The Vibe: Low lights, dark and classy wooden interior from the 40's, good for impressing your steak loving out of town friends or celebrating your 65th. The Crowd: Middle aged business men to past-their-prime patrons order gin n tonics while Good Ol American Famblies gather round tables to enjoy medium rare cuts o' meat. The Service: Informed, attentive, in their 50-60's waitresses heed your bidding while an at your service stout old man shakes your hand and a teenage bus boy fills your water glass. What's good: The steak. We had a variety of cuts, some seafood too, and a bunch of sides. Steak was juicy, red, seasoned. Seafood was cooked well, if a little under-flavored. The sides were interesting, and solid. Stewed tomatoes were very sweet, hollondaise sauce and asparagus was traditional. In my opinion, just okay, and not worth the price, but hey thats me. Recapitulation: If I was giving an objective restaurant opinion I might give Pine Club four stars, but this is a subjective business, and it was a three star to me (and I wasnt even payin!). Though dont let that discourage you if you love steak, that's what their specialty is, not seafood (which was what I ordered). Oh and they only take cash. good luck.
(3)
Jeffrey K.
The Pine Club was just canonized by a New York Times writer who wrote a great tribute to old-fashioned stalwart restaurants in New York, London, Paris, San Francisco and.......here. We were stunned. And we agree totally. This should be on anyone's dining bucket list.
(5)
Dave L.
I guess if I wanted a salad or bread I'd go somewhere else.
(5)
M H.
Mind you I am not from the Midwest, so unlike other reviewers I can't compare the Pine Club to other area steakhouses. What I can do is tell you what an overpriced POS this place is. The steak was cooked perfectly and was well seasoned. The salad is a sad heap of iceberg and dressing in a plastic bowl. The onion rings are thin, greasy, and in desperate need of salt. French fries are straight out of the Sysco frozen fries bag. I am guessing the favorable reviews of this joint come from locals who have fond memories of the place, or view it as a Dayton institution. From an unbiased outsider's perspective, you can do better for a $40 a head. No draft beers available and no credit cards accepted, though I won't hold it against them even though for $20-40/entree for dinner it is pretty ridiculous.
(2)
Claudia R.
A great historic place to have delicious steak! Ate there after a day at the AF museum.
(4)
Lauren A.
Unique atmosphere (no frills needed!) Excellent wine list Excellent service Excellent steak So unique, which is great because most restaurants these days feed you crap and in huge portions. This was neither crap nor an inappropriate portion. My Dad took me here to celebrate and it was perfect. The stewed tomatoes was unlike anything I've ever tasted and they were fabulous, sweet with a savory crouton crispiness added in. I've heard they found J.Ruby scavenging through the dumpsters to figure out their secret to perfect steaks...rumor?
(4)
Michael H.
The Pine Club is the story of Dayton. Maybe it was much better in the past but now it's struggling really hard to stay above average. The food has declined over the years, and I hate to say it, but there are chain restaurants that actually do a better job. The only saving grace is the cut of meat, but for the price, you certainly aren't paying for creativity from the chef. I always do the surf and turf steak and lobster, mid rare on the beef. I don't think it has ever come out wrong, and has been pretty good. The salad is very simple but good. The house brand dressings are the best part. They do have some good dressing recipes. My favorite though is the rye and salt rolls. A novelty of days gone by that you don't often find anymore. I am a fan of their rolls. The service is pretty good, but like everything else, was better in the past. I think some of it has to do with the fact that the servers literally die before relinquishing their position, leaving the place filled with some dear folks who really do mean well but sadly aren't quite able to keep the pace on a busy Saturday night. The place still draws though, and that's probably because it still is one of the better restaurants in the Miami Valley area. If you're not there when the place opens, you're going to wait - which is a pain because the bar has limited seating. It's also a pain for the patrons who are eating because the bar overlooks the dining area and it's frankly pretty annoying to have some hungry buzzards ogling over you and your dinner party wondering when you're going to leave. Maybe there was a day and time when the no credit card thing was a novelty - but honestly, the idea of walking around in a place like Dayton, even at 4 pm in the afternoon, with $200 in my pocket isnt very appealing. Yeah the Pine Club is on the edge of Dayton and Oakwood, but I've been accosted on multiple occasions by a vagrant looking for a handout. The Dayton locals will likely be miffed at another, not-so-stellar review. But I sort of see it as the same thing that's gotten Dayton into the place that it is... people in denial, who believe that the sun rises and sets on their little town. Get out a little and see the rest of the world. When you're comparing to something other than yourself, things look a whole lot different.
(3)
David S.
This place rocks! Great food, always consistent, and way old-school! I've been a fan for years, would still go regularly if I weren't out in Cali now. Yeah, you'll wait a long time on Friday and Saturday night, so if you're in a hurry just go early or elsewhere. It's great food and the waitresses never leave so they become a part of your family over time -- love it! Shirley is my favorite but they're all pretty awesome. Food is a little pricey, but seriously it's a steal when compared to anything similar in the real cities, like NY/Boston/San Fran. They have a great after dinner drink too -- the Pine Cone!
(5)
Elizabeth W.
The Pine Club must be going downhill, because we were the ONLY table at 8:00 on a Thursday night. The server, who had been there some 13 years, seemed annoyed to have to wait on us. The bread was completely stale, the salad was iceburg (yuck) and a minuscule side dish of creamed spinach cost us $4.50 because we ordered burgers and not a 'real dinner' (read: $30 steak). To my beloved Oakwood Club: I will never stray again!
(2)
Steven K.
I struggled with a single star when perhaps it should be 1.25. Overall, the place is a dump. It is difficult to judge how dirty it actually is because of the extremely dim lighting, but I think it's safe to say it hasn't undergone a thorough cleaning since 1947. The steaks are mediocre at best, although always cooked to the perfect temperature. The sides are limited, low quality, and bland. The salads are just plain bad. The wine list is horrible. I could do better shopping at Kroger. The cash only policy is a major inconvenience and a little suspicious. The extra quarter star is for the attentive wait staff, many of whom appear to have been there since 1947. They do a good job considering with what they are given to work. For those visiting from out-of-town, it's worth it to stop in for one drink to see what so many Daytonians consider the best steak house in town. It will help you to appropriately assess other reviews written by Dayton locals. But remember to bring cold hard cash.
(1)
Real D.
I like the Pine Club for carry-out hamburgers and onion rings.
(2)
F U.
I have been here about ten times over the past few years and this is by far my favorite restaurant. I love beef and have eaten many burgers and steaks in my life, but would have to say that the steaks Ive had here are my favorite and their burger is hands down the best. Additionally their house dressing is easily my favorite dressing and I always buy a jar or two when I find them. Rainbow trout, onion straws, garlic mashed potatoes are also great. The only minor things I can complain about are the subpar bread, only ok beer list, and basic salad(which is easily made up for by the amazing dressing). I will be back.
(5)
Stormtrooper H.
This is not Outback. If you are looking for a chain (Ruth's Chris) steak house you will NOT like The Pine Club. The Pine Club opened in 1947 and both the looks and the menu appear to be pretty much unchanged. The service is great and the food is always perfectly cooked. The only few negatives are that they do not offer draft beer (small problem) and that they only take cash. As long as you know this going in and have $50-$200 in your pocket it's no big deal. They also do not take reservations, so if you get there at peak times be ready to wait. The stewed tomatoes and red and blue salad are delicious (and deliciously unrefined).
(4)
Bill B.
Dark and depressing.
(2)
Jesse W.
Oddly enough, my favorite steak is in one of my least favorite cities. This place is one of the only things that make Dayton, OH bearable. The wait times are atrocious, the seating is cramped, and the place is kinda loud but the food makes up for every bit of that. . . and then some. Want a steak that will just kick your ass? Go to Dayton, then leave town as soon as your finished. Important note: unless you want to jump through a series of esoteric and bizarre hoops, this is a cash-only establishment. It's 2008 and they really only take cash. Oh well.
(5)
Eric B.
If I had to use one word to describe the Pine Club's atmosphere, I would use quaint. For those of you who don't know what the word means, it's "pleasingly odd and old fashioned" (thank you SAT verbal study cards!!).. You walk in and it's really like you stepped into 1947. Dimly lit, and yes, piney, I was first impressed with how many people were packed into the small dining area to devour fat steaks. When I was called to my table, I almost had to laugh at the size of the bread plates - smaller than a small saucer. I didn't get it... anyways, the Salad Dressing IS amazing, the stewed tomatoes good (like, I would have been impressed in 1947?!), and the filet mignon excellent but not cooked with any particular seasoning.. that is to say you can't get red wine sauce, peppered, etc. A caveat - don't believe the marketing hype on the dinner place-mats. Their wine is horrible. Also, it says they continue to look for ways to please their customers while keeping it old school... for a $50 meal it's ridiculous not to take plastic! I look forward with some anxiety to paying by check when I receive my Pine Club membership card in the mail.
(2)
W M.
Clearly, we all appreciate different things. But for my money, the Pine Club is one of the best. It is old school and old money, but it is a great place to visit and eat. They have the best filet around. Period. I've been to 49 states, Canada, Europe and the Middle East and I've never had a filet as good as the Pine Club's. Get the stewed tomatoes, baked potato and salad with the house dressing. If you want a basketball game, loud music or flashy lights, go to Fridays. If you want good food, good service, and a good evening, this is the place for you.
(5)
Tony S.
Great ambiance, great steaks, and sub par martini's. Wraps it up perfectly. Arrived 30 minutes prior to opening, were promptly seated and served drinks. Ordered a dirty martini that just wasn't very dirty, in fact it was barely dusty. However the bone in ribeye more than made up for it, along with some of the house merlot, which is excellent. The staff are all the very friendly and open folk that you expect from the midwest. They told me a story about when George Bush Sr was president and he came to Pine Club they made him sit in his limo for 45 minutes because they weren't willing to make anyone leave their seat. Gotta love that. I'll be going back everytime I'm in Dayton.
(4)
Jason M.
Almost five stars, but... 1) No draft beer. I get this is a cocktail kind of joint with the big bar, so this is only a minor detraction. They do have Anchor Steam, though, so kudos. 2) Cash only. Really, in 2008? It'd be one thing if this was a bar, but it's pretty easy to rack up $60+/pp with dinner, drinks, and tip. 3) The dinner salad. Iceberg and drowning in dressing. Kinda gross. For the plus, my bone in rib-eye was one of the best steaks I've had outside of my kitchen, ever. Forget Morton's, Ruth's Chris, or any other steak chain, this is the real deal.
(4)
Leo C.
I find myself in a mysterious neighborhood, with nothing around. Recommendations from people to check out the Pine Club for an excellent steak dinner, with the co-workers on my business trip. We get there and what do you know? The locale isn't too bad, the ambiance is nice, kind of dark, kind of classy. The service however didn't complete match our expectations- people were dressed up somewhat, but I'm pretty sure there were a good amount of people in jeans. No shorts though. We noted that our utensils were a bit dirty... the bread was already on the table when we got there, along with the water.. who knows how long it was sitting there. One of us tried a piece of bread that seemed to be quite soggy, so one bite is all we got out of that basket. We ordered our meals and some wine... the porterhouse for myself. The $30 price for the steak, including sides and salad, was pretty good actually. The salad was not bad, with the house dressing, but it was an iceberg salad... kind of odd for a higher-up establishment. At this point, we were a bit concerned at what our meals were like... but then the steaks came. OH my, what a great steak.. just as good as some of the other steakhouses I've been to (not that I've been to that many). Porterhouse ordered medium came perfectly done, pink-red inside, tasty... flavor was great, seasoned well. a little bit strong at some parts but it was just melting in my mouth I couldn't stop eating. The side of hash browns was quite good as well, a good way to contrast the taste of the steak. Overall, a good experience. A bit kooky. A bit weird. But, the steak is just so worth it, and the price is right. I will definitely be here again, if I'm ever in Dayton again....who knew that there would be such a great steak in the middle of nowhere.
(4)
Brian C.
You just don't go to the Pine Club for a fancy atmposphere, in fact it's interior probably hasn't changed in 50 years but thats ok with me! People come here to enjoy fantastic service and amazing food, no frills. No credit cards, no reservations, but who cares because thats what you expect when you go to the Pine Club. The steaks are outstanding, wine list is fantastic, and the service is top notch without overdoing it (you don't feel like they're breathing down your neck!). Hope they're around for many years to come! My only complaint is that they don't have draught beers, that would be nice to have!
(4)
Heather J.
It is what it is and it doesn't try to be anything different. It's a very very old school steak house. I can get a steak that is just as good and $10 cheaper at Texas Roadhouse. But I can also get a steak that's just as good and $40 more expensive at Jeff Ruby! So it depends - if you want to go in for some old school ambiance and an experience - or if you're used to paying Morton/Ruby prices for steak and want a "cheaper" night out - then head to the Pine Club in Dayton! Side note: they overcook their pork chops - so if you get them - ask for them a little less done... Side note #2: I got the red & bleu salad - it's french and bleu cheese - well...actually my friend ordered that and I got the house - but then we tasted and switched. I don't like bleu cheese but the sweet of the french made it really good. I give it 4 stars because it is what it is and it's not going to try and change with the times. But - the bread isn't warm or interesting, the salad is iceberg, the stewed tomatoes are basically chunky tomato soup and the pork chop was way overcooked for my taste. But #2 - the portions are huge, the place has character out the ass and it's an interesting night out in a not-so-interesting city.
(4)
Howard F.
This was a very pleasant surprise. Yeah, there were plenty of good reviews but (no offense to Dayton) typically that doesn't mean so much in a small town with only a handful of non-generechaincrap restaurants to choose from. But this is a legitimately fine place that would score well even in a big city. And its a neat experience - authentic old school. It's not like restaurants actually do anything to oysters on the half shell, but these oysters were absolutely superb, as were the fried version - greaseless and perfectly fried. The waitress says they always get raves on their oysters so kudos to them on finding a great source. The beef was great. Every bit of what you'd get in any uber steak chain (Mortons etc) - maybe better. At $30 for a porterhouse including the salad and sides its a fabulous deal too. The prime rib was superb - a huge cut, butter tender, perfectly cooked. The trout was very nice - a huge whole trout very nicely cooked. The lyonnaise potatoes were incredible. And there's plenty to choose from on the wine list, all very well priced. The only misses at all were surprisingly the French fries (who cares really) and the house special stewed tomatoes which tasted exactly like the sauce on canned Spaghetti-O's (an acquired taste maybe since alot of reviewers seem to love them). Cash only, but unlike Peter Lugers in NY you don't have to worry about not being able to get enough dough out of the ATM to pay for the whole meal.
(5)
Ryan W.
Been here twice. Expensive and not exceptional in any way. The also do not accept credit cards. Who does that?
(2)
Dan S.
When I moved to Oakwood I was pretty excited about having a few restaurants and taverns within walking / biking distance, which included the Pine Club. Because of its reputation and cozy knotty pine paneled ambience I expected it would become a favorite watering hole and occasional meal out. Having to pay cash, while anachronistic, would have been worth the frustration had the dining experience lived up to expectations. But the meal was, at best, only ordinary, rendering the cash only payment policy an inconvenient annoyance. I have returned once or twice but only for drinks. Even then, I get the impression that the Pine Club exists solely for the local septugenarian set and parents of U.D. students in town for a visit. When they begin to die off I look forward to buying the Pine Club and making it a cool place again.
(2)
Clint U.
5 Stars because this is the place to go in Dayton. And if you are in Dayton, you won't find anything from Emeril, Bobby Flay, or an Iron Chef without valet parking an airplane. Specialized grilling (1450 F ovens, mesquite wood, etc.) although becoming increasingly popular, is also becoming a lost art. Searing high heat produces a sharp, bitter accent. Cooler grilling heat, 500 F, produces a softer carmelization of the meat juices, a slightly sweet flavoring. I had both steaks and pork chops here and they had a great balance of high heat and searing heat....but it leaned toward the high heat. Don't be fooled by the name. You will not find Euell Gibbons disciples here nor vegans.
(5)
TREFF B.
