The service, the food, the drink: all amazing. I had the red trout over green beans. It was some of the best fish I've had in quite some time. They don't have a lot of vegetarian selects, but they will create a plate of fresh selections. My wife got the vegetarian plate, it was awesome. I tried it. They also have a fairly extensive selection of wines and beers.
(5)
JJ G.
Terrific food, medium service (NEVER came back to check on our meal after the food was served!) and would've loved an espresso with the great Pot au Creme desert but "we don't do espresso here". Seriously??? You have a $200 bottle of wine on the list but no espresso??? A little thing I realize but a BIG mistake given the fact the rest of the meal was so terrific.
(4)
Gregory S.
French in Ohio. Still reading? Perhaps the worlds most exquisite cuisine, gentle scaled to the mid wist culture, and not an ounce of the steriotypical pretentious attitude from staff. In fact the service was excellent. Late week night was slow, which gave the chef an opportunity to personally visit every table during service. Its been a while since dining there so regretfully I forget the "actual" entree but it was beef, it was excellent, and frankly I would do the name no justice stuttering the syllables. Try this place if you're in Ohio. Oh Yeah - excellent bar. And yes, it's expensive $$$$.
I'm disappointed to give this place such a low rating, but our service was poor enough that we felt it dragged the whole experience down. For a place that charges as much as they do, it was not acceptable. The server was not very attentive and the food seemed to take a long time. We had to ask to speak to our server at least twice. We felt that perhaps she was paying more attention to other tables, but in general we were not impressed. I will say that the food here is good and some of what we ate was excellent. In particular, I loved the scallops, mussels, short rib, and flounder special. The drinks were also good and they have an extensive wine list. It's too bad because we will not likely be back.
(3)
B J.
We will not be back after our first visit. The service was so terrible and the food only ok. It was not worth the exorbitant prices. I don't mind splurging for good fresh food, but at $100 for two people, I expect great quality food and top notch service. We got neither. Food- my dining companion ordered the steak frites and I ordered the duck confit. My plate was sparse and lukewarm. The steak plate had unevenly cooked steak from rare to medium. The steak was also already cut up into bites, which we found odd. The steak plate was messy and over stuffed with a mountain of french fries. That entire meal was drenched in salt. You couldn't eat more than 5 fries because they were so heavily salted. The steak was also extremely salty. My meal was also quite salty and the duck was ok, but not great. The lentils and greens on my plate were quite good however. Service - we were clearly unhappy at our table and our waiter only avoided us rather than find out why we were dissatisfied. He disappeared. We had to tell someone else that one of our plates was so salty as to be inedible. This was never acknowledged by her, our waiter or a manager. All we expected was for someone to care about why we were dissatisfied and no one did. So I don't care to go back and spend my money there.
I called Chef Anne Kearney today and mentioned it was my anniversary. Due to my work schedule we couldn't go to the New Orleans Food and Wine experience ( #nowfe ). Her roots are NOLA and she recreated the experience...in fact it was better than any of the Wednesday night winemaker dinners. She did a custom menu with less than 24 hours notice...AMAZING
(5)
Alex G.
This is a hidden gem in a strip mall. The cocktail can be a little pricey but the food value is amazing in every aspect.
(5)
Neil M.
It is our tradition to go to the #1 restaurant in our city for our anniversary. After three anniversaries in DC eating at restaurants like Komi, the Inn, and CityZen, we moved to Dayton (mil). We were not expecting too much from Dayton's #1 when all we heard about was "good steak" places, but Rue Dumaine delivered. While it isn't exactly a DC #1 type restaurant; it is much cheaper and the plethora of unique dishes would easily put it top ten in a major city. The service was also very good and unexpectedly "top chef-ish" for Dayton, OH. My wife had the lamb and I had the duck confit both were splendid. The mussel appetizer was not the best I've ever had, but still pretty good. I would recommend Rue to any foodie types in Dayton!!
(5)
ima h.
Wow. Everything I ate was top notch in terms of quality, preparation technique, and creativity. The wine list is pricey, but exactly as it should be - everything I tasted was fantastic and worth the price. I had the charcuterie plate and the scallops. I'll be back tomorrow night to sample more.
(5)
Michael R.
My wife and I have been to Rue Dumaine twice and it is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The service is impeccable and the food is PHENOMENAL! Our last visit we took my parents who are from Louisiana and particular about their French/cajun food. They were both blown away by the quality of the gumbo, the seasoning on the catfish, and the quality of the service. The bar manager was very knowledgeable and gave us a great recommendation for wine. The chef and ER husband both came to our table and visited with us and we're happy to answer any questions we had concerning the food, the origin of the restaurant or anything else we could think of! To top it off, we had the best waitress we had since moving to the Dayton area. Britney (may be spelled incorrectly) gave awesome descriptions and had great recommendations for us all. She was very knowledgeable and attentive to our needs. My wife and I had more French entrees and those were fantastic as well. The lamb loin was cooked to perfection and the short ribs were succulent and flavorful. A couple recommendations: the pheasant ravioli and mushroom salad are absolute must haves. The Wednesday catfish special and gumbo are perfect if you're craving southern/Cajun food but really you can't go wrong with anything from Rue Dumaine. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)
chrystine p.
Absolutely delicious ans Brittany our server was wonderul! We had the scallops, ravioli, duck confit, beef short ribs, apricot tart, and the ruburb. All were delicious! Our server Brittany reccomended a lovely bottle of burgundy wine that went fabulous with our meal as we were not familiar with many of the wines in the menu. The scallops had a very tasty brown butter sauce that was absolutely devine, the ravioli very clearly hand made in a lite buttery sauce, the confit- firstly this dish was so complex in flavor and a bite without a touch of everything was not nearly as delicious. The actual confit was ok, I've had confit in Paris and other other places that was breath takingly yummy, the one here is good but not great what makes it great is enjoying it with a little bit of lentils, greens, cheese and sauce, yummy!!! The short ribs were also lovely, and the sauce perfectly balanced. Lastly we enjoyed the ruburb ans apricot tart. The apricot was not my favorite but I think it just really wasn't my kind of dessert, fairly dry and not too sweet. The ruburb however was very yummy! The service was great, food yummy, portions perfect (on the snaller side). I would highly reccomended this restaurant if you are a fan of french food. The seating sucks it is very close quarters but it's understandable for the size of the location. Well be back!
(5)
Dawn O.
My wife and I were excited to try Rue for our 26th anniversary, so I made a reservation. We were promptly seated at a table for two, one with a bench seat and the other directly against a wall. It was very uncomfortable and felt like we were sitting in a box. We ordered wine by the glass and it did not taste like it was corked recently, very flat. The bread and cheese plate were decent, but the grilled calamari was terrible. It was burnt around the edges and tasted like burnt lemon juice. The Rue salad was pretty good, but it literally took one hour from when we received our salad for the main course to arrive. I had softshell crabs that had so many peas covering them that you really could not tell what it was. My wife had the chicken which was ok but the vegetables were tasteless. The waitress was friendly and knowledgable but seemed to be distracted. I was very disappointed with the experience, the cost and the food. I would not recommend the place to anyone and will not go back.
(2)
Vance P.
My parents were really excited to take me and my husband here for dinner and likewise we were looking forward to eating at this establishment that has received rave reviews. "You're going to love it!", is what I was told. Did I go to the wrong place? The service was poor, our waitress was often over in the wait station talking to the other staff members. The oysters were "ok", but nothing better than your average fried bar food. Anne, the owner, engaged in pleasant conversation with the other patrons, didn't bother to look at us though. My beef short ribs were tough and just an overall disappointment. It's hard to believe, but even my slow cooker has created better. I also didn't find the shredded cabbage side appetizing at all. Cabbage is such a cheap filler, this technique is often used in Chinese restaurants. We dropped over $200 on that meal. What a waste. Live and learn, right? Probably should have gone to one of the franchise restaurants next door.
(2)
Janice N.
Been here twice, both times everything was excellent. A lovely place to enjoy an excellent meal.
(5)
Stacie R.
Pleasantly surprised with the food here. Went here for our anniversary dinner. Good food and great service. We started off with wine and a fried oyster appetizer. The fried oysters was good but I wouldn't get it again, should have probably tried the bone marrow appetizer special. For entrees, I got the chicken breast, which had green beans cooked to perfection and an absolutely delicious mushroom and ham croquette. My husband had their special, a veal entree which was also delicious but it had too much pickled radishes on the plate. The restaurant itself is located in a strip mall and the seating arrangements are rather too close for comfort. We were seated at an area of heavy traffic and we can definitely hear the conversations of those seated next to us so it is not an entirely romantic atmosphere. Although we dressed up for this restaurant, there were some customers who dressed casual. Overall, the food was really delicious and I would recommend this place to anyone. Just don't get hyped over the ambiance.
(4)
Beth T.
Incredible dinner with friends, their first time! The dinner, service was incredible! I usually have the hanger steak - steak frites. But decided to try the chicken breast --- it was incredibly good! Wow perfectly seasoned - delicious. That along with my fav Arugula salad and a crisp Italian Pinot Grigio! The perfect summer evening meal - thank you Anne Kearney and staff.
(5)
Rick A.
Without question, one of the best meals ever. Pork medallions with a rice cake and kale. Special for Thursday and it was special. Service was impeccable. Definitely one of the best places for a great meal. Worth every penny.
(5)
Margaret D.
We have eaten here 3 times. The food is good and though they are touted as one of the best Restuarants in town, we've been truly disappointed. Here's why: they boast of their chef setting themed menus based upon using freshest ingredients. So we made reservations on our Anniversary, hoping to have a wonderful celebration eating a meal based on spinach, one of my favorite ingredients. First, you should know, the Restuarant is anything but intimate. They are inside a strip mall in such a tiny enclosed space, with mostly tiny Bistro tables crammed in one on top of the other. ..barely room to get in between them and I'm not a large person. Secondly, we told them when we made our reservation it was a special occasion of our 30th Anniversary, yet we were seated at the tiniest table against a wall by the door...may have well been in a coat closet! It was very uncomfortable, cold, and drafty! Terrible place to place a table and guests. We were told that's all they could offer, couldnt move us to anither table even though we'd made reservations well in advance. The wait staff was not attentative--pulled to thin. The last straw was that they advertised a spinach menu and when I tried to order from the spinach laced menu....found out from wait staff....nonchalantly, that their supplier hadn't come through so there was no spinach to be had! However, the menu hadn't been changed. So disappointing! Had we known we probably would have gone elsewhere as the food we received, or at least the proportions were not worth the overprice charged. We gave up on ordering another drink...as the wait staff did not come back to check on us and we couldn't move literally after being wedged into the corner. We were so disappointed, as we'd given them three chances to live up to their reputation and each time got worse. That was now three years ago, we haven't returned since. Having spent 18 years living in Europe we'd truly wanted this place to be our go-to-restuarant when guests came to visit, sadly we've given up on them, especially waiting over 25 minutes just to get a bill!
(2)
R B.
There were people sneaking around with big cameras taking pictures. While we were eating. One got right up in my face - I think it was for a distance shot and not actually to photograph me with my mouth full of food, but SO INAPPROPES. There's no law against this, but considering how expensive the food is at this place and how "classy" they purport to be, they at least owe us a heads-up if they're going to shove cameras in our fat faces. If I wanted to feel uncomfortable while eating overpriced cuisine, I would have gone to a food truck rally.
(1)
Jen H.
We love this restaurant. Dayton is blessed to have such a treasure. The Friday lunch is so enjoyable and we are never bored with the changing menu. The crepes with Gruyere and ham are incredible.
(5)
Joseph W.
Just ok. Mussels tasted bad, probably the worst tasting mussels I've ever had. Maybe they were a bad batch. I can say it tasted ASSey. Terrine was not bad, a amuse bouche. Oysters were lightly fried and good. The orange sauce under it did not compliment it. Try it with the frites aoli. Pork was good but not amazing. This place tries to be French but it's more American with French notes. Shirt rib nothing special. Seemed like every dish needed just that little bit extra to make it stand out.
(3)
Gaylon V.
I'm not from the area, but I would be willing to bet that this is one the top 10 restaurants in the Dayton area. My wife and I split the grilled pork medallions (served atop a creamy goat cheese polenta). There was a prune compote and shallots in there, as well. It was delicious, as was the warm spinach salad we had to go with it. Ingredients were fresh and topnotch. I wasn't dressed for an elegant dinner, but many were. This is a fancy restaurant. Seating is a little tight, but still comfortable. Service was impeccable and the manager/owner stopped by the table and asked after out meal. You should take your boss here if I wanted to impress him/her. Or the mother-in-law. I'm serious!
(5)
Euro C.
Best food in Dayton and great bar staff! Never have had a bad meal or experience in many years of frequenting this establishment. Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Jessica C.
This restaurant just did not live up to the hype for me. I love and appreciate French cuisine but I was simply not impressed by our dinner at Rue Dumaine. We went to the restaurant on my birthday and the place was packed. We were seated and brought menus promptly. I ordered wine and my husband ordered a beer. Aside from being seated next to a super annoying group of 4, the ambiance was classy, if a little stuffy. We started our meal with the steamed mussels & frites. These are our favorite appetizer and while the mussels at Rue Dumaine were not disappointing, they did not blow us out of the water (pun intended). We had a much better, almost deliriously good steamed mussels appetizer at Bonefish Grill on Valentine's Day. My husband got lamb, it was good but not great. He said he prefers how I cook lamb at home (score!) and I agreed, it was fine but a bit bland. I had roasted chicken with thick sliced potatoes, mushrooms and spinach. This entree was $34 for a very small and basic leg of chicken with maybe one undercooked potato sliced onto the plate. It even needed salt, which I wasn't expecting as this restaurant is touted as the best in Dayton. Also, I understand this place is expensive but there is no reason that my tiny and somewhat under-seasoned meal should have cost $34. Our evening was fine, but the dinner was a bit of a let-down. We spent about $200 on this meal and for that price, I expect to be blown away. I wasn't.
(2)
Natalie H.
Very pleased all around... The food was amazing (except the Pomme Frites), the service was really, really good and the atmosphere allowed me and my husband to enjoy a date night.
(5)
Zachary C.
Sat at the bar. Service from fill in bartender Michael R. was top notch. The drinks were outstanding including the aviation cocktail. The mussels were the best I've had and the mushroom app was simply awesome! Can't wait to go back and try more. This is my new favorite.
(5)
Phil B.
Excellent food taste and presentation. Portion size was just right - not too much. Service was as good as it can get. We will return!
What a pleasant surprise to find delectable eats in the middle of Dayton! Steak frites - grilled hangar steak with beurre de Montpelier and pomme frites ... all of it c'est magnifique! Service was spot on. We had a group of about 10, and no fewer than 4 servers attended us.
(4)
Andrew M.
