Beavercreek Gem: Wellington Grille
Cruising for good cuisine in east Dayton can be hard for the uninitiated; with so many small family establishments hiding along the side roads and neighborhoods waiting to be discovered, it's hard to know where to begin. But when you find one that really shines, you don't forget it.
Beavercreek Gem: Wellington Grille
Cruising for good cuisine in east Dayton can be hard for the uninitiated; with so many small family establishments hiding along the side roads and neighborhoods waiting to be discovered, it’s hard to know where to begin.
But when you find one that really shines, you don’t forget it.
Such a memorable experience can be had at the Wellington Grille, 2450 Dayton-Xenia Road in Beavercreek. While you might pass through this side of town without noticing the name atop a simple tan-and-green overhang, you’ll be wowed once you set foot in the spacious dining destination.
Named for the childhood home of owners Mary Miller, Ray Jean, Wellington Grille brings class and elegance to seafood with the eclectic menu of surf and turf dishes. It’s a real jewel in the crown of the Dayton restaurateurs, which they added to their group of local independent restaurants in 1998.
The delicacies in Wellington Grille’s repertoire are a delicious combination of surf and turf dishes off the grill. From the grill you’ll find plenty of comfort food favorites ranging from teriyaki beef stir fry to "not your mama’s meatloaf,” top-notch cuts like Rib Eye, New York Strip, and Filet Mignon cooked to order.
Among the lighter seafood options are Maryland Crab cakes, ample bits of crabmeat atop a spiced remoulade sauce with a warm heat to it, and served alongside red skin potatoes and vegetables. The crab cakes are excellent, well seasoned and just slightly crisp. It’s perfect in the French sauce. If you’re in the mood for heavier fare, fried clam strips and fried gulf shrimp served with "soul” puppies and red skin potatoes are sure to fill you up. A roast duckling dish with port wine lingonberry sauce highlights a foray into poultry dishes, with a simpler roasted chicken in chicken jus also a strong showing.
In all of these dishes, the secret to Wellington Grille’s success really is in a quality preparation. Whether you order a cut of Ahi Tuna or a thick-cut Pork Chop, the meat is well seared on the outside and extremely tender in the middle. It takes a seriously deft hand to pull that off. Top each cut with appropriate spices and herbs, and you have a culinary masterpiece.
Perhaps the most artful dish on the palette is the Grill Master’s Drunken Salmon. It’s a cut of Atlantic Salmon marinated in honey and Irish whiskey before being grilled and served atop wild rice and asparagus. The honey-whiskey combination forms a light glaze, which brings everything together beautifully, and the crunch of the grilled asparagus makes a textural complement to the flaky salmon.
Even the appetizers are good, really. I sampled the simple-sounding Bleu Chips topped with Bacon, onion, tomatoes and bleu cheese, and they are amazing; a meal in themselves. A little bit of bleu cheese goes a long way, and these are the right balance between grilled potato skins and flaky chips. On the other end of the spectrum, you have fresh vegetable salads topped with a thick, dark wine-based vinaigrette. Between the sandwiches and the pasta dishes, Wellington Grille makes something quality for everyone.
With a wide-open but crisp traditional interior, Wellington Grille brings in a variety of groups to the low-lit recesses of its dining room and the spacious interior bar. The seasonal patio even features elaborate décor more reminiscent of a comfortable back porch that reminds one of home. It’s got a pleasant minimalist feel to it, drawing you closer to your companions and placing more emphasis on the cuisine itself.
You’ll find yourself frequently fussed over by a friendly but not overbearing wait staff. It’s easy to notice how chatty many of the patrons are with the staff, and you’ll realize that many of the families and older couples that come through this restaurant are regulars; and the staff reciprocates a friendly and welcoming charm. You just get a good feeling being there.
Wellington Grille effortlessly combines the classy, Midwestern charm of a small-town independent restaurant with the professionalism of a quality fine-dining establishment. Whether you need a family night our or a cozy date night far from distraction, you’ll want to top off your to-do list with this Beavercreek gem.
