.  The description said something about plum sauce.  I know from a trip to Chicago's Chinatown that I love plum sauce, though when I tried it from another source at a later date, I was less impressed, so it must depend on the recipe.  Of course I also love beef, so I thought it might work to mix them together, along with cabbage and other vegetables, in a sort of crepe.

  Our food arrived after about a 15 minute wait.  Mine involved some preparation, so I took a couple of pictures.  Our waiter, Wen L, did a fantastic job of presenting the food.  He made little circles of the plum sauce, added some of the beef and vegetable filling, and then folded the crepes.







Eventually, after a bit of folding that reminded me of origami, we ended up with something that I guess is essentially a Chinese version of a burrito, but with one end open.  The food was excellent, as was the service.  My Moo Shu Beef had a taste that was not overly sweet, and not dominated either by the beef or the vegetables.  The meal was very filling, so we had leftovers.  Instead of just handing us a doggie bag to fill ourselves, Wen took our leftovers and boxed them up himself.  I was not expecting this level of service for a meal under $10, and heartily recommend trying one of their 4 Dayton area locations.

 

 

My apologies for the menus - they essentially show the prices and item names, but not the descriptions.  While the menu says copyright 2003, the prices are current.  Also, these prices are the same for eating in.  If you need greater detail, you can visit the restaurant's website at http://www.chinacottagerestaurant.com/menu

China Cottage

location: 1983 Shiloh Spring Road, Trotwood

telephone: (937) 854-8033

website: http://www.chinacottagerestaurant.com

hours: Sun-Thur 11A-10P,   Fri & Sat 11A-11P

locations in Kettering, Centerville, Trotwood and Springboro

Copyright 2012 Dayton Dining

www.DaytonDining.com

Rattlesnake Chili, Old West Fest

  Have you ever had a hankering to taste rattlesnake?  I'm guessing that most folks think it would be more likely for a snake to take a bite out of them than the other way around.  However, I was down at the Old West Fest recently, and came across Grub Slingers Food.  It was pretty hard to resist a sign saying "Rattlesnake Chili", but since I don't handle pepper spice particularly well, I had to ask if the name meant that it just had a hot pepper bite, or if it really had rattlesnake in there.

  The proprietor told me that the chili doesn't have a lot of heat, at least not on the way down.  He also explained that the chili does indeed contain a mix of chorizo sausage and real rattlesnake.  That sold me, so I tried a bit.  The flavor had some slight sweetness up front, followed by a moderately salty taste of tomato and meat.  I would say that this chili would be fine even for those who stay away from hot peppers, and it made me long for the Chili King restaurant that I used to dine at occasionally on Main Street just north of downtown Dayton. (BTW, if anybody has a photo of the old Chili King restaurant, I'd love to see it - I never thought to take a picture when I ate there)

  For those who haven't heard much about it, the Old West Fest is a festival that happens on weekends.  It has similarities to Renaissance Festivals, but is set 300-500 years later.  The Old West Festival is themed on Dodge City in 1878.  There are still 3 weekends when folks can attend, through October 7.  Location is east of Cincinnati, route 32. (Appalachian Highway)  Adult tickets at the gate are $12, and kids are $6.  The festival would probably provide most folks with about 4-6 hours of entertainment.

http://oldwestfestival.com/

copyright 2012 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com

Jerri's Restaurant, Englewood

  If you have ever gone to the library in Englewood (Northmont branch), you have been right next to this place.  Jerri's is in the Englewood shopping center, next to Kmart and the Englewood Cinema.  I have driven by it dozens of times, but never took notice of it until they purchased a sign and put it out by route 40 saying they were open for business.

   This place was a very pleasant dining experience.  From the Frank Sinatra background music played at just the right volume to the excellent food, I would have to say that it qualifies as a hidden gem.  Even the bathrooms were clean.  The men's restroom, by the way, had numerous metal nostalgia signs up, including several comic book covers.  I believe they may have one of the best Superman comic book covers I've ever seen up on the wall there - I think it was #41, but my memory may be off.

  Anyway, we had a bit of time one afternoon and decided to try Jerri's out for lunch.  The inside is rather plain and not too large, but there was enough room for almost a dozen tables.  They are open every day except Sunday, and they have a different special every weekday.  Monday is Swiss steak, Tuesday pork tenderloin, Wednesday meat loaf, Thursday chicken fettucini and Friday is ocean perch.

  After looking over the menu, I almost selected the perch, which was the special of the day.  However, I picked the chicken teriyaki served over rice instead.  I also got some mashed potatoes as a side, and added an order of onion rings.  I've always hoped to find a place that serves onion rings like they make at the county fairs.  They also offered cans of pop with the meals, and I believe they were a dollar each - pretty reasonable.

  The food took about 15 minutes to arrive from when we ordered.  I may have been a bit hungrier than usual, but I can safely say that the chicken teriyaki was excellent - probably the best I have had.  The roll was a typical white bread roll, and probably the only aspect of the meal that I could suggest improvement to. (a choice of rye or whole wheat roll would be greatly appreciated)  The mashed potatoes were also better than average, with a yummy and slightly sweet gravy.  The onion rings weren't the large sized fairground type, but at least they were not made from "pieces parts" like they are at some places.

  I left Jerri's very satisfied with the service and food.  There was enough to fill me up for lunch even though I hadn't had much to eat for breakfast.  If you are in the area, you might want to consider a combination meal and movie.  Jerri's is only about a 30 second stroll down the sidewalk from the Englewood Cinema, which shows movies for only $1.50 on Tuesdays.

Jerri's Restaurant
address: 320 west National Road
Telephone: 832-2765
hours: M-F 11-7,   Sat. 11-3

Copyright 2012 Dayton Dining
www.DaytonDining.com