breakfast

Wendy’s Now Serving Breakfast

March 2, 2020 By Dayton Most Metro

“Our crew will be hand-cracking fresh eggs on all our breakfast sandwiches and leaning into quality ingredients that have long set Wendy’s apart from the competition,” Kurt Kane, Wendy’s U.S. president and chief commercial officer, said in a news release.

The full menu consists of nine sandwiches. The Breakfast Baconator, which has egg, sausage and six strips of applewood smoked bacon. Three are on croissants, including two options with eggs (sausage, egg and Swiss cheese or a bacon, egg and Swiss cheese) and a maple bacon chicken croissant. It’s also selling new side dishes, like potato wedges and replacing its coffee blend. There is also a Frosty-ccino, which combines its signature Frosty with iced coffee. Most Wendy’s start serving breakfast at 6:30am until 10:30am.

Who’d You Rather? Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel +$25 Gift Card

April 4, 2017 By The Food Adventures Crew 1 Comment

Are you down with “Down on the Farm?”

Breakfast …the most important meal of the day.

We don’t think the health nuts had the country style breakfasts we are going to talk about in mind when they said that. Biscuits, country gravy, pancakes, waffles, french toast, bacon, sausage, eggs, and list goes on. When traveling (or near home), there is nothing like a big, filling breakfast. Today, we compare two places that have dominated that meal for travelers and church goers, or even just hungry people.

Today, Food Adventures asks you to look inside yourself and tell us,

Or are you a Cracker Barrel addict?

“Who’d You Rather” get it on with … BOB EVANS or CRACKER BARREL ?

Yes, these two giants are chains, and on rare occasions we will write about chains because we have no rules. So relax, the parking lots at these places are full so there’s that…

This article is in the spirit of the TMZ headlines.. Who’d you rather??

Bob Evan’s Pancakes

You may have noticed our other head to head installments like “Five Guys or Smashburger?” or “El Rancho Grande or El Toro?” or how about “Chipotle or Qdoba?” and even most recently Who’d You Rather, “Fricker’s or Rooster’s?”

Comment below on today’s article WHO’D YOU RATHER? BOB EVANS or CRACKER BARREL and win a $25 gift card to your favorite choice, compliments of Food Adventures. Winner will be chosen at random next week using random.org.

Let’s get to the breakdown…

HUNGRY JAX VOTE: CRACKER BARREL
This skinny, hungry mom is hooked on two menu items that have stolen her heart … Cracker Barrel’s

Cracker Barrel’s Country Fried Steak

Pancakes and Cracker Barrel’s Potato Casserole. For her this makes the choice clear. The kid from up North picks the place from down South.

BIG RAGU’S VOTE: CRACKER BARREL:
The Big Ragu took a more mathematical approach. Bob Evans gets the edge for best breakfasts, although both have incredible French Toast. You know the incomparable biscuits. And Bob Evan’s Pancakes are to die for. But when we talk lunch and dinner, Cracker Barrel kicks some butt. The fish dinners are silly good. The Country Fried Steak is delicious too. Even the side dishes like the dumplings or the fried okra are amazing. It is pretty much a deep fried pardise with gravy for lunch and dinner. That solidifies Ragu’s vote ! We would be remiss if we did’t give honorable mention to Bob Evan’s salmon dinner.

We have our votes – What is yours?

Baked Salmon at Bob Evans

WHO’D YOU RATHER? BOB EVANS or CRACKER BARREL??

Don’t forget …

***Win a $25 gift card to your favorite choice, by commenting below.***

Check out Food Adventures on Facebook HERE for more Dayton Foodie fun !

Browse our gallery for more photos, comments are below the gallery.

Bob Evan’s biscuits and honey

What is breakfast without OJ or chocolate milk?

