Read: New restaurants and other highlights at Dayton's racino
There are the bands that appear on the H Lounge stage located on the raceway’s 33,000-square-foot gaming floor and the sports bar that overlooks that floor and the rack track.
A dining companion and I spent an evening in Hollywood Gaming’s 150-seat SkyBox Sports Bar and found some tasty treats that did not break the bank.
THE BAR
SkyBox has the sports bar thing nailed with 29 TVs.
That number does not include the televisions devoted to simulcast of the racing area. We were told the NFL Ticket will be available on screens in time for Sunday’s games.
It is a sports bar, but SkyBox has the feel of a stylish sit-down restaurant.
The restaurant’s menu held more than a few surprises, and the staff was friendly and personable.
DRINKS
At the suggestion of our waitress Linda, I ordered the refreshing Keenland Breeze — a Maker’s Mark and orange liqueur cocktail topped with ginger ale and a splash of OJ.
Linda said the Lexington Lemonade — bourbon, triple sec and sour mix finished with ginger ale and a mint — also has been popular among the four $6.50 specialty cocktails featured from the eatery’s full bar.
My companion went for the Moerlein Zepplin Bavarian Pale Ale for $5. The beer hails from Christian Moerlein Brewing Company in Cincinnati and is one of 11 draft beers on the menu.
The others are a list of standards that include Blue Moon Belgian White, Guinness, Bud Light and Miller Light. Ten bottled beers are on the menu ranging in price from $3.25 to $4.35.
THE MENU
Skybox’s other offerings includes a variety of salads (Caesar, top sirloin and the Skybox Salad — a grilled chicken breast salad featuring sun-dried cherries, Mandarin oranges, strawberries, cheddar cheese and candied pecans) and sandwiches including an intriguing roast pork sandwich, grilled chicken and a grilled vegetable wrap Linda said she loved.
Entrees include a 12-ounce New York Strip Steak ($26.95) , fish and chips ($12.95) and cheese tortellini primavera ($13.95).
APPS
My companion chowed down on a basket of jumbo wings with a tame Buffalo sauce with celery AND carrots and ranch OR bleu cheese dressing — $6.95 for six. The wings also can be ordered with a sweet Thai chili sauce or a BBQ sauce.
Other appetizers included tri color nachos ($12.95), the highly recommended quesadillas ($7.95) with chicken or steak ($3 or $4), a giant pretzel ($6.95) and boneless wings ($6.95 for six, $8.95 for their 12 and $10.95 for 18).
Not seeing anything that floated my boat among the appetizers, I decided to make a side of SkyBox’s White Cheddar Mac and Cheese my opener.
The chef that visited our table and all the rest that night said the mac and cheese’s creamy sauce started as a Béchamel sauce (flour, milk and butter). White cheddar and pepper jack were then added. The dish was topped with Parmesan bread crumbs that added a little crunch.
Like the other available sides — baked potato, baked sweet potato, smashed potatoes, fresh fruit cup and french fries — the mac and cheese costs $3.25.
DINNER
For our main courses, my companion ordered an All-American burger on a toasted brioche bun. At $8.95, it came complete with crispy french fries, tomato, onion and the option of Swiss, American, cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack or provolone cheese.
The burger’s char-grilled flavor was impressive.
I ordered the $10.95 Meat Lover’s Pizza, personal-sized. It is one of four pizzas. The others varieties are margherita, buffalo chicken and cheese for $8.95 to $9.95.
Like the burgers, the pizzas are among the few items in the SkyBox also available in the food court. All of the racino’s food outlets are under the direction of Executive Chef Patrick Pingault.
The size and quality of the pizza for the price was unexpected.
The 14-inch Meat Lover’s Pizza with its chewy crave-worthy crust was a value and more than enough for two people. A party of four would get two pieces each. Needless to say, we had leftovers.
The pizza with pepperoni, ground beef, mozzarella and mild sausage was also might tasty. Baked-on Parmesan was a bonus.
DETAILS:
Skybox Bar and Grill
Website: Hollywooddaytonraceway.com
Phone: (937) 235-7800
Location: 4701 Wagner Ford Road, Dayton
Open: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Amelia Robinson is one of the Dayton Daily News’ Dining Divas.
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