SLOW SERVICE, BAD FOOD, EXPENSIVE Probably the worst meal I've had in Boca. Salty, flavorless risotto. Rigatoni that barely rivals the Olive Garden. Slow, bad service capped off by 3 mistakes on the check. Don't let the pleasant decor fool you. One star for bread which was good.
(1)
Beth B.
Great brunch menu. Good portions, good value, great taste, puppy friendly. Mahi mahi dish is delicious. Mediterranean shrimp great spice flavor with faro... Sauce on the side... So delicious we didn't need the sauce Pasta pesto with grilled chicken was fine tasting, well presented and totally satisfying. Service was great and so where our puppies.
(4)
Niko S.
The 2nd worst meal I have ever had. The one star goes to the server that actually tried. The food tasted fake and the fillet was microwaved as well as the veggies. This was not freshly made. Just terrible! Makes you wonder how they are still in business.
(1)
Joshua M.
This is a restaurant that you might want to come to when your other two choices have 2-hour wait times. Even then, Brio might be a bit of a wait, based on where it is, which is nestled right in an area jam packed with other high scale restaurants. The clientele is on the older/senior citizen spectrum, but that doesn't mean it is a bad clientele. Atmosphere here is very nice, inside and out. The interior has a pleasant ambiance, with the only minus being it is very noisy inside. Plenty of tables outside, and especially on a nice night, eating out there can be a great plus. Another note, parking here can be a nightmare on busy nights. Plenty of valet options, but if you see a spot, no matter how far, take it! The food was okay, but nothing memorable. Started out with bread, which came out hot, and it was severed with real butter served on a plate. As well, it came with these Asiago chips, which was a nice addition. I had a Kale Caesar Salad to start off, and it was a bit bitter for my taste, but a good portion size. For my entree I had the Chicken Milanese, which was good, but nothing amazing. The portion size I found a bit small, just two medium size breaded breasts, and the cheese they put on it was very minimal. I substituted mashed potatoes for my pasta, which was a bit of a wash, because I didn't find the potatoes anything fresh; it tasted like something they heated up in the microwave. The food quality just wasn't there, and the menu options weren't huge. Service is SLOW. Our waiter was nice, but he barley came over to check up on us, and it took a while for him to bring us out of food and other items. Now the place was crowded, but still I could tell that the service needed a strong talking from corporate. The pricing here is pretty standard for Boca prices, but that's not speaking positively for this location. The costs don't justify what you actually get. With so many other restaurants within walking distance, going to bat for Brio is a stretch. The reality is, there are just too many other good Italian restaurants to make me seriously consider coming back to Brio. Food (B-), Pricing (D), Atmosphere (B+), Service (C+)
(3)
Lenny K.
Brio is pretty nice. I realize it's a chain but this location holds up pretty good on its own. Good selection of dishes that tasted good too. Very accommodating staff for our party of 11. We celebrated a birthday that night and they made sure to make it a memorable occasion. And, I ordered a mixed drink and was actually able to taste the alcohol. Not fine dining but a fine family experience!
(4)
Callan R.
Great place for a nice, relaxing lunch with a modern and chic environment. The customer service was fantastic. I ordered the lobster bisque and a Caesar salad. Very satisfying but nothing outside of what you would expect. I love my lobster bisque served over creme fraiche which I would expect at a high end restaurant so no disappointment here. Brio serves complimentary bread and the Asiago/Rosemary crisps are addicting!! I have also tried their chicken chipotle panini which was very savory. Large portion for a panini so I couldn't finish it. Overall a very pleasant experience!
(4)
Daphne L.
I came here on Sunday afternoon for a baptism celebration with about 20 other people. We were seated in the back room for special events. We were also given a special menu with only a few options for our meals. We had the choice of lasagna, shrimp diablo or pasta brio. I got the lasagna. And two other people at my table got the pasta brio and shrimp diablo. Thr lasagna was small portion wise but it tasted good. I tried all of them and I think the best of the three was the shrimp diablo. I was worried it'd be too spicy for me but it wasn't very spicy at all. All our meals came with Caesar salads and they brought out some bread to start us out with. The service was a bit slow but I think that was probably because we were such a big group.
(3)
Karen F.
5 star venue (gorgeous) and great service - we came at lunch when it was not crowded. Food is just average but my kid's Chicken Parm with Penne meal ($7) was terrific - better than the adult food. Next time I'm getting the kid's meal! Nice selection of desserts. I also enjoyed the frozen bellini.
(4)
Danielle R.
Wednesday night is $5 martini night and you can sit outside!!! We shared a brucshetta appie which was very good and vowed to come back for lunch....especially when the weather cools off. That's all you really need to know about this place.
(4)
Wendy B.
Tried bunch there today. Was not crowded and it was a beautiful setting. Service was good and food was hot. Excellent choices. Decided on a rosa sangria for drinks. Very refreshing! We will be back!
(4)
Breana B.
We arrived around brunch and were one of the few customers. Our waitress was very pleasant and the food great. I cannot wait to go back. I just hope the other Brio's in the area are just as good. The drinks are very goos also. My cosmo was made with loveeeeee
(5)
William Clyde L.
Brio is a fantastic italian restaurant. They have wonderful lasagna as well as great spaghetti and other pastas. Their restrooms are quite clean. Their bar is terrific. They have a great happy hour. Their bread is spectacular. I love practically everything on the menu. There sometimes is a wait for a table but that is because the food is so good. I highly recommend this place. Go for it!
(5)
Matthew S.
Visited this establishment a few weeks ago. Looked nice from the outside with open air and nice outdoor plaza seating. The prices looked good too. But the service was terrible. And the manager was really unaccommodating. There were supposed to be some seat cushions on all the patio chairs, but the manager thought it might rain, so he moved them to a couch under a canopy. When it didn't rain, he forgot to put them back, making the patio seats very uncomfortable. My main reason for visiting this place was for the patio. Then the service was just at a stand still. Guess they don't really care about customer service. Will not be visiting again.
(1)
Eryn M.
I went here for a friend's birthday party. There were eight of us. Our server was very nice but not very bright. He forgot my drink order. Then my food order. Then my ticket. But I'll get to that later. One person ordered a martini and it had a bug in it. That happens. But their bar is outside, so you'd think it happens more often than they'd like. But they replaced it, no big deal. One of the girls is allergic to peppers and told the server, who said he'd put in an allergy ticket. She ordered her dish with a different sauce and he said it'd be fine. Everyone else ordered. All was good. Out of the eight, four of us liked our food (thankfully, I was one of them). The women who got the shrimp and lobster fettuccine were not impressed. One of them was the one with the allergy. Although she got a mild sauce, the shrimp were still spicy. The server seemed clueless as to what on the menu was mild. She ended up with a caesar salad. She was the only one who sent her food back, but the other three just didn't like their food. Then, came the checks. I didn't get one. Then I did. I paid cash ($40 for a $27 ticket). Then I got another ticket from another server and had to explain that I already paid. In cash. Then I got my change. $27. Made no sense. The server had given me what my ticket was instead of the change. I'm an honest person, so I had him sort it out. All in all, it was an OK experience but I probably won't be back. There are too many other great options. But it's about the company, and that made it fun.
(2)
Scott S.
I come here frequently for business lunches and have found it to be consistently good. The menu is more varied and original than the area steak places though the level of service is not as high. The bar area is terrific and styled for good interactions for events. The dining room is always clean though bustling. I have never been disappointed with my food and my guests are always pleased.
(4)
Sara O.
I enjoy coming to Brio. They serve fresh bread and crackers. I usually get the lobster bisque (it's to die for). I feel like it's a step up from your olive gardens etc. food is 4 out of 5.
(4)
Scott R.
Here for a party at Brio's in Boca Raton and it was pretty awful. With the exception of one of our servers named Whitney (who was nice), this was the worst experience Brio's. The back area was like a sauna! Our party was for 1 pm, however some showed up at 12:45. Ok when I asked about someone serving us getting drinks etc was told our party didn't start till 1. The food was only ok, salmon was good, lasagna was good, chicken really salty. Took forever in the beginning to bring out bread and it seems no one has enough sense to either bring more or ask if we want more when it is gone. People had to ask for coffee as well. I have had parties at other restaurants and it just seemed that Brio's either didn't know how to handle a party and quite frankly servers (with exception) of Whitney just didn't give a you know what.
(1)
Lisa T.
It was a great night celebrating a birthday. I love the healthy salmon meal. So yummy and less than 500 calories. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. They even brought out a surprise cake too and our waiter sang Happy Birthday too. They also have a great reward program. Check it out.
(5)
Rabia J.
"2014 with good luck:" I have been to Brio before but not this location. After not making any plans for New Years Eve dinner, we decided to do walk in dinner here and hoped our luck would come thru. And sure enough it did, we only had to wait 5 minutes literally even though they had many big parties. I wasn't expecting much service since NYE is one of the busiest days in the hospitality industry. However, our server even though had two big parties still had time to do refills and bring out our food in a timely manner. We had a small incidence with them bringing out the wrong soup and then not having the other soup but the server efficiently managed to bring our appetizers and then entrees. In appetizers: the spicy shrimp and crusted eggplant is a must as well as the lobster bisque. In dinner, I tried the mahi mahi: it definitely is for the healthy eater who wants their greens and farro grain side etc. It was decent but it was missing some spark of flavor. I liked my hubby's ravioli de bello dish better. The Torte de chocolate (warm lava cake) with ice cream was on point. Brio, Bravo ~
(4)
Joe D.
I just added my review on g+ and thought I should add it here too. happy hour, outside lounge service is just bad. food is good value, but honestly the service is slow, and the wait staff seem very overwhelmed, on what appeared to be a average night. I have eaten here several times, and had very good service inside, (this is not a cheap place), so I expect excellent service at these prices. also had happy our inside the bar area. no problems, good deal on food. but the seating outside, is hit or miss, and mostly miss. -plan to go to the bar and help yourself, for food and drinks. otherwise a nice place. (just the service needs work).
(3)
Aaron K.
Had lunch at 1:00 PM on a Saturday, hence the place was almost empty. So I expected good service and we got just that. Ate outside. Had the soup and Salad plus iced teas. Lunch for 2 plus tip was $34. Everything was excellent The bread was superb. Basket refilled by the waiter without first asking. Ditto multiple iced teas. No this was not a demanding test of a restaurant but nonetheless it was a very pleasant experience.
(4)
Jay Z.
Worst experience ever. Service is abhorrent! My order was forgotten and when brought was poor to fair. Noise to a fault.
(1)
Carmine H.
Absolutely Terrible! The food is among the worst italian I've had. The sauces are bland and greasy. The server asked what soup/salad we wanted with the meal, I was later charged for this. If you are going to ask what soup or salad we want with our meal, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE US FOR THIS. This is a typical americanized italian place. The soup was meh and the tomato sauce was absolutely horrendous. I had terrible heartburn after this greasy meal and I only finished a quarter of it, mainly because of how disgusting it was. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! There are much better italian places in the area that are authentic and better priced.
(1)
Noreen L.
Our first visit and not impressed. Food - Ok. Service - not very good. Brought appetizer with salad. Charged for a more expensive wine than I ordered but waiter probably could not hear because it is so very noisy. Ambiance - not very good.
(2)
Richard M.
This was our 2nd visit to this Brio. The first visit was excellent. This time was a huge disappointment, starting with a disinterested server and followed by an overcooked pork chop. When we finally got the server's attention we were told that the cook always does pork at least medium; "medium rare is not safe." We offered to make another choice if the cook could no comply, but nothing came back from the kitchen except two "just another minute or so" notices. But there was no improvement. We won't be coming back here soon.
(2)
Linda L.
The food is always fresh and delicious here. The happy hour menu is $3.95 per item and its such a steal! The peach bellini is refreshing and just the amount of alcohol to kick off the night. The beef carpaccio is amazing. The beef is thinly sliced and perfectly spiced. The staff is very nice and helpful.
(4)
Eric K.
Awesome Italian food, great atmosphere, really friendly staff. Fatia, the hostess on Tuesdays is INCREDIBLE
(5)
Diane N.
Brio in Boca Raton is one of my favorite restaurants. My husband and I usually go there for lunch. You have the choice of sitting inside the restaurant or outside on their patio. I like to go inside because the restaurant is beautiful, and more important, it's air conditioned. This is Florida and it can be pretty hot around lunch time. My favorite dish is the fettuccine campania. The marinara sauce has capers, Kalamata olives, and basil. It is very good. The lasagna is delicious. I also love the ravioli di bello. It is ravioli with Cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, and thyme in a champagne butter sauce. The service has been very friendly and attentive.
(5)
Ed B.
Went here for Saturday brunch with my gf, staying in Marriott for a wedding weekend. Was overall disappointed in the food at brio. We ordered cappuccinos, Stuffed French toast and Tuscan omelette. - Drinks were flat, minimal flavor and colder than I would prefer. - she had to send back her omelette because the inside was barely cooked, egg whites were super runny and she couldn't even pick it up with a fork. -French toast was okay, minimal amount of fruit, perhaps a tad undercooked - decor was clean and nice for he style, typical Florida theme. -menu was pretty basic and nothing fancy or special -staff was nice -price was a little more expensive than quality of food would deserve in a non touristy area Overall, would not go back or recommend this bland tasting, simple food trying to sell itself for some fancy Italian restaurant, which it is clearly not.
(2)
Eileen F.
Food & atmosphere are very good. Patio is delightful on a pleasant evening. Service is consistently slow and inattentive.
(3)
Scott G.
Want to be more generous because the setting is nice but the food is mediocre at best, wine list sparse and now they charge for valet parking. I'll go the 100 restaurants nearby with better food, wine and free parking
(2)
Kolbos C.
Wow what happened to this place.. Went with a birthday group to have dinner and it had to be one of the worst meals I had at Brio.... The restaurant was not even half full for a thursday night, so cannot believe the guys at the kitchen were tired to cook. The kitchen looked like they had lot of people working but the lamb chops and pasta we ordered should never had come out of a kitchen where cooks take pride in their art. There was 6 pieces of Lamb Chops and all of them were differantly cooked , although I ordered them medium well !! The Pasta which came with the veal Marsala was so overcooked it felt like eating cuddled flour!!! Quite shameful when an Italian restaurant serves up Pasta like that. The Service and ambiance of the place is still top notch!!! But the quality of food seems like it is going down and there is no way one should spend $29 and $22 for entre's of such substandard quality. There are great Italian restaurants in this city so I hope they get their Kitchen back in order.
(2)
Chriss F.
Went on a Monday night for din din. Had the calamari, beef carpaccio, lobster bisque, and the shrimp and lobster fettuccini. All dishes were tasty and above average. Server was very nice and accommodating. Really enjoyed eating outside too.
(4)
David C.
Four hours later and I still have heartburn from eating at Brio. I went there today for a company holiday lunch and read the reviews. The recent reviews were spot on, as I feared. A coworker found a hair in her entree, Instead of apologizing and whisking the dish away, the waitress asked to see where the hair was "to show the chef". Was that really necessary? I think a free dessert, at the least, would have been appropriate yet none was offered. There is no excuse for the hair or the lack of appropriate effort to make the situation right. Another thing, this waitress was rather rough and surly for the image they are trying to project. We weren't a large group and we came off hours. Her service was rushed and sloppy with water and soda splashing on me and the table. I felt like an obstacle, not a diner. The men's room was still a stinky, nasty mess as was described by another reviewer several months ago. Will I be back? I think you get the message.
(2)
Mary J.
Do not waste your time. Four times received filthy utensils and napkins. We waited 2.5 hours for steak salad.. First salad overdo . Second cold . You have to be really really hungry and stupid to ever ever go here . Ever . I would have made it 0 stars if possible. PS We sat outside. The manager brought out a hostess to give her an explanation of how to tell what stage of meal-service each table was and how to turn table for new customers. This was in earshot and truly disengaging .. Do not go here ever ever ever and TRAIN your staff and hire managers who don't wear diapers!
(1)
Robert K.
I have dined at another Brio location and had a nice experience. Our waiter here. however, lacked personality and was ambivalent about our table and I had to ask for basic things. The food was OK, but not as I remembered it from my last experience.
(2)
Susanne H.
We went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I had wine, so I can't judge the drinks, but I do know they don't serve shots at the bar. The servers were on it, for a party of 60, no one had empty drinks or dirty plates left in front of them. The food was excellent, I had the chicken, salmon, potatoes and a pasta. It was quite loud, the acoustics are not great here. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. Overall, it was a great experience for a chain restaurant. Also, Oscar the bartender was awesome, great personality.
(4)
Frank L.
I had a business meeting tonight. Our waitress, poor thing, must have un diagnosed ADD or she is skipping her med's. Clueless on a party of 7. Two people returned the food, due to poor quality. First and last time I will go there . I hope management takes note. Frank L.
(1)
Jessica A.
Only reason 2 stars is for Britney bartender being nice. Shift change second bartender forgot my drink. I ordered 2 salads ( don't have to cook that) 30 minutes later still waiting. Next was happy hour orderd my second cocktail and a happy hour app another 35 minutes later and still waiting. Avoid this place if your hungry. Food fine just more annoying.
(2)
Ashley H.
Surprisingly, this is a chain, but it's actually a really nice chain for really good prices and delicious food. My husband raved about this restaurant because he sometimes goes there with some of his coworkers for lunch. I was a bit worried that it'd be "stuffy" like most restaurants in Boca, but it was actually very casual and really nice atmosphere. The food was really good, however if you are the kind that expects to have a huge meal like Outback Steakhouse (same price)... then this place isn't for you. This restaurant actually serves NORMAL portions of food that humans are supposed to consume like they do in Europe. My husband and I were very pleased with the portions and felt full as we reached the last bites. This is a perfect place where you don't get to feel guilty that you couldn't finish your plate and don't have to feel rushed to take the leftovers home right away so you can continue the rest of your evening at a party.
(4)
Nancy Z.
Darling....you MUST go to the Town Center Mall and eat at Brio's.....have them park your car, put your best face on and enjoy the $3.95 appetizers and happy hour drinks! Great service, the place was packed and it's quite an experience.
(4)
Maria C.
Brio plays with my mind a bit. While I LOVE the ambience and ALWAYS love to go there because I just like the outdoor sitting and even inside, I just don't seem to pick the right food. I don't know... I just haven't been as happy as I think I should be there because everyone else's dish looks amazing and tasty and yet, I seem to always pick the OK option. I will keep trying and encourage you to do the same and hopefully I'll come back soon to say I was wrong.
(3)
A.L. S.
Food is your basic chain restaurant food. The outdoor seating is first come first serve and it gets crowded. It s dec scene for going out. the service is good and the wine list is okay. It gets crowded in the evenings so come early. Have fun!
(2)
Tereza B.
The lobster bisque was just ok. No big pieces, it was decent though. The waiter must have had a cold bc he didn't stop sniffling the whole time we were there. Very unmemorable. But yet packed. I don't get it????
(2)
Joshua R.
Great food and environment. It has a little high price tag but overall worth it.
(5)
Karen S.
I had enjoyable dining experiences at Brio in Naples but this one was absolutely horrible from the service to the food. This was our third time at the new Boca Raton location and the last. Initially, I assumed they were new and still trying to get it together but the food and service has only gotten worse with time. My chicken was served ice cold and my husband's food was so salty it was barely edible. We couldn't even get a bread basket for over 35 minutes after making a request to the waiter and manager several times. They offered one dessert to share among five people to appease us for the poor service and food. The piece they served was so small, barely enough for one person - it was more of an insult than an apology. Three strikes - you're out!
(1)
Michael M.
We have been very excited about Brio's coming to Boca for quite some time. When we lived in Orlando we use to visit Brio's quite often. Soo.. We went on the 27th, Saturday, at 6:30pm. We were quickly greeted by 3 people at the front desk. They immediately asked us if we had a reservation. We did not and were told that they were booked for the night inside but could seat us outside in about 30 minutes. We were fine with that since it was such a nice night. Interesting observation is that everyone dining inside appeared to be well over 65, while everyone outside was under 65. Seems as if the older crowd always call ahead, but I'm not so sure Brio's wants to begin their reign in Boca as the "retirement home" place to eat. We love Houston's down the street and are always willing to wait the hour to get a table their and the crowd seems much younger. We sat at the bar and had a drink. The bar was slow and the bartender was nice enough. One thing, I could tell right away is that the service at Brio's was not going to be a 5 STAR review. Everyone was nice enough but watching the bartenders argue with each other over where things are located was a sign of things to come. Our little "buzzer thing" went off within about 20 minutes and we made out way over to the host station. Funny thing happened. We forgot to pay our bill at the bar. The bartender came over and reminded us to pay. She was nice but seemed a bit aggravated. Although, she did say that we were ok. She did not offer to have our tab transferred to out table like other establishments do. We sat down outside and as a fellow yelper mentioned it was a bit crowded but I was ok with it. I would not take anything away from them on the space issue. Let me back up for a second. We waited at the host station for 5 minutes before we were seated and could also tell that the servers were arguing with host about were to sit us. It was not "super" obvious, but I guess it was noticeable enough for me to pick up on it. Our server came over and introduced himself and asked us if we had been to Brio's before, which I thought was a nice touch. We ordered their special appetizer, which was asparagus with prosciutto and my wife ordered the lobster bisque. We ordered for our meals past dishes. My wife had the Mushroom Ravioli Al Forno and I had the Shrimp Verduta. My wife enjoyed her dish and as did I. My only complaint would be that the angel hair pasta was a bit mushy, but that's to be expected from angel hair past. The shrimp was a little light on flavor as well, but overall a decent dish. The appetizers were great and I would definitely suggest them. Based on the food I would have given them a 4, but the service was a 3, maybe a 2. Our server seemed to be in love with himself or my wife. He was a typical young guy trying to be funny. I always say the best servers are the ones you don't notice, but everything is taken care of on your table. Towards the end of our meal we waited 10 minutes for our plates to be removed and waited even longer for our bill. They of course came over with the big display of deserts and when we said no, you could tell the server was a bit perturbed. My advice to Brio's is to go down the street to Houston's and take notes on how to offer superb customer service. It's very consistent. I will be returning as I love their food and am hopeful that they will tie up the loose ends with their service. I would also advise them to re-think their reservation strategy. We did notice a lot of empty tables while we waited. I get the whole idea of having a booked dining room, but why not go to a first come or call ahead system and turn your tables over quicker?
(3)
Suzie R.
After reading both good & bad reviews, we decided to try Brio. The bread was delicious, the wine & sangria were fine. That's where it stopped! We shared fried calamari - like chewing little rubber-bands. It was not crispy and could have been hotter. I chose lasagne, which came with a Cesar salad. Although we had a very good waitress (no complaints about the service), if I hadn't reminded her about the salad, I doubt it would have ever come to the table. The salad was void of taste. Absolutely flavorless - the croutons were soggy, but I will admit the romaine lettuce was fresh & crisp. Pity - it had all the potential of being good. My husband ordered salmon with thin-spaghetti. It arrived smothered with a tasteless sauce, which he scraped off the fish. My lasagne did not taste fresh, lacked any flavor and was a great disappointment. The manager did visit our table, apologized for everything, provided us with 2 coupons for complimentary appetizers, and did remove the lasagne off the menu. This was our first & last visit at Brio.
(1)
Lloyd A.
A friend and I went to Brio Tuscan Grille in Boca Raton last night for an early dinner. The restaurant is very attractive and was busy inside and out, but we were promptly seated to a pleasant, roomy table. Bread, butter and drinking water immediately arrived. Steve, our server, promptly came to welcome us and to take a drink order. The manager stopped by our table to welcome us, as well. We asked Steve for recommendations, but I am following a reduced carb diet so didn't want pasta. The Beef Carpaccio was recommended as an appetizer and either the pork chops or the Gorgonzola crusted filet or strip steak as entrees. We ordered those dishes, plus a Caesar salad. I ordered my steak medium rare and that is exactly how it came out. For dessert we tried the mascarpone cheesecake and the warm apple pie with ice cream. Both were good, but the cheesecake was exceptional. We found the service and food quite good, particularly at this price point, and would definitely return at a later date with our wives. By the time we left, the restaurant was hopping both inside and out.
(4)
Michelle W.
I am a frequent patron on Brio on their $5 Martini nights. While my friend and I may be the youngest there each time and always end up being the last ones to leave (9:30pm mind you) the staff is always on par. The bread offered is always hot out of the oven fresh, and I have never had a bad meal. Their filet is one of the best that I have had and is much more reasonable in price than many restaurants in Boca. Overall, I highly recommend Brio and will continue enjoying my $5 martini's with a fantastic dinner!
(4)
Gina D.
I arrived with a party of 7 for lunch today. I ordered a burger and only ate half. When I was finished the server asked if I would like it boxed up. I said "yes". Shortly after another server came to clear the table. She took away my food. I assumed she was going to box it up for me. Instead she started putting used napkins and other food from other plates on my plate. When I told her I wanted my food she said "well you never told me" I then told her that I had told the main server. Her response then was well the napkins and other food she placed on my plate where not touching my food so she could still box it up. How is that acceptable? I was then offered another burger. That would had been fine, but I was on my lunch hour and the group was already late to return to work. The main server then said I would be given a credit to be used next time. That would have been fine, but again I was disappointed. I was not given a credit. I was given a card for a free appetizer or dessert. How does this make up for my burger? I eat out for lunch pretty much everyday, but I never order an appetizer or dessert. I am not asking for anything other than what I am owed. Another burger. I have contacted the restaurant and am waiting what they have to say.
(2)
Digi 4.
Food was greasy and made me sick...really. The decor is nice and that's where all your money goes when you order from their elegantly priced menu. However, the flavor and preparation of the food is anything but elegant. It's all smoke and mirrors here. You think you are about to eat at a fancy/fine Italian restaurant but it's just a facade. They need to work on their food. I have had way better Italian at a small local Italian resturant than here. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Go to Rocco's tacos instead.
Gracious greeting and excellent service on a weekday visit. Accept later reservations offered - then come when you wish. You get priority seating. Large portions of tasty food from open kitchen. Generous pours of good house wines. Well dressed clientele. Occasional coupon offers by mail or on line make already reasonable tab even less.
(5)
Tina J.