If you love Filet Mignon and you happen to be in Dayton Ohio, then I hope you'll go to the Pine Club. I think almost every US President in modern time has eaten there (and loved it I'm sure). Their house salad dressing was so good that I ordered $75 worth of it and shipped it to my home in Los Angeles. Yeah, the Pine Club is very pricey -- but well worth it. MY SOLE COMPLAINT: Why do they not allow ball caps inside the restaurant? They are located just feet from Fraternity row at UD and that silly rule seems ridiculous. No one wants to dress up to go to a dark college restaurant. Come on Pine Club -- LOOSEN UP!
(5)
John M.
3.5 stars - Pine Club seems to be a legend, but it's hard to say whether it's worthy of the lore. I've been a couple of times now, and as a non red meat eater I certainly can't speak to the quality of the steaks, which I'm sure are very good. The food selection otherwise, however, leaves something to be desired. Your seafood options are as follows - fried shrimp, trout, scallops (also fried), lobster. That's it. If you're a vegetarian enjoy your salad and bread. If you're a vegan, don't bother. The sides are all ok, but definitely nothing that gets me out of bed in the morning. The tomatoes are decent, and the mixed veggies are mediocre at best. Their house salad dressing is very good, and for a little extra scratch you can get some bleu cheese crumbles - all on iceberg - c'mon! I just paid $26 for fried scallops, lukewarm steamed veggies, a baked potato and iceberg lettuce. That being said, the service is always good, very seasoned people work there which makes the experience enjoyable. It's a dark place filled with the din of diners and folks at the bar waiting for a table. There are no reservations, so if you go anytime between 6 and 8 expect 30min-1 hour wait. They don't accept credit cards, so it's cash or a house account that they'll open for you. The wine list is the best part as far as I'm concerned, especially if you have a great deal of money burning a hole in your pocket. Actually, you'll need that burning money for most everything, because even the fried shrimp is 17 bucks.
(4)
Carter P.
Old school great steak! This is a fantastic throw back to the 70's supper club. Dark paneling, simple fare and decent prices combined to make the Pine Club a hidden Dayton gem.
(4)
Andrew R.
If you are in the Dayton area, make time for this place. May be the best steak house in the entire rust belt. The stewed tomatoes are a must, and most everything on the menu is fantastic, though I'd go with anything steak.
(5)
Conor R.
Like steak? Want to feel like a million bucks? Happen to be close to the University of Dayton? Pine Club. Always works, tastes great and they treat EVERYONE equally. Food is excellent. Steak is some of the best in the world. Sorry if you think they might be rude, thats just how they are.
(5)
Christina K.
pine club has earned a rep for high quality, perfectly cooked steaks and they deserve it. when my dad came to visit me in San Francisco, all he kept saying was that he wanted a tasty steak dinner. we never got around to getting one for him, so i sent him a gift cert to pine club to await him on his return home. the whole fam loves this place.
(5)
Bradford M.
The Pine Club is an excellent restaurant. Yes it is old school -- a steakhouse as you might have imagined the interior of one in 1945 -- but the food is great. Nothing to complain about here -- outstanding steaks. There are a couple of things people mention that are really just sidelines -- like the stewed tomatoes -- you either like them or you don't, they are a signature side here, but you can substitute the vegetable of the day if you don't want them. The standard salad is iceberg lettuce with a great dressing (which you can buy to go), but not being a fan of iceberg, I choose the mescaline salad which is a knockout and just as exceptional as their steaks. Baked potatoes are good, but so are the hash browns. The bay scallops are a great appetizer. You come here for the steak, not for the wine, fish, or the size of the bread plate (someone whined about that). Someone mentioned the Old Hickory in a review -- it's shoe leather compared to The Pine Club. Somone also preferred the Oakwood Club -- it's gone through kitchen changes and unfortunately is inconsistent, if you have just one place to try on your visit, hit The Pine Club, while it's near downtown and maybe not convenient, it is worth the trouble. Yes you have to pay cash, no they don't take reservations, but for a unique Dayton dining experience and my favorite steak in Ohio, you have to try The Pine Club. It blows away overpriced chain steak houses.
(5)
Gina M.
this place is WAY overrated. you can sometimes find yourself waiting too long for just mediocre food. maybe its because i'm from chicago, but the steak is amazing. the side of tomatoes are pretty good though. anytime i find myself at pine club, i usually stick with the fish and its good, steak not so impressive.
(3)
Abraham G.
My family has been frequenting this establishing for over 60 years. While the hillbillies continue to go to chain restaurants, anyone with taste (and who wants taste) goes to the Pine Club. The decor is strictly old school (pine paneling; large bar in the center of the room; no-nonsense servers who provide impeccable service), the food is nothing short of amazing - AND CONSISTENT. I read the review of the whiner about right wingers. So what? It's a free country, and as a flaming liberal, I'm not afraid of being around people whose views are different from mine. The steaks are simply THE BEST. The sides are charming (if not historic), and everything about the ambiance says "gracious." I'll leave the chain restaurants to the ignorant ones who think they're acceptable, but anyone with a smidgen of grace or charm will avoid those joints (and the faux restaurants celebrated by the faux gentrified Centerville & Bellbrook Crowd) and head straight to the Pine Club. As downtown Dayton has atrophied (and taste and grace have been replaced by designer labels worn by conspicuous consumers), the place isn't as busy as it used to be. However, it's as great as ever, and it will be around forever (long after the chain restaurant flavors of the month have pulled up stakes in their boring buildings with their formula menus and amateurish service). Pine Club for Me! Now and Forever! By the way... leave your plastic at home. No plastic people allowed, and no plastic credit cards (though they will take checks or open a house account for you on the spot).
(5)
Skippity L.
Porterhouse - My husband's steak was fantastically tasty. Filet Mignon - A huge disappointment. Overcooked and tough. Salad - My husband's salad had way too much house dressing, basically it was like dressing soup with lettuce. My salad was very blah. Also iceberg lettuce? Seriously who does that an upscale restaurant? Bread basket - Uninspired and ridiculously over salted. Also since when is a package of saltine crackers considered as fine dining? Broccoli - According to my husband, it was quite tasty. Sorry, but I expected fantastic. We ended up with average.
(3)
Randy S.
The bad: Cash only. Old. Dark. They don't take reservations. There can be a long wait for a table. It can get loud. No desserts. Okay? Get over it. That's the way it is, and I don't think it's going to change now after nearly 70 years. The good: Service is always good when I've gone, but the servers aren't the chatty type. They're busy busting their butts. The steaks are amazing. I've tried steak houses in major cities but I finally gave up because I've never had one better than what I can get here. I like both the 20 ounce bone-in ribeye and the filet mignon, but I haven't tried anything else because they're both so good. The onion straws are very good. I love the salt sticks. About the house salad: Yes, the salad is just lettuce and carrots drenched in a very garlicy dressing, but that seems to be a traditional Dayton thing. If you're familiar with the now defunct Dominic's or Duke's Golden Ox salads, you know what I'm talking about. I personally like it, but I grew up in the area. I think the price is reasonable considering the quality of the meat. Sure, it's more expensive than Outback or Longhorn, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than Fleming's. There's a reason this place has been operating since 1947 and continues to get national accolades. It's because it's good. (And those little tiny bread plates they use are just hilarious.)
(5)
David E.
Bring cash. The best thing is the kitchen is open late. The worst is- it's one of the few- and since they don't take reservations, you could be waiting a while. Best deal- is their burger. Adding ketchup to it would be a crime. The meat is incredible- and usually cooked to perfection. My favorite is the Porterhouse for two. Bring someone you like- who can eat- because it's a meal for 3. The house dressing - the garlic- is awesome- buy it there by the quart for $8 which is way less than you will pay at a local grocery store. I always have it in the house. The Food Network recently said it's the 2nd best steak house in America- I wouldn't go that far- but, it is a trip to another era- where food is just prepared and cooked well- without a bunch of theater. They come by their respect honestly.
(5)
Dave M.
This is my 1st review on yelp, and unfortunately it will need to be quite negative for an establishment I once cherished patronizing a couple times a year for special occasions. I did leave a post on the Pine Club's Facebook page but did mistakenly omit a couple of items that I will address here. The appetizer of scallops which I have always ordered, and were always a wonderfully broiled treat came fried, not fully done mind you, that would have embarrassed Mrs. Paul. If there was an option between fried and broiled I was not asked. I have also had the scallops as an entree before, always broiled and never had to choose. The lamb chops were just over 1/2 the size of my last visit (approximately 3 or 4 years due to temporary business relocation). The garlic mashed potatoes and mushrooms, both extras, could have bragged if anyone considered them tepid. The asperagus ordered instead of the stewed tomatoes would have been better served raw with a side of ranch dressing. I am not one to send food back unless it's completely the wrong order, nor do I ever tip less than 20% unless the waiter/waitress is a complete ass, at which point I will cancel my order and leave. It seems that the Dayton finer dining establishments are dwindling away. BTW I refuse to dine where I am required to wear a tie. Someone please bring back the old Keyhole restaurant on Salem, relocate it of course but damn what a great steak and people. Yelp's Cincy Cindy rocks. Mac
(1)
Brent F.
I did a lotta research on the pine club and am very thankful for that due to its cash only policy. Secondly, I decided to have dinner on a Tuesday night as a result of those same research results. Now, for my experience. We were seated promptly, staff was pleasant and knowledgeable, food was prompt and delicious (no surprise there) which was why I gave it five stars. I considered deducting a star for the stale bread and iceberg lettuce that others complained about but I was forewarned regarding these issues so it stayed at five stars. The drinks were cold and potent (I had gin & tonic) which I considered a plus versus many other upscale restaurants that serve lackluster drinks at premium prices. As for staff, I couldn't have been more impressed! She was knowledgeable and provided great feedback regarding my questions on the menu. The atmosphere, was great considering I was there with four other friends. What I hope readers get most out of my review is that other posters complained about ambience and noise. I found both these aspects of my experience to be awesome. Me and four of my buddies went for great steaks and oysters while having some great laughs with each other. Five guys telling stories and popping jokes over great steak and seafood are perfect for this place, highly recommend!
(5)
Jed M.
Great place for steak in Dayton! It's a pretty swanky environment when you first walk in. It's dark, dimly lit, but has a calm and classy feel to it. It is always crowded but the crowd is friendly. If there is no immediate seating available, the hostess will ask you to sit at the bar. You can order a drink and your bill will be added to your table once you get one. The booths are old, or maybe I should call them vintage, and the padding has been worn out. But they, along with the bar, are all solid wood. The filet mignon is my favorite steak here. I order it medium rare and it is juicy, tender, and cooked to order every time. I enjoy the salt sticks and bread set at the table while you decide what to order. I tried the burger once and it wasn't that great. It was only ok, but the menu says it's the #1 burger in the nation, or something to that effect, so that's what I was expecting. I believe they grind their steaks to make the burgers, but priced at $18, you might as well stick with the steak and save the burger for the next time you're at Red Robins. You can become a member with a credit card, ID, and application, and they will send the bill to your place of residence. Otherwise, it's pay by check or cash. All in all, I love this place and am a frequent customer. The wait staff has been very efficient, so no complaints at all, but they are more business-like than friendly. I believe they are most interested in getting you your food and drinks stat, and turning the table over for the next diners.
(4)
Ronyelle B.
I grew up in Dayton and Pine Club was the top of the line. I recently went back after at least 10 years and not one single thing has changed....except maybe my taste. I swear I don't remember it being so loud. It seemed like everyone was loud and drunk and trying to talk over music that wasn't there. Service is still a crap-shoot. The bartender was nice while we waited but our table service was......stiff...to put it nicely. It was almost 10pm and Im sure she was past ready to be home. The salad dressing has changed and I'm not sure I liked it. I didnt hate it either. My ribeye was medium but charred in hell I believe. Everything was just ok food wise. Nothing to write home about and it didn't make me think Id want to come back the next time Im home. I did have a great glass of Mascato!! Its a nostalgic place to go and say you've been once...maybe twice but....
(3)
John S.
If you are just wanting a great tasting steak without all the other fluff and all the other expense, this, my friends, is the place to be. Excellent strip steak cooked to a perfect medium rare, a little chat crust on the outside, and tasted superb with no additional salt or pepper or any steak sauce....perfection on a plate. I had a Gnarly Head Zinfandel which complimented this steak perfectly. For a "hasn't been updated since 1947" restaurant, you would never expect the wine list to be so extensive. Cash only, but very reasonably priced (I live in the NYC area), great, great steak and wine list.
(5)
Steph F.
I had visited the Pine Club probably 10 years ago, and was excited to finally be back. Overall, the steak was absolutely the best part, and was good enough to overcome the grumpy servers and average sides. I got to the Pine Club a little before the rest of my group, and was ordered to sit at the bar, where 10 minutes later I was asked for my drink order. I ordered a 7-Up, which came in a warm can (that just bugged me). When the rest of my fam finally came, we were quickly seated and got our orders in, though my dad was a little surprised that they couldn't/wouldn't do steak au poivre. Along with our steaks, we got bread, salad, choice of hashbrowns or baked potato, shoe string onions, and choice of veggies. Bread-overly-salted, which is saying something because I love salt. Salad-the dressing that I had so fondly remembered was made with powdered garlic (an abomination in my Italian opinion) and the salad was swimming in it. Boo :( Baked potato- get it with the green onion sour cream! It was fantastic and even better as leftovers! Bro's hashbrowns- Waffle House does better. Improved with ketchup. Shoestring onions- I thought they were average and got overly greasy when cold, but my brother said he liked them better than the Precinct's. Vegetables- I got Lima beans, and I was happy enough with them. Steak-out of this world!! Also fantastic reheated as leftovers, and you'll definitely have enough for lunch or dinner the next day. Decent service is super important to me, and this steak was good enough to overcome the off-putting attitudes from the hostess, waitress, and bartender.
(3)
Glenn T.
En route from Kentucky to Maine, an overnight in Dayton found us at The Pine Club, a smallish, genuine and not contrived, old school local steakhouse. Dark stained solid knotty pine walls, a central bar with a tender comfortable with a straight up Manhattan and with the professional capability of withholding judgement when the young lady a couple of stools down ordered a Knob Creek whiskey sour. Red naugahyde booths with laminate table tops dressed with paper placemats extolling the history of the establishment, pleasantly lighted by picture lamps on the traditional prints. A bit noisy but the appealing noise of good folks enjoying good company and good conversation. It's not without its idiosyncrasies. Few of us are. Our server Theresa was competent, friendly, helpful and provided straight forward suggestions when asked. She was dead on recommending the Porterhouse for two which arrived with a char pleasantly like crumbled slate with an interior perfect for a couple divided between medium rare and medium. A nice surprise was her salad suggestion, with French dressing and bleu cheese crumbles, so substantial they should more properly have been described as nuggets. Basic, but basic is just fine when well executed. Being recently listed at number two in the top five of U.S. Steakhouses, it is worthy. Peter Luger garnered the #1 spot. Good fortune is now having had the experience on which to base a comparison. The Pine has a neon sign in the front window proclaiming "Choice Steaks". Peter Luger's meat is famously prime. On given evenings I found the result of the choice equal to that of the prime. While I may opine that Kevin Rathbun Steak in Atlanta should have been in that top 5, Pine Club acquitted itself admirably. Good for them. And good for you if you pay a visit without expecting it to be something other than its comfortable self. Wish there was a 4.5 star option.
(4)
Bud M.
My wife and I went here on our second date back in 1967 when we were undergrads at UD. Our first date was to see the movie "The Graduate" when Dustin Hoffman was still in his 20's. LOTS of fond memories here, especially the steaks and the onion strings underneath the steaks that sopped up all the juices. The blue cheese dressing used to have chunks the size of golf balls. Lack of taking credit cards was not a problem, since we didn't get our first credit cards until 1970 when we graduated and got married. Whenever we get back to Dayton we always stop by for steaks and drinks, and nothing has changed. Still awesome steaks and onion strings. We'll keep going back, especially for our 50th Pine Club anniversary in 2017.
(5)
Barbara N.