Bob Evan’s French toast

Bob Evan’s Pot Pie

Delicious burgers at Bob Evans

Cracker Rockers

French Toast – Cracker Barrel

Old School Cracker Barrel decor

Barrel Syrup

Cracker Barrel Breakfast

Chicken Fried Steak dinner with okra and dumplings

Cracker Barrel French toast

Bob Evan’s bacon and home fries

Sweet tea

Country Style at Cracker Barrel

Mashed Taters at Cracker Barrel

the dumplings at Cracker Barrel are amazing

Cracker Barrel Fireplace

Home Fries – Bob Evans

Campfire meals at Bob Evans

Bob Evans Burger

Bacon cooked perfectly at Bob Evans

Biscuits and jelly

Bob Evan’s Biscuits

French toast- Bob Evan’s

Bob Evan’s breakfast

Biscuits and Jelly – Bob Evans

Biscuits, honey and butter at Cracker Barrel

McDonald’s Chicken Breakfast Sandwich Giveaway !

December 3, 2016 By The Food Adventures Crew Leave a Comment

Chicken Biscuit with Cheese and Honey

The Big Ragu is a fan of the new chicken breakfast sandwiches at McDonalds and he wants to give away some free sandwiches to you.

***Five lucky people who comment below on this article, will be chosen at random to win Two Free Breakfast Sandwiches each***.

The best part (besides them being free) is that you don’t have to wait just for breakfast hours. These babies are the newest items available all day as part of McDonald’s All Day Breakfast Menu.

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON McDONALDS NEW CHICKEN BREAKFAST SANDWICHES:

The Chicken McGriddle

— CHICKEN MCGRIDDLE: A fried chicken patty, tucked between two pancakes, injected with syrup. This is probably the fave of the bunch. This is like a chicken and waffles in every bite. Here is a tip, order it with cheese !

— CHICKEN BISCUIT: A full country biscuit houses this fried chicken patty. Here is a tip, order it with honey, it will make your mouth water. This is the most filling of the three sandwiches.

— CHICKEN MCMUFFIN: This sandwich is, of course, a fried chicken patty on a toasted English Muffin. We love to try this one with a little bit of mayo, so ask for a packet. Bring some crunch into your morning with this winner.

Ronald visited us at the McDonalds on Yankee and 725

HONORABLE MENTION: Don’t forget to order a hash brown to go along with your sandwich. Want to get a little wacky? Put the hash brown inside the sandwich like the Big Ragu does. We call this creation a “McChicken ‘n Tater” sandwich.

So, next time you are on the go, and pull into the Golden Arches, remember these Food Adventure tips. For about 2 bucks you can grab a good sandwich. They are great as is, but if you want to doctor them up, consider ordering them with cheese and honey. Even order them with mayo depending on your condiment preferences. Remember, they aren’t just for breakfast anymore, since McDonald’s serves them up all day.

Food Adventures has no rules, we eat it all and give our slant

The Chicken McMuffin with Cheese

Our creation with a hash brown “A McChicken Biscuit n Tater” sandwich

Bite into a Chicken McGriddle

Chicken Biscuit With Cheese – Doctor it up with honey !

Does anybody else do the stuff Big Ragu does? A Food Adventure on a muff

Dripping with cheese and honey – The Chicken Biscuit

How about a Chicken McMuffin with some mayo?

on everything food related. Original photos, and we write our own weekly articles. Foodies, welcome to your paradise !

For more daily food fun with no rules, “like us” on Facebook by clicking HERE. Enjoy the photos below.

Now… how to**** WIN TWO FREE BREAKFAST SANDWICHES *** Just comment below. We will choose 5 winners at random next Wed. Dec 7th. Stay tuned and GET YOUR CHICKEN ON !

Another New Food Truck: Son Of a Biscuit

June 10, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

Brad Manning has worked 2 jobs for years. A day job in electronic’s and nights at Hooter’s for the last eight years. When his day job was eliminated recently he decided to go into business for himself so he could control his own destiny. And he just quit his 2nd job at the restaurant so he can dedicate himself to his street eats business. With the help of family and friends he built out his truck and launched Son of A Biscuit just this month. It’s the area’s first breakfast food truck and will be out most mornings around 8am with the average item running about $6.