Looking for a nice dinner in the Dayton area while in town on business I came across Rue Dumaine through the help of Yelp and other sites. What a fantastic experience. The restaurant is located an easy 15-20 minute drive outside of downtown Dayton. A pleasant French-inspired decor and ambiance greeted us. We were seated as planned and received excellent attention from a knowledgeable server (James) who clearly guided us through the day's specials. By sheer coincidence 4 out of 6 of us wound up ordering spectacular short ribs with crushed red potatoes. Everything was fresh, right-sized, cooked to perfection and overall wonderful. Pre main I ordered the arugula salad which was one of the best green creations that I've ever experienced. A side order of in-season heirloom tomatoes sealed the deal. To support, not overpower our meal we were recommended a Tempranillo followed by an Italian blend. Both were spectacular, but unfortunately I do not remember the name. Towards the end of the meal, the chief cuisine master Anne spent some time with us talking about the restaurant. What a nice wrap up! The only reason that I am not giving Rue Dumaine a 5 star review is that I thought that a couple of the cocktails were a little off, but otherwise - fantastic. If you're in Dayton I highly recommend taking the time and visiting this restaurant. As a food snob New Yorker I give this one a full thumbs up!
(4)
Sidney S.
If I had more money I'd give another star. Tasty, unique to area, good atmosphere but I swear I leave hungry every time even after spending $70 Edit: can't just give 3 stars for being poor. Giving 5, everything is always amazing.
(5)
Sam B.
Wow! It's so great to have a farm to table restaurant here in the Dayton area! Everything we've had here has always been excellent. The specials are always so fresh and amazing. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Rachel M.
I can say easily that this is some of the best food in the area. We recently had the autumn soup (sweet potato based) and a can safely say it was the best soup I have ever eaten. The food takes awhile to prepare, but it is worth it. Because of this, you will never feel rushed (but at the same time, not ignored). I would recommend the Chick Cordon Rue or the ribs. I would not give it five stars simply because the lighting and layout are not romantic by any means (it's really bright at night, and they should consider sound panels on the ceiling - gets very loud very fast). You are often eating six inches from the table next to you. The lighting and sound improvements could do a lot considering the lack of private space and the price you are paying,
(4)
Lucy D.
This was our third visit. The first time, my husband and I both felt like we'd enjoyed a lovely experience and delicious food that there was -almost- enough of. Last night was probably our last time there. His scallops were just okay (and though the scallops were large, there were three on the plate with a handful of peas and some fiddleheads, in a pool of cream sauce. That's not a whole meal for anyone and it was something like $28), and his salad was both tiny and blah. My salad was on the small side and I could have made it myself at home very easily, but it was fine. My entree was the chef's vegetarian choice, and while previously it had been very thoughtfully composed with a variety of textures, colors, and well-considered flavors, that was not the case this time. I received an odd hodgepodge of grilled vegetables with a little quinoa and one teeny half-dollar sized polenta cake. It all tasted fine but not great, and the portion was not filling. It simply fell far short of its $20+ pricetag. For $75 before the tip, neither of us was satisfied with amount or quality, and when that much money is involved, that creates a huge disappointment. Steep prices brings a big expectation of quality and service and we just didn't get that. The servers were wearing jeans--why? Though I like the decor, the music was an odd choice of freedom rock that kept getting very loud, then being adjusted a bit quieter. The jeans and music did not create the sophisticated ambience we were seeking. I appreciate places that use local and fresh, and am thrilled when a small area has a chance for some fine dining but either quality at Rue Dumaine has declined or we were there on a very off night. Either way, we walked out the door close to $100 lighter and that's too much money to gamble on a disappointing meal. I hate leaving a negative review but losing that much money on a poor experience just can't warrant any better rating.
(2)
Danlei W.
It's definitely a nice restaurant. Our server is very nice and helpful. The food is delicious too. The scallop we ordered as the appetizer, it must be the best scallop I ever had. The portion could be bigger, because I can't get enough of that scallop. Lol~~~~~~A lot of people complaining about the portion size, we are OK with the portion size. We didn't leave hungry but it is smaller than you will find in a typical restaurant. So if you a bigger eater, try to order more food~
(4)
Cathy W.
This was our first visit: the food was excellent, ambiance was nice considering it was in strip mall, wait staff (Tony) was very attentive and informative, Cosmos were delicious, but a bit pricey. Recommend trout , salmon or pork medallions and find it is unfortunate that dinner salad was not included in meal. We'll go back!
(5)
Samantha F.
I went here because I needed a drink and I'm from out of town and passed this place a million times and wondered what it was all about. Mixed reviews on yelp, but most were decent so I figured I'd be able to get a nice glass of wine here. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by a baby-faced bartender. He poured me a beautiful glass of wine and I immediately relaxed into my seat. After all, it had been a rough week; between the death of my grandfather and my mother breaking her back, I deserved a respite. I wasn't hassled or chatted up in my solo venture.. I ordered a cheese plate with two lovely local cheeses. It was prepared beautifully and I enjoyed it. While trying to decide if I was sticking with the same wine Baby-Face poured me a mini-wine tasting of Rose. It was fun. I ended up back with my original and enjoyed glass two (which was probably three after all the tasting). I finished the night of with chatter about running in local areas with the other bar tender and a glass of Liquor 43. The only thing missing was an espresso to finish off my night, but the owner and I had an in-depth conversation about his purchase of an amazing machine. I hope they get it soon! It was a perfect way to end my day and enjoy some me-time. I'd love to go back for dinner next time I'm in town. The menu looked lovely and focused on local ingredients.
(4)
Marty M.
Simply our favorite restaurant. Start with the best bartender in Dayton, Evan, and then finish with the best chef in the Midwest, maybe farther. Evan can make whatever cocktail you enjoy better than you ever had anywhere else, and his specials our divine. Chef Anne is commended for her use of local produce. Her plates are beautiful and taste better than they look. I find the portions to be perfect, if you want quantity over quality then I suggest the Cheesecake Factory. We have been there many times and have never been disappointed. I believe in supporting quality local businesses and highly recommend the Rue
(5)
Marion P.
This was my first experience dinning at Rue Dumaine and the level of personalized attention I received was unparalleled to anything I have experienced in the past. The chef was very personable and the staff very knowledgeable and attentive. I was surprised to find such quality authentic French cuisine in the Dayton area, truly it is a gem in gem city.
(5)
Mary Lynn P.
I'm from Centerville but now live in Columbus. A foodie friend of mine mentioned a highly-rated restaurant she knew of in Dayton that she read about in Food & Wine magazine awhile back. I was curious, so I looked it up. I was surprised to find out that it was the random French-sounding restaurant in the strip mall near Sam's Club that I've passed a million times. Sure enough, the place is very highly respected. My fiance and I finally stopped in for drinks and a few nibbles around the holidays. The bartender, Evan, was fantastic. What drew me to this restaurant the most was the cocktail menu, and Evan does a great job constructing each drink carefully. The kid really knows his liquor and made one of the best manhattans we've ever had. We ordered the soup of the day, and split the mussels and fries. All of it was delicious. We ate at the bar where the service was great. We're itching to go back to try more of the menu. A word to the wise: it is a pricey experience. The drinks are all $10-12 each, and the menu items aren't cheap. However, it's well worth the quality. If you're not baller status (like many of their older clientele who you can tell are regulars--jealous!) then try it for a special occasion. I'm so glad to have this in Dayton.
(5)
Carey S.
I ate here in October of 2010, not long after the restaurant opened. I was very excited to eat here after reading glowing reviews of the owner's culinary skills. I rarely eat out, so when I do, I really want to eat somewhere that will provide exceptional food and an exceptional dining experience. I got neither. I had a baked chicken breast entree with some sort of potatoes (it's been almost 4 years so memory is foggy on the side dish). The chicken breast was dry and rubbery. I cannot begin to explain my disappointment. As I said, we rarely eat out so when we do, we try and go somewhere where we will have an amazing meal. Unfortunately, the meal and ambiance was terrible. The wait staff was nice enough but nothing spectacular. We will not go back. I feel like it was a huge waste of money. I've gotten MUCH better meals at The Chop House and Bravo, which are both nearby and not as expensive.
(1)
Chris W.
We love this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the cocktails are interesting and wonderful. Everything on the menu is great but the trout (actually any of their seafood) is fantastic. Short ribs and pork are also amazing. Also love the oyster appetizer. Highly recommend this place if you are on Dayton
(5)
Jim W.
I go to New Orleans once a year on business and get in about four top meals each time, including a requisite hosted dinner upstairs at the Palace. You could drop Rue Dumaine into the middle of the quarter, and it would probably rank in the top quarter. It's high end Nawlins, and worth it. Forget that it's in a strip mall, the food is top notch, the atmosphere is open and classy (though it does follow the usual practice of being overly tinny and loud to make it sound), and service is done by true professionals. The worst thing on the menu probably ranks as very good. Don't know if it's still on the menu, but the oysters and bacon appetizer was the best I've had anywhere in a good ten years. This is one of those unlikely stories. Chef cuts her teeth in Nawlins, moves back to her home town, and brings the best of the great city's cuisine with her, albeit in a place that tries to hide itself in a strip mall. But world of mouth surely makes up for the lack of drop-ins.
(5)
Cassie R.
Fancy fixins! My first French restaurant, and while the food was overall not my cup of tea, I still highly recommend trying this place out. The cocktails were unique, the bartender was super nice, and our waitress Molly was the sweetest thing. Was impressed that she had all those dish descriptions memorized. PLUS this place accommodated my boyfriend's special request to print "Happy Valentine's Day" in French on the top of my menu. It's rare to see a restaurant go above and beyond, and we both appreciated it. Excellent service!
(5)
Sara B.
WOW... Oh and get the oysters.
(5)
Josh C.
Excellent service and excellent flavors. They will make you a vegetarian meal that is just as tasty as anything else on the menu. I enjoyed the food a lot, just wish it weren't so expensive.
(5)
sideshow b.
All that and a bag of chips! (though I don't think they serve bags of chips) She and I were looking for a date night kind of place and the recs of friends and yelp lead us here. Great wine list leaning towards Europe. Awesome appetizer of house smoked Scottish salmon. Her salad was amazing with a perfect blend of apple vs bleu cheese. I went for the pommes. Damn, i love me some skinny fries with mayo...makes me feel like i'm walking the streets of A'dam again! Lamb loin, medium rare, for me and roasted chicken with garlic and thyme for her were absolutely perfectly cooked and wonderfully flavored. Service was first rate, attentive without being overbearing. Just an awesome meal with great ambiance (once you get in the door). We will absolutely be back!
(5)
Kenny Mays H.
Very good service. Excellent duck and scallops. Good, reasonably priced wine. The mussels were only ok, but I can let that slide. Gelato for dessert was delicious.
(5)
Duke D.
My friend raved about this place so I was excited to give it a try. I was not expecting a restaurant in a strip mall. I had reviewed the menu before we arrived and knew they focused on local ingredients. I do admit I judge whether restaurants bring out warm or cold bread--this was hard and cold. The appetizers were fabulous--we got the oysters and the tartlet. My husband commented that he did not think the oysters were fresh but the sauce with capers was quite savory. I just hated my main course, the mussels. The sauce was tasteless and the mussels were very fishy. My friend, the one who had raved previously, ordered the salmon and before dessert, we think she may have had food poisoning because she was outside puking and we had to abruptly cut the meal short. She called to give feedback to the staff but got a defensive answer which is, I think, what would keep me from going back. My hubby did say his ribeye was cooked nicely but the accompaniment was bland.
(2)
Benjamin F.
This is the best French restaurant in the region, even though it's not really a French restaurant. All of my food was perfectly prepared and delicious. The tart appetizer was a little silly and a waste of money, but other than that I really enjoyed the place. I took my girlfriend out for a special meal and she hosed me a little with an expensive bottle of wine (but oh well). It was worth it. The trout amandine was exceptional. The hangar steak is also great. And the wait staff are not dicks.
(5)
Allison D.
When I first saw this place many months ago, I kinda had to laugh. A gourmet French place next door to a Five Guys? Really? I knew nothing else about it, and didn't think much of it after that. Although I noticed over the coming months the parking lot being much fuller than it used to be, even though none of the other businesses next door seemed busier. It seemed Rue Dumaine was catching on. Then I read an article in the Dayton Daily News about how the executive chef, Anne Kearney, likes to purchase all local ingredients for her menu, many from neighboring farmer's markets. Then the place had my attention. It wasn't long after that, my husband and I had a wedding anniversary coming up, and we decided it was finally time to try this place. And boy, have I learned not to judge a restaurant by its location. The food, drinks, and service inside are the best you'll find in Dayton, especially for the money. Before we went, I connected with the restaurant through Facebook and let them know that my husband and I were looking forward to trying the place for the first time. They were paying attention, because when we arrived, we were seated with customized menus that said Happy Anniversary! We were also treated to complimentary glasses of great Spanish sparkling wine. Before dinner, we each had a cocktail at the bar. The Vesper martini was flawless, and I was so excited to find someone in town who makes them, and the bartender definitely knows his stuff. My husband had one of the drink specials, the Dark and Stormy, which was a mixture of the house brewed ginger beer and dark rum. I'd never experienced a taste like that in my life, but was delicious. For the appetizer, we ordered the passildiere, which is a puff pastry topped with caramelized onions, nicoise olives, capers, and goat cheese. Let me be clear, goat cheese and olives are two of my least favorite foods of all time. But there is something about the allure of well-prepared, fresh food that makes me want to try things I might not otherwise like. I definitely was not disappointed. It was delicious. For the entree, I ordered the duck confit special, which came with wild rice pilaf and Swiss chard, topped with a cherry reduction. My husband had the sea bass topped with shrimp and an interesting (but delicious) beet relish, served over fingerling potatoes and haricot vert. For dessert, we shared the flourless chocolate hazelnut cake. Although the portions were on the smaller side, we did not leave hungry. In fact, our duck and fish portions were quite generous, which made the smaller dessert (which packed a VERY rich punch) more than satisfying. I was shocked at how affordable the prices are for food that is prepared this way. I've easily paid as much for a plate of food at J. Alexander's or Chop House, and although the portion sizes are much bigger at those restaurants, I don't think the quality or the service are as great as we had here. You can tell from the minute you walk in the door that these people think about each and every one of their customers. People sitting on either side of us were clearly in love with their food and their server. Our server, Molly, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly. When you go here, you'll be taken care of. And yet, at the same time, you won't feel like you're in some stuffy old man restaurant. This place has a modern flair. Although the costs can prohibit more casual diners from making this a regular destination, this is definitely the place to go for a special occasion, or when you really want to treat yourself to some of the best food and service in town. I'm already looking forward to my birthday.
(5)
S B.
My husband and I finally got around to trying this restaurant after being in Centerville for a year. It came highly recommended, so our expectations were high. We were very impressed. Service and ambience were great, the cocktail was delicious (a house specialty with cucumber bitters and gin). My entree of trout amandine was truly delicious; perfectly prepared and a generous portion. My husband's entree (lamb) was good, but not spectacular. The creme brulee for dessert was perfect as well. We will definitely be back - worth the price, and deserving of all the praise. BTW, we went on a date night, without kids, and dressed up a bit. But we would have felt comfortable in jeans, and at least two other tables had kids along. For me, though, it was more enjoyable as a grownup night out.