Great local spot- very old school. The people aren't as grumpy as all the other reviews say- they're just efficient and busy. Steaks are great. Rolls are fab., garlic mashed potatoes excellent. They'll even make you a chocolate Martinii! Cash only but not terribly expensive - for three of us steaks, two glasses of wine each and a Martinii our bill was less than $250'with a 20% tip! Go early, before 7.
(4)
Dan B.
Close your eyes and take a bite of the steak. It's as good as it gets. Crisp on the outside blood red in on the inside. Perfect, medium rare. Really good! I had my 12 ounce strip with sides of onion strings and hash browns. Both were also outstanding. Open your eyes and you are back in the forties. The booths are cramped and close and the lighting is as dim as your cousin Mel. The bread basket is huge and a waste of bad bread. The salad is over-dressed iceberg. The good news is that all of the sides come with the fairly priced steak. I'm glad I found the Pine Club. It's easy to see why it is an institution. I will happily come back when I next visit Dayton.
(4)
Richard C.
I went to UD years ago and my dad and I used to frequent this Dayton institution whenever he came in to town. This was the first time I had been back in 10 years and not much has changed. My wife and I started with the combination appetizer which was 4 shrimp and 4 oysters. The oysters were large, fresh, and delicious. The shrimp were a little small but just fine. As other reviewers have pointed out, the salads are a little wet and uninspired. I would recommend choosing another salad but, as explained below, every little addition or change is an up charge. As expected, the steaks are amazing. I had the veal and my wife had surf and turf. It was splendid, well cooked, and flavorful. I upgraded to the lyonaise potatoes an creamed spinach and my wife had the garlic mashed with asparagus. The sides were very well done. Here is the problem though: if you want mashed potatoes instead of hash-browns, that is a 2.50 up-charge. Creamed spinach instead of stewed tomatoes: up-charge. Sour cream: up-charge. Baked potato: up-charge. Loaded baked potato: double up-charge. I understand the need to charge more for premium ingredients but for the potatoes, really, it should just be a choice between hash browns, mashed, or baked. Same with the veggies, a choice between a few options without the need to add 5 bucks onto a bill which is already going to be high. We had cocktails instead of wine. The drinks were good but a little small volume wise. However, the prices were very reasonable considering we were ordering premium liquor. Everyone needs to know that this place does NOT accept credit cards, Bring cash, check, or find a friend with a house account (yes, those exist). Other reviewer seemed to not know that this was a no credit card zone so be prepared,
(4)
Shaun M.
I was in the men's room this evening, after enjoying my meal, and next to the sink hung a picture of the Pine Club's bar with patrons enjoying drinks from 1947. I can say in confidence that the decor hasn't changed, and to me that is a great thing. This place has character that you don't find anymore and I hope it stays open forever, unchanged. The food is outstanding! Tonight my wife had the prime rib, which was the size of Alaska. It was cooked a perfect medium, crisp on the outside with a nice ribbon of fat running throughout. I had the veal, medium, and I can't recall a better having a better chop. The sides are timeless also, I chose stewed tomatoes and creamed spinach. I could go on and on about the Pine Club and how much I love it. Just go and enjoy. Take cash or a cheque. They don't take cards.
(5)
Jeff G.
Talk to most in Dayton about steak and they will say "ooooooh Pine Club" I don't get it. The service is terrible and rude, the food is mediocre at best, the atmosphere is dismal and all you can see while trying to enjoy your dinner is the ass of the people standing around waiting for a table. I would say I have had my last dinner at the Pine Club. There are so many more enjoyable places to have a nice relaxing dinner. I felt like I was at the Pub
(3)
Sydney Z.
The Pine Club is terribly overrated - I am guessing the nostalgia of the place is what brings a lot of the patrons in. I don't really enjoy paying $30-$40 for dinner just to be treated rudely and to stand against the wall waiting for a table while wait staff huff & puff past me as they bump through the tight spaces. The steaks are decent although I have to say Flemings is much better. The salad is dismal and the sides are just OK. I think the 1940's ambience is kind of cool, but it seems like some of the place hasn't been cleaned since the '40's either. All in all, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
(2)
Richard F.
I always know that when I go to Dayton, I have one stop I have to make. It is the Pine Club. As always, the steaks were great, the side dishes were perfect and the service was second to none. One of our party was a vegetarian and this place is meat-heaven. But the people at the Pine Club managed to accommodate him and he was very happy. They have a nice bar and you can have a drink there or at the tables. Oh. No credit cards, so be aware.
(4)
Denise D.
We always go to Pine Club to celebrate our wedding anniversary. No exception this year (celebrating 17 years!), and I had prime rib open face sandwich. I didn't order the prime rib because it's too big and I can never finish it. So it's better I order the sandwich and not eat the bread, and it's just perfect!! The price is better too! The food is never bad, the consistency of food is exceptional. The service is quick too, just don't expect the waiter/waitress to chat with you as they are focusing on making sure your drink is filled, and serve your food as soon as it's ready.
(4)
Johnny A.
A mainstay amongst the older folks of the Dayton area. Think 65 and over. That's pretty much the only people you will see eating in here. Under 65? You might be in for a rough road and a hefty paycheck to show for it. The thing with these restaurants that live off their older customer base is that it ends up being all about taste in the end. To keep the older customers onboard the food needs to be flavored a certain way or the taste buds just don't pick up the signals and they won't come back. Flavor it the way THEY like it and they will pay ANY price and yes I do mean ANY price as you can see from one glance at the menu. That same flavor might not be "good" to someone else though. So is it oldschool annnnnd isn't oldschool normally a great thing? Yes... it is an oldschool steakhouse. It has a love it or leave it, my way or the highway, you pay cash only and you'll like it attitude which can work for some places. Hell some people will eat bad food and deal with slow service just because they love the attitude somewhere or the vibe. Maybe it reminds them of something? They made George Bush wait 45 minutes to eat there once. Not sure why you would brag about that kinda like CLeveland bragging about their river catching fire... but yeah there you go. He ate there ONCE. LOL So what's the vibe like? Many of the people you see when you walk in might remind you of a mean gradeschool teacher scowling at you from behind a desk ready to lay the smackdown on your butt for the slightest misstep. That was my first impression. Not the best "oldschool" feeling to get when you are younger and want to have a good time/good food with friends. So don't get me wrong. I normally love the oldschool vibe BUT when things like food and service suffer from keeping that vibe on life support... I'm out. Won't be back. Won't bring friends. Won't bring customers.... and I'm sure they could care less because I'm under 65 not their target audience at all and that's OK. Just be forewarned though if you are researching it and unfamiliar with the area. For this price you can get far better food and a more easy going vibe at a number of other locations. Do the work and you'll see.
(1)
Jim T.
The food and service was excellent. It is old school and if I live in Dayton, it would be an automatic go too! Where can you go and they send you a bill, I loved the food and atmosphere! They had a great wine list, we enjoyed Mollydooker's Carnival of Love
(5)
Brenda N.
I was very disappointed in my recent visit to the Pine Club. I was there early on a Thursday night. It was not busy. There were few people sitting at the bar and there was immediate seating throughout our time there. I was with a group of women and we requested separate checks. Our waitress was not friendly and actually became quite condescending and even rude as the evening progressed. She made it quite clear that she did not like waiting on women. She made 3 separate remarks during our time there regarding "waiting on women". We noticed that she treated a table of men sitting near us much differently. She was prompt in taking our orders and bringing out the food. However, she never came back to check on the food, although she was standing nearby. We would have liked some more bread sticks since there were 5 of us sharing a basket with 2 salted rye sticks in it. We didn't have an opportunity to ask. She didn't offer us another drink. She seemed "put out" by us asking for another bottle of wine. We were offended by her bringing us "to go" boxes when we had only had our food for a short time (some had only had a few bites of steak!). The seating is tight, and there was no place to lay these boxes so we were all juggling them on our laps. Some of us had no intention of using them. Even the appearance of our waitress appeared unprofessional for someone working in a fine dining establishment. She looked like someone who would be serving at a truck stop diner (hair pulled back with a rubber band, little to no makeup, bitten nails, spots on uniform, surly / rude attitude). The steak was expensive and good, but I have had steaks that are equally as good in Dayton. When going out for a nice dinner, it is the "entire package"....ambiance, service, food and drinks. Although we all grew up in Dayton and have been to the Pine Club several times throughout the years, we all said this was the last. There are too many other places to dine now that have excellent steaks (and some much less expensive than a $35 filet) that provide excellent service that are reflective of a fine dining experience.
(2)
Sue G.
The Pine Club serves the best steak on the planet - and I've researched this extensively. Better than my fav restaurant in Chicago (the capital of steak), better than the west coast or east. The sides are delish - you have to try the onion strings and stewed tomatoes. I don't particularly like onion strings or stewed tomatoes, but at the Pine Club they're transformed in the food of the gods.
(5)
Steve H.
A very good meal but not great meal. Went there for the steak. I was good. The sides were very good. Terrific salad with house dressing. Staff was courteous and attentive. But what I really wanted was a great steak. The hype didn't measure up.
(3)
Irene H.
The decor and atmosphere of the place is fun and worth a visit. I ordered the prime rib medium rare with a baked potato and asparagus. The prime rib was not very impressive... Chewy and bland. The asparagus was over cooked.
(3)
Mark S.
lived up to the hype ... Went with a group of 8; I had the bone-in fillet and sampled the strip steak - both were in the top 5% of any that I've ever had. As noted in other reviews - nothing fancy here; either in the decor or in the presentation of the food. It is all good, though. This is one of those places that some more modern places try to be. You'll also get a full pour on your drinks. They do something unique with their Tom Collins that makes is a perfect summer drink. Great food; great service; very reasonable prices. A winner! As noted by others - no credit cards; no reservations
(5)
Hannah P.
Came here not knowing too much about the restaurant, expect perhaps the most important thing to know... You gotta get the steak. I had an 8-oz filet with corn, loaded potato and the onion straws it comes with. Everything was super tasty and flavorful. The steak was very tender and spiced well. The house salad was freaking awesome for a salad; perfectly coated with bomb house dressing. The place is very poorly lit and it does take a few moments for your eyes to adjust.
(4)
Angela G.
Ok I've been going to this place since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. We'd pop down for carry-out while doing play practice during high school. If you had a bad experience it's likely because you're looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. Here's what's good: the steak and how it's cooked. Ok the potatoes and rolls are ok too. The burgers are fantastic and used to be a carry-out staple in my house growing up. The salad dressings are home-made but I'd say get them on the side unless you appreciate a heavy hand. The cocktails. What you may not like: the atmosphere (it's dark and the tables are close together), the lack of variety (go somewhere else). They don't take reservations and the wait can be long so if you can't hold your liquor you might be in trouble by the time dinner rolls around if you like to drink. An old-school restaurant like this is just never going to give you your nouvelle cuisine experience or the corporate way-too-much-on-the-menu-but-none-of-it-good experience. Love it for what it is and enjoy the experience.
Good food. Not great. Pricy for what you get. I had high expectation from all of the great word of mouth I got. Would I go back? Sure but I am not going out of my way for it.
(4)
Rick A.
A recent article in USA Today quoted a travel writer saying the Pine Club is the best Steakhouse in America. I have to agree. The place is celebrating their 65th year in business and you don't stay open that long if you don't serve the best. It is a relic of the Old School Steakhouse and they see no need to change, nor should they. I have had steaks all over the US and Europe and these are the best. My favorite is a split Filet which allows it to be cooked perfectly all the way through. Our latest stop was a dinner with friends from DC who we always meet at the Pine Club for great food and good conversation when they are in town. When we visit them in DC, we always find the Steakhouses there as good runner-ups but not number one. If your looking for Trendy atmosphere and smart mouthed wait staff, look elsewhere. This place is in the business of serving the best meat in the country with no frills and in an atmosphere Sam Spade and Max Gutmann would feel right at home while discussing the Maltese Falcon. Trendy places come and go because they focus on the atmosphere first and food second. The Pine Club is around because they focus on the food and service and thanks for that.
(5)
Sherry E.
My husband and I were told that this is one of the oldest and best steak restaurants in Dayton. We were disappointed. 1. The wait - I don't mind waiting, but I don't care to stand along a wall like a teenager at a middle school dance as other guests and staff push through to get out of the door and to tables. All the while I am staring at the back of the heads of the people at the bar who were lucky enough to get a seat. As guests leave the bar, it is a mad rush to grab the empty stools. I went to sit and the 2 women beside me took the next two seats, leaving my husband standing. 2. The drinks - my Captain and Coke was mixed well. I wanted a beer, particularly Shock Top or Blue Moon. This place keeps nothing on tap and a minimal list in bottles. The glasses at the tables were approx 4 or 5 inches tall and held maybe 240ml of liquid. I felt like I was drinking out of a child's cup. 3. Food - the bread choices were terrible. I could bounce the rolls off of the table. The salad, I am most certain, from a bag. Nothing but lettuce and shreds of carrots. I ordered the strip, medium. He ordered the fillet, medium. Mine was cooked appropriately. His was rare. On reheat, it came out charred. A new fire fillet brought another rare, VERY rare. Reheated, and came out right. 4 tries to get a medium fillet. The manager never came to apologize, never even came to the table to ask if we enjoyed the meal. 4. The atmosphere - From the moment I walked in the door, I felt like I was in a bar, but without the jukebox, or beer on tap. Loud voices, shoddy booths, dim lighting, cramped spaces... I will not return to Pine Club.
(2)
Tom K.
Never dined there, but years ago a friend brought me a cheeseburger from the Pine Club. On a scale to from one to ten it was about a hundred. I wondered how they could get a cheeseburger to taste like that. Bravo.
(5)
Michael R.
As many have indicated, the Pine Club is a very traditional steakhouse. If you appreciate perfectly prepared beef and efficient service, this is your place. Don't expect anything adventurous, and you won't be disappointed. Four of us ordered varying cuts--bone-in rib-eye, prime rib, and filets. Without exception, all were cooked exactly as requested, and were seasoned perfectly. The side dishes were traditional, but tasty. The house wine was unimpressive--I'd recommend picking something nicer to accompany a great steak. Arriving early (630) on a Tuesday, we were seated immediately. Service was efficient and pleasant. A great choice for steak in the Dayton area.
(4)
Rustin L.
Traveling through Dayton and all the locals told us this was the place to go for great steaks...and they were right on. We had six of us and called ahead to get reservations when we were told not to worry about it. So we arrived and got three two-toppers pushed together which was a little small. The wait staff was very attentive and brought out all sorts of water and delicious breads. Again, the small set up (right next to the kitchen entrance BTW) made for some bumped elbows and crowded plates, but the steaks were amazing. So, bottomline: if it's you and your honey in Dayton looking for a great meal and atmosphere, you can't go wrong with Pine Club. If it's more than four people, I'd confirm where and how you're going to be seated before you get there...unless you like being crammed up next to business travelers.
(5)
Aaron Z.
Simply put: old school steak house, no reservations and cash on the barrellhead only. I have been to the Pine Club twice. Although my homies from Cincinnati love the place and go monthly. The service and the food are consistently good and the place is worth seeking out. Steaks are what the Pine Club is about. They know how to cook them and serve them up. They have all the standard cuts. We split a large strip and it was plenty for 2. Dinners come with nice side dishes and the stewed tomatoes and the creamed spinach are what they are known for and great choices. The basket of rolls includes rye, white and salty bread sticks. Dinners often come with fried onion rings which I found to be greasy. The interior probably has not changed since the '50s. it is darkly lit ,knotty pine paneling and a clubby bar atmosphere. They have a full bar which is usually packed and the drinks are well made. You can plan on a 1/2 - 3/4 hr wait if you arrive after 6:30. Service is professional & attentive just what you'd expect. They don't serve deserts here. But you'll find a Ben and Jerry's one or two doors away. This and Wright Patterson Airforce base can make for a great trip to Dayton.
(4)
Miss E.
Oh, the Pine Club. A sad relic that has been around since the 40s. I grew up in Dayton, and my grandparents always raved about the Pine Club. I think people like my grandparents are the only reason this place stays in business. They just don't know any better. Overpriced steak, canned vegetables, the saddest salads you've ever seen, stale bread, forgettable service, a no-credit-card policy, and a dumpy building. The only thing nice I can say about this place is that their house salad dressing is amazing. I'm sure that 50 years ago this was THE place to eat in Dayton. Let me assure you...that is not the case anymore. Pine Club, please do us all a favor and join the 21st century, or sell your prime real estate to someone else.
