Brio
brings the pleasures of the Tuscan country
villa to the American city. The Italians
built their spacious country villas to
escape the pressures of urban life and
enjoy "La Dolce Vita" (the good life).
They would mingle with family and friends
and eat freshly prepared food from their
grounds while surrounded by natural beauty.
In just this manner, Brio offers its guests "La
Dolce Vita.".
The food at Brio is all simply prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients. The menu emphasis is on prime steaks and chops, homemade pasta specialties, and flatbreads prepared in an authentic Italian wood-burning oven.
Brio's villa-like interior features arched collanades, hand-crafted Italian mosaics, Venetian plaster walls and marble countertops
"Build it and they will come" is a "Field of Dreams" approach that works well in Naples. On a recent weeknight, still in the throes of steamy hot off-season, Brio Tuscan Grille at Waterside Shops was packed to the gills with happy diners.
And while the food isn't fabulous, it's basically pretty good and in keeping with price points already established in the area. Brio also boasts a lively al fresco bar — and people obviously love that concept. The inside dining room — done in by-the-book Tuscan — boasts golden colored sponge-painted walls, arched doorways, oversize dome-shaped lighting fixtures and artwork featuring Italian scenes.
If you appreciate beef carpaccio, this is definitely the place to eat your fill. It's definitely a best bet, although the sherry-tinged lobster bisque is excellent, too. What else is available? In the appetizer department, picks are standards, ranging from traditional chain creations like a garlic, spinach and artichoke dip to bruschetta, mussels, fried calamari and individual pizzas and flatbreads. When it comes to wines, diners can choose from 22 whites and reds available by the glass ($6 to $10) or a full page of bottles.
Entrée prices, too, cover a wide gamut. On the low end, lighter eaters can opt for a grilled chicken breast, salmon or steak salad, which run from $13 to $15, or one of a handful of pastas, topping out at $15. Grill options run right up through prime rib-eye at $29.50. |