Wheat Penny Oven and Bar

I see why it was so busy ! First off, a shout out to the back of house who make such excellent dishes ! CC and Bryan in front of house take enhance your dining experience !! They are both very professional, knowledge, and friendly ! Bryan also bartends, tho we did not partake... I'm sure his drinks are fabulous from watching his customers 😃 The food was simply delish ! It was hard to choose, but what we did choose was a great choice. The dining room is really nice (see photos). A picture can say a thousand words ( so I don't have to!). I also added some outdoor shots for those but familiar with the area. If you miss it, your GPS will just send you back on the next block. We'd never been so wasn't quite sure where to go. Surely check it out, you'll thank me later !!

From the service to the options to the food itself everything is top notch. The place is fun but can be relaxing. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable. I'm complicated with food allergies and they met me and exceeded Mt expectations. Gluten free dairy free pizza that was AMAZING. My husband got the brisket sandwich that is huge but more importantly tastes wonderful. Drinks are also just as good, even unusual cider options that made me so happy. Cannot wait to come back.

We stopped in for a birthday dessert and we were not disappointed! Pictured here is the gluten free carrot cake and gluten free blueberry cobbler. Both so delicious! The bar staff even lit a candle and the whole bar sang to me. It was a memorable experience! 💛

if you are loving dark meat like thighs you must try the crispy brick chicken thighs. they are cooked under a brick until crispy and have to say most tender meat with sides. Also must try the homemade desserts.

We are so impressed with The Wheat Penny. The food was perfect. Pasta is freshly made. Chicken thighs were so tender. Even the kids fruit platter was really good. Our server was kind, attentive, and had a lot of great suggestions. They have gluten free options and told us that they have separate utensils and pans for GF options. We will absolutely be back.

Tried Wheat Penny for the first time without having any prior knowledge of it. Our group of 4 was very happy with this choice. We got in quickly with less than a 15 min wait on a Saturday night. Our server was fantastic! She was so friendly and willing to answer any questions we had about the menu. The "That's me Espresso" drinks were fabulous. All of our food choices were great and good sized portions as well. The focaccia bread was amazing with the ricotta cheese. I highly recommend that! We ordered pizzas and they were packed with flavor! We will be back when we visit Dayton again!

Everything I've tried so far has been amazing. The eggplant fries are one of the best appetizers I've had, ever.

We (5) went here for lunch before my brother’s wedding and I think ultimately we were all disappointed. To start the menu is very boring and really expensive, which Isn’t normally that big of a deal to me. But everything took a good while to get to the table, and overall we spent about 2 hours at the restaurant. The food was decent but not great, certainly not worth the price point. There were some good things though, service and drinks. Our server was very kind and accommodating to when we wanted to get drinks and when we ordered food. The two cocktails we got were really good as well, very smooth and not super overpowering.

The best food I ever tried and the service was awesome. They have a very good ambience too.

. From the moment we walked in, the manager, Ivy, set the tone with her welcoming and transparent approach--she let us know the wait would be about 15 minutes, offered us a the option for a drink from the bar along with the drink and food menus, and in the end, we were seated in just 10. I really appreciated how open she was about supporting the kitchen staff and pacing the seating. The drinks were excellent, and our server, Nate, was one of the most attentive and kind waiters I've ever had. He was thorough, helpful with menu choices, and made us feel truly cared for. The food was outstanding. We enjoyed a flavorful pasta dish with sausage and mushrooms, shrimp and polenta, and the incredible meatballs with polenta--a family recipe (thanks L that felt truly authentic to Italian heritage. Every dish was rich, balanced, and beautifully presented. What stood out just as much as the food was the teamwork. As soon as we finished plates, any nearby server would pick them up, which really highlighted the supportive, family-like atmosphere of the restaurant. The rotating menu adds to the charm, and you can tell there's heart behind everything. Thank you, Ivy, Nate, Liz, and the entire Wheat Penny team for a memorable evening. We'll absolutely be back!

