I still give five stars. We ate here twice in a couple of weeks since we had a gift certificate. The menu is unique with some interesting choices. I loved all I ordered. Service on the second visit was excellent. The first visit was with the bartender serving our table and he was not attentive. The restaurant has paintings for sale on the walls that are colorful and interesting. read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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We've been eating at Wheat Penny for years, and it feels like the restaurant may be losing some of the focus that made it special. What was once a menu centered on simple, well-executed Italian-inspired dishes and pizza now feels more scattered, trying to satisfy every taste and volume rather than leaning into what it does best. The Tomato Bruschetta was the standout. While the portion was small, the roasted tomatoes were packed with flavor. For entrées, we had two orders of the Green Lasagna and the Tuscan Kale Rigatoni. The lasagna, which I've enjoyed for years, felt underwhelming this time--mostly pasta and cheese without the depth of flavor. The rigatoni was noticeably salty, and the pasta had seemingly been broiled, leaving some of it browned and crisp. Service was also slower than we've experienced in the past. Wheat Penny is still clearly popular, and we'll be back. We just hope it rediscovers the focused execution that made it one of our longtime favorites. read more

We love Wheat Penny! It's one of our favorite restraints in the Dayton area. It's so creatively delicious! We had the Kale salad and the Okey Dokey artichoke pizza - vegan style. I also asked for some marinara sauce to dip the crusts in. I'm a fan of kale salads and this is a really good one! Tender kale, carrots, onion, avocado with a light vinegar dressing. Ooooo. This is some serious pizza. The crust is house made and just delicious. We love the vegan style, the flavors are buttery and delicious! I'd put this pizza at the top of the list in the Dayton area! Fast service, excellent food! Yup, as Arnold said, 'I'll be back!' read more

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We were excited to try Wheat Penny as they are under the same umbrella of one of our favorite restaurants in town, Meadowlark. We made a reservation for 6pm on a Friday. Despite being downtown, parking is easy with a large lot out front. The inside decor and atmosphere is awesome. They have vibrant artwork for sale lining the walls. The menu has a great variety, including some vegan options. I had trouble deciding on what to get given the mix of choices. Ultimately, I decided on the chicken parmesan sandwich with jojo fries and my wife got one of the spring specialty burgers. The food arrived pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a miss for us. For the chicken parm, the focaccia bread was a bit soggy, and the jojo fries were just so-so. I did like the marinara and mozzarella, but overall it left a lot to be desired. My wife's burger was undercooked and quite messy. I'm thinking it may have just been an off day, and I look forward to giving Wheat Penny another shot. read more

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Amazing food, cocktails and service. The restaurant feels like home away from home. 20/10 experience. I've been coming for years but must be horrible at taking pictures because all I've got is the menu! read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

I guess the owner doesn't read the reviews...too bad. I've gone back a few times over the past year. Went back agains on the 18th. Once again, the risotto with lobster was gummy, pasty . I had "caprese" salad. I think it sat around too long. The mozzarella was rubbery and the dressing watery. Is it because the manager wasn't around? Idk read more

Amazing service complemented by outstanding food with an amazing atmosphere makes for a wonderful dining experience whether it is a date night, or a theater night... to just a special treat for an celebratory evening wheat penny does it all. They can't get busy so make sure you get reservations. read more

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Very pleasantly surprised by Wheat Penny. The food was better than expected, the atmosphere had actual personality, and the whole place felt more Brooklyn-by-way-of-Boston than standard Dayton. Not something I say often around here. read more

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Great food and the service was outstanding. Would highly recommend going on early hours if possible. Can get crowded and parking can be a problem read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar was a great experience overall and I recommend it. The food was a wonderful combination of taste and style with artistic plating that made eating it more anticipating. However, there is something to always consider with places like this the quantity of food you are given is likely to decrease and that seems to be the case here. If you are someone who prefers quantity over quality for your dollar, this likely is not your place. If you are the former then they have great options to choose from with their pizza being their highlight. Service was adequate, no complaints to make there. My partner and I felt taken care of. The ambiance was nice, sporting what seemed like a cozy modern design for the interior. I have only ever eaten on the heated patio which was quite cozy but definitely not for everyone, especially if you get cold easily. read more

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This place has some really great cocktails like the "Smoke Em If YoubGot Em" and "Kick Your Boots Off". Also their hamburgers, Ribeye, and Fiery Sairacha Salmon are great. Highly recommend if you're coming to Dayton and want a great cocktail and meal. read more