Brio at "Easton" in Columbus, OH has always been one of my favorite places...the atmosphere is gorgeous. I later moved to Dulles, VA: their Brio lacks the ambiance. Later yet, to Florida and the Hallandale location also lacked the ambiance. However, the food was still great. I didn't believe the not so good reviews here on Yelp, on the Boca location. I went w/my husband and son on Friday night at 5:30. 75% of tables were empty. Not one of the 3 hostesses said hello to me...an awkward 90 seconds or so passed and finally I said hello to her. She said we could only sit outside..they apparently were saving nearly all of the empty tables inside for reserved parties. I think they should keep some tables open for new arrivals...the place seemed dead, with all those empty places. Anyway...all that aside, my favorite dish, the Chicken Milanese was very disappointing. Pomodoro sauce was sickeningly sweet. My wedge salad was the most bitter tasting head of lettuce. I so want this place to succeed. Please send your staff up to your Easton location to see how things should be done. Boca can be every bit as nice as Easton...the location down here is just goregous!
(2)
Lydia D.
Wow!! This place has the best service in the world!! I took my team here to enjoy a nice drink and had the manager come out to our table several times just to check on us!! He catered to our every need! This will be a great place for all of your Christmas/holiday parties this year!!! Check them out!!
(5)
Jaff G.
Honestly, they skimp customers so much with the ingredients they purchase and what they charge! I got the Gorgonzola Crusted Bistecca and a chopped salad. Salad: It was not fresh, they straight up bought publix lettuce mix that was bagged, which isn't bad if you bought it the same day and have it at home, but if its more than a day old and is at a "high class" restaurant, its disappointing. Steak: Vegetables were not fresh at all, most likely taken from a freezer. Mashed potatoes were all right, but who messes up mashed potatoes (good job haha). The heart of the meal, the steak (I picked filet & you also had a choice of strip) was not worth the money. I also asked for medium, and there was obviously a rookie in the kitchen, because the majority of the center was raw. I wanted to Gordon Ramsey that shit, but I don't like to ask for my food orders to be fixed, because if you are not a good enough cook to do it the first time, who knows how much more you will screw it up when you get your hands on it again. Bottom line: Over priced cafeteria food.
(1)
Kevin S.
I enjoyed the Brio in West Palm Beach and the food at the Boca location isn't bad, but the restaurant itself looks weathered. I've been here twice and what stood out most was how disheveled the exterior furniture was. It's in a constant state of disarray and not inviting at all. I've also noticed that this restaurant has an issue with unpleasant smells. The first time I walked in and smelled mildew. The second time it smelled like cleaning products. It overpowered anything that might have been going on in the kitchen. Lastly, the mens bathroom smells like a kennel. Truly disgusting. They used small mosaic tile up against the urinals
(2)
Diane G.
Would rate it zero star if I could . Horrible service during happy hour. Rude bartender. Had to wait 20 minutes at the bar and than they act like they are doing you a favor. I will never go back. Too many great other destinations to be bothered by this kind of aggravation
(1)
Gina P.
Wednesday night happy hour is the only time to go $5 martinis and $3 bar bites (before 6:30) other than that the food is over priced and the service is lacking
(2)
Craig A.
Didn't care for the food or management. Server got our food wrong not once, twice but three times. The main guy was in from the midwest and he was great, but that didn't stop them from screwing up when he walked away.
(2)
Joshua Z.
For a chain restaurant this is as good as it gets. Love the food and not too much to compain about when it comes to the service. The courtyard it is in is very nice and there was live music playing when i was there on the weekend!
(5)
Hillary F.
Today, decided to eat earlier than usual and Brio was just about the only place open...I usually like the food so it was a decent choice. Waiter was good but the grilled chicken "under the brick" came out and the potatoes and veggies were cold. I sent it back. Since the kitchen is open I watched as the cook took the grilled chicken breast with BARE HANDS and removed it from the plate to heat up the sides....he put it back on the plate with BARE HANDS and the waiter served it to me....I told him I wanted to vomit. He apologized and then the manager came over and was falling all over himself about the lack of sanitation. Within minutes, everyone had gloves on ( I think if I went back now, they would be off). I was grossed out so I ordered a salad and the manager said the entire check was comped. Mind you, I asked for nothing. I waited outside for my husband because our Friday night together was really ruined. Looking for a nice uncomplicated night out...Oops, guess the manager didn't tell the waiter to comp everything so we had a half check. I said something so they redid the check for just my drink..really? really? The manager came over again and apologized when I told him the entire night was ruined. I am really grossed out by this place. What if the cook had a cut? I realize that we may be exposed to that sort of stuff in a closed kitchen but honestly, make an attempt
(1)
Shel G.
While we have gone to this restaurant before, this was the worst experience ever. We waited ten minutes to even see a waiter. He did not listen to our request to have second drinks when our meals arrived, bringing them before our first drinks were finished. By time he checked back on whether everything was okay with our food we were half way through the meal. Be sure to ask NOT to be seated in Marco S.'s section if you should decide to go to Brio. The food was mediocre at best and is certainly NOT a favorite Italian place to eat. And one of us got sick afterwards. Our advice would be to take a gondola ride to another restaurant!
(2)
Marvin G.
Changes to recipes and food preparation has dramatically lowered the main purpose for coming to Brio. Attractive ambience and good service cannot compensate for mediocre, over seasoned food. From appetizers to main courses dishes for a party of four were all disappointing. Clearly not a recommended dining destination.
(2)
Angela T.
Went here recently with a party of 8 on a Saturday evening. They were busy but not terribly so and the service was pretty awful. There seemed to be two servers working in the alcove (that seemed to be where we were sitting). The guy was great and really on top of things. Sadly, he wasn't our server and only helped with one or two things. I saw him with his tables though and he was great. Our server, not so much. Lots of waiting and leaving only to return 20 to 25 minutes later. Coffee with no spoons, dessert with no forks, that type of thing. The food is what you might expect from a chain Italian - nothing special. Overpriced and nothing special. I would definitely skip Brio next time...
(2)
Elaine C.
This restaurant is way too impressed with itself and in my opinion doesn't live up to its hype. I've eaten here many times...I returned today after not visiting this place in a long time. As usual they think they are wonderful but I don't see it. Many restaurants work with their guests to change out something and replace it with something else. I had the egg white omelet. I asked for goat cheese and was told they don't substitute. Funny, last time I asked for goat cheese I got it. The omelet on the whole was delicious and I really can't complain about the service. However, there are more times I'm disappointed with this place than happy with it. I'll probably not return again for a long while. Brio just doesn't do it for me and if I have to spend my $$$, there are more enjoyable places to eat.
(1)
narisa s.
The food is okay but the service is horrible. We never get bread because it was always "in the oven." The food comes out by the time the check should get there. Sometimes a waiter comes by the time your food should. If you're a patient person go for it. Don't go if you are hungry.
(2)
Sam M.
This is one of my favorite lunch places. After mccormicks shut down a couple of years ago in boca I didn't have any go to spots for lunch but since discovering brio a few months ago a week can't go by without lunch here. The service is amazing and the food delicious. The lobster bisque for starters is my fav along with freshly baked warm bread. And the mushroom ravioli is a must have. Plus they got complimentary valet right outside. What's not to like ......
(5)
Brian R.
BRIO is upscale chain Italian, quite a few notches up from Olive Garden, and toe-to-toe with a number of the generic New York-New Jersey-Philly-once-removed restaurants that infest Boca and are generally frequented by snow birds who remember the father's/grandfather's food from back in the day. Decor and atmosphere tries to make you forget its a chain, and it does about as well as say, P.F. Changs does in the Chinese realm. The portions are generous. The service was great. There's just something a bit too formulaic about it, and the food isn't wow, just hmm... not bad at all. That's the star down.
(4)
Dana F.
Figured I would give this restaurant a second chance, but I shouldn't have. The service was worse the second time than the first. Although my husband and I appear young, we aren't that young and felt the poor service was due to that. We were sitting at the table for at least 20 minutes before even having water, bread, or a greeting from a staff member. After we were greeted, the waiter didn't take our drink order for another 15 minutes. After ordering our food, we waited so long to be served that almost the entire restaurant was empty. Food wasn't horrible, but definitely not worth the wait. Needless to say, my husband and I will never go there again.
(1)
Melissa V.
The ambiance is great, the freshly baked bread was delicious. However that is were it ended, the food was not up to par in comparison to the pricing. In reality it was pretty bad. I will not be going to Brio again.
(1)
Bill S.
I had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with a friend today during the grand opening of this BRIO location. I was hoping for a Five star experience, but sadly had to take off a star for a few issues noted below. The location is conveniently located at the trendy - The Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail just south of Glades Road. The decor of the bar and restaurant is absolutely beautiful and extremely well done. The bar is in the front corner of the restaurant and has open windows and fantastic seating that represents the best physical location of any of the restaurants in this center. We checked in and asked for a table for two. Initially we were taken to the extreme Northeast corner of the restaurant and offered a table for four that, shockingly, had a large roof support pole located about 1 inch from the corner of the table that would be extremely uncomfortable to anyone seating there. This probably would be a great topic for a "Curb Your Enthusiam" episode, but we immediately requested a different location. I took a photo of this table and will upload it here. (*** Note to manager - this table location sucks ***) Once we were seated at a better table, we were given an assortment of fresh bread and ordered an ice tea and Diet Coke. Unfortunately, they only offered Diet Pepsi so I took one for the team and accepted a Pepsi. (*** Note to Brio owner - you offer hundreds of flavors or alcoholic drinks, vodka, and rum, is it that hard to offer both Coke and Pepsi products ***) The place was buzzing with tons of staff and everyone that approached our table was awesome. Unfortunately, I forgot my reading glasses and had a hard time reading the menu, so I asked the waitress if they had any reading glasses for me to borrow. Unfortunately, they did not have any and I used my iPhone camera to read the menu. (*** Note to manager - most five star restaurants have a collection of cheap reading glasses for their guests. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a collection of different strengths for $5 each as sometimes men, like me, forget their reading glasses at home ***) We ordered lobster bisque to start and I ordered the Mezza Chicken Limone. The lobster bisque was extremely good, but not as good as The Capital Grill (my personal favorite) as there was only tiny pieces of lobster in the bisque vs including larger pieces. No matter, I highly recommend this soup as it is better than most restaurants. The Mezza Chicken Limone was cooked to perfection in traditional piccata style and quite delicious with a side of fresh campanelle florentine. The desert selections were also impressive and looked fantastic, but we decided to pass as this was only lunch. Overall, this is a great restaurant that I will definitely return, but I will need to bring in my own reading glasses and smuggle in some Diet Coke.
(4)
Todd W.
Please refer to Jeff D for another great review here. Quite simply, an overpriced lunch place that caters to local upper class people. You want a normal chicken Parmesan for 30$ this is the place, there's no difference other than the price and the carpet. An iced tea and panini will cost you over $20, there's a salad place right next door that does it for half the price (or less b/c no tip). Still its a great place to talk and mingle, and if you have the money...well go for it.
(3)
Franco C.
Italian. Looking for something to eat we were strolling along and saw Brio's. The place is very visually appealing so we decided to grab some seats at the bar. The way the bar is situated is such that you are almost sitting outside - but still under the roof - so it was nice. The bartenders looked harried and after we got their attention things progressed well. We kept the mojito thing going and my raspberry mojito contained freshly muddled raspberries and was tres delicious. We decided to share the shrimp and crabcake entree as it was a date after all and we didn't want to stop talking to eat. They were kind enough to split the meal without us asking. The food was very good- we both enjoyed our portion and the veggies that came with it were perfectly done. The bread the brought out was fine enough but we didn't want to carb up so we just picked at it. We were still a little hungry and they sent over the kid with a large tray of deserts - since she couldn't decide I went ahead and ordered like 4 different things... I figured that there was plenty of selection. The deserts came out and we were swooning - everything was great. Chocolate mousse cake, Creme Brulee' and I forgot the other two items - but we attacked them all with gusto. The restaurant is very nice looking by the way - next time we will grab a table inside and chill but this was a perfect evening with great food. We both walked out happy. Definitely worth checking out if you are in this area.
(3)
Nadav E.
beautiful place, great food very classy and very nice ppl serving you, went with my girlfriend and had much fun thanks ;)
(4)
Denise R.
I happened to be in the area yesterday after a late afternoon meeting and I hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was passing Boca Center and decided to give Brio a try. As it turned out, it was 3:30 and Happy Hour had just begun, according to the big sign out in front. So I took a look around the bar and walked around to the back side to have a seat but noticed there was all kinds of puddles from what appeared to be water dripping from the ceiling. That didn't look too inviting, so I opted to sit at one of the cocktail tables beside the bar instead. I ordered the tuna carpaccio and the eggplant fries (both $4 each). They were very generous portions and I had plenty of left overs to take home, some of which I just now enjoyed (again). The eggplant fries were so unique and the aioli dipping sauce they served them with was fantastic. I'd go back for these items alone, but would certainly be open to trying other items on their menu as well.
(4)
Nina S.
My husband and I ordered on an uncrowded Sunday night.. We ordered a steak medium. The steak came back well done. We waited and couldn't find our waiter. We asked a waitress to get him. We waited and he didn't come. My husband went to the front desk to get a different waiter and miraculously our waiter showed up didn't apologize said he was busy doing other things. We asked for the correct order & a different waiter. We waited no one came. We asked another waitress for a manager no one came. My husband never got his meal. We told the hostess we were leaving. We waited to get our car back from valet and no one apologized or came.
(1)
Lauren S.
I guess you could say I'm confused. 2 weeks ago my parents and sister ate here and have ranted and raved about this place. We had made reservations for this evening and they had definitely got me revved up for this place. As we walk into the restaurant I notice that an entire tray of plates and cutlery is lying on the ground shattered, not a single person is within 20 feet of the mess and no one is making any attempt to clean it up - fancy place, huh? We let the hostess know that we've arrived right on time for our 8pm reservation and she hands us one of those electronic blinking devices as our table is being cleared off - strange. We sit down and I notice a half eaten plate of spaghetti on the counter top in the waiting area and several forks lying on the ground under the chairs, classy This place is packed with the snobby Boca crowd - tons of face lifts and interesting attire. After 15 minutes of waiting, our buzzer goes off and we're told to wait in the hallway (blocking other guests, servers and other staff). After another 8 or so minute wait we're finally walked to our table, past several open and set tables. Confused. We are literally seated in the darkest, furthest corner of the restaurant. [We're dressed appropriately and by no means lepers of any kind]. We are served by a nice lady whose name escapes me at the moment. She let us know what the soup of the day was and informed us of the $5 martini special of which we tried the Paradiso and Sparkling Raspberry Drop (neither of which were for me or my taste). We had caesar salads to start - 8.5/10 (negative points for the oversaturation of dressing) I had the Filetto Di something Toscano - a center cut with mashed potatoes and I subbed cooked broccoli for the roasted vegetables. 7/10 for making it medium instead of medium-well as requested. The mashed potatoes were delicious and broccoli was fine, no additional flavors. For dessert I had the Chocolate and Caramel cake in a glass cup. It was a 7/10 - nothing to write home about. Overall, I was very disappointed by BRIO and can't believe that this is what Boca's "elite" call fine dining.
(3)
Philip S.
Food was adequete, nothing bad, nothing great. We went since they have a gluten free menu for one of our party. Calamari was good, not the best i've had but above average. Pork chop was ok. Rest of the dinners were very average, nothing to write home about. One of our party said the Denver Brio was much better
(2)
Fred S.
Of the five times I went to eat at this restaurant, the service was awful. One time we were given a free appetizer as an apology, the next time the meal was paid for as an apology, next time it was beverages, but we actually would prefer not getting anything for free and getting our food in a much more reasonable amount of time. Finally, this last time the service was perfect. But, the food is really nothing special nor is the menu. This is sort of one step above Olive Garden, or Carrabas, but not the feel of a small down-home Tuscan-style restaurant. The food is relatively bland, the presentation relatively bland, but because of its location it makes a nice spot to go out for dinner and to be in an entertainment area with lots of people. You will probably enjoy a reasonably priced meal but not get excited enough to put this on your calendar as a regular dining event. I do believe it's worth giving it a try since many people like this food, and if you are lucky you may get really good service and your experience may turn out well.
Well, this is a chain, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was pretty good. I give it 3.5 stars. We started off with the tomato and mozzarella caprese salad and the brio chopped. Both were quite tasty, although the caprese was pretty small - but extremely fresh. We were given some crispy flatbread and fresh sourdough bread as accompaniments - I didn't care for either, as they didn't have much taste. For mains we had the whole roasted chicken and the grilled mahi mahi fresca. The chicken was huge - and was stuffed with herbs and an entire lemon. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked. The chicken itself was tender and quite tasty. We took half home as leftovers. The mahi mahi was a rather small portion but it was cooked well, and served with veggies, fresh spinach and farro, which is one of my favorite grains, so I really loved it. The menu said it came with a tomato basil vinaigrette but the sauce was yellow and sweet so I'm not so sure that's what it was - it was ok. I'm not sure I'll be back, as this place didn't exactly knock my socks off, but if I'm in the area and want this type of food, I might consider it.
(3)
Caroline L.
Great food HORRIBLE service!!! I love eating here because the food is excellent, but unfortunately I have to prepare myself for the horrible service. The waiters are always slow and forgetful.
It started out right. We were quickly seated....then it all went wrong. It took 10 minutes for a waiter to tell us he will be right with us. Five more minutes passed before a different waiter finally took our drink and app order. It was 10 more minutes before a 3rd waiter asked why we have not received service. Odd question for an employee to ask a customer. I guess the reason is poor training and horrible management I suggested. We then got up and left. The manager made a half a**ed attempt to speak to me as we walked out....had no interest in the crap he was about to sell. Told him he needs to train his employees and we will go next door to Uncle Tai's and spend a lot of money there instead. We did. Uncle Tai's was awesome!!! Had been to Brio in the Past at other locations and the food is quite mediocre. I do like their risotto, but not worth dealing with the horrible service at this location.
(1)
mark p.
If you are a guy and you have an appetite for protein ..... this is not a good place for you. Service is very good and the ambiance of the place is awesome for a meal, and it can be perfect for a date. Bottom line for a guy .... dont go here for a real meal. Across at Rocos tacos is better. .... or somewhere else.
(2)
Jeff D.
Boca is often more about how things look, than how they are - I live here, I know! Scratch the manicured surface only to find a very ugly under-reality. No shock then to find this place in Boca, seemingly doing very well! Cut to the chase JD - if you want a fancy, cool, "In" place to see and be seen, come here! You'll love it. You can play a little Boca game I like to play called "wife, girlfriend, or nanny??" - in increasing order of likelyhood ;) Don't get me wrong -that can be a very good, if not sole, reason for doing something....it's fun, after-all! But for amazing Italian food, you will have to take the search wider....nothing at all special about anything we ordered. Lasagna was like soup ! Pizza - dime-a-dozen. Flatbreads - ehh. One thing that definitely did stand out about this place was the bill - gotta pay that Town Center rent I suppose...... The mediocre reviews of this place written by others (Far better at this than me) are correct...
(2)
Samantha d.
I decided to try out Brio last night for the first time. I don't usually write reviews for places but this experience deserved a huge kudos to my server/bartender. My husband and I had never been before and were looking for a good date night. Jon (the bartender) was incredibly helpful when it came to everything from food to drinks. He reccomended a shrimp dish for me that was out of this world good and the drink to match. The bar was busy due to the specials they have on Wednesdays but Jon was incredibly attentive and I never felt like I was just another patron at the bar. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and I will definitely return any time I feel like some great drinks and shrimp!
(5)
Stella S.
Mediocre italian food at an expensive price. Noisy environment. Can barely hear the people at my table. Nothing special with the food.
(2)
Eric T.
BRIO is a beautiful and spacious restaurant to dine in. It offers comfortable outside seating and an airy and magnificent room indoors. A large bar sits attactively in the front corner of the restaurant with views of most happenings inside and out. In what has become a new destination place to eat at The Shoppes at Boca Center, BRIO's decor stands out as the most elegant. Sorry Mortons. On my first visit for lunch today, the Pasta Fra Diavolo with chicken had just the right amount of heat and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The dish was light on chicken, and in hindsight, I think I would have preferred the dish with the shrimp. For lunch, I felt the $14.35 price was a bit high. My tablemate picked the Crispy Eggplant Pomodoro which was a generous plate of Romano crusted eggplant with housemade pomodoro, basil, herb spaghettini, parmesan and fresh mozzarella for $12.35. He thoroughly enjoyed his selection. Our server was attentive, but just a bit stiff and longwinded in his desire to please and recite every special in complete detail. Overall though, service was very good. I'm not ready to give BRIO a 5 quite yet, perhaps after a another visist or two. For now, I'm a fan at 4 and have my BRIO lunch card to prove it, which gets you a free lunch after 5 visits. Don't forget to ask for yours.
(4)
M N.
Disappointing on so many levels. We've been to Brio in Houston, so we knew what to expect. But service was slow, the Shrimp Mediterranean was bland, and my lasagna was fair at best. The manager bought our dessert, and that was nice. I guess....
(2)
Tough C.
Not sure how to rate this place. On previous visit had delicious salmon. This visit had seared shrimp risotto. Tasty but very bland, shrimp neither grilled (as the waiter said the chef claimed) nor seared and almost tasteless. My companions liked the lobster bisque and had veal Marsala which I tasted and was good and a lobster and shrimp pasta dish. Service very good.
(3)
Jeff S.
Ugly, ugly scene. The outdoor space is jammed up with teens in sideways baseball caps being loud, while inside, packs of 60 year olds in sweats lose their minds as they sip fluorescent drinks. It's intolerable. Can't say if its like this all the time, but today it was just brutal.
(1)
Judith H.
Had an early dinner with friends late this afternoon. It was our first visit to this restaurant. We were very impressed with the space, the food, and the staff. First, our waiter couldn't have been more helpful. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and the offerings at the bar. We all ordered from the "Lite" menu (some of the same selections as on the regular menu, but smaller portions, and, of course, less expensive). You can exchange out the sides. No problem. All the dishes were good and tasty.At the end of our meal our waiter brought us all Brio cards that offer Rewards on future meals. We will definitely return.
(4)
Cynthia L.
Had dinner for 6 on Monday night and everything was quite nice. Pretty place, good service and ordering from the "light" menu, prices were reasonable for a white tablecloth place. We had salads, chicken dishes, steak and pasta and all enjoyed the food. The steak was a little underdone but quickly adjusted. Will go again.
(4)
Christina S.
Bossy clients, bossy staff. I guess that is what you get in central Boca Raton on weekend nights. I like the bread basket, the Brio Wedge, and a few appetizers are really good. The dinner plates and pizza are subpar and not worth the money. I like the place for a nice bite midweek. Other than that, it is not a enjoyable dining experience. The bar scene is to be avoided at all costs. Little blue haired couples or groups shoving their way in or trolling for you to leave or steal your chair out from under you. Yikes...harrowing!
(3)
Andrew S.
Fast service although the waiters/waitresses don't have much of a personality. In a good location but not that busy usually. Its a nice meal but can be a little slow. Offers valet parking which is a plus and your are allowed to bring your dog if you would like to sit outside!! :)
(4)
Elena M.
The food exceeds my expectations every time. Great bread/seasoned crackers given to start. Fun happy hour. Service is good too. Semi casual during the day but seems to be a little dressier at night. Nice outdoor seating, nice outdoor (covered) bar. Overall a great place to go for a date or with friends. I wouldn't say this place is very kid friendly but I have seen families there. Give it a try!
(5)
Jennifer S.
The location is very convenient to the Marriott, the service was friendly and the atmosphere is quite nice. The food was also very good - the margherita flatbread and grilled shrimp with orzo are highly recommended!
(4)
George S.
Very pleasant atmosphere inside and covered patio. Reasonably priced food and liquor. Make reservations in season. We've been there twice in past 4 weeks.
(3)
Paul K.
Tonight I ate at Brio, one of the best venues I've ever experienced in solitary fooding. The bar is open to the front of the restaurant do you are inside and outside at the same time. If you want to chilax before or after you eat, there are lounge chairs outside. The decor is timeless. The clientele are pleasant and well dressed. There is a great selection on the menu. I would describe the meals as delicious, upscale Italian. Tonight I ordered the namesake Brio pasta and it was wonderful. Sourdough bread is always served warm after you order and the salads are always fresh and crisp. There is lots of energy in the front but it is not too noisy; dining is pleasant and peaceful but not boring. Ask for Kim at the bar, she is fun, courteous and quick to a smile. The bill for my Brio Pasta and a chop salad was $26.00. Only Con: When you sit at the bar, it is almost impossible to basketball without turning around. Somehow the TVs are always behind you. For that, Brio looses a star!
(4)
Larry O.
Been there for pretty good dinner. Went for Sunday brunch and had an awful experience. Unbelievable how bad the service and food were. 40 minutes just to get part of our order. And the mgrs response was "it's not my fault"
(2)
Camilo C.
I had a great time! JD And Phillip were great servers we had a big party and they did great. I enjoyed the food. I wasn't the biggest fan of the calamari. Although I enjoyed the lobster bisque was good and the desert was great.
(3)
Desi-lou S.
We had Brunch today and ordered the fruit crepes. The waitress did mention that the fruit would be cold, but not the whole dish. We sent it bback to be warmed up, but that did not help at all. They must warm up the fruit first which would enhance the dish considerably. the restaurant has an appealing outside with comfortable looking seating and a bar opening to the street. We will try it again .
(2)
Debra G.
We went to this restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was our first time there. From the hostesses to the waitstaff to the manager to the food to the prices - all were superb. The staff treated us like we were royalty. The manager, Tyrell, personally ensure we had a fantastic experience. Tyrell had his chef prepare a special meal for me to accommodate my food sensitivities. It was delicious. All our food was delicious. My husband was given special treatment as well with an amazing complimentary dessert to celebrate his birthday. The wait staff were friendly and had great senses of humor. We could not have asked for a better evening. One of our best meals out in Boca, seriously.
(5)
Claire M.
I love this restaurant! The atmosphere is awesome, aside from all the Boca "oldies" wandering around. The salads are awesome, especially the grilled chicken they put on top of a few they offer, along with the beef carpaccio "boat". If you go there and order it, you will know what I am talking about. I don't know why there is such poor reviews because the ONLY thing I can complain about is that service is sometimes slow........ because it is SO BUSY! So I give the staff the benefit of the doubt! 100% give it a try!
(5)
Adrian G.
We had my birthday dinner here with a group of 11 and a baby. The service was GREAT. The food was average but we all enjoyed it. It is a bit pricey for a simple dinner and a little stuffy. I apologized to the waitress for us being too loud but she said we were more fun than the usual old stiff crowd they usually get.
(3)
Ryan C.
To sum it up briefly....the food isn't good. ESPECIALLY for the price. The ingredients weren't fresh, the fish didn't have any flavor, the pasta was terrible, and the tomato bisque soup was more cream than anything. The only good part of the meal was the ravioli caprese appetizer. The waitress was nice but it couldn't cover the bad food, wishing we had went to Rocco's (which is amazing).