(1)
Brent M.
I absolutely love the Pine Club. I love the never-changing decor...please never update to please the younger customer. Keep it iconic. The menu should also never change, it is perfection. If I want a tasting menu, I will head out to NYC or Chicago. The steaks are consistently perfect. I really like their veal chop which is hard to find on menus these days. They serve very fresh oysters, old school. Their iceberg lettuce salads...beautifully bland. I love the bread...especially the salt rye. The butter is always perfectly chilled. They have the best onion rings in the world. Also I am tired of overtly friendly staff...just tell me straight up. If you want to be slobbered on by a waitress, try a chain. I rarely order beer here, as they are known for classic mixed drinks. They are not known for low prices...if your sensitive to cost, move on to someplace else. I have eaten here since 1987 and always have had a great meal.
(5)
tony a.
Old School! This is just a great place. I am not sure of the bad experiences others have had. I have been here twice and each time was completely satisfied. I love the seating where you are in booths that are low and you can see everyone around you, you talk a little louder but are not really disturbed by others. We got there and there was a bit of a wait so we sauntered up to the bar and ordered a bottle of wine which the bartender gladly transferred to our table bill when we moved. Our waitress was attentive yet unobtrusive. We started with oysters and also shrimp cocktail, very fresh and well shucked were the oysters which is always a plus. And then we moved onward to the steaks, two of us had the bone in filet and one had the regular filet, Damn Fine Steak, there is something about the bone in which puts a little more fat into the steak I wish I could find this cut at my local market. A few hundred dollars later we were on our way happy and content with some great steak, fine wine, wonderful conversations and tasty 20 year old tawny. Best regards, tony
(4)
Julian S.
Best Rib Eye I've ever had...time to open an account.
(5)
Steve N.
I have been here three times. The food is good. The ribeye is good. And I really enjoy the onion straws. The Salad is average. But they don't take credit cards.
(4)
nick g.
awesome look and feel at this old school restaurant. great cocktails. great steaks. stewed tomatoes not my thing, and limited wine list compared to big cities but great food and great people and definitely worth the wait
(4)
merle s.
I really like the food here, but most of the negative reviews do hit several points. Cash only, dark atmosphere, no draft beer, older crowd and horrendous waits with no place to sit at the bar. That being said, stay away on Friday and Saturday and the wait issue becomes moot. I can live with the other negative issues as long as the food stays great.
(5)
Corey M.
A restaurant museum. A true old school steakhouse - the interior, recipes (and patrons), haven't changed since 1957. They don't even take credit cards (but they'll send you a bill). The stewed tomatoes are the best I have ever had. The steak was a good value. A great place to take your parents.
(3)
Greg M.
I want to set the record straight on this place. When I looked at the website for Pine Club, I couldn't wait to get here. Then I started reading these reviews and although I saw a 4 star average, I saw a lot of negatives too and began to get concerned that the place had gone to the dogs. Not so. Wonderful and fantastic meal! A business associate and I arrived at 6:15 on a Thursday night and were given a choice of a booth or a table without a wait. Had an open table between us and the next group which really helped. I can see why people complain it is cramped or loud, but for our circumstances, it was just fine. Our waitress was cordial, but didn't want to be there and said as much when I baited her. This is usually a deal breaker for me, but I decided to make a game of it and got her to open up. Over the course of the meal we had a very nice chat, she checked on our progress throughout, and offered coffee at the end. I did not feel rushed at all and her intense desire to be home watching TV and drinking wine did not affect her ability to serve us. We both had the shrimp cocktail that we were very happy with. If you get it, make sure you dig down deep in the cocktail sauce to get the sinus opening horseradish. Zing! We next had the house salads. Based on reviews, we asked for the dressing on the side and were glad that we did. And yes, it is nothing more than iceberg lettuce with some carrot pieces, but I imagine in 1947, that's how it was done. The dressing was good, but we used less than half of it. The bread basket had a plethora of different breads chunks in it. Nothing I would write home about, but no complaints either. I LOVE salt! My colleague had the pork chops and I had the bone in ribeye. Both were very good. I will say the steak was one of the best I ever had. Seasoning was outstanding. Fried onion straws were tasty and the hashbrowns were tremendously good. I think they were fried in a pound of butter. We both had the stewed tomatoes and, like other reviews, don't see what the big hubbub is all about. It was chunky tomato soup. Good, but still just chunky tomato soup. Like the bread, nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about. If I go back, I'll try the asparagus. Meant to sub it for the hashbrowns this time, but very happy I did not! All in all, overall one of the best meals I've had in some time. Toss 2 ice teas on the above and my bill was just over $100. Thought that was pretty reasonable for what we got.
(5)
Wayne B.
Great atmosphere, excellent service (if a little pushy) food was good but I have to say I have had better steak (had their specialty the Porterhouse) and sides in many other steakhouses....was expecting to be wowed and left content...not a bad place, but I am not sure I would ever wait in line for one of their meals...
(3)
Shel W.
A nationally recognized great steak and I agree! The filet (my go to) melts in your mouth! I love the stewed tomatoes as well! Can't wait to go back!
Heavenly steaks! Went on a Thursday date night. Porterhouse, medium rare, was cooked perfectly, and the meat melted in my mouth. Wife's tenderloin (chopped steak) was hearty, delicious. The sides were typical, ordinary. But the atmosphere was intimate; low light, hum of conversations--enough where you have to lean in. Good for any date.
(5)
Jason L.
I was somewhat brought up on Pine Club, since I am originally from the Dayton area. I started going more and more just after college and since I have moved away, now in Cleveland, I always try to make a trip there when in town. Stopped by in January, 2015 and nothing has changed. This review is more for those of you who have never been, its a fantastic steakhouse, however has a few old school ways about them that one should be aware of. First off, you are going back in time, think late 1940's, its very small, dark, dimly lit. They don't take reservations, one cannot eat at the bar (drinks only). Also, take cash, or bring your checkbook as they don't accept plastic. Better yet, if you plan to return or in the Midwest, open a house account (yes, they have them, told you this place is old school). You provide a credit card as backup payment, and they will mail you a statement the month after you dine there and you mail them a check. If you go on a weekend, expect anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes for a table. Grab a drink at the bar. They don't have Wi-Fi and they only have a single TV at the bar. Again, think old school. You want sports, go to a sports bar. Once seated, you will notice a few other things...the bread, they don't serve it on a bread plate, but your paper placemat. Don't worry, grab bread and eat. Their house salad dressing is one of the many things that make them famous and I could eat it alone. You can buy it to go, or its also found in many area grocery stores, more higher end ones. The wine list, its dynamite! And if you don't find anything you like, ask for the "other" wine list. Typically reserved for wine reps. Trust me, they have a wine for every pallet. OK, its a steakhouse, how's the food you are wondering, I am a filet fan, so I always go with the extra heavy filet, medium rare. Usually I go Medium, but there is something about a Pine Club steak that is better on the medium rare side. It comes with choice of potato or straws and veggie of the night, on my visit, the veggie was lima beans. If you tinker or try to change up anything from the standard deviation there is an upcharge, they don't substitute anything. I typically will order a side of grilled mushrooms, around $3.50. Their steaks are very well cooked and melt in your mouth. Paired up with a nice bottle of Stags Leap Cab (personal favorite), their meals are incredible and cannot be beat. Post meal, this is not the place to linger and get dessert (they don't offer dessert) or chit chat over a pot of coffee. They are too small and busy, especially on a weekend for people have been waiting a hour for a table. There is a Ben and Jerry's next door, and plenty of other area bars for a post-meal drink. They are not good for groups, largest table might hold 8. Don't bring kids, not that type of a place. Steaks go for the mid $30 range, but they do a nice job with their burgers which will run around $18. They also have seafood, however I have never had seafood there, always go for the steak. The service has always been good on my visits, however I have heard from close friends that they have had bad, and dismissive servers on occasion. I think it goes with the atmosphere of the venue. The Pine Club has many famous stories, most notably, Vice President Bush arriving unannounced and asking for a table back in 1992, was told it would be a 45 minute wait, and he even waited (please don't ask for that table, it will make your wait longer, if they even allow you to sit there). Many actors have dined there while in Dayton for a performance. If you are going there on a business meal and need that itemized receipt, heads up, it will be hand written, know that makes it hard for some AP groups to reimburse, but you should know ahead of time. Pair that with the bill you will get in the mail the following month which hopefully will do the trick. Yes, its old school, quirky and they don't take a credit card, but if you can put yourself back into the late 1940's/early 1950's, and relax you will enjoy one hell of a steak, some outstanding vino, and an experience you will talk about for years to come. The NY Times named it one of the 10 world's best dining establishments, and Wine Spectator raves on their wine list. If it fits their high end ways, it will for you as well. Cheers! Oh, and pick up salad dressing to go at the host stand on the way out.
(5)
Jen H.
It's like going back in time with the dark wood paneled walls and mature wait staff dressed in black and white. I have been to Peter Luger's in Brooklyn a few times and it seems like this is the closest thing we can get in Dayton. The steaks are not quite on par but you can get that genuine old fashioned steak house feel. I recommend all in Dayton try this place at least once and I am sure they will continue to support this great local hang out.
(4)
Geoff L.
Bring Cash...they dont accept Cards, cash or check ONLY...steak was perfect, sides were so-so. Would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to walk across the street to get money from a shady ATM afterwards. Had to do 2 transactions since the max limit is $200. Place isn't cheap, but steaks are worth it...
(4)
Jimmy V.
Note: the following is my review. Yelp claimed they removed it for "violating their terms and guidelines" (but would not say specifically what terms and guidelines) but I think the real reason is that Yelp is accepting bribes to get rid of negative reviews. I changed a couple words that Yelp might ostensibly claim as a reason to remove this review. Now let's see how long this one stays up. This is what excellence looks and tastes like (food-wise). But the Pine Club only accepts cash (or checks if you are a member) because cheating on their taxes is more important than being convenient for their customers. Although the food is damn near excellent and that I would give 4.5 stars, I generously only docked them one star because of this silly and annoying and anachronistic practice. I sincerely hope the IRS crawls up their butt with a magnifying glass. I docked them another star for their loud and drunken rich moron clientele. It's not Pine Club's fault their customer base is almost 100% unbearable idiots, right? Wrong. They have carefully cultivated an unnecessarily snooty ambience and it's a dealbreaker. Gordon Ramsay would have screamed at them for this. Pine Club, you're serving steaks and chops and salads, NOT $300/plate haute cuisine. The no reservations policy may sound egalitarian at first blush but in practice it is anything but and amounts to a blemish on their otherwise typically-excellent-but-officious-and-often-Âbrusque service. Oh, and then there is the fact that David Hulme, the guy who owns the Pine Club, is apparently crazy as hell: wdtn.com/2015/01/27/man-… daytondailynews.com/news… daytondailynews.com/news…
(3)
Joe M.
Best steaks in town and here's a little secret. The scallops are as good you can get . Dave who is the owner brings them in fresh from the east coast.
(5)
Roberta R.
Well, we can finally cross Pine Club off of our restaurant bucket list. After years of reading mixed reviews, we found our expectations to be spot on. The service was dreadful, some of the food was okay, the wine was great, and we felt like we'd stepped back in time a bit. Nearly all the patrons were 60+ and I fear, as they aren't trying to bring in younger regulars, that in 10 years, there won't be anyone dining there. No credit cards or reservations? This isn't 1950. Anyway, back to the food. I liked my filet, though slightly overcooked, and our wine selections were fantastic. That's where the praise ends. Everything except the salty bread needed salt. The "extra heavy" NY strip rated a 6 out of 10 and was undercooked. My husband asked for his salad dressing on the side and was told no. I didn't ask for mine on the side and got a cold blue cheese soup with a garnish of lettuce. Hash browns were comparable to Waffle House's. Lima beans (veg of the day) came straight out of a can. What's the deal with the stewed tomatoes, anyway? They were so sweet, if you replaced the croutons with a dollop of whipped cream, they could have been dessert, which would be great, since the don't offer any. Oh, and I've saved the best for last: the infamous servers who don't want to be there. We got one and she was a gem. Gruff, brief, almost scary. Until the end of the meal, where she perked up and actually made eye contact. My favorite was when she asked, "Are you still doing okay?" Uh, what do you mean "still"? You never asked if everything was okay the entire meal until now, and we're about done. I'm jealous of the other tables; there were several friendly-looking servers, we just lucked out. Go to Fleming's instead.
(3)
Pete P.
THIS PLACE IS REALLY LOUD! Cash or personal check only. If you have trouble seeing in low light, bring a flashlight. I understand the charm of not changing, but the booths are exceedingly uncomfortable and small, and the pine walls, ugly tile floor, and wooden tile ceiling are nothing short of an amplification chamber. There were three other tables and they were so close, and so drunk, and so freaking loud that we had to strain to follow our conversations. Pork Chops and applesauce, check. Pretty good. Small strip steak, check. Really good and seasoned perfectly. Caesar salad with chicken, all systems no go, tower. Chicken was very over cooked. They did take it off the bill ($17). How do you screw up proteins in a steak house? The rye crostini with baked on parm was beyond weird, and cracker dry (came with salad). Up charged for salad dressing, that's a new one. It was loaded with bleu cheese, almost too loaded. Up charged for 'hash browns lyonnaise', one side was burnt, the other side raw, the onions were not caramelized, and barely sweated, and the side had no depth of flavor or even seasoning. The onion rings were great. Dinner rolls, meh. Seemed stale. Did not order the stewed tomatoes as they were described as very sweet. I ordered the veg of the day, which was steamed Cali mix, inedibly bland. Overall it's pretty expensive for a mediocre trip in a time machine. Drive a little further and visit Jeff Ruby's Precinct or Johnny G's in Cincy for a much better steakhouse experience. Three stars minus one for no plastic and LOUD.
(2)
Carl S.
Exceptional steak and service. Oysters were a great app and the steaks were spot on. The ambiance is exactly as described, and you would think nothing has changed the 60+ years it has been open.
(5)
Adam B.
Went a couple years ago. The mystery of the place is the stewed tomatoes. Oh how do you make thee so sweet and savory? The waitress dare not give away the famous secret. Sugar and basil ?! Tried the the Fried Chicken livers which they no longer serve. Everyone else got Pork chops. Pricey but a neat old landmark.
(3)
Jonathan M.
The atmosphere is great! However the food was overpriced and less than mediocre. The stake was over cooked and over charred, the burger was tasty but placed on a cheap bun. The salad was just a bowl of romain and I had to eat the pre meal bread over my napkin because I didn't have a plate. The shrimp cocktail was great though! Over all I wasn't happy to have spent a hundred dollars on a meal that was so flawed. I really wanted to like this place too because it is so awesome inside. Also don't plan on eating alone at the bar, because you are not allowed.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
nathan z.
The Vibe: Low lights, dark and classy wooden interior from the 40's, good for impressing your steak loving out of town friends or celebrating your 65th. The Crowd: Middle aged business men to past-their-prime patrons order gin n tonics while Good Ol American Famblies gather round tables to enjoy medium rare cuts o' meat. The Service: Informed, attentive, in their 50-60's waitresses heed your bidding while an at your service stout old man shakes your hand and a teenage bus boy fills your water glass. What's good: The steak. We had a variety of cuts, some seafood too, and a bunch of sides. Steak was juicy, red, seasoned. Seafood was cooked well, if a little under-flavored. The sides were interesting, and solid. Stewed tomatoes were very sweet, hollondaise sauce and asparagus was traditional. In my opinion, just okay, and not worth the price, but hey thats me. Recapitulation: If I was giving an objective restaurant opinion I might give Pine Club four stars, but this is a subjective business, and it was a three star to me (and I wasnt even payin!). Though dont let that discourage you if you love steak, that's what their specialty is, not seafood (which was what I ordered). Oh and they only take cash. good luck.
(3)Jeffrey K.