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SOB breakfast sandwich

The truck has been out about four times already and Brad shared, “my menu really focuses on breakfast sandwiches, but I’m adding biscuits because so many people just expect that I have them and I don’t want them to walk away when disappointed.” His tells us his “favorite sandwich is the SOB, an egg served on an English muffin with Jalapeños, green pepper, onion, with cheddar tossed in franks red hot. It will have your taste buds saying Son of a Biscuit!” He also is really proud of his french toast bites and will be adding a BLT to the menu.

He wants folks to know that all the meats he uses are from Landes Fresh Meats, an old fashioned farm market in Clayton that specializes in Farm-Harvested Beef & Pork. Quality is important to him and he wants people to know that he’ll only serve food from quality products.

You’ll find Son of A Biscuit at Family Video on Wayne Avenue Monday – Thursday’s from 8am to noonish and starting on June 24th they’ll be serving up breakfast at Proto Build Bar from 8am to noon. They’ll also be doing late nights at Wings Sports Bar on N. Dixie on Friday & Saturday nights, from midnight til about 4am, though hours may be adjusted when they see what the crowds are like. Or check the MostMetro Food Truck listings to find them.

29 Spots Serving Up Pancakes For Feb 28th “Day of Caring”

February 25, 2016 By The Food Adventures Crew Leave a Comment

This Sunday, Feb 28th is a fundraiser for the homeless and hungry

Shelter and food…. we all need it. We all deserve a warm meal, and a warm, dry place to live, protected from of the elements.
Daytonians who are the most at risk, lack these very basics needs of life. It is easy to take such things for granted as we go about our business during everyday life. But this weekend, local volunteers are putting the poor as first priority. The Annual “A Day of Caring” event is being held at various Miami Valley religious centers and event spaces. It will benefit hungry and homeless from local neighborhoods. Join The Food Adventures Crew Sunday, and support this cause any way you can.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:
— WHEN: Sunday, February 28th, most breakfast events are starting between 8am-10am, but check the list below

— WHAT: “A Day of Caring,” where over one thousand volunteers from various churches and charities are hosting dozens of Pancake Breakfasts. One hundred percent of ticket sales go right back to local organizations like Dayton area food banks and Montgomery County housing charities.

— WHERE: CLICK HERE for a list of over 30 sites serving the pancake breakfasts for charity

Since 1991 the “Day of Caring” events have raised over $500,000 for local charities. This year seeks to add another $45,000 to the total.

Please support the “Day of Caring,” with a delicious breakfast

Chef House, Hungry Jax, and the Big Ragu, challenge our fellow Daytonians to get involved with a “Day of Caring” this Sunday, by attending a breakfast, volunteering your time or making a donation directly at this link HERE.

The effect of donations to these local food pantries and housing areas on the community is tremendous. Help a hungry and homeless neighbor. Visit one of the participating locations for the “Day of Caring.”

Want to volunteer? For more information on how you can get involved, go to the Day of Caring Website at http://dayofcaring.us/

Follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here and catch us EVERY week for articles on DaytonMostMetro .com

The Greatest Potato Salad in the World * Win 2 lbs & Cabbage Rolls *

August 8, 2014 By The Food Adventures Crew 27 Comments

Third Generation Owner John Mott with his Famous Belmont Catering Potato Salad

Are you aware that the greatest potato salad in the world is in Dayton, Ohio? The Big Ragu knows…

YES, it is true! But many Daytonians already knew that Belmont Catering is the potato salad mecca of the Midwest. If you are like us, their potato salad has been a special treat at your family functions and holidays for decades.

We will have many foaming at the mouth for this giveaway:

****Comment on the story below and one winner will be chosen at random. The prize is 2 pounds of Belmont Catering’s famous potato salad and 6 of their cabbage rolls !!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Belmont Catering has been providing the best potato salad you have ever eaten for over 35 years. It is a Food Adventure in a container….

— Family owned for 3 generations, today’s owner John Mott still sticks to the basics that made the company a success.

— Located on 730 Watervliet Rd. near the intersection of Smithville, you may sometimes see a line out the door.

— The potato salad is such a cult classic that former Dayton residents have it shipped overnight all over the USA. One person even overnighted a huge cooler of the stuff to Manhattan in New York City and paid $100 in shipping! Who does that, unless it is the best potato salad in the world.

