| Happy new year, local food fans! I think I might have found my new favorite Mexican restaurant. On New Yearâs Eve, my husband and I ate dinner at El Trompo Mexican Grill before heading to Miami Valley Gaming. I really enjoyed the chips and salsa because the salsa had a little more of a kick than usual. I had three street tacos filled with pastor and my husband had the El Trompo Burrito stuffed with rice, beans, red sauce, steak and grilled chicken. It was then covered with cheese sauce, chorizo, shrimp and grilled pineapple. The space is bright, vibrant and uniquely decorated. I canât wait to go back! What did you eat on New Yearâs Eve? Email me here. *** New Kettering restaurant has menu of variety Credit: Natalie Jones After working as an employee at several Thai restaurants in the Dayton region, Pratya Kaewkheaw is looking forward to opening his own restaurant in Kettering on West Stroop Road. Get the Pho Out will be located at 10 W. Stroop Road in the former space of W.g. Grinders in the Castle Hills Shopping Center across from Town & Country. It will be open for takeout and delivery only. Customers can expect a variety of pho such as chicken or beef with their choice of noodle. They can also choose their own spice level from 0 to 5. The menu will also feature banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich served on a croissant with a special sauce made by Kaewkheawâs mom. During lunch, customers can order a bento box featuring a smaller portion of the sandwich served with their choice of entree such as stir fry, fried rice or noodles and a spring roll. Get the Pho Out will feature a mix of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. If he can get the city of Kettering to do final inspections next week, he hopes to start a soft opening mid-January. Self-guided coffee tour has 10 stops in Dayton region Grounds for Hounds, a self-guided coffee tour benefitting SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center, is back for the month of January. Those interested in participating must purchase a $25 ticket booklet that includes 10 coupons for free coffee (up to a $5 value) to be used at locally owned coffee shops throughout the Dayton region. Coffee shops participating include B-Side Coffee Bar in Huber Heights, Curious Styles and Coffee Shop in Miamisburg, MidDay in Dayton and seven others. Ticket booklets are available online at flipcause.com or in-person at SICSA, located at 8172 Washington Church Road in Washington Twp., from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday or at Wright Dunbar Cigars, located at 1153 W. Third St. in Dayton, from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. This fundraiser is presented by Planned2Give, a nonprofit organization that helps and supports other nonprofits with fundraising events and awareness. Scramble by Cafe 19 in Brookville to close this weekend Credit: Submitted Photo Scramble by Cafe 19 is closing its doors in Brookville after operation on Saturday, Jan. 4, according to a Dec. 27 post on the restaurantâs Facebook page. âWe hate to become another statistic of this location and I did everything in my power to not let it happen, we just donât have the resources to continue on without taking everything down in the process,â said Dillon Allen, who owns the restaurant with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Brunotte, and brother, John Allen. This news comes a week after Allen posted on social media that the restaurant was in trouble. âSales in general have started to decline across all locations, but Brookville is our most expensive restaurant to operate,â Allen said in a Dec. 17 Facebook post. âWeâve come to a point where my business is in trouble and if things donât turn around fast Iâm gonna be left with no choice but to close our Brookville location.â Allen is also the co-owner of Cafe 19 at 19 E. National Road in Englewood and 7 S. Miami St. in West Milton. These two coffee shops will remain open. Quick Bites đ´ Nearly 100 new restaurants opened in 2024: From chains to locally owned establishments, customers were able to try a variety of cuisines and unique dishes. đ¸ The Mayflower in Troy has new ownership: The cocktail lounge, restaurant and live entertainment venue is now led by Wes Martin, owner of Busted Brick Realty, LLC and Village Vantage, who purchased the building in 2022. READ MORE đ Which Frischâs restaurants are open? Hereâs the latest list. First Friday returns to downtown Dayton The new year ushers in another round of First Friday fun as the monthly art hop supporting downtown Dayton businesses offers numerous entertainment options as well as dining and shopping deals from 5 to 10 p.m. on Jan. 3. After5, Minthaâs Boutique and Vidiaâs Closet are among retailers offering 20 percent off your entire purchase when you mention First Friday. You can also save money with discounted prices at Gem City Tattoo Club, Square One Salon & Spa, and Sole Touchers among others. In addition, 5 Star Beauty Salon is offering a chance to sip fine wine, sample cheese and enjoy complimentary mini beauty services for free â although a $5 donation to their Shining Star Campaign is requested to fund scholarships for aspiring beauty professionals. Happy Hour specials are the main attraction at various bars and restaurants. Even though winter is here, donât forget that the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) is in effect all year long. Several business are now offering DORO cups made for hot beverages. TAKE A LOOK: 9 other things to to do in Dayton this weekend Tell Us Thank you so much for reading my weekly newsletter! If you see a new restaurant opening or are wondering when an establishment is expected to open, feel free to email me here, and Iâll check it out. Iâve had several people ask about the opening of Troniâs Italian Bistro in Union Village, a new development just west of Lebanon. According to a spokesperson with the restaurant, thereâs still some kitchen work to be done, as well as inspections. Remember to follow Dayton Daily News on Facebook or search our Food & Dining section for the latest stories. Iâll have continuous updates on my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok pages. | 