The Pine Club was just canonized by a New York Times writer who wrote a great tribute to old-fashioned stalwart restaurants in New York, London, Paris, San Francisco and.......here. We were stunned. And we agree totally. This should be on anyone's dining bucket list.
(5)Dave L.
I guess if I wanted a salad or bread I'd go somewhere else.
(5)M H.
Mind you I am not from the Midwest, so unlike other reviewers I can't compare the Pine Club to other area steakhouses. What I can do is tell you what an overpriced POS this place is. The steak was cooked perfectly and was well seasoned. The salad is a sad heap of iceberg and dressing in a plastic bowl. The onion rings are thin, greasy, and in desperate need of salt. French fries are straight out of the Sysco frozen fries bag. I am guessing the favorable reviews of this joint come from locals who have fond memories of the place, or view it as a Dayton institution. From an unbiased outsider's perspective, you can do better for a $40 a head. No draft beers available and no credit cards accepted, though I won't hold it against them even though for $20-40/entree for dinner it is pretty ridiculous.
(2)Claudia R.
A great historic place to have delicious steak! Ate there after a day at the AF museum.
(4)Lauren A.
Unique atmosphere (no frills needed!) Excellent wine list Excellent service Excellent steak So unique, which is great because most restaurants these days feed you crap and in huge portions. This was neither crap nor an inappropriate portion. My Dad took me here to celebrate and it was perfect. The stewed tomatoes was unlike anything I've ever tasted and they were fabulous, sweet with a savory crouton crispiness added in. I've heard they found J.Ruby scavenging through the dumpsters to figure out their secret to perfect steaks...rumor?
(4)Michael H.
The Pine Club is the story of Dayton. Maybe it was much better in the past but now it's struggling really hard to stay above average. The food has declined over the years, and I hate to say it, but there are chain restaurants that actually do a better job. The only saving grace is the cut of meat, but for the price, you certainly aren't paying for creativity from the chef. I always do the surf and turf steak and lobster, mid rare on the beef. I don't think it has ever come out wrong, and has been pretty good. The salad is very simple but good. The house brand dressings are the best part. They do have some good dressing recipes. My favorite though is the rye and salt rolls. A novelty of days gone by that you don't often find anymore. I am a fan of their rolls. The service is pretty good, but like everything else, was better in the past. I think some of it has to do with the fact that the servers literally die before relinquishing their position, leaving the place filled with some dear folks who really do mean well but sadly aren't quite able to keep the pace on a busy Saturday night. The place still draws though, and that's probably because it still is one of the better restaurants in the Miami Valley area. If you're not there when the place opens, you're going to wait - which is a pain because the bar has limited seating. It's also a pain for the patrons who are eating because the bar overlooks the dining area and it's frankly pretty annoying to have some hungry buzzards ogling over you and your dinner party wondering when you're going to leave. Maybe there was a day and time when the no credit card thing was a novelty - but honestly, the idea of walking around in a place like Dayton, even at 4 pm in the afternoon, with $200 in my pocket isnt very appealing. Yeah the Pine Club is on the edge of Dayton and Oakwood, but I've been accosted on multiple occasions by a vagrant looking for a handout. The Dayton locals will likely be miffed at another, not-so-stellar review. But I sort of see it as the same thing that's gotten Dayton into the place that it is... people in denial, who believe that the sun rises and sets on their little town. Get out a little and see the rest of the world. When you're comparing to something other than yourself, things look a whole lot different.
(3)David S.
This place rocks! Great food, always consistent, and way old-school! I've been a fan for years, would still go regularly if I weren't out in Cali now. Yeah, you'll wait a long time on Friday and Saturday night, so if you're in a hurry just go early or elsewhere. It's great food and the waitresses never leave so they become a part of your family over time -- love it! Shirley is my favorite but they're all pretty awesome. Food is a little pricey, but seriously it's a steal when compared to anything similar in the real cities, like NY/Boston/San Fran. They have a great after dinner drink too -- the Pine Cone!
(5)Elizabeth W.
The Pine Club must be going downhill, because we were the ONLY table at 8:00 on a Thursday night. The server, who had been there some 13 years, seemed annoyed to have to wait on us. The bread was completely stale, the salad was iceburg (yuck) and a minuscule side dish of creamed spinach cost us $4.50 because we ordered burgers and not a 'real dinner' (read: $30 steak). To my beloved Oakwood Club: I will never stray again!
(2)Steven K.
I struggled with a single star when perhaps it should be 1.25. Overall, the place is a dump. It is difficult to judge how dirty it actually is because of the extremely dim lighting, but I think it's safe to say it hasn't undergone a thorough cleaning since 1947. The steaks are mediocre at best, although always cooked to the perfect temperature. The sides are limited, low quality, and bland. The salads are just plain bad. The wine list is horrible. I could do better shopping at Kroger. The cash only policy is a major inconvenience and a little suspicious. The extra quarter star is for the attentive wait staff, many of whom appear to have been there since 1947. They do a good job considering with what they are given to work. For those visiting from out-of-town, it's worth it to stop in for one drink to see what so many Daytonians consider the best steak house in town. It will help you to appropriately assess other reviews written by Dayton locals. But remember to bring cold hard cash.
(1)Real D.
I like the Pine Club for carry-out hamburgers and onion rings.
(2)F U.
I have been here about ten times over the past few years and this is by far my favorite restaurant. I love beef and have eaten many burgers and steaks in my life, but would have to say that the steaks Ive had here are my favorite and their burger is hands down the best. Additionally their house dressing is easily my favorite dressing and I always buy a jar or two when I find them. Rainbow trout, onion straws, garlic mashed potatoes are also great. The only minor things I can complain about are the subpar bread, only ok beer list, and basic salad(which is easily made up for by the amazing dressing). I will be back.
(5)Stormtrooper H.
This is not Outback. If you are looking for a chain (Ruth's Chris) steak house you will NOT like The Pine Club. The Pine Club opened in 1947 and both the looks and the menu appear to be pretty much unchanged. The service is great and the food is always perfectly cooked. The only few negatives are that they do not offer draft beer (small problem) and that they only take cash. As long as you know this going in and have $50-$200 in your pocket it's no big deal. They also do not take reservations, so if you get there at peak times be ready to wait. The stewed tomatoes and red and blue salad are delicious (and deliciously unrefined).
(4)Bill B.
Dark and depressing.
(2)Jesse W.
Oddly enough, my favorite steak is in one of my least favorite cities. This place is one of the only things that make Dayton, OH bearable. The wait times are atrocious, the seating is cramped, and the place is kinda loud but the food makes up for every bit of that. . . and then some. Want a steak that will just kick your ass? Go to Dayton, then leave town as soon as your finished. Important note: unless you want to jump through a series of esoteric and bizarre hoops, this is a cash-only establishment. It's 2008 and they really only take cash. Oh well.
(5)Eric B.
If I had to use one word to describe the Pine Club's atmosphere, I would use quaint. For those of you who don't know what the word means, it's "pleasingly odd and old fashioned" (thank you SAT verbal study cards!!).. You walk in and it's really like you stepped into 1947. Dimly lit, and yes, piney, I was first impressed with how many people were packed into the small dining area to devour fat steaks. When I was called to my table, I almost had to laugh at the size of the bread plates - smaller than a small saucer. I didn't get it... anyways, the Salad Dressing IS amazing, the stewed tomatoes good (like, I would have been impressed in 1947?!), and the filet mignon excellent but not cooked with any particular seasoning.. that is to say you can't get red wine sauce, peppered, etc. A caveat - don't believe the marketing hype on the dinner place-mats. Their wine is horrible. Also, it says they continue to look for ways to please their customers while keeping it old school... for a $50 meal it's ridiculous not to take plastic! I look forward with some anxiety to paying by check when I receive my Pine Club membership card in the mail.
(2)W M.
Clearly, we all appreciate different things. But for my money, the Pine Club is one of the best. It is old school and old money, but it is a great place to visit and eat. They have the best filet around. Period. I've been to 49 states, Canada, Europe and the Middle East and I've never had a filet as good as the Pine Club's. Get the stewed tomatoes, baked potato and salad with the house dressing. If you want a basketball game, loud music or flashy lights, go to Fridays. If you want good food, good service, and a good evening, this is the place for you.
(5)Tony S.
Great ambiance, great steaks, and sub par martini's. Wraps it up perfectly. Arrived 30 minutes prior to opening, were promptly seated and served drinks. Ordered a dirty martini that just wasn't very dirty, in fact it was barely dusty. However the bone in ribeye more than made up for it, along with some of the house merlot, which is excellent. The staff are all the very friendly and open folk that you expect from the midwest. They told me a story about when George Bush Sr was president and he came to Pine Club they made him sit in his limo for 45 minutes because they weren't willing to make anyone leave their seat. Gotta love that. I'll be going back everytime I'm in Dayton.
(4)Jason M.
Almost five stars, but... 1) No draft beer. I get this is a cocktail kind of joint with the big bar, so this is only a minor detraction. They do have Anchor Steam, though, so kudos. 2) Cash only. Really, in 2008? It'd be one thing if this was a bar, but it's pretty easy to rack up $60+/pp with dinner, drinks, and tip. 3) The dinner salad. Iceberg and drowning in dressing. Kinda gross. For the plus, my bone in rib-eye was one of the best steaks I've had outside of my kitchen, ever. Forget Morton's, Ruth's Chris, or any other steak chain, this is the real deal.
(4)Leo C.
I find myself in a mysterious neighborhood, with nothing around. Recommendations from people to check out the Pine Club for an excellent steak dinner, with the co-workers on my business trip. We get there and what do you know? The locale isn't too bad, the ambiance is nice, kind of dark, kind of classy. The service however didn't complete match our expectations- people were dressed up somewhat, but I'm pretty sure there were a good amount of people in jeans. No shorts though. We noted that our utensils were a bit dirty... the bread was already on the table when we got there, along with the water.. who knows how long it was sitting there. One of us tried a piece of bread that seemed to be quite soggy, so one bite is all we got out of that basket. We ordered our meals and some wine... the porterhouse for myself. The $30 price for the steak, including sides and salad, was pretty good actually. The salad was not bad, with the house dressing, but it was an iceberg salad... kind of odd for a higher-up establishment. At this point, we were a bit concerned at what our meals were like... but then the steaks came. OH my, what a great steak.. just as good as some of the other steakhouses I've been to (not that I've been to that many). Porterhouse ordered medium came perfectly done, pink-red inside, tasty... flavor was great, seasoned well. a little bit strong at some parts but it was just melting in my mouth I couldn't stop eating. The side of hash browns was quite good as well, a good way to contrast the taste of the steak. Overall, a good experience. A bit kooky. A bit weird. But, the steak is just so worth it, and the price is right. I will definitely be here again, if I'm ever in Dayton again....who knew that there would be such a great steak in the middle of nowhere.
(4)Brian C.
You just don't go to the Pine Club for a fancy atmposphere, in fact it's interior probably hasn't changed in 50 years but thats ok with me! People come here to enjoy fantastic service and amazing food, no frills. No credit cards, no reservations, but who cares because thats what you expect when you go to the Pine Club. The steaks are outstanding, wine list is fantastic, and the service is top notch without overdoing it (you don't feel like they're breathing down your neck!). Hope they're around for many years to come! My only complaint is that they don't have draught beers, that would be nice to have!
(4)Heather J.
It is what it is and it doesn't try to be anything different. It's a very very old school steak house. I can get a steak that is just as good and $10 cheaper at Texas Roadhouse. But I can also get a steak that's just as good and $40 more expensive at Jeff Ruby! So it depends - if you want to go in for some old school ambiance and an experience - or if you're used to paying Morton/Ruby prices for steak and want a "cheaper" night out - then head to the Pine Club in Dayton! Side note: they overcook their pork chops - so if you get them - ask for them a little less done... Side note #2: I got the red & bleu salad - it's french and bleu cheese - well...actually my friend ordered that and I got the house - but then we tasted and switched. I don't like bleu cheese but the sweet of the french made it really good. I give it 4 stars because it is what it is and it's not going to try and change with the times. But - the bread isn't warm or interesting, the salad is iceberg, the stewed tomatoes are basically chunky tomato soup and the pork chop was way overcooked for my taste. But #2 - the portions are huge, the place has character out the ass and it's an interesting night out in a not-so-interesting city.
(4)Howard F.
This was a very pleasant surprise. Yeah, there were plenty of good reviews but (no offense to Dayton) typically that doesn't mean so much in a small town with only a handful of non-generechaincrap restaurants to choose from. But this is a legitimately fine place that would score well even in a big city. And its a neat experience - authentic old school. It's not like restaurants actually do anything to oysters on the half shell, but these oysters were absolutely superb, as were the fried version - greaseless and perfectly fried. The waitress says they always get raves on their oysters so kudos to them on finding a great source. The beef was great. Every bit of what you'd get in any uber steak chain (Mortons etc) - maybe better. At $30 for a porterhouse including the salad and sides its a fabulous deal too. The prime rib was superb - a huge cut, butter tender, perfectly cooked. The trout was very nice - a huge whole trout very nicely cooked. The lyonnaise potatoes were incredible. And there's plenty to choose from on the wine list, all very well priced. The only misses at all were surprisingly the French fries (who cares really) and the house special stewed tomatoes which tasted exactly like the sauce on canned Spaghetti-O's (an acquired taste maybe since alot of reviewers seem to love them). Cash only, but unlike Peter Lugers in NY you don't have to worry about not being able to get enough dough out of the ATM to pay for the whole meal.
(5)Ryan W.
Been here twice. Expensive and not exceptional in any way. The also do not accept credit cards. Who does that?
(2)Dan S.
When I moved to Oakwood I was pretty excited about having a few restaurants and taverns within walking / biking distance, which included the Pine Club. Because of its reputation and cozy knotty pine paneled ambience I expected it would become a favorite watering hole and occasional meal out. Having to pay cash, while anachronistic, would have been worth the frustration had the dining experience lived up to expectations. But the meal was, at best, only ordinary, rendering the cash only payment policy an inconvenient annoyance. I have returned once or twice but only for drinks. Even then, I get the impression that the Pine Club exists solely for the local septugenarian set and parents of U.D. students in town for a visit. When they begin to die off I look forward to buying the Pine Club and making it a cool place again.
(2)Clint U.
5 Stars because this is the place to go in Dayton. And if you are in Dayton, you won't find anything from Emeril, Bobby Flay, or an Iron Chef without valet parking an airplane. Specialized grilling (1450 F ovens, mesquite wood, etc.) although becoming increasingly popular, is also becoming a lost art. Searing high heat produces a sharp, bitter accent. Cooler grilling heat, 500 F, produces a softer carmelization of the meat juices, a slightly sweet flavoring. I had both steaks and pork chops here and they had a great balance of high heat and searing heat....but it leaned toward the high heat. Don't be fooled by the name. You will not find Euell Gibbons disciples here nor vegans.
(5)TREFF B.
If you love Filet Mignon and you happen to be in Dayton Ohio, then I hope you'll go to the Pine Club. I think almost every US President in modern time has eaten there (and loved it I'm sure). Their house salad dressing was so good that I ordered $75 worth of it and shipped it to my home in Los Angeles. Yeah, the Pine Club is very pricey -- but well worth it. MY SOLE COMPLAINT: Why do they not allow ball caps inside the restaurant? They are located just feet from Fraternity row at UD and that silly rule seems ridiculous. No one wants to dress up to go to a dark college restaurant. Come on Pine Club -- LOOSEN UP!
(5)John M.
3.5 stars - Pine Club seems to be a legend, but it's hard to say whether it's worthy of the lore. I've been a couple of times now, and as a non red meat eater I certainly can't speak to the quality of the steaks, which I'm sure are very good. The food selection otherwise, however, leaves something to be desired. Your seafood options are as follows - fried shrimp, trout, scallops (also fried), lobster. That's it. If you're a vegetarian enjoy your salad and bread. If you're a vegan, don't bother. The sides are all ok, but definitely nothing that gets me out of bed in the morning. The tomatoes are decent, and the mixed veggies are mediocre at best. Their house salad dressing is very good, and for a little extra scratch you can get some bleu cheese crumbles - all on iceberg - c'mon! I just paid $26 for fried scallops, lukewarm steamed veggies, a baked potato and iceberg lettuce. That being said, the service is always good, very seasoned people work there which makes the experience enjoyable. It's a dark place filled with the din of diners and folks at the bar waiting for a table. There are no reservations, so if you go anytime between 6 and 8 expect 30min-1 hour wait. They don't accept credit cards, so it's cash or a house account that they'll open for you. The wine list is the best part as far as I'm concerned, especially if you have a great deal of money burning a hole in your pocket. Actually, you'll need that burning money for most everything, because even the fried shrimp is 17 bucks.
