THE RACCOON DIARIES MAY 28 > DAYTON'S WEEKLY FOODIE NEWSLETTER
Each week, savor handpicked food gems from five buzzing cities, served with a side of cheeky humor and vibrant stories that make your taste buds dance.
Jamie the Raccoon
5/28/20268 min read
WHAZZZUPPPP Foodies!!!
It's Jamie the Raccoon LOADED with Gem City food intel for you this week! Dayton's food scene is doing things right now, with new openings, fresh summer events, the best outdoor market in Ohio, and some serious chef moves all happening at once. Mask on, stretchy pants activated — deals first, always deals first!
DEALS AND STEALS — BEST GRABS IN DAYTON
Whisperz Speakeasy — $10 Martinis Every Thursday AND 25% Off Whiskey Every Wednesday
Two killer weekly deals at West Carrollton's glamorous Roaring Twenties cocktail bar. Every Thursday all night long, every premium handcrafted martini is just $10. Every Wednesday from open to close (4 to 11 p.m.), it is Whiskey Wednesday — 25% off all standard whiskey, scotch, and bourbon pours and cocktails all night. Live music runs both nights. On Thursday, June 18 specifically, Doug Hart takes the stage from 7 to 10 p.m. alongside the $10 martini special. Note: Whisperz has a dress code. Check their listings on Dayton Local before going so you do not get turned away at the velvet rope. Jamie the Raccoon learned this the hard way.
Warped Wing Brewing — Dayton's Hometown Brewery, Open All Week
Warped Wing at 26 Wyandot St. in downtown Dayton is open Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. The taproom brews its award-winning beers on-site in the former Buckeye Brass & Iron Foundry building, and you can watch the whole operation while you drink. The house pilsner Load Lifter — brewed in collaboration with The Silos food hall — is a great starting point. They also have three additional taproom locations in Springboro, Mason, and Huber Heights. Follow @warpedwing on social media for weekly specials and tap list updates. 937-222-7003.
The Silos Food Hall and Bar — Expanded Hours, Local Beer, 4 Food Vendors
The Silos at 810 E. First St. in downtown Dayton has just expanded its hours in response to customer demand. Updated schedule: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bar features 16 taps of Ohio-based craft beer, including the house Load Lifter pilsner brewed by Warped Wing; kombucha from Fab Ferments; cocktails featuring regional spirits from Belle of Dayton, Name Brandt, and Dayton Barrel Works; and a wine program from small international producers. Four food vendors operate from repurposed shipping containers at the 1.5-acre historic grain silo site: Indigo, KungFu BBQ, Nood Bar, and The Burger Bistro. Outdoor space is 13,000 square feet. The Silos is part of the Downtown Dayton DORA so you can walk around with your drink. Family friendly. Free street parking on Meige, Taylor, East First, Pond, and East Second Streets. Follow @silosdayton on Instagram.
2nd Street Market — Free Admission, Outdoor Market in Full Swing
The outdoor farmers market at 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St. in downtown Dayton, is open now through late October. More than 30 local vendors line up outside with seasonal produce, artisan goods, speciality foods, and more alongside the 50-plus permanent vendors inside the historic 1911 B&O Railroad freight building. Hours: Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking. This is also part of the Downtown Dayton DORA footprint so DORA drinks are permitted during designated hours. Live music plays on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow 2nd Street Market on Facebook and Instagram for vendor updates. 937-228-2088.
Dayton Burger Week — June 7 to 14, Presented by the Ohio Beef Council
This is the big one. Dine Out Dayton's annual Burger Week runs June 7 through 14, and local restaurants and chefs all over the Miami Valley are grilling up special burgers — dine-in and carryout. Gourmet blends, off-menu specialities, beer pairings, the works. Check dineoutdayton.com for the full list of participating restaurants and their burger creations. Jamie has been stretching his jaw in preparation since May 1.
The Melting Pot Dayton — Happy Hour Two-Course Deal, Weekdays
The Melting Pot runs happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the bar area only. Buy any two courses at regular pricing, and you get unlimited refills of those same two courses during happy hour. Fondue for the price of fondue, but more of it. Also: First Friday of every month features all-night drink specials. Check meltingpot.com/centerville-dayton-oh for details.
EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES
Public Square Farmers Market — LAUNCHING THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Brand new this summer: every Thursday from June 11 through August 27, 4 to 7 p.m., Downtown Cleveland's Public Square gets a weekly farmers market. Fresh seasonal produce, handmade goods, a pop-up bar, and live music. It's part of Public Square's 10th anniversary celebration. Completely free to attend. Bring your tote bags. downtowncleveland.com for details.
Last Call Trivia at Great Lakes Brewing Brewpub — Every Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m.
Teams of up to five people. Every single Thursday night. Free to enter. This is one of the best cheap nights out in Cleveland — good beer, good food, and you get to feel smart. 2516 Market Ave, Ohio City.
Korean Cooking Class — Bibimbap and Fresh Kimchi
A hands-on Korean cooking class is happening this month in Cleveland, covering Bibimbap and Geotjeori (fresh kimchi from scratch). Perfect for a date night, a solo food adventure, or a group of friends who are tired of eating out and want to actually learn something. Check Eventbrite Cleveland for the exact date and tickets.
