Dayton’s Oregon District is getting a new breakfast and lunch hangout from a pair of names locals already know by heart. Liz Valenti and Dave Rawson, the team behind Wheat Penny Oven & Bar and Meadowlark, are rolling out a new sibling concept called Piccolo Orsetto that will operate in the morning and midday, complete with a coffee corner, private dining room and cooking-school space for community classes. The owners are aiming for a soft opening in the first week of May.
According to What Now Columbus, the team has been sharing updates on social media and co-owner Liz Valenti has pointed to early May as the target. Meadowlark’s online ordering page also lists “Piccolo Orsetto” at 521 Wayne Avenue, which confirms both the name and address for the new spot.
The cafe will move into a space in the historic Dietz Block, a building that new landlords Burgess and Jeanine Gow purchased and have been renovating, the Dayton Daily News reports. Valenti told the paper that the team has been mapping out the concept for more than two years and at one point considered the English name “Little Bear” before landing on the Italian version. The same reporting notes that Good Hands Bread Co. will be a nearby tenant, creating a small food cluster on the south side of the Oregon District.
Menu and mission
Valenti and Rawson are planning a menu that blends classic comfort breakfasts with more adventurous options and all-day sandwiches. Early previews mention smoked-salmon Benedict, breakfast pizzas, Dutch baby pancakes and grinder-style lunches. Dine Out Dayton reported that the team intends to lean on seasonal, local produce and to offer both sit-down service and grab-and-go choices. The owners also plan to use the back of the space for prep and a private-event area, so Piccolo Orsetto can stay useful beyond regular cafe hours.
A space for classes and community
Piccolo Orsetto will feature a cooking-school area and a private dining room that Valenti says nonprofits can use for classes and fundraisers, according to What Now Columbus. That community-minded setup tracks with Valenti’s recent work supporting local food relief and hospitality initiatives. A dedicated coffee station tucked into the kitchen area is also meant to catch early-morning foot traffic along Wayne Avenue.
Who’s behind it
Valenti and partner Dave Rawson have turned Meadowlark and Wheat Penny into fixtures of the Miami Valley dining scene, and Valenti was named an Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance ambassador in 2025. Dine Out Dayton profiled her statewide recognition and community work. Piccolo Orsetto is the partners’ first adjacent brick-and-mortar expansion since Wheat Penny opened in 2013.
What’s next for Wayne Avenue
The new cafe continues a gradual push of activity farther south along Wayne Avenue, where several bakeries and small food shops have signed on to the Dietz Block and nearby storefronts. The Dayton Daily News notes that the Dietz Block sale closed in August 2024 and that the landlords are planning additional investments. For now, Dayton diners can keep an eye on the owners’ social media and Meadowlark’s website for buildout progress and a firm opening date.
