Jollity is a very aptly named, up-beat restaurant with small menu, craft entrees and good vibes all around. The inside is a bit small but cozy with the kitchen in broad view. The menu rotates roughly every quarter, and given the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, the selection is a bit limited -- handful of vegetarian small plates, a few meat and a few seafood options. For the non-drinkers, they had two non-alcoholic cocktails available, but no NA beer. Beware though, as the NA cocktails were still around $11, which I always find frustrating as they are basically flavored sugar water. We tried the blackhawk beef burger and koji-aged ribeye. The blackhawk burger was a smash burger (thin patties, melted cheese), that tasted delicious. The ribeye was just as expected and cooked as ordered. The star of each of the entrees, however, was the thin cut, crispy fries. Good thing the fries were delicious because the sauces that came with it were quite bland -- would've preferred ketchup. For dessert we tried the bay leaf cheesecake. It was alright, had a subtle smokey flavor that I think threw us off a bit (although that was obviously the point given the bay leaf). Our server Renee was friendly and everything was prompt. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and the food was pretty good. Although, given the limited number of options on the menu, you'll definitely want to look at it ahead of time to make sure there is something that suits your palate. read more

See all

Had dinner here with my family (all 10 of us!) this past weekend, and I'm still thinking about that ribeye... The moment we stepped in, the modern aesthetic hit perfectly - clean lines, mood lighting, and just enough buzz to feel energetic without drowning out conversation. Our family gathering was greeted immediately by staff who seemed genuinely stoked to have us there. Major points for making a large group feel welcome! The menu is refreshingly concise - none of that overwhelming novel-length situation that makes you second-guess yourself three times. Their drink selection strikes that perfect balance too - enough variety in wines/beers/cocktails to satisfy everyone. They've got some non-alcoholic options as well. We started with the Kimchi Pancake and Brussels Sprouts for the table. Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about the pancake (kimchi can be hit or miss for me), but this was a revelation. The kimchi flavor was present but not overwhelming - just enough kick that played perfectly with the shiso and wasabi remoulade. And those Brussels? It's packed with flavor and disappeared in approximately 3.5 seconds... Maybe less! For my main course, went with my cousin's recommendation - the Koji Aged Ribeye. When it arrived I initially thought "that's it?" But this steak is deceptive. The thick cut topped with Togarashi Butter was significantly more filling than it looked. Cooked to absolute perfection, and that butter situation on top? A flavor bomb of sweet-spicy-savory that had me contemplating licking the plate - don't worry, I didn't! My taste buds were begging for more even when my stomach waved the white flag. That's when you know it's good. If you're anywhere near downtown Dayton, make Jollity a priority stop. Not sure when I'll be back in Ohio again, but would definitely have this resto on my return list. read more

See all

Per usual, Jollity hit it out of the park with our meal last night! Our server suggested the perfect cocktails for both me and my husband after we told her what type of drinks we like. My "Oscar Winning Tears" was sweet (like I requested) and his was smoky and less sweet. All 5 of the dishes we shared were top notch, but my two standouts were 1. the Black Rice, Blistered Winter Veg, Cress, Miso + Cashew Vin and 2. the Pork Ossobuco, Farm Veg, White Bean Cassoulet, Sauce Charcuterie. Delicious! Service was, as always, impeccable! Special shoutout to inclusivity with their 2 very clean non-gender bathrooms. read more

See all

Heard this was the best restaurant in Dayton, and it lives up to the hype! The ambiance is very casual for such a high-end menu. Our waitress was super cool and we walked us through the menu and how it's made up of smaller, more shareable plates. We also heard that the menu changes seasonally, so the dishes we ordered are probably no longer available. The short rib was insanely tender. The Brussels sprouts were very rich with their barbecue flavor. I loved the miso corn cake so much - sweet and flavorful and a great appetizer. We also loved the cocktails! read more

Jollity - Short rib - New American Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

This was one of the best meals I've ever had. I went here with a group and they encouraged us to order a bunch of shared plates for the table. We each got to try everything which is a better approach than just ordering one dish for yourself. The flavors and dish concepts were so unique and every single bite was delicious. Truly a one of a kind dining experience. read more

See all

It's a small road trip from Cincinnati . It's a small gem in fire district. Reservations are highly recommended, seating is limited and they do have some bar seating . The Brussel sprouts which are a crowd favorite , were flavorful . The lamb burger was pretty good it was something sweet on it but not sure if it were in the bun or the toppings . If you want fries, It does come à la carte. My biggest gripe is them not having ketchup for fries but I went with it.( which was an interesting choice) they do offer aioli. The steak was cooked to perfection. Drinks were okay , but made it easy waiting on the food. I didn't love the smoke coming from the kitchen but exposed kitchens are cool . read more