Opted for a light meal at Wheat Penny today, and it certainly lived up to expectations. We began with the Eggplant Fries, which were delightfully light and crispy. Between the marinara and yogurt sauces, the marinara stood out as the superior choice with its robust and rich taste, though my wife liked to mix them. I'd recommend sticking with the marinara for its hearty flavor The cocktails were perfect for an afternoon sip. The smoked Old Fashioned, dubbed Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em, was a hit. With Buffalo Trace as the base, the bartender achieved a fantastic balance For the main course, I chose the combination mix of pizza and salad, while my wife went for pizza and soup. The Mr. White pizza was wonderfully simple yet satisfying. The arugula salad paired with cauliflower slices was a hit. My wife's Italian sausage with braised mushrooms pizza was also impressive, but the standout was definitely the soup. The White Bean and Kale soup was exceptionally tasty, a must-have for our next visit The experience was rounded off with reasonable prices, outstanding customer service, a welcoming staff, and a great vibe. Looking forward to returning and trying the sea bass for dinner in the near future! read more

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I am still thinking about this pizza What a lovely restaurant and the food was delicious. The focaccia was amazing and the Tomasso pizza was so unique. The combination of blue cheese, Roman sauce (the waitress described it as similar to balsamic glaze) and onion straws was fabulous. Our waitress was fantastic and the atmosphere was nice & cozy. The menu has so many great options and everyone was able to find something they wanted. Many of the options can even be made vegan! There is a nice sized parking lot attached. I left super satisfied and will definitely be returning when I am back in Ohio! read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Tommaso Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Adore this place. Very nice atmosphere with some ambiance, it's clean (restaurant and bathrooms) , there's super friendly service , and lastly, the food is very, very good! I love their vegetarian and vegan options and the quality is why I go back to this place. I've tried their appetizers (caprese salad, eggplant fries, focaccia, bruschetta, veggies), their pizza (mostly vegan), salads (kale, wedge) a couple of vegan mains (cauliflower T-bone, their burgers) and their pasta mains and I'd get each and every one of these choices again and again. Their drinks are amazing, too! That says something about a restaurant! If you can go back and get things over and over again. Keep up the glorious work, Wheat Penny. You got a regular customer here that sings your praises any chance I get. read more

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The service here is always great! Whether I'm sitting alone at the bar or dining with friends, I've never had a bad experience. One of my favorite meals is the chicken thighs and potatoes! I always get the potatoes! They are so good. The pizza is good too, but I typically don't order it there. I'm more of a Dewey's gal. They also do a great job at craft cocktails and usually have a good wine and beer list! Anyhoo, I recommend giving it a try! read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Crispy Brick Chicken Thighs - Yukon potatoes, broccolini. - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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Really happy with my meal here all around. Service is very friendly, and menu is very thoughtful and inspired. The ambiance of the restaurant is not ostentatious at all, kind of casual, decent space and high ceilings. Not really romantic but would be good for groups. Eating gluten free is always a challenge so I was very happy to see that most items on the menu can be done gluten free. We ordered two large pizzas with gluten free crust (which was really good, didn't make me miss traditional at all), one pizza magic Mike and the other pizza we did 1/2 chimi picante and 1/2 Taylor street. All of the pizza was phenom but I'm going to have dreams about the chimi picante it was so tasty. I got a few cocktails but one standout was the 'climbing up the wall', which I was hesitant to order bc coffee and tequila don't mix in my head but it was actually really good. Looking forward to coming back again asap! read more

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This is a dining hot spot! I mean, it was Tuesday night at about 6:30 and this place was hopping! Valerie, Libby, and I walked over to explore this place, and we were all pleasantly surprised. It's trendy, upscale, and has an energetic, boisterous ambiance. The dining room seating was on a wait, so we opted for the patio. Our server came right over and was very pleasant and helpful with our questions. Our drinks were tasty and had a good pour. I ordered a Mai Tai / Rum Runner but got something more like a Margarita. Wasn't what I expected, but it was quite good. (I ordered a second drink, just so you know). I decided to go with the "Mr White," which is a delicious white pizza with a nice wood fired oven crust. There was a decent amount of cheese, a pleasing combination of flavors, and a noticeable nutty taste. I also tried Libby's Eggplant and Valerie's Spinach Artichoke pizza, and both were pretty tasty. Good food, good service, and good conversation with long-time friends... What an enjoyable evening! Wheat Penny Oven And Bar is definitely worth checking out for an upscale dining experience. read more

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Excellent customer service-from the front door to our order, the service was top notch. The food was also very good.