We were excited to try Wheat Penny as they are under the same umbrella of one of our favorite restaurants in town, Meadowlark. We made a reservation for 6pm on a Friday. Despite being downtown, parking is easy with a large lot out front. The inside decor and atmosphere is awesome. They have vibrant artwork for sale lining the walls. The menu has a great variety, including some vegan options. I had trouble deciding on what to get given the mix of choices. Ultimately, I decided on the chicken parmesan sandwich with jojo fries and my wife got one of the spring specialty burgers. The food arrived pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a miss for us. For the chicken parm, the focaccia bread was a bit soggy, and the jojo fries were just so-so. I did like the marinara and mozzarella, but overall it left a lot to be desired. My wife's burger was undercooked and quite messy. I'm thinking it may have just been an off day, and I look forward to giving Wheat Penny another shot.

Amazing food, cocktails and service. The restaurant feels like home away from home. 20/10 experience. I've been coming for years but must be horrible at taking pictures because all I've got is the menu!

Adore this place. Very nice atmosphere with some ambiance, it's clean (restaurant and bathrooms) , there's super friendly service , and lastly, the food is very, very good! I love their vegetarian and vegan options and the quality is why I go back to this place. I've tried their appetizers (caprese salad, eggplant fries, focaccia, bruschetta, veggies), their pizza (mostly vegan), salads (kale, wedge) a couple of vegan mains (cauliflower T-bone, their burgers) and their pasta mains and I'd get each and every one of these choices again and again. Their drinks are amazing, too! That says something about a restaurant! If you can go back and get things over and over again. Keep up the glorious work, Wheat Penny. You got a regular customer here that sings your praises any chance I get.

Original delicious food great service one of my favorites. Love the green lasagna and meatballs.

Wheat Penny Oven and Bar was a great experience overall and I recommend it. The food was a wonderful combination of taste and style with artistic plating that made eating it more anticipating. However, there is something to always consider with places like this the quantity of food you are given is likely to decrease and that seems to be the case here. If you are someone who prefers quantity over quality for your dollar, this likely is not your place. If you are the former then they have great options to choose from with their pizza being their highlight. Service was adequate, no complaints to make there. My partner and I felt taken care of. The ambiance was nice, sporting what seemed like a cozy modern design for the interior. I have only ever eaten on the heated patio which was quite cozy but definitely not for everyone, especially if you get cold easily.

There pizza is awesome and nice atmosphere. Will be back. Next time I be trying There wine selection to go with my meal.

This place used to be great! Everything about it was nice, the service, the food, etc... now it is obviously ran by new owners or something, all the shortcut being taken are obvious, your food is bland and your drinks are weak. Plus your prices?!? 20 bucks for cauliflower. If you like over priced nostalgia you find the right place, if you like good food I'd go someplace else.

Opted for a light meal at Wheat Penny today, and it certainly lived up to expectations. We began with the Eggplant Fries, which were delightfully light and crispy. Between the marinara and yogurt sauces, the marinara stood out as the superior choice with its robust and rich taste, though my wife liked to mix them. I'd recommend sticking with the marinara for its hearty flavor The cocktails were perfect for an afternoon sip. The smoked Old Fashioned, dubbed Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em, was a hit. With Buffalo Trace as the base, the bartender achieved a fantastic balance For the main course, I chose the combination mix of pizza and salad, while my wife went for pizza and soup. The Mr. White pizza was wonderfully simple yet satisfying. The arugula salad paired with cauliflower slices was a hit. My wife's Italian sausage with braised mushrooms pizza was also impressive, but the standout was definitely the soup. The White Bean and Kale soup was exceptionally tasty, a must-have for our next visit The experience was rounded off with reasonable prices, outstanding customer service, a welcoming staff, and a great vibe. Looking forward to returning and trying the sea bass for dinner in the near future!

One of the best restaurant I have been to in this area. Staff were very hospitable and friendly and service was quick. Lots of options for people with allergies. Food was so good that I'd eat here everyday of week if I could. Prices were reasonable for portions and quality.

