A taste of tradition — Figlio is a classic with classic menu items
January 31, 2025
It’s easy to take things for granted when they have been around a while and are consistently dependable and good — especially when it comes to restaurants.
With the average age of a restaurant clocking in at eight to ten years, a restaurant that has been operating successfully for 33 is a rare thing indeed.
Figlio Wood Fired Pizza, located at Town & Country shopping center in Kettering is a much beloved dining establishment known for its wood fired pizzas and flavorful pasta dishes. Founded in 1991 by Peter and Laurie Danis, both former attorneys who met at Ohio State University’s College of Law, the restaurant has been driven by a commitment and desire to create exceptional dining experiences.
Clearly that goal has been reached or this restaurant wouldn’t have seen a line snaking out the door late last week.
The reasons to stand outside the door waiting to get in regardless of the day start at the very top of the menu with salads and soups with the fabulously flavorful crab and corn chowder ($7.50) that has long been a crowd pleaser. Packed with crab, shrimp, corn and Yukon Gold potatoes, it is a heavenly, decadent proposition.
Immediately under it is the restaurant’s signature Peasant Salad ($9) made with lettuce, spinach, bacon, egg, red onion, cheddar, peas and peppers mixed with a creamy thick dressing is a favorite of mine. The deconstructed seven-layer salad is a classic named after the signature menu item at the iconic Peasant Stock restaurant that was a legend on the Dayton dining scene for several decades.
The rest of the menu is every bit as impressive and flavorful as the first two menu items that are true stars.
Standouts include the Truffled Mushroom pizza ($19) topped with portabellas, prosciutto, fontina and gorgonzola cheese and dressed with truffle oil. A pear and brie pizza ($18) combines the perfect flavors for this time of year topped with blue cheese and prosciutto to play on the flavors topped with a pile of peppery arugula and a spicy drizzle. You don’t need to wonder what Peter and Laurie’s favorite is, there’s a pizza named for it with chicken, caramelized onions, tomatoes and gorgonzola ($18).
The pastas and entrees are where the kitchen really shines with dishes ranging from the old school classics like spaghetti and meatballs ($19), and a linguine bolognese ($19) to a chicken marsala ($27) or piccata ($26).
The restaurant excels at bringing a perfect heat in several of its dishes including the penne pasta chicken diablo ($20), a drunken shrimp entree ($21) ane a blackened chicken dish with penne, spicy tomato sauce, artichokes, spinach, kalamata olives and feta ($20).
Their recent restaurant week dish of chicken in a roasted red pepper cream sauce with fresh mushroom, spinach and asiago cheese quietly built up heat without being pushy to a perfect arch of flavor never overpowering the ingredients, but steaming along with a happy, delightful zing that brought flavorful pleasure with each bite. It was such a terrific dish that I wish was on the regular menu, as I find myself thinking about it days later.
A tiramisu ($7) imported from New York is the perfect blend of cream, chocolate and coffee to finish off whatever meal you choose.
There’s a reason this restaurant continues to pack in eager diners — it’s consistently good with service to match. The biggest mistake would be taking it for granted.
Figlio: 424 E Stroop Rd., Kettering; 937-534-0494 or http://figliopizza.com