This place used to be great! Everything about it was nice, the service, the food, etc... now it is obviously ran by new owners or something, all the shortcut being taken are obvious, your food is bland and your drinks are weak. Plus your prices?!? 20 bucks for cauliflower. If you like over priced nostalgia you find the right place, if you like good food I'd go someplace else. read more

Original delicious food great service one of my favorites. Love the green lasagna and meatballs.

On a recent business trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find this restaurant. The hosts greeted us and later the owner/chef Liz came by to say hi personally! Our conversation with her showed the passion and dedication she has for her craft! We shared the brisket and the grilled shrimp. I have to say the shrimp was my favorite, very flavorful along with the grilled broccolini and bell pepper over polenta. The brisket was tender, but a little bland. I didn't read any of the reviews, but will try the eggplant fries and pizza on my next visit. It's a very welcoming and inclusive place and everyone was very friendly! read more

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I've been recommended to eat at this spot and I can understand why people rave about it. Since they're known for pizza, we had to get it and I liked that they had unique toppings. However, I think the dough overwhelmed the limited sauce and toppings. The eggplant fries are a customer favorite and I agree, it was delicious! Our waiter was nice and gave us good recommendations. The only thing that was disappointing was that we got sat at a table that hadn't been cleaned properly and had crumbs on the seats as well. read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Wrigley Field Pizza and duck bacon pizza - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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Major shoutout to Wheat Penny for having a special food allergen menu that labeled what food allergies are in each item on their menu. I appreciated that they had the information available when I requested it, and they were very accommodating. Highly recommend going here if you have a food allergy or dietary needs. read more

Poor service, owner does not resolve issues. I was contacted by owner to make it right, but she did not do so!! I do not recommend.

. From the moment we walked in, the manager, Ivy, set the tone with her welcoming and transparent approach--she let us know the wait would be about 15 minutes, offered us a the option for a drink from the bar along with the drink and food menus, and in the end, we were seated in just 10. I really appreciated how open she was about supporting the kitchen staff and pacing the seating. The drinks were excellent, and our server, Nate, was one of the most attentive and kind waiters I've ever had. He was thorough, helpful with menu choices, and made us feel truly cared for. The food was outstanding. We enjoyed a flavorful pasta dish with sausage and mushrooms, shrimp and polenta, and the incredible meatballs with polenta--a family recipe (thanks L that felt truly authentic to Italian heritage. Every dish was rich, balanced, and beautifully presented. What stood out just as much as the food was the teamwork. As soon as we finished plates, any nearby server would pick them up, which really highlighted the supportive, family-like atmosphere of the restaurant. The rotating menu adds to the charm, and you can tell there's heart behind everything. Thank you, Ivy, Nate, Liz, and the entire Wheat Penny team for a memorable evening. We'll absolutely be back! read more

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Ate here last night and the food was amazing. Personally love the meatball appetizer. The dishes we ordered the strip steak and salmon special were large portions and well worth the cost. Flavor and cook temp of salmon was perfect: not overcooked as most places. It had an olive tapenade topping was a great finish to the dish. The wait staff was prompt and attentive. Atmosphere was upbeat and trendy. It is a bit loud, but that's just bc there's people enjoying it there and good conversation. I don't really have a bad thing to say. Parking could be better, but most places in this area don't have a lot of parking. They do have their own lot and there are several places along the street to park. Definitely worth the stop. read more

The food was phenomenal. Stellar. Service was very good, just shy of excellent. Our waiter was eager to please and did a great job. Starting with their most popular dish- eggplant fries. Best eggplant fries EVER and I've tried them whenever I've seen them on a menu. Cut chunky, delicately crispy outside with a nice saltiness, and soft as butter inside. The texture was heaven and the taste equally out of this world. I loved the green lasagna. Exactly as described and chock full of lovely whipped ricotta. Plenty of flavor-full (but not heavy) red gravy and a nice chunk of focaccia bread to soak it up. I added Italian sausage that was perfect, and spicy like it oughta be. The Chilean Sea Bass- wow. This was my husband's choice but I took a little taste. Such an un-fishy fish, sweet and firm. Worth every penny. He was very impressed with the sides too and practically licked the plate. Ambiance- intimate seating, half booths line the back wall, many tables, a long two-sided high top that's waited on by the bar tenders. There's a party room too. Minimal decor, the modern simplified look. Industrial chic ceiling, geometric art prints. But as distinct from ambiance, let's talk atmosphere. I was in the twilight zone...a nightmarish reminiscence of an ugly, paranoid, fear-ridden and shameful time. Every single one of the staff had a mask over their nose and mouth. Straining eyes, sweating foreheads, muffled voices. I asked our waiter what the deal was, after we were finished....apparently it's the owner's orders due to some terror of a staff member catching a cold from a customer and passing it along. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Honestly, it didn't hit me until we were seated that it was all of them, otherwise I might have walked out and missed the great food. But talk about totally spoiling an otherwise great vibe. It's not too likely I'll come back if this keeps up. I didn't like to see it four years ago and I'm sure not gonna deal with it now. I hope they get over the madness because I think they'd otherwise be an easy five star. read more