On busy weekends, Belmont Catering Hand Peels 2,000lbs of Potatoes. Yep, a TON of Potatoes

— Belmont Catering goes through about 500 pounds of potatoes a week, and on holiday weekends they go through 1,500 – 2,000 pounds of potatoes. Yes, that is a ton of potatoes. The staff told us that 50 pounds of potatoes makes about 65 pounds of Potato Salad.

— Our biggest tip is CALL AHEAD. It is best to call in your order 1 or 2 days ahead of time. If you just stop in, it will be rare for you to find what you need because everything is usually sold out since items are made to order. You can thank the Food Adventures Crew later for this advice.

MUST EATS:

— THE POTATO SALAD: OBVIOUSLY .. at $4.25 a pound, there are lines out the door for this stuff. but why is it so good? Is it the pimentos? The Mustard? The Mayonnaise? NOOOO !

Here is the secret to the world’s best potato salad:

1) The potatoes are peeled, rinsed, then SHREDDED like hash browns. This gives a distinct, one-of-a-kind texture and no hard chunks.

2) No chunks of eggs in the salad. This is potato salad, not egg salad. Eggs may or may be in the recipe, but you won’t see any ….

3) Cleanliness. The kitchen is immaculate. The Montgomery County Health Inspectors have given Belmont Catering the highest marks over their last 19 visits to the kitchen.

4) Third Generation Owner, John Mott is still using his Grandmother’s recipe. And by the way, her recipe will blow your mom’s potato salad out of the water. It is reminiscent of the movie “What’s Up tiger Lily” where they hunted down a similar recipe, “a salad so delicious you could pltoz.”

Storefront on 730 Watervliet Ave., Inside is the World’s Greatest Potato Salad

Oh but that’s not all. Belmont Catering did not build its business on potato salad alone.

There are more, MUST EATS such as:

— CABBAGE ROLLS: $6.80 for 6 of them, they are also a cult favorite.

— THE BBQ PULLED PORK: Outstanding flavor, and sold at $6.90 a pound

There are many more items, but these are our top favorites. You can find a list of pick up items HERE, we cannot stress enough the need to call ahead..

And then there is the CATERING aspect of their business. If you need an event catered, breakfasts, cookouts, or boxed lunches, these are your go to guys. They pretty much deliver a Food Adventure to your event. Belmont Catering has built this business for decades with great food and service.

With Labor Day Weekend right around the corner, now is a perfect time to treat yourself to some of the World’s Best Potato Salad !!

Cabbage Rolls – Frozen or Made Fresh to Order

Get down to Belmont Catering on Watervliet, and pick up a taste of great potato salad, but call ahead! No cookout, picnic, holiday or family event is complete without it!

****Who wants to win some of their great food? Comment below for your chance to win ! ****

Food Adventures is going to giveaway 2 pounds of their famous potato salad and 6 cabbage rolls to one lucky reader!!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below on this story, telling us why you want the goods. One winner will be picked at RANDOM next week.

There is another way you can be a winner in general, like Food Adventures on Facebook by CLICKING HERE ! Anything else is just a generic copy..

Check out our photo gallery from our visits to Belmont Catering, below.

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Christopher’s Restaurant: Saintly and Sinful

September 13, 2013 By The Food Adventures Crew Leave a Comment

Mushroom Bisque one of many homemade soups

Some say the food at Christopher’s Restaurant is like a religious experience. That would make sense because the eatery is named after St. Christopher, the patron saint of travel. Owner/Chef Chip Pritchard and his staff have developed a cult following with the locals, and a favorite stop of foodies who are passing through town. Why? Because it is comfort food. It is not pretentious, just good solid food. We met the owners at a farmer’s market and it has been a favorite Food Adventure stop ever since.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Known for their extensive, fresh menu it is a salad, soup and sandwich lovers paradise.

— Vegetarian and Vegan friendly choices make it a favorite healthy dining spot. Many gluten free menu items to choose from as well.

The Black Bean Burger: not just for vegans anymore

— Breakfast menu that rivals anyplace in Dayton. Most overheard quote at Christopher’s “you gotta come back for breakfast.” Tasty indeed.

