518-20 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd.
Centerville, OH 45459
937.723.8998
website
Ollie’s Place has generated quite a bit of excitement in the months since it has opened in the south Dayton suburb of Centerville, Ohio. The spot brings the Dayton suburbs something they will surely love; a craft beer and whisky bottle shop with a connected tap room and restaurant. Take a step into the low-lit environment here and you’ll be immediately struck by the welcoming atmosphere. Not only is it a retail place to grab some craft brews, but it’s a place where you can relax and spend some time with a quality menu of bar foods perfectly matches to the extensive tap wall.
The menu is short but sweet; but more to the point, every item is added smartly. Most of the food is made to be paired with a beer, and there’s always a beer on tap that matches that menu. Some of the fantastic things I’ve tried:
- Ollie’s Burger: The restaurant’s signature burger is topped with bacon jam and a smoked gouda cheese, and served in a thick pretzel bun. I liked this one medium rare; the jam is sweet, the gouda adds a strong smokiness, and the bun adds firmness that lets the meat stand out.
- Black & Blue Burger: I also liked this burger, topped with blue cheese and vegetables. I ordered it medium rare but I think it would have been better if the meat were a little more firm.
- Cheese Ravioli: A cheese ravioli dish served in a chunky marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese. Good if you’re avoiding veggies, and a little lighter as a menu item.
- Steak tacos: Soft tacos with a corn relish and a chipoltle aoili that give a very gradual, but promising heat. Whatever meat you pick, know there’s a good pairing of beer to go with it.
- Wings: Eight crunchy wings drenched in a choice of sauce and with two kinds of sauce. My favorite is the sweet Thai chili. Best as an appetizer.
- Side salad: Served as an app or to accompany many of the dishes, the dressing makes all the difference here. Go with the strawberry vinaigrette, or garlic-heavy dressing.
- Stout Chocolate Cheesecake: A cheesecake served with a bourbon raspberry glaze. The cheesecake itself is thick and the glaze is the sweetest contribution to the dish here.
- Crab cakes: Packed crab meat cakes with a very interesting twist: lightly breaded and fried and served with a remoulade and a side salad. An interesting mix of light flavors without one overwhelming another.
The atmosphere of the bar is fantastic; it’s definitely built to cater to the Dayton beer lover first and foremost, with the extensive tap menu and accompanying bottle shop where you can give a sample to many kinds of beer. And whiskey, too. In fact, this bar is one of the few in south Dayton to have an extensive menu of bourbons, whiskeys and craft beer, making it an unusual visit, as well. Many of the menu items come with suggestions for beers to pair with them. All told, I found it to be a pleasant experience on my visits, and think the restaurant is worth a trip.
Recommendations
- Most of the menu has suggestions for beer parings. Since the brews on draft change frequently, best to go for what the bartender suggests there.
- The burgers are great, but the temperature of the meat is ideal at different temperatures for each.
- The attached bottle shop has an entirely separate business of brew equipment and craft of different kinds.
Another Food Critic 