(1)
Russell A.
Excellent food and great service. This new location gets it right. Parking a easy and highly recommend the flatbread sampler app.
(4)
Rainer L.
Rarely does a restaurant disappoint so much! We went there for a quick lunch, the place looks like a typical pretentious Italian chain restaurant. Drinks come quick, so far so good. I like to judge a restaurant by the quality of the bread they serve, oh...a bad start. The dough bread seems to come out of the microwave, it is crusty, boiling hot on the inside but not long enough baked; the thin crackers are stale. As an appetizer we share a artichoke dip, it is ok, but the bread is so bad and stale we ask for another patch, it arrives 5 minutes later. Now it took about 35 minutes to come with the main, 2 pasta dishes. First a lasagna, eatable, but nothing to be proud of; actually even at Olive Garden they serve a much better one. The angel hair pasta Pomodore is not eatable. The pasta is so overcooked it has the texture slimy dog food; the chicken pieces are so dry and plain disgusting. When we return the pasta dish the manager tries to save the situation by picking up the bill, saying he wants us to come back, but.....why would we?
(1)
Reviewer S.
Watch your wallet here. We dined there the evening of July 7th and our party of 8 (4 couples and a child) paid with 4 credit cards, The server conveniently neglected to tell us that an $80 tip had already been automatically included in the bill (which is perfectly acceptable for large parties - if noted on the menu, and IF the waiter clearly informs guests when presenting with the bill) The waiter just brought us four vouchers to sign with a space to add a tip. We each added a $20 tip when we signed our credit card vouchers (bringing the total tip up to $160) - until luckily one person in our party noticed the double-tip. The waiter did not apologize and the manager seemed totally un-concerned when we brought it to her attention. Ethical restaurants require their waiters to verbally inform customers when presenting a check that an automatic tip is included on a large party check, so it does not get easily overlooked on a long guest check. I have even seen some restaurants that require the server to stamp or write on a check "Tip included" so customers do not accidentally double tip. I'm guessing this goes on a lot here, based on the dining room manager's lack of concern. Upper management needs to step in.
(1)
Caroline L.
Great food HORRIBLE service!!! I love eating here because the food is excellent, but unfortunately I have to prepare myself for the horrible service. The waiters are always slow and forgetful.
My husband and I ordered on an uncrowded Sunday night.. We ordered a steak medium. The steak came back well done. We waited and couldn't find our waiter. We asked a waitress to get him. We waited and he didn't come. My husband went to the front desk to get a different waiter and miraculously our waiter showed up didn't apologize said he was busy doing other things. We asked for the correct order & a different waiter. We waited no one came. We asked another waitress for a manager no one came. My husband never got his meal. We told the hostess we were leaving. We waited to get our car back from valet and no one apologized or came.
(1)
Lydia D.
Wow!! This place has the best service in the world!! I took my team here to enjoy a nice drink and had the manager come out to our table several times just to check on us!! He catered to our every need! This will be a great place for all of your Christmas/holiday parties this year!!! Check them out!!
(5)
Jaff G.
Honestly, they skimp customers so much with the ingredients they purchase and what they charge! I got the Gorgonzola Crusted Bistecca and a chopped salad. Salad: It was not fresh, they straight up bought publix lettuce mix that was bagged, which isn't bad if you bought it the same day and have it at home, but if its more than a day old and is at a "high class" restaurant, its disappointing. Steak: Vegetables were not fresh at all, most likely taken from a freezer. Mashed potatoes were all right, but who messes up mashed potatoes (good job haha). The heart of the meal, the steak (I picked filet & you also had a choice of strip) was not worth the money. I also asked for medium, and there was obviously a rookie in the kitchen, because the majority of the center was raw. I wanted to Gordon Ramsey that shit, but I don't like to ask for my food orders to be fixed, because if you are not a good enough cook to do it the first time, who knows how much more you will screw it up when you get your hands on it again. Bottom line: Over priced cafeteria food.
(1)
Craig A.
Didn't care for the food or management. Server got our food wrong not once, twice but three times. The main guy was in from the midwest and he was great, but that didn't stop them from screwing up when he walked away.
(2)
Joshua Z.
For a chain restaurant this is as good as it gets. Love the food and not too much to compain about when it comes to the service. The courtyard it is in is very nice and there was live music playing when i was there on the weekend!
(5)
Justin G.
It started out right. We were quickly seated....then it all went wrong. It took 10 minutes for a waiter to tell us he will be right with us. Five more minutes passed before a different waiter finally took our drink and app order. It was 10 more minutes before a 3rd waiter asked why we have not received service. Odd question for an employee to ask a customer. I guess the reason is poor training and horrible management I suggested. We then got up and left. The manager made a half a**ed attempt to speak to me as we walked out....had no interest in the crap he was about to sell. Told him he needs to train his employees and we will go next door to Uncle Tai's and spend a lot of money there instead. We did. Uncle Tai's was awesome!!! Had been to Brio in the Past at other locations and the food is quite mediocre. I do like their risotto, but not worth dealing with the horrible service at this location.
(1)
mark p.
If you are a guy and you have an appetite for protein ..... this is not a good place for you. Service is very good and the ambiance of the place is awesome for a meal, and it can be perfect for a date. Bottom line for a guy .... dont go here for a real meal. Across at Rocos tacos is better. .... or somewhere else.
(2)
Jeff D.
Boca is often more about how things look, than how they are - I live here, I know! Scratch the manicured surface only to find a very ugly under-reality. No shock then to find this place in Boca, seemingly doing very well! Cut to the chase JD - if you want a fancy, cool, "In" place to see and be seen, come here! You'll love it. You can play a little Boca game I like to play called "wife, girlfriend, or nanny??" - in increasing order of likelyhood ;) Don't get me wrong -that can be a very good, if not sole, reason for doing something....it's fun, after-all! But for amazing Italian food, you will have to take the search wider....nothing at all special about anything we ordered. Lasagna was like soup ! Pizza - dime-a-dozen. Flatbreads - ehh. One thing that definitely did stand out about this place was the bill - gotta pay that Town Center rent I suppose...... The mediocre reviews of this place written by others (Far better at this than me) are correct...
(2)
Samantha d.
I decided to try out Brio last night for the first time. I don't usually write reviews for places but this experience deserved a huge kudos to my server/bartender. My husband and I had never been before and were looking for a good date night. Jon (the bartender) was incredibly helpful when it came to everything from food to drinks. He reccomended a shrimp dish for me that was out of this world good and the drink to match. The bar was busy due to the specials they have on Wednesdays but Jon was incredibly attentive and I never felt like I was just another patron at the bar. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and I will definitely return any time I feel like some great drinks and shrimp!
(5)
Eric T.
BRIO is a beautiful and spacious restaurant to dine in. It offers comfortable outside seating and an airy and magnificent room indoors. A large bar sits attactively in the front corner of the restaurant with views of most happenings inside and out. In what has become a new destination place to eat at The Shoppes at Boca Center, BRIO's decor stands out as the most elegant. Sorry Mortons. On my first visit for lunch today, the Pasta Fra Diavolo with chicken had just the right amount of heat and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The dish was light on chicken, and in hindsight, I think I would have preferred the dish with the shrimp. For lunch, I felt the $14.35 price was a bit high. My tablemate picked the Crispy Eggplant Pomodoro which was a generous plate of Romano crusted eggplant with housemade pomodoro, basil, herb spaghettini, parmesan and fresh mozzarella for $12.35. He thoroughly enjoyed his selection. Our server was attentive, but just a bit stiff and longwinded in his desire to please and recite every special in complete detail. Overall though, service was very good. I'm not ready to give BRIO a 5 quite yet, perhaps after a another visist or two. For now, I'm a fan at 4 and have my BRIO lunch card to prove it, which gets you a free lunch after 5 visits. Don't forget to ask for yours.
(4)
Stella S.
Mediocre italian food at an expensive price. Noisy environment. Can barely hear the people at my table. Nothing special with the food.
(2)
M N.
Disappointing on so many levels. We've been to Brio in Houston, so we knew what to expect. But service was slow, the Shrimp Mediterranean was bland, and my lasagna was fair at best. The manager bought our dessert, and that was nice. I guess....
(2)
Tough C.
Not sure how to rate this place. On previous visit had delicious salmon. This visit had seared shrimp risotto. Tasty but very bland, shrimp neither grilled (as the waiter said the chef claimed) nor seared and almost tasteless. My companions liked the lobster bisque and had veal Marsala which I tasted and was good and a lobster and shrimp pasta dish. Service very good.
(3)
Jeff S.
Ugly, ugly scene. The outdoor space is jammed up with teens in sideways baseball caps being loud, while inside, packs of 60 year olds in sweats lose their minds as they sip fluorescent drinks. It's intolerable. Can't say if its like this all the time, but today it was just brutal.
(1)
Judith H.
Had an early dinner with friends late this afternoon. It was our first visit to this restaurant. We were very impressed with the space, the food, and the staff. First, our waiter couldn't have been more helpful. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and the offerings at the bar. We all ordered from the "Lite" menu (some of the same selections as on the regular menu, but smaller portions, and, of course, less expensive). You can exchange out the sides. No problem. All the dishes were good and tasty.At the end of our meal our waiter brought us all Brio cards that offer Rewards on future meals. We will definitely return.
(4)
Cynthia L.
Had dinner for 6 on Monday night and everything was quite nice. Pretty place, good service and ordering from the "light" menu, prices were reasonable for a white tablecloth place. We had salads, chicken dishes, steak and pasta and all enjoyed the food. The steak was a little underdone but quickly adjusted. Will go again.
(4)
Christina S.
Bossy clients, bossy staff. I guess that is what you get in central Boca Raton on weekend nights. I like the bread basket, the Brio Wedge, and a few appetizers are really good. The dinner plates and pizza are subpar and not worth the money. I like the place for a nice bite midweek. Other than that, it is not a enjoyable dining experience. The bar scene is to be avoided at all costs. Little blue haired couples or groups shoving their way in or trolling for you to leave or steal your chair out from under you. Yikes...harrowing!
(3)
Andrew S.
Fast service although the waiters/waitresses don't have much of a personality. In a good location but not that busy usually. Its a nice meal but can be a little slow. Offers valet parking which is a plus and your are allowed to bring your dog if you would like to sit outside!! :)
(4)
Elena M.
The food exceeds my expectations every time. Great bread/seasoned crackers given to start. Fun happy hour. Service is good too. Semi casual during the day but seems to be a little dressier at night. Nice outdoor seating, nice outdoor (covered) bar. Overall a great place to go for a date or with friends. I wouldn't say this place is very kid friendly but I have seen families there. Give it a try!
(5)
Jennifer S.
The location is very convenient to the Marriott, the service was friendly and the atmosphere is quite nice. The food was also very good - the margherita flatbread and grilled shrimp with orzo are highly recommended!
(4)
George S.
Very pleasant atmosphere inside and covered patio. Reasonably priced food and liquor. Make reservations in season. We've been there twice in past 4 weeks.
(3)
Paul K.
Tonight I ate at Brio, one of the best venues I've ever experienced in solitary fooding. The bar is open to the front of the restaurant do you are inside and outside at the same time. If you want to chilax before or after you eat, there are lounge chairs outside. The decor is timeless. The clientele are pleasant and well dressed. There is a great selection on the menu. I would describe the meals as delicious, upscale Italian. Tonight I ordered the namesake Brio pasta and it was wonderful. Sourdough bread is always served warm after you order and the salads are always fresh and crisp. There is lots of energy in the front but it is not too noisy; dining is pleasant and peaceful but not boring. Ask for Kim at the bar, she is fun, courteous and quick to a smile. The bill for my Brio Pasta and a chop salad was $26.00. Only Con: When you sit at the bar, it is almost impossible to basketball without turning around. Somehow the TVs are always behind you. For that, Brio looses a star!
(4)
Camilo C.
I had a great time! JD And Phillip were great servers we had a big party and they did great. I enjoyed the food. I wasn't the biggest fan of the calamari. Although I enjoyed the lobster bisque was good and the desert was great.
(3)
Larry O.
Been there for pretty good dinner. Went for Sunday brunch and had an awful experience. Unbelievable how bad the service and food were. 40 minutes just to get part of our order. And the mgrs response was "it's not my fault"
(2)
Desi-lou S.
We had Brunch today and ordered the fruit crepes. The waitress did mention that the fruit would be cold, but not the whole dish. We sent it bback to be warmed up, but that did not help at all. They must warm up the fruit first which would enhance the dish considerably. the restaurant has an appealing outside with comfortable looking seating and a bar opening to the street. We will try it again .
(2)
Debra G.
We went to this restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was our first time there. From the hostesses to the waitstaff to the manager to the food to the prices - all were superb. The staff treated us like we were royalty. The manager, Tyrell, personally ensure we had a fantastic experience. Tyrell had his chef prepare a special meal for me to accommodate my food sensitivities. It was delicious. All our food was delicious. My husband was given special treatment as well with an amazing complimentary dessert to celebrate his birthday. The wait staff were friendly and had great senses of humor. We could not have asked for a better evening. One of our best meals out in Boca, seriously.
(5)
Claire M.
I love this restaurant! The atmosphere is awesome, aside from all the Boca "oldies" wandering around. The salads are awesome, especially the grilled chicken they put on top of a few they offer, along with the beef carpaccio "boat". If you go there and order it, you will know what I am talking about. I don't know why there is such poor reviews because the ONLY thing I can complain about is that service is sometimes slow........ because it is SO BUSY! So I give the staff the benefit of the doubt! 100% give it a try!
(5)
Adrian G.
We had my birthday dinner here with a group of 11 and a baby. The service was GREAT. The food was average but we all enjoyed it. It is a bit pricey for a simple dinner and a little stuffy. I apologized to the waitress for us being too loud but she said we were more fun than the usual old stiff crowd they usually get.
(3)
Ryan C.
To sum it up briefly....the food isn't good. ESPECIALLY for the price. The ingredients weren't fresh, the fish didn't have any flavor, the pasta was terrible, and the tomato bisque soup was more cream than anything. The only good part of the meal was the ravioli caprese appetizer. The waitress was nice but it couldn't cover the bad food, wishing we had went to Rocco's (which is amazing).
(1)
Russell A.
Excellent food and great service. This new location gets it right. Parking a easy and highly recommend the flatbread sampler app.
(4)
Rainer L.
Rarely does a restaurant disappoint so much! We went there for a quick lunch, the place looks like a typical pretentious Italian chain restaurant. Drinks come quick, so far so good. I like to judge a restaurant by the quality of the bread they serve, oh...a bad start. The dough bread seems to come out of the microwave, it is crusty, boiling hot on the inside but not long enough baked; the thin crackers are stale. As an appetizer we share a artichoke dip, it is ok, but the bread is so bad and stale we ask for another patch, it arrives 5 minutes later. Now it took about 35 minutes to come with the main, 2 pasta dishes. First a lasagna, eatable, but nothing to be proud of; actually even at Olive Garden they serve a much better one. The angel hair pasta Pomodore is not eatable. The pasta is so overcooked it has the texture slimy dog food; the chicken pieces are so dry and plain disgusting. When we return the pasta dish the manager tries to save the situation by picking up the bill, saying he wants us to come back, but.....why would we?
(1)
Reviewer S.
Watch your wallet here. We dined there the evening of July 7th and our party of 8 (4 couples and a child) paid with 4 credit cards, The server conveniently neglected to tell us that an $80 tip had already been automatically included in the bill (which is perfectly acceptable for large parties - if noted on the menu, and IF the waiter clearly informs guests when presenting with the bill) The waiter just brought us four vouchers to sign with a space to add a tip. We each added a $20 tip when we signed our credit card vouchers (bringing the total tip up to $160) - until luckily one person in our party noticed the double-tip. The waiter did not apologize and the manager seemed totally un-concerned when we brought it to her attention. Ethical restaurants require their waiters to verbally inform customers when presenting a check that an automatic tip is included on a large party check, so it does not get easily overlooked on a long guest check. I have even seen some restaurants that require the server to stamp or write on a check "Tip included" so customers do not accidentally double tip. I'm guessing this goes on a lot here, based on the dining room manager's lack of concern. Upper management needs to step in.
(1)
Nancy Z.
Darling....you MUST go to the Town Center Mall and eat at Brio's.....have them park your car, put your best face on and enjoy the $3.95 appetizers and happy hour drinks! Great service, the place was packed and it's quite an experience.
(4)
Maria C.
Brio plays with my mind a bit. While I LOVE the ambience and ALWAYS love to go there because I just like the outdoor sitting and even inside, I just don't seem to pick the right food. I don't know... I just haven't been as happy as I think I should be there because everyone else's dish looks amazing and tasty and yet, I seem to always pick the OK option. I will keep trying and encourage you to do the same and hopefully I'll come back soon to say I was wrong.
(3)
A.L. S.
Food is your basic chain restaurant food. The outdoor seating is first come first serve and it gets crowded. It s dec scene for going out. the service is good and the wine list is okay. It gets crowded in the evenings so come early. Have fun!
(2)
Tereza B.
The lobster bisque was just ok. No big pieces, it was decent though. The waiter must have had a cold bc he didn't stop sniffling the whole time we were there. Very unmemorable. But yet packed. I don't get it????
(2)
Joshua R.
Great food and environment. It has a little high price tag but overall worth it.
(5)
Michael M.
We have been very excited about Brio's coming to Boca for quite some time. When we lived in Orlando we use to visit Brio's quite often. Soo.. We went on the 27th, Saturday, at 6:30pm. We were quickly greeted by 3 people at the front desk. They immediately asked us if we had a reservation. We did not and were told that they were booked for the night inside but could seat us outside in about 30 minutes. We were fine with that since it was such a nice night. Interesting observation is that everyone dining inside appeared to be well over 65, while everyone outside was under 65. Seems as if the older crowd always call ahead, but I'm not so sure Brio's wants to begin their reign in Boca as the "retirement home" place to eat. We love Houston's down the street and are always willing to wait the hour to get a table their and the crowd seems much younger. We sat at the bar and had a drink. The bar was slow and the bartender was nice enough. One thing, I could tell right away is that the service at Brio's was not going to be a 5 STAR review. Everyone was nice enough but watching the bartenders argue with each other over where things are located was a sign of things to come. Our little "buzzer thing" went off within about 20 minutes and we made out way over to the host station. Funny thing happened. We forgot to pay our bill at the bar. The bartender came over and reminded us to pay. She was nice but seemed a bit aggravated. Although, she did say that we were ok. She did not offer to have our tab transferred to out table like other establishments do. We sat down outside and as a fellow yelper mentioned it was a bit crowded but I was ok with it. I would not take anything away from them on the space issue. Let me back up for a second. We waited at the host station for 5 minutes before we were seated and could also tell that the servers were arguing with host about were to sit us. It was not "super" obvious, but I guess it was noticeable enough for me to pick up on it. Our server came over and introduced himself and asked us if we had been to Brio's before, which I thought was a nice touch. We ordered their special appetizer, which was asparagus with prosciutto and my wife ordered the lobster bisque. We ordered for our meals past dishes. My wife had the Mushroom Ravioli Al Forno and I had the Shrimp Verduta. My wife enjoyed her dish and as did I. My only complaint would be that the angel hair pasta was a bit mushy, but that's to be expected from angel hair past. The shrimp was a little light on flavor as well, but overall a decent dish. The appetizers were great and I would definitely suggest them. Based on the food I would have given them a 4, but the service was a 3, maybe a 2. Our server seemed to be in love with himself or my wife. He was a typical young guy trying to be funny. I always say the best servers are the ones you don't notice, but everything is taken care of on your table. Towards the end of our meal we waited 10 minutes for our plates to be removed and waited even longer for our bill. They of course came over with the big display of deserts and when we said no, you could tell the server was a bit perturbed. My advice to Brio's is to go down the street to Houston's and take notes on how to offer superb customer service. It's very consistent. I will be returning as I love their food and am hopeful that they will tie up the loose ends with their service. I would also advise them to re-think their reservation strategy. We did notice a lot of empty tables while we waited. I get the whole idea of having a booked dining room, but why not go to a first come or call ahead system and turn your tables over quicker?
(3)
Karen S.
I had enjoyable dining experiences at Brio in Naples but this one was absolutely horrible from the service to the food. This was our third time at the new Boca Raton location and the last. Initially, I assumed they were new and still trying to get it together but the food and service has only gotten worse with time. My chicken was served ice cold and my husband's food was so salty it was barely edible. We couldn't even get a bread basket for over 35 minutes after making a request to the waiter and manager several times. They offered one dessert to share among five people to appease us for the poor service and food. The piece they served was so small, barely enough for one person - it was more of an insult than an apology. Three strikes - you're out!
(1)
Suzie R.
After reading both good & bad reviews, we decided to try Brio. The bread was delicious, the wine & sangria were fine. That's where it stopped! We shared fried calamari - like chewing little rubber-bands. It was not crispy and could have been hotter. I chose lasagne, which came with a Cesar salad. Although we had a very good waitress (no complaints about the service), if I hadn't reminded her about the salad, I doubt it would have ever come to the table. The salad was void of taste. Absolutely flavorless - the croutons were soggy, but I will admit the romaine lettuce was fresh & crisp. Pity - it had all the potential of being good. My husband ordered salmon with thin-spaghetti. It arrived smothered with a tasteless sauce, which he scraped off the fish. My lasagne did not taste fresh, lacked any flavor and was a great disappointment. The manager did visit our table, apologized for everything, provided us with 2 coupons for complimentary appetizers, and did remove the lasagne off the menu. This was our first & last visit at Brio.
(1)
Lloyd A.
A friend and I went to Brio Tuscan Grille in Boca Raton last night for an early dinner. The restaurant is very attractive and was busy inside and out, but we were promptly seated to a pleasant, roomy table. Bread, butter and drinking water immediately arrived. Steve, our server, promptly came to welcome us and to take a drink order. The manager stopped by our table to welcome us, as well. We asked Steve for recommendations, but I am following a reduced carb diet so didn't want pasta. The Beef Carpaccio was recommended as an appetizer and either the pork chops or the Gorgonzola crusted filet or strip steak as entrees. We ordered those dishes, plus a Caesar salad. I ordered my steak medium rare and that is exactly how it came out. For dessert we tried the mascarpone cheesecake and the warm apple pie with ice cream. Both were good, but the cheesecake was exceptional. We found the service and food quite good, particularly at this price point, and would definitely return at a later date with our wives. By the time we left, the restaurant was hopping both inside and out.
(4)
Michelle W.
I am a frequent patron on Brio on their $5 Martini nights. While my friend and I may be the youngest there each time and always end up being the last ones to leave (9:30pm mind you) the staff is always on par. The bread offered is always hot out of the oven fresh, and I have never had a bad meal. Their filet is one of the best that I have had and is much more reasonable in price than many restaurants in Boca. Overall, I highly recommend Brio and will continue enjoying my $5 martini's with a fantastic dinner!
(4)
Gina D.
I arrived with a party of 7 for lunch today. I ordered a burger and only ate half. When I was finished the server asked if I would like it boxed up. I said "yes". Shortly after another server came to clear the table. She took away my food. I assumed she was going to box it up for me. Instead she started putting used napkins and other food from other plates on my plate. When I told her I wanted my food she said "well you never told me" I then told her that I had told the main server. Her response then was well the napkins and other food she placed on my plate where not touching my food so she could still box it up. How is that acceptable? I was then offered another burger. That would had been fine, but I was on my lunch hour and the group was already late to return to work. The main server then said I would be given a credit to be used next time. That would have been fine, but again I was disappointed. I was not given a credit. I was given a card for a free appetizer or dessert. How does this make up for my burger? I eat out for lunch pretty much everyday, but I never order an appetizer or dessert. I am not asking for anything other than what I am owed. Another burger. I have contacted the restaurant and am waiting what they have to say.
(2)
Digi 4.
Food was greasy and made me sick...really. The decor is nice and that's where all your money goes when you order from their elegantly priced menu. However, the flavor and preparation of the food is anything but elegant. It's all smoke and mirrors here. You think you are about to eat at a fancy/fine Italian restaurant but it's just a facade. They need to work on their food. I have had way better Italian at a small local Italian resturant than here. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Go to Rocco's tacos instead.
Gracious greeting and excellent service on a weekday visit. Accept later reservations offered - then come when you wish. You get priority seating. Large portions of tasty food from open kitchen. Generous pours of good house wines. Well dressed clientele. Occasional coupon offers by mail or on line make already reasonable tab even less.
(5)
Tina J.
Brio at "Easton" in Columbus, OH has always been one of my favorite places...the atmosphere is gorgeous. I later moved to Dulles, VA: their Brio lacks the ambiance. Later yet, to Florida and the Hallandale location also lacked the ambiance. However, the food was still great. I didn't believe the not so good reviews here on Yelp, on the Boca location. I went w/my husband and son on Friday night at 5:30. 75% of tables were empty. Not one of the 3 hostesses said hello to me...an awkward 90 seconds or so passed and finally I said hello to her. She said we could only sit outside..they apparently were saving nearly all of the empty tables inside for reserved parties. I think they should keep some tables open for new arrivals...the place seemed dead, with all those empty places. Anyway...all that aside, my favorite dish, the Chicken Milanese was very disappointing. Pomodoro sauce was sickeningly sweet. My wedge salad was the most bitter tasting head of lettuce. I so want this place to succeed. Please send your staff up to your Easton location to see how things should be done. Boca can be every bit as nice as Easton...the location down here is just goregous!
(2)
Kevin S.
I enjoyed the Brio in West Palm Beach and the food at the Boca location isn't bad, but the restaurant itself looks weathered. I've been here twice and what stood out most was how disheveled the exterior furniture was. It's in a constant state of disarray and not inviting at all. I've also noticed that this restaurant has an issue with unpleasant smells. The first time I walked in and smelled mildew. The second time it smelled like cleaning products. It overpowered anything that might have been going on in the kitchen. Lastly, the mens bathroom smells like a kennel. Truly disgusting. They used small mosaic tile up against the urinals
(2)
Diane G.
Would rate it zero star if I could . Horrible service during happy hour. Rude bartender. Had to wait 20 minutes at the bar and than they act like they are doing you a favor. I will never go back. Too many great other destinations to be bothered by this kind of aggravation
(1)
Gina P.
Wednesday night happy hour is the only time to go $5 martinis and $3 bar bites (before 6:30) other than that the food is over priced and the service is lacking
(2)
Shel G.