(4)Carter P.
Old school great steak! This is a fantastic throw back to the 70's supper club. Dark paneling, simple fare and decent prices combined to make the Pine Club a hidden Dayton gem.
(4)Andrew R.
If you are in the Dayton area, make time for this place. May be the best steak house in the entire rust belt. The stewed tomatoes are a must, and most everything on the menu is fantastic, though I'd go with anything steak.
(5)Conor R.
Like steak? Want to feel like a million bucks? Happen to be close to the University of Dayton? Pine Club. Always works, tastes great and they treat EVERYONE equally. Food is excellent. Steak is some of the best in the world. Sorry if you think they might be rude, thats just how they are.
(5)Christina K.
pine club has earned a rep for high quality, perfectly cooked steaks and they deserve it. when my dad came to visit me in San Francisco, all he kept saying was that he wanted a tasty steak dinner. we never got around to getting one for him, so i sent him a gift cert to pine club to await him on his return home. the whole fam loves this place.
(5)Bradford M.
The Pine Club is an excellent restaurant. Yes it is old school -- a steakhouse as you might have imagined the interior of one in 1945 -- but the food is great. Nothing to complain about here -- outstanding steaks. There are a couple of things people mention that are really just sidelines -- like the stewed tomatoes -- you either like them or you don't, they are a signature side here, but you can substitute the vegetable of the day if you don't want them. The standard salad is iceberg lettuce with a great dressing (which you can buy to go), but not being a fan of iceberg, I choose the mescaline salad which is a knockout and just as exceptional as their steaks. Baked potatoes are good, but so are the hash browns. The bay scallops are a great appetizer. You come here for the steak, not for the wine, fish, or the size of the bread plate (someone whined about that). Someone mentioned the Old Hickory in a review -- it's shoe leather compared to The Pine Club. Somone also preferred the Oakwood Club -- it's gone through kitchen changes and unfortunately is inconsistent, if you have just one place to try on your visit, hit The Pine Club, while it's near downtown and maybe not convenient, it is worth the trouble. Yes you have to pay cash, no they don't take reservations, but for a unique Dayton dining experience and my favorite steak in Ohio, you have to try The Pine Club. It blows away overpriced chain steak houses.
(5)Gina M.
this place is WAY overrated. you can sometimes find yourself waiting too long for just mediocre food. maybe its because i'm from chicago, but the steak is amazing. the side of tomatoes are pretty good though. anytime i find myself at pine club, i usually stick with the fish and its good, steak not so impressive.
(3)Abraham G.
My family has been frequenting this establishing for over 60 years. While the hillbillies continue to go to chain restaurants, anyone with taste (and who wants taste) goes to the Pine Club. The decor is strictly old school (pine paneling; large bar in the center of the room; no-nonsense servers who provide impeccable service), the food is nothing short of amazing - AND CONSISTENT. I read the review of the whiner about right wingers. So what? It's a free country, and as a flaming liberal, I'm not afraid of being around people whose views are different from mine. The steaks are simply THE BEST. The sides are charming (if not historic), and everything about the ambiance says "gracious." I'll leave the chain restaurants to the ignorant ones who think they're acceptable, but anyone with a smidgen of grace or charm will avoid those joints (and the faux restaurants celebrated by the faux gentrified Centerville & Bellbrook Crowd) and head straight to the Pine Club. As downtown Dayton has atrophied (and taste and grace have been replaced by designer labels worn by conspicuous consumers), the place isn't as busy as it used to be. However, it's as great as ever, and it will be around forever (long after the chain restaurant flavors of the month have pulled up stakes in their boring buildings with their formula menus and amateurish service). Pine Club for Me! Now and Forever! By the way... leave your plastic at home. No plastic people allowed, and no plastic credit cards (though they will take checks or open a house account for you on the spot).
(5)Skippity L.
Porterhouse - My husband's steak was fantastically tasty. Filet Mignon - A huge disappointment. Overcooked and tough. Salad - My husband's salad had way too much house dressing, basically it was like dressing soup with lettuce. My salad was very blah. Also iceberg lettuce? Seriously who does that an upscale restaurant? Bread basket - Uninspired and ridiculously over salted. Also since when is a package of saltine crackers considered as fine dining? Broccoli - According to my husband, it was quite tasty. Sorry, but I expected fantastic. We ended up with average.
(3)Randy S.
The bad: Cash only. Old. Dark. They don't take reservations. There can be a long wait for a table. It can get loud. No desserts. Okay? Get over it. That's the way it is, and I don't think it's going to change now after nearly 70 years. The good: Service is always good when I've gone, but the servers aren't the chatty type. They're busy busting their butts. The steaks are amazing. I've tried steak houses in major cities but I finally gave up because I've never had one better than what I can get here. I like both the 20 ounce bone-in ribeye and the filet mignon, but I haven't tried anything else because they're both so good. The onion straws are very good. I love the salt sticks. About the house salad: Yes, the salad is just lettuce and carrots drenched in a very garlicy dressing, but that seems to be a traditional Dayton thing. If you're familiar with the now defunct Dominic's or Duke's Golden Ox salads, you know what I'm talking about. I personally like it, but I grew up in the area. I think the price is reasonable considering the quality of the meat. Sure, it's more expensive than Outback or Longhorn, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than Fleming's. There's a reason this place has been operating since 1947 and continues to get national accolades. It's because it's good. (And those little tiny bread plates they use are just hilarious.)
(5)David E.
Bring cash. The best thing is the kitchen is open late. The worst is- it's one of the few- and since they don't take reservations, you could be waiting a while. Best deal- is their burger. Adding ketchup to it would be a crime. The meat is incredible- and usually cooked to perfection. My favorite is the Porterhouse for two. Bring someone you like- who can eat- because it's a meal for 3. The house dressing - the garlic- is awesome- buy it there by the quart for $8 which is way less than you will pay at a local grocery store. I always have it in the house. The Food Network recently said it's the 2nd best steak house in America- I wouldn't go that far- but, it is a trip to another era- where food is just prepared and cooked well- without a bunch of theater. They come by their respect honestly.
(5)Dave M.
This is my 1st review on yelp, and unfortunately it will need to be quite negative for an establishment I once cherished patronizing a couple times a year for special occasions. I did leave a post on the Pine Club's Facebook page but did mistakenly omit a couple of items that I will address here. The appetizer of scallops which I have always ordered, and were always a wonderfully broiled treat came fried, not fully done mind you, that would have embarrassed Mrs. Paul. If there was an option between fried and broiled I was not asked. I have also had the scallops as an entree before, always broiled and never had to choose. The lamb chops were just over 1/2 the size of my last visit (approximately 3 or 4 years due to temporary business relocation). The garlic mashed potatoes and mushrooms, both extras, could have bragged if anyone considered them tepid. The asperagus ordered instead of the stewed tomatoes would have been better served raw with a side of ranch dressing. I am not one to send food back unless it's completely the wrong order, nor do I ever tip less than 20% unless the waiter/waitress is a complete ass, at which point I will cancel my order and leave. It seems that the Dayton finer dining establishments are dwindling away. BTW I refuse to dine where I am required to wear a tie. Someone please bring back the old Keyhole restaurant on Salem, relocate it of course but damn what a great steak and people. Yelp's Cincy Cindy rocks. Mac
(1)Brent F.
I did a lotta research on the pine club and am very thankful for that due to its cash only policy. Secondly, I decided to have dinner on a Tuesday night as a result of those same research results. Now, for my experience. We were seated promptly, staff was pleasant and knowledgeable, food was prompt and delicious (no surprise there) which was why I gave it five stars. I considered deducting a star for the stale bread and iceberg lettuce that others complained about but I was forewarned regarding these issues so it stayed at five stars. The drinks were cold and potent (I had gin & tonic) which I considered a plus versus many other upscale restaurants that serve lackluster drinks at premium prices. As for staff, I couldn't have been more impressed! She was knowledgeable and provided great feedback regarding my questions on the menu. The atmosphere, was great considering I was there with four other friends. What I hope readers get most out of my review is that other posters complained about ambience and noise. I found both these aspects of my experience to be awesome. Me and four of my buddies went for great steaks and oysters while having some great laughs with each other. Five guys telling stories and popping jokes over great steak and seafood are perfect for this place, highly recommend!
(5)Jed M.
Great place for steak in Dayton! It's a pretty swanky environment when you first walk in. It's dark, dimly lit, but has a calm and classy feel to it. It is always crowded but the crowd is friendly. If there is no immediate seating available, the hostess will ask you to sit at the bar. You can order a drink and your bill will be added to your table once you get one. The booths are old, or maybe I should call them vintage, and the padding has been worn out. But they, along with the bar, are all solid wood. The filet mignon is my favorite steak here. I order it medium rare and it is juicy, tender, and cooked to order every time. I enjoy the salt sticks and bread set at the table while you decide what to order. I tried the burger once and it wasn't that great. It was only ok, but the menu says it's the #1 burger in the nation, or something to that effect, so that's what I was expecting. I believe they grind their steaks to make the burgers, but priced at $18, you might as well stick with the steak and save the burger for the next time you're at Red Robins. You can become a member with a credit card, ID, and application, and they will send the bill to your place of residence. Otherwise, it's pay by check or cash. All in all, I love this place and am a frequent customer. The wait staff has been very efficient, so no complaints at all, but they are more business-like than friendly. I believe they are most interested in getting you your food and drinks stat, and turning the table over for the next diners.
(4)Ronyelle B.
I grew up in Dayton and Pine Club was the top of the line. I recently went back after at least 10 years and not one single thing has changed....except maybe my taste. I swear I don't remember it being so loud. It seemed like everyone was loud and drunk and trying to talk over music that wasn't there. Service is still a crap-shoot. The bartender was nice while we waited but our table service was......stiff...to put it nicely. It was almost 10pm and Im sure she was past ready to be home. The salad dressing has changed and I'm not sure I liked it. I didnt hate it either. My ribeye was medium but charred in hell I believe. Everything was just ok food wise. Nothing to write home about and it didn't make me think Id want to come back the next time Im home. I did have a great glass of Mascato!! Its a nostalgic place to go and say you've been once...maybe twice but....
(3)John S.
If you are just wanting a great tasting steak without all the other fluff and all the other expense, this, my friends, is the place to be. Excellent strip steak cooked to a perfect medium rare, a little chat crust on the outside, and tasted superb with no additional salt or pepper or any steak sauce....perfection on a plate. I had a Gnarly Head Zinfandel which complimented this steak perfectly. For a "hasn't been updated since 1947" restaurant, you would never expect the wine list to be so extensive. Cash only, but very reasonably priced (I live in the NYC area), great, great steak and wine list.
(5)Steph F.
I had visited the Pine Club probably 10 years ago, and was excited to finally be back. Overall, the steak was absolutely the best part, and was good enough to overcome the grumpy servers and average sides. I got to the Pine Club a little before the rest of my group, and was ordered to sit at the bar, where 10 minutes later I was asked for my drink order. I ordered a 7-Up, which came in a warm can (that just bugged me). When the rest of my fam finally came, we were quickly seated and got our orders in, though my dad was a little surprised that they couldn't/wouldn't do steak au poivre. Along with our steaks, we got bread, salad, choice of hashbrowns or baked potato, shoe string onions, and choice of veggies. Bread-overly-salted, which is saying something because I love salt. Salad-the dressing that I had so fondly remembered was made with powdered garlic (an abomination in my Italian opinion) and the salad was swimming in it. Boo :( Baked potato- get it with the green onion sour cream! It was fantastic and even better as leftovers! Bro's hashbrowns- Waffle House does better. Improved with ketchup. Shoestring onions- I thought they were average and got overly greasy when cold, but my brother said he liked them better than the Precinct's. Vegetables- I got Lima beans, and I was happy enough with them. Steak-out of this world!! Also fantastic reheated as leftovers, and you'll definitely have enough for lunch or dinner the next day. Decent service is super important to me, and this steak was good enough to overcome the off-putting attitudes from the hostess, waitress, and bartender.
(3)Glenn T.
En route from Kentucky to Maine, an overnight in Dayton found us at The Pine Club, a smallish, genuine and not contrived, old school local steakhouse. Dark stained solid knotty pine walls, a central bar with a tender comfortable with a straight up Manhattan and with the professional capability of withholding judgement when the young lady a couple of stools down ordered a Knob Creek whiskey sour. Red naugahyde booths with laminate table tops dressed with paper placemats extolling the history of the establishment, pleasantly lighted by picture lamps on the traditional prints. A bit noisy but the appealing noise of good folks enjoying good company and good conversation. It's not without its idiosyncrasies. Few of us are. Our server Theresa was competent, friendly, helpful and provided straight forward suggestions when asked. She was dead on recommending the Porterhouse for two which arrived with a char pleasantly like crumbled slate with an interior perfect for a couple divided between medium rare and medium. A nice surprise was her salad suggestion, with French dressing and bleu cheese crumbles, so substantial they should more properly have been described as nuggets. Basic, but basic is just fine when well executed. Being recently listed at number two in the top five of U.S. Steakhouses, it is worthy. Peter Luger garnered the #1 spot. Good fortune is now having had the experience on which to base a comparison. The Pine has a neon sign in the front window proclaiming "Choice Steaks". Peter Luger's meat is famously prime. On given evenings I found the result of the choice equal to that of the prime. While I may opine that Kevin Rathbun Steak in Atlanta should have been in that top 5, Pine Club acquitted itself admirably. Good for them. And good for you if you pay a visit without expecting it to be something other than its comfortable self. Wish there was a 4.5 star option.
(4)Bud M.
My wife and I went here on our second date back in 1967 when we were undergrads at UD. Our first date was to see the movie "The Graduate" when Dustin Hoffman was still in his 20's. LOTS of fond memories here, especially the steaks and the onion strings underneath the steaks that sopped up all the juices. The blue cheese dressing used to have chunks the size of golf balls. Lack of taking credit cards was not a problem, since we didn't get our first credit cards until 1970 when we graduated and got married. Whenever we get back to Dayton we always stop by for steaks and drinks, and nothing has changed. Still awesome steaks and onion strings. We'll keep going back, especially for our 50th Pine Club anniversary in 2017.
(5)Barbara N.
Great local spot- very old school. The people aren't as grumpy as all the other reviews say- they're just efficient and busy. Steaks are great. Rolls are fab., garlic mashed potatoes excellent. They'll even make you a chocolate Martinii! Cash only but not terribly expensive - for three of us steaks, two glasses of wine each and a Martinii our bill was less than $250'with a 20% tip! Go early, before 7.
(4)Dan B.
Close your eyes and take a bite of the steak. It's as good as it gets. Crisp on the outside blood red in on the inside. Perfect, medium rare. Really good! I had my 12 ounce strip with sides of onion strings and hash browns. Both were also outstanding. Open your eyes and you are back in the forties. The booths are cramped and close and the lighting is as dim as your cousin Mel. The bread basket is huge and a waste of bad bread. The salad is over-dressed iceberg. The good news is that all of the sides come with the fairly priced steak. I'm glad I found the Pine Club. It's easy to see why it is an institution. I will happily come back when I next visit Dayton.
(4)Richard C.