(5)
Christina B.
Very disappointed. My husband and I enjoy upper scale restaurants and this was one that we had not tried yet. We had a table of 4 sitting next to us. After we placed our order, we watched them get apps, then dinner, then dessert, and we still had not gotten our dinners yet! The waiter came over 2 different times to say "just a few more minutes", then the manager came over to say "just 3-4 more minutes" and finally 15 mins later my 3 scallops and my husband's bowl of mussels showed up. The table next to us was even entertained that they had all gotten thru an entire meal and we still had nothing. Neither the manager or the waiter offered any type of apologies for our wait. Needless to say, we will NOT be returning here.
This restaurant is amazing! We have been going there for 4 years now & have NEVER had a bad meal. Every special occasion OR just needing a night out from kids, we always think of Rue first. The food is made with PURE LOVE! The chef, Chef Anne, is so warm and welcoming. She is usually seen in the kitchen cooking her amazing food & she will sometimes walk around and greet her guests with such appreciation & warmth. This french food is not pretentious at all. It is down home cooking, using the best local ingredients available, with a twist. The sauces & techniques used make this meal super special. It is great for the foodie lovers & also the steak and potatoes guys as there is always a steak, chicken, duck dish that would satisfy my dad :). The drink selection is very diverse. The bar keeps take care in aging their whisky themselves, making special syrups and juices for the old time & new time drinks. Also, the wine cellar is packed with a great selection. Our favorites are: the charcuterie plate (always order this), scallop appetizer (the sauce is nicknamed CRACK.. as it is so good that people come back just for that sauce), Duck dish is always a favorite (usually a special but now on menu all the time) & Chicken (which is an odd dish for us to LOVE... but you know it's a good restaurant when the chicken dish is the best you have ever had.. and that is the case here... it's amazing!). Also, don't skimp on dessert, ALL of them are amazing.. but the choc gelato is probably our favorite.. along with ANY of her special tarts or torts! Enjoy your visit to this amazing experience of a restaurant!
(5)
Amanda K.
GREAT FOOD! local ingredients and very fresh. Good wine and drink list, unique place in Dayton area and worth your time. A bit pricey so we went for a special occasion. The pumpkin/squash/pink banana and bacon soup made me fall in love with the place.
(5)
Mark A.
As a frequent traveler, I love finding these independent establishments that put quality over quantity, and focus on local ingredients. Great nightly specials and well priced (I'm usually in CA, so everything that is not West Coast or NY seems well priced to me). I had the special, Chicken Etoufee, from their roots, I suppose, and it was outstanding, along with the Dumaine Salad. Great service, and just about all the staff, from the very engaging bartender Le' Chele, to the Sous Chef, made sure my time and my meal were outstanding.
(5)
Jeevan S.
This is some of the best food consistently you will ever have. The atmosphere is excellent, the front of house is efficient, the service is professional, and the chef is amazing. The dessert menu is a bit limited but always enjoyable. The goal to primarily use local food is commendable and effective. The mixologist is also a plus of this place. You cannot go wrong at this place.
(5)
Carrie V.
This is one of our go-to dinners out. We have been here many times and have always had a good experience. Once, when food was a bit slow, chef Anne brought it out herself and apologized. What I love most about this place, besides the fact that they concoct me a special vegetarian plate, is their abundant use of local, seasonal ingredients. Make sure you save room for dessert!
(5)
Dan N.
So staying in the Cincinnati/Dayton area for business through Saturday, I thought I might feel a bit weird going out for dinner alone on a Friday night. The second I walked into Rue Dumaine, I got over any awkward feelings that I was expecting. Plenty of seats were available at the bar, the bartenders were friendly, and I even got a friendly greeting from the owner. I really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere of this place (yes, even in spite of its strip mall location), but the FOOD is what earns Rue Dumaine it's 5 stars. I had the pan-seared trout, which was recommended to me by a couple servers. It was incredible--I would eat it every night if I could. I only wish I lived closer to this place, especially if the rest of the menu is as delicious as the trout. Two things I loved about this place: 1) The kitchen was in plain view of the entire restaurant, and I was really happy to see that the executive chef was actually the one cooking in the kitchen--very nice touch. 2) The service at the bar. 2 friendly bartenders (and the owner). Knew the food, knew the beer--top notch service for sure. If you happen to be anywhere in the Dayton or N Cincinnati area, make sure you hit up this place, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Michael M.
In my opinion, the best restaurant in Dayton, bar none. I've been going to Rue Dumaine for about four years now, and I have never had a bad experience. Their nightly specials are often to die for, and her flavors are always incredible. My favorite regular dish is her lamb loin, which is always perfectly cooked, and presents so well with the potatoes that accompany it. To date, the best plate I have been presented with was a Roasted garlic-mushroom crusted quail, mushroom-leek bread pudding, broccolini and an apple wood smoked bacon flecked Sherry reduction. The birds were deboned and perfectly cooked, served with a beautiful sauce and stuffing that was such an elegant combination of flavors that I think I could have eaten a second plate, though I would have been absolutely stuffed. The bread pudding made for an excellent and unique compliment. Definitely a dish that I wish was a regular item. Despite the fine quality of their dinner items, Friday lunch is still one of my favorite times to stop in. With a new menu every week, it seems that they use this as a creative outlet, and a way to capitolize on local and seasonal ingredients and flavors. It always brightens my Friday what I can find my way over there for lunch. Keep doing what you are doing, and I'll keep coming in to devour your amazing cuisine regularly!
(5)
Leslie L.
I take my awful review back!!! FORGIVE ME! It must have been an off night when I was here before because my most recent experience at Rue Dumaine was unbelievably amazing!!! The service was amazing. The waiters really know what they're doing, and they really know all the dishes on the menu. Awesome! The atmosphere inside is really great, too. It's calm and relaxing. Very comfortable. We both started our meal with wine. Mine white, and his red. Both great, and I really appreciate a large wine list. My first course was the soup of the day... GUMBO. I never can resist trying a restaurant's gumbo. I must tell you that it was the best I've ever had. I wanted to cancel my main course, and just get more gumbo. So much flavor. My boyfriend got scallops as his first course. He really liked them. I don't care for scallops so I didn't try them, but I trust his taste buds to know a good scallop from a bad one, or even an average one. For my main course, I ordered the steak frites. I'm so happy I did! A great piece of meat, cooked to still perfectly bloody perfection. I was in heaven. It was served with a huge portion of delicious pomme frites. YUM YUM YUM! I ate every bite. The bf once again ordered something I didn't care to try... the trout. He said it was great. Once again, I trust that it was. For dessert we decided to not even push ourselves to choose just one treat. So we went ahead and ordered 3 desserts. #1- I believe it was chocolate hazelnut cake with creme fresh. Delicious, but maybe a little, too rich for my liking. The cake itself was super heavy and moist. #2- Chocolate gelato dish. It was ok, but pretty forgettable. #3- The MOST AMAZING lemon cake. It was heaven on a plate. The bf and I ended up fighting over that one, and kind of pushing the other desserts to the side. It was a great experience, and words can't even express how much I enjoyed my meal.
(5)
Kathryn W.
Oh gosh we loved this place. It is a hefty drive for us so won't be going too often, but it is the real thing in bistro dining. And the owner-chef really cares--she stopped by our table not for just a few words but for a real conversation.
(5)
Chris H.
I had dinner there with my wife there for her birthday. The food and service was tremendous. The restaurant even printed up special menus for us that had her name on them. Arrive early and take time to enjoy an aperitif at the bar, the congregation of choices is worth the extra time. The Ohio prime rib was savory while the homemade dijon mustard was piquant.
(5)
Ben N.
For folks like my wife and me, who spent more than a decade in New Orleans, Rue Dumaine's story is a compelling one (and you can skip the following paragraph if you already know the background): About ten years ago, Chef Anne Kearney, who owns Rue Dumaine with her husband, Tom Sand, was one of the preeminent young chefs in New Orleans, and perhaps in the United States. She was a big fish in a big culinary pond. When she was barely 30 years old, her restaurant, Peristyle, in a beautiful old spot at the corner of Dumaine and Rampart on the edge of the French Quarter, was for a year or two in the highest rated N.O. restaurant in Zagat, and Kearney had won a James Beard Award. But health problems--a series of aneurysms--derailed her career and forced her to sell Peristyle and leave New Orleans and return to her native Dayton area. As she recovered, she helped take care of her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer's. A few years later, she decided to put down roots in Dayton, opening Rue Dumaine. If you were lucky enough to have dined at Peristyle in the French Quarter in New Orleans (and I was, although regrettably only once), or lived in New Orleans, seeing the words "Rue Dumaine" over a business in an anonymous suburban Ohio strip shopping plaza is a little disconcerting. (The restaurant jarringly shares the plaza with a Five Guys Burgers, Chipotle, a Supercuts, and some place called Subby's.) I see a lot of complaints about this location in the reviews here, but I'm sure it was a calculated decision on Kearney's part: She is trying to tap into two markets. As a current resident of Cincinnati, I can confirm that the restaurant, located on the far south side of the Dayton area, is incredibly easy to get to from Cinci. (From the East Side of Cinci, we arrived at Rue Dumaine's parking lot 45 minutes later, and I was driving like some old grandpappy.) Anyway, once you get inside, you can forget about the suburban strip mall. The decor is woody and dark, with an open kitchen, a rather basic but appealing brasserie look. (It still has the sheen of newness to it, but the feel of the restaurant should improve with age.) It's not exactly very original, but it suits Rue Dumaine's aims and price range. (Price range: For us, a shared appetizer, salads, entrees, desserts, coffees, and a bottle of wine came in well under $200, with tax and tip included, which is about par for the course for a restaurant of this type.) The food might be a shade disappointing in light of Kearney's reputation. She is not aiming quite as high here as she did in New Orleans. Instead, Rue Dumaine aims for a French brasserie atmosphere and menu, with some modest American--specifically, Louisianan--and French country twists here and there. As with about any decent restaurant in 2010, she tries to use as many locally-grown ingredients as possible. The fresh, lemony arugula salad I had was about as bright-tasting and summery as food can be. A New Orleans Creole-ish oyster stew with leeks and onions--an Oysters Rockefeller "tribute"--was delicate and tasty. Duck confit with a lentil ragout and wilted spinach, was delicious, if a bit basic; the lentils seemed slightly undercooked and I'm not certain the flavors of the ragout melded as intended. Desserts--a lemon almond cake and a chocolate-caramel gelato--were fantastic. (As for Rue Dumaine's serving Community Coffee, I know that Chef Kearney still has a devoted attachment to Louisiana, but I think Community, while a decent everyday coffee, is probably subaverage for a restaurant of this sort.) All-in-all, it's easily a four-and-a-half star food experience. In contrast to a couple of complaints here, we had excellent service. Our server knew the menu and specials inside-and-out, and she seemed to know the wine list quite well. Kearney herself, who is known to be somewhat self-effacing, brought out the salads and desserts. (She didn't identify herself or make a fuss about it, and if you didn't know who she was, you'd have thought she was just another server. A nice touch.) Rue Dumaine probably falls a half-notch shy of a five-star dining experience, but given the back-story, I'm bumping the rating up to five rather than ratcheting it down to four.
(5)
Valerie R.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in Ohio. The menu is what I would call Rustic French. The sauces are delicate and flavors are amazing. We had the mussels, pork roast, chicken, and lemon cake all of which I would try again. There was a good wine selection the Burgess was outstanding at $10 a glass, which was the most expensive for by the glass wines. The chef is down to earth and really cares about her food. She tries to use local ingredients whenever possible. We were able to get a same day reservation for 2 on a Saturday night at 8pm. By 10:30 the restaurant is dead. Don't let the strip mall location fool you, this is some of the best food you will ever eat.
(5)
M R.
Went to the fine restaurant with my girlfriend on Friday night after hearing much praise. The service is absolutely perfect. Our server was very attentive to everything we needed without being overbearing. Water always full, wine amazing. And the food...wow. Please don't get sticker shocked by the prices, as they are a bit high. I was informed that the ingredients are locally grown when possible, and they use the finest ingredients for every dish. And it's obvious. Everyone here has a job, and does it to absolute perfection. Go to Rue Dumaine if you're looking for a wonderful night out, amazing service, and even more amazing food. The fact that a restaurant of this caliber is in Dayton is still blowing my mind. Enjoy!
(5)
Corey M.
A little corner of N'awlins hidden in a Centerville strip mall. Chef Kearney spent time in New Orleans, and brought a French Bistro concept with her. Exceptional food, great atmosphere. Some have said this is the best restaurant in Dayton, I don't think any reasonable person could argue it isn't among the best.
(5)
Laura H.
The location is a bit odd (next to 5 guys, in a strip mall type area) but the food is amazing. A friend took me there for my birthday and we had a great time. I thought the staff did a great job with the pace of the meal, we were not rushed at all nor were we left wondering when our food was coming. The chef came out after dinner and greeted us and told me happy birthday. All of the staff we interacted with were very nice. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a great meal.
(5)
Craig M.
The food is big city quality - 5 star. Bartenders are 5 star, serving classic cocktails using premium alcohols, fresh juices, etc. and a superb wine list. Try their barrell-aged Negroni for new twist on a classic cocktail! Our server, Tony, was amazingly conversant with the menu, accommodating of special requests, and had that intuitive sense of whatever we needed and when. A lot of bench seating and slightly crowded tables takes away from what could otherwise be a completely relaxing and romantic decor. But I hear they are moving to new digs sometime in 2013.
(4)
Dave S.
THE BEST RESTAURANT IN DAYTON,OH!!! Rue Dumaine is the ultimate dining experience. From the amazing owners who truly understand how to run a great restaurant, to the near perfect wait staff, to the bartenders and finally the star of the show, the ridiculously delicious entrees. We have yet to have anything on the ever changing menu that we have not enjoyed. The Rue Dumaine team is very accommodating to dietary needs, very friendly and makes you feel welcomed. It is truly a gem in the Gem City!!
(5)
Don S.
One of the best restaurants in the US. Wonderful cocktails. And the French-influenced food is based on local ingredients. From the daily pate offering to the cheese platter all their offerings are solid.
(5)
melodee t.
Good food. Good presentation. Once you get inside you forget about the strip mall location. If you want a little something different, try Rue Dumaine. The service was excellent.
(4)
Steven K.
