Incorporated in 1913, Middletown, Ohio, is approximately 27 miles northeast of Cincinnati. For tourists, the town is home to the annual Main Street Arts & Music Festival and attractions like Americana Amusement Park and the Land of Illusion theme park. Visitors to Middletown have a variety of restaurants from which to choose, including a small number of local establishments that offer an alternative to the chain establishments also found in the town.
Dragon Express specializes in Chinese cuisine and is located in Middletown's Roosevelt Center shopping plaza. Monday through Saturday, the restaurant offers lunch specials, which include fried or steamed rice and one of 41 entrees, like the orange chicken, Hunan beef or kung pao shrimp. A featured dinner entree is the ma la scallops, which are sautéed with baby corn, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, snow peas and carrots served in a fiery hot sauce. Another is the house special pan-fried noodles, soft house-made noodles that are fried with shrimp, chicken, pork and mixed Asian vegetables. Dragon Express serves lunch and dinner daily. The restaurant only offers takeout and delivery. No dining room is available to eat on the premises. Delivery was free with a minimum purchase of $10 as of August 2010.
Dragon Express
3523 Roosevelt Blvd.
Middletown, OH 45044
513-727-8880
dragonexpress.vpweb.com
Founded in 2004, Java Johnny's Midtowne Cafe is a coffee shop located to the east of downtown Middletown. The breakfast menu includes fruit, pastries and sandwiches, such as the egg, cheese and bacon. The restaurant has more than one dozen sandwiches on its lunch menu, including the cheesesteak, chicken salad, and ham and Swiss. The restaurant serves more than 15 specialty coffee drinks, like the campfire mocha, made with espresso, Ghirardelli chocolate milk, toasted marshmallow syrup and whipped cream. Java Johnny's Midtowne Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant serves guests at a counter and has a large dining room area with tables, easy chairs and couches. Plus, the restaurant has free wireless Internet access. Casual attire is appropriate.
Java Johnny's Midtowne Café
3534 Central Ave.
Middletown, OH 45044
513-727-9722
javajohnnys.com
The Jug has served the community of Middletown since 1932 and has been in its present location since 1936. The restaurant's menu includes cheeseburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken strips and fish sandwiches. To accompany the meal, the restaurant offers sides like onion rings, french fries, chili and bagged potato chips. Also offered are ice cream treats like sundaes, cones and shakes, which come in vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. The Jug is open daily for lunch and dinner. The restaurant is drive-in-style with servers bringing food directly to diners' cars. Picnic tables are also available for walk-up customers or those who prefer to exit their cars and eat on the premises.
The Jug
3610 Central Ave.
Middletown, OH 45044
513-424-1677
thejug.com