— Christopher’s employs two bakers who make the desserts from scratch twice a week. Check the revolving choices and make sure you don’t miss out on these sinful offerings.

— Thursday nights are “theme nights.” Probably our favorite time to visit Christopher’s. Guaranteed great foodstuffs in a fun, inviting atmosphere. Most recently, we went to Caribbean Theme Night on September 12th.

— Christopher’s uses local farms, local produce, naturally raised beef, organic salmon (from Foremost Seafood), local free range eggs, and organic coffee and teas.

Speaking of which, The Big Ragu and crew have to tell you about …. the MUST EATS at CHRISTOPHERS

Many organic items like Ice Teas served with fresh, local mint sprigs

— THE CHRISTOPHER SPECIAL: A bacon sandwich with avocado, tomato, Neufantel cream cheese and bean sprouts. We crave this and get nights sweats thinking about this specialty sandwich.

— THE MEZZA PLATE: House Hummus, falafel, feta cheese chunks, kalamata olives, tomato slices, cucumbers and carrots surrounded by pita chips. This ain’t your grandparents vegetarian menu…

— BUFFALO CHICKEN SOUP: Phenomenal homemade soup with a kick better than Pelé. Eat some and become a Buffalo Soldier like The Big Ragu.

— THE BLACK BEAN BURGER: Even if you are not a vegetarian, you gotta try this delicious and filling burger.

— MUSHROOM BISQUE: One of our all time fave soups is simply divine. Creamy goodness in every spoonful.

— CARROT CAKE: The homemade icing will have you saying “dude, seriously?” Try it, your tummy will thank us.

— BUMBLEBERRY PIE: Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Yes, 3 berries, one pie. Served cold or hot, you can’t lose with this fresh, local creation. Big Ragu approved !

— TWO GOOD BREAKFAST: Two eggs, two pieces of bacon, two pieces of sausage and two pancakes or French toast.

Delicious, Fresh Breakfast Choices

Honorable Mention: Bacon & Tomato Omelette, Honey BBQ Chicken and The “Decent Breakfast” which features choices of fruit or home fries, choice of meat, 2 eggs and a biscuit, toast or English muffin.

This quaint dining establishment is a great place for a date, or a visit with your grandmother. Expect great service, as the staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. The eclectic menu at Christopher’s Restaurant is a great place for a serious eater. From healthy, to vegan, from ethnic to good old fashioned American comfort food, they have it all. It fits the bill for practically any occasion. Best of all, many ingredients are fresh and local. Give it a try next time you are near the corner of Woodman Dr and Dorothy Lane. They are open Monday – Saturday: 7:30am – 9pm. They use organic to make meals that are fantastic.

Browse the many dishes in our photo album below from our many meals at Christopher’s.

Love Facebook? Want some more from your favorite “foodies in their forties?” Then check out Food Adventures on Facebook —> HERE

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Tank’s Bar & Grill: An Original Dayton Food Adventure

August 8, 2013 By The Food Adventures Crew 7 Comments

Wednesday’s Special: Roast Beef Hot Shot a “Must Eat”

Some things are just Dayton born and Dayton bred. Tanks Bar & Grill on 2033 Wayne Avenue is a Dayton icon, much like The Wright Brothers, U.D. Arena and Dr. Creep. Opened in 1987 by Dan “Tank” Tankersley, the restaurant has become legendary in a short time. Although named for the owner, Tank’s name fits well because they bring out the heavy artillery in their food offerings. With a kitchen that opens very early and closes very late everyday, this is our kind of place. A place for foodies, heck it is more than that, it is a place for serious eaters. Loyalists have given Tanks a cult following, yet many suburbanites are unfamiliar with the spot & want to know, “Why all the love?” The answer is big portions of tasty food in a no frills atmosphere. This is an not a wuss place, the old house has character and if these walls could talk, there would be some good stories. You gotta love a place with 2 menus at all times.

Get your eat on, you are in the right spot.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Open 7am – 2am everyday, plenty of time for a Food Adventure

— They serve breakfast all day. Brings a tear to our eye.

