Figleaf is a really cool brewery with indoor and outdoor seating. The drinks are really good, and if you're hungry, they have a light selection of made-to-order noms to eat too. While it definitely gets loud in here, it's neat to be able to watch the brewery work - and they have a wide enough selection of alcohol that most people will be able to find something if they want it.
NOTES:
-They have 6-packs available to-go and in a cooler. If you want to just get some of their beer and go, that's totally an option.
-None of their seating has any arms, and it's very sturdy, metal chairs. The majority of their indoor seating is high-top tables and chairs, but they have low-top tables and chairs as well - as well as bar seating.
-Turning into their parking lot is a bit odd if you've never been. You have to turn it a couple buildings down by the BP Cincinnati in order to reach their parking lot.
-Figleaf is also part of the Dayton Ale Trail.
-They have a fountain-style Coke for DDs - probably what they use for their mixed drinks, but it was nice to see (and drink!) when I was driving.
PROS:
-There's a kitchen with a limited (but delicious) food selection. Pizza and pretzels, pretty much. You put in an order with the bartender, and the kitchen texts you when it's done so you can pick it up in the kitchen counter area (that's out-of-sight).
-Pretzels were delicious. Very different than most beer pretzels, but not in a bad way. Somehow, it's a large, soft pretzel that tastes exactly like the mini, crunchy pretzels you can buy at the grocery store. I don't understand it, but it's delicious. The beer cheese is really good too. Like, really, really good. Nothing has any spice or heat to it (which I prefer). Just some darn good cheesiness.
-Pizzas are really good too. If you're really hungry, I could call it a "personal size pizza", but if you and a tablemate split one, you both will likely be satiated at the end.
-You can watch the brewers working - and see how much love they put into their products - since the entire brewery is on-display right next to all of the seating. Unlike a lot of breweries who choose this method, Figleaf doesn't have much of a "scent" to it at all. No scent, really. (The hops smell at other places that do this can be overwhelming.)
-The Strawberry Bismatti is SO good. We always get some when they're there - and then a six pack to take home.
-Ample parking around the brewery in a nicely-organized design that surrounds the building. You'll likely be able to find a spot here, very easily, unless it's a big event.
-Taster boards are adorable. I love them. They're giant, wooden slabs in the shape of Ohio. They're a bit unwieldy for just carrying the four mini glasses they they have, but still, they're really cute
-ALL of the outdoor seating is shaded from the sun.
CONS:
-The *vast* majority of the indoor seating for small parties is high-top tables. There are a few 2-person, 3-person mini low-top tables - or a giant low-top table that has to seat over 12. (Didn't count). If you need low-top tables, expect to sit outside (at least the outside is covered). Since the giant wall to the outside is open on nice days, it's not *too* different than sitting inside.
-If you're here with just a friend or two, the table options are slightly limited. Most of the tables are 6+. So you either have to take the tiny, two person tables (which couldn't fit our flight board and a pizza at the same time) which seem to be made for just drinking, or you have to take up a six person table.
-When we were here, the music near the bar was REALLY cranked up. Add that to the fact that a couple of tables had clearly been here for a bit and were really loudly talking over each other, and it was hard to hear the person I was sitting right next to, thigh-to-thigh, at our mini, two-person table. We moved back to the seating by the kitchen, and it was much quieter and calmer back there. read more