Best of Dayton 2025 winners
Here are the winners and placers in the Food, Dining & Drinking category:
Best Appetizers
• First Place: Blind Bob’s
• Finalist: Nick’s Restaurant
• Finalist: Oakwood Club
Best Bakery
• First Place: Val’s Bakery
• Finalist: Ashley’s Pastry Shop
• Finalist: Smales Pretzel Bakery
Best Bar/Lounge
• First Place: The Barrel House
• Finalist: Tender Mercy
• Finalist: Moe Harrigan’s Tavern
Best Bartender
• First Place: Matt Ross Barrel House
• Finalist: Gabby Rittinger Bock Family Brewing
• Finalist: Doug Gangloff Meridien
Best BBQ
• First Place: City Barbeque
• Finalist: Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro
• Finalist: Company 7 BBQ
Best Breakfast
• First Place: Blue Berry Cafe
• Finalist: George’s Family Restaurant
• Finalist: Alleyway Cafe
Best Brewery/Distillery
• First Place: Warped Wing Brewing Company
• Finalist: Branch & Bone Artisan Ales
• Finalist: Loose Ends Brewing
Best Brunch
• First Place: Blue Berry Cafe
• Finalist: The Ugly Duckling
• Finalist: Lily’s Dayton
Best Buffet
• First Place: Pizza Dive
• Finalist: Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering
• Finalist: Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine
Best Caterer
• First Place: Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering
• Finalist: All The Best Delicatessen
• Finalist: Bernstein’s Catering
Best Chicken Sandwich
• First Place: CULTURE
• Finalist: Warped Wing Brewing Company
• Finalist: Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering
Best Chinese Food
• First Place: China Cottage
• Finalist: CJ Chan
• Finalist: Ozu852
Best Chocolates
• First Place: Esther Price Candies
• Finalist: Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe
• Finalist: Winans Coffee & Chocolate
Best Coffee Shop
• First Place: Ghostlight Coffee
• Finalist: Warehouse 4 Coffee
• Finalist: Pettibone Coffee
Best Deli/Sandwich Shop
• First Place: Tony & Pete’s
• Finalist: All The Best Delicatessen
• Finalist: Canal Street Arcade and Deli
Best Desserts
• First Place: Dorothy Lane Market
• Finalist: Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering
• Finalist: Say Yes Cakes
Best Diner
• First Place: George’s Family Restaurant
• Finalist: Hasty Tasty Pancake House
• Finalist: The Ugly Duckling
Best Donut Shop
• First Place: Bill’s Donut Shop
• Finalist: Stan the Donut Man
• Finalist: Jim’s Donut Shop
Best Ethnic Grocery
• First Place: Jungle Jim’s International Market
• Finalist: La Michoacana Mexican Market #5
• Finalist: International Grocery Halal Market
Best Family Restaurant
• First Place: George’s Family Restaurant
• Finalist: Spaghetti Warehouse
• Finalist: Pizza Dive
Best Farmers Market
• First Place: 2nd Street Market
• Finalist: Englewood Market
• Finalist: Oakwood Farmers’ Market
Best Fine Dining
• First Place: Pine Club
• Finalist: Oakwood Club
• Finalist: Grist
Best Food Truck
• First Place: McNasty’s Food Truck
• Finalist: The Food Pitt
• Finalist: Freda’s Food Truck Trailer
Best French Fries
• First Place: The Root Beer Stande
• Finalist: Loose Ends Brewing
• Finalist: Meridien
Best Gay Bar
• First Place: MJ’s on Jefferson
• Finalist: The Stage Door
• Finalist: Right Corner Bar
Best Grocery Store
• First Place: Dorothy Lane Market
• Finalist: Dot’s Market
