Why the change of heart? Of late, I’ve noticed how Il Figaro is holding its own in a highly competitive Kingston market, which has seen some long-standing restaurants shut their doors.

Second, it’s often super busy and full of people looking very happy. So I gave myself a poke and decided to give it another go. I’m glad I did, and so was my friend.
The meals were soul satisfying, the service pretty swift as well as accommodating (we didn’t have a reservation but they squeezed us in), and the place was buzzing.

Chef Nino Pagano has been whipping up what he calls traditional and authentic Italian and Mediterranean food for decades. His menu, including the specials board, is extensive.

If you need an aperitivo to get the juices flowing before you dine, and happen to be at Il Figaro Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 6.30pm, you can indulge for just $5 – perfect with an antipasti dish if you desire.

I was in the mood for pasta and that took me to the Spaghetti Puttanesca, which for the size of the serve, was great value at $17.90 (I recently wrote about a pub that charges around double that for a small entrée size, albeit with a couple of prawns tossed in).

Who can go wrong with a combo of salty capers and anchovies, garlic, chilli, rich tomato sauce and complex parmigiana cheese? You can actually, if it’s badly prepared, but this dish got a big tick. I asked for, and received, extra chilli.

My friend ordered a blackboard special – homemade ricotta gnocchi served with a rich, slow-cooked, tender veal ragu, flavoured with an intense tomato sauce and lightly sautéed seasonal vegetables ($22.90). She flew straight to ragu heaven.

Il Figaro is happy to serve children, vegetarians and those who prefer gluten-free options.

The wine list averages $40 for white and around $45 for red. The place is BYO wine only.

There’s nothing flash about Il Figaro’s décor, although tables are adorned with white tablecloths.

The lights are too bright at night (for my liking). Not that I like dining with a flashlight, but a bit of softness is nice.

Will we be back? Yes, we will. Will we try the pizza? Yes, we will. Those being served to diners at tables surrounding ours looked amazing.

Dine in or take away, 17 Kennedy Street, Kingston. Call 6232 6922.