Old Scratch Pizza
Dayton lives in the shadow of three larger Ohio cities — Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. But the Gem City (we don’t know for sure where the nickname originates, but we’re willing to make something up for visitors) is a fantastic destination in its own right, particularly for food and drink lovers. The city center is compact and highly walkable, and still somehow has universal free street parking on weekends and evenings. As recently as 15 years ago, there wasn’t much point in going downtown, until a revival in the early 2010s led by the hip Oregon District brought great restaurants, bars, and quirky shops to the area. Adjacent neighborhoods like St. Anne’s Hill, South Park, and Webster Station have blossomed recently as well.
If there’s an identity to Dayton’s dining scene, it’s a lack of pretense. You’ll find a number of unfussy fine dining restaurants, but also plenty of great burgers and wings. You can share small plates at a farm-to-table spot, then find the cook who prepared your meal enjoying killer pub pizza and some drinks at the bar next door. It’s all one scene, and it’s all terribly easy to love.
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