I went to UD years ago and my dad and I used to frequent this Dayton institution whenever he came in to town. This was the first time I had been back in 10 years and not much has changed. My wife and I started with the combination appetizer which was 4 shrimp and 4 oysters. The oysters were large, fresh, and delicious. The shrimp were a little small but just fine. As other reviewers have pointed out, the salads are a little wet and uninspired. I would recommend choosing another salad but, as explained below, every little addition or change is an up charge. As expected, the steaks are amazing. I had the veal and my wife had surf and turf. It was splendid, well cooked, and flavorful. I upgraded to the lyonaise potatoes an creamed spinach and my wife had the garlic mashed with asparagus. The sides were very well done. Here is the problem though: if you want mashed potatoes instead of hash-browns, that is a 2.50 up-charge. Creamed spinach instead of stewed tomatoes: up-charge. Sour cream: up-charge. Baked potato: up-charge. Loaded baked potato: double up-charge. I understand the need to charge more for premium ingredients but for the potatoes, really, it should just be a choice between hash browns, mashed, or baked. Same with the veggies, a choice between a few options without the need to add 5 bucks onto a bill which is already going to be high. We had cocktails instead of wine. The drinks were good but a little small volume wise. However, the prices were very reasonable considering we were ordering premium liquor. Everyone needs to know that this place does NOT accept credit cards, Bring cash, check, or find a friend with a house account (yes, those exist). Other reviewer seemed to not know that this was a no credit card zone so be prepared,
(4)Shaun M.
I was in the men's room this evening, after enjoying my meal, and next to the sink hung a picture of the Pine Club's bar with patrons enjoying drinks from 1947. I can say in confidence that the decor hasn't changed, and to me that is a great thing. This place has character that you don't find anymore and I hope it stays open forever, unchanged. The food is outstanding! Tonight my wife had the prime rib, which was the size of Alaska. It was cooked a perfect medium, crisp on the outside with a nice ribbon of fat running throughout. I had the veal, medium, and I can't recall a better having a better chop. The sides are timeless also, I chose stewed tomatoes and creamed spinach. I could go on and on about the Pine Club and how much I love it. Just go and enjoy. Take cash or a cheque. They don't take cards.
(5)Jeff G.
Talk to most in Dayton about steak and they will say "ooooooh Pine Club" I don't get it. The service is terrible and rude, the food is mediocre at best, the atmosphere is dismal and all you can see while trying to enjoy your dinner is the ass of the people standing around waiting for a table. I would say I have had my last dinner at the Pine Club. There are so many more enjoyable places to have a nice relaxing dinner. I felt like I was at the Pub
(3)Sydney Z.
The Pine Club is terribly overrated - I am guessing the nostalgia of the place is what brings a lot of the patrons in. I don't really enjoy paying $30-$40 for dinner just to be treated rudely and to stand against the wall waiting for a table while wait staff huff & puff past me as they bump through the tight spaces. The steaks are decent although I have to say Flemings is much better. The salad is dismal and the sides are just OK. I think the 1940's ambience is kind of cool, but it seems like some of the place hasn't been cleaned since the '40's either. All in all, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
(2)Richard F.
I always know that when I go to Dayton, I have one stop I have to make. It is the Pine Club. As always, the steaks were great, the side dishes were perfect and the service was second to none. One of our party was a vegetarian and this place is meat-heaven. But the people at the Pine Club managed to accommodate him and he was very happy. They have a nice bar and you can have a drink there or at the tables. Oh. No credit cards, so be aware.
(4)Denise D.
We always go to Pine Club to celebrate our wedding anniversary. No exception this year (celebrating 17 years!), and I had prime rib open face sandwich. I didn't order the prime rib because it's too big and I can never finish it. So it's better I order the sandwich and not eat the bread, and it's just perfect!! The price is better too! The food is never bad, the consistency of food is exceptional. The service is quick too, just don't expect the waiter/waitress to chat with you as they are focusing on making sure your drink is filled, and serve your food as soon as it's ready.
(4)Johnny A.
A mainstay amongst the older folks of the Dayton area. Think 65 and over. That's pretty much the only people you will see eating in here. Under 65? You might be in for a rough road and a hefty paycheck to show for it. The thing with these restaurants that live off their older customer base is that it ends up being all about taste in the end. To keep the older customers onboard the food needs to be flavored a certain way or the taste buds just don't pick up the signals and they won't come back. Flavor it the way THEY like it and they will pay ANY price and yes I do mean ANY price as you can see from one glance at the menu. That same flavor might not be "good" to someone else though. So is it oldschool annnnnd isn't oldschool normally a great thing? Yes... it is an oldschool steakhouse. It has a love it or leave it, my way or the highway, you pay cash only and you'll like it attitude which can work for some places. Hell some people will eat bad food and deal with slow service just because they love the attitude somewhere or the vibe. Maybe it reminds them of something? They made George Bush wait 45 minutes to eat there once. Not sure why you would brag about that kinda like CLeveland bragging about their river catching fire... but yeah there you go. He ate there ONCE. LOL So what's the vibe like? Many of the people you see when you walk in might remind you of a mean gradeschool teacher scowling at you from behind a desk ready to lay the smackdown on your butt for the slightest misstep. That was my first impression. Not the best "oldschool" feeling to get when you are younger and want to have a good time/good food with friends. So don't get me wrong. I normally love the oldschool vibe BUT when things like food and service suffer from keeping that vibe on life support... I'm out. Won't be back. Won't bring friends. Won't bring customers.... and I'm sure they could care less because I'm under 65 not their target audience at all and that's OK. Just be forewarned though if you are researching it and unfamiliar with the area. For this price you can get far better food and a more easy going vibe at a number of other locations. Do the work and you'll see.
(1)Jim T.
The food and service was excellent. It is old school and if I live in Dayton, it would be an automatic go too! Where can you go and they send you a bill, I loved the food and atmosphere! They had a great wine list, we enjoyed Mollydooker's Carnival of Love
(5)Brenda N.
I was very disappointed in my recent visit to the Pine Club. I was there early on a Thursday night. It was not busy. There were few people sitting at the bar and there was immediate seating throughout our time there. I was with a group of women and we requested separate checks. Our waitress was not friendly and actually became quite condescending and even rude as the evening progressed. She made it quite clear that she did not like waiting on women. She made 3 separate remarks during our time there regarding "waiting on women". We noticed that she treated a table of men sitting near us much differently. She was prompt in taking our orders and bringing out the food. However, she never came back to check on the food, although she was standing nearby. We would have liked some more bread sticks since there were 5 of us sharing a basket with 2 salted rye sticks in it. We didn't have an opportunity to ask. She didn't offer us another drink. She seemed "put out" by us asking for another bottle of wine. We were offended by her bringing us "to go" boxes when we had only had our food for a short time (some had only had a few bites of steak!). The seating is tight, and there was no place to lay these boxes so we were all juggling them on our laps. Some of us had no intention of using them. Even the appearance of our waitress appeared unprofessional for someone working in a fine dining establishment. She looked like someone who would be serving at a truck stop diner (hair pulled back with a rubber band, little to no makeup, bitten nails, spots on uniform, surly / rude attitude). The steak was expensive and good, but I have had steaks that are equally as good in Dayton. When going out for a nice dinner, it is the "entire package"....ambiance, service, food and drinks. Although we all grew up in Dayton and have been to the Pine Club several times throughout the years, we all said this was the last. There are too many other places to dine now that have excellent steaks (and some much less expensive than a $35 filet) that provide excellent service that are reflective of a fine dining experience.
(2)Sue G.
The Pine Club serves the best steak on the planet - and I've researched this extensively. Better than my fav restaurant in Chicago (the capital of steak), better than the west coast or east. The sides are delish - you have to try the onion strings and stewed tomatoes. I don't particularly like onion strings or stewed tomatoes, but at the Pine Club they're transformed in the food of the gods.
(5)Steve H.
A very good meal but not great meal. Went there for the steak. I was good. The sides were very good. Terrific salad with house dressing. Staff was courteous and attentive. But what I really wanted was a great steak. The hype didn't measure up.
(3)Irene H.
The decor and atmosphere of the place is fun and worth a visit. I ordered the prime rib medium rare with a baked potato and asparagus. The prime rib was not very impressive... Chewy and bland. The asparagus was over cooked.
(3)Mark S.
lived up to the hype ... Went with a group of 8; I had the bone-in fillet and sampled the strip steak - both were in the top 5% of any that I've ever had. As noted in other reviews - nothing fancy here; either in the decor or in the presentation of the food. It is all good, though. This is one of those places that some more modern places try to be. You'll also get a full pour on your drinks. They do something unique with their Tom Collins that makes is a perfect summer drink. Great food; great service; very reasonable prices. A winner! As noted by others - no credit cards; no reservations
(5)Hannah P.
Came here not knowing too much about the restaurant, expect perhaps the most important thing to know... You gotta get the steak. I had an 8-oz filet with corn, loaded potato and the onion straws it comes with. Everything was super tasty and flavorful. The steak was very tender and spiced well. The house salad was freaking awesome for a salad; perfectly coated with bomb house dressing. The place is very poorly lit and it does take a few moments for your eyes to adjust.
(4)Angela G.
Ok I've been going to this place since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. We'd pop down for carry-out while doing play practice during high school. If you had a bad experience it's likely because you're looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. Here's what's good: the steak and how it's cooked. Ok the potatoes and rolls are ok too. The burgers are fantastic and used to be a carry-out staple in my house growing up. The salad dressings are home-made but I'd say get them on the side unless you appreciate a heavy hand. The cocktails. What you may not like: the atmosphere (it's dark and the tables are close together), the lack of variety (go somewhere else). They don't take reservations and the wait can be long so if you can't hold your liquor you might be in trouble by the time dinner rolls around if you like to drink. An old-school restaurant like this is just never going to give you your nouvelle cuisine experience or the corporate way-too-much-on-the-menu-but-none-of-it-good experience. Love it for what it is and enjoy the experience.
(4)Sara M.
Ah, the Pine Club. The decor and menu options are straight out of Mad Men, which I was into. Shrimp cocktail? Iceberg lettuce chopped salads? No matter the trendiness (or lack thereof) - the Pine Club's food is delicious! My fiancé and I both ordered strip steak. Mine was perfect - so delightfully rare an AED device might have resuscitated it. I ordered the baked potato - yum! He ordered French fries, which didn't look like anything special. Stewed tomatoes are good, house dressing is good. So...with all the goodness floating around, why didn't I give it five stars? The service. I've gotten friendlier and more polite service from the employees at the South Somerset Travel Plaza Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits. Our waitress was rude and surly, although she did go through the motions of providing high-end service (the wine ritual, etc). Example: We ordered a bottle of wine. Waitress carded us (we are almost 30), expressed disbelief/suspicion over our ages within hearing range of other patrons, took both IDs to the bar and scrutinized them. She then grudgingly brought the wine. It was basically downhill from there. Bottom line: food is excellent, service is not. Get carry out - you won't be disappointed.
(4)Francis O.
Good food. Not great. Pricy for what you get. I had high expectation from all of the great word of mouth I got. Would I go back? Sure but I am not going out of my way for it.
(4)Rick A.
A recent article in USA Today quoted a travel writer saying the Pine Club is the best Steakhouse in America. I have to agree. The place is celebrating their 65th year in business and you don't stay open that long if you don't serve the best. It is a relic of the Old School Steakhouse and they see no need to change, nor should they. I have had steaks all over the US and Europe and these are the best. My favorite is a split Filet which allows it to be cooked perfectly all the way through. Our latest stop was a dinner with friends from DC who we always meet at the Pine Club for great food and good conversation when they are in town. When we visit them in DC, we always find the Steakhouses there as good runner-ups but not number one. If your looking for Trendy atmosphere and smart mouthed wait staff, look elsewhere. This place is in the business of serving the best meat in the country with no frills and in an atmosphere Sam Spade and Max Gutmann would feel right at home while discussing the Maltese Falcon. Trendy places come and go because they focus on the atmosphere first and food second. The Pine Club is around because they focus on the food and service and thanks for that.
(5)Sherry E.
My husband and I were told that this is one of the oldest and best steak restaurants in Dayton. We were disappointed. 1. The wait - I don't mind waiting, but I don't care to stand along a wall like a teenager at a middle school dance as other guests and staff push through to get out of the door and to tables. All the while I am staring at the back of the heads of the people at the bar who were lucky enough to get a seat. As guests leave the bar, it is a mad rush to grab the empty stools. I went to sit and the 2 women beside me took the next two seats, leaving my husband standing. 2. The drinks - my Captain and Coke was mixed well. I wanted a beer, particularly Shock Top or Blue Moon. This place keeps nothing on tap and a minimal list in bottles. The glasses at the tables were approx 4 or 5 inches tall and held maybe 240ml of liquid. I felt like I was drinking out of a child's cup. 3. Food - the bread choices were terrible. I could bounce the rolls off of the table. The salad, I am most certain, from a bag. Nothing but lettuce and shreds of carrots. I ordered the strip, medium. He ordered the fillet, medium. Mine was cooked appropriately. His was rare. On reheat, it came out charred. A new fire fillet brought another rare, VERY rare. Reheated, and came out right. 4 tries to get a medium fillet. The manager never came to apologize, never even came to the table to ask if we enjoyed the meal. 4. The atmosphere - From the moment I walked in the door, I felt like I was in a bar, but without the jukebox, or beer on tap. Loud voices, shoddy booths, dim lighting, cramped spaces... I will not return to Pine Club.
(2)Tom K.
Never dined there, but years ago a friend brought me a cheeseburger from the Pine Club. On a scale to from one to ten it was about a hundred. I wondered how they could get a cheeseburger to taste like that. Bravo.
(5)Michael R.
As many have indicated, the Pine Club is a very traditional steakhouse. If you appreciate perfectly prepared beef and efficient service, this is your place. Don't expect anything adventurous, and you won't be disappointed. Four of us ordered varying cuts--bone-in rib-eye, prime rib, and filets. Without exception, all were cooked exactly as requested, and were seasoned perfectly. The side dishes were traditional, but tasty. The house wine was unimpressive--I'd recommend picking something nicer to accompany a great steak. Arriving early (630) on a Tuesday, we were seated immediately. Service was efficient and pleasant. A great choice for steak in the Dayton area.
(4)Rustin L.
Traveling through Dayton and all the locals told us this was the place to go for great steaks...and they were right on. We had six of us and called ahead to get reservations when we were told not to worry about it. So we arrived and got three two-toppers pushed together which was a little small. The wait staff was very attentive and brought out all sorts of water and delicious breads. Again, the small set up (right next to the kitchen entrance BTW) made for some bumped elbows and crowded plates, but the steaks were amazing. So, bottomline: if it's you and your honey in Dayton looking for a great meal and atmosphere, you can't go wrong with Pine Club. If it's more than four people, I'd confirm where and how you're going to be seated before you get there...unless you like being crammed up next to business travelers.
(5)Aaron Z.
Simply put: old school steak house, no reservations and cash on the barrellhead only. I have been to the Pine Club twice. Although my homies from Cincinnati love the place and go monthly. The service and the food are consistently good and the place is worth seeking out. Steaks are what the Pine Club is about. They know how to cook them and serve them up. They have all the standard cuts. We split a large strip and it was plenty for 2. Dinners come with nice side dishes and the stewed tomatoes and the creamed spinach are what they are known for and great choices. The basket of rolls includes rye, white and salty bread sticks. Dinners often come with fried onion rings which I found to be greasy. The interior probably has not changed since the '50s. it is darkly lit ,knotty pine paneling and a clubby bar atmosphere. They have a full bar which is usually packed and the drinks are well made. You can plan on a 1/2 - 3/4 hr wait if you arrive after 6:30. Service is professional & attentive just what you'd expect. They don't serve deserts here. But you'll find a Ben and Jerry's one or two doors away. This and Wright Patterson Airforce base can make for a great trip to Dayton.
(4)Miss E.
Oh, the Pine Club. A sad relic that has been around since the 40s. I grew up in Dayton, and my grandparents always raved about the Pine Club. I think people like my grandparents are the only reason this place stays in business. They just don't know any better. Overpriced steak, canned vegetables, the saddest salads you've ever seen, stale bread, forgettable service, a no-credit-card policy, and a dumpy building. The only thing nice I can say about this place is that their house salad dressing is amazing. I'm sure that 50 years ago this was THE place to eat in Dayton. Let me assure you...that is not the case anymore. Pine Club, please do us all a favor and join the 21st century, or sell your prime real estate to someone else.
(1)Brent M.
