Place: Diamond D's Diner
Location: 2301 Germantown St., Dayton (Corner of Adelite Ave. and Germantown St.)
Sunday to Thursday noon to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m.
Phone: (937) 268-3000
Diamond D's Diner has a motto that its owner holds close to her heart: "fast food ain't good and good food ain't fast."
Barbara Vinzant of Trotwood says that motto and all it encompasses has made the soul food restaurant at 2301 Germantown St. in Dayton successful.
The 74-year-old 1958 Dunbar High School grad said costumers are more than willing to wait for the made-to-order soul food that comes out of her kitchen.
Speciality include boneless, center cut pork chops that come fried, smothered in gravy (the way most regulars prefer them) or barbecue; peach cobbler and the thick sweet, salty and slightly spicy Diamond D’s Burger.
The signature beef burger comes with caramelized onions, three slices of bacon and pepper jack cheese on a sliced donut for $6.75.
Vinzant, a mother of three, grandmother to five and great grandmother of two, said younger clients gravitate towards the Double D’s Burger.
“They look at the picture and say, ‘that looks like a donut,’ and they try it,” Vinzant said and smiled.
The menu also includes a variety of sandwiches, chicken pieces (legs, breast, gizzards etc.) and collard greens, candied yams, chitterlings, buttered rice, BBQ rib tips, salmon patties and whiting fish.
The restaurant can seat up to 16. Vinzant said it delivers to as far away as Jefferson Twp. Many customers call in their order on the way home from work and pick up the meal. Senior citizens are one her chief demographic.
Vinzant said she and her son, Derrick, the business’ manager, have work hard to provide a quality serve to customers.
Some questioned Vinzant’s decision to open in the struggling neighborhood.
She said she would have it no other way.
“These are my roots. We try to make a difference in the community,” Vinzant said. “Just because I am in the ghetto does not mean I have to be a ghetto business.”
Vinzant also the owner of Vinique’s Beauty & Nail Salon and her family owns B&D Entertainment Store and Barbe’s Boutique. All three businesses are located near restaurant housed in a former Church’s Chicken.
The eatery was given Derrick Vinzant long-time nickname, his mother said. He has a diamond in one of his teeth.
Vinzant considers the decision to open the restaurant a leap of faith.
The building had not been used for 16 years.
She used advice from local contacts in the business from JJ Chicken and Fish and Moe's Fish & Chicken when she opened and still sings their praise.
The retired federal courts manager said says she centers herself when times get tough.
Walk-in traffic has been slower this winter due to to the cold temperatures. Diamond D’s has relied more heavier on deliveries.
“Lord, you didn’t say it would easy, you said you would be with me,” Vinzant said.
Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth
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