I've been recommended to eat at this spot and I can understand why people rave about it. Since they're known for pizza, we had to get it and I liked that they had unique toppings. However, I think the dough overwhelmed the limited sauce and toppings. The eggplant fries are a customer favorite and I agree, it was delicious! Our waiter was nice and gave us good recommendations. The only thing that was disappointing was that we got sat at a table that hadn't been cleaned properly and had crumbs on the seats as well.

I am still thinking about this pizza What a lovely restaurant and the food was delicious. The focaccia was amazing and the Tomasso pizza was so unique. The combination of blue cheese, Roman sauce (the waitress described it as similar to balsamic glaze) and onion straws was fabulous. Our waitress was fantastic and the atmosphere was nice & cozy. The menu has so many great options and everyone was able to find something they wanted. Many of the options can even be made vegan! There is a nice sized parking lot attached. I left super satisfied and will definitely be returning when I am back in Ohio!

The service here is always great! Whether I'm sitting alone at the bar or dining with friends, I've never had a bad experience. One of my favorite meals is the chicken thighs and potatoes! I always get the potatoes! They are so good. The pizza is good too, but I typically don't order it there. I'm more of a Dewey's gal. They also do a great job at craft cocktails and usually have a good wine and beer list! Anyhoo, I recommend giving it a try!

Really happy with my meal here all around. Service is very friendly, and menu is very thoughtful and inspired. The ambiance of the restaurant is not ostentatious at all, kind of casual, decent space and high ceilings. Not really romantic but would be good for groups. Eating gluten free is always a challenge so I was very happy to see that most items on the menu can be done gluten free. We ordered two large pizzas with gluten free crust (which was really good, didn't make me miss traditional at all), one pizza magic Mike and the other pizza we did 1/2 chimi picante and 1/2 Taylor street. All of the pizza was phenom but I'm going to have dreams about the chimi picante it was so tasty. I got a few cocktails but one standout was the 'climbing up the wall', which I was hesitant to order bc coffee and tequila don't mix in my head but it was actually really good. Looking forward to coming back again asap!

Amazing dinners, excellent desserts and Nick our waiter made our dining experience fun, helpful and memorable! Although we have only dined with you on 4-5 occasions (great experience every tine!) we invited some old friends to join us from Troy. They loved it and said they return soon. Keep up with what you do and how you do it!!!

This is a dining hot spot! I mean, it was Tuesday night at about 6:30 and this place was hopping! Valerie, Libby, and I walked over to explore this place, and we were all pleasantly surprised. It's trendy, upscale, and has an energetic, boisterous ambiance. The dining room seating was on a wait, so we opted for the patio. Our server came right over and was very pleasant and helpful with our questions. Our drinks were tasty and had a good pour. I ordered a Mai Tai / Rum Runner but got something more like a Margarita. Wasn't what I expected, but it was quite good. (I ordered a second drink, just so you know). I decided to go with the "Mr White," which is a delicious white pizza with a nice wood fired oven crust. There was a decent amount of cheese, a pleasing combination of flavors, and a noticeable nutty taste. I also tried Libby's Eggplant and Valerie's Spinach Artichoke pizza, and both were pretty tasty. Good food, good service, and good conversation with long-time friends... What an enjoyable evening! Wheat Penny Oven And Bar is definitely worth checking out for an upscale dining experience.

On a recent business trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find this restaurant. The hosts greeted us and later the owner/chef Liz came by to say hi personally! Our conversation with her showed the passion and dedication she has for her craft! We shared the brisket and the grilled shrimp. I have to say the shrimp was my favorite, very flavorful along with the grilled broccolini and bell pepper over polenta. The brisket was tender, but a little bland. I didn't read any of the reviews, but will try the eggplant fries and pizza on my next visit. It's a very welcoming and inclusive place and everyone was very friendly!