3.5 for Anne Kearney and Rue Dumaine. The food is always great and a fantastic value. Other Dayton venues charge 25% to 35% more for inferior fare. The location is bothersome, but choosing to be in a strip mall ensures plentiful free parking, an issue plaguing many of Dayton's better dining establishments. Once inside, however, one easily forgets the surrounding mall setting. While many consider this a 5-Star establishment, I sense the owners are going for a bistro feel: a prominent bar; no white tablecloths, only nice wood surfaces; rolled flatware, not formal settings; and servers in jeans and oxfords, no ties or suspenders. It is a low key atmosphere which makes the experience all the more enjoyable. Service can sometimes be slow, but I think it varies depending on what is ordered. I find it comforting everything is made to order and closely overseen by the Chef, not churned out in giant vats to ensure prompt delivery. Be prepared for a lengthy dinner, but the wait is always worth it. Relax and enjoy. The service staff is attentive without being intrusive, well informed about the menu offerings, and do a great job keeping the table updated as to the progress of the meal. My only area of major complaint is the wine list. While overall the quality and selection are high, I have regularly spotted offerings that most Americans would not recognize as extremely cheap French wines which are priced anywhere from $30 to $50. Their obscurity allows the restaurant to charge many times the average industry mark-up. I find this disingenuous. However, perhaps this scheme allows the restaurant to charge less for its high quality food. Bring an informed wine enthusiast with you and you'll do just fine.
(3)
Amy S.
I always say that there are 2 things that make my review: The food and the service. Food = 4 stars, Service = 1 star. I guess averages out to a 2.5. Our waiter was terrible. He forgot to tell us the specials. In the middle of ordering he turned around and started talking to the table behind us. It took several times to tell him the wine was acceptable to get him to pour it. And then we didn't see him again. Ever. Another person brought us our food and yet another cleared the plates away. In fact, the person clearing the plates helped serve us more than the waiter. He was friendly and helpful and went back to the kitchen to see if they had mayonnaise for my frites. I even thought for a brief moment if we could tip him and not the waiter. The food was decent. I had the duck crepes which would have been wonderful as a main, and the mussels with frites. Like I said earlier, it would have been nice to have mayonnaise served with the frites but we got that remedied. More garlic in the mussel broth also would have been nice. We didn't get dessert. I really hope that our server was having an off night or something because the location has potential for me, but the poor service just took all the joy from it.
(2)
Erika H.
Flavors The food here was very, very good. We had the duck crepes, the mussels, and my entree was the almond encrusted trout. The duck crepes were perfect and even my not so adventurous parents enjoyed them. The mussel broth could have been a little more seasoned but they were still quite good. The trout was great but very heavily laden with almonds, so I would keep that in mind if you're ordering it. We also had an almond lemon cake for dessert and the sorbets. I didn't love the cake, but the sorbet was quite good. Price The prices seemed reasonable based on the quality of the food. $25 entrees, $10 appetizers, inexpensive and expensive options for wines by the glass. Places for improvement I would like my red wine served in a red wine glass and I was really surprised that it wasn't. When dining at a restaurant this expensive and with my parents, I don't want to be carded. Call me nitpicky but wtf? I'm about a half a decade over the legal drinking age and we all know that no one is going to crack down on a restaurant like this. Finally, the service was very, very slow. We waited about 30 minutes between all of our courses. It was a two hour meal from start to finish which seems a bit long. On the upside, you won't be rushed away from your table.
(4)
M. J. D.
I would like to visit France someday. The French Empire is renown for priceless art, it's rolling wine country, and the world's finest cuisine. My proud American culture has "improved" the landscape by giving them McDonald's and Euro-Disney. It's time the Empire strikes back. Striking into the heartland of America, in the most revered of American locations - the strip mall - French influence has begun it's counterstrike. Right next to a burger and fries joint. This counterstrike goes by the name: Rue Dumaine. Chef Anne Kearney strikes a blow for fine food and 5-star service in this most unlikely of locations. Dinner started with a pork terrine amuse bouche, followed by a locally cultivated salad with fresh raspberries, then the main course of duck à l'orange. Timing between courses was perfect, wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was perfect. On these factors, Rue Dumaine could be a successful restaurant in New York, Las Vegas, and perhaps even Paris. But there are other factors. A McDonalds in France is not the same as its American counterpart. French influences permeate the menu. French Influences have also reshaped Euro Disney into the Disney Resort Paris. So it seems only fair that the American influence would also come through in the French cultural counterstrike of Rue Dumaine. The food and prices are worthy of 5-star dining, but the seating inside is cramped. The seating arrangements at Rue Dumaine and the neighboring burger joint are almost interchangeable. And while wine in France is very wallet-friendly, Rue Dumaine's wine list is high - even by restaurant mark-up standards. This was quite unfortunate, since it pushed me into a mediocre wine, which paled against the fine food. The American influence of the Almighty Dollar strips Rue Dumaine of it's 5th star, and jeopardizes it's 4th star as well. As I left the eatery, I looked back and thought about the name. Rue as in 'Rue the day' - implies regret. Dumaine sounds a lot like Domaine, French for field - or location. Perhaps the owners are aware that they have great food, but the strip mall overhead has required them to 'Regret the Location'.
(4)
Daniel W.
visited again. ordered the fish special. swordfish. (I know). Israeli couscous. mushrooms. olive tapenade. something else. delicious goodness. best dish I've eaten in years and years. served at the table by the Chef. no longer weirded out.
(5)
Ann K.
I moved from the Bay Area in 2009, and Rue Dumaine reminds me of Chez Panisse and other restaurants in that area with Alice Waters' influence: fresh, local ingredients, not over-soaked in heavy sauces, but letting the integrity of the food come alive. Although the second time I was there (been there 4-5 times), the server didn't really know the menu well, the food completely made me forgive him (the server) for his lack of expertise. Except for that time, however, all the servers were excellent including the sommelier. I am vegan and Ann Kearney always makes a special dish just for me, and they are always fantastic: one Saturday when I was there, I got a lovely dish with quinoa made with pine nuts and raisins, root vegetable hash with kale, roasted beets with watercress, local green beans with pureed white beans, and then my favorite: locally grown oyster mushrooms grilled to perfection. The wine list is also great. It has an extensive list of great European wines that pair well with anything on the menu. I am especially fond of the Burgundies there. Oh also, I got the butternut squash soup without dairy with toasted sunflower seeds, and I think it was probably the best butternut squash soup I've had in my life! And believe, me, I've had my share of butternut soup.
(5)
Mike G.
I rarely give any place 5 stars, and thought about giving Rue Dumaine 5, but I can't - because it is in a strip mall and I hate strip malls. So, I'll say 4.5, but I'm rounding down for yelp. I recently visited the establishment for the first time. We went on a Friday evening, 5 of us. We had reservations at 7, and I was surprised when we arrived, in that the place was about 1/3rd occupied and the bar had only a single patron. I was looking forward to waiting a little, and maybe sampling a cocktail (or 32) at the bar. When we arrived, the hostess (well, a few of them lingering around) took our coats and hung them nearby, and promptly sat us. It was a nice mix between a New York style coat check (which I hate...) and having to deal with your coat at your table. I made my usual placement of not sitting with my back to the room, and realized this was a mistake about an hour later - when I realized if I had sat on the other side of the table, I would have been able to see the glass-partitioned kitchen. I somehow missed this when I first walked in. How I miss a 35 foot wide glass wall with fire, people in white chefs hats - is beyond me. The decor is nice - the seating on the perimeter of the restaurant was acceptable, but might be too close together for some midwesterner taste. Get used to it. Our waiter was very professional and knowledgeable. It appeared most of the staff in the place was more mature. Not the typical 19-year-old-waitress you'll find at the Ruby Tuesday across the street. That's good. There is a good selection of cocktails - however, they don't list the ingredients on the menu. So, you are stuck with waiting to make your decision until your waiter can explain what's in what. The wine list is pretty complete, with bottles ranging from upper 20's (maybe $28 was the cheapest?) to well into the $180-200 range. We sampled Ohio Valley's own Kinkead Ridge ($7), which was ok, but had a slight aftertaste that someone didn't like, but overall was drinkable. After that, we all shared a Rock and Vine Cabernet ($40, retail wine shop is about $15) that was quite tasty. We started out with scallops and the frog legs. The frog legs were better than I've had before - very lightly fried (think: drop in oil, ribbet, flip over, ribbet ribbet, flip again, remove) and tasty. We also had scallops (4 medium-size, I believe) which were quite good, garnished with slices of a white potato and leek. Apps were in the $8-10 range. The special of the evening (which I had a bite or two of) was flounder. It was very good - it was nice to find someone in the midwest that can prepare a delicate flakey (light?) brown fish. I will highlight it was $24, and was much better and cheaper than the last time I had flounder around Dayton - which was $35 and at Cafe Boulevard (I think).... I had the steak frites (learn how to say it, Ohio - rhymes with 'cheat'), which was hangar steak (I assume it is hangar steak all the time, but the menu does change often, I hear). Hangar steak is a tough call for me to order out - as many times I've had it and tastes like it was marinated an hour (I believe it needs a full day or something, in a pretty aggressive marinade) . I was really impressed (as was the other dining companion that had the same dish). It was tender, full of taste, and quite moist - pretty much perfectly medium-rare for me. The fries were fabulous, as well - lightly fried (probably with the frog, poor little guy) - and seasoned a touch of spice I can't place - cajun something, I guess. I would say the $21 steak rivaled the middle range prices ($25-30) of steak at the Oakwood club, if you're looking for comparison. The difference is, I don't feel like an old stuffy Republican at Rue Domaine. Dessert was acceptable - we had a holiday trifle - it was good, but nothing I'd rage about (I'm not a sweets fan, so maybe it was fantastic and I didn't know). We did all have some after dinner drinks, including some warmed liquor. Prices were all decent - around $6-7 for normal drinks. Anne, the owner, and her husband, came around the restaurant a few times during dinner. Both were very friendly and knowledgeable. Overall, the experience was very good. As I said before, I'm not a fan of the location (Centerville, in a strip mall), but, I am definitely going back. It was one of the top 3 or 4 dinings I've had in the area.
(4)
Carter P.
What a great surprise. The food, ambiance, and service were excellent. The wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing. The food was well thought out with creative but classic parings and reasonably priced. The wine list was excellent with several smaller vineyards that I would not normally expect to find. Rue Dumaine is a keeper.
(4)
L P.
My husband and I have been to this restaurant 3 times. The first two times were in the spring (2010-2011) and the food was delicious (We had lamb on one visit and short ribs on another)! We went again last night for my b-day (9/20/2011) and I was kind of disappointed. I had the stuffed chicken breast w/mushroom croquette with a roasted garlic reduction. The sauce had an off taste and I love roasted garlic, but there was little if none garlic flavor as far as I could tell. The chicken breast was tender and moist but had no flavor. My husband had the steak frites with beurre de Montpellier and pommes frites. He is not as discerning as I am, but I tasted his steak and proceeded to spit it out because of the flavor and the texture, it was horrible to me! I am a pretty open minded person when it comes to food, but this birthday was not food enjoyable. I hope Anne Kearney's restaurant will improve and are not cutting too many corners. I want to see her succeed! I was going to bring my sister and brother in law here for dinner (they live in N.Y. and go to the city to eat all the time) but now I am rethinking that idea. Lori
(3)
Shelly V.
My experience at Rue Dumaine was flawless. True, it is in a strip mall, but once you enter the building, that fact is not readily evident. The decor is flawless, and the ambience is welcoming. I had the Pisslidiere for an appetizer, and the Steak Frites for an entree. I finished with Creme Brulee for dessert. Every bite was incredible. This is one of the best meals I've had in Dayton, OH. Chef Anne Kearney is amazing and deserves all three of her James Beard awards. It is great to see a woman succeed in a typically male dominated profession. Good job Anne!
(5)
W. B.
This is a new restaurant and has quickly become one of our favorites. Yes, it is located in a strip mall next to a bagel cafe and a Sam's Club. But since you don't eat outside, once you step inside you completely forget its setting. The layout is basically one large seating area, but the atmosphere still feels private. I get the scallops every time - they are always perfectly cooked. They always have a very good pate appetizer. I usually get the fish, but the last time I was there, they had braised short ribs that were awesome. My wife recommends the hanger steak and fries. The bartenders may not know how to make every kind of drink, but the wine list is comprehensive and well rounded. The lemon curb topped cake is an excellant dessert. The prices are suprisingly reasonable, especially given how popular this restaurant has become. I think that is largely due to the quality and originalty of the food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jan O.
The service, the food, the drink: all amazing. I had the red trout over green beans. It was some of the best fish I've had in quite some time. They don't have a lot of vegetarian selects, but they will create a plate of fresh selections. My wife got the vegetarian plate, it was awesome. I tried it. They also have a fairly extensive selection of wines and beers.
(5)JJ G.
Terrific food, medium service (NEVER came back to check on our meal after the food was served!) and would've loved an espresso with the great Pot au Creme desert but "we don't do espresso here". Seriously??? You have a $200 bottle of wine on the list but no espresso??? A little thing I realize but a BIG mistake given the fact the rest of the meal was so terrific.
(4)Gregory S.
French in Ohio. Still reading? Perhaps the worlds most exquisite cuisine, gentle scaled to the mid wist culture, and not an ounce of the steriotypical pretentious attitude from staff. In fact the service was excellent. Late week night was slow, which gave the chef an opportunity to personally visit every table during service. Its been a while since dining there so regretfully I forget the "actual" entree but it was beef, it was excellent, and frankly I would do the name no justice stuttering the syllables. Try this place if you're in Ohio. Oh Yeah - excellent bar. And yes, it's expensive $$$$.
(4)Rhonda W.
We are going to have to agree to disagree. .. the reviews here are great and my expectations were high but it missed the mark for us. I wasn't out off with the strip mall local. . It's reasonable attractive inside and had plenty of staff. I was a bit put off at the staff wearing jeans and dressed super casual but if the food is great that wouldn't be an issue. We were welcomed with a free bite .. a 1 bite appetizer which wasn't remarkable but it was complimentary so no foul. When our waitress started reading our specials I was very overwhelmed. There were way too many .. it was confusing. Plus each dish ... from appetizer entree and dessert. ... she used terms I didn't know and I have never felt so lost and overwhelmed at a restaurant. We dine out most meals and this isn't our first french or gourmet restaurant. Even in Paris I didn't feel lost when ordering so this was an uncomfortable feeling. I had to ask her 2-3 times to repeat what she said and we each just picked one of the entree specials and had the fried oyster starter. Th e oysters where a bit over cooked but we're the highlight of the meal. Both the entrées were lovely but we're just ok. Visually it was a 5 .. taste buds gage it a 3 ... I was disappointed. Hearing of the award winning chef from New Orleans. .. maybe he wasn't there that night. Having not had a bad meal in New Orleans. .. I expected a memorable meal. Not saaa much. Not that anything was bad ... just ok.
(3)S G.
