Jimmy's Italian Cuisine & Bar — Restaurant in Dayton

I’ve recently returned to my hometown of Dayton Ohio after moving away for 30 years. I grew up having family dinners at Anticoli’s restaurant which truly had the best Veal Parmesan anywhere. When I returned to Dayton Anticoli’s was far gone and I searched for something close to their amazing food. I went to Mama Disalvo’s a few times which is very good but then I discovered Jimmy’s on Woodman. All I can say is WOW! Better than any veal I’ve ever had! What was really a shock was the price. I still can’t understand how they can offer such incredible food at amazing low prices. Just when I thought it couldn’t be better they opened their second restaurant recently on Fifth Street in the Oregon District downtown. What they’ve done with the old Franko’s space is amazing. The atmosphere is so cool and the owners, husband and wife along with their 2 sons make all their guest feel like family. The place isn’t even officially open until their grand opening on Wednesday May 15th. Tonight was my third time eating there during their soft opening couple weeks. I’ve been to many new restaurants and they all have challenges during the first couple weeks while getting into their groove. This place feels like they’ve been open for 20 years. I can’t wait to see how it will be in 6 months. I travel a lot and love Italian food especially Veal Parmesan. Trust me when I tell you it’s the best anywhere! I was recently in Miami and ate at the famous Italian restaurant Carbone. Of course I ordered the Veal Parmisean. The same dish there for $91 doesn’t come close to the flavor and quality of Jimmy’s that’s priced at $24! I don’t know how they do it. On top of it, Wednesday night and tonight I had the soup on special with my dinner. I was unsure when I ordered it but I’ve never tasted anything better. It’s a garlic tomato chicken soup that I was told is an old family recipe. Trust me, it’s incredible! The staff is amazing and friendly and seem to really care about their customers experience. For a restaurant that hasn’t had its official grand opening I can’t even imagine what the future will be. This will be one of the few Dayton restaurants that will be loved for generations right up there with the best in the...

I wasn't sure how to rate this place. I ordered my favorite dish, the one by which I judge all new Italian places, Chicken Piccata.

Nothing was bad, but it wasn't good either. The house salad was as basic as could be, with the bonus if some random FOD that I just moved to the rim. The chicken, where do I begin? How do you boil a chicken tender and also make it tough? The sauce was bland; the capers being the only thing with flavor. It completely lacked lemon. It's weird because the pasta wasn't dry, and it appeared to have "stuff" but it just didn't taste like anything. It was as if it were sauced with unsalted butter.

The dish would greatly benefit from actual chicken breasts, butterflied and pan seared. Some malliard reaction would do wonders for the lack of flavor and presentation both. I mean, we aren't in the UK and we don't have to boil everything.

The restaurant is clean and bright, but it's also sterile. There's Italian music of some sort playing overhead, but the tables are void of anything, no decorations, no seasonings, just, empty like the parking lot.

Service was good, being both friendly but not...

When we pulled up the parking lot was empty and it made us very concerned as we read good reviews and we were hoping for a good experience. Service was great! Ordered the Trio because it was our first time there , just to get a sample of their sauce and flavor. The salad was disappointing and when our dinners came out it was a plate of food that looked like it came from left over plates from previous customers. Lasagna was one layer and flat, chicken parm was burnt and the stuffed shell was broken apart. Honestly, it looked like left over food from previous customers! STAY AWAY FROM THE GARLIC OIL! We told the waitress that we couldn't eat it so then the owner came out and got offended by our explanation and got mad and walked away. Gordon Ramsey would have shut the door of this establishment. I would love to check their refrigerator! We definitely will not be back. We left and went to Archers Tavern in Kettering! You can always count on great food and great service! The atmosphere is 1000x better as well! For GREAT Italian food go to Carrabbas in...