FOOD NEWS: ‘Hidden’ Dayton area restaurant reopening in much larger space

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A “hidden” locally owned Dayton-area restaurant has moved to a far more notable location.

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Nanyea Café, which was located at 5214 N. Main St. in Harrison Twp., Montgomery County, celebrated its grand opening beginning on Saturday, Sept 1., at its new location, 6129 N. Dixie Drive, also in Harrison Twp.

“We been having space problems so we wanted to have a bigger place,”  owner

Sofi Kinde, explained. "I only have a small kitchen (now) so I can only do small things."

Nanya Café is Dayton's first Ethiopian restaurant in a number of years. Photo by Amelia Robinson

Credit: Amelia Robinson

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Credit: Amelia Robinson

The new location — the former site of Olive Mediterranean Grill — will more than double the space for cooking and diners, she noted. (Olive is now in its new location at  44 W. Third St.)

Eventually, Kinde said the new location’s exterior will be painted new colors, perhaps gray and red. It is currently bright green and matched Olive’s theme.

“I am doing it one thing at a time,” Kinde said and chuckled. “It will be changed.”

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From Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and raised in Columbus where her mom owned a restaurant, Kinde opened Nanyea in May of 2016.

The restaurant, named for her beloved grandmother, is the Dayton area’s only Ethiopian restaurant.

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The grand opening will feature a buffet, Kinde said. The price is yet to be set.

Kinde said Dayton-area diners have been patient, generous and kind to her and her business.

“I would love to thank my Dayton people,”  she said. “The people changed me, who I am.”

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