I'm disappointed to give this place such a low rating, but our service was poor enough that we felt it dragged the whole experience down. For a place that charges as much as they do, it was not acceptable. The server was not very attentive and the food seemed to take a long time. We had to ask to speak to our server at least twice. We felt that perhaps she was paying more attention to other tables, but in general we were not impressed. I will say that the food here is good and some of what we ate was excellent. In particular, I loved the scallops, mussels, short rib, and flounder special. The drinks were also good and they have an extensive wine list. It's too bad because we will not likely be back.
(3)B J.
We will not be back after our first visit. The service was so terrible and the food only ok. It was not worth the exorbitant prices. I don't mind splurging for good fresh food, but at $100 for two people, I expect great quality food and top notch service. We got neither. Food- my dining companion ordered the steak frites and I ordered the duck confit. My plate was sparse and lukewarm. The steak plate had unevenly cooked steak from rare to medium. The steak was also already cut up into bites, which we found odd. The steak plate was messy and over stuffed with a mountain of french fries. That entire meal was drenched in salt. You couldn't eat more than 5 fries because they were so heavily salted. The steak was also extremely salty. My meal was also quite salty and the duck was ok, but not great. The lentils and greens on my plate were quite good however. Service - we were clearly unhappy at our table and our waiter only avoided us rather than find out why we were dissatisfied. He disappeared. We had to tell someone else that one of our plates was so salty as to be inedible. This was never acknowledged by her, our waiter or a manager. All we expected was for someone to care about why we were dissatisfied and no one did. So I don't care to go back and spend my money there.
(2)Libby V.
Friday...Thank God it's Friday...cause they serve lunch at Rue Dumaine. Not just any lunch, not just any day. But Friday lunch by the 8 times nominated James Beard award Chef/Owner at Rue Dumaine. There were three of us...one started with Skuna Bay salmon chowder. I've never had salmon chowder. It tasted a lot like cabbage soup but with chunks of salmon. Oh so good. As was my salad of chilled poached shrimp, fennel and orange, served with creamy tarragon. And I dug right in, forgetting to get a photo cause it was so appealing I just couldn't wait. This is the stuff dreams made of. Ole picky eater ordered Mushroom crepes with Madeira cream after checking they didn't have any onions in them. They didn't but were garnished with scallions. Sigh. He managed to pick those off, but really. We asked about onions....shouldn't that have been noted? While they were Oh so good, it wasn't a manly portion. While it was enough for me, he came home and ate a bowl of cereal. I had House smoked Ruby Red trout-Nicola potato hash with a pan-fried farm fresh egg, perfect in every way. And another had the Grilled Amberjack, sauté of white beans, haricot vert & oven-roasted tomatoes, herb vinaigrette. Again...mouth watering good. So much so I forget photos before we dug in. And those would have been some beautiful photos. One small bump in the road...I was shortchanged $10. I caught in and they apologized. But that shouldn't happen. No way, no how. But I can count, so no foul. And it would never stop me from Friday lunch. It's makes Friday worth waiting for.
(4)Jim J.
I called Chef Anne Kearney today and mentioned it was my anniversary. Due to my work schedule we couldn't go to the New Orleans Food and Wine experience ( #nowfe ). Her roots are NOLA and she recreated the experience...in fact it was better than any of the Wednesday night winemaker dinners. She did a custom menu with less than 24 hours notice...AMAZING
(5)Alex G.
This is a hidden gem in a strip mall. The cocktail can be a little pricey but the food value is amazing in every aspect.
(5)Neil M.
It is our tradition to go to the #1 restaurant in our city for our anniversary. After three anniversaries in DC eating at restaurants like Komi, the Inn, and CityZen, we moved to Dayton (mil). We were not expecting too much from Dayton's #1 when all we heard about was "good steak" places, but Rue Dumaine delivered. While it isn't exactly a DC #1 type restaurant; it is much cheaper and the plethora of unique dishes would easily put it top ten in a major city. The service was also very good and unexpectedly "top chef-ish" for Dayton, OH. My wife had the lamb and I had the duck confit both were splendid. The mussel appetizer was not the best I've ever had, but still pretty good. I would recommend Rue to any foodie types in Dayton!!
(5)ima h.
Wow. Everything I ate was top notch in terms of quality, preparation technique, and creativity. The wine list is pricey, but exactly as it should be - everything I tasted was fantastic and worth the price. I had the charcuterie plate and the scallops. I'll be back tomorrow night to sample more.
(5)Michael R.
My wife and I have been to Rue Dumaine twice and it is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The service is impeccable and the food is PHENOMENAL! Our last visit we took my parents who are from Louisiana and particular about their French/cajun food. They were both blown away by the quality of the gumbo, the seasoning on the catfish, and the quality of the service. The bar manager was very knowledgeable and gave us a great recommendation for wine. The chef and ER husband both came to our table and visited with us and we're happy to answer any questions we had concerning the food, the origin of the restaurant or anything else we could think of! To top it off, we had the best waitress we had since moving to the Dayton area. Britney (may be spelled incorrectly) gave awesome descriptions and had great recommendations for us all. She was very knowledgeable and attentive to our needs. My wife and I had more French entrees and those were fantastic as well. The lamb loin was cooked to perfection and the short ribs were succulent and flavorful. A couple recommendations: the pheasant ravioli and mushroom salad are absolute must haves. The Wednesday catfish special and gumbo are perfect if you're craving southern/Cajun food but really you can't go wrong with anything from Rue Dumaine. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)chrystine p.
Absolutely delicious ans Brittany our server was wonderul! We had the scallops, ravioli, duck confit, beef short ribs, apricot tart, and the ruburb. All were delicious! Our server Brittany reccomended a lovely bottle of burgundy wine that went fabulous with our meal as we were not familiar with many of the wines in the menu. The scallops had a very tasty brown butter sauce that was absolutely devine, the ravioli very clearly hand made in a lite buttery sauce, the confit- firstly this dish was so complex in flavor and a bite without a touch of everything was not nearly as delicious. The actual confit was ok, I've had confit in Paris and other other places that was breath takingly yummy, the one here is good but not great what makes it great is enjoying it with a little bit of lentils, greens, cheese and sauce, yummy!!! The short ribs were also lovely, and the sauce perfectly balanced. Lastly we enjoyed the ruburb ans apricot tart. The apricot was not my favorite but I think it just really wasn't my kind of dessert, fairly dry and not too sweet. The ruburb however was very yummy! The service was great, food yummy, portions perfect (on the snaller side). I would highly reccomended this restaurant if you are a fan of french food. The seating sucks it is very close quarters but it's understandable for the size of the location. Well be back!
(5)Dawn O.
My wife and I were excited to try Rue for our 26th anniversary, so I made a reservation. We were promptly seated at a table for two, one with a bench seat and the other directly against a wall. It was very uncomfortable and felt like we were sitting in a box. We ordered wine by the glass and it did not taste like it was corked recently, very flat. The bread and cheese plate were decent, but the grilled calamari was terrible. It was burnt around the edges and tasted like burnt lemon juice. The Rue salad was pretty good, but it literally took one hour from when we received our salad for the main course to arrive. I had softshell crabs that had so many peas covering them that you really could not tell what it was. My wife had the chicken which was ok but the vegetables were tasteless. The waitress was friendly and knowledgable but seemed to be distracted. I was very disappointed with the experience, the cost and the food. I would not recommend the place to anyone and will not go back.
(2)Vance P.
My parents were really excited to take me and my husband here for dinner and likewise we were looking forward to eating at this establishment that has received rave reviews. "You're going to love it!", is what I was told. Did I go to the wrong place? The service was poor, our waitress was often over in the wait station talking to the other staff members. The oysters were "ok", but nothing better than your average fried bar food. Anne, the owner, engaged in pleasant conversation with the other patrons, didn't bother to look at us though. My beef short ribs were tough and just an overall disappointment. It's hard to believe, but even my slow cooker has created better. I also didn't find the shredded cabbage side appetizing at all. Cabbage is such a cheap filler, this technique is often used in Chinese restaurants. We dropped over $200 on that meal. What a waste. Live and learn, right? Probably should have gone to one of the franchise restaurants next door.
(2)Janice N.
Been here twice, both times everything was excellent. A lovely place to enjoy an excellent meal.
(5)Stacie R.
Pleasantly surprised with the food here. Went here for our anniversary dinner. Good food and great service. We started off with wine and a fried oyster appetizer. The fried oysters was good but I wouldn't get it again, should have probably tried the bone marrow appetizer special. For entrees, I got the chicken breast, which had green beans cooked to perfection and an absolutely delicious mushroom and ham croquette. My husband had their special, a veal entree which was also delicious but it had too much pickled radishes on the plate. The restaurant itself is located in a strip mall and the seating arrangements are rather too close for comfort. We were seated at an area of heavy traffic and we can definitely hear the conversations of those seated next to us so it is not an entirely romantic atmosphere. Although we dressed up for this restaurant, there were some customers who dressed casual. Overall, the food was really delicious and I would recommend this place to anyone. Just don't get hyped over the ambiance.
(4)Beth T.
Incredible dinner with friends, their first time! The dinner, service was incredible! I usually have the hanger steak - steak frites. But decided to try the chicken breast --- it was incredibly good! Wow perfectly seasoned - delicious. That along with my fav Arugula salad and a crisp Italian Pinot Grigio! The perfect summer evening meal - thank you Anne Kearney and staff.
(5)Rick A.
Without question, one of the best meals ever. Pork medallions with a rice cake and kale. Special for Thursday and it was special. Service was impeccable. Definitely one of the best places for a great meal. Worth every penny.
(5)Margaret D.
We have eaten here 3 times. The food is good and though they are touted as one of the best Restuarants in town, we've been truly disappointed. Here's why: they boast of their chef setting themed menus based upon using freshest ingredients. So we made reservations on our Anniversary, hoping to have a wonderful celebration eating a meal based on spinach, one of my favorite ingredients. First, you should know, the Restuarant is anything but intimate. They are inside a strip mall in such a tiny enclosed space, with mostly tiny Bistro tables crammed in one on top of the other. ..barely room to get in between them and I'm not a large person. Secondly, we told them when we made our reservation it was a special occasion of our 30th Anniversary, yet we were seated at the tiniest table against a wall by the door...may have well been in a coat closet! It was very uncomfortable, cold, and drafty! Terrible place to place a table and guests. We were told that's all they could offer, couldnt move us to anither table even though we'd made reservations well in advance. The wait staff was not attentative--pulled to thin. The last straw was that they advertised a spinach menu and when I tried to order from the spinach laced menu....found out from wait staff....nonchalantly, that their supplier hadn't come through so there was no spinach to be had! However, the menu hadn't been changed. So disappointing! Had we known we probably would have gone elsewhere as the food we received, or at least the proportions were not worth the overprice charged. We gave up on ordering another drink...as the wait staff did not come back to check on us and we couldn't move literally after being wedged into the corner. We were so disappointed, as we'd given them three chances to live up to their reputation and each time got worse. That was now three years ago, we haven't returned since. Having spent 18 years living in Europe we'd truly wanted this place to be our go-to-restuarant when guests came to visit, sadly we've given up on them, especially waiting over 25 minutes just to get a bill!
(2)R B.
There were people sneaking around with big cameras taking pictures. While we were eating. One got right up in my face - I think it was for a distance shot and not actually to photograph me with my mouth full of food, but SO INAPPROPES. There's no law against this, but considering how expensive the food is at this place and how "classy" they purport to be, they at least owe us a heads-up if they're going to shove cameras in our fat faces. If I wanted to feel uncomfortable while eating overpriced cuisine, I would have gone to a food truck rally.
(1)Jen H.
We love this restaurant. Dayton is blessed to have such a treasure. The Friday lunch is so enjoyable and we are never bored with the changing menu. The crepes with Gruyere and ham are incredible.
(5)Joseph W.
Just ok. Mussels tasted bad, probably the worst tasting mussels I've ever had. Maybe they were a bad batch. I can say it tasted ASSey. Terrine was not bad, a amuse bouche. Oysters were lightly fried and good. The orange sauce under it did not compliment it. Try it with the frites aoli. Pork was good but not amazing. This place tries to be French but it's more American with French notes. Shirt rib nothing special. Seemed like every dish needed just that little bit extra to make it stand out.
(3)Gaylon V.
I'm not from the area, but I would be willing to bet that this is one the top 10 restaurants in the Dayton area. My wife and I split the grilled pork medallions (served atop a creamy goat cheese polenta). There was a prune compote and shallots in there, as well. It was delicious, as was the warm spinach salad we had to go with it. Ingredients were fresh and topnotch. I wasn't dressed for an elegant dinner, but many were. This is a fancy restaurant. Seating is a little tight, but still comfortable. Service was impeccable and the manager/owner stopped by the table and asked after out meal. You should take your boss here if I wanted to impress him/her. Or the mother-in-law. I'm serious!
(5)Euro C.
Best food in Dayton and great bar staff! Never have had a bad meal or experience in many years of frequenting this establishment. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Jessica C.
This restaurant just did not live up to the hype for me. I love and appreciate French cuisine but I was simply not impressed by our dinner at Rue Dumaine. We went to the restaurant on my birthday and the place was packed. We were seated and brought menus promptly. I ordered wine and my husband ordered a beer. Aside from being seated next to a super annoying group of 4, the ambiance was classy, if a little stuffy. We started our meal with the steamed mussels & frites. These are our favorite appetizer and while the mussels at Rue Dumaine were not disappointing, they did not blow us out of the water (pun intended). We had a much better, almost deliriously good steamed mussels appetizer at Bonefish Grill on Valentine's Day. My husband got lamb, it was good but not great. He said he prefers how I cook lamb at home (score!) and I agreed, it was fine but a bit bland. I had roasted chicken with thick sliced potatoes, mushrooms and spinach. This entree was $34 for a very small and basic leg of chicken with maybe one undercooked potato sliced onto the plate. It even needed salt, which I wasn't expecting as this restaurant is touted as the best in Dayton. Also, I understand this place is expensive but there is no reason that my tiny and somewhat under-seasoned meal should have cost $34. Our evening was fine, but the dinner was a bit of a let-down. We spent about $200 on this meal and for that price, I expect to be blown away. I wasn't.
(2)Natalie H.
Very pleased all around... The food was amazing (except the Pomme Frites), the service was really, really good and the atmosphere allowed me and my husband to enjoy a date night.
(5)Zachary C.
Sat at the bar. Service from fill in bartender Michael R. was top notch. The drinks were outstanding including the aviation cocktail. The mussels were the best I've had and the mushroom app was simply awesome! Can't wait to go back and try more. This is my new favorite.
(5)Phil B.
Excellent food taste and presentation. Portion size was just right - not too much. Service was as good as it can get. We will return!
(5)Jennifer H.
