West Valley
Fabio on Fire Panini and Gelateria
Opened: June 2023
Chef-owner Fabio Ceschetti earned rave reviews and an instant fan base when he opened his cozy Italian restaurant Fabio on Fire in 2017. Now he’s getting the same positive reception for his new venture – a panini shop, gelateria and Italian mini-market all in one. Ceschetti builds his sandwiches on puccia, made from 72-hour fermented pizza dough. The result is ethereal: fluffy, wood-fired bread that offers a slight tug. Most of the 11 panini are smeared with a house-made spread – maybe pecorino or onion – then stacked with a combo of Italian meats and cheeses (veggies, too), drizzled with EVOO and placed in a 500-degree pizza oven to meld everything together and lend the bread a crispy finish. I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite among this fab four: classic Capri (basically a Caprese salad made with pesto, $13.99); Bellissimo (baked ham, smoked mozzarella, creamy purple potato, garlic, Parmesan spread, $15.99); Porchetta (wood-roasted pork belly, caramelized onions, pecorino, arugula, balsamic mayo, $15.99); and Donna di Cuori (pistachio-studded mortadella, creamy mozzarella, arugula, $15.99). I can’t wait to see if the other seven are just as good.
Wild Card: Nothing wild about ordering the creamiest, most intensely flavored gelato in town. look for the life changing, wild cherry amarena ($4.95).
24775 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria, 623-623-238-3664, fabioonfire.com
