Bourbon Street Grill & Cafe — Restaurant in Dayton

I’ve been on the search for a hidden gem in Dayton and think I may have found my spot! Although based on the line, I think Bourbon Street Grill isn’t quite a “hidden” gem any longer.

Let’s start with the “elephant in the room” - the atmosphere. This certainly isn’t a fine dining experience by any means. Although they do use the highest quality styrofoam containers and have tables and chairs that must be super durable based on their age. I think a couple of those chairs may have been around when Carter was president…..the manufacturer should be proud of how long they’ve served their purpose.

So if you’re willing to sit on some chairs from the ‘70s or ‘80s, you are going to delight in some of the best food you’ll find in Dayton. I got the bourbon chicken, no rice, just chicken. A half portion was plenty of food for me. My son, with a much higher metabolism devoured a full portion. The chicken is SO juicy and the bourbon sauce has the perfect balance of sweetness while not being too sweet. The sauce is so good that you want to drink the leftover juices like the leftover milk from your bowl of lucky charm cereal…..am I the only one who still does that??

Now to the service - they do a great job getting people in and out but you certainly don’t feel rushed either. They have a couple of pretty experienced workers who are staples and keep things organized and moving. All of the workers are friendly but also keep the conversation kind of short to reduce the wait time.

It won’t be long until I’m back to savor some tasty chicken and chug the leftover juices that leave me reminiscing of my 8 year old self with my morning bowl of...

Absolutely spectacular food. If you aren't sure what to try, get "Bourbon Chicken with Spicy Rice and (Cajun) Spuds, with sauce on it all". The Spicy Rice isn't actually "spicy", it is really just thoroughly seasoned, so don't be afraid of that if you don't like pepper-spicy foods. Same with the Cajun Spuds.

Service is always extremely quick if you order one of their main offerings, they've got their system down and can crank through a line quickly. The issue comes if you order something less popular, such as salmon or blackened chicken. So if you're in a rush, just stick to the Bourbon Chicken and you'll get your food quick!

The atmosphere is a bit lacking and old. No music in there, which isn't necessary but would be a bit nice. The sitting area is probably quite clean, but it just always has that look of being dirty. Like the whites are now yellowed, and no amount of cleaning can get them back to white. Most of their business seems to be take-out, so I don't think they care much about renovating inside. This is perfectly fine with me as the food is SO GOOD, but I figured it'd be worth mentioning here in case that was a deal-breaker for someone. For instance, I wouldn't recommend this place as a first date location, but if you work in the area and just need quick take-out food, this is your spot.

TLDR; Amazing food, quick service, lacking atmosphere. The first two more than make up for...

I very much enjoyed my first ever visit to the Bourbon Street Grill & Cafe. I arrived during lunch busy time and the wait line was minimal to order (around 7 minutes). The menu was easy to read from and choose selections. I ordered the Signature Bourbon Chicken with 2 sides. I chose the spicy rice and the Cajun potato spuds and added cornbread as well. The food was prepared and served in front of me as I paid and filled my drink selection. The restaurant was clean and organized even during the busy lunch time. The staff team was very courteous and attentive to the patrons and their needs. The food was served at perfect temperatures to eat immediately and the flavor was great tasting. I was impressed with the Cajun spuds as I wasn't sure what they would look or taste like when I ordered them. The flavor was amazing and I would definitely recommend them as a side selection to anyone. The cornbread was soft and full of flavor with a cake like feel and sweet flavor to it. Prices were very reasonable as compared to other Bourbon chicken establishments I've been to. I definitely plan to return again soon for another great tasting selection from...