Ate here last night and the food was amazing. Personally love the meatball appetizer. The dishes we ordered the strip steak and salmon special were large portions and well worth the cost. Flavor and cook temp of salmon was perfect: not overcooked as most places. It had an olive tapenade topping was a great finish to the dish. The wait staff was prompt and attentive. Atmosphere was upbeat and trendy. It is a bit loud, but that's just bc there's people enjoying it there and good conversation. I don't really have a bad thing to say. Parking could be better, but most places in this area don't have a lot of parking. They do have their own lot and there are several places along the street to park. Definitely worth the stop.

The food was phenomenal. Stellar. Service was very good, just shy of excellent. Our waiter was eager to please and did a great job. Starting with their most popular dish- eggplant fries. Best eggplant fries EVER and I've tried them whenever I've seen them on a menu. Cut chunky, delicately crispy outside with a nice saltiness, and soft as butter inside. The texture was heaven and the taste equally out of this world. I loved the green lasagna. Exactly as described and chock full of lovely whipped ricotta. Plenty of flavor-full (but not heavy) red gravy and a nice chunk of focaccia bread to soak it up. I added Italian sausage that was perfect, and spicy like it oughta be. The Chilean Sea Bass- wow. This was my husband's choice but I took a little taste. Such an un-fishy fish, sweet and firm. Worth every penny. He was very impressed with the sides too and practically licked the plate. Ambiance- intimate seating, half booths line the back wall, many tables, a long two-sided high top that's waited on by the bar tenders. There's a party room too. Minimal decor, the modern simplified look. Industrial chic ceiling, geometric art prints. But as distinct from ambiance, let's talk atmosphere. I was in the twilight zone...a nightmarish reminiscence of an ugly, paranoid, fear-ridden and shameful time. Every single one of the staff had a mask over their nose and mouth. Straining eyes, sweating foreheads, muffled voices. I asked our waiter what the deal was, after we were finished....apparently it's the owner's orders due to some terror of a staff member catching a cold from a customer and passing it along. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Honestly, it didn't hit me until we were seated that it was all of them, otherwise I might have walked out and missed the great food. But talk about totally spoiling an otherwise great vibe. It's not too likely I'll come back if this keeps up. I didn't like to see it four years ago and I'm sure not gonna deal with it now. I hope they get over the madness because I think they'd otherwise be an easy five star.

Stopped in for the first time as I am always looking for new experiences for my staff and I. I waited at the front, several employees glanced my way but no one came to seat me. I thought one waiter was going to as he walked toward the hostess stand, but he came and dropped something there then turned and walked away. I walked away also. It doesn't matter if the food is good, making a customer feel welcome in your environment is most essential to success. Makes me sad.

This is a perfect date or girls night spot. Pizza was incredible. Had the white pizza and very flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Not sure about the cocktails or wine options, but I'm sure they were great too. Vibe was awesome and very chill.

Fettuccini was delicious cooked al dente and a large portion. SALAD SUCKED! I asked for a dinner salad and got a oversized bowl of mixed green lettus. No tomatoes no carrots no onions no cucumber nothing but a big bowl of lettus for $9 (I could have went to krogers and got 3 times as much for half the price if all I wanted was lettus) I also got the shaved cauliflower salad to go, another disappointment for over $12. Not as much lettus as the salad with a few slices of cauliflower and one bite of cheese. I really think you should take more pride in your salads, in case you didnt know they are pretty popular New bartender was knowledgeable and engaging. Lastly, I have to say I dont care for long beards in the kitchen or serving my food to me for that mater

Come here for several times. Really happy and satisfied with my dinner here. This restaurant is very popular I think so many people will come here. You need to wait if you haven't reserved before. But the waiting time would not be too long, about 10-20mins I really like fried eggplant balls. They are crunchy and soft inside. A very special experience in tastebud

I've been going here for years and it's still amazing. Went on a date with my husband when we came back to town. It's quiet and intimate. They have great cocktails and wine list. The pizza is phenomenal. Order the pizza. It's thin crust with a crispy bottom and chewy crust

Fun, polite, energetic staff. Atmosphere was lively and enjoyable. Grilled cheese was recommended and very tasty! Great experience.

