Dining in Dayton joint fires up some good , fun vibe

Premium content from Dayton Business Journal - by Caleb Stephens , DBJ Managing Editor

Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 6:00am EST

Company 7 BBQ is at 1001 S. Main St. in Englewood. Its number is (937) 836-2777.

When I stepped foot into 7 BBQ in Englewood, I quickly felt hot. Was I feverish? Hot flashes? Had I left an open Zippo in my pocket? No, my eyes had seen the fire-patterned carpet and an actual fire engine inside a . I quickly cooled down. Here‟s what else I found:

Atmosphere: Company 7 has spread its firefighting décor through every inch of the restaurant. Three of its owners are West Milton firefighters. In addition to the flaming carpet, the 300-seat restaurant showcases firefighting awards and memorabilia. The staff wear fireman-styled T- shirts. But the main eye catcher is a 1927 fire truck that exists as part of its unique full bar area. The building itself is large for a restaurant (11,000 square feet) allowing for dozens of tables, as well as a separate /gathering spot. As a guest, you can order style through a food line or sit down and order from a server.

Food info: Company 7 BBQ touts its two slow cookers, which the meats between 10 and 18 hours. For , my guest and I both ordered the lunch special ($5), which consists of a meat — pulled pork, beef brisket, turkey breast, pulled chicken or smoked sausage — and chips and a pickle. We also shared side items of mac and cheese ($2.50), sweet potatoes ($1.99) and sweet apples ($1.99). I opted for the pulled pork, which was tender and full of flavor. My guest got the beef brisket, which also was tender and tasty, but lacked some texture. The sides were all done well, with the sweet apples emerging as the consensus top pick. Each table also has six different barbecue sauces utilizing a firefighter theme, including “Firefighter Sweet,” “Lieutenant Tangy,” and “Chief Smokey.” Each are worthy sauces.

Overall: The region has been on a barbecue kick as of late with several new operators. Company 7 BBQ makes a strong case for itself with its fun vibe and quality food. You could say Company 7 really „extinguishes‟ itself from the competition.

Caleb Stephens, managing editor of the Dayton Business Journal, shares his opinion of local each month. Reach him at [email protected]