BRIO aims to bring taste and comfort of Tuscany to Mall at University Town Center
UNIVERSITY PARK -- While sampling bruschetta at BRIO Tuscan Grille, the McGuires were impressed with their first visit to one of the newest restaurants in town.
"I think it's gorgeous. It's so nice to have something this nice and this beautiful in this area," Jennifer McGuire said as her husband, Rich, agreed. "I'm so excited for the mall to open."
BRIO opens at 11 a.m. Thursday at The Mall at University Town Center, the 12th Florida location for the company with room to seat 180 guests inside and 120 outside on an Italian-style terrace. Near the entrance, a private dining room chef's table is available -- with a door, not curtains -- for up to 22 people.
The restaurant has a sweeping elegant décor that's big on curtains and drapes, even used to separate the semi-private dining rooms. Hardwood cyprus graces the floors with antique Venetian plaster on the walls and Arabescato marble imported from Italy that almost turns this part of Sarasota County into Florence.
Diners will also notice plenty of natural light with large windows above the bar letting the sun in or the moonlight shine through. Free-flowing doors separate the bar and patio area.
"On a fall day, I can open up all those windows and get that feel of a nice fall breeze coming through there," general manager Jason Weathers said.
With all the accoutrements in the dining room, the focus at BRIO is still the food. Weathers said BRIO Tuscan Grille aims to be more than a taste of central Italy. Steaks, lamb chops, veal, seafood and bruschettas fill the menu along with signature cocktails.
"Our menu is very diverse," said Weathers, who once worked at the Chart House on Longboat Key.
The most noticeable cooking equipment diners will see in the open kitchen is the large pizza oven that will put out 600 to 700 degrees. Pizza isn't the main use for that oven, however, as sister restaurant BRAVO takes that focus.
"What we do essentially in the oven is flatbreads and bruschettas," said Christopher Prince, district partner for BRAVO BRIO Restaurant Group. "On a busy night, we'll probably do 200 bruschettas out of there and upwards of 100 flatbreads."
Weathers encouraged folks to check out the lunch service with dishes starting at $8.95, where the restaurant pledges a quick turnaround.
"We're also known for our pronto lunch where, if you come in and tell me you have a business meeting in 45 minutes -- boom. We'll make sure we'll make that extra effort to get you out," Weathers said.
Bellini Brunch is offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, going heavy on omelets.
"They're like eggs on steroids," Weathers joked. "Our omelets are amazing. We have cage-free eggs."
BRIO also has a traditional happy hour called Tuscan Tasters from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and a late-night happy hour from 9 p.m. to close Monday through Thursday.
"Our happy hour is offered from the bar all the way out to the patio, so we really extend that to create that nice bar-patio vibe," Weathers said. The patio also has gas fire pits installed for when those Florida nights begin to get a little chilly.
Jennifer and Rich McGuire work for Coldwell Banker off of Bee Ridge Road and see BRIO as a good spot for a business lunch or for a night out.
Rich McGuire, a real estate agent, said the mall is part of the selling pitch for folks buying homes. He thinks people will support the restaurants.
"I definitely think they have the clientele," he said. "It's a great area for this."
For more information and reservations, call 941-702-9102.
Charles Schelle, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow him on Twitter@ImYourChuck.
This story was originally published October 16, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "BRIO aims to bring taste and comfort of Tuscany to Mall at University Town Center ."