See all

Food - 5 out of 10, the Brussels sprouts were very salty, the octopus was such a small serving, and the chicken seemed basic at best. I have to assume this iteration of their menu was just not for me. Service - 9 out of 10 - cool folks and very kind Ambiance - 7 out of 10, nothing bad just nothing notable either, except maybe the artwork. read more

See all

Great dinner with even better friends! Cannot begin to express my deep sadness at knowing Jollity is transitioning into a burger joint. Their burger is the least remarkable item on the menu, $26 and no better than five guys! Such a profound disappointment to know Dayton is losing another good restaurant. read more

We had a show to go to at the Victoria so we did dinner here. It's different and it's delicious! It's small plates so you order several things. I had the Charred cabbage, the Smoked mushrooms and the Japanese chicken. The charred cabbage was a big wedge of cabbage grilled with great seasonings. The mushrooms were Tulip mushrooms deliciously smoked with wonderful seasonings. The Japanese chicken was breaded and fried with also great seasonings. But it was a bit chewy. My SO had salmon, Brussel sprouts and confit fennel. I tried the salmon and the Brussel sprouts. Both were delicious but the Brussels were a bit too salty. Overall, we loved it. As Arnold said, 'I'll be back!' read more

See all

Always an outstanding meal at Jollity! Tonight we worked our way through the appetizer menu. I'm not sure which was my favorite but the Speck Toast was amazing. Sweet, salty, crunchy , savory. They make the food in such a small area, barely able to turn around and they are just quietly and professionally turning out the best plates to be found in Dayton. read more

Jollity - We sat at the bar to watch all the amazing food being prepared, these are our favorite seats - New American Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

9/22/23 Came here for a Dinner date night with my favorite person, my husband we were greeted upon arrival as we made reservations and were seated quickly. We sat at the bar because I love watching people cook. Sasha was our waitress and took great care of us. We ordered several various dishes and everything sounded amazing. We had the CFR - Crispy fried Japanese chicken with rice and vegetables, lemon oil shrimp, foxhole greens, fried Brussel sprouts, kimchi pancake, and matcha chess pie. Everything was spectacular and I loved my experience here the most. We will definitely be back here again in the near future. read more

See all

What a great experience! Had dinner last night with my husband and another couple - we had Camille as our waitress and she was amazing with the knowledge of both the food and beverage menu and with suggestions for our table! Service was impeccable! Will definitely be back again read more

See all

Stopped in before a show we were seeing in Dayton. The service is multiple shared plates, and we ordered mainly what our waitress recommended. The food was delicious and the vibe is very casual which was amazing. I'd definitely try this place again whenever I'm in Dayton read more

This place has a great vibe! It's cool and the wine selection was pretty decent. I'll be back to try the food options.

I came here with a friend based off their recommendation and it was overall a good experience. The Asian fusion dishes were creative and my favorite dish was the sesame cornbread. The greens salad was very underwhelming along with the Money Trees drink--both were overly earthy. The short rib wasn't anything special unfortunately. The chicken karaage was juicy and was served with two different types of spicy sauce which was delicious. The yuzu mousse was fresh and citrusy and had a surprise ganache-like sauce at the bottom of the dessert! The decor was minimalistic along with cute plants. We did have an item brought that we didn't order but they offered it to us for free which was a nice plus. read more

See all

Fantastic dinner while visiting Dayton, and excellent vibes! Came here with a friend who picked the spot (GREAT choice). The servers and folks working at the cool, open view food prep area alike were all super friendly and attentive. The menu definitely has Asian flavor influences, while also being totally unique. Some of the flavor combinations are truly inspired. We shared a salmon crudo dish, brussels sprouts (so crispy and delicious!! perfect amount of sauce), a sweet potato salad, and a fried chicken roulade. With a bottle of crisp and refreshing sauvignon blanc. Dinner was filling enough but we couldn't pass on desserts. We ended up splitting both a matcha chocolate chess pie (are you kidding me!! so yum), and a yuzu crème brûlée. Amazing experience. read more

