Linh’s Bistro
It’s the relaunch of a popular Vietnamese establishment off of Airway Road, run by the same Nguyen family and with the same purpose: serve good lunch food. Linh’s Bistro is a little down the street from its predecessor, but it seems to attract a similarly large mix of people for lunch during the week.
At the behest of some of my more animated readers I went ahead and gave the new place a try. Sure enough a new coat of paint and some new equipment made for the perfect combination. Linh’s Bistro is everything I had hoped it would be.
Orchid Garden
Located far off the beaten path of Miamisburg and West Carrollton’s other downtown businesses, and with naught for an online presence, it’s easy to pass by this restaurant without really knowing it exists. Still, if you’re brought in by the modest yellow sign you’ll find a very discount corner Chinese place where the food comes fast. Despite the humble exterior and the fact that Orchid Garden delivers to the surrounding neighborhoods, this might be the kind of place you’ll want to pass up. Try as I might, I really can’t find a single redeeming quality that would bring me back to the place.
Thai 9
You might not be able to tell from its plain-looking building, but Thai 9 Thai and Sushi Restaurant is often mentioned as one of the best Asian cuisine places in Dayton. The Thai food place is situated on the edge of downtown and the Oregon District — where many of the city’s more cultured establishments are situated. Spend any decent amount of time around this city, and you’re certain to run into one local or another who swears Thai 9 has the best food they’ve ever eaten.
China Buffet
There are a lot of Chinese places in Dayton, and the generically named China Buffet could not be more basic. It’s got a big variety of dishes in its extensive buffet, but the place unfortunately leaves much to be desired. With bland dishes and uninspiring flavors, China Buffet is every bit as forgettable as its name. I love buffets and I’ve probably visited a few too many in my life. They have a definite charm. There are good buffets in Dayton, but this is unfortunately not one of them.
China Garden Buffet
Right along the major Graceland Boulevard shopping district in northern Columbus, the China Garden Buffet sports a huge set of options for a lunch and dinner buffet of all kinds. The place is fairly straightforward; lunch is $6 and dinner is $9 for access to at least a hundred options of various kinds. You name it, it’s here, this place has quite a wide range of selections and I can’t imagine a more well rounded menu. For all of the options, I’m not sure anything stands out as particularly outstanding.
Lee’s China Kitchen
Right at the heart of downtown Columbus, Lee’s China Kitchen caters primarily to the white-collar day population of the city, with a variety of gourmet dishes. Good, quick Chinese food is a must in an area like this, and the restaurant’s central location adds to its great convenience. It’s a bit cleaner and more refined competition around it, and the pleasant environment is accentuated with very quick service that makes it a great place to eat and go with time in your lunch hour to spare.
Tsao’s Cuisine
A small dive along the Colonel Glenn Highway, it’s easy to miss Tso’s Cuisine, wedged between shops at a major intersection. But this place has a firm grip on local business. Right across the street from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as well as Wright State University, Tso’s Cuisine caters primarily to the patron looking for a quick bite. Its small but diverse buffet has a lot of different kinds of menu items, many of which are fried or stir fried in a very good sauce. It’s a very humble little business which I suspect has been a well-kept secret for locals for quite some time.
West 82 Food Court
Located in Ohio University’s Baker University Center, West 82 Food Court is supposed to be the main place for the general public comes to eat when on campus. Aimed at off-campus students, visitors, and the general public, West 82 is supposed to have something for everyone — half a dozen food stalls offer small menus of various flavors.
China King
At China King on Court Street, simplicity is the key to success. The small Athens restaurant wins numerous food awards from local newspapers every year. At first one is probably not impressed with the unassuming little joint. There are certainly larger buffets in town. But there’s a charm that brings people back again and again. With its central uptown location, China King is easily among the most visible places to eat for college students, and its large international student following implies it brings many from the Far East a little taste of home.
Grand China Buffet
Located within Athens’ tiny city mall, the Grand China Buffet gives a generous and delicious variety to the Chinese food buffet. Many of the entrees on the line are good enough to stand on their own. The buffet offers the largest selection in town, and at a reasonable price ($6.00 for lunch, $8.00 for dinner) and with such dishes as peanut butter chicken, stuffed shrimp and many classic Chinese foods, Grand China Buffet has it all. Even a sizable line for vegetables and sushi, though these foods aren’t particularly high quality so I wouldn’t recommend them.
