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By Ron Rollins
| Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 11:10 AM
We barely miss the gas station.
The Dublin Pub has it all — or almost: A cool location, wonderful bar, snappy servers, fun patio, Guinness on tap, poured in a perfect pint (note the shamrock). Parking can be an issue when the inside is overflowing, but when weighing the good with the inconvenient, Dublin Pub lands heavily on the side of greatness.
Happy anniversary, Dublin Pub! It’s been 10 years since the old Shell station at Fifth and Wayne on Oregon’s edge was converted to its current pubiliciousness, a renovation that seems to have restored order to the busy corner — it’s a triangle made for a pub. And we love the man behind the bar, Tony Trick, who’s been there since the beginning. He knows your drink, he pours it well, and he’s ready with a joke if you’re so inclined. We don’t mind the owner, Steve Tieber, either — he’s ready with a handshake and a hefty, “How’ve you been?” We know it’s his job, but we love the attention.
And the food! It’s good, hearty, pub fare. In the winter, it’s beef stew; in the summer, there’s nothing like the Snake Driver Salad. In between, the Huntsman sandwich is a mess of deliciousness; the Reubens (they have two different kinds!) made for sharing.
Way to go, Dublin Pub. Free for lunch? We Leadbellies, tasters of all that is good and greasy, stopped by this week in honor of the decade anniversary.
Sister Laura: Try the mousse, but not until you’ve had whatever’s the special. Sometimes it’s fish; on our last visit, it was a beef and provolone sandwich, smeared with some horseradish sauce and served on thick slabs of toast. And fries, obviously. If you’re into coffee, their long glass mugs are lovely, made ever so much nicer when the coffee’s Irish, if you know what I mean. You do.
Brother Ray: The last time I had fried round things was in Oklahoma, during a calf fry festival. I was not impressed (and somewhat scared for a while). Fast forward two decades, and I’m once again confronted with fried round things — the Dub Pub’s Blarney Stones, a sinful concoction of andouille sausage, potato, cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses that are deep fried, perfect for dipping.
Now, I’m impressed — so much so that I ate three of the four large pieces (cost: $7.99) and nearly bit off Sister Laura’s finger going for the fourth. Brother Ron beat me to the last piece. (Note to readers: Sister Laura here, who nearly lost a finger trying to shove the fried goo onto the floor so I wouldn’t have to look at it anymore. Why? Here’s the story: I ordered the Blarney Stones way back when, and found them more gross than almost anything I’ve eaten before or since — and that’s saying a lot. In fact, so serious was my un-recommendation it’s undoubtedly the only reason Brother Ray ordered the fried balls. Reader, he would have married them if he could have. I stand by my first — and lasting — impression. Blarney Stones is a punchline in my house. And not in a good way.)
Brother Ron: And yet, despite her dislike for Blarney Stones, it was not at all difficult to lure Sister Laura to a Leadbelly lunch at the Dub Pub, where she confessed upon arrival to being a bit of a regular. I am, too — it has turned out to be one of my favorite joints over the last 10 years, both for lunch and an after-work nip, either on the nice patio or in the dark, atmospheric interior. One year, joining friends for a St. Paddy’s breakfast, we scored that neat little nook near the bar (you know the one), and felt like we were in the Coolest Place In Town. And we were.
A word on the food: It’s good.
A word on the beer: It’s better. See you at the Pub, bub.
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By Ron Rollins
| Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 12:30 PM
We got a chance to get a sneak peek Monday night at the new Marion’s that’s opening today on Kingsridge behind the Dayton Mall, expanded and renovated after a big fire a while back.
It’s nice. Safe to say that if you like Marion’s (and OK, in Dayton, who doesn’t?), you’ll love the new one. It’s pretty darn big, for one thing — easily twice the seating of the one at Town & Country (more room for Cub Scouts and soccer kids!) and the same old-fashioned, homey feel.
They’ve got a Dayton room of big, wonderful poster-sized historical shots of downtown Dayton from the 1920s that you can gawk at for a while, and of course there is the stars wall of old black-and-white snapshots of Kenley Player cast-parties of days gone by. Who knew Bill Bixby and Morgan Fairchild loved Marion’s? Well, anybody who’s ever looked at the wall at any of the Piazzas, obviously…
Did Bill Bixby go all Hulk if he didn’t get his pizza fix? No need at the new place… the recipe is the same, and the pizzas get to the table quick, thin and hot as ever. And if there is a better sausage pizza around, holler. I’d like to know.