I went to Jollity with a girl friend on a Thursday night. We made reservations, but it wasn't very busy while we ate there. Our server was friendly and made great recommendations. I love the lighting and the ambiance, + not too loud. The kitchen has an open concept, so you are able to see and/or watch the chefs work if you get to sit at the kitchen bar. We both got the Koji-aged ribeye which was so tender and flavorful! So so good. It apparently never leaves the menu, because it's so popular. The crispy potatoes were well seasoned and the sauce on the side was not needed, but a great addition for those last few bites. A very cohesive dish. We also both had the space program cocktail, which is their take on a margarita. I had two so I liked it. We shared the yuzu mousse which was such a bright and light dessert! It has a little chocolate ganache on the bottom that adds a nice touch to the whole dessert. I love the unique fusion of flavors Jollity offers and that they rotate their menu every season (or quarterly, not sure). I'd definitely go back to try some other popular menu items and their new menu. read more

See all

Have been several times and always enjoyable, love the rotating menu and eclectic food. Drinks are made very well and always great service. I highly recommend especially if you want to try some great food and are tired of the same old same old. Always fresh, new, different and well cooked!! read more

ABSOLUTEL FANTASTIC, is what I have to say about this place! From theinute I we walked know, we were greeted by a very inviting and pleasant hostess. She made us aware what sitting options she had abd allowed us to choose. We sat at the bar of which was cute and tidy! The bartender made thee absolute best drinks, he was even featuring his own drink that was Amazing. I had the Korean fried barbeque ribs with baked beans and cucumber salad, and let me just say...my tastebuds were incredibly happy! My boyfriend had the trout woth pea puree...Delicious!! The ambiance waa cozy & warm. I loved that the manager was hands-on, she was bringing out plates and personally going to tables ensuring that customers were having a great experience and we were! If ever in Dayton...Definitely Check them out! read more

See all

This is hands down the best restaurant I have tried in Dayton, Ohio when it comes to food. Unique atmosphere sitting at the bar/kitchen top while also having very tasty, well portioned and unique dishes. The kimchee pancake was phenomenal and the Brussels sprout dish was unique compared to other places. Note they vary their menu often so sometimes the dishes I mention may not be available. I wish I knew about this place earlier. read more

Reservations are recommended. Happily we arrived early for dinner, were warmly greeted, and sat at the bar. The cocktails were excellent! Although everyone raves about the brussel sprouts, I found ours over charred. Hubby still enjoyed them, but I found them too bitter to eat many. Everything else was absolutely delicious! The trout was particularly sensational because the skin was super crispy, while the flesh was perfectly tender and moist. Next time we'll be sure to dress up much better than casual, as this is a very good place for a nice date night. read more

See all

Stopped in for a nice dinner out with my wife. The staff was super friendly and helped us navigate the menu as it was our first time. We sat at the kitchen bar, which was quite the interesting experience as we saw all the food being prepared by the chefs. The head chef took the time to talk with us and explain how the restaurant has a rotating menu. We had the Miso Cured Salmon, the Brussel sprouts, Koji Ribeye steak, and the Japanese Fried Chicken. The food was fantastic and we wished it didn't end. We did have the chocolate pot for desert, which was delightful! We were very pleased with everything about our meal and experience. Will definitely return especially to try the Koji burger on Saturdays. read more

Loved it. We had been wanting to try it. Vibe is very comfortable and cool. They have an open kitchen which I love. I had the lamb burger with fries. Honestly, it came out very modestly, but was so good. So fresh and flavorful. It tasted like it was prepared by a chef who knew what they were doing. We'll definitely be back to this Dayton gem. Desert was awesome too! read more

Location: Third Street, Dayton Ohio Website: https://www.jollitydayton.com/ Parking: plenty of metered street parking, paid lot pricing, free street parking on weekends. Hours: see website Price: expensive but quality of food, drinks, and service warrant the prices. Great experience at Jollity after multiple recommendations. Reservations highly recommended and simple by calling the restaurant or using the link on their website. A great addition to downtown. I'm kind of floored at the great options available... The space is decorated and appointed beautifully, with an attractive mix of historic elements and modern features. The seating is comfortable and seating is spacious enough to enjoy your selections as they are presented. Portions are well-suited for sharing and we made a great meal for 2 with bone marrow, scallops, and fry bread. I can understand reviews complaining about the noise level - but I found the ambience delightful and private. The noise from other diners mixes well with the music and you will adore smelling the food from the open kitchen in the center of the restaurant preparing all the courses. Our bill for 3 courses and 3 cocktails was just under $100. The service was impeccable and the food was noteworthy. The cocktails are unique as well. Tips: 1) make reservations 2) order the bone marrow 3) ... also order the fry bread 4) don't mock me for how I mis pronounce the name of this restaurant. read more