While we have gone to this restaurant before, this was the worst experience ever. We waited ten minutes to even see a waiter. He did not listen to our request to have second drinks when our meals arrived, bringing them before our first drinks were finished. By time he checked back on whether everything was okay with our food we were half way through the meal. Be sure to ask NOT to be seated in Marco S.'s section if you should decide to go to Brio. The food was mediocre at best and is certainly NOT a favorite Italian place to eat. And one of us got sick afterwards. Our advice would be to take a gondola ride to another restaurant!
(2)
Sam M.
This is one of my favorite lunch places. After mccormicks shut down a couple of years ago in boca I didn't have any go to spots for lunch but since discovering brio a few months ago a week can't go by without lunch here. The service is amazing and the food delicious. The lobster bisque for starters is my fav along with freshly baked warm bread. And the mushroom ravioli is a must have. Plus they got complimentary valet right outside. What's not to like ......
(5)
Hillary F.
Today, decided to eat earlier than usual and Brio was just about the only place open...I usually like the food so it was a decent choice. Waiter was good but the grilled chicken "under the brick" came out and the potatoes and veggies were cold. I sent it back. Since the kitchen is open I watched as the cook took the grilled chicken breast with BARE HANDS and removed it from the plate to heat up the sides....he put it back on the plate with BARE HANDS and the waiter served it to me....I told him I wanted to vomit. He apologized and then the manager came over and was falling all over himself about the lack of sanitation. Within minutes, everyone had gloves on ( I think if I went back now, they would be off). I was grossed out so I ordered a salad and the manager said the entire check was comped. Mind you, I asked for nothing. I waited outside for my husband because our Friday night together was really ruined. Looking for a nice uncomplicated night out...Oops, guess the manager didn't tell the waiter to comp everything so we had a half check. I said something so they redid the check for just my drink..really? really? The manager came over again and apologized when I told him the entire night was ruined. I am really grossed out by this place. What if the cook had a cut? I realize that we may be exposed to that sort of stuff in a closed kitchen but honestly, make an attempt
(1)
Marvin G.
Changes to recipes and food preparation has dramatically lowered the main purpose for coming to Brio. Attractive ambience and good service cannot compensate for mediocre, over seasoned food. From appetizers to main courses dishes for a party of four were all disappointing. Clearly not a recommended dining destination.
(2)
Angela T.
Went here recently with a party of 8 on a Saturday evening. They were busy but not terribly so and the service was pretty awful. There seemed to be two servers working in the alcove (that seemed to be where we were sitting). The guy was great and really on top of things. Sadly, he wasn't our server and only helped with one or two things. I saw him with his tables though and he was great. Our server, not so much. Lots of waiting and leaving only to return 20 to 25 minutes later. Coffee with no spoons, dessert with no forks, that type of thing. The food is what you might expect from a chain Italian - nothing special. Overpriced and nothing special. I would definitely skip Brio next time...
(2)
Elaine C.
This restaurant is way too impressed with itself and in my opinion doesn't live up to its hype. I've eaten here many times...I returned today after not visiting this place in a long time. As usual they think they are wonderful but I don't see it. Many restaurants work with their guests to change out something and replace it with something else. I had the egg white omelet. I asked for goat cheese and was told they don't substitute. Funny, last time I asked for goat cheese I got it. The omelet on the whole was delicious and I really can't complain about the service. However, there are more times I'm disappointed with this place than happy with it. I'll probably not return again for a long while. Brio just doesn't do it for me and if I have to spend my $$$, there are more enjoyable places to eat.
(1)
Bill S.
I had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with a friend today during the grand opening of this BRIO location. I was hoping for a Five star experience, but sadly had to take off a star for a few issues noted below. The location is conveniently located at the trendy - The Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail just south of Glades Road. The decor of the bar and restaurant is absolutely beautiful and extremely well done. The bar is in the front corner of the restaurant and has open windows and fantastic seating that represents the best physical location of any of the restaurants in this center. We checked in and asked for a table for two. Initially we were taken to the extreme Northeast corner of the restaurant and offered a table for four that, shockingly, had a large roof support pole located about 1 inch from the corner of the table that would be extremely uncomfortable to anyone seating there. This probably would be a great topic for a "Curb Your Enthusiam" episode, but we immediately requested a different location. I took a photo of this table and will upload it here. (*** Note to manager - this table location sucks ***) Once we were seated at a better table, we were given an assortment of fresh bread and ordered an ice tea and Diet Coke. Unfortunately, they only offered Diet Pepsi so I took one for the team and accepted a Pepsi. (*** Note to Brio owner - you offer hundreds of flavors or alcoholic drinks, vodka, and rum, is it that hard to offer both Coke and Pepsi products ***) The place was buzzing with tons of staff and everyone that approached our table was awesome. Unfortunately, I forgot my reading glasses and had a hard time reading the menu, so I asked the waitress if they had any reading glasses for me to borrow. Unfortunately, they did not have any and I used my iPhone camera to read the menu. (*** Note to manager - most five star restaurants have a collection of cheap reading glasses for their guests. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a collection of different strengths for $5 each as sometimes men, like me, forget their reading glasses at home ***) We ordered lobster bisque to start and I ordered the Mezza Chicken Limone. The lobster bisque was extremely good, but not as good as The Capital Grill (my personal favorite) as there was only tiny pieces of lobster in the bisque vs including larger pieces. No matter, I highly recommend this soup as it is better than most restaurants. The Mezza Chicken Limone was cooked to perfection in traditional piccata style and quite delicious with a side of fresh campanelle florentine. The desert selections were also impressive and looked fantastic, but we decided to pass as this was only lunch. Overall, this is a great restaurant that I will definitely return, but I will need to bring in my own reading glasses and smuggle in some Diet Coke.
(4)
narisa s.
The food is okay but the service is horrible. We never get bread because it was always "in the oven." The food comes out by the time the check should get there. Sometimes a waiter comes by the time your food should. If you're a patient person go for it. Don't go if you are hungry.
(2)
Todd W.
Please refer to Jeff D for another great review here. Quite simply, an overpriced lunch place that caters to local upper class people. You want a normal chicken Parmesan for 30$ this is the place, there's no difference other than the price and the carpet. An iced tea and panini will cost you over $20, there's a salad place right next door that does it for half the price (or less b/c no tip). Still its a great place to talk and mingle, and if you have the money...well go for it.
(3)
Brian R.
BRIO is upscale chain Italian, quite a few notches up from Olive Garden, and toe-to-toe with a number of the generic New York-New Jersey-Philly-once-removed restaurants that infest Boca and are generally frequented by snow birds who remember the father's/grandfather's food from back in the day. Decor and atmosphere tries to make you forget its a chain, and it does about as well as say, P.F. Changs does in the Chinese realm. The portions are generous. The service was great. There's just something a bit too formulaic about it, and the food isn't wow, just hmm... not bad at all. That's the star down.
(4)
Dana F.
Figured I would give this restaurant a second chance, but I shouldn't have. The service was worse the second time than the first. Although my husband and I appear young, we aren't that young and felt the poor service was due to that. We were sitting at the table for at least 20 minutes before even having water, bread, or a greeting from a staff member. After we were greeted, the waiter didn't take our drink order for another 15 minutes. After ordering our food, we waited so long to be served that almost the entire restaurant was empty. Food wasn't horrible, but definitely not worth the wait. Needless to say, my husband and I will never go there again.
(1)
Melissa V.
The ambiance is great, the freshly baked bread was delicious. However that is were it ended, the food was not up to par in comparison to the pricing. In reality it was pretty bad. I will not be going to Brio again.
(1)
Franco C.
Italian. Looking for something to eat we were strolling along and saw Brio's. The place is very visually appealing so we decided to grab some seats at the bar. The way the bar is situated is such that you are almost sitting outside - but still under the roof - so it was nice. The bartenders looked harried and after we got their attention things progressed well. We kept the mojito thing going and my raspberry mojito contained freshly muddled raspberries and was tres delicious. We decided to share the shrimp and crabcake entree as it was a date after all and we didn't want to stop talking to eat. They were kind enough to split the meal without us asking. The food was very good- we both enjoyed our portion and the veggies that came with it were perfectly done. The bread the brought out was fine enough but we didn't want to carb up so we just picked at it. We were still a little hungry and they sent over the kid with a large tray of deserts - since she couldn't decide I went ahead and ordered like 4 different things... I figured that there was plenty of selection. The deserts came out and we were swooning - everything was great. Chocolate mousse cake, Creme Brulee' and I forgot the other two items - but we attacked them all with gusto. The restaurant is very nice looking by the way - next time we will grab a table inside and chill but this was a perfect evening with great food. We both walked out happy. Definitely worth checking out if you are in this area.
(3)
Nadav E.
beautiful place, great food very classy and very nice ppl serving you, went with my girlfriend and had much fun thanks ;)
(4)
Denise R.
I happened to be in the area yesterday after a late afternoon meeting and I hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was passing Boca Center and decided to give Brio a try. As it turned out, it was 3:30 and Happy Hour had just begun, according to the big sign out in front. So I took a look around the bar and walked around to the back side to have a seat but noticed there was all kinds of puddles from what appeared to be water dripping from the ceiling. That didn't look too inviting, so I opted to sit at one of the cocktail tables beside the bar instead. I ordered the tuna carpaccio and the eggplant fries (both $4 each). They were very generous portions and I had plenty of left overs to take home, some of which I just now enjoyed (again). The eggplant fries were so unique and the aioli dipping sauce they served them with was fantastic. I'd go back for these items alone, but would certainly be open to trying other items on their menu as well.
(4)
Lauren S.
I guess you could say I'm confused. 2 weeks ago my parents and sister ate here and have ranted and raved about this place. We had made reservations for this evening and they had definitely got me revved up for this place. As we walk into the restaurant I notice that an entire tray of plates and cutlery is lying on the ground shattered, not a single person is within 20 feet of the mess and no one is making any attempt to clean it up - fancy place, huh? We let the hostess know that we've arrived right on time for our 8pm reservation and she hands us one of those electronic blinking devices as our table is being cleared off - strange. We sit down and I notice a half eaten plate of spaghetti on the counter top in the waiting area and several forks lying on the ground under the chairs, classy This place is packed with the snobby Boca crowd - tons of face lifts and interesting attire. After 15 minutes of waiting, our buzzer goes off and we're told to wait in the hallway (blocking other guests, servers and other staff). After another 8 or so minute wait we're finally walked to our table, past several open and set tables. Confused. We are literally seated in the darkest, furthest corner of the restaurant. [We're dressed appropriately and by no means lepers of any kind]. We are served by a nice lady whose name escapes me at the moment. She let us know what the soup of the day was and informed us of the $5 martini special of which we tried the Paradiso and Sparkling Raspberry Drop (neither of which were for me or my taste). We had caesar salads to start - 8.5/10 (negative points for the oversaturation of dressing) I had the Filetto Di something Toscano - a center cut with mashed potatoes and I subbed cooked broccoli for the roasted vegetables. 7/10 for making it medium instead of medium-well as requested. The mashed potatoes were delicious and broccoli was fine, no additional flavors. For dessert I had the Chocolate and Caramel cake in a glass cup. It was a 7/10 - nothing to write home about. Overall, I was very disappointed by BRIO and can't believe that this is what Boca's "elite" call fine dining.
(3)
Philip S.
Food was adequete, nothing bad, nothing great. We went since they have a gluten free menu for one of our party. Calamari was good, not the best i've had but above average. Pork chop was ok. Rest of the dinners were very average, nothing to write home about. One of our party said the Denver Brio was much better
(2)
Fred S.
Of the five times I went to eat at this restaurant, the service was awful. One time we were given a free appetizer as an apology, the next time the meal was paid for as an apology, next time it was beverages, but we actually would prefer not getting anything for free and getting our food in a much more reasonable amount of time. Finally, this last time the service was perfect. But, the food is really nothing special nor is the menu. This is sort of one step above Olive Garden, or Carrabas, but not the feel of a small down-home Tuscan-style restaurant. The food is relatively bland, the presentation relatively bland, but because of its location it makes a nice spot to go out for dinner and to be in an entertainment area with lots of people. You will probably enjoy a reasonably priced meal but not get excited enough to put this on your calendar as a regular dining event. I do believe it's worth giving it a try since many people like this food, and if you are lucky you may get really good service and your experience may turn out well.
Well, this is a chain, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was pretty good. I give it 3.5 stars. We started off with the tomato and mozzarella caprese salad and the brio chopped. Both were quite tasty, although the caprese was pretty small - but extremely fresh. We were given some crispy flatbread and fresh sourdough bread as accompaniments - I didn't care for either, as they didn't have much taste. For mains we had the whole roasted chicken and the grilled mahi mahi fresca. The chicken was huge - and was stuffed with herbs and an entire lemon. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked. The chicken itself was tender and quite tasty. We took half home as leftovers. The mahi mahi was a rather small portion but it was cooked well, and served with veggies, fresh spinach and farro, which is one of my favorite grains, so I really loved it. The menu said it came with a tomato basil vinaigrette but the sauce was yellow and sweet so I'm not so sure that's what it was - it was ok. I'm not sure I'll be back, as this place didn't exactly knock my socks off, but if I'm in the area and want this type of food, I might consider it.
(3)
William Clyde L.
Brio is a fantastic italian restaurant. They have wonderful lasagna as well as great spaghetti and other pastas. Their restrooms are quite clean. Their bar is terrific. They have a great happy hour. Their bread is spectacular. I love practically everything on the menu. There sometimes is a wait for a table but that is because the food is so good. I highly recommend this place. Go for it!
(5)
Niko S.
The 2nd worst meal I have ever had. The one star goes to the server that actually tried. The food tasted fake and the fillet was microwaved as well as the veggies. This was not freshly made. Just terrible! Makes you wonder how they are still in business.
(1)
Lisa T.
It was a great night celebrating a birthday. I love the healthy salmon meal. So yummy and less than 500 calories. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. They even brought out a surprise cake too and our waiter sang Happy Birthday too. They also have a great reward program. Check it out.
(5)
Joshua M.
This is a restaurant that you might want to come to when your other two choices have 2-hour wait times. Even then, Brio might be a bit of a wait, based on where it is, which is nestled right in an area jam packed with other high scale restaurants. The clientele is on the older/senior citizen spectrum, but that doesn't mean it is a bad clientele. Atmosphere here is very nice, inside and out. The interior has a pleasant ambiance, with the only minus being it is very noisy inside. Plenty of tables outside, and especially on a nice night, eating out there can be a great plus. Another note, parking here can be a nightmare on busy nights. Plenty of valet options, but if you see a spot, no matter how far, take it! The food was okay, but nothing memorable. Started out with bread, which came out hot, and it was severed with real butter served on a plate. As well, it came with these Asiago chips, which was a nice addition. I had a Kale Caesar Salad to start off, and it was a bit bitter for my taste, but a good portion size. For my entree I had the Chicken Milanese, which was good, but nothing amazing. The portion size I found a bit small, just two medium size breaded breasts, and the cheese they put on it was very minimal. I substituted mashed potatoes for my pasta, which was a bit of a wash, because I didn't find the potatoes anything fresh; it tasted like something they heated up in the microwave. The food quality just wasn't there, and the menu options weren't huge. Service is SLOW. Our waiter was nice, but he barley came over to check up on us, and it took a while for him to bring us out of food and other items. Now the place was crowded, but still I could tell that the service needed a strong talking from corporate. The pricing here is pretty standard for Boca prices, but that's not speaking positively for this location. The costs don't justify what you actually get. With so many other restaurants within walking distance, going to bat for Brio is a stretch. The reality is, there are just too many other good Italian restaurants to make me seriously consider coming back to Brio. Food (B-), Pricing (D), Atmosphere (B+), Service (C+)
(3)
Lenny K.
Brio is pretty nice. I realize it's a chain but this location holds up pretty good on its own. Good selection of dishes that tasted good too. Very accommodating staff for our party of 11. We celebrated a birthday that night and they made sure to make it a memorable occasion. And, I ordered a mixed drink and was actually able to taste the alcohol. Not fine dining but a fine family experience!
(4)
Callan R.
Great place for a nice, relaxing lunch with a modern and chic environment. The customer service was fantastic. I ordered the lobster bisque and a Caesar salad. Very satisfying but nothing outside of what you would expect. I love my lobster bisque served over creme fraiche which I would expect at a high end restaurant so no disappointment here. Brio serves complimentary bread and the Asiago/Rosemary crisps are addicting!! I have also tried their chicken chipotle panini which was very savory. Large portion for a panini so I couldn't finish it. Overall a very pleasant experience!
(4)
Daphne L.
I came here on Sunday afternoon for a baptism celebration with about 20 other people. We were seated in the back room for special events. We were also given a special menu with only a few options for our meals. We had the choice of lasagna, shrimp diablo or pasta brio. I got the lasagna. And two other people at my table got the pasta brio and shrimp diablo. Thr lasagna was small portion wise but it tasted good. I tried all of them and I think the best of the three was the shrimp diablo. I was worried it'd be too spicy for me but it wasn't very spicy at all. All our meals came with Caesar salads and they brought out some bread to start us out with. The service was a bit slow but I think that was probably because we were such a big group.
(3)
Karen F.
5 star venue (gorgeous) and great service - we came at lunch when it was not crowded. Food is just average but my kid's Chicken Parm with Penne meal ($7) was terrific - better than the adult food. Next time I'm getting the kid's meal! Nice selection of desserts. I also enjoyed the frozen bellini.
(4)
Danielle R.
Wednesday night is $5 martini night and you can sit outside!!! We shared a brucshetta appie which was very good and vowed to come back for lunch....especially when the weather cools off. That's all you really need to know about this place.
(4)
Wendy B.
Tried bunch there today. Was not crowded and it was a beautiful setting. Service was good and food was hot. Excellent choices. Decided on a rosa sangria for drinks. Very refreshing! We will be back!
(4)
Breana B.
We arrived around brunch and were one of the few customers. Our waitress was very pleasant and the food great. I cannot wait to go back. I just hope the other Brio's in the area are just as good. The drinks are very goos also. My cosmo was made with loveeeeee
(5)
Scott S.
I come here frequently for business lunches and have found it to be consistently good. The menu is more varied and original than the area steak places though the level of service is not as high. The bar area is terrific and styled for good interactions for events. The dining room is always clean though bustling. I have never been disappointed with my food and my guests are always pleased.
(4)
Cara S.
SLOW SERVICE, BAD FOOD, EXPENSIVE Probably the worst meal I've had in Boca. Salty, flavorless risotto. Rigatoni that barely rivals the Olive Garden. Slow, bad service capped off by 3 mistakes on the check. Don't let the pleasant decor fool you. One star for bread which was good.
(1)
Beth B.
Great brunch menu. Good portions, good value, great taste, puppy friendly. Mahi mahi dish is delicious. Mediterranean shrimp great spice flavor with faro... Sauce on the side... So delicious we didn't need the sauce Pasta pesto with grilled chicken was fine tasting, well presented and totally satisfying. Service was great and so where our puppies.
(4)
Eryn M.
I went here for a friend's birthday party. There were eight of us. Our server was very nice but not very bright. He forgot my drink order. Then my food order. Then my ticket. But I'll get to that later. One person ordered a martini and it had a bug in it. That happens. But their bar is outside, so you'd think it happens more often than they'd like. But they replaced it, no big deal. One of the girls is allergic to peppers and told the server, who said he'd put in an allergy ticket. She ordered her dish with a different sauce and he said it'd be fine. Everyone else ordered. All was good. Out of the eight, four of us liked our food (thankfully, I was one of them). The women who got the shrimp and lobster fettuccine were not impressed. One of them was the one with the allergy. Although she got a mild sauce, the shrimp were still spicy. The server seemed clueless as to what on the menu was mild. She ended up with a caesar salad. She was the only one who sent her food back, but the other three just didn't like their food. Then, came the checks. I didn't get one. Then I did. I paid cash ($40 for a $27 ticket). Then I got another ticket from another server and had to explain that I already paid. In cash. Then I got my change. $27. Made no sense. The server had given me what my ticket was instead of the change. I'm an honest person, so I had him sort it out. All in all, it was an OK experience but I probably won't be back. There are too many other great options. But it's about the company, and that made it fun.
(2)
Scott R.
Here for a party at Brio's in Boca Raton and it was pretty awful. With the exception of one of our servers named Whitney (who was nice), this was the worst experience Brio's. The back area was like a sauna! Our party was for 1 pm, however some showed up at 12:45. Ok when I asked about someone serving us getting drinks etc was told our party didn't start till 1. The food was only ok, salmon was good, lasagna was good, chicken really salty. Took forever in the beginning to bring out bread and it seems no one has enough sense to either bring more or ask if we want more when it is gone. People had to ask for coffee as well. I have had parties at other restaurants and it just seemed that Brio's either didn't know how to handle a party and quite frankly servers (with exception) of Whitney just didn't give a you know what.
(1)
Sara O.
I enjoy coming to Brio. They serve fresh bread and crackers. I usually get the lobster bisque (it's to die for). I feel like it's a step up from your olive gardens etc. food is 4 out of 5.
(4)
Matthew S.
Visited this establishment a few weeks ago. Looked nice from the outside with open air and nice outdoor plaza seating. The prices looked good too. But the service was terrible. And the manager was really unaccommodating. There were supposed to be some seat cushions on all the patio chairs, but the manager thought it might rain, so he moved them to a couch under a canopy. When it didn't rain, he forgot to put them back, making the patio seats very uncomfortable. My main reason for visiting this place was for the patio. Then the service was just at a stand still. Guess they don't really care about customer service. Will not be visiting again.
(1)
Rabia J.
"2014 with good luck:" I have been to Brio before but not this location. After not making any plans for New Years Eve dinner, we decided to do walk in dinner here and hoped our luck would come thru. And sure enough it did, we only had to wait 5 minutes literally even though they had many big parties. I wasn't expecting much service since NYE is one of the busiest days in the hospitality industry. However, our server even though had two big parties still had time to do refills and bring out our food in a timely manner. We had a small incidence with them bringing out the wrong soup and then not having the other soup but the server efficiently managed to bring our appetizers and then entrees. In appetizers: the spicy shrimp and crusted eggplant is a must as well as the lobster bisque. In dinner, I tried the mahi mahi: it definitely is for the healthy eater who wants their greens and farro grain side etc. It was decent but it was missing some spark of flavor. I liked my hubby's ravioli de bello dish better. The Torte de chocolate (warm lava cake) with ice cream was on point. Brio, Bravo ~
(4)
Joe D.
I just added my review on g+ and thought I should add it here too. happy hour, outside lounge service is just bad. food is good value, but honestly the service is slow, and the wait staff seem very overwhelmed, on what appeared to be a average night. I have eaten here several times, and had very good service inside, (this is not a cheap place), so I expect excellent service at these prices. also had happy our inside the bar area. no problems, good deal on food. but the seating outside, is hit or miss, and mostly miss. -plan to go to the bar and help yourself, for food and drinks. otherwise a nice place. (just the service needs work).
(3)
Aaron K.
Had lunch at 1:00 PM on a Saturday, hence the place was almost empty. So I expected good service and we got just that. Ate outside. Had the soup and Salad plus iced teas. Lunch for 2 plus tip was $34. Everything was excellent The bread was superb. Basket refilled by the waiter without first asking. Ditto multiple iced teas. No this was not a demanding test of a restaurant but nonetheless it was a very pleasant experience.
(4)
Jay Z.
Worst experience ever. Service is abhorrent! My order was forgotten and when brought was poor to fair. Noise to a fault.
(1)
Carmine H.
Absolutely Terrible! The food is among the worst italian I've had. The sauces are bland and greasy. The server asked what soup/salad we wanted with the meal, I was later charged for this. If you are going to ask what soup or salad we want with our meal, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE US FOR THIS. This is a typical americanized italian place. The soup was meh and the tomato sauce was absolutely horrendous. I had terrible heartburn after this greasy meal and I only finished a quarter of it, mainly because of how disgusting it was. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! There are much better italian places in the area that are authentic and better priced.
(1)
Noreen L.
Our first visit and not impressed. Food - Ok. Service - not very good. Brought appetizer with salad. Charged for a more expensive wine than I ordered but waiter probably could not hear because it is so very noisy. Ambiance - not very good.
(2)
Linda L.
The food is always fresh and delicious here. The happy hour menu is $3.95 per item and its such a steal! The peach bellini is refreshing and just the amount of alcohol to kick off the night. The beef carpaccio is amazing. The beef is thinly sliced and perfectly spiced. The staff is very nice and helpful.
(4)
Richard M.
This was our 2nd visit to this Brio. The first visit was excellent. This time was a huge disappointment, starting with a disinterested server and followed by an overcooked pork chop. When we finally got the server's attention we were told that the cook always does pork at least medium; "medium rare is not safe." We offered to make another choice if the cook could no comply, but nothing came back from the kitchen except two "just another minute or so" notices. But there was no improvement. We won't be coming back here soon.
(2)
Eric K.
Awesome Italian food, great atmosphere, really friendly staff. Fatia, the hostess on Tuesdays is INCREDIBLE
(5)
Diane N.
Brio in Boca Raton is one of my favorite restaurants. My husband and I usually go there for lunch. You have the choice of sitting inside the restaurant or outside on their patio. I like to go inside because the restaurant is beautiful, and more important, it's air conditioned. This is Florida and it can be pretty hot around lunch time. My favorite dish is the fettuccine campania. The marinara sauce has capers, Kalamata olives, and basil. It is very good. The lasagna is delicious. I also love the ravioli di bello. It is ravioli with Cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, and thyme in a champagne butter sauce. The service has been very friendly and attentive.
(5)
Ed B.
Went here for Saturday brunch with my gf, staying in Marriott for a wedding weekend. Was overall disappointed in the food at brio. We ordered cappuccinos, Stuffed French toast and Tuscan omelette. - Drinks were flat, minimal flavor and colder than I would prefer. - she had to send back her omelette because the inside was barely cooked, egg whites were super runny and she couldn't even pick it up with a fork. -French toast was okay, minimal amount of fruit, perhaps a tad undercooked - decor was clean and nice for he style, typical Florida theme. -menu was pretty basic and nothing fancy or special -staff was nice -price was a little more expensive than quality of food would deserve in a non touristy area Overall, would not go back or recommend this bland tasting, simple food trying to sell itself for some fancy Italian restaurant, which it is clearly not.
(2)
Eileen F.
Food & atmosphere are very good. Patio is delightful on a pleasant evening. Service is consistently slow and inattentive.
(3)
Kolbos C.