— Old School Joint where you wont leave hungry. The plates are big, but the prices are decent.

If you eat one thing at Tank’s, make it a Burger !

— The Beer Selection is immense. Lots of weird beers and unfamiliar bottle labels to experiment with and a few seasonal beers on tap too.

MUST EATS:

— TANK’S BURGERS: Are you kidding? If you go to Tank’s and eat one thing, make it a burger. People drive-in from all over the place for this stuff. This is one of the finest burgers in Dayton. You gotta’ try one.

— OMELET TANK’S WAY: This is a 10 egg omelet with over a dozen choices for ingredients. A massive, tasty creation with a cheap price. Chef House goes for the 6 egg omelet called the “girly.”

— ROAD KILL CHILI: As the menu says, this isn’t normal possum, it is the Oakwood kind. All kidding aside, this hearty chili is a warm splash of happiness. Doctor it up with some hot sauce and you have yourself one of the best chili’s in the area.

— HOMEMADE CHIP DIP: This isn’t store bought dip, it is made on site. When you are sluggin’ down a lot of beer, this creamy item is a pretty good accompaniment.

Order off the menu: Get a Turkey Reuben with Slaw instead of Kraut

— WEDNESDAY SPECIAL ROAST BEEF HOT SHOT: An open face sandwich with roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. Comfort food at it’s best. It is a big portion, and again the price is right. You might want to take a nap an hour after eating this beast.

— HUSHPUPPIES: These homemade balls of deep fried love are almost as big as baseballs. Throw a few down your gullet or at your friends. They have a savory flavor with an addicting taste of sweetness.

— REUBEN: An amazing Reuben sandwich. Great bread, makes this sandwich in our humble opinion. No explanation or elegant description needed. Just eat it.

Breakfast All Day, Everyday

Here is a Food Adventure exclusive **SECRET**: This is NOT on the menu so you will have to ask for it. Try the Turkey Reuben and ask them to put cole slaw on it instead of sauerkraut. It is an incredible sandwich that you have to request. After you are addicted, you can thank us later. We are serious eaters, we know this shizzle. We don’t read the menu to tell you about things. We actually eat the food, all of it! Ask Dayton Mayor Gary Letizell who joined us for one of our Tank’s trips with his assistant Shelly. They realized this was a Food Adventure almost immediately.

Honorable Mention menu items are the fluffy Waffles, Grilled Cheese Tank’s Way, and the specialty hash browns served in heaping mounds. And all you fellow foodies, make sure you get the fresh cut fries as a side instead of chips, or we will run you over in a Sherman tank.

Tank’s Bar & Grill has earned its stellar reputation. It’s not trendy, it isn’t the flavor of the month, nor is it a swanky place where the pretty people eat. What you see is what you get, and the patrons keep coming back. If you have not visited this place, make sure you put it on your Food Adventure Hit List. Daytonians love Tank’s, and so do your humble Food Adventurers.

Like Food Adventures on Facebook HERE ! We are not food critics, we are just two guys that love to eat.

Check out more than 40 food porn pictures of various Tank’s Bar & Grill favorites in our Food Adventures Photo Album, below.

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Al’s Smokehouse: Ribs at 4am? YES !!! $20 Gift Certificate Contest

June 20, 2013 By The Food Adventures Crew 10 Comments

Ribs that make you say “DAMN!”

You’re tipsy. You are out late with your friends at the Oregon District or downtown, and you need some food. Well, Al’s Smokehouse and Cafe is the word on East Third. Open until 5am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, it is the perfect spot to satisfy your late night hunger pains. This little known Dayton secret serves up tasty, soulful selections from Ribs to Burgers at incredibly cheap prices. Located at 140 E. Third St, Al’s Smokehouse is also a great place to catch a quick lunch. A Food Adventure is in order here ANY time.

Owner Al Shamburg learned cooking from his father who was from Treasure Island, Jamaica. Al honed his culinary and catering skills over the past 20 years, building quite a reputation in Dayton and Springfield for incredible tasting food. Through the years, this self-made-man worked hard to buy his equipment and finally open his own restaurant. He has hired a great staff like his sister Stephanie, and head cook Tyrone, who worked in Dominic’s kitchen for 17 years. The result is a delicious, affordable menu, with consistent quality.

