Cherish (named after the song of the same title by The Association, 1966) suggested The Bull Pen, which one of your Divas had previously enjoyed some 20 years ago. With Cherish’s suggestion, and Sandy’s encouragement, Connie accepted the call from The Bull Pen, which has been around since 1964.
The name may evoke thoughts of a sports bar. If you’re thinking that, you’ve got another thing coming. The Bull Pen, inside Dot’s Supermarket on Patterson Road, is a quaint, old-school diner that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Known for its Broasted Chicken, The Bull Pen offers a lot of tasty choices on the menu.
Just so you know, the Divas survey the offerings while Connie controls the choices.
“If you get (this), I’ll get (that),” starts Diva Dr. Post. (She really is a Ph.D.)
Sandy wasn't feeling particularly receptive to eating Liver & Onions. Liver brings up thoughts of the movie "Silence of the Lambs." Still traumatized, Sandy countered with, "Why don't YOU eat the Liver & Onions and I'll eat something from the rest of the body?"
Cherish had joined us for this dining adventure, and the poor thing didn’t know if she liked where this conversation was going.
So while Connie continued finagling the menu options, Sandy settled on the burger. The Bull Pen is known for The Bull Burger and Sandy is full of it, so she jumped at the chance to replenish her reserves.
After some arm-twisting, Connie was able to cajole Sandy into trying a breakfast dish that had never passed her lips in her entire life. Fried Mush. The name, completely unappealing, had caused untold damage on Sandy’s psyche and forced her to retreat to a child-like state of “No! I don’t wanna eat mush! It’s gross!”
We’ll fast forward now, past the pouting and ordering part. Needless to say, Fried Mush was on our waitress Missy’s order pad.
What we had:
• Fried Mush and Bologna, $3.49: The bologna was as thick as a side of ham and had a similar look and texture. However, the flavor was all bologna. Connie encouraged Sandy to take a stab at the mush and was delighted when she did without tearing up or throwing a tantrum. Sandy's eyes popped open when the rush of mush and maple syrup made its way to her taste buds. "Wow, that's really good!" the formerly-clueless foodie exclaimed. Connie nodded knowingly. The mush was formed into perfect patties about one-inch thick, with a crunchy outside and soft, delicious inside. The corn-colored treat was topped with syrup.
• Liver & Onions, $6.99: Connie devoured the liver and savored the double onion; grilled and fried.
• The Bull Burger, $2.99 - $3.99: Sandy ordered the Bull in Queen size, which refers not to panty hose, but to indicate that it's smaller than the King size Bull Burger. Plated with potato chips and pickles, this is a great burger, and while it is smaller, Sandy couldn't finish the whole thing.
• Thanksgiving Special, $9.99: Cherish had a hankering for the Thanksgiving special (although The Bull Pen is closed on Thanksgiving, you can get it through Thanksgiving Eve.) The plate comes with turkey or ham, regular mashed or sweet potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans, a roll and pumpkin pie with whipped cream topping. Cherish went for the turkey and sweet potatoes, and was glad she did. It was all so delish.
The Bull Pen is a small, homey joint, but we counted the chairs while waiting for our order, and they can fit about 50 people in at a time. And, it was packed when we were there on a Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. Packed! This place has been serving up good ole American meals since 1964 and locals keep coming back for more. They open early Monday through Saturday at 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. Sundays they sleep in a whole hour. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our server, Miss Missy Dornbusch, was pleasant and in charge.
“She reminds me of Flo, Sandy offered. Missy just knew her way around since she’s been there five years.
Geraldine Nobel has been frying mush and other fabulous down-home cooking also for about five years. Her specialty is the cheeseburger. “I constantly flip them so there’s no hardness on the outside. Customers tell me they melt in their mouths.”
Also working in the kitchen the evening we visited was Amy Grant, who recommended that we come back and try the pizza hoagie, which is her favorite thing on the menu.
Last words: Perhaps most importantly, they have open WiFi. Cherish was particularly impressed with this feature.
“I often have to eat alone, and I can’t believe how many restaurants don’t have WiFi for customers. I usually check emails and read when I dine alone, and if a restaurant doesn’t have WiFi, I don’t go back,” the Dayton-area attorney explained.
One might not go looking for a restaurant inside a grocery store, one where one can watch shoppers choose their ice cream and other frozen dairy products while waiting for one’s meal. But if you do go looking, look for The Bull Pen. It’ll make you feel like you’re one of the neighborhood.
The info: The Bull Pen, inside Dot's Supermarket. Just go to the right and all the way back, past the ice cream freezers to get to the restaurant. 2274 Patterson Road, Kettering; (937) 253-6784.
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. -3 p.m. Full menu available for carry out. Closed on Thanksgiving.
Final musings: Sandy Collins of News Talk Radio WHIO (95.7 FM/AM 1290) and Connie Post of the Dayton Daily News are two of DDN's Dining Divas; the mission they've chosen to accept is neither dangerous nor difficult. It's just dang fun. We'd love to hear what you think of Dayton dining and tell us your favorite place to eat. Write to The Dining Divas at life@coxinc.com.
About the Author