See all

A month ago, I'd have told you that Jollity was the best restaurant in Dayton. We've had three very pleasing meals here. However, due to our most recent experience, we will not be returning. In this instance, my husband ordered a dish entitled "crispy mushrooms with polenta". He was served a bowl of runny polenta topped with completely raw mushrooms. Not just one or two, but ALL completely raw, like a bowlful of rubber bands. Have you ever attempted to eat a bowlful of raw oyster mushrooms? Now, we all know that every plate cannot be perfect. My husband is a friendly and softspoken man, not one to complain or to make a fuss. But despite our best efforts at being gracious and polite in our handling of the situation, we were made to feel as though we were the problem. The server repeatedly stated that she was sorry he "didn't like the food", when in reality it was COMPLETELY INEDIBLE. To make matters even more amusing, the waitress literally ripped the plate from my hand as I was attempting to take a photo. So my husband watched us all eat our meals while he waited for something edible. As they were clearing our dirty plates, my vegetarian husband was presented with a bowl of noodles and pork medallions; he was not even given an option as to his "replacement" meal. We finished our drinks and watched him eat the noodles. A manager eventually came to the table and again repeated the words, "I'm sorry you didn't like your food." Never was any apology made, and my husband was treated like a huge jerk for not having eaten the raw mushrooms. The following day, my husband calmly and respectfully contacted the owner by telephone. He was told that we were rude for "disliking" their food and once again, that we were the problem. No doubt their response to this post will be similar in nature; it seems that jollity is incapable of introspection. read more

Excellent high concept spot in downtown Dayton. Had seating at the show kitchen bar. Tried numerous dishes...the Brussel Sprouts, Sweet Corn Croquettes and Japanese Fried Chicken were complete showstoppers. Fantastic service and an interesting cocktail menu was very helpful in making the meal a complete success for the night. Will return many times read more

Been visiting Dayton monthly for work, and have been hearing about how great this place is from multiple people. My expectations were already high, but Jollity surpassed them! At first glance, the place is beautiful, with an open kitchen, and a cozy setting. Our server, Jenna, greeted us with a bright smile and fantastic recommendations. Drinks were great, but the food... the food was EXCELLENT! We had the corn cake, the japanese fried chicken , the brussel sprouts, the short rib and the fried eggplant and loved every single bite. For dessert, we had the yuzu mousse, which was small, but very tasty. Overall, we left happy and satisfied, and hopeful for a near future visit. read more

See all

Jollity has figured out how to bring a New York City vibe to Dayton. The Brussel Sprouts are an amazing appetizer, the Ribeye was cooked to perfection and was tender and full of flavor. I am a steak snob, and this was some of the best ribeye I've ever had. In my opinion, it was better than the Japanese Fried Chicken, but the chicken is a close second, and my wife preferred it over the steak. Service was on point, and while the dining area is cozy, it wasn't too loud. Will definitely be back! read more

See all

Had my boyfriend's sister's birthday dinner here and I have to say I was not impressed. The menu is limited and everything is pretty pricey, especially for the portion sizes. I ordered the buckwheat gnocchi and it was good but nothing special, if given the choice I would have gone somewhere else for dinner. I also had the seasonal sangria and it was tasty but it was also over $10 for a small glass. The highlight for me was the brussels sprouts which I will say were pretty tasty. All in all, I probably won't be back and feel it is overpriced and overhyped for what you get. read more

Jollity - Buckwheat Gnocchi - New American Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Once again I find myself accidentally finding a spot in a new town that is to die for. Tonight I had a class reunion to attend and decided to grab a quick bite while walking to the Century Bar. I sat at the cocktail bar and ordered a herb quinoa bowl with scallops. The flavors did not disappoint. I knew it was going to be incredible before it was delivered to my seat because the aromas from the open kitchen were absolutely delightful. It seems as if the menu changes on a regular basis. To me that is always an important aspect of a spot like this. Do yourself a favor the next time you are downtown and drop in and see these folks. read more

Having never even heard of Jollity before, I was very pleasantly surprised at how incredible their chicken was. I ordered it spicy, and it was hot, juicy, and flavorful. My only disappointment was that they only serve dark meat. Other than that, the chicken was excellent! read more

Unfortunately, our experience here was the only disappointment of our trip to Dayton. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. We really liked the vibe of the place and the menu had promise. For drinks, I had the money tree which was herbal and fresh. Hubbie had a Pinot Noir. Our waitress was friendly. She recommend some dishes. We started with the spring rolls. They had a sweet potato filling. They were good but nothing special- sort of one note. We then had a cauliflower dish. The cauliflower was served as a steak and was undercooked, very tough and no flavor. Most of it was actually the core of the cauliflower. We thought it was a one off and informed our server who took it off our bill. Our final dish was "crispy" mushrooms. The dish was $23 for mushrooms and polenta. We ordered it with scallops for another $14. When the dish arrived there were 2 scallops. The mushrooms were not crispy at all and actually quite mushy. They were served over the most flavorless polenta. Tasted like bland porridge. Really not good at all. We left with a big bill and hungry bellies. We went out for ice cream afterwards. read more

