Just five minutes from the University of Dayton in the historic Oregon District is The Trolley Stop, a nostalgic neighborhood tavern that features good food, constantly changing craft beer and live music four nights a week.
Earlier in the week I went to The Trolley Stop for lunch, and as I was walked in I was greeted by a classical style tavern far from something I expected to see in Dayton.
With wooden floors, brick walls and signs that don old adages such as “Bless the Irish,” The Trolley Stop is a place to get great food, great beer, watch a football game and have good conversations with friends and family.
After I walked in I sat down and ordered their most popular dish, red beans and rice with a side salad for $5.95. The dish includes red beans, onions, peppers and ‘the best Andouille sausage north of the Mason-Dixon Line’ from the KJB farm in Tipp City, Ohio. All of this lies on top of a bed of white rice mixed with an original blend of Cajun spices and seasonings.
The salad comes with a mix of greens, tomatoes and chives topped by a house dressing which combines elements of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pomegranate and mustard seed to form a very good tasting compliment to the dish.
The building The Trolley Stop is in was originally built in 1839, and is the longest continually operating tavern in Dayton as it served through prohibition under the name The Ace Restaurant. Its name was changed to The Trolley Stop when the building came under new ownership in the early 1970’s. The name is a testament to the trolleys that used to run through Dayton and make a stop right outside of the bar.
The Trolley Stop is open Monday–Saturday from 11a.m. until 2a.m. and customers can come in on Monday and Thursday nights for $2 drafts and $7 pitchers. The tavern also features 10 different types of craft beer on tap and live music every night from Wednesday through Saturday.
If you’re looking for great food, great beer and a great environment then stop your trolley at 530 E. Fifth St. sometime soon.