Check out the new joint when you can.
And tell us what you think!!!
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By Ron Rollins
| Monday, May 12, 2008, 05:00 PM
Brother Ray speaketh thusly:
I wanted something a little different on a recent Saturday and decided to head to the Chimney’s Inn in Miamisburg (67 S. Main St.).
This was my second visit to the restaurant, and it’s the second time I’ve not been disappointed. My wife and I shared black mean hummus, which is real news because I can’t stand hummus. (First of all, hummus sounds like something you get with a cold, not a food).
We also shared a big plate of pulled pork. She had onion rings (they were the bomb); I ordered an extra side of melt-in-your-mouth goodness also know as mashed sweet potatoes. Since we had eaten so much —- and, as small eaters, that was plenty for two —- I got, to go, a piece of off-the-hook bread pudding soaked in an orange bourbon sauce.
The whole thing was Lord have mercy good. Anyone ever been there? If not, where have you been lately that had you smiling when you left?
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By Ron Rollins
| Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 04:19 PM
This from Brother Ray:
RIP: Cardinal Roost
I just found out that the Cardinal Roost, the little Germantown mom-n-pop crowned as having the best cheeseburgers in these parts, has been closed for a while. Very, very, sad. Here’s what the Leadbelly Boys said about the place:
“What a wonderful surprise—maybe not to the burger-blessed folks in quaint, tiny Germantown, but certainly for us. Cheerfully billing itself as a “‘50s/’60s Soda & Sandwich Shoppe, Serving a Memory With Every Meal,” the place is packed not only with Valley View sports memorabilia, but also with old LP jackets, Coke signs—even a life-size cardboard Marilyn Monroe and a TV set with tin-foiled rabbit ears. The food, happily, ranges from swell to terrific, and the service is tops. From the “Bogie” Burger ($2.25) to the “Big Bopper” Bacon Cheeseburger ($3.25) to the “Elvis” Cheeseburger ($2.45), you’ll be glad you stopped.”
The Roost got a Burger rating of 5 (out of 5). Brother Jim called it :burger nirvana.” Brother Ron called the “Big Birg Wannabe” a “Big Mac on steroids. And I wrote the following:
“The sign over the jukebox, below the Presley and Sinatra photos, notes, “Mama don’t allow no rap music in her place.” I can overlook. Mama don’t like rap but she knows how to show a brother some love with her food.”
So I need some new lovin.’ I think the title of Best Burger in town now falls to Volty’s, the burger Wagon on S. Dixie Dr. across from the WDTN. What say you?
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By Ron Rollins
| Thursday, May 1, 2008, 02:59 PM
Um, something called the “Soyfoods Council” (imagine…) sent the Leadbelly Desk a press release that says May is “National Salad Month.”
Oy! Is there a National Potato Chip Month? Come on! (If there is, please notify me at once.)
Here’s the top of the release…
The Soyfoods Council
800 383 1423
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
Photos available
For Immediate Release
May is National Salad Month
Des Moines, IA…. Flowers are in bloom, warm temperatures are around the corner and nothing quite feels more like summer than a cool, refreshing salad with a variety of in-season fruits and vegetables. May is National Salad Month, and with soyfoods, creating a fresh and healthy meal is fast and easy.
Soy packs numerous health benefits as do most vegetable salads. The more colorful your salad is, the healthier it will be, and tossing some soy on it just amplifies the positive nutritional value.
Salads have a reputation as being a go-to food when it comes to dieting. The addition of soyfoods to your salad will help in more ways than one. First of all, soy is jam-packed with protein—the only plant food that has the same equivalent as an animal product. Studies have shown soy protein will decrease your appetite, keeping you full longer and less likely to snack a lot in between meals or gorge yourself at dinner time.
According to Dr. Mark Messina, adjunct associate professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University, some studies have even shown soy to decrease body fat.
So, OK: Fair is fair. I’ll ask: What’s your favorite salad around here? Last time we asked, I think the Greek Salad at Dewey’s got a lot of votes.
Crunch crunch crunch
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By Ron Rollins
| Monday, April 28, 2008, 12:03 PM
Well, not according to Cooking Light magazine, which just tossed out its list off the top 20 healthy US cities…
Dayton’s not on it!
What would it take for us all to get our fair burg on a list such as this?
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By Ron Rollins
| Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 09:35 PM
Mac and cheese…
Discuss
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The Dublin Pub rocks! I used to have a standing Friday night seat at the bar but now only go occasionally.