I absolutely love the Pine Club. I love the never-changing decor...please never update to please the younger customer. Keep it iconic. The menu should also never change, it is perfection. If I want a tasting menu, I will head out to NYC or Chicago. The steaks are consistently perfect. I really like their veal chop which is hard to find on menus these days. They serve very fresh oysters, old school. Their iceberg lettuce salads...beautifully bland. I love the bread...especially the salt rye. The butter is always perfectly chilled. They have the best onion rings in the world. Also I am tired of overtly friendly staff...just tell me straight up. If you want to be slobbered on by a waitress, try a chain. I rarely order beer here, as they are known for classic mixed drinks. They are not known for low prices...if your sensitive to cost, move on to someplace else. I have eaten here since 1987 and always have had a great meal.
(5)tony a.
Old School! This is just a great place. I am not sure of the bad experiences others have had. I have been here twice and each time was completely satisfied. I love the seating where you are in booths that are low and you can see everyone around you, you talk a little louder but are not really disturbed by others. We got there and there was a bit of a wait so we sauntered up to the bar and ordered a bottle of wine which the bartender gladly transferred to our table bill when we moved. Our waitress was attentive yet unobtrusive. We started with oysters and also shrimp cocktail, very fresh and well shucked were the oysters which is always a plus. And then we moved onward to the steaks, two of us had the bone in filet and one had the regular filet, Damn Fine Steak, there is something about the bone in which puts a little more fat into the steak I wish I could find this cut at my local market. A few hundred dollars later we were on our way happy and content with some great steak, fine wine, wonderful conversations and tasty 20 year old tawny. Best regards, tony
(4)Julian S.
Best Rib Eye I've ever had...time to open an account.
(5)Steve N.
I have been here three times. The food is good. The ribeye is good. And I really enjoy the onion straws. The Salad is average. But they don't take credit cards.
(4)nick g.
awesome look and feel at this old school restaurant. great cocktails. great steaks. stewed tomatoes not my thing, and limited wine list compared to big cities but great food and great people and definitely worth the wait
(4)merle s.
I really like the food here, but most of the negative reviews do hit several points. Cash only, dark atmosphere, no draft beer, older crowd and horrendous waits with no place to sit at the bar. That being said, stay away on Friday and Saturday and the wait issue becomes moot. I can live with the other negative issues as long as the food stays great.
(5)Corey M.
A restaurant museum. A true old school steakhouse - the interior, recipes (and patrons), haven't changed since 1957. They don't even take credit cards (but they'll send you a bill). The stewed tomatoes are the best I have ever had. The steak was a good value. A great place to take your parents.
(3)Greg M.
I want to set the record straight on this place. When I looked at the website for Pine Club, I couldn't wait to get here. Then I started reading these reviews and although I saw a 4 star average, I saw a lot of negatives too and began to get concerned that the place had gone to the dogs. Not so. Wonderful and fantastic meal! A business associate and I arrived at 6:15 on a Thursday night and were given a choice of a booth or a table without a wait. Had an open table between us and the next group which really helped. I can see why people complain it is cramped or loud, but for our circumstances, it was just fine. Our waitress was cordial, but didn't want to be there and said as much when I baited her. This is usually a deal breaker for me, but I decided to make a game of it and got her to open up. Over the course of the meal we had a very nice chat, she checked on our progress throughout, and offered coffee at the end. I did not feel rushed at all and her intense desire to be home watching TV and drinking wine did not affect her ability to serve us. We both had the shrimp cocktail that we were very happy with. If you get it, make sure you dig down deep in the cocktail sauce to get the sinus opening horseradish. Zing! We next had the house salads. Based on reviews, we asked for the dressing on the side and were glad that we did. And yes, it is nothing more than iceberg lettuce with some carrot pieces, but I imagine in 1947, that's how it was done. The dressing was good, but we used less than half of it. The bread basket had a plethora of different breads chunks in it. Nothing I would write home about, but no complaints either. I LOVE salt! My colleague had the pork chops and I had the bone in ribeye. Both were very good. I will say the steak was one of the best I ever had. Seasoning was outstanding. Fried onion straws were tasty and the hashbrowns were tremendously good. I think they were fried in a pound of butter. We both had the stewed tomatoes and, like other reviews, don't see what the big hubbub is all about. It was chunky tomato soup. Good, but still just chunky tomato soup. Like the bread, nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about. If I go back, I'll try the asparagus. Meant to sub it for the hashbrowns this time, but very happy I did not! All in all, overall one of the best meals I've had in some time. Toss 2 ice teas on the above and my bill was just over $100. Thought that was pretty reasonable for what we got.
(5)Wayne B.
Great atmosphere, excellent service (if a little pushy) food was good but I have to say I have had better steak (had their specialty the Porterhouse) and sides in many other steakhouses....was expecting to be wowed and left content...not a bad place, but I am not sure I would ever wait in line for one of their meals...
(3)Shel W.
A nationally recognized great steak and I agree! The filet (my go to) melts in your mouth! I love the stewed tomatoes as well! Can't wait to go back!
(5)S L.
For Dayton, this is an expensive restaurant, but I think it is reasonably priced. It is NOT fine dining. Pine Club does what it has always done, and it doesn't fix what isn't broken. So I'm not docking stars because they don't accept reservations, or because they don't serve desert, or because they don't accept credit cards, or because the salad is a bowl of iceberg lettuce, or because they don't have bussers to clean tables, or because the server is left to clean dirty dishes, or because the floor looks like old peel-and stick, or because the only vegetable options were lima beans or super-sweet "stewed tomatoes," or because the décor is so incredibly dated that it is unintentionally a bit funny. The Pine Club is a steak place. My steak was delicious. It had wonderful flavor. It was perfectly cooked. A+. $44 and something for a tender bone-in ribeye may sound like a lot, but at fancier steak places you pay that much for just the steak as side items are a la carte. The baked potato was loaded with cheese and sour cream and had this delicious, smoky flavor. Ok, this isn't gourmet food, but it was so very tasty. After that, the rest is take it or leave it... As I mentioned the stewed tomatoes are super sweet and could easily qualify as desert. The salad was kind of embarrassing. Iceberg lettuce? This actually made me chuckle. The bread was very salty and the intentionally "tough" kind that is very chewy. The service...lots of older women who dutifully do their jobs nicely. It looks like they've been working at the Pine Club all their lives. They get the job done, but aren't necessarily "polished." Would I go back? Yes. My steak was quite delicious. Would I again wait an hour for this meal? No. I would not. I'd show up during a slower time when I know I could be seated immediately.
(4)Spenser L.
Heavenly steaks! Went on a Thursday date night. Porterhouse, medium rare, was cooked perfectly, and the meat melted in my mouth. Wife's tenderloin (chopped steak) was hearty, delicious. The sides were typical, ordinary. But the atmosphere was intimate; low light, hum of conversations--enough where you have to lean in. Good for any date.
(5)Jason L.
I was somewhat brought up on Pine Club, since I am originally from the Dayton area. I started going more and more just after college and since I have moved away, now in Cleveland, I always try to make a trip there when in town. Stopped by in January, 2015 and nothing has changed. This review is more for those of you who have never been, its a fantastic steakhouse, however has a few old school ways about them that one should be aware of. First off, you are going back in time, think late 1940's, its very small, dark, dimly lit. They don't take reservations, one cannot eat at the bar (drinks only). Also, take cash, or bring your checkbook as they don't accept plastic. Better yet, if you plan to return or in the Midwest, open a house account (yes, they have them, told you this place is old school). You provide a credit card as backup payment, and they will mail you a statement the month after you dine there and you mail them a check. If you go on a weekend, expect anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes for a table. Grab a drink at the bar. They don't have Wi-Fi and they only have a single TV at the bar. Again, think old school. You want sports, go to a sports bar. Once seated, you will notice a few other things...the bread, they don't serve it on a bread plate, but your paper placemat. Don't worry, grab bread and eat. Their house salad dressing is one of the many things that make them famous and I could eat it alone. You can buy it to go, or its also found in many area grocery stores, more higher end ones. The wine list, its dynamite! And if you don't find anything you like, ask for the "other" wine list. Typically reserved for wine reps. Trust me, they have a wine for every pallet. OK, its a steakhouse, how's the food you are wondering, I am a filet fan, so I always go with the extra heavy filet, medium rare. Usually I go Medium, but there is something about a Pine Club steak that is better on the medium rare side. It comes with choice of potato or straws and veggie of the night, on my visit, the veggie was lima beans. If you tinker or try to change up anything from the standard deviation there is an upcharge, they don't substitute anything. I typically will order a side of grilled mushrooms, around $3.50. Their steaks are very well cooked and melt in your mouth. Paired up with a nice bottle of Stags Leap Cab (personal favorite), their meals are incredible and cannot be beat. Post meal, this is not the place to linger and get dessert (they don't offer dessert) or chit chat over a pot of coffee. They are too small and busy, especially on a weekend for people have been waiting a hour for a table. There is a Ben and Jerry's next door, and plenty of other area bars for a post-meal drink. They are not good for groups, largest table might hold 8. Don't bring kids, not that type of a place. Steaks go for the mid $30 range, but they do a nice job with their burgers which will run around $18. They also have seafood, however I have never had seafood there, always go for the steak. The service has always been good on my visits, however I have heard from close friends that they have had bad, and dismissive servers on occasion. I think it goes with the atmosphere of the venue. The Pine Club has many famous stories, most notably, Vice President Bush arriving unannounced and asking for a table back in 1992, was told it would be a 45 minute wait, and he even waited (please don't ask for that table, it will make your wait longer, if they even allow you to sit there). Many actors have dined there while in Dayton for a performance. If you are going there on a business meal and need that itemized receipt, heads up, it will be hand written, know that makes it hard for some AP groups to reimburse, but you should know ahead of time. Pair that with the bill you will get in the mail the following month which hopefully will do the trick. Yes, its old school, quirky and they don't take a credit card, but if you can put yourself back into the late 1940's/early 1950's, and relax you will enjoy one hell of a steak, some outstanding vino, and an experience you will talk about for years to come. The NY Times named it one of the 10 world's best dining establishments, and Wine Spectator raves on their wine list. If it fits their high end ways, it will for you as well. Cheers! Oh, and pick up salad dressing to go at the host stand on the way out.
(5)Jen H.
It's like going back in time with the dark wood paneled walls and mature wait staff dressed in black and white. I have been to Peter Luger's in Brooklyn a few times and it seems like this is the closest thing we can get in Dayton. The steaks are not quite on par but you can get that genuine old fashioned steak house feel. I recommend all in Dayton try this place at least once and I am sure they will continue to support this great local hang out.
(4)Geoff L.
Bring Cash...they dont accept Cards, cash or check ONLY...steak was perfect, sides were so-so. Would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to walk across the street to get money from a shady ATM afterwards. Had to do 2 transactions since the max limit is $200. Place isn't cheap, but steaks are worth it...
(4)Jimmy V.
Note: the following is my review. Yelp claimed they removed it for "violating their terms and guidelines" (but would not say specifically what terms and guidelines) but I think the real reason is that Yelp is accepting bribes to get rid of negative reviews. I changed a couple words that Yelp might ostensibly claim as a reason to remove this review. Now let's see how long this one stays up. This is what excellence looks and tastes like (food-wise). But the Pine Club only accepts cash (or checks if you are a member) because cheating on their taxes is more important than being convenient for their customers. Although the food is damn near excellent and that I would give 4.5 stars, I generously only docked them one star because of this silly and annoying and anachronistic practice. I sincerely hope the IRS crawls up their butt with a magnifying glass. I docked them another star for their loud and drunken rich moron clientele. It's not Pine Club's fault their customer base is almost 100% unbearable idiots, right? Wrong. They have carefully cultivated an unnecessarily snooty ambience and it's a dealbreaker. Gordon Ramsay would have screamed at them for this. Pine Club, you're serving steaks and chops and salads, NOT $300/plate haute cuisine. The no reservations policy may sound egalitarian at first blush but in practice it is anything but and amounts to a blemish on their otherwise typically-excellent-but-officious-and-often-Âbrusque service. Oh, and then there is the fact that David Hulme, the guy who owns the Pine Club, is apparently crazy as hell: wdtn.com/2015/01/27/man-… daytondailynews.com/news… daytondailynews.com/news…
(3)Joe M.
Best steaks in town and here's a little secret. The scallops are as good you can get . Dave who is the owner brings them in fresh from the east coast.
(5)Roberta R.
Well, we can finally cross Pine Club off of our restaurant bucket list. After years of reading mixed reviews, we found our expectations to be spot on. The service was dreadful, some of the food was okay, the wine was great, and we felt like we'd stepped back in time a bit. Nearly all the patrons were 60+ and I fear, as they aren't trying to bring in younger regulars, that in 10 years, there won't be anyone dining there. No credit cards or reservations? This isn't 1950. Anyway, back to the food. I liked my filet, though slightly overcooked, and our wine selections were fantastic. That's where the praise ends. Everything except the salty bread needed salt. The "extra heavy" NY strip rated a 6 out of 10 and was undercooked. My husband asked for his salad dressing on the side and was told no. I didn't ask for mine on the side and got a cold blue cheese soup with a garnish of lettuce. Hash browns were comparable to Waffle House's. Lima beans (veg of the day) came straight out of a can. What's the deal with the stewed tomatoes, anyway? They were so sweet, if you replaced the croutons with a dollop of whipped cream, they could have been dessert, which would be great, since the don't offer any. Oh, and I've saved the best for last: the infamous servers who don't want to be there. We got one and she was a gem. Gruff, brief, almost scary. Until the end of the meal, where she perked up and actually made eye contact. My favorite was when she asked, "Are you still doing okay?" Uh, what do you mean "still"? You never asked if everything was okay the entire meal until now, and we're about done. I'm jealous of the other tables; there were several friendly-looking servers, we just lucked out. Go to Fleming's instead.
(3)Pete P.
THIS PLACE IS REALLY LOUD! Cash or personal check only. If you have trouble seeing in low light, bring a flashlight. I understand the charm of not changing, but the booths are exceedingly uncomfortable and small, and the pine walls, ugly tile floor, and wooden tile ceiling are nothing short of an amplification chamber. There were three other tables and they were so close, and so drunk, and so freaking loud that we had to strain to follow our conversations. Pork Chops and applesauce, check. Pretty good. Small strip steak, check. Really good and seasoned perfectly. Caesar salad with chicken, all systems no go, tower. Chicken was very over cooked. They did take it off the bill ($17). How do you screw up proteins in a steak house? The rye crostini with baked on parm was beyond weird, and cracker dry (came with salad). Up charged for salad dressing, that's a new one. It was loaded with bleu cheese, almost too loaded. Up charged for 'hash browns lyonnaise', one side was burnt, the other side raw, the onions were not caramelized, and barely sweated, and the side had no depth of flavor or even seasoning. The onion rings were great. Dinner rolls, meh. Seemed stale. Did not order the stewed tomatoes as they were described as very sweet. I ordered the veg of the day, which was steamed Cali mix, inedibly bland. Overall it's pretty expensive for a mediocre trip in a time machine. Drive a little further and visit Jeff Ruby's Precinct or Johnny G's in Cincy for a much better steakhouse experience. Three stars minus one for no plastic and LOUD.
(2)Carl S.
Exceptional steak and service. Oysters were a great app and the steaks were spot on. The ambiance is exactly as described, and you would think nothing has changed the 60+ years it has been open.
(5)Adam B.
Went a couple years ago. The mystery of the place is the stewed tomatoes. Oh how do you make thee so sweet and savory? The waitress dare not give away the famous secret. Sugar and basil ?! Tried the the Fried Chicken livers which they no longer serve. Everyone else got Pork chops. Pricey but a neat old landmark.
(3)Jonathan M.
The atmosphere is great! However the food was overpriced and less than mediocre. The stake was over cooked and over charred, the burger was tasty but placed on a cheap bun. The salad was just a bowl of romain and I had to eat the pre meal bread over my napkin because I didn't have a plate. The shrimp cocktail was great though! Over all I wasn't happy to have spent a hundred dollars on a meal that was so flawed. I really wanted to like this place too because it is so awesome inside. Also don't plan on eating alone at the bar, because you are not allowed.
(1)