BOCA RATON — BRIO Tuscan Grille has opened a new location at The Shops at Boca Center in Boca Raton. The restaurant, the eighth BRIO Tuscan Grille in Florida, opened its doors for the first time Nov. 9.
BRIO (meaning “lively” or “full of life”) is an upscale, affordable restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine. It brings the pleasure of the Tuscan country villa to the American city.
The subtitle, “Tuscan Grille,” is descriptive of the menu that features grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops, seafood, made-to-order pastas, flatbreads and entrée salads, similar to what one would find in an authentic ristorante in Tuscany. BRIO also offers an ample dessert menu, full wine list and cocktail book. BRIO’s motto is fashioned after the Tuscan philosophy of “To eat well is to live well.”
Some menu items include Bruschetta Quattro, Bistecca Insalata, Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chops, Chicken “Under the Brick,” Gorgonzola-Crusted Filet, Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, Roasted Lamb Chops, Grilled Salmon Salad, Pasta BRIO, Pasta Alla Vodka, Beef Carpaccio, BRIO Crab Cakes, Tiramisu and Torta Di Cioccolata.
Additional offerings include the Bellini Brunch, available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and the $2.95 Tuscan Taster bar menu, which features standouts such as Shrimptini (shrimp cocktail), Beef Carpaccio, mini BRIO Bistecca Burgers, and several flatbreads. The restaurant will also offer a special children’s menu and family-style pans-to-go for off-site catered special events and business occasions.
The new 8,800-square-foot Boca Raton restaurant at 5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 239, offers indoor seating for 260 guests, and al fresco dining for up to 100 on an Italian-style terrace. A private dining area will accommodate groups ranging from 16-48. The bar area will seat 40.
BRIO’s villa-like interior features details such as antique, hardwood Cypress flooring; arched colonnades, hand-crafted Italian mosaics, antique doors, hand-crafted walls covered in an antique Venetian plaster, Arabescato marble-imported from Italy, and sizable wrought-iron chandeliers.
General Manager Tom Race brings years of comprehensive restaurant experience to his new position, having worked as both a general manager and executive chef. Executive Chef Freddy Sevilla joins BRIO at The Shops at Boca Center with 19 years of experience in the restaurant industry.
“With BRIO’s proven success in the Florida market, we’re happy to bring this upscale, affordable restaurant to Boca Raton,” said Saed Mohseni, Chief Executive Officer and President, BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group, Inc. “We’re confident that BRIO will be an excellent restaurant choice for local residents, as well as area businesses.”
Currently, there are 44 BRIO Tuscan Grille restaurants located nationwide.