We have heard about Rue DuMaine ever since moving to Dayton. As they are not very many veggie options there I have never felt the urge to go. My brother wanted to go for his bday, so off we went. Firstly, the decor and ambiance is very lacking. It looks like a restaurant in a strip mall- oh wait it is. When asking about vegetarian options our waiter briskly told me I had no choice the kitchen makes one vegetarian dish per day, he was quite the ass about it. First course: cheese and charcuterie. Cheeses just ok, the charcuterie was actually a terrine and it looked super gross like cat food. Salad was over dressed and sloppily prepared. The best thing I ate all night was actually my entree which was delicious- a mix of lentils, quinoa, beets, green bean, carrots, and more- so fresh and good. My hubby had good not great short ribs and the birthday brother had fatty gross looking veal (poor baby cow). Deserts were also sub par- cake, creme brûlée, sorbet. Creme brûlée wasn't even bruleed- it was chewy and gross. All in all this place is way over hyped. The service was rude- this is Dayton peeps not NYC, get a grip. If you want good food in Dayton that is high class go to Meadowlark, more casual but still good Wheat Penny, Roost, or The Winds. Or drive to Cinci for the incomparable Boca.I have eaten at many 5 star places- this ain't it.
(2)Carla F.
What a pleasant surprise to find delectable eats in the middle of Dayton! Steak frites - grilled hangar steak with beurre de Montpelier and pomme frites ... all of it c'est magnifique! Service was spot on. We had a group of about 10, and no fewer than 4 servers attended us.
(4)Andrew M.
Looking for a nice dinner in the Dayton area while in town on business I came across Rue Dumaine through the help of Yelp and other sites. What a fantastic experience. The restaurant is located an easy 15-20 minute drive outside of downtown Dayton. A pleasant French-inspired decor and ambiance greeted us. We were seated as planned and received excellent attention from a knowledgeable server (James) who clearly guided us through the day's specials. By sheer coincidence 4 out of 6 of us wound up ordering spectacular short ribs with crushed red potatoes. Everything was fresh, right-sized, cooked to perfection and overall wonderful. Pre main I ordered the arugula salad which was one of the best green creations that I've ever experienced. A side order of in-season heirloom tomatoes sealed the deal. To support, not overpower our meal we were recommended a Tempranillo followed by an Italian blend. Both were spectacular, but unfortunately I do not remember the name. Towards the end of the meal, the chief cuisine master Anne spent some time with us talking about the restaurant. What a nice wrap up! The only reason that I am not giving Rue Dumaine a 5 star review is that I thought that a couple of the cocktails were a little off, but otherwise - fantastic. If you're in Dayton I highly recommend taking the time and visiting this restaurant. As a food snob New Yorker I give this one a full thumbs up!
(4)Sidney S.
If I had more money I'd give another star. Tasty, unique to area, good atmosphere but I swear I leave hungry every time even after spending $70 Edit: can't just give 3 stars for being poor. Giving 5, everything is always amazing.
(5)Sam B.
Wow! It's so great to have a farm to table restaurant here in the Dayton area! Everything we've had here has always been excellent. The specials are always so fresh and amazing. We can't wait to go back!
(5)Rachel M.
I can say easily that this is some of the best food in the area. We recently had the autumn soup (sweet potato based) and a can safely say it was the best soup I have ever eaten. The food takes awhile to prepare, but it is worth it. Because of this, you will never feel rushed (but at the same time, not ignored). I would recommend the Chick Cordon Rue or the ribs. I would not give it five stars simply because the lighting and layout are not romantic by any means (it's really bright at night, and they should consider sound panels on the ceiling - gets very loud very fast). You are often eating six inches from the table next to you. The lighting and sound improvements could do a lot considering the lack of private space and the price you are paying,
(4)Lucy D.
This was our third visit. The first time, my husband and I both felt like we'd enjoyed a lovely experience and delicious food that there was -almost- enough of. Last night was probably our last time there. His scallops were just okay (and though the scallops were large, there were three on the plate with a handful of peas and some fiddleheads, in a pool of cream sauce. That's not a whole meal for anyone and it was something like $28), and his salad was both tiny and blah. My salad was on the small side and I could have made it myself at home very easily, but it was fine. My entree was the chef's vegetarian choice, and while previously it had been very thoughtfully composed with a variety of textures, colors, and well-considered flavors, that was not the case this time. I received an odd hodgepodge of grilled vegetables with a little quinoa and one teeny half-dollar sized polenta cake. It all tasted fine but not great, and the portion was not filling. It simply fell far short of its $20+ pricetag. For $75 before the tip, neither of us was satisfied with amount or quality, and when that much money is involved, that creates a huge disappointment. Steep prices brings a big expectation of quality and service and we just didn't get that. The servers were wearing jeans--why? Though I like the decor, the music was an odd choice of freedom rock that kept getting very loud, then being adjusted a bit quieter. The jeans and music did not create the sophisticated ambience we were seeking. I appreciate places that use local and fresh, and am thrilled when a small area has a chance for some fine dining but either quality at Rue Dumaine has declined or we were there on a very off night. Either way, we walked out the door close to $100 lighter and that's too much money to gamble on a disappointing meal. I hate leaving a negative review but losing that much money on a poor experience just can't warrant any better rating.
(2)Danlei W.
It's definitely a nice restaurant. Our server is very nice and helpful. The food is delicious too. The scallop we ordered as the appetizer, it must be the best scallop I ever had. The portion could be bigger, because I can't get enough of that scallop. Lol~~~~~~A lot of people complaining about the portion size, we are OK with the portion size. We didn't leave hungry but it is smaller than you will find in a typical restaurant. So if you a bigger eater, try to order more food~
(4)Cathy W.
This was our first visit: the food was excellent, ambiance was nice considering it was in strip mall, wait staff (Tony) was very attentive and informative, Cosmos were delicious, but a bit pricey. Recommend trout , salmon or pork medallions and find it is unfortunate that dinner salad was not included in meal. We'll go back!
(5)Samantha F.
I went here because I needed a drink and I'm from out of town and passed this place a million times and wondered what it was all about. Mixed reviews on yelp, but most were decent so I figured I'd be able to get a nice glass of wine here. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by a baby-faced bartender. He poured me a beautiful glass of wine and I immediately relaxed into my seat. After all, it had been a rough week; between the death of my grandfather and my mother breaking her back, I deserved a respite. I wasn't hassled or chatted up in my solo venture.. I ordered a cheese plate with two lovely local cheeses. It was prepared beautifully and I enjoyed it. While trying to decide if I was sticking with the same wine Baby-Face poured me a mini-wine tasting of Rose. It was fun. I ended up back with my original and enjoyed glass two (which was probably three after all the tasting). I finished the night of with chatter about running in local areas with the other bar tender and a glass of Liquor 43. The only thing missing was an espresso to finish off my night, but the owner and I had an in-depth conversation about his purchase of an amazing machine. I hope they get it soon! It was a perfect way to end my day and enjoy some me-time. I'd love to go back for dinner next time I'm in town. The menu looked lovely and focused on local ingredients.
(4)Marty M.
Simply our favorite restaurant. Start with the best bartender in Dayton, Evan, and then finish with the best chef in the Midwest, maybe farther. Evan can make whatever cocktail you enjoy better than you ever had anywhere else, and his specials our divine. Chef Anne is commended for her use of local produce. Her plates are beautiful and taste better than they look. I find the portions to be perfect, if you want quantity over quality then I suggest the Cheesecake Factory. We have been there many times and have never been disappointed. I believe in supporting quality local businesses and highly recommend the Rue
(5)Marion P.
This was my first experience dinning at Rue Dumaine and the level of personalized attention I received was unparalleled to anything I have experienced in the past. The chef was very personable and the staff very knowledgeable and attentive. I was surprised to find such quality authentic French cuisine in the Dayton area, truly it is a gem in gem city.
(5)Mary Lynn P.
I'm from Centerville but now live in Columbus. A foodie friend of mine mentioned a highly-rated restaurant she knew of in Dayton that she read about in Food & Wine magazine awhile back. I was curious, so I looked it up. I was surprised to find out that it was the random French-sounding restaurant in the strip mall near Sam's Club that I've passed a million times. Sure enough, the place is very highly respected. My fiance and I finally stopped in for drinks and a few nibbles around the holidays. The bartender, Evan, was fantastic. What drew me to this restaurant the most was the cocktail menu, and Evan does a great job constructing each drink carefully. The kid really knows his liquor and made one of the best manhattans we've ever had. We ordered the soup of the day, and split the mussels and fries. All of it was delicious. We ate at the bar where the service was great. We're itching to go back to try more of the menu. A word to the wise: it is a pricey experience. The drinks are all $10-12 each, and the menu items aren't cheap. However, it's well worth the quality. If you're not baller status (like many of their older clientele who you can tell are regulars--jealous!) then try it for a special occasion. I'm so glad to have this in Dayton.
(5)Carey S.
I ate here in October of 2010, not long after the restaurant opened. I was very excited to eat here after reading glowing reviews of the owner's culinary skills. I rarely eat out, so when I do, I really want to eat somewhere that will provide exceptional food and an exceptional dining experience. I got neither. I had a baked chicken breast entree with some sort of potatoes (it's been almost 4 years so memory is foggy on the side dish). The chicken breast was dry and rubbery. I cannot begin to explain my disappointment. As I said, we rarely eat out so when we do, we try and go somewhere where we will have an amazing meal. Unfortunately, the meal and ambiance was terrible. The wait staff was nice enough but nothing spectacular. We will not go back. I feel like it was a huge waste of money. I've gotten MUCH better meals at The Chop House and Bravo, which are both nearby and not as expensive.
(1)Chris W.
We love this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the cocktails are interesting and wonderful. Everything on the menu is great but the trout (actually any of their seafood) is fantastic. Short ribs and pork are also amazing. Also love the oyster appetizer. Highly recommend this place if you are on Dayton
(5)Jim W.
I go to New Orleans once a year on business and get in about four top meals each time, including a requisite hosted dinner upstairs at the Palace. You could drop Rue Dumaine into the middle of the quarter, and it would probably rank in the top quarter. It's high end Nawlins, and worth it. Forget that it's in a strip mall, the food is top notch, the atmosphere is open and classy (though it does follow the usual practice of being overly tinny and loud to make it sound), and service is done by true professionals. The worst thing on the menu probably ranks as very good. Don't know if it's still on the menu, but the oysters and bacon appetizer was the best I've had anywhere in a good ten years. This is one of those unlikely stories. Chef cuts her teeth in Nawlins, moves back to her home town, and brings the best of the great city's cuisine with her, albeit in a place that tries to hide itself in a strip mall. But world of mouth surely makes up for the lack of drop-ins.
(5)Cassie R.
Fancy fixins! My first French restaurant, and while the food was overall not my cup of tea, I still highly recommend trying this place out. The cocktails were unique, the bartender was super nice, and our waitress Molly was the sweetest thing. Was impressed that she had all those dish descriptions memorized. PLUS this place accommodated my boyfriend's special request to print "Happy Valentine's Day" in French on the top of my menu. It's rare to see a restaurant go above and beyond, and we both appreciated it. Excellent service!
(5)Sara B.
WOW... Oh and get the oysters.
(5)Josh C.
Excellent service and excellent flavors. They will make you a vegetarian meal that is just as tasty as anything else on the menu. I enjoyed the food a lot, just wish it weren't so expensive.
(5)sideshow b.
All that and a bag of chips! (though I don't think they serve bags of chips) She and I were looking for a date night kind of place and the recs of friends and yelp lead us here. Great wine list leaning towards Europe. Awesome appetizer of house smoked Scottish salmon. Her salad was amazing with a perfect blend of apple vs bleu cheese. I went for the pommes. Damn, i love me some skinny fries with mayo...makes me feel like i'm walking the streets of A'dam again! Lamb loin, medium rare, for me and roasted chicken with garlic and thyme for her were absolutely perfectly cooked and wonderfully flavored. Service was first rate, attentive without being overbearing. Just an awesome meal with great ambiance (once you get in the door). We will absolutely be back!
(5)Kenny Mays H.
Very good service. Excellent duck and scallops. Good, reasonably priced wine. The mussels were only ok, but I can let that slide. Gelato for dessert was delicious.
(5)Duke D.
My friend raved about this place so I was excited to give it a try. I was not expecting a restaurant in a strip mall. I had reviewed the menu before we arrived and knew they focused on local ingredients. I do admit I judge whether restaurants bring out warm or cold bread--this was hard and cold. The appetizers were fabulous--we got the oysters and the tartlet. My husband commented that he did not think the oysters were fresh but the sauce with capers was quite savory. I just hated my main course, the mussels. The sauce was tasteless and the mussels were very fishy. My friend, the one who had raved previously, ordered the salmon and before dessert, we think she may have had food poisoning because she was outside puking and we had to abruptly cut the meal short. She called to give feedback to the staff but got a defensive answer which is, I think, what would keep me from going back. My hubby did say his ribeye was cooked nicely but the accompaniment was bland.
(2)Benjamin F.
This is the best French restaurant in the region, even though it's not really a French restaurant. All of my food was perfectly prepared and delicious. The tart appetizer was a little silly and a waste of money, but other than that I really enjoyed the place. I took my girlfriend out for a special meal and she hosed me a little with an expensive bottle of wine (but oh well). It was worth it. The trout amandine was exceptional. The hangar steak is also great. And the wait staff are not dicks.
(5)Allison D.
When I first saw this place many months ago, I kinda had to laugh. A gourmet French place next door to a Five Guys? Really? I knew nothing else about it, and didn't think much of it after that. Although I noticed over the coming months the parking lot being much fuller than it used to be, even though none of the other businesses next door seemed busier. It seemed Rue Dumaine was catching on. Then I read an article in the Dayton Daily News about how the executive chef, Anne Kearney, likes to purchase all local ingredients for her menu, many from neighboring farmer's markets. Then the place had my attention. It wasn't long after that, my husband and I had a wedding anniversary coming up, and we decided it was finally time to try this place. And boy, have I learned not to judge a restaurant by its location. The food, drinks, and service inside are the best you'll find in Dayton, especially for the money. Before we went, I connected with the restaurant through Facebook and let them know that my husband and I were looking forward to trying the place for the first time. They were paying attention, because when we arrived, we were seated with customized menus that said Happy Anniversary! We were also treated to complimentary glasses of great Spanish sparkling wine. Before dinner, we each had a cocktail at the bar. The Vesper martini was flawless, and I was so excited to find someone in town who makes them, and the bartender definitely knows his stuff. My husband had one of the drink specials, the Dark and Stormy, which was a mixture of the house brewed ginger beer and dark rum. I'd never experienced a taste like that in my life, but was delicious. For the appetizer, we ordered the passildiere, which is a puff pastry topped with caramelized onions, nicoise olives, capers, and goat cheese. Let me be clear, goat cheese and olives are two of my least favorite foods of all time. But there is something about the allure of well-prepared, fresh food that makes me want to try things I might not otherwise like. I definitely was not disappointed. It was delicious. For the entree, I ordered the duck confit special, which came with wild rice pilaf and Swiss chard, topped with a cherry reduction. My husband had the sea bass topped with shrimp and an interesting (but delicious) beet relish, served over fingerling potatoes and haricot vert. For dessert, we shared the flourless chocolate hazelnut cake. Although the portions were on the smaller side, we did not leave hungry. In fact, our duck and fish portions were quite generous, which made the smaller dessert (which packed a VERY rich punch) more than satisfying. I was shocked at how affordable the prices are for food that is prepared this way. I've easily paid as much for a plate of food at J. Alexander's or Chop House, and although the portion sizes are much bigger at those restaurants, I don't think the quality or the service are as great as we had here. You can tell from the minute you walk in the door that these people think about each and every one of their customers. People sitting on either side of us were clearly in love with their food and their server. Our server, Molly, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly. When you go here, you'll be taken care of. And yet, at the same time, you won't feel like you're in some stuffy old man restaurant. This place has a modern flair. Although the costs can prohibit more casual diners from making this a regular destination, this is definitely the place to go for a special occasion, or when you really want to treat yourself to some of the best food and service in town. I'm already looking forward to my birthday.
