What the table ordered: (3 people)
1 sour sap margarita, 9 empanadas, arroz con camarones
Cost of entire meal: $48.35
My 2 cents: LOVE that this place is 24 hours! Who doesn't want to watch the sun come up on a summer morning, eating delicious Latin American fried food after a long night of drinking and dancing?! Or, you can always go for a nice afternoon lunch. We did both, and had a great experience each time. Our rented apartment was one block away, so we had the perfect location for grabbing some empanadas whenever we wanted. I made the mistake during our first visit of ordering a margarita (massive heartburn put a damper on the meal), and I have to say that my adventurous order of 'sour sap' wasn't a good choice, either. I'm sure their other margaritas are fine, but I would definitely steer clear of that flavor. The empanadas are great (tuna-jalapeño was my favorite), the menu is incredibly diverse and fun to look through, and the service was so-so. It was a little hole-in-the-wall like several spots in NYC, but it just added to the character. Will definitely be back for more empanadas!
What the table ordered: (2 people)
1 sweet tea, 'gator bites, pasta jambalaya, BBQ shrimp & grits, side salad
Cost of entire meal: $42.70
Henry's Taste of Louisiana
My 2 cents: Loved this place! We went around 6pm and were shocked when we were the only table in the restaurant. At first we were a little worried that this was a bad sign, but after eating there (and seeing all of the people flood in around 7pm), we were happy that we found this place. Our waitress overheard me talking about my love for exotic foods, and so she insisted that I try the alligator bites as an appetizer (which, yes, they tasted like chicken). The BBQ shrimp and grits were spicy and had a great, full flavor. The pasta jambalaya was a unique, tasty dish, although I was a little disappointed because the noodles were pretty overcooked. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with true Southern hospitality, and our food was brought out in a timely manner. We might have had a bit slower service had we come later, because our one waitress ended up serving the whole place! Great, modest spot to check out if you need a cajun/creole food fix.
What we ordered: (2 people - shared crepe)
1 dessert crepe with blackberries, cream cheese, orange marmalade, powdered sugar
Cost of entire meal: $8.00
My 2 cents: This dessert crepe was our post-lunch snack at the 2nd Street Market. I'd heard people raving about Crepe Boheme, and I can now confirm those positive reviews. This particular crepe was sweet, filling, and particularly interesting because of the tangy orange. They have a wide variety of great looking dessert and savory crepes on the (fairly extensive) menu, containing delicious ingredients like salmon, chorizo, brie, and Nutella. My only concern was that it's going to take me quite a few more visits to try them all!
What we ordered: (2 people)
3 beef empanadas, mango water, bottled water, Mazorca, Colombian Platter
Cost of entire meal: $19.00
My 2 cents: We chose to stop at this stand out of our many options in the 2nd Street Market, and do not regret the decision at all! The guy at the counter helping us was friendly and talkative while we watched him prepare our food. I ordered the Mazorca (corn, beans, beef, cheese, potato chips, sauce) and was surprised at how flavorful and delicious this simple dish was. The counter guy offered to take initiative and mix & match 3 sauces for me - it was nothing short of garlic amazingness. The only thing I was a little disappointed with were the empanadas - a little too doughy for my taste. Overall, I highly recommend to anyone in the mood for trying some Colombiano cuisine!
What we ordered: (2 people)
Small silpancho (breaded beef, rice, French fries, egg, salsa), 1/4 rotisserie chicken, sides of rice, plantains, & beans
Cost of entire meal: $20.32
My 2 cents: I always argue that the small, 'hole in the wall' places are the best places to get an amazing meal - and I stand by that after going to this family-owned spot. After trying it, I wouldn't argue with their claim that they have the best charcoal rotisserie chicken in Dayton. The ambiance was simple and modest, and the salsa music playing in the background added to the Latin vibe. I'd definitely recommend for an affordable lunch or dinner - but you absolutely cannot go without trying their famous chicken!
