Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County

I usually only visit Riverside when I’m on the way home from school or passing through to get to Dayton. However, after trying Debbie’s Restaurant, I hope to pass through more often. After an early morning exam, I decided to go for a not-so-early morning brunch. Feeling brave in my lonesome, I stopped in at Debbie’s around noon and was pleasantly surprised by the homey atmosphere.

When you think of a place where everyone knows your name and the staff can joke around with you and give you a hard time, you probably think of a bar. However, close to the Cheers scene is the diner scene. It was my first time visiting the adorable little roadside restaurant that is Debbie’s, but it certainly won't be my last. On a weekday at noon, there were only a few people in the joint, but you could tell they were there what seemed like everyday visitors. Although most of the crowd was probably retired regulars, the conversation still thrived. However, if that’s not what you're into, there were of course, some men in uniform on their breakfast outing, too.

After ordering the savory breakfast I had been dreaming about all morning, I overheard a conversation about the specials the day before. The liver and onions had been sold out. I’m no expert, but if the most unappealing item on any menu was sold out the day before, that must mean it’s a pretty good place to grab a bite to eat. As my food arrived (in record time), I realized from the smell alone I was right.

I am a soggy egg-white hater to my core. I love a liquid gold yolk, but a runny white is straight to the outskirts of the plate for me. At Debbie’s, the over-easy eggs had two perfectly runny yolks but whites with chewy and crispy edges. I have no idea how they managed to do this, but they were the best eggs I’ve ever had. I enjoyed these soaked up with the home fries, which were crispy little circles that reminded me of what I imagine when British people say chips instead of French fries. The star of the show was the Polish sausage. I’ve had links, patties, and even bacon, but Polish sausage might be my new favorite as a breakfast meat. It was like a socially acceptable hotdog for breakfast, but tastier and split down the middle. After tipping my two-egg breakfast off with a drizzle of ketchup, I demolished the entire plate. Even the toast! Although, my only wish is that they had raisin.

Debbie’s has the small-town diner atmosphere that I just can't get enough of. Although it’s just on the outskirts of Dayton, it's the perfect place to grab a quiet breakfast, coffee, or even sober up after an early night on the town during Christmas break. I’ll definitely be returning, if not for the vibes alone, then definitely for the Polish sausage.

Debbie’s Restaurant is located at 2620 Valley Pike, Dayton.