Meet Bistecca: Dayton Theatre District Restaurant

I had a chance to preview this new restaurant in Dayton’s theatre district and I think it’s the perfect addition to downtown.

The Place

Bistecca is located on the ground floor of Hotel Ardent, which opened in February 2025. The building is the Barclay Building, which was built in 1925 and maintains a ton of charm from that period, including the old mail chute in the lobby.

The design is beautiful with lots of copper and wood elements paired with surprisingly plush furniture. If you’re looking for a high end experience before heading to a show at Victoria Theatre or the Schuster Center, this is definitely it. One thing I loved was that from where I sat, I could catch a glimpse of ballet dancers rehearsing in the studios above Victoria Theatre. You really feel like you’re in the heart of the Theatre District.

The Food

Bistecca is a Tuscan steakhouse that features not only steak, but also plenty of pastas, salads, appetizers, sides, and more.

I had a chance to try a few things from their dinner menu during a preview night and everything was delicious. They’re also open to working with you to modify items to make them vegan or vegetarian, which I definitely appreciate.

I found out that they are planning on having themed brunch services each Saturday beginning in May. Each week will explore a new theme, and after reading their breakfast menu, I have a feeling this will be something you’ll want to mark your calendars for.

The Drinks

I have a feeling the drinks will be amazing at Bistecca. They have a one-of-a-kind Negroni machine that will be ready to sling their signature Flywheel Negroni cocktail by their opening day. And if you want to see it in action, you could visit during their Negroni Hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.

I tried their Strawberry Spritz cocktail and Ginger Lime Smash mocktail and both were fantastic. I’m definitely looking forward to trying more.

The Details

Bistecca officially opens Wednesday, April 2, 2025. They take reservations online and they also have their full menus published there.

Parking at Bistecca: There is plenty of street parking available all around the Barclay Building as well as the First Street Parking Garage across the street. The Arts Garage is a couple blocks away.

Bistecca
137 N Main Street, Dayton, Ohio
(937) 637-0465
bisteccadayton.com

Here I am in 2023 taking a look at the construction of Bistecca: