Lunch Break: Really Ducking Good
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County
I wanted to grab a quick lunch on the way to Wright State from Tipp, and I thought I’d try the somewhat new MidDay Coffee in Dayton. Unfortunately, I had made it for a late lunch (literally midday) an hour before closing, and they were no longer serving food. As much as it would’ve been easy to order a pastry and a latte and talk about how cute the place was, it was honestly just another hipster hangout with $5 coffee. So, instead, I did what any Gen Z person would do and searched “lunch near me” on Google.
To my delight, a mile away, The Ugly Duckling was open until 9:00 p.m. I gathered my things and enjoyed my scenic five-minute route through the Oregon district to the quaint and surprisingly quiet diner.
The Ugly Duckling, although also teetering on the hipster side with its prices, booms with personality. I was genuinely surprised that I was the only customer there. The inside is decorated with vibrant colors, local artwork, and Dayton memorabilia. The seats reminded me of an old-timey pizza place, while the artwork was fresh and funky. Not to mention the cute St. Anne's Hill Historical District vibe outside.
The food was all breakfast and all drool-worthy. I had to stop myself from ordering the blueberry bites, even though they sounded like a mouthful of heaven. Instead, I went for the hearty Brad’s Hash. Oh my god. The second I took the first bite, I knew I was in the best place in Dayton. The only critique that I can think of is that I’m not completely sure there isn’t crack in the quack sauce. I’m typing this thinking of when I can get my next fix. I’m not sure what magical cow they milked to get the sharpest and best white cheddar cheese I’ve ever tasted, and I’m also fairly certain they used golden eggs. This beautiful mess was a layered masterpiece of tater tots, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon bits, peppers, onions, and creamy sausage gravy. I really don’t care that it probably took ten years off my life, I’m going back for 20. I’m pretty sure the sun came out from behind the clouds after I took that first bite.
The Ugly Duckling is truly the best name for the restaurant. It’s a colorful peacock in a pond full of grey and beige wannabe free spirit restaurants. I can’t wait to bring all of my friends to The Ugly Duckling so that I can take ownership for changing their lives. I would also absolutely kill for an ugly duckling food truck during the downtown Tipp events this summer.
The Ugly Duckling is located at 1430 East 5th Street, Dayton.