If you know Chris Small, you know he is a big guy with a big appetite!  Chris loves eating out at the many great locally owned restaurants and pubs in the Miami Valley.  Each month he’ll share one of his favorites with you.

Blue Note Bistro & Lounge – 23 E. Central Avenue, Miamisburg, OH 45342 – bluenotebistro.com

The Blue Note Bistro & Lounge – housed in a circa 1928 bank building in historic downtown Miamisburg – offers fine cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and live music in an atmosphere that takes you away to a different time and place. Rather than TV or social media, their hope is that conversation fills the air among families, friends and couples that come in to visit. You can also enjoy the upstairs Afternote Speakeasy, which serves appetizers and drinks while you enjoy live music. The decor is set in the 1920s, and every room in the Blue Note has its own character.

I have heard a lot of positive feedback about the Blue Note, so expectations on my first visit were very high. As soon as I entered the establishment, I knew I would not be disappointed. It’s clear that no expense was spared to create an incredible ambiance. Reservations are a must for the Blue Note, especially if you want a full view of the stage. I would suggest a week in advance for big acts.

As we sat down admiring the attention to detail, we were greeted by Jocelyn who told us a little about the facility and encouraged us to explore the rest of the building. We ordered drinks and charcuterie – one of their many appetizers, featuring an assortment of European meats, vegetables, cheeses and artisan bread. We also ordered a Caesar salad to share. For a main entrée, I ordered Scallops with Lobster Cream. These pan-seared scallops are topped with a lobster cream and served over wilted greens. The dish was prepared perfectly and featured some of the largest scallops I’ve ever seen, yet they were very tender. For dessert, we shared a slice of New York style turtle cheesecake that was very good and a great finish to our meal.

After dinner, we spent some time exploring the building.  I was particularly impressed with an old safe that has been converted to a gorgeous wine room. The band performing during our visit to the Blue Note was excellent. We ventured upstairs to the speakeasy, where we could still easily hear the music.

It was a very nice evening, and I would highly recommend trying the Blue Note for yourself! I think you will find the service, ambiance, food, and beverages all to be worth a trip!