(5)S B.
My husband and I finally got around to trying this restaurant after being in Centerville for a year. It came highly recommended, so our expectations were high. We were very impressed. Service and ambience were great, the cocktail was delicious (a house specialty with cucumber bitters and gin). My entree of trout amandine was truly delicious; perfectly prepared and a generous portion. My husband's entree (lamb) was good, but not spectacular. The creme brulee for dessert was perfect as well. We will definitely be back - worth the price, and deserving of all the praise. BTW, we went on a date night, without kids, and dressed up a bit. But we would have felt comfortable in jeans, and at least two other tables had kids along. For me, though, it was more enjoyable as a grownup night out.
(5)Christina B.
Very disappointed. My husband and I enjoy upper scale restaurants and this was one that we had not tried yet. We had a table of 4 sitting next to us. After we placed our order, we watched them get apps, then dinner, then dessert, and we still had not gotten our dinners yet! The waiter came over 2 different times to say "just a few more minutes", then the manager came over to say "just 3-4 more minutes" and finally 15 mins later my 3 scallops and my husband's bowl of mussels showed up. The table next to us was even entertained that they had all gotten thru an entire meal and we still had nothing. Neither the manager or the waiter offered any type of apologies for our wait. Needless to say, we will NOT be returning here.
(1)Jessica Y.
My second visit was for Restaurant Week and the menu was delicious! I am giving Rue Dumaine 3.5 stars this time, but am tempted to round down to 3 stars because of the amount of food then give you. However, because of the great service and food, I'm still going to give it 4 stars! Both times I have been to Rue Dumaine, there has never been a lack of service or tasty food! I have been to plenty of nice, upscale restaurants in large cities and some do compare in the amount of food. However, I was still slightly hungry after my 3 course meal during Restaurant Week. I chose the Blue cheese-walnut pave with apple-thyme relish and croutons over the Dumaine house salad, which I had previously had during my first visit. It was definitely a good choice and the apple-thyme relish added a great kick to the blue cheese! For the main course, I chose the Cabernet Sauvignon braised beef short rib with butternut squash puree and pearl onion compote. It was very tender and the butternut squash puree was delicious! I'm glad I chose it over my dad's Pan-seared sea scallops with classic ratatouille, saffron crème and Niçoise olive relish. While the scallops were fairly large, there were only two and seemed more of a half appetizer size than anything! My dish was already small enough for me, much less the two scallops! And finally for dessert: Nougat glacé with citrus compote Toasted almond brittle folded into vanilla cream, served semi-frozen. It was delicious! Although it did taste more like good vanilla ice cream. At $20.10 for the meal, I guess it wasn't too bad! I probably wouldn't recommend Rue Dumaine if you're looking for a large meal, though! But it's definitely worth a try as it was named one of the 2010 top 100 restaurant in Saveur!
(4)Mark W.
This restaurant is amazing! We have been going there for 4 years now & have NEVER had a bad meal. Every special occasion OR just needing a night out from kids, we always think of Rue first. The food is made with PURE LOVE! The chef, Chef Anne, is so warm and welcoming. She is usually seen in the kitchen cooking her amazing food & she will sometimes walk around and greet her guests with such appreciation & warmth. This french food is not pretentious at all. It is down home cooking, using the best local ingredients available, with a twist. The sauces & techniques used make this meal super special. It is great for the foodie lovers & also the steak and potatoes guys as there is always a steak, chicken, duck dish that would satisfy my dad :). The drink selection is very diverse. The bar keeps take care in aging their whisky themselves, making special syrups and juices for the old time & new time drinks. Also, the wine cellar is packed with a great selection. Our favorites are: the charcuterie plate (always order this), scallop appetizer (the sauce is nicknamed CRACK.. as it is so good that people come back just for that sauce), Duck dish is always a favorite (usually a special but now on menu all the time) & Chicken (which is an odd dish for us to LOVE... but you know it's a good restaurant when the chicken dish is the best you have ever had.. and that is the case here... it's amazing!). Also, don't skimp on dessert, ALL of them are amazing.. but the choc gelato is probably our favorite.. along with ANY of her special tarts or torts! Enjoy your visit to this amazing experience of a restaurant!
(5)Amanda K.
GREAT FOOD! local ingredients and very fresh. Good wine and drink list, unique place in Dayton area and worth your time. A bit pricey so we went for a special occasion. The pumpkin/squash/pink banana and bacon soup made me fall in love with the place.
(5)Mark A.
As a frequent traveler, I love finding these independent establishments that put quality over quantity, and focus on local ingredients. Great nightly specials and well priced (I'm usually in CA, so everything that is not West Coast or NY seems well priced to me). I had the special, Chicken Etoufee, from their roots, I suppose, and it was outstanding, along with the Dumaine Salad. Great service, and just about all the staff, from the very engaging bartender Le' Chele, to the Sous Chef, made sure my time and my meal were outstanding.
(5)Jeevan S.
This is some of the best food consistently you will ever have. The atmosphere is excellent, the front of house is efficient, the service is professional, and the chef is amazing. The dessert menu is a bit limited but always enjoyable. The goal to primarily use local food is commendable and effective. The mixologist is also a plus of this place. You cannot go wrong at this place.
(5)Carrie V.
This is one of our go-to dinners out. We have been here many times and have always had a good experience. Once, when food was a bit slow, chef Anne brought it out herself and apologized. What I love most about this place, besides the fact that they concoct me a special vegetarian plate, is their abundant use of local, seasonal ingredients. Make sure you save room for dessert!
(5)Dan N.
So staying in the Cincinnati/Dayton area for business through Saturday, I thought I might feel a bit weird going out for dinner alone on a Friday night. The second I walked into Rue Dumaine, I got over any awkward feelings that I was expecting. Plenty of seats were available at the bar, the bartenders were friendly, and I even got a friendly greeting from the owner. I really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere of this place (yes, even in spite of its strip mall location), but the FOOD is what earns Rue Dumaine it's 5 stars. I had the pan-seared trout, which was recommended to me by a couple servers. It was incredible--I would eat it every night if I could. I only wish I lived closer to this place, especially if the rest of the menu is as delicious as the trout. Two things I loved about this place: 1) The kitchen was in plain view of the entire restaurant, and I was really happy to see that the executive chef was actually the one cooking in the kitchen--very nice touch. 2) The service at the bar. 2 friendly bartenders (and the owner). Knew the food, knew the beer--top notch service for sure. If you happen to be anywhere in the Dayton or N Cincinnati area, make sure you hit up this place, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Michael M.
In my opinion, the best restaurant in Dayton, bar none. I've been going to Rue Dumaine for about four years now, and I have never had a bad experience. Their nightly specials are often to die for, and her flavors are always incredible. My favorite regular dish is her lamb loin, which is always perfectly cooked, and presents so well with the potatoes that accompany it. To date, the best plate I have been presented with was a Roasted garlic-mushroom crusted quail, mushroom-leek bread pudding, broccolini and an apple wood smoked bacon flecked Sherry reduction. The birds were deboned and perfectly cooked, served with a beautiful sauce and stuffing that was such an elegant combination of flavors that I think I could have eaten a second plate, though I would have been absolutely stuffed. The bread pudding made for an excellent and unique compliment. Definitely a dish that I wish was a regular item. Despite the fine quality of their dinner items, Friday lunch is still one of my favorite times to stop in. With a new menu every week, it seems that they use this as a creative outlet, and a way to capitolize on local and seasonal ingredients and flavors. It always brightens my Friday what I can find my way over there for lunch. Keep doing what you are doing, and I'll keep coming in to devour your amazing cuisine regularly!
(5)Leslie L.
I take my awful review back!!! FORGIVE ME! It must have been an off night when I was here before because my most recent experience at Rue Dumaine was unbelievably amazing!!! The service was amazing. The waiters really know what they're doing, and they really know all the dishes on the menu. Awesome! The atmosphere inside is really great, too. It's calm and relaxing. Very comfortable. We both started our meal with wine. Mine white, and his red. Both great, and I really appreciate a large wine list. My first course was the soup of the day... GUMBO. I never can resist trying a restaurant's gumbo. I must tell you that it was the best I've ever had. I wanted to cancel my main course, and just get more gumbo. So much flavor. My boyfriend got scallops as his first course. He really liked them. I don't care for scallops so I didn't try them, but I trust his taste buds to know a good scallop from a bad one, or even an average one. For my main course, I ordered the steak frites. I'm so happy I did! A great piece of meat, cooked to still perfectly bloody perfection. I was in heaven. It was served with a huge portion of delicious pomme frites. YUM YUM YUM! I ate every bite. The bf once again ordered something I didn't care to try... the trout. He said it was great. Once again, I trust that it was. For dessert we decided to not even push ourselves to choose just one treat. So we went ahead and ordered 3 desserts. #1- I believe it was chocolate hazelnut cake with creme fresh. Delicious, but maybe a little, too rich for my liking. The cake itself was super heavy and moist. #2- Chocolate gelato dish. It was ok, but pretty forgettable. #3- The MOST AMAZING lemon cake. It was heaven on a plate. The bf and I ended up fighting over that one, and kind of pushing the other desserts to the side. It was a great experience, and words can't even express how much I enjoyed my meal.
(5)Kathryn W.
Oh gosh we loved this place. It is a hefty drive for us so won't be going too often, but it is the real thing in bistro dining. And the owner-chef really cares--she stopped by our table not for just a few words but for a real conversation.
(5)Chris H.
I had dinner there with my wife there for her birthday. The food and service was tremendous. The restaurant even printed up special menus for us that had her name on them. Arrive early and take time to enjoy an aperitif at the bar, the congregation of choices is worth the extra time. The Ohio prime rib was savory while the homemade dijon mustard was piquant.
(5)Ben N.
For folks like my wife and me, who spent more than a decade in New Orleans, Rue Dumaine's story is a compelling one (and you can skip the following paragraph if you already know the background): About ten years ago, Chef Anne Kearney, who owns Rue Dumaine with her husband, Tom Sand, was one of the preeminent young chefs in New Orleans, and perhaps in the United States. She was a big fish in a big culinary pond. When she was barely 30 years old, her restaurant, Peristyle, in a beautiful old spot at the corner of Dumaine and Rampart on the edge of the French Quarter, was for a year or two in the highest rated N.O. restaurant in Zagat, and Kearney had won a James Beard Award. But health problems--a series of aneurysms--derailed her career and forced her to sell Peristyle and leave New Orleans and return to her native Dayton area. As she recovered, she helped take care of her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer's. A few years later, she decided to put down roots in Dayton, opening Rue Dumaine. If you were lucky enough to have dined at Peristyle in the French Quarter in New Orleans (and I was, although regrettably only once), or lived in New Orleans, seeing the words "Rue Dumaine" over a business in an anonymous suburban Ohio strip shopping plaza is a little disconcerting. (The restaurant jarringly shares the plaza with a Five Guys Burgers, Chipotle, a Supercuts, and some place called Subby's.) I see a lot of complaints about this location in the reviews here, but I'm sure it was a calculated decision on Kearney's part: She is trying to tap into two markets. As a current resident of Cincinnati, I can confirm that the restaurant, located on the far south side of the Dayton area, is incredibly easy to get to from Cinci. (From the East Side of Cinci, we arrived at Rue Dumaine's parking lot 45 minutes later, and I was driving like some old grandpappy.) Anyway, once you get inside, you can forget about the suburban strip mall. The decor is woody and dark, with an open kitchen, a rather basic but appealing brasserie look. (It still has the sheen of newness to it, but the feel of the restaurant should improve with age.) It's not exactly very original, but it suits Rue Dumaine's aims and price range. (Price range: For us, a shared appetizer, salads, entrees, desserts, coffees, and a bottle of wine came in well under $200, with tax and tip included, which is about par for the course for a restaurant of this type.) The food might be a shade disappointing in light of Kearney's reputation. She is not aiming quite as high here as she did in New Orleans. Instead, Rue Dumaine aims for a French brasserie atmosphere and menu, with some modest American--specifically, Louisianan--and French country twists here and there. As with about any decent restaurant in 2010, she tries to use as many locally-grown ingredients as possible. The fresh, lemony arugula salad I had was about as bright-tasting and summery as food can be. A New Orleans Creole-ish oyster stew with leeks and onions--an Oysters Rockefeller "tribute"--was delicate and tasty. Duck confit with a lentil ragout and wilted spinach, was delicious, if a bit basic; the lentils seemed slightly undercooked and I'm not certain the flavors of the ragout melded as intended. Desserts--a lemon almond cake and a chocolate-caramel gelato--were fantastic. (As for Rue Dumaine's serving Community Coffee, I know that Chef Kearney still has a devoted attachment to Louisiana, but I think Community, while a decent everyday coffee, is probably subaverage for a restaurant of this sort.) All-in-all, it's easily a four-and-a-half star food experience. In contrast to a couple of complaints here, we had excellent service. Our server knew the menu and specials inside-and-out, and she seemed to know the wine list quite well. Kearney herself, who is known to be somewhat self-effacing, brought out the salads and desserts. (She didn't identify herself or make a fuss about it, and if you didn't know who she was, you'd have thought she was just another server. A nice touch.) Rue Dumaine probably falls a half-notch shy of a five-star dining experience, but given the back-story, I'm bumping the rating up to five rather than ratcheting it down to four.
(5)Valerie R.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in Ohio. The menu is what I would call Rustic French. The sauces are delicate and flavors are amazing. We had the mussels, pork roast, chicken, and lemon cake all of which I would try again. There was a good wine selection the Burgess was outstanding at $10 a glass, which was the most expensive for by the glass wines. The chef is down to earth and really cares about her food. She tries to use local ingredients whenever possible. We were able to get a same day reservation for 2 on a Saturday night at 8pm. By 10:30 the restaurant is dead. Don't let the strip mall location fool you, this is some of the best food you will ever eat.
(5)M R.