HERE’s THE SKINNY:

Owner Al Shamburg & Head Cook, Tyrone

— Al’s Smokehouse Menu features fantastic BBQ, and delicious soul food like bourbon chicken and collared greens

— Open LATE on weekends til 5am for all you fellow Food Adventurers

— Breakfast served ALL DAY

— Prices so cheap, you won’t believe your eyes

— Friendly servers, veteran cooking staff and a no frills, casual atmosphere

MUST EATS:

— Banana Pudding: We are going to start with a homemade dessert that knocked our socks off. Deliciously sinful, this is the real deal. No canned stuff here! Don’t expect us to share !

— The Smoked Pork Chop – Smoked and drizzled with secret marinades, it is almost like a steak. The Big Ragu says this is the best pork chop he has ever tasted.

— The Ribs: They are smoked for 8 hours, they are brushed with a signature bbq sauce. Meaty and moist, they pack a wallop of flavor and the namesake of this restaurant. Only problem is, they are so good that sometimes, they sell out!

“The Shamburger” – hand made, fresh patty

— “The Shamburger”: Hand packed and never frozen, the juicy burgers are good deal at 4 bucks. Want to go full out? Get the “Cry Baby” which is the Shamburger with a fried egg and cheese.

— Baked Mac n Cheese: Homemade and so good you will flip. Somebody in the kitchen knows what they are doing at Al’s Smokehouse!

— The Wings: Big and juicy, but the secret is in the tangy sauce. Get the BBQ wings and be ready to lick your fingers. You can try the other sauces later, like Jamaica Jerk or OMG Hot wings. On Monday night the 50 cent wing deal is a steal !

— The Shrimp Cheesesteak: A seafood version of the famous sandwich. Resembling a Shrimp Po’ boy, it is one heck of a sub. Delicious!

Honorable Mention: The Pulled Pork Sandwich is a solid choice. Also, we like the homemade Greens for an authentic soul food side. Want to know a secret? Al’s has a killer Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, and it isn’t even on the menu. Ask for it by special request.

Food Adventures has found yet another unique spot for good food at reasonable prices . We are serious eaters. We don’t do a “drive-by” one time visit to a restaurant and then write our articles. Instead, we visit a place multiple times before it is worthy of a Food Adventures share on Dayton Most Metro. Al’s Smokehouse in no exception. We have eaten almost everything on their menu. From the Fish and Grits to the Pancakes and Home Fries. The popular Bourbon Chicken has a honey and spice flavor with hint of Jerk seasoning. You get a slight touch of Al’s Jamaican roots with this dish. Al explained to us that his Bourbon Chicken is made with ‘small hen meat.’ He feels they taste superior to regular chickens.

Who else in Dayton makes Fish and Grits???

The story of this restaurant is simply a hard working family, who is putting their heart into this locally owned eatery. So what are you waiting for? If you are anywhere near downtown, or want a casual trip to the city for some grub, check out Al’s Smokehouse. It isn’t fancy, just some tables and chairs. But the FOOD.. aw the FOOD.. is some great decor, for the stomach!

Want to see more of Food Adventures? “Like” them HERE on Facebook !

Who wants a $20 Gift Certificate to Al’s Smokehouse? One lucky fan who comments below will be chosen at random. Please tell us your comments about Al’s Smokehouse, below! Let us know why you love Al’s, why you would like to try Al’s, or why you want that gift certificate ??? GOOD LUCK !!

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Buckin’ Donkey Grille: The Menu Will Kick Your …

May 9, 2013 By The Food Adventures Crew 1 Comment

Beef on Weck – Old Style Taste

The Food Adventure Crew have been tackling the only Polish-Irish Pittsburgh Bar cuisine in Dayton for months now. Today, we share these experiences with you.

Our weekly Food Adventure installment brings us to The Buckin’ Donkey Grille at 3808 Wilmington Pike in Kettering. Sure, being Cincinnati Bengals fans, we have to stomach the Steelers posters, but the food is worth it.

