A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

I met Caroline for lunch mid week – we laughed as I said, “So this is what it feels like to be a lady of leisure”….not quite. Brio at lunch time was pretty quiet and the clientele was of an older crowd, a much older crowd. The restaurant is part of the new Chestnut Hill Square, it offers call ahead seating and brunch both days of the weekend. The service was a bit aloof at times – the hostess sat us right at the front of the restaurant, in the path of the drafty open door on a cool afternoon, right on top of another table and our server was a bit out to lunch himself.

I had the Ravioli di Bello ($13.95), portobello ravioli, crimini mushrooms, tomatoes, Parmesan and thyme in a champagne brown butter sauce. The pasta dish itself fell a little flat for me. The menu felt a little “Cheesecake Factory” and the flavors in my dish were lacking. The best part of the meal was the warm bread that they brought out to the table. On the upside, Caroline and I were catching up and we did’t feel rushed to leave our table after we ate.

Brio

200 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA

http://www.brioitalian.com/chestnut_hill_square.html

Tags: brunch, casual dining, chestnut hill, italian, lunch, outdoor seating, restaurant