2 Italian restaurants in Kettering are among those reopening their dining rooms

The pace of Dayton-area restaurant dining-room reopenings is still going strong, with two Italian-themed restaurants in Kettering among those local eateries opening their doors Thursday June 11, with more restaurants joining them in the days ahead.

Gov. Mike DeWine and state health officials lifted their mandatory coronavirus-related shutdown of all dine-in services effective May 21, and restaurants continue to reconfigure their dining rooms and enhance their safety measures to accommodate social distancing requirements so they can start serving customers again.

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Just in the last few days, the list of local reopenings has included Sweeney’s Seafood Bar & Grill in Centerville, Wheat Penny Oven and Bar in Dayton, Hairless Hare Brewery in Vandalia, Meadowlark in Washington Twp., Jay’s Restaurant in Dayton’s Oregon District, the Oakwood Club in Oakwood, Mack’s Tavern in Washington Twp. and Old Scratch Pizza’s two locations in Dayton and Centerville.

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Here are some reopenings happening today, June 11, followed by a handful coming in the days ahead:

Figlio: This restaurant in the Town & Country Shopping Center in Kettering will reopen at 5 p.m. today, June 11, for dining room seating and for curbside carryout. Its sister restaurant in Columbus reopened last week. Here's what Figlio co-owner Peter Danis wrote to customers:

“Words can hardly describe how thrilled Laurie and I are to finally re-open Figlio! The love and support we felt from many of you has been incredible. The encouraging emails, note cards, and telephone calls we received during the shutdown kept us going for the past 10 weeks.”

Credit: Alexandria Storch/Figlio

Credit: Alexandria Storch/Figlio

“The hardest part of being closed for so long was not working with our staff. It was incredibly difficult to furlough 165 members of the ‘Figlio Family’ in March. The uncertainty of not knowing if we would ever see any of them again — to thank them for a job well done — tore us apart.”

“Which is why I am SO happy to report that 90 percent of our staff has returned! The same bright-eyed young people who served your meals are back. (Thank goodness they are ‘bright-eyed’ since that is the main feature you see above their mask!) And the talented kitchen staff who know exactly how you like your meal prepared are back, sautéing your Chicken Diablo and baking your Truffled Mushroom Pizza.”

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Mamma DiSalvo's Italian Ristorante: The iconic Kettering restaurant founded in 1979 has completed a renovation project and reopens at 4 p.m. today with summer hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant now offers patio seating.

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Tender Mercy: This new underground bar on East Third Street just east of downtown Dayton will reopen today, and reservations are required. Initial hours will be 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Cocktail classes and wine tastings are available.

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In the coming days, Christopher's Restaurant in Kettering is gearing up to reopen its dining room on Sunday, June 14, and will be adding Sunday hours going forward; Giordano's Pizza in Beavercreek is planning to reopen its dining room on Monday, June 15; and BIBIBOP Centerville is scheduled to reopen June 18, in the Cornerstone of Centerville space that previously housed MOD Pizza.

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