Looking for Fabulous Food in Dayton? Check Out These 3 Legends

Southwest Ohio food establishments boast decades of serving customers around the region.

By Kelly Rogers on June 20, 2023

Jeff Adkins

When a business stays open for more than 50 years, that’s a surefire sign that they’re doing something right.

Throughout Southwest Ohio, you’ll find several legendary food establishments with just such a history, some having operated for as long as 75 years, preserving decades-old family recipes and traditions that customers have come to rely on. So if you’re looking for unforgettable food in Dayton and around the region, be sure to check out these three spots.

Bill’s Donut Shop

Founded in 1960 by Bill and Faye Elam, Bill’s Donut Shop is a Centerville staple. Now run by Bill and Faye’s daughter, Lisa Elam-Tucker, the business has outgrown the couple’s wildest dreams.

After occupying two different locations, the Elams finally built the storefront of their dreams, never imagining they’d outgrow it – but outgrow it they did. Instead of moving again, however, the kitchen was reconfigured to fit double the equipment to keep up with demand.

The demand is so great, in fact, that the doughnut shop is open around the clock. Freshly made products restock every eight hours, and though production size has multiplied, quality hasn’t faltered.

“We still make the doughnuts the same way my dad did,” Lisa Elam-Tucker says. “All of our yeast doughnuts are cut by hand, none of the doughnuts are brought in pre-formed or frozen.”

And the word is out on this gem – it scored the No. 2 spot in Business Insider’s list of the 15 Best Donut Shops in America.

Jeff Adkins

Dorothy Lane Market

Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) is a neighborhood grocery store that’s been around since 1948 and has grown to include multiple locations around the region.

It was founded by Calvin D. Mayne and his wife, Vera Jane Mayne, and the business continues to be locally owned and operated by their descendants.

Quality is the name of the game at DLM, not just for the items stocked on the shelves but also the food made in-house, including cheese, gourmet takeaway food and artisan bread that’s baked fresh daily.

Beyond the outstanding products themselves, what truly sets DLM apart is the great employees who work there.

“When you come to DLM, you’ll find customer service that is unmatched,” says Jessie Kuhn, marketing and communications director.

“Many of our associates have been here for 20, 30 and even 40 years, which is unheard of. They truly are experts in the industry and love sharing their robust knowledge with customers.”

Take the wine aisle, for example. Several employees have undergone rigorous training and testing to obtain Certified Specialist of Wine accreditations, making them the most qualified people in the store to ask for advice.

Reliable products, gourmet foods and unparalleled service – all of these combine to make DLM the ultimate grocery destination.

Adam Alonzo

Marion’s Piazza

Another award-winning restaurant serving unforgettable food in Dayton is Marion’s Piazza, which won Best Pizza Restaurant, Best Restaurant to Take an Out-of-Towner and the restaurant with the Best Square-Cut Pizza in the most recent “Best of Dayton” contest, which is run by the Dayton Daily News.

From its inception, Marion’s Piazza has been community centered. In 1965, Marion Glass saw the need for a sit-down pizza restaurant, as most everywhere else only offered takeout. In the years since, Marion’s Piazza has expanded to nine locations, seven of which are in Dayton.

The business has stayed in the family, passing from father to son, then from brother to sisters. Marion’s daughters, Kathi Glass and Carol Glass Polluck, now oversee operations.

“We think it will be a family-run business forever,” Polluck says. “We want to keep things simple and friendly, offering good food and good service.”

Each pizza is cut into multiple little squares, making it great for sharing, especially if you’ve ordered multiple pies with different toppings. As for the dough, the recipe is a trade secret, producing a crust that’s thin and crispy.

“We still use the same recipes,” Polluck says. “It’s like that old adage, ‘Keep it simple.’ If you have good product and good ingredients, you’re going to make people happy.”

Raise a Glass to These Great Venues

Now that you’ve got your fill of fabulous food in Dayton, it’s time to enjoy some craft beverages served at a pair of fun, historic venues.

The Century Bar offers customers a full line of bourbon, scotch and whiskey blends inside a historic building that features original 19th-century details. This bar on South Jefferson Street also has an upstairs lounge that can accommodate up to 100 people, and the lounge includes a kitchen area along with its own 25-foot full-service bar.

For beer drinkers, Toxic Brew is a successful enterprise within Dayton’s historic Oregon District. Owner Shane Juhl is celebrating the brewery’s 10th anniversary in 2023. The taproom features 32 craft selections, and some of the more popular microbrews have names like OK, Karen (pilsner), Practice Yoga (IPA) and Abby Brunette (Belgian). Toxic Brew also serves wine, whiskey, vodka and other spirits.

– Staff Writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.