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One of the best restaurant I have been to in this area. Staff were very hospitable and friendly and service was quick. Lots of options for people with allergies. Food was so good that I'd eat here everyday of week if I could. Prices were reasonable for portions and quality. read more

Amazing dinners, excellent desserts and Nick our waiter made our dining experience fun, helpful and memorable! Although we have only dined with you on 4-5 occasions (great experience every tine!) we invited some old friends to join us from Troy. They loved it and said they return soon. Keep up with what you do and how you do it!!! read more

I've been going here for years and it's still amazing. Went on a date with my husband when we came back to town. It's quiet and intimate. They have great cocktails and wine list. The pizza is phenomenal. Order the pizza. It's thin crust with a crispy bottom and chewy crust read more

My husband and I absolutely love Wheat Penny! The kitchen dependably delivers fantastic quality food and they make you feel very comfortable ordering add ons, making substitutions or accommodating allergies. They offer a large variety of vegetarian, vegan and, my requirement, gluten-free. I had two cocktails, don't judge , and they were both great, although I especially enjoyed " Country Dog". I ordered a gluten free Angry Sal pizza and added pepperoni and arugula with extra spicy red sauce. The pizza was extraordinary for gluten free! We sit at the bar and the bartenders were very friendly, accommodating and professional! The prices are very reasonable for what they offer! I highly recommend Wheat Penny!!! read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Country Dog! Yummy - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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Stopped in for the first time as I am always looking for new experiences for my staff and I. I waited at the front, several employees glanced my way but no one came to seat me. I thought one waiter was going to as he walked toward the hostess stand, but he came and dropped something there then turned and walked away. I walked away also. It doesn't matter if the food is good, making a customer feel welcome in your environment is most essential to success. Makes me sad. read more

Come here for several times. Really happy and satisfied with my dinner here. This restaurant is very popular I think so many people will come here. You need to wait if you haven't reserved before. But the waiting time would not be too long, about 10-20mins I really like fried eggplant balls. They are crunchy and soft inside. A very special experience in tastebud read more

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There pizza is awesome and nice atmosphere. Will be back. Next time I be trying There wine selection to go with my meal.

This is a perfect date or girls night spot. Pizza was incredible. Had the white pizza and very flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Not sure about the cocktails or wine options, but I'm sure they were great too. Vibe was awesome and very chill. read more

The best food I ever tried and the service was awesome. They have a very good ambience too.

Food was good, but a little smaller than what I was expecting for the price. Good service with a classic cozy vibe. They said they make the duck in house which is fantastic! However the "caramelized" onions were just cooked down and not really caramelized... read more

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar - Duck pizza - Pizza Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

The food was wonderful, and different. Unique creations that I have never seen before. Vegan and vegetarian options. I tried the Pepperoni Gumbo. Hearty, tasty, but I think I prefer Andouille Sausage. But still, well worth trying, The squash appetizer was plenty - the table shared. Yummy, and I will do my best to duplicate at home. The eggplant "fries" were crunchy, soft on the inside, and tatsy. I had a pizza with sausage and smoked beef. Yummy. But, there was a mistunderstaning on what I had ordered, and the wrong pizza came out. They were gracious and prpompt and re-fired the pizza for me. They gave me a cup of the Gumbo to hold me over. The error was unfortunate, but they handled it perfectly. Down side, they automatically add a 20% tip for five or more diners, and they have a 4% credit card surcharge. Worth stopping whether you're local or visiting town. read more

Fun, polite, energetic staff. Atmosphere was lively and enjoyable. Grilled cheese was recommended and very tasty! Great experience. read more

Fettuccini was delicious cooked al dente and a large portion. SALAD SUCKED! I asked for a dinner salad and got a oversized bowl of mixed green lettus. No tomatoes no carrots no onions no cucumber nothing but a big bowl of lettus for $9 (I could have went to krogers and got 3 times as much for half the price if all I wanted was lettus) I also got the shaved cauliflower salad to go, another disappointment for over $12. Not as much lettus as the salad with a few slices of cauliflower and one bite of cheese. I really think you should take more pride in your salads, in case you didnt know they are pretty popular New bartender was knowledgeable and engaging. Lastly, I have to say I dont care for long beards in the kitchen or serving my food to me for that mater read more