• Finalist: Kroger Marketplace
Best Hamburger
• First Place: Hamburger Wagon
• Finalist: Slyder’s Tavern
• Finalist: The Root Beer Stande
Best Happy Hour
• First Place: The Trolley Stop
• Finalist: The Barrel House
• Finalist: Nick’s Restaurant
Best Hidden Gem Restaurant
• First Place: Treasure Island Supper Club
• Finalist: Flavors Eatery
• Finalist: Pizza Dive
Best Hot Dog Stand
• First Place: The Root Beer Stande
• Finalist: Chicago Gyros & Dogs
• Finalist: Blind Dogs
Best Ice Cream
• First Place: Graeter’s Ice Cream
• Finalist: Tom & Dot’s Gelato Shop
• Finalist: Jubie’s Creamery
Best Indian Food
• First Place: Amar India Restaurant
• Finalist: Jeet India Restaurant
• Finalist: Gulzar’s Indian Cuisine
Best Italian Food
• First Place: Mamma DiSalvos
• Finalist: Jimmy’s Italian Cuisine & Bar
• Finalist: Grist
Best Japanese Food/Sushi
• First Place: Sky Asian Cuisine
• Finalist: Ozu852
• Finalist: Kabuki Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Best Mexican Food
• First Place: Taqueria Mixteca
• Finalist: El Toro Mexican Bar & Grill
• Finalist: El Rancho Grande
Best Middle Eastern Food
• First Place: Pasha Grill
• Finalist: Cedarland Bakery & Restaurant
• Finalist: Olive Mediterranean Grill
Best Nachos
• First Place: Freda’s Food Truck Trailer
• Finalist: Warped Wing Brewing Company
• Finalist: Bennett’s Publical Family Sports Grill
Best Natural Food Store
• First Place: Health Foods Unlimited
• Finalist: Whole Foods Market
• Finalist: Fresh Thyme Market
Best Neighborhood Bar
• First Place: Moe Harrigan’s Tavern
• Finalist: Slyder’s Tavern
• Finalist: The Trolley Stop
Best Patio Dining
• First Place: Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro
• Finalist: TJ Chumps
• Finalist: The Trolley Stop
Best Pizza
• First Place: Marion’s Piazza
• Finalist: Old Scratch Pizza & Beer
• Finalist: Joe’s Pizzeria
Best Place for Craft Beer
• First Place: Warped Wing Brewing Company
• Finalist: The Barrel House
• Finalist: Twenty One Barrels Hard Cider & Wine
Best Place to Buy Meats
• First Place: Dot’s Market
• Finalist: Zink Meat Market
• Finalist: Dorothy Lane Market
Best Restaurant in the Oregon District
• First Place: Thai 9
• Finalist: Salar
• Finalist: CULTURE
Best Restaurant to Take an Out-of-Towner
• First Place: Pine Club
• Finalist: Oakwood Club
• Finalist: Grist
Best Seafood
• First Place: Jay’s Seafood
• Finalist: Club Oceano Seafood & Bar
• Finalist: Meridien
• Finalist: Oakwood Club
Best Sports Bar
• First Place: Roosters
• Finalist: Bunker’s Sports Bar & Grill
• Finalist: Geez Grill & Pub
Best Square-Cut Pizza
• First Place: Marion’s Piazza
• Finalist: Joe’s Pizzeria
• Finalist: Cassano’s The Pizza King
Best Steakhouse
• First Place: Pine Club
• Finalist: Oakwood Club
• Finalist: Texas Roadhouse
Best Tacos
• First Place: Taqueria Mixteca
• Finalist: Agave & Rye
• Finalist: What the Taco
Best Wine Bar
• First Place: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
• Finalist: Joui Wine
• Finalist: The Silver Slipper
Best Winery
• First Place: Twenty One Barrels Hard Cider & Wine
• Finalist: Valley Vineyards & Cellar Dwellers
• Finalist: Old Mason Winery
Best Wings
• First Place: Roosters
• Finalist: Nick’s Restaurant
• Finalist: Warped Wing Brewing Company