Wow what happened to this place.. Went with a birthday group to have dinner and it had to be one of the worst meals I had at Brio.... The restaurant was not even half full for a thursday night, so cannot believe the guys at the kitchen were tired to cook. The kitchen looked like they had lot of people working but the lamb chops and pasta we ordered should never had come out of a kitchen where cooks take pride in their art. There was 6 pieces of Lamb Chops and all of them were differantly cooked , although I ordered them medium well !! The Pasta which came with the veal Marsala was so overcooked it felt like eating cuddled flour!!! Quite shameful when an Italian restaurant serves up Pasta like that. The Service and ambiance of the place is still top notch!!! But the quality of food seems like it is going down and there is no way one should spend $29 and $22 for entre's of such substandard quality. There are great Italian restaurants in this city so I hope they get their Kitchen back in order.
(2)
Scott G.
Want to be more generous because the setting is nice but the food is mediocre at best, wine list sparse and now they charge for valet parking. I'll go the 100 restaurants nearby with better food, wine and free parking
(2)
Chriss F.
Went on a Monday night for din din. Had the calamari, beef carpaccio, lobster bisque, and the shrimp and lobster fettuccini. All dishes were tasty and above average. Server was very nice and accommodating. Really enjoyed eating outside too.
(4)
David C.
Four hours later and I still have heartburn from eating at Brio. I went there today for a company holiday lunch and read the reviews. The recent reviews were spot on, as I feared. A coworker found a hair in her entree, Instead of apologizing and whisking the dish away, the waitress asked to see where the hair was "to show the chef". Was that really necessary? I think a free dessert, at the least, would have been appropriate yet none was offered. There is no excuse for the hair or the lack of appropriate effort to make the situation right. Another thing, this waitress was rather rough and surly for the image they are trying to project. We weren't a large group and we came off hours. Her service was rushed and sloppy with water and soda splashing on me and the table. I felt like an obstacle, not a diner. The men's room was still a stinky, nasty mess as was described by another reviewer several months ago. Will I be back? I think you get the message.
(2)
Mary J.
Do not waste your time. Four times received filthy utensils and napkins. We waited 2.5 hours for steak salad.. First salad overdo . Second cold . You have to be really really hungry and stupid to ever ever go here . Ever . I would have made it 0 stars if possible. PS We sat outside. The manager brought out a hostess to give her an explanation of how to tell what stage of meal-service each table was and how to turn table for new customers. This was in earshot and truly disengaging .. Do not go here ever ever ever and TRAIN your staff and hire managers who don't wear diapers!
(1)
Robert K.
I have dined at another Brio location and had a nice experience. Our waiter here. however, lacked personality and was ambivalent about our table and I had to ask for basic things. The food was OK, but not as I remembered it from my last experience.
(2)
Susanne H.
We went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I had wine, so I can't judge the drinks, but I do know they don't serve shots at the bar. The servers were on it, for a party of 60, no one had empty drinks or dirty plates left in front of them. The food was excellent, I had the chicken, salmon, potatoes and a pasta. It was quite loud, the acoustics are not great here. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. Overall, it was a great experience for a chain restaurant. Also, Oscar the bartender was awesome, great personality.
(4)
Ashley H.
Surprisingly, this is a chain, but it's actually a really nice chain for really good prices and delicious food. My husband raved about this restaurant because he sometimes goes there with some of his coworkers for lunch. I was a bit worried that it'd be "stuffy" like most restaurants in Boca, but it was actually very casual and really nice atmosphere. The food was really good, however if you are the kind that expects to have a huge meal like Outback Steakhouse (same price)... then this place isn't for you. This restaurant actually serves NORMAL portions of food that humans are supposed to consume like they do in Europe. My husband and I were very pleased with the portions and felt full as we reached the last bites. This is a perfect place where you don't get to feel guilty that you couldn't finish your plate and don't have to feel rushed to take the leftovers home right away so you can continue the rest of your evening at a party.
(4)
Jessica A.
Only reason 2 stars is for Britney bartender being nice. Shift change second bartender forgot my drink. I ordered 2 salads ( don't have to cook that) 30 minutes later still waiting. Next was happy hour orderd my second cocktail and a happy hour app another 35 minutes later and still waiting. Avoid this place if your hungry. Food fine just more annoying.
(2)
Frank L.
I had a business meeting tonight. Our waitress, poor thing, must have un diagnosed ADD or she is skipping her med's. Clueless on a party of 7. Two people returned the food, due to poor quality. First and last time I will go there . I hope management takes note. Frank L.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Cara S.
SLOW SERVICE, BAD FOOD, EXPENSIVE Probably the worst meal I've had in Boca. Salty, flavorless risotto. Rigatoni that barely rivals the Olive Garden. Slow, bad service capped off by 3 mistakes on the check. Don't let the pleasant decor fool you. One star for bread which was good.
(1)Beth B.
Great brunch menu. Good portions, good value, great taste, puppy friendly. Mahi mahi dish is delicious. Mediterranean shrimp great spice flavor with faro... Sauce on the side... So delicious we didn't need the sauce Pasta pesto with grilled chicken was fine tasting, well presented and totally satisfying. Service was great and so where our puppies.
(4)Niko S.
The 2nd worst meal I have ever had. The one star goes to the server that actually tried. The food tasted fake and the fillet was microwaved as well as the veggies. This was not freshly made. Just terrible! Makes you wonder how they are still in business.
(1)Joshua M.
This is a restaurant that you might want to come to when your other two choices have 2-hour wait times. Even then, Brio might be a bit of a wait, based on where it is, which is nestled right in an area jam packed with other high scale restaurants. The clientele is on the older/senior citizen spectrum, but that doesn't mean it is a bad clientele. Atmosphere here is very nice, inside and out. The interior has a pleasant ambiance, with the only minus being it is very noisy inside. Plenty of tables outside, and especially on a nice night, eating out there can be a great plus. Another note, parking here can be a nightmare on busy nights. Plenty of valet options, but if you see a spot, no matter how far, take it! The food was okay, but nothing memorable. Started out with bread, which came out hot, and it was severed with real butter served on a plate. As well, it came with these Asiago chips, which was a nice addition. I had a Kale Caesar Salad to start off, and it was a bit bitter for my taste, but a good portion size. For my entree I had the Chicken Milanese, which was good, but nothing amazing. The portion size I found a bit small, just two medium size breaded breasts, and the cheese they put on it was very minimal. I substituted mashed potatoes for my pasta, which was a bit of a wash, because I didn't find the potatoes anything fresh; it tasted like something they heated up in the microwave. The food quality just wasn't there, and the menu options weren't huge. Service is SLOW. Our waiter was nice, but he barley came over to check up on us, and it took a while for him to bring us out of food and other items. Now the place was crowded, but still I could tell that the service needed a strong talking from corporate. The pricing here is pretty standard for Boca prices, but that's not speaking positively for this location. The costs don't justify what you actually get. With so many other restaurants within walking distance, going to bat for Brio is a stretch. The reality is, there are just too many other good Italian restaurants to make me seriously consider coming back to Brio. Food (B-), Pricing (D), Atmosphere (B+), Service (C+)
(3)Lenny K.
Brio is pretty nice. I realize it's a chain but this location holds up pretty good on its own. Good selection of dishes that tasted good too. Very accommodating staff for our party of 11. We celebrated a birthday that night and they made sure to make it a memorable occasion. And, I ordered a mixed drink and was actually able to taste the alcohol. Not fine dining but a fine family experience!
(4)Callan R.
Great place for a nice, relaxing lunch with a modern and chic environment. The customer service was fantastic. I ordered the lobster bisque and a Caesar salad. Very satisfying but nothing outside of what you would expect. I love my lobster bisque served over creme fraiche which I would expect at a high end restaurant so no disappointment here. Brio serves complimentary bread and the Asiago/Rosemary crisps are addicting!! I have also tried their chicken chipotle panini which was very savory. Large portion for a panini so I couldn't finish it. Overall a very pleasant experience!
(4)Daphne L.
I came here on Sunday afternoon for a baptism celebration with about 20 other people. We were seated in the back room for special events. We were also given a special menu with only a few options for our meals. We had the choice of lasagna, shrimp diablo or pasta brio. I got the lasagna. And two other people at my table got the pasta brio and shrimp diablo. Thr lasagna was small portion wise but it tasted good. I tried all of them and I think the best of the three was the shrimp diablo. I was worried it'd be too spicy for me but it wasn't very spicy at all. All our meals came with Caesar salads and they brought out some bread to start us out with. The service was a bit slow but I think that was probably because we were such a big group.
(3)Karen F.
5 star venue (gorgeous) and great service - we came at lunch when it was not crowded. Food is just average but my kid's Chicken Parm with Penne meal ($7) was terrific - better than the adult food. Next time I'm getting the kid's meal! Nice selection of desserts. I also enjoyed the frozen bellini.
(4)Danielle R.
Wednesday night is $5 martini night and you can sit outside!!! We shared a brucshetta appie which was very good and vowed to come back for lunch....especially when the weather cools off. That's all you really need to know about this place.
(4)Wendy B.
Tried bunch there today. Was not crowded and it was a beautiful setting. Service was good and food was hot. Excellent choices. Decided on a rosa sangria for drinks. Very refreshing! We will be back!
(4)Breana B.
We arrived around brunch and were one of the few customers. Our waitress was very pleasant and the food great. I cannot wait to go back. I just hope the other Brio's in the area are just as good. The drinks are very goos also. My cosmo was made with loveeeeee
(5)William Clyde L.
Brio is a fantastic italian restaurant. They have wonderful lasagna as well as great spaghetti and other pastas. Their restrooms are quite clean. Their bar is terrific. They have a great happy hour. Their bread is spectacular. I love practically everything on the menu. There sometimes is a wait for a table but that is because the food is so good. I highly recommend this place. Go for it!
(5)Matthew S.
Visited this establishment a few weeks ago. Looked nice from the outside with open air and nice outdoor plaza seating. The prices looked good too. But the service was terrible. And the manager was really unaccommodating. There were supposed to be some seat cushions on all the patio chairs, but the manager thought it might rain, so he moved them to a couch under a canopy. When it didn't rain, he forgot to put them back, making the patio seats very uncomfortable. My main reason for visiting this place was for the patio. Then the service was just at a stand still. Guess they don't really care about customer service. Will not be visiting again.
(1)Eryn M.
I went here for a friend's birthday party. There were eight of us. Our server was very nice but not very bright. He forgot my drink order. Then my food order. Then my ticket. But I'll get to that later. One person ordered a martini and it had a bug in it. That happens. But their bar is outside, so you'd think it happens more often than they'd like. But they replaced it, no big deal. One of the girls is allergic to peppers and told the server, who said he'd put in an allergy ticket. She ordered her dish with a different sauce and he said it'd be fine. Everyone else ordered. All was good. Out of the eight, four of us liked our food (thankfully, I was one of them). The women who got the shrimp and lobster fettuccine were not impressed. One of them was the one with the allergy. Although she got a mild sauce, the shrimp were still spicy. The server seemed clueless as to what on the menu was mild. She ended up with a caesar salad. She was the only one who sent her food back, but the other three just didn't like their food. Then, came the checks. I didn't get one. Then I did. I paid cash ($40 for a $27 ticket). Then I got another ticket from another server and had to explain that I already paid. In cash. Then I got my change. $27. Made no sense. The server had given me what my ticket was instead of the change. I'm an honest person, so I had him sort it out. All in all, it was an OK experience but I probably won't be back. There are too many other great options. But it's about the company, and that made it fun.
(2)Scott S.
I come here frequently for business lunches and have found it to be consistently good. The menu is more varied and original than the area steak places though the level of service is not as high. The bar area is terrific and styled for good interactions for events. The dining room is always clean though bustling. I have never been disappointed with my food and my guests are always pleased.
(4)Sara O.
I enjoy coming to Brio. They serve fresh bread and crackers. I usually get the lobster bisque (it's to die for). I feel like it's a step up from your olive gardens etc. food is 4 out of 5.
(4)Scott R.
Here for a party at Brio's in Boca Raton and it was pretty awful. With the exception of one of our servers named Whitney (who was nice), this was the worst experience Brio's. The back area was like a sauna! Our party was for 1 pm, however some showed up at 12:45. Ok when I asked about someone serving us getting drinks etc was told our party didn't start till 1. The food was only ok, salmon was good, lasagna was good, chicken really salty. Took forever in the beginning to bring out bread and it seems no one has enough sense to either bring more or ask if we want more when it is gone. People had to ask for coffee as well. I have had parties at other restaurants and it just seemed that Brio's either didn't know how to handle a party and quite frankly servers (with exception) of Whitney just didn't give a you know what.
(1)Lisa T.
It was a great night celebrating a birthday. I love the healthy salmon meal. So yummy and less than 500 calories. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. They even brought out a surprise cake too and our waiter sang Happy Birthday too. They also have a great reward program. Check it out.
(5)Rabia J.
"2014 with good luck:" I have been to Brio before but not this location. After not making any plans for New Years Eve dinner, we decided to do walk in dinner here and hoped our luck would come thru. And sure enough it did, we only had to wait 5 minutes literally even though they had many big parties. I wasn't expecting much service since NYE is one of the busiest days in the hospitality industry. However, our server even though had two big parties still had time to do refills and bring out our food in a timely manner. We had a small incidence with them bringing out the wrong soup and then not having the other soup but the server efficiently managed to bring our appetizers and then entrees. In appetizers: the spicy shrimp and crusted eggplant is a must as well as the lobster bisque. In dinner, I tried the mahi mahi: it definitely is for the healthy eater who wants their greens and farro grain side etc. It was decent but it was missing some spark of flavor. I liked my hubby's ravioli de bello dish better. The Torte de chocolate (warm lava cake) with ice cream was on point. Brio, Bravo ~
(4)Joe D.
I just added my review on g+ and thought I should add it here too. happy hour, outside lounge service is just bad. food is good value, but honestly the service is slow, and the wait staff seem very overwhelmed, on what appeared to be a average night. I have eaten here several times, and had very good service inside, (this is not a cheap place), so I expect excellent service at these prices. also had happy our inside the bar area. no problems, good deal on food. but the seating outside, is hit or miss, and mostly miss. -plan to go to the bar and help yourself, for food and drinks. otherwise a nice place. (just the service needs work).
(3)Aaron K.
Had lunch at 1:00 PM on a Saturday, hence the place was almost empty. So I expected good service and we got just that. Ate outside. Had the soup and Salad plus iced teas. Lunch for 2 plus tip was $34. Everything was excellent The bread was superb. Basket refilled by the waiter without first asking. Ditto multiple iced teas. No this was not a demanding test of a restaurant but nonetheless it was a very pleasant experience.
(4)Jay Z.
Worst experience ever. Service is abhorrent! My order was forgotten and when brought was poor to fair. Noise to a fault.
(1)Carmine H.
Absolutely Terrible! The food is among the worst italian I've had. The sauces are bland and greasy. The server asked what soup/salad we wanted with the meal, I was later charged for this. If you are going to ask what soup or salad we want with our meal, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE US FOR THIS. This is a typical americanized italian place. The soup was meh and the tomato sauce was absolutely horrendous. I had terrible heartburn after this greasy meal and I only finished a quarter of it, mainly because of how disgusting it was. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! There are much better italian places in the area that are authentic and better priced.
(1)Noreen L.
Our first visit and not impressed. Food - Ok. Service - not very good. Brought appetizer with salad. Charged for a more expensive wine than I ordered but waiter probably could not hear because it is so very noisy. Ambiance - not very good.
(2)Richard M.
This was our 2nd visit to this Brio. The first visit was excellent. This time was a huge disappointment, starting with a disinterested server and followed by an overcooked pork chop. When we finally got the server's attention we were told that the cook always does pork at least medium; "medium rare is not safe." We offered to make another choice if the cook could no comply, but nothing came back from the kitchen except two "just another minute or so" notices. But there was no improvement. We won't be coming back here soon.
(2)Linda L.
The food is always fresh and delicious here. The happy hour menu is $3.95 per item and its such a steal! The peach bellini is refreshing and just the amount of alcohol to kick off the night. The beef carpaccio is amazing. The beef is thinly sliced and perfectly spiced. The staff is very nice and helpful.
(4)Eric K.
Awesome Italian food, great atmosphere, really friendly staff. Fatia, the hostess on Tuesdays is INCREDIBLE
(5)Diane N.
Brio in Boca Raton is one of my favorite restaurants. My husband and I usually go there for lunch. You have the choice of sitting inside the restaurant or outside on their patio. I like to go inside because the restaurant is beautiful, and more important, it's air conditioned. This is Florida and it can be pretty hot around lunch time. My favorite dish is the fettuccine campania. The marinara sauce has capers, Kalamata olives, and basil. It is very good. The lasagna is delicious. I also love the ravioli di bello. It is ravioli with Cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, and thyme in a champagne butter sauce. The service has been very friendly and attentive.
(5)Ed B.
Went here for Saturday brunch with my gf, staying in Marriott for a wedding weekend. Was overall disappointed in the food at brio. We ordered cappuccinos, Stuffed French toast and Tuscan omelette. - Drinks were flat, minimal flavor and colder than I would prefer. - she had to send back her omelette because the inside was barely cooked, egg whites were super runny and she couldn't even pick it up with a fork. -French toast was okay, minimal amount of fruit, perhaps a tad undercooked - decor was clean and nice for he style, typical Florida theme. -menu was pretty basic and nothing fancy or special -staff was nice -price was a little more expensive than quality of food would deserve in a non touristy area Overall, would not go back or recommend this bland tasting, simple food trying to sell itself for some fancy Italian restaurant, which it is clearly not.
(2)Eileen F.
Food & atmosphere are very good. Patio is delightful on a pleasant evening. Service is consistently slow and inattentive.
(3)Scott G.
Want to be more generous because the setting is nice but the food is mediocre at best, wine list sparse and now they charge for valet parking. I'll go the 100 restaurants nearby with better food, wine and free parking
(2)Kolbos C.
Wow what happened to this place.. Went with a birthday group to have dinner and it had to be one of the worst meals I had at Brio.... The restaurant was not even half full for a thursday night, so cannot believe the guys at the kitchen were tired to cook. The kitchen looked like they had lot of people working but the lamb chops and pasta we ordered should never had come out of a kitchen where cooks take pride in their art. There was 6 pieces of Lamb Chops and all of them were differantly cooked , although I ordered them medium well !! The Pasta which came with the veal Marsala was so overcooked it felt like eating cuddled flour!!! Quite shameful when an Italian restaurant serves up Pasta like that. The Service and ambiance of the place is still top notch!!! But the quality of food seems like it is going down and there is no way one should spend $29 and $22 for entre's of such substandard quality. There are great Italian restaurants in this city so I hope they get their Kitchen back in order.
(2)Chriss F.
Went on a Monday night for din din. Had the calamari, beef carpaccio, lobster bisque, and the shrimp and lobster fettuccini. All dishes were tasty and above average. Server was very nice and accommodating. Really enjoyed eating outside too.
(4)David C.
Four hours later and I still have heartburn from eating at Brio. I went there today for a company holiday lunch and read the reviews. The recent reviews were spot on, as I feared. A coworker found a hair in her entree, Instead of apologizing and whisking the dish away, the waitress asked to see where the hair was "to show the chef". Was that really necessary? I think a free dessert, at the least, would have been appropriate yet none was offered. There is no excuse for the hair or the lack of appropriate effort to make the situation right. Another thing, this waitress was rather rough and surly for the image they are trying to project. We weren't a large group and we came off hours. Her service was rushed and sloppy with water and soda splashing on me and the table. I felt like an obstacle, not a diner. The men's room was still a stinky, nasty mess as was described by another reviewer several months ago. Will I be back? I think you get the message.
(2)Mary J.
Do not waste your time. Four times received filthy utensils and napkins. We waited 2.5 hours for steak salad.. First salad overdo . Second cold . You have to be really really hungry and stupid to ever ever go here . Ever . I would have made it 0 stars if possible. PS We sat outside. The manager brought out a hostess to give her an explanation of how to tell what stage of meal-service each table was and how to turn table for new customers. This was in earshot and truly disengaging .. Do not go here ever ever ever and TRAIN your staff and hire managers who don't wear diapers!
(1)Robert K.
I have dined at another Brio location and had a nice experience. Our waiter here. however, lacked personality and was ambivalent about our table and I had to ask for basic things. The food was OK, but not as I remembered it from my last experience.
(2)Susanne H.
We went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I had wine, so I can't judge the drinks, but I do know they don't serve shots at the bar. The servers were on it, for a party of 60, no one had empty drinks or dirty plates left in front of them. The food was excellent, I had the chicken, salmon, potatoes and a pasta. It was quite loud, the acoustics are not great here. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. Overall, it was a great experience for a chain restaurant. Also, Oscar the bartender was awesome, great personality.
(4)Frank L.
I had a business meeting tonight. Our waitress, poor thing, must have un diagnosed ADD or she is skipping her med's. Clueless on a party of 7. Two people returned the food, due to poor quality. First and last time I will go there . I hope management takes note. Frank L.
(1)Jessica A.
Only reason 2 stars is for Britney bartender being nice. Shift change second bartender forgot my drink. I ordered 2 salads ( don't have to cook that) 30 minutes later still waiting. Next was happy hour orderd my second cocktail and a happy hour app another 35 minutes later and still waiting. Avoid this place if your hungry. Food fine just more annoying.
(2)Ashley H.
Surprisingly, this is a chain, but it's actually a really nice chain for really good prices and delicious food. My husband raved about this restaurant because he sometimes goes there with some of his coworkers for lunch. I was a bit worried that it'd be "stuffy" like most restaurants in Boca, but it was actually very casual and really nice atmosphere. The food was really good, however if you are the kind that expects to have a huge meal like Outback Steakhouse (same price)... then this place isn't for you. This restaurant actually serves NORMAL portions of food that humans are supposed to consume like they do in Europe. My husband and I were very pleased with the portions and felt full as we reached the last bites. This is a perfect place where you don't get to feel guilty that you couldn't finish your plate and don't have to feel rushed to take the leftovers home right away so you can continue the rest of your evening at a party.
(4)Nancy Z.
Darling....you MUST go to the Town Center Mall and eat at Brio's.....have them park your car, put your best face on and enjoy the $3.95 appetizers and happy hour drinks! Great service, the place was packed and it's quite an experience.
(4)Maria C.
Brio plays with my mind a bit. While I LOVE the ambience and ALWAYS love to go there because I just like the outdoor sitting and even inside, I just don't seem to pick the right food. I don't know... I just haven't been as happy as I think I should be there because everyone else's dish looks amazing and tasty and yet, I seem to always pick the OK option. I will keep trying and encourage you to do the same and hopefully I'll come back soon to say I was wrong.
(3)A.L. S.
Food is your basic chain restaurant food. The outdoor seating is first come first serve and it gets crowded. It s dec scene for going out. the service is good and the wine list is okay. It gets crowded in the evenings so come early. Have fun!
(2)Tereza B.
The lobster bisque was just ok. No big pieces, it was decent though. The waiter must have had a cold bc he didn't stop sniffling the whole time we were there. Very unmemorable. But yet packed. I don't get it????
(2)Joshua R.
Great food and environment. It has a little high price tag but overall worth it.
(5)Karen S.
I had enjoyable dining experiences at Brio in Naples but this one was absolutely horrible from the service to the food. This was our third time at the new Boca Raton location and the last. Initially, I assumed they were new and still trying to get it together but the food and service has only gotten worse with time. My chicken was served ice cold and my husband's food was so salty it was barely edible. We couldn't even get a bread basket for over 35 minutes after making a request to the waiter and manager several times. They offered one dessert to share among five people to appease us for the poor service and food. The piece they served was so small, barely enough for one person - it was more of an insult than an apology. Three strikes - you're out!
(1)Michael M.
We have been very excited about Brio's coming to Boca for quite some time. When we lived in Orlando we use to visit Brio's quite often. Soo.. We went on the 27th, Saturday, at 6:30pm. We were quickly greeted by 3 people at the front desk. They immediately asked us if we had a reservation. We did not and were told that they were booked for the night inside but could seat us outside in about 30 minutes. We were fine with that since it was such a nice night. Interesting observation is that everyone dining inside appeared to be well over 65, while everyone outside was under 65. Seems as if the older crowd always call ahead, but I'm not so sure Brio's wants to begin their reign in Boca as the "retirement home" place to eat. We love Houston's down the street and are always willing to wait the hour to get a table their and the crowd seems much younger. We sat at the bar and had a drink. The bar was slow and the bartender was nice enough. One thing, I could tell right away is that the service at Brio's was not going to be a 5 STAR review. Everyone was nice enough but watching the bartenders argue with each other over where things are located was a sign of things to come. Our little "buzzer thing" went off within about 20 minutes and we made out way over to the host station. Funny thing happened. We forgot to pay our bill at the bar. The bartender came over and reminded us to pay. She was nice but seemed a bit aggravated. Although, she did say that we were ok. She did not offer to have our tab transferred to out table like other establishments do. We sat down outside and as a fellow yelper mentioned it was a bit crowded but I was ok with it. I would not take anything away from them on the space issue. Let me back up for a second. We waited at the host station for 5 minutes before we were seated and could also tell that the servers were arguing with host about were to sit us. It was not "super" obvious, but I guess it was noticeable enough for me to pick up on it. Our server came over and introduced himself and asked us if we had been to Brio's before, which I thought was a nice touch. We ordered their special appetizer, which was asparagus with prosciutto and my wife ordered the lobster bisque. We ordered for our meals past dishes. My wife had the Mushroom Ravioli Al Forno and I had the Shrimp Verduta. My wife enjoyed her dish and as did I. My only complaint would be that the angel hair pasta was a bit mushy, but that's to be expected from angel hair past. The shrimp was a little light on flavor as well, but overall a decent dish. The appetizers were great and I would definitely suggest them. Based on the food I would have given them a 4, but the service was a 3, maybe a 2. Our server seemed to be in love with himself or my wife. He was a typical young guy trying to be funny. I always say the best servers are the ones you don't notice, but everything is taken care of on your table. Towards the end of our meal we waited 10 minutes for our plates to be removed and waited even longer for our bill. They of course came over with the big display of deserts and when we said no, you could tell the server was a bit perturbed. My advice to Brio's is to go down the street to Houston's and take notes on how to offer superb customer service. It's very consistent. I will be returning as I love their food and am hopeful that they will tie up the loose ends with their service. I would also advise them to re-think their reservation strategy. We did notice a lot of empty tables while we waited. I get the whole idea of having a booked dining room, but why not go to a first come or call ahead system and turn your tables over quicker?
(3)Suzie R.