See all

We tried Jollity for the first time for recent date night, and really enjoyed their winter menu! Our servers were great at explaining the history of Jollity and changes in their menu as well as providing suggestions. read more

Jollity - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Back again with frequently changing menu, the flavors remain phenomenal. Scallops with eggplant & chili butter -- fantastic, shrimp with beet amazaje and fresh shaved horseradish, the same read more

See all

Jollity is one of Dayton's best restaurants. It truly embodies a farm to table Mission and uses tons of unique ingredients in all of their dishes. It is also very impressive that every two weeks they have several changes to their menu so they are constantly creating new flavors and dishes to serve. All of their staff are incredibly professional and knowledgeable on the menu. All of the bar staff are fantastic and make all the drinks with the same style of unique flavors that work well together. Though they have tables, sitting up at the bar is my favorite spot. I've had many items on their menu and have been more than satisfied every single time. Since their menu changes frequently it's hard to go into specifics about what I've enjoyed there, but everything is masterfully made and beautifully plated. I believe there's scallops or a staple on their menu and were some of the best scallops have ever had in my life. I've also had their chicken fried duck which has seem to be on the menu for sometime as well and it was absolutely delicious. Their desserts were amazing and unlike anything I've ever had. The menu items are a little pricey, but well worth it for a treat yourself meal or for a date night. I frequently return here and recommend it. read more

Jollity - Pan seared scallops and cocktail - New American Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Delicious food, amazing service. Made our Dayton experiments amazing. Right-Sized portions with exquisite preparation.

Depends on want you want out of Dayton Ohio. Love love love the Chef. But to ahead of his time for our city. I get it. But no. I want dinner and not a 200$ experience that is so so read more

Second time at Jollity and I can honestly say it is in my top culinary experiences. Everything is curated in an amazing way. An explosion on your palette and perfection from start to finish. Amazing cocktails and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I wish I could convince them to open one in Columbus. The best crème brûlée I've ever had. A touch of lemon elevates everything. If you get the pleasure of having Alicia take care of you follow her every recommendation. She will not let you down. I can't believe we found this gem in Dayton, Ohio. Superb. read more

See all

It's a cute place. I love the plants on the light fixtures, and the overall atmosphere. The staff is stellar! I will go back, eventually, just because I enjoyed the service and cocktails (just not the food). I ordered two small plates, which they label "For the Table" on the menu. The Persimmon Carpaccio had no savory aspects as claimed. It was entirely too sweet for me and lacked any real sustenance. I laughed at the portion of whipped fromage because it was almost non-existent. The bread served with it was soooo hard, that I could not bite through some of them! Think if the hardest crouton you've ever encountered lol. I was very sad about this. I would not order it again. The Braised Beef Cheek was served over a house ground polenta. The polenta was gross, hard, and super gritty. The beef was overpowering in flavor. I don't think beef needs a lot of seasoning, so this was too much for me. I kept trying to eat it, but it just made me nauseous. Saying it's served with pickled red onion salad is laughable considering the 5 pieces of onion placed on top on the beef was all that's there. My friend ordered the Tamanishiki Rice Risotto. The risotto itself was made really well and had good flavor! It came with mushrooms (that looked raw to me), and he added 1 egg and 2 scallops for additional cost. Overall his plate was $32 and the portion was smaller than my beef small plate. He left hungry, and I left completely unsatisfied. I had a cocktail called Only Female In My Crew, and it was delicious. Reminded me more of a summer cocktail but I'm not complaining. We spent $100 for good service and a weak meal. (I'll note: my friend really enjoys the place, and has been a few times before.) I personally wouldn't suggest it to anyone, but I wouldn't deter them either. I'll give it another chance next year with a new menu and update my review. read more

See all

This place has a nice vibe. We went in for a late dinner and sat at the kitchen bar, which was fun. I was most excited to try the Brussel sprouts but was a little disappointed. It's an amazing presentation but they are just a little too . . . much, for me. Literally, a friend and I shared the dish and I still took a large portion home, and figuratively, it was just so rich and sweet, my palette got tired of the dish after just five bites or so. The beet salad was interesting. But the scallops were fantastic - I don't think I've ever had a scallop more perfectly cooked! The house sangria was very tasty. The service was excellent as well. There are several other dishes I'd like to try from their menu and I'm impressed with the number of gluten free and vegan or vegetarian dishes. read more

See all