The piano bar is an uncommon creature in the environment that is Dayton nightlife. But just because it's something of a rarity doesn't mean it's elusive.

With the recent addition of a dinner menu as well as an expanded menu of musical options, the management and performers at Gregory's, a two-story eatery and piano bar in downtown Dayton, hope to familiarize people with the entertainment possibilities of the piano bar.

"It seems like a lot of people don't know what a piano bar is about," says Tom "TJ" Hand, a pianist and vocalist who performs regularly at the venue, located on the ground floor of the Barclay Building at First and Main streets.

"They think you go in, sit down and someone plays piano, but there's more to it than that. If it's done right, it's like going over to your favorite party house where someone's playing favorites on the piano and everybody is having great food and just having a great time."

Hand and General Manager Matt Newsome share the sentiment when they say that is what the restaurant strives for.

Newsome says that Gregory's has stepped up its effort to spread that message by adding a menu of entrées such as New York strip steak and jumbo fried shrimp to the selection of appetizers and top-shelf liquors that defined the venue when it opened in July of 2006.

He adds that Gregory's has also built on its musical base of alternating piano men — Hand and Brian Marbury — to encourage visitors. This has included performances from local and regional jazz artists such as trumpeter Mario Abney and vocalists April Aloisio and Teresa Hunt.

Hunt, whose jazz- and R&B-soaked music has earned a local following, says the restaurant provides "a good environment to listen to music, all the way from the wine and food to the low lighting to the couches that fill the second-floor lounge."

In keeping with its location across the street from the Victoria Theatre, Gregory's has played host to occasional cabaret performances from the Encore Theater Company. As well, the venue has tapped into the local talent pool with its bi-weekly Drift Show, a forum for musicians, poets and visual artists.

So far, these efforts have been successful, Newsome says.

"(They're) really helping to introduce new people to Gregory's and to build a following," he says. "I see a lot of new faces all the time and I see a lot of returning faces, which is great."

Newsome thinks upcoming events will only encourage more people to visit Gregory's. And with that they'll introduce more people to the uncommon creature that is the piano bar.

Contact this writer at kalavattam@gmail.com.

how to go

What: Gregory's

Where: 139 N. Main St., on the corner of First and Main streets in Dayton

Evening hours: 4 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Friday; 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Saturday

Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday

Dinner: 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday

Happy hour: 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday

Drinks: $2.75 for domestic beers, $3.50 for imported beers; cocktails start at $5.75, martinis at $7.25 while a glass of wine ranges from $5.25 to $8.00. Happy hour sees prices fall to $2.00 for domestic beers, $3.00 for imported beers and $4.75 for single-pour cocktails; glasses of wine begin at $4.75.

Food: Lunch prices start at $1.50 for a cup of the soup of the day and work their way up to the $5.50 to $6.50 range for various sandwiches. Dinner ranges from $7.50 for a cheeseburger with French fries up to $15 for a 10 oz. sirloin steak and $18.50 for a 10 oz. New York strip steak, both with sides. Appetizers range from $4 to $7.50.

Music: A piano man is on hand most Thursdays through Saturdays; starting times vary. Some special events coming up: Teresa Hunt sings May 9 from 8 p.m. to midnight, and leads her going-away performance on Friday, May 16, 7 p.m. to midnight; the Drift Show takes place Thursday, May 15 and again on May 29, 9 p.m. to midnight for both shows.

More info: (937) 443-2900, www.gregoryspianobar.com