A Night at Cheese School — June 2026
Cleveland's cheese education event is back this month. Learn to taste, pair, and properly appreciate cheese in a guided setting. Check Eventbrite Cleveland for the date, location, and tickets. Jamie the Raccoon has been training for this his whole life.
Cooking with Chef Wells — Seafood Explosion
Chef Wells is running a seafood-focused cooking class this month at Cornucopia Place in Cleveland. Hands-on, skill-building, and you get to eat what you make. Check Eventbrite Cleveland for the date and tickets.
NEW OPENINGS — FRESH
SPOTS AND WHAT'S COMING
Piccolo Orsetto — Oregon District's New Morning Destination
The most anticipated Dayton opening of the year is almost here. Liz Valenti and Dave Rawson, the power team behind Wheat Penny Oven & Bar and Meadowlark, are opening Piccolo Orsetto at 521 Wayne Ave. in the Oregon District — right next to Wheat Penny. The name means "Little Bear" in Italian, named after Valenti's dog. The concept is breakfast, brunch, and lunch, with a coffee corner, an Italian espresso machine, and a wood-fired pizza oven. There's also a cooking school area in the back, a private dining room available to nonprofits for classes and fundraisers, and a cookbook library. Valenti said in a recent social media video: "This will be the heart and soul, we hope, for early breakfast in Dayton." The soft opening was originally targeted for early May 2026. Check for updates at @piccoloorsettodayton on Instagram and on the Wheat Penny Facebook page.
The Silos Food Hall and Bar — Already Open and Thriving
The Silos at 810 E. First St. opened earlier this year and has just expanded its hours due to growing demand. Four food vendors in repurposed shipping containers, 16 taps of Ohio craft beer, regional spirits, and 13,000 square feet of outdoor space on the historic grain silo site near 2nd Street Market. If you haven't been yet, this is the summer to fix that. See full details in the Deals section above.
Dayton Airport — Fully Overhauled with Local Brands
If you fly out of Dayton International Airport, the terminal food scene is completely different now. As of January 1, 2026, four Dayton-rooted concepts opened inside: Buckeye Pie, Gem City Provisions, The 1903, and Warped Wing. Dunkin is also still there, now as a full-service location with expanded food offerings. The old tenants — 12th Fairway Bar and Grill, Great American Bagel, Max & Erma's, and MVP Bar & Grill — are all gone. Local flavor at the airport is a win.
6888 Kitchen Incubator — Breaking Ground on Phase Two at the Dayton Arcade
This is one of the most important food stories in Dayton right now. The 6888 Kitchen Incubator (pronounced Six Triple Eight) — Dayton's only food business incubator — held its Phase Two groundbreaking ceremony on April 28 inside the Dayton Arcade Rotunda. Since opening in 2024, the 6888 has supported dozens of food entrepreneurs, created 39 jobs, and helped its members generate over $720,000 in combined revenue. The expansion will allow the incubator to serve 50-plus entrepreneurs annually. A fundraising campaign with a $30,000 goal is underway — every dollar is matched by Wright-Patt Credit Union up to $15,000. Founded by Jamaica White, Dabriah Rice, and Charlynda Scales. This is local food infrastructure doing real work for real people. Learn more at 6888kitchen.org.
ON JAMIE'S RADAR — COMING SOON
Keke's Breakfast Cafe — First Ohio Location Targeting the Dayton Area
Florida-born Keke's Breakfast Cafe, a sit-down breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is actively scouting the Dayton area for its first Ohio locations. Senior director of franchise development Ardag Tachian told the Dayton Daily News in April 2026: "Our desire to come to this area is really fueled by our desire to be in the Midwest at large." No confirmed location or date yet, but they are actively working on it. Watch daytondailynews.com for updates.
Coffeehouse by Val's Bakery — Downtown Dayton Partnership with Reduce & Ruse Refillery
The Downtown Dayton Partnership confirmed that a new coffeehouse collaboration between Val's Bakery and Reduce & Reuse Refillery is also in the works downtown. No opening date confirmed yet. Watch the Downtown Dayton Partnership site at downtowndayton.org for news.
September 20 — Beer Fest meets Hot Diggity Dog Fest at The Greene
Already looking ahead: Dine Out Dayton is combining its Beer Fest and Hot Diggity Dog Fest into one event on September 20 at The Greene in Beavercreek. Tickets required. Check dineoutdayton.com when they go on sale.
That's a wrap from Jamie the Raccoon!
That is a wrap from Jamie the Raccoon in Dayton! The Gem City is cooking a new breakfast destination almost open, a food hall on the rise, an airport that actually has good food now, and a kitchen incubator building the next wave of local food talent. Support your local spots, buy something weird at 2nd Street Market, tip every server you see, and for the love of all things edible, go eat a great burger this week because Burger Week starts Saturday, June 7.
Got a tip? A deal? A new opening? A chef making moves? Send it in and Jamie will dig it up.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only. The racoon diaries makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of any information published herein. Pricing, hours, deals, and event details are subject to change without notice. The racoon diaries is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any business, brand, or venue mentioned herein. Readers should independently verify all information before acting upon it. All content is the property of The racoon diaries and may not be reproduced without written permission. © The racoon diaries 2026. All rights reserved.
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