My husband and I absolutely love Wheat Penny! The kitchen dependably delivers fantastic quality food and they make you feel very comfortable ordering add ons, making substitutions or accommodating allergies. They offer a large variety of vegetarian, vegan and, my requirement, gluten-free. I had two cocktails, don't judge , and they were both great, although I especially enjoyed " Country Dog". I ordered a gluten free Angry Sal pizza and added pepperoni and arugula with extra spicy red sauce. The pizza was extraordinary for gluten free! We sit at the bar and the bartenders were very friendly, accommodating and professional! The prices are very reasonable for what they offer! I highly recommend Wheat Penny!!!

Long time customer. I am writing this review for Liz. Going mid week is a bad idea. We got there at 5:30. It wasn't crowded so not sure why our server was very inattentive. The pasta with butternut squash was pasty and overly sweet. Probably sitting around and reheated. The other pasta was bland ... that's all I remember. I'm overall meh. I had pizza envy. That's what we should've ordered.

Delicious meal, wonderful service. Met friends out for dinner, everyone enjoyed their meal!

The food was too innovative to be amazing. Our server seemed disinterested when we continued to express the severity of our tables allergies. He continued to state "he made the kitchen aware of the allergies" but would not answer our questions of what was in certain menu items. Our server was slow. He had our seven top and a two top. He was sure to take his time greeting us. I am confident he was stoned. For my first time here, I was disappointed in their allergy awareness and welcomeness. This will be my first and final visit.

The food was wonderful, and different. Unique creations that I have never seen before. Vegan and vegetarian options. I tried the Pepperoni Gumbo. Hearty, tasty, but I think I prefer Andouille Sausage. But still, well worth trying, The squash appetizer was plenty - the table shared. Yummy, and I will do my best to duplicate at home. The eggplant "fries" were crunchy, soft on the inside, and tatsy. I had a pizza with sausage and smoked beef. Yummy. But, there was a mistunderstaning on what I had ordered, and the wrong pizza came out. They were gracious and prpompt and re-fired the pizza for me. They gave me a cup of the Gumbo to hold me over. The error was unfortunate, but they handled it perfectly. Down side, they automatically add a 20% tip for five or more diners, and they have a 4% credit card surcharge. Worth stopping whether you're local or visiting town.

On my recent visit to Dayton, the University suggested Wheat Penny oven and bar, and I appreciated the suggestion. The food was delicious

I would give them 10 stars if I could. We had the best server ever. He brought us lots of wine samples and made sure everything came out perfect for us. Exceptional food & exceptional service!

I had the shrimp polenta. The shrimp were like rubber over cooked and not properly cleaned. The polenta was ok. The vegetable that comes with it was Disgusting Service was disinterested but otherwise ok. They credited us for the lousy dinner. I went back and had food elsewhere as I left hungry. If you are going to use frozen shrimp maybe you should take it off the menu. It is very noisy and the hard chairs are uncomfortable

Food was good, but a little smaller than what I was expecting for the price. Good service with a classic cozy vibe. They said they make the duck in house which is fantastic! However the "caramelized" onions were just cooked down and not really caramelized...

Shoestring onions overpowered our small custom pizza. Wish there was about a quarter of what there was on it. Otherwise, an intimate setting great for dates and gatherings. Servers were very pleasant and attentive. Would go again and try out other items in their menu.

After wanting to try this well-reviewed Dayton hot-spot for AGES (and not realizing how close and convenient it is to other favorite spots in the area) I finally made it here, thanks to a planned meet-up with Yelp royalty Mike G. from Columbus and Libby, now in Cincy, soon to be returning to this side of the tracks!! Great spot, wonderful meet-up, excellent service, and a FINE dinner... What more could you ask for?!? Wheat Penny offers what is not the easiest thing to find (IMO...) in this area: GOOD, FRESH (both food and ideas!!) Italian food... Definitely NOT boring, same-old, same old "standards" that you could just as easily get at dozens of other, mediocre establishments or (if the mood hits...) make at home. You can tell as soon as you walk in that time, effort, and THOUGHT have been put into their creative menu and their beautiful indoor and outdoor dining areas. From their tempting apps, their entrees, and their unique pizzas, there's definitely something for just about everyone. Was tempted by the eggplant fries, but had a side salad instead with my Okie Dokie Artichokie Pizza (Mmmmm!!). Will be back FREQUENTLY (now that I know where it is!!) to try about a dozen (or more...) tempting options that were ALSO calling my name!! Come hungry, leave happy!! A wonderful choice for good, creative, FUN food and drink in an inviting atmosphere!!

