I have lived in Dayton for six years. For three of those years, I drove past Doubleday’s Grill and Tavern very often (as much as ten times a week going to and from work). I always wondered if the food was good, but I would often forget to ask the “locals” what they thought. One day, my husband’s friend told me he had eaten there for lunch. When asked how the food was, he responded “fantastic!” I had to go.
I kept forgetting and kept forgetting and then one day, out of the blue, I remembered! My husband and I walked in and got a table right away. The first thing we noticed was the enormity of the restaurant. It didn’t look like much from the outside, but the inside seemed to go on and on and on. The second thing we noticed was the enormity of the menu! It also went on and on! I remember taking Carolyn here one time only to remember she panics when she has so many choices in front of her. Not too smart on my part! (View full menu here.)
They have so much to offer I can’t remember all the things I’ve tried, though I have a couple favorites I have ordered more than once. If you don’t know this about me, I am a creature of repeat ordering. I really try not to be, especially in a place like this where you can’t seem to get a bad meal, but if I find something I like, I end up ordering it over and over again.
Tonight was no exception. I had a craving for a burger with bacon (surprise, surprise) so that’s what I went with.
Jeff, deciding to try something new, ordered the BLT pizza. Doubleday’s has their very own pizza parlor type add on to the restaurant called Monster Pizza. They have many different types of pizza including “Bride of BLT”, “Italian Werewolf”, and “It Came From Outer Greece”. Great names, great flavors, what more can you ask for?
There is one stipulation in my book for going to Doubleday’s. The potato soup, complete with cheese and bacon, must be ordered.
There are two types of potato soup in the world, my friends: the cheese laden version and the creamy, wonderful, melt in your mouth version. You can guess which one this is. While there is nothing wrong with the cheesy version, I prefer my potato soup “plain”. Too much cheese overpowers the wonderful flavors of the potato.
Take this into consideration: I do not eat at restaurants by myself very often. I will go to Panera and sometimes City BBQ by myself, but never to a restaurant that has servers. A few days after I sampled this wonderful concoction of potatoes, cream, butter, and other ingredients, I ended up back at the restaurant at 11:30a on a Tuesday, Harry Potter book in hand, to eat alone. It was the best day ever. Just me, Harry, and a vat bowl of potato soup.
It’s always a sad feeling when the potato soup bowl runs dry.
The Empty Plate Phenomenon occurs on a very rare basis. It’s about as common as Hailey’s Comet. It’s been documented and studied with no scientific conclusions made. Basically, every time Jeff and I go out to eat, I end up taking home a to go box. I never, ever finish my entire meal. I have been like this since I was a little girl. Every so often, however, I *gasp* finish an entire meal out!
Tonight, I brought my big girl panties to the table. I ate my entire cup of soup (very filling, mind you) and my entire (8 oz…yes I know it’s not huge) Bacon Cheddar burger. In record time. I think from the time the plate hit the table to the time I finished, Jeff had eaten 1.5 pieces of pizza.
The burger wasn’t phenomenal (I would definitely go to Five Guys or Sammy’s if given the choice), but it was still good! The burger patty itself was just that…a patty. I believe it was a traditional frozen patty they thawed and threw on a hot grill. I could be wrong, but that’s how it tasted. As I said, though, the burger was still quite tasty. I’m not sure I would order it again, but I had no trouble finishing it tonight. If you want to get something really tasty, go with the French Dip grinder. YUM!
As I said, Jeff and I have never had a bad meal here. Their salads are even good! Put it this way…I have always wanted to try their dessert, but I never have room for it. If you’re in the Centerville area, stop in for a bite!
Doubleday’s Grill and Tavern
199 E Alex Bell Road
Dayton, Ohio
