![]() We asked for an appetizer and straw for our water and got the straws about half way through our appetizer. We were greeted fairly quickly but after that getting a servers attention was difficult. We were seated right away -it’s a very old building with short ceilings and small tables but charming. Stopped in after a long day of hiking hoping to have a cocktail. Service was good, even if it was a little slow because of how busy it was (I saw a small number of servers, which makes me think they might have been short staffed that night- no harm, no foul there because the server I had, Mia, was awesome.) The food was beautiful even if it was boring to the palate, it certainly was not boring to the eyes. Not terrible, but the only thing to write home about is how beautiful the presentation is. The mousse was beyond saving unless they plan to add adequate sugar to make it taste like I’m eating something other than pillow foam. The meal improved significantly when I asked for salt and pepper, but I think the duck would have been lovely with some citrus or balsamic. ![]() I had the duck, which lacked seasoning (even salt and pepper, it seemed!), and the chocolate mousse, which derived any and all of its sweetness from the small dollop of whipped cream on top. Delightfully textured, beautifully prepared, unremarkably flavored. There are designated rock climbing and mountain biking areas.The food’s quality was clearly excellent- but there was no flavor or seasoning at all. The park office has a nice selection of camping essentials in case you forgot something, like ingredients for S'Mores. The west bridge was also "closed" - see previous comment- but slated for repair in the Fall of 2016. However, the local university students had no issues doing a trail run along that path so it is passable for the intrepid. The south bank trail is significantly overgrown and portions of the boardwalk along the swampier areas are in serious disrepair, be very careful if you choose to navigate that area. We passed a young family with a toddler and child in a backpack along both the upper and lower trails. The lower trail was more challenging from a footing perspective and rocky but not at all difficult. We encountered many people running along the trails and for the most part there were few obstacles on the upper trail. Also the rocks can be slippery if it has been wet, as it was when we visited. The connections between the top of the gorge and the trail along the river are not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers due to the rockiness. The trails in the state park on the North side of the Little Miami are well marked and wide. Dogs are not allowed in the Nature preserve but are allowed in the state park. There are several overlooks, many with little placards describing facts and details about the history of the area. (pit toilets but with hand sanitizer and a water spigot nearby). Although the map showed restrooms, we could not find them and had to backtrack to the facilities along the road. ![]() We parked at the farthest lot at the Orton picnic area and went into the Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve. It is a beautiful, serene environment, and well cared for state park free to the public for day use. I had fond memories of this area from 30 years previous growing up in the area during grade school and was not disappointed. My husband and I visited this park on a weekend visit to Dayton.
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