This Dayton diner has new name and a bigger menu

Are you a fan of the Starlite Restaurant & Diner at 2627 S. Smithville Road in Dayton? You may have been surprised recently to see new signage where the former's logo once hung.

Starlite's owners opened the new Airway Kitchen (4819 Airway Rd.) this fall and finalized the sale of their old location in October. Loyal Starlite customers won't have to worry about losing their old favorites at the rechristened Patriot Eatery & Pizzeria, however.

"Basically, we've kept the menu as-is. We just tweaked it a little," new owner Donna Kup said. "We haven't really changed the meals aspect at all."

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What Patriot has done is ambitiously expand the menu.

As the name implies, East Dayton residents can now enjoy pizza and calzones, baked with dough made fresh on site. The pizza options include cheesesteak, chicken ranchero, Mediterranean and something called a "CAPOLEO" pizza -- made with Mexican hot sauce, ground beef, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.

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Also among the new menu additions are subs, wraps, chicken wings and appetizers.

Kup is no stranger to the restaurant business, having previously owned the Broadway Cafe in Trotwood for years. She said they want to make Patriot Eatery & Pizzeria a positive contributor in their neighborhood, and are hoping to work with local churches soon.

They currently offer a $2 (suggested donation) senior menu, with the proceeds going to the nonprofit Senior Resource Connection in Dayton.
Patriot will continue to offer the delivery service of its predecessor, and is actively hiring drivers.

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