Our friend, owner Sean Mckown, has worked in various restaurants, but honed his skills cooking for his buddies. Over the years he has tweaked recipes and invented menu items that are remarkable comfort food. Sean is a laid-back guy with a great sense of humor. You can often catch him mingling with patrons as he is in and out of the kitchen. Sean is our kind of guy, making food that his friends love. He experiments in the kitchen, and has perfected his dishes over the years. This is yet another locally owned spot, where almost everything is made from scratch.

Sit back, saddle up as we take you for a ride on the Buckin’ Donkey menu highlights.

Here’s the Skinny:

Sean McKown, Pittsburgh Native and owner of Buckin’ Donkey Grille

— Inventive, homemade menu with one-of-a-kind items or Chef Sean’s twists on standard favorites.

— One section of their menu is Breakfast, served all day

— Locally owned, sports bar atmosphere

— Great drink specials: In May, bottles of Corona are only $2. Last month, Red Stripe beers were only 2 bucks.

— The large outdoor patio will get some good use this summer.

Must Eats:

— The Jumbalaya – spicy and addicting, Sean has been making this masterpiece in a cup for over 15 years.

Banana Peppers Stuffed with Chorizo and Cheese

— Old Style ChicagoWeck – A favorite of most of our friends. Slow cooked Italian beef, marinated in au jus. The weck bun makes the sandwich along with a dash of horseradish. You want authentic, you got it. Get your kimmelweck on. Stop slobbering and order one.

— The Pork Belly Burger. – This is a favorite! It is a burger of 80/20 beef, topped with cheese and strips of pork belly. Inventive and delicious.

— Stuffed Banana Peppers – Stuffed with chorizo and cheese, these long sliced banana peppers melt in your mouth. Warning: Your taste buds aren’t going to believe this. Talk about original, try these on for size.

Frosted Flake French Toast – They serve breakfast all day

— Frosted Flake French Toast – It is what it says. French toast, coated with Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal. So good and rich, that Tony the Tiger himself would be proud. It is a savory breakfast item that immediately makes you feel like you are at home.

— The Pierogie Burger – A burger topped with a couple of pierogies. Big Ragu loves these so much, it makes him want to dance to polka music.

— Shrimp Po’ Boy – We recommend the grilled shrimp version. It is an amazing take on this Louisiana style sandwich.

— Homemade Desserts – Not many restaurants have the chef’s mom making the pies from scratch. Buckin’ Donkey Grille does. There is no set dessert menu, so whatever she made that day, is what’s available. Don’t worry though, they are all good. You have to try the peanut butter pie, strawberry shortcake and the cheesecake. We would run topless across lanes of traffic on Wilmington Pike to get a taste of these. Another incredible unique favorite is their homemade walnut pie. We are willing to bet that nobody else in Dayton serves walnut pie. If someone else does, we will let you kick us in the walnuts.

Homemade Walnut Pie

There are so many great flavors on this menu, it is hard to pick just a few favorites. Other honorable mention specialties that we recommend include The Reuben Sandwich and The Cuban Sandwich. The grilled wings are great and so are the hand breaded deep fried pickle slices. Also, the thin sliced onion rings are so good that we have been known to arm wrestle over the last forkful. If you are feeling sassy, try the Porky Pig Burger, a pork/beef mix burger served on a doughnut! It was definitely a unique tasting sandwich.

Also, don’t forget that Buckin’ Donkey Grille has $1 hot dogs and $2 chili dogs during every Cincinnati Reds Game! They also feature live music on Saturday nights and trivia on Wednesday nights.

There really is no secret to this place. The formula is great food at fair prices. The servers are also very personable and attentive. Sean McKown did it right. Many Daytonians are grateful that he has brought a sampling of Pittsburgh to the Gem City. Make sure you visit this seemingly typical sports bar, with the uncommon fare. We know why they named this place the Buckin’ Donkey Grille, because the menu is kickin’ ass.

Browse through all of our original food photos from Buckin’ Donkey Grille in the album below. Drool bibs not included.

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