WANT TO GO?
What: La Piazza
Where: 2 N. Market St., Troy
Hours: Lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday; Beginning Nov. 1, dinner hours will be 4:30- 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4-8 p.m. on Sundays.
Happy hour: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday featuring $5 off selected bottles of wine, $4 off selected appetizers, $3 off glasses of house wine, $2 off well drinks and draft beer, $1 off bottled beer and a different house martini featured each week that is $2 off.
Order it to go: La Piazza sells several of its signature favors to go. Items include house dressing ($3.95 for 8 oz. and $7.85 for 16 oz.), tomato basil sauce ($5.50 for 16 oz.), meat tomato sauce ($5.50 for 16 oz.), basil pesto ($3.95 for 8 oz. and $7.85 for 16 oz.), herb butter ($3.50 for 8 oz. or $7 for 16 oz.) and bread ($2.95 per loaf).
Reservations: La Piazza does not take reservations, but the restaurant does offer a call-ahead seating list.
More information: 937-339-5553 or www.lapiazzatroy.com
When most people hear Troy, Ohio, mentioned, they likely conjure up visions of the first weekend in June when tens of thousands of festival-goers flock to Troy for the annual Strawberry Festival.
For those who have made the trek to Troy to explore outside of the town’s largest event, they also know it as a cozy city nestled in Miami County that is oozing with small-town charm.
The picturesque 1807 traffic circle in the center of town, featuring lush landscaping and a regal fountain, is surrounded by Victorian-era buildings that have been lovingly restored and kept up. These historic structures are home to stores, businesses and several great restaurants.
If you are looking for a scenic road trip that ends with a great meal, Troy is calling your name.
At the top of my list are La Piazza, Basil’s on Market and The Caroline. If you’re looking for something easier on the wallet, K’s Hamburger Shop and Dunaway’s Beef ‘N Ale are great spots to grab more casual meals.
All are worth a visit if you have never been.
La Piazza — Italian for "the square" — is one of my favorite spots to take in the sights and sounds of Troy thanks to its wonderful patio. The restaurant, which opened in 1992, is the perfect place to welcome fall thanks to the view of the bustling square from its open air patio and the bright delicious food that was served up consistently from the kitchen on repeat visits.
This quaint, sweet restaurant is a gem featuring several dining spaces that have different personalities and offer up different vibes depending on where you end up.
The large crisp bar area that greets guests is a great place to grab a glass of vino from the extensive wine list, a single malt scotch from one of the largest selections in the region, a Guinness (I know it seems strange to suggest this at an Italian restaurant, but they do an excellent pour) or anything else you’d expect to find.
An area of cozy booths leads out to a large open dining room and then there’s that patio that will be closed up soon due to dropping temperatures. If you don’t get to enjoy it before it closes, put this on the list for spring — it’s an inviting spot that reminds me of the al fresco dining that Europeans have perfected.
The robust menu features many of the Italian specialty dishes you would hope to find. Starting the meal out with the Antipasto ($13.95) with prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, provolone, tomato, fresh mozzarella, olives, roasted and marinated peppers and a house pasta salad is a great idea if you are dining with four or more to get the meal started.
The black shelled steamed mussels steamed with wine, tomato, herbs ($9.95) are a good starter for a romantic dinner for two.
For the main course, “The Sampler” ($17.95) is a great way to try several of the restaurant’s stand-out pasta dishes at once, especially if it is your first time eating at La Piazza. It features one meat cannelloni, three smoked chicken ravioli tossed with tomato basil, and one manicotti. The Smoked Chicken Ravioli ($17.95), stuffed with smoked chicken, herbs, cheeses and tossed with either tomato basil cream sauce or Buffalo style cream sauce, is a highlight. The Cannelloni ($17.95) is the restaurant’s signature dish featuring fresh pasta sheets rolled around meats, herbs, and cheeses, baked and topped with tomato basil sauce. It’s rich and filling with a kick to it thanks to the bright, flavorful sauce.
You can build your own pizza, but there are far more interesting dishes on the menu.
The Chicken Parmigiana is a nice sized portion for $9.95 and the Mediterranean spaghetti ($16.95) topped with olives, spinach, pine nuts, a mound of fresh feta cheese, tomato and some lemon juice is a refreshing option. The spaghetti tossed with tomato basil ($12.95), meat tomato ($13.95) or extra meaty Romano ($14.95) is a classic choice that can be finished off with meatballs or spicy sausage for an additional $3.50.
The Cioppino ($25.95) is an excellent option for seafood lovers with scallops, clams, mussels, shrimp, and Icelandic codfish, poached in tomato, wine, and herbs, and served over a bed of linguine. The Osso Bucco di Maiale ($20.95) and Pork Balsamico ($17.95) will please meat lovers looking for something more solid.
Finish up the meal with a cappuccino ($3.95) or Espresso ($2.95) and if there’s room for dessert, go with a Cannoli ($4.95) filled with sweet ricotta cheese, pistachios, candied fruits, and chocolate.
If you can make it to Troy for lunch, La Piazza’s buffet is a great value and way to sample the food. The ever changing menu features two daily pastas, two proteins, a vegetable, potato, two soups, tossed salad, and pizza for $8.95. It’s a tremendous value and with a menu that is constantly changing (check the website for what’s being served up) it’s a great way to experience a variety of dishes — many that are not included on the regular menu.
If you’re looking for a change of scenery when picking your next restaurant, Troy has it in spades.
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