HOW IT STARTED
Mamma DiSalvo’s is a true Dayton original.
Rinaldo “Papa” DiSalvo Sr. and his wife Elena “Mamma” DiSalvo opened the Italian restaurant in Kettering in 1979 with the help of Elena's father Pasquale Berarado and their three sons, Nicola, Rinaldo Jr. and Roberto.
>> Founder of iconic local restaurant Mamma DiSalvo’s dies
The family’s roots are in Casili, Italy.
Credit: JAN UNDERWOOD
Credit: JAN UNDERWOOD
WHY CUSTOMERS LOVE IT
The family always has cooked Mamma’s recipes from scratch using only the finest quality ingredients available, including fresh meats, imported cheese, pasta and olive oil.
Popular dishes include its lasagna, classic eggplant parmigiano, spaghetti alla carbanara, calamari, toasted ravioli and linguini vongole. Mamma DiSalvo’s is also famous for its meatballs.
“Customers count on the authenticity; they feel at home here,” Andrew DiSalvo, a third-generation family member working at the restaurant, told the Dayton Daily News in a previous interview. “And I’ll tell you, we put our heart and souls into this place.”
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Credit: Mamma DiSalvo’s
Credit: Mamma DiSalvo’s
THE SECRET SAUCE
Mamma DiSalvo's makes its own sauces, which are available at DiSalvo's Deli & Italian Store next door to the restaurant, online and in select regional Kroger stores.
The product line includes Mamma DiSalvo’s Original Recipe Italian Sauce, Mamma DiSalvo’s Original Recipe Marinara Sauce, Mamma DiSalvo's Original Recipe Spicy Fradiavoli Sauce and Mamma DiSalvo's Authentic Salad Dressing.
DiSalvo's Deli was started by Rinaldo and Mindy DiSalvo in 1985. The deli offers freshly made deli sandwiches and daily pizza and pasta specials. It carries imported grocery items, meats, cheeses, homemade breads, a full line of Boar’s Head products, freshly made salads, desserts, wines, soups and offers changing daily specials as well as many signature items. It also offers catering services.
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