After reading both good & bad reviews, we decided to try Brio. The bread was delicious, the wine & sangria were fine. That's where it stopped! We shared fried calamari - like chewing little rubber-bands. It was not crispy and could have been hotter. I chose lasagne, which came with a Cesar salad. Although we had a very good waitress (no complaints about the service), if I hadn't reminded her about the salad, I doubt it would have ever come to the table. The salad was void of taste. Absolutely flavorless - the croutons were soggy, but I will admit the romaine lettuce was fresh & crisp. Pity - it had all the potential of being good. My husband ordered salmon with thin-spaghetti. It arrived smothered with a tasteless sauce, which he scraped off the fish. My lasagne did not taste fresh, lacked any flavor and was a great disappointment. The manager did visit our table, apologized for everything, provided us with 2 coupons for complimentary appetizers, and did remove the lasagne off the menu. This was our first & last visit at Brio.
(1)Lloyd A.
A friend and I went to Brio Tuscan Grille in Boca Raton last night for an early dinner. The restaurant is very attractive and was busy inside and out, but we were promptly seated to a pleasant, roomy table. Bread, butter and drinking water immediately arrived. Steve, our server, promptly came to welcome us and to take a drink order. The manager stopped by our table to welcome us, as well. We asked Steve for recommendations, but I am following a reduced carb diet so didn't want pasta. The Beef Carpaccio was recommended as an appetizer and either the pork chops or the Gorgonzola crusted filet or strip steak as entrees. We ordered those dishes, plus a Caesar salad. I ordered my steak medium rare and that is exactly how it came out. For dessert we tried the mascarpone cheesecake and the warm apple pie with ice cream. Both were good, but the cheesecake was exceptional. We found the service and food quite good, particularly at this price point, and would definitely return at a later date with our wives. By the time we left, the restaurant was hopping both inside and out.
(4)Michelle W.
I am a frequent patron on Brio on their $5 Martini nights. While my friend and I may be the youngest there each time and always end up being the last ones to leave (9:30pm mind you) the staff is always on par. The bread offered is always hot out of the oven fresh, and I have never had a bad meal. Their filet is one of the best that I have had and is much more reasonable in price than many restaurants in Boca. Overall, I highly recommend Brio and will continue enjoying my $5 martini's with a fantastic dinner!
(4)Gina D.
I arrived with a party of 7 for lunch today. I ordered a burger and only ate half. When I was finished the server asked if I would like it boxed up. I said "yes". Shortly after another server came to clear the table. She took away my food. I assumed she was going to box it up for me. Instead she started putting used napkins and other food from other plates on my plate. When I told her I wanted my food she said "well you never told me" I then told her that I had told the main server. Her response then was well the napkins and other food she placed on my plate where not touching my food so she could still box it up. How is that acceptable? I was then offered another burger. That would had been fine, but I was on my lunch hour and the group was already late to return to work. The main server then said I would be given a credit to be used next time. That would have been fine, but again I was disappointed. I was not given a credit. I was given a card for a free appetizer or dessert. How does this make up for my burger? I eat out for lunch pretty much everyday, but I never order an appetizer or dessert. I am not asking for anything other than what I am owed. Another burger. I have contacted the restaurant and am waiting what they have to say.
(2)Digi 4.
Food was greasy and made me sick...really. The decor is nice and that's where all your money goes when you order from their elegantly priced menu. However, the flavor and preparation of the food is anything but elegant. It's all smoke and mirrors here. You think you are about to eat at a fancy/fine Italian restaurant but it's just a facade. They need to work on their food. I have had way better Italian at a small local Italian resturant than here. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Go to Rocco's tacos instead.
(2)Rosanne G.
My husband and I had dinner here several times. The kitchen is consistently inconsistent. Once good, once OK, once terrible. Last Sunday was no exception. I ordered the Bistecca Salad. Not only was it swimming in dressing, but the lettuce was brown in some spots. I sent it back and the Manager was very accommodating. Next I ordered the Blackened Tilapia for my entrée. I didn't want it to spicy, so they gave me a little spice. The fish was dry and "fishy" tasting. The vegetables that were listed on the menu were nowhere in sight. Only roasted, dry carrots. I called over the manager again and sent it back. They told me to choose another entrée, but by that time, I wasn't hungry anymore. Took home something. My husband had the grilled salmon which was supposed to come with some sort of pesto sauce. Instead, they drizzled on a balsamic reduction. They were however nice enough not to charge for my dinner. The waiter was very apologetic and sent over a free dessert. That too fell short. It was overly sweet. Usually the times that we go there are because we get buy one, get one free, but, frankly, it isn't worth it. The restaurant is very nice, the wait staff is very efficient and warm. But, alas, the food is not up to par. If I get another BOGO, I will try the pizza. Clearly, they need a sous chef who knows what's on the menu and knows how it should be prepared.
(2)Stuart C.
Gracious greeting and excellent service on a weekday visit. Accept later reservations offered - then come when you wish. You get priority seating. Large portions of tasty food from open kitchen. Generous pours of good house wines. Well dressed clientele. Occasional coupon offers by mail or on line make already reasonable tab even less.
(5)Tina J.
Brio at "Easton" in Columbus, OH has always been one of my favorite places...the atmosphere is gorgeous. I later moved to Dulles, VA: their Brio lacks the ambiance. Later yet, to Florida and the Hallandale location also lacked the ambiance. However, the food was still great. I didn't believe the not so good reviews here on Yelp, on the Boca location. I went w/my husband and son on Friday night at 5:30. 75% of tables were empty. Not one of the 3 hostesses said hello to me...an awkward 90 seconds or so passed and finally I said hello to her. She said we could only sit outside..they apparently were saving nearly all of the empty tables inside for reserved parties. I think they should keep some tables open for new arrivals...the place seemed dead, with all those empty places. Anyway...all that aside, my favorite dish, the Chicken Milanese was very disappointing. Pomodoro sauce was sickeningly sweet. My wedge salad was the most bitter tasting head of lettuce. I so want this place to succeed. Please send your staff up to your Easton location to see how things should be done. Boca can be every bit as nice as Easton...the location down here is just goregous!
(2)Lydia D.
Wow!! This place has the best service in the world!! I took my team here to enjoy a nice drink and had the manager come out to our table several times just to check on us!! He catered to our every need! This will be a great place for all of your Christmas/holiday parties this year!!! Check them out!!
(5)Jaff G.
Honestly, they skimp customers so much with the ingredients they purchase and what they charge! I got the Gorgonzola Crusted Bistecca and a chopped salad. Salad: It was not fresh, they straight up bought publix lettuce mix that was bagged, which isn't bad if you bought it the same day and have it at home, but if its more than a day old and is at a "high class" restaurant, its disappointing. Steak: Vegetables were not fresh at all, most likely taken from a freezer. Mashed potatoes were all right, but who messes up mashed potatoes (good job haha). The heart of the meal, the steak (I picked filet & you also had a choice of strip) was not worth the money. I also asked for medium, and there was obviously a rookie in the kitchen, because the majority of the center was raw. I wanted to Gordon Ramsey that shit, but I don't like to ask for my food orders to be fixed, because if you are not a good enough cook to do it the first time, who knows how much more you will screw it up when you get your hands on it again. Bottom line: Over priced cafeteria food.
(1)Kevin S.
I enjoyed the Brio in West Palm Beach and the food at the Boca location isn't bad, but the restaurant itself looks weathered. I've been here twice and what stood out most was how disheveled the exterior furniture was. It's in a constant state of disarray and not inviting at all. I've also noticed that this restaurant has an issue with unpleasant smells. The first time I walked in and smelled mildew. The second time it smelled like cleaning products. It overpowered anything that might have been going on in the kitchen. Lastly, the mens bathroom smells like a kennel. Truly disgusting. They used small mosaic tile up against the urinals
(2)Diane G.
Would rate it zero star if I could . Horrible service during happy hour. Rude bartender. Had to wait 20 minutes at the bar and than they act like they are doing you a favor. I will never go back. Too many great other destinations to be bothered by this kind of aggravation
(1)Gina P.
Wednesday night happy hour is the only time to go $5 martinis and $3 bar bites (before 6:30) other than that the food is over priced and the service is lacking
(2)Craig A.
Didn't care for the food or management. Server got our food wrong not once, twice but three times. The main guy was in from the midwest and he was great, but that didn't stop them from screwing up when he walked away.
(2)Joshua Z.
For a chain restaurant this is as good as it gets. Love the food and not too much to compain about when it comes to the service. The courtyard it is in is very nice and there was live music playing when i was there on the weekend!
(5)Hillary F.
Today, decided to eat earlier than usual and Brio was just about the only place open...I usually like the food so it was a decent choice. Waiter was good but the grilled chicken "under the brick" came out and the potatoes and veggies were cold. I sent it back. Since the kitchen is open I watched as the cook took the grilled chicken breast with BARE HANDS and removed it from the plate to heat up the sides....he put it back on the plate with BARE HANDS and the waiter served it to me....I told him I wanted to vomit. He apologized and then the manager came over and was falling all over himself about the lack of sanitation. Within minutes, everyone had gloves on ( I think if I went back now, they would be off). I was grossed out so I ordered a salad and the manager said the entire check was comped. Mind you, I asked for nothing. I waited outside for my husband because our Friday night together was really ruined. Looking for a nice uncomplicated night out...Oops, guess the manager didn't tell the waiter to comp everything so we had a half check. I said something so they redid the check for just my drink..really? really? The manager came over again and apologized when I told him the entire night was ruined. I am really grossed out by this place. What if the cook had a cut? I realize that we may be exposed to that sort of stuff in a closed kitchen but honestly, make an attempt
(1)Shel G.
While we have gone to this restaurant before, this was the worst experience ever. We waited ten minutes to even see a waiter. He did not listen to our request to have second drinks when our meals arrived, bringing them before our first drinks were finished. By time he checked back on whether everything was okay with our food we were half way through the meal. Be sure to ask NOT to be seated in Marco S.'s section if you should decide to go to Brio. The food was mediocre at best and is certainly NOT a favorite Italian place to eat. And one of us got sick afterwards. Our advice would be to take a gondola ride to another restaurant!
(2)Marvin G.
Changes to recipes and food preparation has dramatically lowered the main purpose for coming to Brio. Attractive ambience and good service cannot compensate for mediocre, over seasoned food. From appetizers to main courses dishes for a party of four were all disappointing. Clearly not a recommended dining destination.
(2)Angela T.
Went here recently with a party of 8 on a Saturday evening. They were busy but not terribly so and the service was pretty awful. There seemed to be two servers working in the alcove (that seemed to be where we were sitting). The guy was great and really on top of things. Sadly, he wasn't our server and only helped with one or two things. I saw him with his tables though and he was great. Our server, not so much. Lots of waiting and leaving only to return 20 to 25 minutes later. Coffee with no spoons, dessert with no forks, that type of thing. The food is what you might expect from a chain Italian - nothing special. Overpriced and nothing special. I would definitely skip Brio next time...
(2)Elaine C.
This restaurant is way too impressed with itself and in my opinion doesn't live up to its hype. I've eaten here many times...I returned today after not visiting this place in a long time. As usual they think they are wonderful but I don't see it. Many restaurants work with their guests to change out something and replace it with something else. I had the egg white omelet. I asked for goat cheese and was told they don't substitute. Funny, last time I asked for goat cheese I got it. The omelet on the whole was delicious and I really can't complain about the service. However, there are more times I'm disappointed with this place than happy with it. I'll probably not return again for a long while. Brio just doesn't do it for me and if I have to spend my $$$, there are more enjoyable places to eat.
(1)narisa s.
The food is okay but the service is horrible. We never get bread because it was always "in the oven." The food comes out by the time the check should get there. Sometimes a waiter comes by the time your food should. If you're a patient person go for it. Don't go if you are hungry.
(2)Sam M.
This is one of my favorite lunch places. After mccormicks shut down a couple of years ago in boca I didn't have any go to spots for lunch but since discovering brio a few months ago a week can't go by without lunch here. The service is amazing and the food delicious. The lobster bisque for starters is my fav along with freshly baked warm bread. And the mushroom ravioli is a must have. Plus they got complimentary valet right outside. What's not to like ......
(5)Brian R.
BRIO is upscale chain Italian, quite a few notches up from Olive Garden, and toe-to-toe with a number of the generic New York-New Jersey-Philly-once-removed restaurants that infest Boca and are generally frequented by snow birds who remember the father's/grandfather's food from back in the day. Decor and atmosphere tries to make you forget its a chain, and it does about as well as say, P.F. Changs does in the Chinese realm. The portions are generous. The service was great. There's just something a bit too formulaic about it, and the food isn't wow, just hmm... not bad at all. That's the star down.
(4)Dana F.
Figured I would give this restaurant a second chance, but I shouldn't have. The service was worse the second time than the first. Although my husband and I appear young, we aren't that young and felt the poor service was due to that. We were sitting at the table for at least 20 minutes before even having water, bread, or a greeting from a staff member. After we were greeted, the waiter didn't take our drink order for another 15 minutes. After ordering our food, we waited so long to be served that almost the entire restaurant was empty. Food wasn't horrible, but definitely not worth the wait. Needless to say, my husband and I will never go there again.
(1)Melissa V.
The ambiance is great, the freshly baked bread was delicious. However that is were it ended, the food was not up to par in comparison to the pricing. In reality it was pretty bad. I will not be going to Brio again.
(1)Bill S.
I had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with a friend today during the grand opening of this BRIO location. I was hoping for a Five star experience, but sadly had to take off a star for a few issues noted below. The location is conveniently located at the trendy - The Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail just south of Glades Road. The decor of the bar and restaurant is absolutely beautiful and extremely well done. The bar is in the front corner of the restaurant and has open windows and fantastic seating that represents the best physical location of any of the restaurants in this center. We checked in and asked for a table for two. Initially we were taken to the extreme Northeast corner of the restaurant and offered a table for four that, shockingly, had a large roof support pole located about 1 inch from the corner of the table that would be extremely uncomfortable to anyone seating there. This probably would be a great topic for a "Curb Your Enthusiam" episode, but we immediately requested a different location. I took a photo of this table and will upload it here. (*** Note to manager - this table location sucks ***) Once we were seated at a better table, we were given an assortment of fresh bread and ordered an ice tea and Diet Coke. Unfortunately, they only offered Diet Pepsi so I took one for the team and accepted a Pepsi. (*** Note to Brio owner - you offer hundreds of flavors or alcoholic drinks, vodka, and rum, is it that hard to offer both Coke and Pepsi products ***) The place was buzzing with tons of staff and everyone that approached our table was awesome. Unfortunately, I forgot my reading glasses and had a hard time reading the menu, so I asked the waitress if they had any reading glasses for me to borrow. Unfortunately, they did not have any and I used my iPhone camera to read the menu. (*** Note to manager - most five star restaurants have a collection of cheap reading glasses for their guests. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a collection of different strengths for $5 each as sometimes men, like me, forget their reading glasses at home ***) We ordered lobster bisque to start and I ordered the Mezza Chicken Limone. The lobster bisque was extremely good, but not as good as The Capital Grill (my personal favorite) as there was only tiny pieces of lobster in the bisque vs including larger pieces. No matter, I highly recommend this soup as it is better than most restaurants. The Mezza Chicken Limone was cooked to perfection in traditional piccata style and quite delicious with a side of fresh campanelle florentine. The desert selections were also impressive and looked fantastic, but we decided to pass as this was only lunch. Overall, this is a great restaurant that I will definitely return, but I will need to bring in my own reading glasses and smuggle in some Diet Coke.
(4)Todd W.
Please refer to Jeff D for another great review here. Quite simply, an overpriced lunch place that caters to local upper class people. You want a normal chicken Parmesan for 30$ this is the place, there's no difference other than the price and the carpet. An iced tea and panini will cost you over $20, there's a salad place right next door that does it for half the price (or less b/c no tip). Still its a great place to talk and mingle, and if you have the money...well go for it.
(3)Franco C.
Italian. Looking for something to eat we were strolling along and saw Brio's. The place is very visually appealing so we decided to grab some seats at the bar. The way the bar is situated is such that you are almost sitting outside - but still under the roof - so it was nice. The bartenders looked harried and after we got their attention things progressed well. We kept the mojito thing going and my raspberry mojito contained freshly muddled raspberries and was tres delicious. We decided to share the shrimp and crabcake entree as it was a date after all and we didn't want to stop talking to eat. They were kind enough to split the meal without us asking. The food was very good- we both enjoyed our portion and the veggies that came with it were perfectly done. The bread the brought out was fine enough but we didn't want to carb up so we just picked at it. We were still a little hungry and they sent over the kid with a large tray of deserts - since she couldn't decide I went ahead and ordered like 4 different things... I figured that there was plenty of selection. The deserts came out and we were swooning - everything was great. Chocolate mousse cake, Creme Brulee' and I forgot the other two items - but we attacked them all with gusto. The restaurant is very nice looking by the way - next time we will grab a table inside and chill but this was a perfect evening with great food. We both walked out happy. Definitely worth checking out if you are in this area.
(3)Nadav E.
beautiful place, great food very classy and very nice ppl serving you, went with my girlfriend and had much fun thanks ;)
(4)Denise R.
I happened to be in the area yesterday after a late afternoon meeting and I hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was passing Boca Center and decided to give Brio a try. As it turned out, it was 3:30 and Happy Hour had just begun, according to the big sign out in front. So I took a look around the bar and walked around to the back side to have a seat but noticed there was all kinds of puddles from what appeared to be water dripping from the ceiling. That didn't look too inviting, so I opted to sit at one of the cocktail tables beside the bar instead. I ordered the tuna carpaccio and the eggplant fries (both $4 each). They were very generous portions and I had plenty of left overs to take home, some of which I just now enjoyed (again). The eggplant fries were so unique and the aioli dipping sauce they served them with was fantastic. I'd go back for these items alone, but would certainly be open to trying other items on their menu as well.
(4)Nina S.
My husband and I ordered on an uncrowded Sunday night.. We ordered a steak medium. The steak came back well done. We waited and couldn't find our waiter. We asked a waitress to get him. We waited and he didn't come. My husband went to the front desk to get a different waiter and miraculously our waiter showed up didn't apologize said he was busy doing other things. We asked for the correct order & a different waiter. We waited no one came. We asked another waitress for a manager no one came. My husband never got his meal. We told the hostess we were leaving. We waited to get our car back from valet and no one apologized or came.
(1)Lauren S.
I guess you could say I'm confused. 2 weeks ago my parents and sister ate here and have ranted and raved about this place. We had made reservations for this evening and they had definitely got me revved up for this place. As we walk into the restaurant I notice that an entire tray of plates and cutlery is lying on the ground shattered, not a single person is within 20 feet of the mess and no one is making any attempt to clean it up - fancy place, huh? We let the hostess know that we've arrived right on time for our 8pm reservation and she hands us one of those electronic blinking devices as our table is being cleared off - strange. We sit down and I notice a half eaten plate of spaghetti on the counter top in the waiting area and several forks lying on the ground under the chairs, classy This place is packed with the snobby Boca crowd - tons of face lifts and interesting attire. After 15 minutes of waiting, our buzzer goes off and we're told to wait in the hallway (blocking other guests, servers and other staff). After another 8 or so minute wait we're finally walked to our table, past several open and set tables. Confused. We are literally seated in the darkest, furthest corner of the restaurant. [We're dressed appropriately and by no means lepers of any kind]. We are served by a nice lady whose name escapes me at the moment. She let us know what the soup of the day was and informed us of the $5 martini special of which we tried the Paradiso and Sparkling Raspberry Drop (neither of which were for me or my taste). We had caesar salads to start - 8.5/10 (negative points for the oversaturation of dressing) I had the Filetto Di something Toscano - a center cut with mashed potatoes and I subbed cooked broccoli for the roasted vegetables. 7/10 for making it medium instead of medium-well as requested. The mashed potatoes were delicious and broccoli was fine, no additional flavors. For dessert I had the Chocolate and Caramel cake in a glass cup. It was a 7/10 - nothing to write home about. Overall, I was very disappointed by BRIO and can't believe that this is what Boca's "elite" call fine dining.
(3)Philip S.
Food was adequete, nothing bad, nothing great. We went since they have a gluten free menu for one of our party. Calamari was good, not the best i've had but above average. Pork chop was ok. Rest of the dinners were very average, nothing to write home about. One of our party said the Denver Brio was much better
(2)Fred S.
Of the five times I went to eat at this restaurant, the service was awful. One time we were given a free appetizer as an apology, the next time the meal was paid for as an apology, next time it was beverages, but we actually would prefer not getting anything for free and getting our food in a much more reasonable amount of time. Finally, this last time the service was perfect. But, the food is really nothing special nor is the menu. This is sort of one step above Olive Garden, or Carrabas, but not the feel of a small down-home Tuscan-style restaurant. The food is relatively bland, the presentation relatively bland, but because of its location it makes a nice spot to go out for dinner and to be in an entertainment area with lots of people. You will probably enjoy a reasonably priced meal but not get excited enough to put this on your calendar as a regular dining event. I do believe it's worth giving it a try since many people like this food, and if you are lucky you may get really good service and your experience may turn out well.
(3)Stacy A.
If there was an option for 0 stars I would've done that. I was so excited to go here and ended up having a horrible experience. My fiancé and I we're meeting some friends here one night and were a little early so we decided to sit a the bar and get a drink. We sat there for about 10 minutes and the bartender didn't even acknowledge us. We got frustrated and just went to sit and wait near the front door empty handed. After our friends got there and we were seated we ordered drinks. Needless to say I was excited because I didn't get one earlier. When our waiter got back with the drinks he had brought me the wrong one. It happens... We ordered dinner and the food was totally acceptable. At last, my favorite part, our waiter brought over the dessert tray for us to look at and pick something out. I saw a huge piece of bread pudding that was calling my name so I ordered it and waited with bated breath....and when it got to the table...it was a small, sad sliver nothing like I had seen on the dessert tray! I can overlook everything else that had happened up until then but when you mess with my dessert I get really upset.
(1)Elle A.
Well, this is a chain, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was pretty good. I give it 3.5 stars. We started off with the tomato and mozzarella caprese salad and the brio chopped. Both were quite tasty, although the caprese was pretty small - but extremely fresh. We were given some crispy flatbread and fresh sourdough bread as accompaniments - I didn't care for either, as they didn't have much taste. For mains we had the whole roasted chicken and the grilled mahi mahi fresca. The chicken was huge - and was stuffed with herbs and an entire lemon. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked. The chicken itself was tender and quite tasty. We took half home as leftovers. The mahi mahi was a rather small portion but it was cooked well, and served with veggies, fresh spinach and farro, which is one of my favorite grains, so I really loved it. The menu said it came with a tomato basil vinaigrette but the sauce was yellow and sweet so I'm not so sure that's what it was - it was ok. I'm not sure I'll be back, as this place didn't exactly knock my socks off, but if I'm in the area and want this type of food, I might consider it.
(3)Caroline L.
Great food HORRIBLE service!!! I love eating here because the food is excellent, but unfortunately I have to prepare myself for the horrible service. The waiters are always slow and forgetful.
(3)Susan M.
2.5 stars. The fettuccine in my entrée (Fettuccine Napoli) was cooked PERFECTLY; however, there were only a few small pieces of smoked chicken and broccoli mixed in. I was a little disappointed - way too much pasta and not enough of the other ingredients. I recommend making a reservation - they get very busy in the evenings.
(2)Justin G.
It started out right. We were quickly seated....then it all went wrong. It took 10 minutes for a waiter to tell us he will be right with us. Five more minutes passed before a different waiter finally took our drink and app order. It was 10 more minutes before a 3rd waiter asked why we have not received service. Odd question for an employee to ask a customer. I guess the reason is poor training and horrible management I suggested. We then got up and left. The manager made a half a**ed attempt to speak to me as we walked out....had no interest in the crap he was about to sell. Told him he needs to train his employees and we will go next door to Uncle Tai's and spend a lot of money there instead. We did. Uncle Tai's was awesome!!! Had been to Brio in the Past at other locations and the food is quite mediocre. I do like their risotto, but not worth dealing with the horrible service at this location.
(1)mark p.
If you are a guy and you have an appetite for protein ..... this is not a good place for you. Service is very good and the ambiance of the place is awesome for a meal, and it can be perfect for a date. Bottom line for a guy .... dont go here for a real meal. Across at Rocos tacos is better. .... or somewhere else.
(2)Jeff D.
Boca is often more about how things look, than how they are - I live here, I know! Scratch the manicured surface only to find a very ugly under-reality. No shock then to find this place in Boca, seemingly doing very well! Cut to the chase JD - if you want a fancy, cool, "In" place to see and be seen, come here! You'll love it. You can play a little Boca game I like to play called "wife, girlfriend, or nanny??" - in increasing order of likelyhood ;) Don't get me wrong -that can be a very good, if not sole, reason for doing something....it's fun, after-all! But for amazing Italian food, you will have to take the search wider....nothing at all special about anything we ordered. Lasagna was like soup ! Pizza - dime-a-dozen. Flatbreads - ehh. One thing that definitely did stand out about this place was the bill - gotta pay that Town Center rent I suppose...... The mediocre reviews of this place written by others (Far better at this than me) are correct...
(2)Samantha d.
I decided to try out Brio last night for the first time. I don't usually write reviews for places but this experience deserved a huge kudos to my server/bartender. My husband and I had never been before and were looking for a good date night. Jon (the bartender) was incredibly helpful when it came to everything from food to drinks. He reccomended a shrimp dish for me that was out of this world good and the drink to match. The bar was busy due to the specials they have on Wednesdays but Jon was incredibly attentive and I never felt like I was just another patron at the bar. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and I will definitely return any time I feel like some great drinks and shrimp!
(5)Stella S.
Mediocre italian food at an expensive price. Noisy environment. Can barely hear the people at my table. Nothing special with the food.
(2)Eric T.
BRIO is a beautiful and spacious restaurant to dine in. It offers comfortable outside seating and an airy and magnificent room indoors. A large bar sits attactively in the front corner of the restaurant with views of most happenings inside and out. In what has become a new destination place to eat at The Shoppes at Boca Center, BRIO's decor stands out as the most elegant. Sorry Mortons. On my first visit for lunch today, the Pasta Fra Diavolo with chicken had just the right amount of heat and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The dish was light on chicken, and in hindsight, I think I would have preferred the dish with the shrimp. For lunch, I felt the $14.35 price was a bit high. My tablemate picked the Crispy Eggplant Pomodoro which was a generous plate of Romano crusted eggplant with housemade pomodoro, basil, herb spaghettini, parmesan and fresh mozzarella for $12.35. He thoroughly enjoyed his selection. Our server was attentive, but just a bit stiff and longwinded in his desire to please and recite every special in complete detail. Overall though, service was very good. I'm not ready to give BRIO a 5 quite yet, perhaps after a another visist or two. For now, I'm a fan at 4 and have my BRIO lunch card to prove it, which gets you a free lunch after 5 visits. Don't forget to ask for yours.
