Some of the best slices in Ohio hide behind plain glass cases in places you might drive past without a second look. You walk in for a quick sandwich, spot a row of meringue peaks and flaky crusts, and suddenly lunch has a whole new plan.
Around Dayton, those cases can look pretty bare by early afternoon, so timing matters. Here are seven spots worth an early start and an empty stomach.
1. Mel-O-Dee | Restaurant • Catering, New Carlisle, OH
Pie all day has been the promise along State Route 235 since 1965. Mel-O-Dee is a classic vintage diner that has spent decades perfecting the kind of comfort food that makes a road trip worth it.
Start with the bread basket, because the fresh bread here is a big part of the legend. Broasted chicken and creamy coleslaw are house specialties, and portions run generous without stretching your wallet, usually about $10 to $20 per person.
Breakfast fans can grab biscuits and gravy, a western omelet, or hashbrown casserole starting at 7 AM.
Then comes dessert. Homemade pies anchor the menu, and the pecan pie is a standout worth saving room for.
Weekday mornings are the quietest, which makes them the smart window for snagging a slice before the case thins out. Kids are welcome with high chairs and a kids’ menu, and parking is usually easy.
2. K’s Hamburger Shop, Troy, OH
Counter stools, sizzling griddles, and a slice of banana cream pie waiting at the end. K’s Hamburger Shop sits on East Main Street in downtown Troy, and it feels like a 1950s snapshot that never faded.
Burgers here are made the old-fashioned way, juicy and flavorful without being greasy. A double cheeseburger and a bowl of chili make a classic pairing, and the chocolate malt has its own loyal following.
All-day breakfast keeps the grill busy from the 8 AM opening.
Save some space, though. Finishing with pie is basically tradition at K’s, and the banana cream is the slice locals talk about.
Hours are short, closing at 4 PM and taking Sundays off, so the lunch crowd has a narrow window. Thursday through Saturday get especially packed, and street parking downtown can be tricky.
Arrive early, grab a stool, and order dessert first if you must.
3. The Spot Restaurant – Sidney, OH, Sidney, OH
Founded in 1907, The Spot has been feeding Sidney longer than most Ohio towns have had paved roads. After a fire in 1940, the current Art Moderne building opened in 1941, and it still shows off its original white porcelain tile, mid-century neon sign, and iconic diner layout.
Cream pies are the headline act. The Old Fashioned Cream Pie leads a lineup that includes custard, Dutch apple, cherry, and strawberry pecan.
Choosing just one is genuinely hard, which might explain why the selection shrinks fast once the lunch doors open at 11 AM on weekdays.
Burgers, breaded mushrooms, and vegetable soup round out the savory side, and prices stay friendly. Counter service keeps things moving quickly.
Families will find high chairs and a kids’ menu, and there’s even a drive-through for anyone grabbing a whole pie to go. Weekend mornings open at 9 AM.
4. Rob’s Restaurant & Catering, Brookville, OH
Few things beat a dessert bar where pie shares space with cakes, cookies, and soft-serve ice cream. Rob’s, just off Arlington Road in Brookville, turns the last course into a choose-your-own adventure.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are made to order, and the evening brings a rotating all-you-can-eat buffet. Cabbage rolls, fried chicken, pizza, chili, and turkey with dressing show up among the comfort favorites.
There’s a salad bar plus a full vegetarian menu, so mixed groups won’t argue over where to eat.
The vibe is cozy and small-town, with staff who keep things running smoothly. Unlike several spots on this list, Rob’s accepts reservations and offers a private dining room, handy for family gatherings or a church group outing.
Sunday afternoons and Saturdays get busy, while Monday mornings are calm. Prices stay reasonable, typically $10 to $20 per person.
5. Burkey’s Family Restaurant, Dayton, OH
Need a whole pie for Sunday dinner at Grandma’s? Burkey’s on Shiloh Springs Road has quietly become a go-to for homemade pies that travel well to family events.
The place has a true ma and pa feel, with soft diner booths and a clean, comfortable dining room. Down-home cooking fills the menu: broasted fish, pork chops with dressing, fried chicken by the piece, onion rings, and potato salad.
Breakfast runs all day, from the Popeye’s omelet to grits or oatmeal.
Peach and apple pies are regular sights, and homemade brownies give chocolate lovers an option too. Sunday mornings and weekday mornings draw the biggest crowds, so plan accordingly if you have your eye on a particular flavor.
One scheduling quirk to remember: Burkey’s closes on Tuesdays. Otherwise, doors open at 8 AM and close at 7 PM, with free parking out front.
6. Village Family Restaurant, Waynesville, OH
Peanut butter, butterscotch, banana split. That’s not an ice cream menu, it’s a sampling of the signature homemade pies at Village Family Restaurant in Waynesville.
Tucked on South Main Street in a town already famous for antique shopping, this long-standing eatery has a warm country kitchen feel. Chicken and dumplings and biscuits and gravy headline a varied comfort food menu, and the burgers hold their own.
Portions arrive hot and hearty, and prices stay fair.
Here’s a tip worth repeating: ordering more than one slice is completely acceptable. Creative flavors mean choosing is tough, and Saturday afternoons get busy enough that favorites can vanish.
Weekdays are noticeably calmer. The staff are attentive and quick, outdoor seating welcomes dogs, and families get high chairs, changing tables, and a kids’ menu.
Pair a pie stop with a stroll through downtown Waynesville for a perfect Ohio afternoon.
7. Falb’s Restaurant, Dayton, OH
A century of serving lunch to Dayton workers gives Falb’s serious bragging rights. This family-run cafeteria on Kiser Street, in the city’s Old North Dayton neighborhood, feels like a corner institution that time politely skipped over.
Grab a tray and slide down the line. Cabbage rolls and pork tenderloin are signature dishes, and daily lunch and dinner specials keep regulars coming back.
The best part might be the price, often landing between $1 and $10 per person, a rare find these days.
Pie here is sweet and nostalgic, the kind of classic Americana slice that tastes like a different decade. Since Falb’s is open only Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, the weekday lunch hour is when everything happens, and afternoons get crowded.
Service is fast and friendly, parking is easy, and you’ll want to show up early if dessert matters.
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