Came here with a big crew for work; we made reservations and weren't seated immediately, but the wait wasn't bad. Ordered a bunch of appetizers which were all delicious, but I was really disappointed with my pizza. I ordered the Tommaso and all I tasted were the tons of fried onions on top, which was a big shame as it had such potential. Beer selection was good though wish they had more locals on tap. Cute interior, friendly staff, and affordable pricing. Just bummed about my entree.

Very comfortable space. Great food and service. Great selection of beers and cocktails. We can't wait to come back!

The food is great, but absolutely not worth the frustration or poor service. The space is cramped, loud, and warm. We waited 30+ minutes for our checks. When we weren't happy with the portion sizes, and felt like the menu was misleading, it wasn't even worth it to say something because we'd be there for another hour. The pizza is lovely & I will get takeaway from here anytime.

This was our first visit back in three years. It is still a five star stop! Service was a tad slow this time but it didn't affect our visit except that it was a longer stop than we expected. My son had the Angry Sal. I had Mr White. I love cheese so this was perfect for me. My husband had the chicken parm sandwich with huge steak fries. Everything was delicious and huge portions on the sandwich and fries. We ordered the small pizzas. I took half of mine home. I rarely get dessert but as we watched a few go by, I couldn't resist. I had the strawberry rhubarb crisp with vanilla ice cream. The sweet with the sour was perfect. Solid lunch stop.

One of my top 2 faves in Dayton. Eggplant fries are a MUST try. Shrimp polenta is fantastic. Burger dinner is a great deal. And the pizzas are so yummy! Something for everyone on this menu.

Not worth the hype. Ordered the brisket with 3 barbecue sauces (except there was not 3 barbecue sauces). They came out with extremely well done, dry brisket with a half ketchup cup of "barbecue sauce", "mustard", "and sound cream??" It was awful, the only thing that I enjoyed on my plate was the cheesy polenta. The service was okay... The ambiance was alright...

Clean and social distancing observed. All employees in masks and tables cleaned between patrons. Winning. Years ago my Mom made a spinach lasagna, and my husband and brother were brats saying lasagna was never meant to be green. I laughed and ordered here...they had me at paper thin pasta. And yes...it was paper thin. And everytime I think of this dish (every day since eating there last week) I salivate. One of the best things I ever put in my mouth. I will be back for more of this! Covid 19 WIN.

Amazing! The menu is great. We have gluten free and vegan in our family. There were so many options. The food and service was amazing.

Stopped in for lunch after a climb at Urban Krag. Service was fantastic as always. The food itself was pretty good and the presentation on the antipasta salas was great. I always enjoy my meals at Wheat Penny so I will definitely be back.

Came for a date night and the service was great but the food definitely had interesting flavors. We split the Arugula and Shaved Cauliflower Salad and a pasta dish. The salad was light but personally, I wasn't a huge fan. The pasta tasted like chicken noodle soup in pasta form.

My friend and I really enjoyed everything about our dinner here! The service was good, it was a lovely fall day to sit on the patio, and the food was wonderful too. We started with the roasted potatoes and they were incredible. Probably my favorite thing we ate. I got a crabapple soda, my friend got a beet cocktail with dill which was weirdly very good when I tried it. I got the sweet corn bucatini and that was really good, she got the cauliflower steak and loved it. For dessert we shared the pear croustade which was delicious. Great restaurant, we loved all the vegetarian options!

Service and food were really good. The salad and all of the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. I sat out on the nice patio area. It was warm and sunny and quite a few people were outside eating and talking-good lunchtime ambiance.