Went to the fine restaurant with my girlfriend on Friday night after hearing much praise. The service is absolutely perfect. Our server was very attentive to everything we needed without being overbearing. Water always full, wine amazing. And the food...wow. Please don't get sticker shocked by the prices, as they are a bit high. I was informed that the ingredients are locally grown when possible, and they use the finest ingredients for every dish. And it's obvious. Everyone here has a job, and does it to absolute perfection. Go to Rue Dumaine if you're looking for a wonderful night out, amazing service, and even more amazing food. The fact that a restaurant of this caliber is in Dayton is still blowing my mind. Enjoy!
(5)Corey M.
A little corner of N'awlins hidden in a Centerville strip mall. Chef Kearney spent time in New Orleans, and brought a French Bistro concept with her. Exceptional food, great atmosphere. Some have said this is the best restaurant in Dayton, I don't think any reasonable person could argue it isn't among the best.
(5)Laura H.
The location is a bit odd (next to 5 guys, in a strip mall type area) but the food is amazing. A friend took me there for my birthday and we had a great time. I thought the staff did a great job with the pace of the meal, we were not rushed at all nor were we left wondering when our food was coming. The chef came out after dinner and greeted us and told me happy birthday. All of the staff we interacted with were very nice. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a great meal.
(5)Craig M.
The food is big city quality - 5 star. Bartenders are 5 star, serving classic cocktails using premium alcohols, fresh juices, etc. and a superb wine list. Try their barrell-aged Negroni for new twist on a classic cocktail! Our server, Tony, was amazingly conversant with the menu, accommodating of special requests, and had that intuitive sense of whatever we needed and when. A lot of bench seating and slightly crowded tables takes away from what could otherwise be a completely relaxing and romantic decor. But I hear they are moving to new digs sometime in 2013.
(4)Dave S.
THE BEST RESTAURANT IN DAYTON,OH!!! Rue Dumaine is the ultimate dining experience. From the amazing owners who truly understand how to run a great restaurant, to the near perfect wait staff, to the bartenders and finally the star of the show, the ridiculously delicious entrees. We have yet to have anything on the ever changing menu that we have not enjoyed. The Rue Dumaine team is very accommodating to dietary needs, very friendly and makes you feel welcomed. It is truly a gem in the Gem City!!
(5)Don S.
One of the best restaurants in the US. Wonderful cocktails. And the French-influenced food is based on local ingredients. From the daily pate offering to the cheese platter all their offerings are solid.
(5)melodee t.
Good food. Good presentation. Once you get inside you forget about the strip mall location. If you want a little something different, try Rue Dumaine. The service was excellent.
(4)Steven K.
3.5 for Anne Kearney and Rue Dumaine. The food is always great and a fantastic value. Other Dayton venues charge 25% to 35% more for inferior fare. The location is bothersome, but choosing to be in a strip mall ensures plentiful free parking, an issue plaguing many of Dayton's better dining establishments. Once inside, however, one easily forgets the surrounding mall setting. While many consider this a 5-Star establishment, I sense the owners are going for a bistro feel: a prominent bar; no white tablecloths, only nice wood surfaces; rolled flatware, not formal settings; and servers in jeans and oxfords, no ties or suspenders. It is a low key atmosphere which makes the experience all the more enjoyable. Service can sometimes be slow, but I think it varies depending on what is ordered. I find it comforting everything is made to order and closely overseen by the Chef, not churned out in giant vats to ensure prompt delivery. Be prepared for a lengthy dinner, but the wait is always worth it. Relax and enjoy. The service staff is attentive without being intrusive, well informed about the menu offerings, and do a great job keeping the table updated as to the progress of the meal. My only area of major complaint is the wine list. While overall the quality and selection are high, I have regularly spotted offerings that most Americans would not recognize as extremely cheap French wines which are priced anywhere from $30 to $50. Their obscurity allows the restaurant to charge many times the average industry mark-up. I find this disingenuous. However, perhaps this scheme allows the restaurant to charge less for its high quality food. Bring an informed wine enthusiast with you and you'll do just fine.
(3)Amy S.
I always say that there are 2 things that make my review: The food and the service. Food = 4 stars, Service = 1 star. I guess averages out to a 2.5. Our waiter was terrible. He forgot to tell us the specials. In the middle of ordering he turned around and started talking to the table behind us. It took several times to tell him the wine was acceptable to get him to pour it. And then we didn't see him again. Ever. Another person brought us our food and yet another cleared the plates away. In fact, the person clearing the plates helped serve us more than the waiter. He was friendly and helpful and went back to the kitchen to see if they had mayonnaise for my frites. I even thought for a brief moment if we could tip him and not the waiter. The food was decent. I had the duck crepes which would have been wonderful as a main, and the mussels with frites. Like I said earlier, it would have been nice to have mayonnaise served with the frites but we got that remedied. More garlic in the mussel broth also would have been nice. We didn't get dessert. I really hope that our server was having an off night or something because the location has potential for me, but the poor service just took all the joy from it.
(2)Erika H.
Flavors The food here was very, very good. We had the duck crepes, the mussels, and my entree was the almond encrusted trout. The duck crepes were perfect and even my not so adventurous parents enjoyed them. The mussel broth could have been a little more seasoned but they were still quite good. The trout was great but very heavily laden with almonds, so I would keep that in mind if you're ordering it. We also had an almond lemon cake for dessert and the sorbets. I didn't love the cake, but the sorbet was quite good. Price The prices seemed reasonable based on the quality of the food. $25 entrees, $10 appetizers, inexpensive and expensive options for wines by the glass. Places for improvement I would like my red wine served in a red wine glass and I was really surprised that it wasn't. When dining at a restaurant this expensive and with my parents, I don't want to be carded. Call me nitpicky but wtf? I'm about a half a decade over the legal drinking age and we all know that no one is going to crack down on a restaurant like this. Finally, the service was very, very slow. We waited about 30 minutes between all of our courses. It was a two hour meal from start to finish which seems a bit long. On the upside, you won't be rushed away from your table.
(4)M. J. D.
I would like to visit France someday. The French Empire is renown for priceless art, it's rolling wine country, and the world's finest cuisine. My proud American culture has "improved" the landscape by giving them McDonald's and Euro-Disney. It's time the Empire strikes back. Striking into the heartland of America, in the most revered of American locations - the strip mall - French influence has begun it's counterstrike. Right next to a burger and fries joint. This counterstrike goes by the name: Rue Dumaine. Chef Anne Kearney strikes a blow for fine food and 5-star service in this most unlikely of locations. Dinner started with a pork terrine amuse bouche, followed by a locally cultivated salad with fresh raspberries, then the main course of duck à l'orange. Timing between courses was perfect, wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was perfect. On these factors, Rue Dumaine could be a successful restaurant in New York, Las Vegas, and perhaps even Paris. But there are other factors. A McDonalds in France is not the same as its American counterpart. French influences permeate the menu. French Influences have also reshaped Euro Disney into the Disney Resort Paris. So it seems only fair that the American influence would also come through in the French cultural counterstrike of Rue Dumaine. The food and prices are worthy of 5-star dining, but the seating inside is cramped. The seating arrangements at Rue Dumaine and the neighboring burger joint are almost interchangeable. And while wine in France is very wallet-friendly, Rue Dumaine's wine list is high - even by restaurant mark-up standards. This was quite unfortunate, since it pushed me into a mediocre wine, which paled against the fine food. The American influence of the Almighty Dollar strips Rue Dumaine of it's 5th star, and jeopardizes it's 4th star as well. As I left the eatery, I looked back and thought about the name. Rue as in 'Rue the day' - implies regret. Dumaine sounds a lot like Domaine, French for field - or location. Perhaps the owners are aware that they have great food, but the strip mall overhead has required them to 'Regret the Location'.
(4)Daniel W.
visited again. ordered the fish special. swordfish. (I know). Israeli couscous. mushrooms. olive tapenade. something else. delicious goodness. best dish I've eaten in years and years. served at the table by the Chef. no longer weirded out.
(5)Ann K.
I moved from the Bay Area in 2009, and Rue Dumaine reminds me of Chez Panisse and other restaurants in that area with Alice Waters' influence: fresh, local ingredients, not over-soaked in heavy sauces, but letting the integrity of the food come alive. Although the second time I was there (been there 4-5 times), the server didn't really know the menu well, the food completely made me forgive him (the server) for his lack of expertise. Except for that time, however, all the servers were excellent including the sommelier. I am vegan and Ann Kearney always makes a special dish just for me, and they are always fantastic: one Saturday when I was there, I got a lovely dish with quinoa made with pine nuts and raisins, root vegetable hash with kale, roasted beets with watercress, local green beans with pureed white beans, and then my favorite: locally grown oyster mushrooms grilled to perfection. The wine list is also great. It has an extensive list of great European wines that pair well with anything on the menu. I am especially fond of the Burgundies there. Oh also, I got the butternut squash soup without dairy with toasted sunflower seeds, and I think it was probably the best butternut squash soup I've had in my life! And believe, me, I've had my share of butternut soup.
(5)Mike G.
I rarely give any place 5 stars, and thought about giving Rue Dumaine 5, but I can't - because it is in a strip mall and I hate strip malls. So, I'll say 4.5, but I'm rounding down for yelp. I recently visited the establishment for the first time. We went on a Friday evening, 5 of us. We had reservations at 7, and I was surprised when we arrived, in that the place was about 1/3rd occupied and the bar had only a single patron. I was looking forward to waiting a little, and maybe sampling a cocktail (or 32) at the bar. When we arrived, the hostess (well, a few of them lingering around) took our coats and hung them nearby, and promptly sat us. It was a nice mix between a New York style coat check (which I hate...) and having to deal with your coat at your table. I made my usual placement of not sitting with my back to the room, and realized this was a mistake about an hour later - when I realized if I had sat on the other side of the table, I would have been able to see the glass-partitioned kitchen. I somehow missed this when I first walked in. How I miss a 35 foot wide glass wall with fire, people in white chefs hats - is beyond me. The decor is nice - the seating on the perimeter of the restaurant was acceptable, but might be too close together for some midwesterner taste. Get used to it. Our waiter was very professional and knowledgeable. It appeared most of the staff in the place was more mature. Not the typical 19-year-old-waitress you'll find at the Ruby Tuesday across the street. That's good. There is a good selection of cocktails - however, they don't list the ingredients on the menu. So, you are stuck with waiting to make your decision until your waiter can explain what's in what. The wine list is pretty complete, with bottles ranging from upper 20's (maybe $28 was the cheapest?) to well into the $180-200 range. We sampled Ohio Valley's own Kinkead Ridge ($7), which was ok, but had a slight aftertaste that someone didn't like, but overall was drinkable. After that, we all shared a Rock and Vine Cabernet ($40, retail wine shop is about $15) that was quite tasty. We started out with scallops and the frog legs. The frog legs were better than I've had before - very lightly fried (think: drop in oil, ribbet, flip over, ribbet ribbet, flip again, remove) and tasty. We also had scallops (4 medium-size, I believe) which were quite good, garnished with slices of a white potato and leek. Apps were in the $8-10 range. The special of the evening (which I had a bite or two of) was flounder. It was very good - it was nice to find someone in the midwest that can prepare a delicate flakey (light?) brown fish. I will highlight it was $24, and was much better and cheaper than the last time I had flounder around Dayton - which was $35 and at Cafe Boulevard (I think).... I had the steak frites (learn how to say it, Ohio - rhymes with 'cheat'), which was hangar steak (I assume it is hangar steak all the time, but the menu does change often, I hear). Hangar steak is a tough call for me to order out - as many times I've had it and tastes like it was marinated an hour (I believe it needs a full day or something, in a pretty aggressive marinade) . I was really impressed (as was the other dining companion that had the same dish). It was tender, full of taste, and quite moist - pretty much perfectly medium-rare for me. The fries were fabulous, as well - lightly fried (probably with the frog, poor little guy) - and seasoned a touch of spice I can't place - cajun something, I guess. I would say the $21 steak rivaled the middle range prices ($25-30) of steak at the Oakwood club, if you're looking for comparison. The difference is, I don't feel like an old stuffy Republican at Rue Domaine. Dessert was acceptable - we had a holiday trifle - it was good, but nothing I'd rage about (I'm not a sweets fan, so maybe it was fantastic and I didn't know). We did all have some after dinner drinks, including some warmed liquor. Prices were all decent - around $6-7 for normal drinks. Anne, the owner, and her husband, came around the restaurant a few times during dinner. Both were very friendly and knowledgeable. Overall, the experience was very good. As I said before, I'm not a fan of the location (Centerville, in a strip mall), but, I am definitely going back. It was one of the top 3 or 4 dinings I've had in the area.
(4)Carter P.
What a great surprise. The food, ambiance, and service were excellent. The wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing. The food was well thought out with creative but classic parings and reasonably priced. The wine list was excellent with several smaller vineyards that I would not normally expect to find. Rue Dumaine is a keeper.
(4)L P.
My husband and I have been to this restaurant 3 times. The first two times were in the spring (2010-2011) and the food was delicious (We had lamb on one visit and short ribs on another)! We went again last night for my b-day (9/20/2011) and I was kind of disappointed. I had the stuffed chicken breast w/mushroom croquette with a roasted garlic reduction. The sauce had an off taste and I love roasted garlic, but there was little if none garlic flavor as far as I could tell. The chicken breast was tender and moist but had no flavor. My husband had the steak frites with beurre de Montpellier and pommes frites. He is not as discerning as I am, but I tasted his steak and proceeded to spit it out because of the flavor and the texture, it was horrible to me! I am a pretty open minded person when it comes to food, but this birthday was not food enjoyable. I hope Anne Kearney's restaurant will improve and are not cutting too many corners. I want to see her succeed! I was going to bring my sister and brother in law here for dinner (they live in N.Y. and go to the city to eat all the time) but now I am rethinking that idea. Lori
(3)Shelly V.
My experience at Rue Dumaine was flawless. True, it is in a strip mall, but once you enter the building, that fact is not readily evident. The decor is flawless, and the ambience is welcoming. I had the Pisslidiere for an appetizer, and the Steak Frites for an entree. I finished with Creme Brulee for dessert. Every bite was incredible. This is one of the best meals I've had in Dayton, OH. Chef Anne Kearney is amazing and deserves all three of her James Beard awards. It is great to see a woman succeed in a typically male dominated profession. Good job Anne!
(5)W. B.
This is a new restaurant and has quickly become one of our favorites. Yes, it is located in a strip mall next to a bagel cafe and a Sam's Club. But since you don't eat outside, once you step inside you completely forget its setting. The layout is basically one large seating area, but the atmosphere still feels private. I get the scallops every time - they are always perfectly cooked. They always have a very good pate appetizer. I usually get the fish, but the last time I was there, they had braised short ribs that were awesome. My wife recommends the hanger steak and fries. The bartenders may not know how to make every kind of drink, but the wine list is comprehensive and well rounded. The lemon curb topped cake is an excellant dessert. The prices are suprisingly reasonable, especially given how popular this restaurant has become. I think that is largely due to the quality and originalty of the food.
(4)