We went into Table 33 with pretty low expectations. We'd been in Dayton the weekend before for a…read moreconcert and had a disappointing experience at another highly rated restaurant. Table 33 was within walking distance of our show at the Victoria Theatre, so we gave it a try.
Let me be clear: Table 33 isn't good "for Dayton." This place could easily compete with some of Cincinnati's best restaurants.
When you first enter, the host area feels pretty typical, so there's no indication of what's waiting beyond it. But as we turned left toward our dining area, we were shocked by how beautifully the restaurant opened up.
Tucked throughout are gorgeous, quaint little private dining rooms. And I mean little in the best possible way. Some looked intimate enough for just you and your plus-one, while others could accommodate maybe four or six people. These aren't large event spaces. They're cozy, beautifully designed rooms for an intimate dinner for two or a private evening with a few friends.
We told our server it was our first visit, and she walked us through the food and cocktail menus. We both ordered the Raspberry Beret. She completely undersold it.
The bartender personally brought our cocktails out and explained the preparation. The cocktail is sous vide, then strained and allowed to rest for several days. I was fascinated. It arrived with three gorgeous blackberries and fresh mint attached to the glass with an adorable mini clothespin.
Almost too pretty to drink. Almost. Because the Raspberry Beret was outstanding!!!
From the technique to the flavor and presentation, there was genuine craft behind it. That's when I realized we'd seriously underestimated this place.
Then came the Wild Mushroom Tempura and House Focaccia. The focaccia was warm, soft, buttery and delicious.
Those mushrooms, however, made me ANGRY.
Not because they were bad. Because I don't get to Dayton often, and suddenly I was faced with the very real possibility of driving 40 minutes for mushrooms! LOL
Lightly battered, meaty and incredibly flavorful, the wasabi ponzu aioli and chili crisp brought creaminess, heat and brightness. They had me questioning my commitment to meat as a protein. I was planning my return visit after the first bite.
For dinner, my fiancé ordered the Pan-Seared Scallops and I had the Chateaubriand. I don't often look at someone else's entrée and think, "You know what? I want his too." But then those scallops arrived.
They were huge and beautifully golden, with the kind of sear that makes you silently wonder, "If he really loves me, he'll give me one."
He did not... :) and to be fair, I didn't ask.
So my eyes ate from his plate while he confirmed what they were telling me. He loved the citrus with the seafood and the velvety sauce.
My Chateaubriand was gorgeous. Medium rare and perfectly even throughout. The petite potatoes were lightly roasted and salted, and as a sucker for root vegetables, I devoured the roasted carrots and beets. But the potato slaw? Brilliant. Those thin, crisp potatoes added exactly the texture the dish needed.
I rarely finish an entire restaurant entrée. You would have thought I licked this plate clean.
We were watching the clock because we still had an 8 to 10 min walk to the Victoria Theatre. Then our server casually said, "I noticed you marked maybe for the Dessert Room."
Excuse me... (insert dramatic pause) Dessert ROOM?!
I looked at my fiancé, who explained, "Yeah, I saw it when I made the reservation, but I wasn't sure what it was or if we'd have time, so I marked maybe."
Well, now I needed to know.
I didn't care if we had to sprint to the show. At minimum, I needed to see this room.
And somehow, Table 33 delivered AGAIN.
The Dessert Room is fabulously whimsical. Eclectic chandeliers stretch across the room against a beautiful soft gray backdrop, with comfortable upholstered chairs inviting you to settle in. There was nothing hard about this room. Everything felt soft, warm and intentional.
The room felt designed to change the pace of the evening: sink into a comfortable chair, order something sweet or a dessert cocktail and relax.
I genuinely wanted to stay, sample the desserts and try a couple of those cocktails, but we had a comedy show waiting. So we chose the affogato.
Even that received the same attention as everything else. The espresso had none of that overly roasted, bitter flavor, and the gelato was incredibly smooth and creamy without a single detectable ice crystal.
We enjoyed every bite, paid our bill and headed toward the Victoria Theatre.
And talked about Table 33 for nearly the entire walk.
That probably says more than anything else I could write.
If you're in the area for a show, spending an evening downtown or simply looking for an excuse to explore Dayton, add Table 33 to your list of adventures.
As for me? Apparently I'll be driving 40 minutes for mushrooms.
