Brio Tuscan Grille Opens at The Danbury Fair Mall

White tablecloths gleam in a classic Italian villa setting. Soaring ceilings, arched colonnades, Italian mosaics and dark wooden antique doors open up to the Brio Tuscan Grille which opened on Nov. 30 at the Danbury Fair Mall.

 The Brio Tuscan Grille is one of 50 of the family owned restaurants that have opened since 1992. The original Bravo! Cucina Italiana opened in 1981 by the Doody family of Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Rick and Chris Doody took their concept of an upscale Italian Restaurant and have been able to expand on the theme.

 Danbury's Brio has hired 100 employees, and Central Manager Michael Eddy said that they are still hiring.

Brio joins The Cheesecake Factory, Dick's Sporting Goods and Forever 21 in space formerly leased by Filene's, and those stores will be joined by L.L. Bean in April 2012.

 Brio means “lively” or “full of life” and the bustle of the waitstaff adds to the image. An elegant atmopsphere is created by the antique Ventian plaster walls in this restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine.

 Enormous wrought iron chandeliers lend a romantic glow to the 45 tables that fill the spacious dining hall.  With an additional smaller dining room for business meetings or private parties, and food served in the bar area and on the outdoor patio, the restaurant can accommodate a total of 268 people.

 The Chief Culinary Officer Phil Yandolino has been with the company for 20 years and designs the food for the restaurants. The food is traditional Tuscan fare, with savory herbed flatbread pizzas baked in a wood burning oven, steaks, chops, seafood and pasta.

 “It's still a company that has that family run feeling,” Eddy said, when talking about the success of the company. “They empower us to have an entrepreunerial spirit. Of course there are guidelines, but we feel like it's ours.”

 Assistant Manager Anna Lopez agrees. “I love the culture of this company. They focus on the returning guests. They have a motto, 'Each guest, each meal, each and every day'. That kind of attention to the returning customer is hard to find in a restaurant this big and beautiful.”

 The restaurant features specials throughout the week such as Martini Wednesday. The Tuscan Taster features the same appetizers as seen on the dinner menu, but in smaller portions, and at a smaller price. The Tuscan Taster takes place daily Monday through Friday from 3 pm until 7 pm, and then again from 9 pm until closing.

 BRIO at Danbury Fair Mall will be open seven days a week: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday & Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Reservations and call ahead seating will be accepted and walk-ins are always welcome. For reservations, to book a private party, or more information, please call (203) 730- 0100.