Originally Written for Authentically Alexa Blog and published in 2020.

Over the holidays I went back to the place I grew up to visit my family. It was the first time I visited since moving to Austin. To be clear, I did not grow up in the city of Dayton. I grew up in a suburb just north of downtown Dayton called Vandalia. Vandalia was a nice place to grow up. As far as gluten-free options, or local options, it is not too great. Most restaurants in Vandalia are big chains like Red Robin and Ruby Tuesday’s, places I could eat at any time anywhere. So I decided to visit some more local places around the Dayton area so I could tell you all about them.

Even before I went to Dayton, I had planned to make a few visits at local places known for their gluten-free options. I texted my dad and said we had to go out to eat for the blog, of course. He found it funny but went along with it. He has been my biggest supporter in this venture since the beginning. Anyways, to get on with the meat and potatoes of this article, here are some of the places I visited or know to be great options in the Dayton area.

Fusian

Fusian is a Dayton-based made-to-order sushi bar. Since moving to Austin, I have not found anything like Fusian, so I was so excited to get back. Although Fusian got their start in Dayton, they have since expanded into other Ohio cities, including Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. The branding and feel of Fusian is pretty modern and simplistic in a good way. There is very little decor, but that does not take away from the experience. The restaurants do have some seating, but often not a lot.

As far as experiences with the staff, I have always been happy. The staff is knowledgeable and asks questions when needed. They have never made me feel like a burden when I order a gluten-free roll. They really make the company one I want to support.

A good chunk of Fusian’s menu is gluten-free. They also have everything labeled as you go down the line to make it easier for us gluten-free folk to decide what we want on our sushi roll. The food is made on the line, like at Chipotle. You start at the beginning and tell them immediately that you want your roll gluten-free. They have sushi mats that are set aside and wrapped for allergen-free rolls. The employee should also wash their hands and change their gloves. Usually, they are pretty good about doing that on their own. If they do not, just ask—they will do it without hesitation. The employee that changed gloves will then follow your roll down the line. They should also cut the roll by hand on a specified cutting board. This causes the pieces to be different sizes, but putting it in the sushi cutter would lead to a cross-contact event. It’s a little inconvenience compared to being exposed to gluten. They do have gluten-free soy sauce by request, and some of their house-made sauces are gluten-free as well.

I love Fusian because the food tastes great, but you can be creative as well. They always have a few options rotating seasonally to fill your roll, but also have the staples you are used to in a sushi roll. I used to eat at Fusian (maybe a little too often) after I realized they’d come to Columbus. I appreciate them because of how seriously they take their allergy protocol. I have never had a gluten exposure from eating their sushi. And they are the one place I can get decently priced and gluten-free imitation crab, and this girl loves her some crab. If you want a more casual or fast meal in the Dayton area, this is a great option for sure.

Pies and Pints

Pies and Pints is a small chain, mostly in the Midwest at this point. As you might guess, they specialize in pizza and adult beverages. My dad, sister, and stepmom frequent the Dayton location regularly and enjoy it. The few times I have been there, I have had good experiences as well.

So I have only ever visited the one location in Dayton, Ohio. It is part of the outdoor shopping mall called The Greene in Beavercreek. The layout of the restaurant is pretty different. It definitely feels like they probably had little control over the blueprint. Some of the spaces are pretty tight and close to other tables. Otherwise, it is nice. It always seems clean and like they are good at turning over tables once guests leave. A big pet peeve of mine is seeing tables not get bussed in a timely manner at a restaurant. I have never worked in a restaurant and know I should give the staff grace during busy times. Despite that, it just gives off not-great vibes.

When I visited over Christmas, we sat in the back room. It had a handful of booths and a couple of tables. The only thing I can think of as far as the decor was the big bright Pies and Pints illuminated sign on the wall in front of me.

The food was good but not great, in my opinion. None of it was too spectacular. Most of it I felt like I could have made just as good or better at home. This visit, I had a few of my dad’s chicken wings and the Mushroom Garlic Pizza on a gluten-free crust. My favorite part of the food was that the crust was thicker than many other gluten-free crusts. I was never a big fan of thin-crust pizza when I ate gluten, and now it is pretty much the standard. The crust itself was pretty good, but I do believe I have had better gluten-free crusts in my time.

My thought is that if you are at the mall and need a bite, this is a good option. I personally do not think I would seek out a Pies and Pints to eat.

Table 33

As I am working on editing this in 2024, the online menu does not list gluten-free options. If this is somewhere you are interested in, I might suggest calling to confirm they still offer gluten-free options before you stop in.

Table 33 is a farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Dayton. Farm-to-table is not a big trend in Dayton currently, but maybe it will become more prevalent in the future. Most days, they only serve breakfast and brunch, but on the weekend, they serve dinner as well.

During my trip, I visited Table 33 for the first time. It was a fun place to visit. They had decorations that were fun but not tacky. We sat near the back where they have a full bar. The staff was nice and knowledgeable. Many of the options on Table 33’s menu are already gluten-free, and everything is labeled on the regular menu.

In the end, both my dad and I got the gluten-free chicken and waffles for our meal. The food came out, and it was a huge portion. This was the first waffle I had eaten in years. The chicken was great. The sriracha syrup that came with the meal was not my favorite, but I liked the regular maple syrup I requested better. We had a great experience dining here, and if you take a chance to visit, I hope you enjoy it as well.

Warehouse 4

Warehouse 4 is a local coffee shop in Vandalia that also sells breakfast and lunch sandwiches and salads. It has been fun to see this business grow over the years. They opened just a year before I went off to college. Before that, Vandalia did not have any coffee places other than a Tim Hortons.

The building itself is a bit unusual. Most of the parking is in the back, and going through the back doors, you have to immediately go up a set of stairs to the main floor. They have multiple different types of chairs and tables with varying amounts of seats. And local artwork! I don’t know how often they rotate the work, but I always get to see new art.

The coffee here is great. I have tried a few of their drinks from the menu and have always been happy with what I have been served. My go-to is probably a soy mocha. They don’t have many gluten-free food options, but they do have some gluten-free baked goods. I believe they make them in-house. My favorite is their gluten-free mini banana loaf.

Since initially writing this, Warehouse 4 has also opened one additional Dayton area location in Kettering. I have not visited this location, but I can only imagine they have the same great service and delicious coffee as the original location.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this blog are based on my personal experiences with restaurants offering gluten-free options. While I aim to provide accurate and helpful information, I cannot guarantee that the gluten-free options at these establishments will meet everyone’s needs or expectations. Cross-contact and ingredient changes are always a possibility.  

Please exercise your own judgment and diligence when dining out, particularly if you have Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity. I am not liable for any adverse effects that may occur from consuming food at any of the restaurants mentioned in this blog. Always confirm with the restaurant staff to ensure your meal meets your specific dietary requirements.  

Your safety is your responsibility—eat smart and stay gluten-free!