There’s a new neighborhood spot drawing locals in with its fresh energy and familiar location. On a weeknight evening, my husband and I pedaled five easy minutes from our Oakwood home onto Shroyer Road to visit the soft opening of Three Birds Restaurant. Though we didn’t hop on the Miami Valley Bike Trails (a network of paved paths connecting Dayton and surrounding towns), the restaurant sits just a few spokes from Trail #19, making it an ideal post-ride refuel.
Longtime Dayton residents and diners already know the location: first the notorious Parkmoor Drive-In Restaurant, later the beloved Carmel’s. It’s a familiar corner, now reimagined. After a top-to-bottom renovation, the Idea Collective (the team behind Sueño and Tender Mercy restaurants in Downtown Dayton) has revived the space, capturing the Parkmoor’s energy while delivering an elevated-diner vibe that feels both new and nostalgic.
The Vibe
Step through the wide glass doors and the mood is obvious: happy, mellow, impossible to take too seriously. Lively music plays above the chatter; sunlight pours through oversized windows; a canary-yellow sea of patio umbrellas beckons neighbors and trail riders alike. Inside, café-style tables and larger communal tables welcome bigger groups. The Three Birds’ staff move in sync: friendly, attentive, fielding menu questions with ease. Despite a full house, conversation never required shouting.
Three Birds Bites & Sips Worth the Hype
The menu is deliberately focused on New American comfort food. A tidy beer list showcases Dayton craft staples, a compact but clever wine list, and cocktails that minimize waste by folding in open bottles of wine. I opened with the Daylight Confidential— mixed with vodka, passionfruit, lime, a hint of sherry, and Sauvignon Blanc, deliciously bright and not too sweet. My husband started with a glass of crisp Prosecco.
We ordered the Corndog Shrimp appetizer served fair-style with a honey mustard and spiced mango jam; perfection. My husband ordered the featured bucatini pasta, creamy Cacio e Pepe. I couldn’t get past the desire to try the Rosemary-Buttermilk Brined Wings, tossed in a five-season dry rub. Fried to the perfect crunch and quite possibly Dayton’s most thoughtful chicken wings. I paired the wings with the grilled broccolini.
For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Budino, a silkier version of pot de crème. For the savory-leaning foodie (guilty), the housemade Pimento Cheese & Crackers.
Verdict
Three Birds nailed that elusive sweet spot and slots neatly into the narrative of the Dayton dining scene. It’s proof that a neighborhood restaurant can honor its history while nudging the culinary bar higher. It offers the accessibility locals crave with the polish destination diners expect.
As the sun dipped behind the patio umbrellas, we lingered at the bar over a final cocktail and decided we’d found our new “let’s-not-cook-tonight” standby. If opening month is any indication, this bird is poised to soar.
Before you go:
- Location: 3420 Shroyer Road, near Patterson Park.
- Getting There: A quick spin or stroll via Oakwood and Patterson Park side streets or a short detour from Trail #19 on the Miami Valley Bike Trails. Plenty of parking if you’re driving.
- When to Visit: Patio during golden hour, is Dayton Instagram gold. Reservations are smart on weekend nights and on some weeknights; walk-ins are also welcome.
- Must-Try: Daylight Confidential cocktail + Rosemary-Buttermilk Wings. Trust me. The hummus and their smash burger looked amazing as well!
Photos by Jon Morton
For more local favorites from your Neighborhood Guide, Maura Leathers Schmitt, go here.
