Figlia

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Pizza, Pasta and a Bolognese Heart

On Lygon Street in Brunswick East, Figlia is a straightforward proposition done with real conviction: Italian pizza and pasta, wine and cocktails, in a setting that welcomes walk-ins as warmly as it does reservations. The restaurant earned recognition from Gambero Rosso, the authoritative Italian food guide, a mark of credibility that speaks to the kitchen's seriousness about its craft.

Alberto's Bologna at the Table

The spirit behind the menu has a clear origin. Monday nights are dedicated to Alberto's hometown of Bologna — Mortadella pizza, fresh rolled pasta, snacks and dessert, anchored by a $30 pasta or pizza with a glass of wine. It's the kind of weekly ritual that tells you something about how this place thinks about food: personal, regional, unpretentious.

What's on the Plate

The pizza menu covers the classics and goes further. A Napoletana arrives with marinara, anchovy and capers; the Salame brings spicy salami, fior di latte and 'nduja sugo; and the Gamberoni — tiger prawn with confit cherry tomato and fennel — shows the kitchen isn't afraid to push the form. Gluten-free bases are available across the board.

Pasta holds its own: pappardelle with veal ossobuco and green garlic gremolata, linguine with tiger prawn and cherry tomato, and a gnocchi with broccolini, roasted garlic and pecorino pepato. Small plates extend the Italian range — carpaccio with puntarelle and anchovy, grilled octopus with puttanesca, baby burrata with walnut pesto and mustard fruit.

Snacks worth noting include cacio e pepe arancini, gnoccho fritto with porcini cream, and freshly shucked oysters. For those who prefer to let the kitchen lead, a chef's menu offers snacks, shared small plates and a pizza for two at $70 per person.

Aperitivo and the Rhythm of the Week

Aperitivo Hour runs Monday to Friday from 5 to 6pm — a genuine nod to the Italian tradition of slowing down before dinner. The broader week runs dinner every day, with lunch added on Saturdays and Sundays. Takeaway pizza is also available for those who'd rather bring Figlia home.