(4)M N.
Disappointing on so many levels. We've been to Brio in Houston, so we knew what to expect. But service was slow, the Shrimp Mediterranean was bland, and my lasagna was fair at best. The manager bought our dessert, and that was nice. I guess....
(2)Tough C.
Not sure how to rate this place. On previous visit had delicious salmon. This visit had seared shrimp risotto. Tasty but very bland, shrimp neither grilled (as the waiter said the chef claimed) nor seared and almost tasteless. My companions liked the lobster bisque and had veal Marsala which I tasted and was good and a lobster and shrimp pasta dish. Service very good.
(3)Jeff S.
Ugly, ugly scene. The outdoor space is jammed up with teens in sideways baseball caps being loud, while inside, packs of 60 year olds in sweats lose their minds as they sip fluorescent drinks. It's intolerable. Can't say if its like this all the time, but today it was just brutal.
(1)Judith H.
Had an early dinner with friends late this afternoon. It was our first visit to this restaurant. We were very impressed with the space, the food, and the staff. First, our waiter couldn't have been more helpful. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and the offerings at the bar. We all ordered from the "Lite" menu (some of the same selections as on the regular menu, but smaller portions, and, of course, less expensive). You can exchange out the sides. No problem. All the dishes were good and tasty.At the end of our meal our waiter brought us all Brio cards that offer Rewards on future meals. We will definitely return.
(4)Cynthia L.
Had dinner for 6 on Monday night and everything was quite nice. Pretty place, good service and ordering from the "light" menu, prices were reasonable for a white tablecloth place. We had salads, chicken dishes, steak and pasta and all enjoyed the food. The steak was a little underdone but quickly adjusted. Will go again.
(4)Christina S.
Bossy clients, bossy staff. I guess that is what you get in central Boca Raton on weekend nights. I like the bread basket, the Brio Wedge, and a few appetizers are really good. The dinner plates and pizza are subpar and not worth the money. I like the place for a nice bite midweek. Other than that, it is not a enjoyable dining experience. The bar scene is to be avoided at all costs. Little blue haired couples or groups shoving their way in or trolling for you to leave or steal your chair out from under you. Yikes...harrowing!
(3)Andrew S.
Fast service although the waiters/waitresses don't have much of a personality. In a good location but not that busy usually. Its a nice meal but can be a little slow. Offers valet parking which is a plus and your are allowed to bring your dog if you would like to sit outside!! :)
(4)Elena M.
The food exceeds my expectations every time. Great bread/seasoned crackers given to start. Fun happy hour. Service is good too. Semi casual during the day but seems to be a little dressier at night. Nice outdoor seating, nice outdoor (covered) bar. Overall a great place to go for a date or with friends. I wouldn't say this place is very kid friendly but I have seen families there. Give it a try!
(5)Jennifer S.
The location is very convenient to the Marriott, the service was friendly and the atmosphere is quite nice. The food was also very good - the margherita flatbread and grilled shrimp with orzo are highly recommended!
(4)George S.
Very pleasant atmosphere inside and covered patio. Reasonably priced food and liquor. Make reservations in season. We've been there twice in past 4 weeks.
(3)Paul K.
Tonight I ate at Brio, one of the best venues I've ever experienced in solitary fooding. The bar is open to the front of the restaurant do you are inside and outside at the same time. If you want to chilax before or after you eat, there are lounge chairs outside. The decor is timeless. The clientele are pleasant and well dressed. There is a great selection on the menu. I would describe the meals as delicious, upscale Italian. Tonight I ordered the namesake Brio pasta and it was wonderful. Sourdough bread is always served warm after you order and the salads are always fresh and crisp. There is lots of energy in the front but it is not too noisy; dining is pleasant and peaceful but not boring. Ask for Kim at the bar, she is fun, courteous and quick to a smile. The bill for my Brio Pasta and a chop salad was $26.00. Only Con: When you sit at the bar, it is almost impossible to basketball without turning around. Somehow the TVs are always behind you. For that, Brio looses a star!
(4)Larry O.
Been there for pretty good dinner. Went for Sunday brunch and had an awful experience. Unbelievable how bad the service and food were. 40 minutes just to get part of our order. And the mgrs response was "it's not my fault"
(2)Camilo C.
I had a great time! JD And Phillip were great servers we had a big party and they did great. I enjoyed the food. I wasn't the biggest fan of the calamari. Although I enjoyed the lobster bisque was good and the desert was great.
(3)Desi-lou S.
We had Brunch today and ordered the fruit crepes. The waitress did mention that the fruit would be cold, but not the whole dish. We sent it bback to be warmed up, but that did not help at all. They must warm up the fruit first which would enhance the dish considerably. the restaurant has an appealing outside with comfortable looking seating and a bar opening to the street. We will try it again .
(2)Debra G.
We went to this restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was our first time there. From the hostesses to the waitstaff to the manager to the food to the prices - all were superb. The staff treated us like we were royalty. The manager, Tyrell, personally ensure we had a fantastic experience. Tyrell had his chef prepare a special meal for me to accommodate my food sensitivities. It was delicious. All our food was delicious. My husband was given special treatment as well with an amazing complimentary dessert to celebrate his birthday. The wait staff were friendly and had great senses of humor. We could not have asked for a better evening. One of our best meals out in Boca, seriously.
(5)Claire M.
I love this restaurant! The atmosphere is awesome, aside from all the Boca "oldies" wandering around. The salads are awesome, especially the grilled chicken they put on top of a few they offer, along with the beef carpaccio "boat". If you go there and order it, you will know what I am talking about. I don't know why there is such poor reviews because the ONLY thing I can complain about is that service is sometimes slow........ because it is SO BUSY! So I give the staff the benefit of the doubt! 100% give it a try!
(5)Adrian G.
We had my birthday dinner here with a group of 11 and a baby. The service was GREAT. The food was average but we all enjoyed it. It is a bit pricey for a simple dinner and a little stuffy. I apologized to the waitress for us being too loud but she said we were more fun than the usual old stiff crowd they usually get.
(3)Ryan C.
To sum it up briefly....the food isn't good. ESPECIALLY for the price. The ingredients weren't fresh, the fish didn't have any flavor, the pasta was terrible, and the tomato bisque soup was more cream than anything. The only good part of the meal was the ravioli caprese appetizer. The waitress was nice but it couldn't cover the bad food, wishing we had went to Rocco's (which is amazing).
(1)Russell A.
Excellent food and great service. This new location gets it right. Parking a easy and highly recommend the flatbread sampler app.
(4)Rainer L.
Rarely does a restaurant disappoint so much! We went there for a quick lunch, the place looks like a typical pretentious Italian chain restaurant. Drinks come quick, so far so good. I like to judge a restaurant by the quality of the bread they serve, oh...a bad start. The dough bread seems to come out of the microwave, it is crusty, boiling hot on the inside but not long enough baked; the thin crackers are stale. As an appetizer we share a artichoke dip, it is ok, but the bread is so bad and stale we ask for another patch, it arrives 5 minutes later. Now it took about 35 minutes to come with the main, 2 pasta dishes. First a lasagna, eatable, but nothing to be proud of; actually even at Olive Garden they serve a much better one. The angel hair pasta Pomodore is not eatable. The pasta is so overcooked it has the texture slimy dog food; the chicken pieces are so dry and plain disgusting. When we return the pasta dish the manager tries to save the situation by picking up the bill, saying he wants us to come back, but.....why would we?
(1)Reviewer S.
Watch your wallet here. We dined there the evening of July 7th and our party of 8 (4 couples and a child) paid with 4 credit cards, The server conveniently neglected to tell us that an $80 tip had already been automatically included in the bill (which is perfectly acceptable for large parties - if noted on the menu, and IF the waiter clearly informs guests when presenting with the bill) The waiter just brought us four vouchers to sign with a space to add a tip. We each added a $20 tip when we signed our credit card vouchers (bringing the total tip up to $160) - until luckily one person in our party noticed the double-tip. The waiter did not apologize and the manager seemed totally un-concerned when we brought it to her attention. Ethical restaurants require their waiters to verbally inform customers when presenting a check that an automatic tip is included on a large party check, so it does not get easily overlooked on a long guest check. I have even seen some restaurants that require the server to stamp or write on a check "Tip included" so customers do not accidentally double tip. I'm guessing this goes on a lot here, based on the dining room manager's lack of concern. Upper management needs to step in.
(1)Caroline L.
Great food HORRIBLE service!!! I love eating here because the food is excellent, but unfortunately I have to prepare myself for the horrible service. The waiters are always slow and forgetful.
(3)Susan M.
2.5 stars. The fettuccine in my entrée (Fettuccine Napoli) was cooked PERFECTLY; however, there were only a few small pieces of smoked chicken and broccoli mixed in. I was a little disappointed - way too much pasta and not enough of the other ingredients. I recommend making a reservation - they get very busy in the evenings.
(2)Nina S.
My husband and I ordered on an uncrowded Sunday night.. We ordered a steak medium. The steak came back well done. We waited and couldn't find our waiter. We asked a waitress to get him. We waited and he didn't come. My husband went to the front desk to get a different waiter and miraculously our waiter showed up didn't apologize said he was busy doing other things. We asked for the correct order & a different waiter. We waited no one came. We asked another waitress for a manager no one came. My husband never got his meal. We told the hostess we were leaving. We waited to get our car back from valet and no one apologized or came.
(1)Lydia D.
Wow!! This place has the best service in the world!! I took my team here to enjoy a nice drink and had the manager come out to our table several times just to check on us!! He catered to our every need! This will be a great place for all of your Christmas/holiday parties this year!!! Check them out!!
(5)Jaff G.
Honestly, they skimp customers so much with the ingredients they purchase and what they charge! I got the Gorgonzola Crusted Bistecca and a chopped salad. Salad: It was not fresh, they straight up bought publix lettuce mix that was bagged, which isn't bad if you bought it the same day and have it at home, but if its more than a day old and is at a "high class" restaurant, its disappointing. Steak: Vegetables were not fresh at all, most likely taken from a freezer. Mashed potatoes were all right, but who messes up mashed potatoes (good job haha). The heart of the meal, the steak (I picked filet & you also had a choice of strip) was not worth the money. I also asked for medium, and there was obviously a rookie in the kitchen, because the majority of the center was raw. I wanted to Gordon Ramsey that shit, but I don't like to ask for my food orders to be fixed, because if you are not a good enough cook to do it the first time, who knows how much more you will screw it up when you get your hands on it again. Bottom line: Over priced cafeteria food.
(1)Craig A.
Didn't care for the food or management. Server got our food wrong not once, twice but three times. The main guy was in from the midwest and he was great, but that didn't stop them from screwing up when he walked away.
(2)Joshua Z.
For a chain restaurant this is as good as it gets. Love the food and not too much to compain about when it comes to the service. The courtyard it is in is very nice and there was live music playing when i was there on the weekend!
(5)Justin G.
It started out right. We were quickly seated....then it all went wrong. It took 10 minutes for a waiter to tell us he will be right with us. Five more minutes passed before a different waiter finally took our drink and app order. It was 10 more minutes before a 3rd waiter asked why we have not received service. Odd question for an employee to ask a customer. I guess the reason is poor training and horrible management I suggested. We then got up and left. The manager made a half a**ed attempt to speak to me as we walked out....had no interest in the crap he was about to sell. Told him he needs to train his employees and we will go next door to Uncle Tai's and spend a lot of money there instead. We did. Uncle Tai's was awesome!!! Had been to Brio in the Past at other locations and the food is quite mediocre. I do like their risotto, but not worth dealing with the horrible service at this location.
(1)mark p.
If you are a guy and you have an appetite for protein ..... this is not a good place for you. Service is very good and the ambiance of the place is awesome for a meal, and it can be perfect for a date. Bottom line for a guy .... dont go here for a real meal. Across at Rocos tacos is better. .... or somewhere else.
(2)Jeff D.
Boca is often more about how things look, than how they are - I live here, I know! Scratch the manicured surface only to find a very ugly under-reality. No shock then to find this place in Boca, seemingly doing very well! Cut to the chase JD - if you want a fancy, cool, "In" place to see and be seen, come here! You'll love it. You can play a little Boca game I like to play called "wife, girlfriend, or nanny??" - in increasing order of likelyhood ;) Don't get me wrong -that can be a very good, if not sole, reason for doing something....it's fun, after-all! But for amazing Italian food, you will have to take the search wider....nothing at all special about anything we ordered. Lasagna was like soup ! Pizza - dime-a-dozen. Flatbreads - ehh. One thing that definitely did stand out about this place was the bill - gotta pay that Town Center rent I suppose...... The mediocre reviews of this place written by others (Far better at this than me) are correct...
(2)Samantha d.
I decided to try out Brio last night for the first time. I don't usually write reviews for places but this experience deserved a huge kudos to my server/bartender. My husband and I had never been before and were looking for a good date night. Jon (the bartender) was incredibly helpful when it came to everything from food to drinks. He reccomended a shrimp dish for me that was out of this world good and the drink to match. The bar was busy due to the specials they have on Wednesdays but Jon was incredibly attentive and I never felt like I was just another patron at the bar. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and I will definitely return any time I feel like some great drinks and shrimp!
(5)Eric T.
BRIO is a beautiful and spacious restaurant to dine in. It offers comfortable outside seating and an airy and magnificent room indoors. A large bar sits attactively in the front corner of the restaurant with views of most happenings inside and out. In what has become a new destination place to eat at The Shoppes at Boca Center, BRIO's decor stands out as the most elegant. Sorry Mortons. On my first visit for lunch today, the Pasta Fra Diavolo with chicken had just the right amount of heat and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The dish was light on chicken, and in hindsight, I think I would have preferred the dish with the shrimp. For lunch, I felt the $14.35 price was a bit high. My tablemate picked the Crispy Eggplant Pomodoro which was a generous plate of Romano crusted eggplant with housemade pomodoro, basil, herb spaghettini, parmesan and fresh mozzarella for $12.35. He thoroughly enjoyed his selection. Our server was attentive, but just a bit stiff and longwinded in his desire to please and recite every special in complete detail. Overall though, service was very good. I'm not ready to give BRIO a 5 quite yet, perhaps after a another visist or two. For now, I'm a fan at 4 and have my BRIO lunch card to prove it, which gets you a free lunch after 5 visits. Don't forget to ask for yours.
(4)Stella S.
Mediocre italian food at an expensive price. Noisy environment. Can barely hear the people at my table. Nothing special with the food.
(2)M N.
Disappointing on so many levels. We've been to Brio in Houston, so we knew what to expect. But service was slow, the Shrimp Mediterranean was bland, and my lasagna was fair at best. The manager bought our dessert, and that was nice. I guess....
(2)Tough C.
Not sure how to rate this place. On previous visit had delicious salmon. This visit had seared shrimp risotto. Tasty but very bland, shrimp neither grilled (as the waiter said the chef claimed) nor seared and almost tasteless. My companions liked the lobster bisque and had veal Marsala which I tasted and was good and a lobster and shrimp pasta dish. Service very good.
(3)Jeff S.
Ugly, ugly scene. The outdoor space is jammed up with teens in sideways baseball caps being loud, while inside, packs of 60 year olds in sweats lose their minds as they sip fluorescent drinks. It's intolerable. Can't say if its like this all the time, but today it was just brutal.
(1)Judith H.
Had an early dinner with friends late this afternoon. It was our first visit to this restaurant. We were very impressed with the space, the food, and the staff. First, our waiter couldn't have been more helpful. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and the offerings at the bar. We all ordered from the "Lite" menu (some of the same selections as on the regular menu, but smaller portions, and, of course, less expensive). You can exchange out the sides. No problem. All the dishes were good and tasty.At the end of our meal our waiter brought us all Brio cards that offer Rewards on future meals. We will definitely return.
(4)Cynthia L.
Had dinner for 6 on Monday night and everything was quite nice. Pretty place, good service and ordering from the "light" menu, prices were reasonable for a white tablecloth place. We had salads, chicken dishes, steak and pasta and all enjoyed the food. The steak was a little underdone but quickly adjusted. Will go again.
(4)Christina S.
Bossy clients, bossy staff. I guess that is what you get in central Boca Raton on weekend nights. I like the bread basket, the Brio Wedge, and a few appetizers are really good. The dinner plates and pizza are subpar and not worth the money. I like the place for a nice bite midweek. Other than that, it is not a enjoyable dining experience. The bar scene is to be avoided at all costs. Little blue haired couples or groups shoving their way in or trolling for you to leave or steal your chair out from under you. Yikes...harrowing!
(3)Andrew S.
Fast service although the waiters/waitresses don't have much of a personality. In a good location but not that busy usually. Its a nice meal but can be a little slow. Offers valet parking which is a plus and your are allowed to bring your dog if you would like to sit outside!! :)
(4)Elena M.
The food exceeds my expectations every time. Great bread/seasoned crackers given to start. Fun happy hour. Service is good too. Semi casual during the day but seems to be a little dressier at night. Nice outdoor seating, nice outdoor (covered) bar. Overall a great place to go for a date or with friends. I wouldn't say this place is very kid friendly but I have seen families there. Give it a try!
(5)Jennifer S.
The location is very convenient to the Marriott, the service was friendly and the atmosphere is quite nice. The food was also very good - the margherita flatbread and grilled shrimp with orzo are highly recommended!
(4)George S.
Very pleasant atmosphere inside and covered patio. Reasonably priced food and liquor. Make reservations in season. We've been there twice in past 4 weeks.
(3)Paul K.
Tonight I ate at Brio, one of the best venues I've ever experienced in solitary fooding. The bar is open to the front of the restaurant do you are inside and outside at the same time. If you want to chilax before or after you eat, there are lounge chairs outside. The decor is timeless. The clientele are pleasant and well dressed. There is a great selection on the menu. I would describe the meals as delicious, upscale Italian. Tonight I ordered the namesake Brio pasta and it was wonderful. Sourdough bread is always served warm after you order and the salads are always fresh and crisp. There is lots of energy in the front but it is not too noisy; dining is pleasant and peaceful but not boring. Ask for Kim at the bar, she is fun, courteous and quick to a smile. The bill for my Brio Pasta and a chop salad was $26.00. Only Con: When you sit at the bar, it is almost impossible to basketball without turning around. Somehow the TVs are always behind you. For that, Brio looses a star!
(4)Camilo C.
I had a great time! JD And Phillip were great servers we had a big party and they did great. I enjoyed the food. I wasn't the biggest fan of the calamari. Although I enjoyed the lobster bisque was good and the desert was great.
(3)Larry O.
Been there for pretty good dinner. Went for Sunday brunch and had an awful experience. Unbelievable how bad the service and food were. 40 minutes just to get part of our order. And the mgrs response was "it's not my fault"
(2)Desi-lou S.
We had Brunch today and ordered the fruit crepes. The waitress did mention that the fruit would be cold, but not the whole dish. We sent it bback to be warmed up, but that did not help at all. They must warm up the fruit first which would enhance the dish considerably. the restaurant has an appealing outside with comfortable looking seating and a bar opening to the street. We will try it again .
(2)Debra G.
We went to this restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was our first time there. From the hostesses to the waitstaff to the manager to the food to the prices - all were superb. The staff treated us like we were royalty. The manager, Tyrell, personally ensure we had a fantastic experience. Tyrell had his chef prepare a special meal for me to accommodate my food sensitivities. It was delicious. All our food was delicious. My husband was given special treatment as well with an amazing complimentary dessert to celebrate his birthday. The wait staff were friendly and had great senses of humor. We could not have asked for a better evening. One of our best meals out in Boca, seriously.
(5)Claire M.
I love this restaurant! The atmosphere is awesome, aside from all the Boca "oldies" wandering around. The salads are awesome, especially the grilled chicken they put on top of a few they offer, along with the beef carpaccio "boat". If you go there and order it, you will know what I am talking about. I don't know why there is such poor reviews because the ONLY thing I can complain about is that service is sometimes slow........ because it is SO BUSY! So I give the staff the benefit of the doubt! 100% give it a try!
(5)Adrian G.
We had my birthday dinner here with a group of 11 and a baby. The service was GREAT. The food was average but we all enjoyed it. It is a bit pricey for a simple dinner and a little stuffy. I apologized to the waitress for us being too loud but she said we were more fun than the usual old stiff crowd they usually get.
(3)Ryan C.
To sum it up briefly....the food isn't good. ESPECIALLY for the price. The ingredients weren't fresh, the fish didn't have any flavor, the pasta was terrible, and the tomato bisque soup was more cream than anything. The only good part of the meal was the ravioli caprese appetizer. The waitress was nice but it couldn't cover the bad food, wishing we had went to Rocco's (which is amazing).
(1)Russell A.
Excellent food and great service. This new location gets it right. Parking a easy and highly recommend the flatbread sampler app.
(4)Rainer L.
Rarely does a restaurant disappoint so much! We went there for a quick lunch, the place looks like a typical pretentious Italian chain restaurant. Drinks come quick, so far so good. I like to judge a restaurant by the quality of the bread they serve, oh...a bad start. The dough bread seems to come out of the microwave, it is crusty, boiling hot on the inside but not long enough baked; the thin crackers are stale. As an appetizer we share a artichoke dip, it is ok, but the bread is so bad and stale we ask for another patch, it arrives 5 minutes later. Now it took about 35 minutes to come with the main, 2 pasta dishes. First a lasagna, eatable, but nothing to be proud of; actually even at Olive Garden they serve a much better one. The angel hair pasta Pomodore is not eatable. The pasta is so overcooked it has the texture slimy dog food; the chicken pieces are so dry and plain disgusting. When we return the pasta dish the manager tries to save the situation by picking up the bill, saying he wants us to come back, but.....why would we?
(1)Reviewer S.
Watch your wallet here. We dined there the evening of July 7th and our party of 8 (4 couples and a child) paid with 4 credit cards, The server conveniently neglected to tell us that an $80 tip had already been automatically included in the bill (which is perfectly acceptable for large parties - if noted on the menu, and IF the waiter clearly informs guests when presenting with the bill) The waiter just brought us four vouchers to sign with a space to add a tip. We each added a $20 tip when we signed our credit card vouchers (bringing the total tip up to $160) - until luckily one person in our party noticed the double-tip. The waiter did not apologize and the manager seemed totally un-concerned when we brought it to her attention. Ethical restaurants require their waiters to verbally inform customers when presenting a check that an automatic tip is included on a large party check, so it does not get easily overlooked on a long guest check. I have even seen some restaurants that require the server to stamp or write on a check "Tip included" so customers do not accidentally double tip. I'm guessing this goes on a lot here, based on the dining room manager's lack of concern. Upper management needs to step in.
(1)Nancy Z.
Darling....you MUST go to the Town Center Mall and eat at Brio's.....have them park your car, put your best face on and enjoy the $3.95 appetizers and happy hour drinks! Great service, the place was packed and it's quite an experience.
(4)Maria C.
Brio plays with my mind a bit. While I LOVE the ambience and ALWAYS love to go there because I just like the outdoor sitting and even inside, I just don't seem to pick the right food. I don't know... I just haven't been as happy as I think I should be there because everyone else's dish looks amazing and tasty and yet, I seem to always pick the OK option. I will keep trying and encourage you to do the same and hopefully I'll come back soon to say I was wrong.
(3)A.L. S.
Food is your basic chain restaurant food. The outdoor seating is first come first serve and it gets crowded. It s dec scene for going out. the service is good and the wine list is okay. It gets crowded in the evenings so come early. Have fun!
(2)Tereza B.
The lobster bisque was just ok. No big pieces, it was decent though. The waiter must have had a cold bc he didn't stop sniffling the whole time we were there. Very unmemorable. But yet packed. I don't get it????
(2)Joshua R.
Great food and environment. It has a little high price tag but overall worth it.
(5)Michael M.
We have been very excited about Brio's coming to Boca for quite some time. When we lived in Orlando we use to visit Brio's quite often. Soo.. We went on the 27th, Saturday, at 6:30pm. We were quickly greeted by 3 people at the front desk. They immediately asked us if we had a reservation. We did not and were told that they were booked for the night inside but could seat us outside in about 30 minutes. We were fine with that since it was such a nice night. Interesting observation is that everyone dining inside appeared to be well over 65, while everyone outside was under 65. Seems as if the older crowd always call ahead, but I'm not so sure Brio's wants to begin their reign in Boca as the "retirement home" place to eat. We love Houston's down the street and are always willing to wait the hour to get a table their and the crowd seems much younger. We sat at the bar and had a drink. The bar was slow and the bartender was nice enough. One thing, I could tell right away is that the service at Brio's was not going to be a 5 STAR review. Everyone was nice enough but watching the bartenders argue with each other over where things are located was a sign of things to come. Our little "buzzer thing" went off within about 20 minutes and we made out way over to the host station. Funny thing happened. We forgot to pay our bill at the bar. The bartender came over and reminded us to pay. She was nice but seemed a bit aggravated. Although, she did say that we were ok. She did not offer to have our tab transferred to out table like other establishments do. We sat down outside and as a fellow yelper mentioned it was a bit crowded but I was ok with it. I would not take anything away from them on the space issue. Let me back up for a second. We waited at the host station for 5 minutes before we were seated and could also tell that the servers were arguing with host about were to sit us. It was not "super" obvious, but I guess it was noticeable enough for me to pick up on it. Our server came over and introduced himself and asked us if we had been to Brio's before, which I thought was a nice touch. We ordered their special appetizer, which was asparagus with prosciutto and my wife ordered the lobster bisque. We ordered for our meals past dishes. My wife had the Mushroom Ravioli Al Forno and I had the Shrimp Verduta. My wife enjoyed her dish and as did I. My only complaint would be that the angel hair pasta was a bit mushy, but that's to be expected from angel hair past. The shrimp was a little light on flavor as well, but overall a decent dish. The appetizers were great and I would definitely suggest them. Based on the food I would have given them a 4, but the service was a 3, maybe a 2. Our server seemed to be in love with himself or my wife. He was a typical young guy trying to be funny. I always say the best servers are the ones you don't notice, but everything is taken care of on your table. Towards the end of our meal we waited 10 minutes for our plates to be removed and waited even longer for our bill. They of course came over with the big display of deserts and when we said no, you could tell the server was a bit perturbed. My advice to Brio's is to go down the street to Houston's and take notes on how to offer superb customer service. It's very consistent. I will be returning as I love their food and am hopeful that they will tie up the loose ends with their service. I would also advise them to re-think their reservation strategy. We did notice a lot of empty tables while we waited. I get the whole idea of having a booked dining room, but why not go to a first come or call ahead system and turn your tables over quicker?