What the table ordered: (2 people)
Bitburger beer, Paulaner beer, swirl rye bread (complimentary), Sauerkraut balls, side of potato-filled pierogies, Jager schnitzel, Lithuanian platter (kugelis, virtinai, Lithuanian sausage, sauerkraut)
Cost of entire meal: $57.83
My 2 cents: First of all, I have to start by saying that although we were THOSE customers that ended up walking in 30 minutes before closing
time, the staff was refreshingly friendly and didn't make us feel rushed. Walking into this quaint, historic building, I think I expected a little more character on the inside. It wasn't an ugly place - just didn't quite match the charm of the exterior. The menu was diverse and the dishes seemed to be pretty authentic (although I can't say with certainty because I haven't traveled to Eastern Europe yet...). As for our dishes - the sauerkraut balls, potato-filled pierogies and Lithuanian sampler were incredibly tasty. I wasn't a huge fan of the Jager schnitzel (and I do normally like Jager schnitzel), mainly because the spaetzle seemed a bit dry and I was overwhelmed by a strong taste of butter. We also tried a sample of the turtle soup (of course, I had to) and while it had a good flavor, I was disappointed to discover that freshwater turtle just tasted like ground beef. All in all, I would recommend checking it out since it's a pretty unique place in the area!
What the table ordered: (2 people)
Two lunch boxes - #1 One spicy tuna roll, one spicy salmon roll, grapes, edamame, rice, hot & sour soup, broccoli and #2 Shrimp pad thai, sesame chicken, grapes, edamame, rice, broccoli, miso soup
Cost of entire meal: $21.24
My 2 cents: If you want to fill up for $10 at lunch, this is a great spot! Since it was a nice day, we sat outside on the patio - which has an OK view if you'd like to do some people-watching at the Greene. Just as a 'what to wear' pointer, this place is a bit fancier than your typical Chinese restaurant. The lunchbox specials are a personal favorite - choose 2 items for $9.95 or 3 items for $13.95, which is a decent discount on what'd you'd separately pay for 2 or 3 of these items. I typically have good service here, but today was an exception (long wait for the food and a server who seemed like he'd rather be anywhere but there). I enjoyed everything that we ordered - their sushi is good although I can't say it's the best I've ever had (I'd give it a 6 or 7 out of 10). While this isn't the place to go if you're looking for some super-authentic Asian cuisine, I'd recommend it as a nice, trendy place for lunch or dinner if you're in the area.
What the table ordered: (6 people, sharing small plates)
3 Stella beers, 2 Basil Chicken, 2 Cashew Chicken, 2 Panang Chicken, 2 Noodle Kee Mow, 1 Egg Roll Dish, 3 Pad See Ewe Veggie, 1 Tom Ka Chicken Soup
Cost of entire meal: $61.65 (Happy Hour prices)
My 2 cents: We went during Happy Hour (4-7pm, M-Th) and it was a steal! Young, friendly, attentive staff. No wait time - but then again, it was a Tuesday evening. Restaurant ambiance was inviting and trendy - loved the urban loft feel with the brick walls, metal piping and chandeliers. Lastly, every single dish was to die for! I'd highly recommend for a date night or evening out on the town with friends.
What the table ordered: (2 people)
2 glasses of Riesling, pickled beet carpaccio, Nutella grilled cheese sandwich, Johnnycake sliders
Cost of entire meal: $37.40
My 2 cents: Great choice for a Friday late night dinner down in the Short North. The atmosphere and vibe takes you back to the 1950s - You walk in and feel like you've stepped into a classic, American diner. We decided to share a few plates and get a taste for some of the more intriguing things on their ecclectic menu. I was a little disappointed that there were no cocktails on the menu - there is a decent selection of beers and wines. The food definitely cheered me up, though. Each of the 3 plates we ordered were amazing - I absolutely recommend the Nutella grilled cheese to anyone craving a sweet and savory dish (and not on a strict diet). For anyone wanting a more casual, but delicious dinner out in the Short North, this is a must-see!