(3)Karen S.
I had enjoyable dining experiences at Brio in Naples but this one was absolutely horrible from the service to the food. This was our third time at the new Boca Raton location and the last. Initially, I assumed they were new and still trying to get it together but the food and service has only gotten worse with time. My chicken was served ice cold and my husband's food was so salty it was barely edible. We couldn't even get a bread basket for over 35 minutes after making a request to the waiter and manager several times. They offered one dessert to share among five people to appease us for the poor service and food. The piece they served was so small, barely enough for one person - it was more of an insult than an apology. Three strikes - you're out!
(1)Suzie R.
After reading both good & bad reviews, we decided to try Brio. The bread was delicious, the wine & sangria were fine. That's where it stopped! We shared fried calamari - like chewing little rubber-bands. It was not crispy and could have been hotter. I chose lasagne, which came with a Cesar salad. Although we had a very good waitress (no complaints about the service), if I hadn't reminded her about the salad, I doubt it would have ever come to the table. The salad was void of taste. Absolutely flavorless - the croutons were soggy, but I will admit the romaine lettuce was fresh & crisp. Pity - it had all the potential of being good. My husband ordered salmon with thin-spaghetti. It arrived smothered with a tasteless sauce, which he scraped off the fish. My lasagne did not taste fresh, lacked any flavor and was a great disappointment. The manager did visit our table, apologized for everything, provided us with 2 coupons for complimentary appetizers, and did remove the lasagne off the menu. This was our first & last visit at Brio.
(1)Lloyd A.
A friend and I went to Brio Tuscan Grille in Boca Raton last night for an early dinner. The restaurant is very attractive and was busy inside and out, but we were promptly seated to a pleasant, roomy table. Bread, butter and drinking water immediately arrived. Steve, our server, promptly came to welcome us and to take a drink order. The manager stopped by our table to welcome us, as well. We asked Steve for recommendations, but I am following a reduced carb diet so didn't want pasta. The Beef Carpaccio was recommended as an appetizer and either the pork chops or the Gorgonzola crusted filet or strip steak as entrees. We ordered those dishes, plus a Caesar salad. I ordered my steak medium rare and that is exactly how it came out. For dessert we tried the mascarpone cheesecake and the warm apple pie with ice cream. Both were good, but the cheesecake was exceptional. We found the service and food quite good, particularly at this price point, and would definitely return at a later date with our wives. By the time we left, the restaurant was hopping both inside and out.
(4)Michelle W.
I am a frequent patron on Brio on their $5 Martini nights. While my friend and I may be the youngest there each time and always end up being the last ones to leave (9:30pm mind you) the staff is always on par. The bread offered is always hot out of the oven fresh, and I have never had a bad meal. Their filet is one of the best that I have had and is much more reasonable in price than many restaurants in Boca. Overall, I highly recommend Brio and will continue enjoying my $5 martini's with a fantastic dinner!
(4)Gina D.
I arrived with a party of 7 for lunch today. I ordered a burger and only ate half. When I was finished the server asked if I would like it boxed up. I said "yes". Shortly after another server came to clear the table. She took away my food. I assumed she was going to box it up for me. Instead she started putting used napkins and other food from other plates on my plate. When I told her I wanted my food she said "well you never told me" I then told her that I had told the main server. Her response then was well the napkins and other food she placed on my plate where not touching my food so she could still box it up. How is that acceptable? I was then offered another burger. That would had been fine, but I was on my lunch hour and the group was already late to return to work. The main server then said I would be given a credit to be used next time. That would have been fine, but again I was disappointed. I was not given a credit. I was given a card for a free appetizer or dessert. How does this make up for my burger? I eat out for lunch pretty much everyday, but I never order an appetizer or dessert. I am not asking for anything other than what I am owed. Another burger. I have contacted the restaurant and am waiting what they have to say.
(2)Digi 4.
Food was greasy and made me sick...really. The decor is nice and that's where all your money goes when you order from their elegantly priced menu. However, the flavor and preparation of the food is anything but elegant. It's all smoke and mirrors here. You think you are about to eat at a fancy/fine Italian restaurant but it's just a facade. They need to work on their food. I have had way better Italian at a small local Italian resturant than here. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Go to Rocco's tacos instead.
(2)Rosanne G.
My husband and I had dinner here several times. The kitchen is consistently inconsistent. Once good, once OK, once terrible. Last Sunday was no exception. I ordered the Bistecca Salad. Not only was it swimming in dressing, but the lettuce was brown in some spots. I sent it back and the Manager was very accommodating. Next I ordered the Blackened Tilapia for my entrée. I didn't want it to spicy, so they gave me a little spice. The fish was dry and "fishy" tasting. The vegetables that were listed on the menu were nowhere in sight. Only roasted, dry carrots. I called over the manager again and sent it back. They told me to choose another entrée, but by that time, I wasn't hungry anymore. Took home something. My husband had the grilled salmon which was supposed to come with some sort of pesto sauce. Instead, they drizzled on a balsamic reduction. They were however nice enough not to charge for my dinner. The waiter was very apologetic and sent over a free dessert. That too fell short. It was overly sweet. Usually the times that we go there are because we get buy one, get one free, but, frankly, it isn't worth it. The restaurant is very nice, the wait staff is very efficient and warm. But, alas, the food is not up to par. If I get another BOGO, I will try the pizza. Clearly, they need a sous chef who knows what's on the menu and knows how it should be prepared.
(2)Stuart C.
Gracious greeting and excellent service on a weekday visit. Accept later reservations offered - then come when you wish. You get priority seating. Large portions of tasty food from open kitchen. Generous pours of good house wines. Well dressed clientele. Occasional coupon offers by mail or on line make already reasonable tab even less.
(5)Tina J.
Brio at "Easton" in Columbus, OH has always been one of my favorite places...the atmosphere is gorgeous. I later moved to Dulles, VA: their Brio lacks the ambiance. Later yet, to Florida and the Hallandale location also lacked the ambiance. However, the food was still great. I didn't believe the not so good reviews here on Yelp, on the Boca location. I went w/my husband and son on Friday night at 5:30. 75% of tables were empty. Not one of the 3 hostesses said hello to me...an awkward 90 seconds or so passed and finally I said hello to her. She said we could only sit outside..they apparently were saving nearly all of the empty tables inside for reserved parties. I think they should keep some tables open for new arrivals...the place seemed dead, with all those empty places. Anyway...all that aside, my favorite dish, the Chicken Milanese was very disappointing. Pomodoro sauce was sickeningly sweet. My wedge salad was the most bitter tasting head of lettuce. I so want this place to succeed. Please send your staff up to your Easton location to see how things should be done. Boca can be every bit as nice as Easton...the location down here is just goregous!
(2)Kevin S.
I enjoyed the Brio in West Palm Beach and the food at the Boca location isn't bad, but the restaurant itself looks weathered. I've been here twice and what stood out most was how disheveled the exterior furniture was. It's in a constant state of disarray and not inviting at all. I've also noticed that this restaurant has an issue with unpleasant smells. The first time I walked in and smelled mildew. The second time it smelled like cleaning products. It overpowered anything that might have been going on in the kitchen. Lastly, the mens bathroom smells like a kennel. Truly disgusting. They used small mosaic tile up against the urinals
(2)Diane G.
Would rate it zero star if I could . Horrible service during happy hour. Rude bartender. Had to wait 20 minutes at the bar and than they act like they are doing you a favor. I will never go back. Too many great other destinations to be bothered by this kind of aggravation
(1)Gina P.
Wednesday night happy hour is the only time to go $5 martinis and $3 bar bites (before 6:30) other than that the food is over priced and the service is lacking
(2)Shel G.
While we have gone to this restaurant before, this was the worst experience ever. We waited ten minutes to even see a waiter. He did not listen to our request to have second drinks when our meals arrived, bringing them before our first drinks were finished. By time he checked back on whether everything was okay with our food we were half way through the meal. Be sure to ask NOT to be seated in Marco S.'s section if you should decide to go to Brio. The food was mediocre at best and is certainly NOT a favorite Italian place to eat. And one of us got sick afterwards. Our advice would be to take a gondola ride to another restaurant!
(2)Sam M.
This is one of my favorite lunch places. After mccormicks shut down a couple of years ago in boca I didn't have any go to spots for lunch but since discovering brio a few months ago a week can't go by without lunch here. The service is amazing and the food delicious. The lobster bisque for starters is my fav along with freshly baked warm bread. And the mushroom ravioli is a must have. Plus they got complimentary valet right outside. What's not to like ......
(5)Hillary F.
Today, decided to eat earlier than usual and Brio was just about the only place open...I usually like the food so it was a decent choice. Waiter was good but the grilled chicken "under the brick" came out and the potatoes and veggies were cold. I sent it back. Since the kitchen is open I watched as the cook took the grilled chicken breast with BARE HANDS and removed it from the plate to heat up the sides....he put it back on the plate with BARE HANDS and the waiter served it to me....I told him I wanted to vomit. He apologized and then the manager came over and was falling all over himself about the lack of sanitation. Within minutes, everyone had gloves on ( I think if I went back now, they would be off). I was grossed out so I ordered a salad and the manager said the entire check was comped. Mind you, I asked for nothing. I waited outside for my husband because our Friday night together was really ruined. Looking for a nice uncomplicated night out...Oops, guess the manager didn't tell the waiter to comp everything so we had a half check. I said something so they redid the check for just my drink..really? really? The manager came over again and apologized when I told him the entire night was ruined. I am really grossed out by this place. What if the cook had a cut? I realize that we may be exposed to that sort of stuff in a closed kitchen but honestly, make an attempt
(1)Marvin G.
Changes to recipes and food preparation has dramatically lowered the main purpose for coming to Brio. Attractive ambience and good service cannot compensate for mediocre, over seasoned food. From appetizers to main courses dishes for a party of four were all disappointing. Clearly not a recommended dining destination.
(2)Angela T.
Went here recently with a party of 8 on a Saturday evening. They were busy but not terribly so and the service was pretty awful. There seemed to be two servers working in the alcove (that seemed to be where we were sitting). The guy was great and really on top of things. Sadly, he wasn't our server and only helped with one or two things. I saw him with his tables though and he was great. Our server, not so much. Lots of waiting and leaving only to return 20 to 25 minutes later. Coffee with no spoons, dessert with no forks, that type of thing. The food is what you might expect from a chain Italian - nothing special. Overpriced and nothing special. I would definitely skip Brio next time...
(2)Elaine C.
This restaurant is way too impressed with itself and in my opinion doesn't live up to its hype. I've eaten here many times...I returned today after not visiting this place in a long time. As usual they think they are wonderful but I don't see it. Many restaurants work with their guests to change out something and replace it with something else. I had the egg white omelet. I asked for goat cheese and was told they don't substitute. Funny, last time I asked for goat cheese I got it. The omelet on the whole was delicious and I really can't complain about the service. However, there are more times I'm disappointed with this place than happy with it. I'll probably not return again for a long while. Brio just doesn't do it for me and if I have to spend my $$$, there are more enjoyable places to eat.
(1)Bill S.
I had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with a friend today during the grand opening of this BRIO location. I was hoping for a Five star experience, but sadly had to take off a star for a few issues noted below. The location is conveniently located at the trendy - The Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail just south of Glades Road. The decor of the bar and restaurant is absolutely beautiful and extremely well done. The bar is in the front corner of the restaurant and has open windows and fantastic seating that represents the best physical location of any of the restaurants in this center. We checked in and asked for a table for two. Initially we were taken to the extreme Northeast corner of the restaurant and offered a table for four that, shockingly, had a large roof support pole located about 1 inch from the corner of the table that would be extremely uncomfortable to anyone seating there. This probably would be a great topic for a "Curb Your Enthusiam" episode, but we immediately requested a different location. I took a photo of this table and will upload it here. (*** Note to manager - this table location sucks ***) Once we were seated at a better table, we were given an assortment of fresh bread and ordered an ice tea and Diet Coke. Unfortunately, they only offered Diet Pepsi so I took one for the team and accepted a Pepsi. (*** Note to Brio owner - you offer hundreds of flavors or alcoholic drinks, vodka, and rum, is it that hard to offer both Coke and Pepsi products ***) The place was buzzing with tons of staff and everyone that approached our table was awesome. Unfortunately, I forgot my reading glasses and had a hard time reading the menu, so I asked the waitress if they had any reading glasses for me to borrow. Unfortunately, they did not have any and I used my iPhone camera to read the menu. (*** Note to manager - most five star restaurants have a collection of cheap reading glasses for their guests. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a collection of different strengths for $5 each as sometimes men, like me, forget their reading glasses at home ***) We ordered lobster bisque to start and I ordered the Mezza Chicken Limone. The lobster bisque was extremely good, but not as good as The Capital Grill (my personal favorite) as there was only tiny pieces of lobster in the bisque vs including larger pieces. No matter, I highly recommend this soup as it is better than most restaurants. The Mezza Chicken Limone was cooked to perfection in traditional piccata style and quite delicious with a side of fresh campanelle florentine. The desert selections were also impressive and looked fantastic, but we decided to pass as this was only lunch. Overall, this is a great restaurant that I will definitely return, but I will need to bring in my own reading glasses and smuggle in some Diet Coke.
(4)narisa s.
The food is okay but the service is horrible. We never get bread because it was always "in the oven." The food comes out by the time the check should get there. Sometimes a waiter comes by the time your food should. If you're a patient person go for it. Don't go if you are hungry.
(2)Todd W.
Please refer to Jeff D for another great review here. Quite simply, an overpriced lunch place that caters to local upper class people. You want a normal chicken Parmesan for 30$ this is the place, there's no difference other than the price and the carpet. An iced tea and panini will cost you over $20, there's a salad place right next door that does it for half the price (or less b/c no tip). Still its a great place to talk and mingle, and if you have the money...well go for it.
(3)Brian R.
BRIO is upscale chain Italian, quite a few notches up from Olive Garden, and toe-to-toe with a number of the generic New York-New Jersey-Philly-once-removed restaurants that infest Boca and are generally frequented by snow birds who remember the father's/grandfather's food from back in the day. Decor and atmosphere tries to make you forget its a chain, and it does about as well as say, P.F. Changs does in the Chinese realm. The portions are generous. The service was great. There's just something a bit too formulaic about it, and the food isn't wow, just hmm... not bad at all. That's the star down.
(4)Dana F.
Figured I would give this restaurant a second chance, but I shouldn't have. The service was worse the second time than the first. Although my husband and I appear young, we aren't that young and felt the poor service was due to that. We were sitting at the table for at least 20 minutes before even having water, bread, or a greeting from a staff member. After we were greeted, the waiter didn't take our drink order for another 15 minutes. After ordering our food, we waited so long to be served that almost the entire restaurant was empty. Food wasn't horrible, but definitely not worth the wait. Needless to say, my husband and I will never go there again.
(1)Melissa V.
The ambiance is great, the freshly baked bread was delicious. However that is were it ended, the food was not up to par in comparison to the pricing. In reality it was pretty bad. I will not be going to Brio again.
(1)Franco C.
Italian. Looking for something to eat we were strolling along and saw Brio's. The place is very visually appealing so we decided to grab some seats at the bar. The way the bar is situated is such that you are almost sitting outside - but still under the roof - so it was nice. The bartenders looked harried and after we got their attention things progressed well. We kept the mojito thing going and my raspberry mojito contained freshly muddled raspberries and was tres delicious. We decided to share the shrimp and crabcake entree as it was a date after all and we didn't want to stop talking to eat. They were kind enough to split the meal without us asking. The food was very good- we both enjoyed our portion and the veggies that came with it were perfectly done. The bread the brought out was fine enough but we didn't want to carb up so we just picked at it. We were still a little hungry and they sent over the kid with a large tray of deserts - since she couldn't decide I went ahead and ordered like 4 different things... I figured that there was plenty of selection. The deserts came out and we were swooning - everything was great. Chocolate mousse cake, Creme Brulee' and I forgot the other two items - but we attacked them all with gusto. The restaurant is very nice looking by the way - next time we will grab a table inside and chill but this was a perfect evening with great food. We both walked out happy. Definitely worth checking out if you are in this area.
(3)Nadav E.
beautiful place, great food very classy and very nice ppl serving you, went with my girlfriend and had much fun thanks ;)
(4)Denise R.
I happened to be in the area yesterday after a late afternoon meeting and I hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was passing Boca Center and decided to give Brio a try. As it turned out, it was 3:30 and Happy Hour had just begun, according to the big sign out in front. So I took a look around the bar and walked around to the back side to have a seat but noticed there was all kinds of puddles from what appeared to be water dripping from the ceiling. That didn't look too inviting, so I opted to sit at one of the cocktail tables beside the bar instead. I ordered the tuna carpaccio and the eggplant fries (both $4 each). They were very generous portions and I had plenty of left overs to take home, some of which I just now enjoyed (again). The eggplant fries were so unique and the aioli dipping sauce they served them with was fantastic. I'd go back for these items alone, but would certainly be open to trying other items on their menu as well.
(4)Lauren S.
I guess you could say I'm confused. 2 weeks ago my parents and sister ate here and have ranted and raved about this place. We had made reservations for this evening and they had definitely got me revved up for this place. As we walk into the restaurant I notice that an entire tray of plates and cutlery is lying on the ground shattered, not a single person is within 20 feet of the mess and no one is making any attempt to clean it up - fancy place, huh? We let the hostess know that we've arrived right on time for our 8pm reservation and she hands us one of those electronic blinking devices as our table is being cleared off - strange. We sit down and I notice a half eaten plate of spaghetti on the counter top in the waiting area and several forks lying on the ground under the chairs, classy This place is packed with the snobby Boca crowd - tons of face lifts and interesting attire. After 15 minutes of waiting, our buzzer goes off and we're told to wait in the hallway (blocking other guests, servers and other staff). After another 8 or so minute wait we're finally walked to our table, past several open and set tables. Confused. We are literally seated in the darkest, furthest corner of the restaurant. [We're dressed appropriately and by no means lepers of any kind]. We are served by a nice lady whose name escapes me at the moment. She let us know what the soup of the day was and informed us of the $5 martini special of which we tried the Paradiso and Sparkling Raspberry Drop (neither of which were for me or my taste). We had caesar salads to start - 8.5/10 (negative points for the oversaturation of dressing) I had the Filetto Di something Toscano - a center cut with mashed potatoes and I subbed cooked broccoli for the roasted vegetables. 7/10 for making it medium instead of medium-well as requested. The mashed potatoes were delicious and broccoli was fine, no additional flavors. For dessert I had the Chocolate and Caramel cake in a glass cup. It was a 7/10 - nothing to write home about. Overall, I was very disappointed by BRIO and can't believe that this is what Boca's "elite" call fine dining.
(3)Philip S.
Food was adequete, nothing bad, nothing great. We went since they have a gluten free menu for one of our party. Calamari was good, not the best i've had but above average. Pork chop was ok. Rest of the dinners were very average, nothing to write home about. One of our party said the Denver Brio was much better
(2)Fred S.
Of the five times I went to eat at this restaurant, the service was awful. One time we were given a free appetizer as an apology, the next time the meal was paid for as an apology, next time it was beverages, but we actually would prefer not getting anything for free and getting our food in a much more reasonable amount of time. Finally, this last time the service was perfect. But, the food is really nothing special nor is the menu. This is sort of one step above Olive Garden, or Carrabas, but not the feel of a small down-home Tuscan-style restaurant. The food is relatively bland, the presentation relatively bland, but because of its location it makes a nice spot to go out for dinner and to be in an entertainment area with lots of people. You will probably enjoy a reasonably priced meal but not get excited enough to put this on your calendar as a regular dining event. I do believe it's worth giving it a try since many people like this food, and if you are lucky you may get really good service and your experience may turn out well.
(3)Stacy A.
If there was an option for 0 stars I would've done that. I was so excited to go here and ended up having a horrible experience. My fiancé and I we're meeting some friends here one night and were a little early so we decided to sit a the bar and get a drink. We sat there for about 10 minutes and the bartender didn't even acknowledge us. We got frustrated and just went to sit and wait near the front door empty handed. After our friends got there and we were seated we ordered drinks. Needless to say I was excited because I didn't get one earlier. When our waiter got back with the drinks he had brought me the wrong one. It happens... We ordered dinner and the food was totally acceptable. At last, my favorite part, our waiter brought over the dessert tray for us to look at and pick something out. I saw a huge piece of bread pudding that was calling my name so I ordered it and waited with bated breath....and when it got to the table...it was a small, sad sliver nothing like I had seen on the dessert tray! I can overlook everything else that had happened up until then but when you mess with my dessert I get really upset.
(1)Elle A.
Well, this is a chain, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was pretty good. I give it 3.5 stars. We started off with the tomato and mozzarella caprese salad and the brio chopped. Both were quite tasty, although the caprese was pretty small - but extremely fresh. We were given some crispy flatbread and fresh sourdough bread as accompaniments - I didn't care for either, as they didn't have much taste. For mains we had the whole roasted chicken and the grilled mahi mahi fresca. The chicken was huge - and was stuffed with herbs and an entire lemon. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked. The chicken itself was tender and quite tasty. We took half home as leftovers. The mahi mahi was a rather small portion but it was cooked well, and served with veggies, fresh spinach and farro, which is one of my favorite grains, so I really loved it. The menu said it came with a tomato basil vinaigrette but the sauce was yellow and sweet so I'm not so sure that's what it was - it was ok. I'm not sure I'll be back, as this place didn't exactly knock my socks off, but if I'm in the area and want this type of food, I might consider it.
(3)William Clyde L.
Brio is a fantastic italian restaurant. They have wonderful lasagna as well as great spaghetti and other pastas. Their restrooms are quite clean. Their bar is terrific. They have a great happy hour. Their bread is spectacular. I love practically everything on the menu. There sometimes is a wait for a table but that is because the food is so good. I highly recommend this place. Go for it!
(5)Niko S.
The 2nd worst meal I have ever had. The one star goes to the server that actually tried. The food tasted fake and the fillet was microwaved as well as the veggies. This was not freshly made. Just terrible! Makes you wonder how they are still in business.
(1)Lisa T.
It was a great night celebrating a birthday. I love the healthy salmon meal. So yummy and less than 500 calories. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. They even brought out a surprise cake too and our waiter sang Happy Birthday too. They also have a great reward program. Check it out.
(5)Joshua M.
This is a restaurant that you might want to come to when your other two choices have 2-hour wait times. Even then, Brio might be a bit of a wait, based on where it is, which is nestled right in an area jam packed with other high scale restaurants. The clientele is on the older/senior citizen spectrum, but that doesn't mean it is a bad clientele. Atmosphere here is very nice, inside and out. The interior has a pleasant ambiance, with the only minus being it is very noisy inside. Plenty of tables outside, and especially on a nice night, eating out there can be a great plus. Another note, parking here can be a nightmare on busy nights. Plenty of valet options, but if you see a spot, no matter how far, take it! The food was okay, but nothing memorable. Started out with bread, which came out hot, and it was severed with real butter served on a plate. As well, it came with these Asiago chips, which was a nice addition. I had a Kale Caesar Salad to start off, and it was a bit bitter for my taste, but a good portion size. For my entree I had the Chicken Milanese, which was good, but nothing amazing. The portion size I found a bit small, just two medium size breaded breasts, and the cheese they put on it was very minimal. I substituted mashed potatoes for my pasta, which was a bit of a wash, because I didn't find the potatoes anything fresh; it tasted like something they heated up in the microwave. The food quality just wasn't there, and the menu options weren't huge. Service is SLOW. Our waiter was nice, but he barley came over to check up on us, and it took a while for him to bring us out of food and other items. Now the place was crowded, but still I could tell that the service needed a strong talking from corporate. The pricing here is pretty standard for Boca prices, but that's not speaking positively for this location. The costs don't justify what you actually get. With so many other restaurants within walking distance, going to bat for Brio is a stretch. The reality is, there are just too many other good Italian restaurants to make me seriously consider coming back to Brio. Food (B-), Pricing (D), Atmosphere (B+), Service (C+)
(3)Lenny K.
Brio is pretty nice. I realize it's a chain but this location holds up pretty good on its own. Good selection of dishes that tasted good too. Very accommodating staff for our party of 11. We celebrated a birthday that night and they made sure to make it a memorable occasion. And, I ordered a mixed drink and was actually able to taste the alcohol. Not fine dining but a fine family experience!
(4)Callan R.
Great place for a nice, relaxing lunch with a modern and chic environment. The customer service was fantastic. I ordered the lobster bisque and a Caesar salad. Very satisfying but nothing outside of what you would expect. I love my lobster bisque served over creme fraiche which I would expect at a high end restaurant so no disappointment here. Brio serves complimentary bread and the Asiago/Rosemary crisps are addicting!! I have also tried their chicken chipotle panini which was very savory. Large portion for a panini so I couldn't finish it. Overall a very pleasant experience!
(4)Daphne L.
I came here on Sunday afternoon for a baptism celebration with about 20 other people. We were seated in the back room for special events. We were also given a special menu with only a few options for our meals. We had the choice of lasagna, shrimp diablo or pasta brio. I got the lasagna. And two other people at my table got the pasta brio and shrimp diablo. Thr lasagna was small portion wise but it tasted good. I tried all of them and I think the best of the three was the shrimp diablo. I was worried it'd be too spicy for me but it wasn't very spicy at all. All our meals came with Caesar salads and they brought out some bread to start us out with. The service was a bit slow but I think that was probably because we were such a big group.
(3)Karen F.
5 star venue (gorgeous) and great service - we came at lunch when it was not crowded. Food is just average but my kid's Chicken Parm with Penne meal ($7) was terrific - better than the adult food. Next time I'm getting the kid's meal! Nice selection of desserts. I also enjoyed the frozen bellini.
(4)Danielle R.
Wednesday night is $5 martini night and you can sit outside!!! We shared a brucshetta appie which was very good and vowed to come back for lunch....especially when the weather cools off. That's all you really need to know about this place.
(4)Wendy B.
Tried bunch there today. Was not crowded and it was a beautiful setting. Service was good and food was hot. Excellent choices. Decided on a rosa sangria for drinks. Very refreshing! We will be back!
(4)Breana B.
We arrived around brunch and were one of the few customers. Our waitress was very pleasant and the food great. I cannot wait to go back. I just hope the other Brio's in the area are just as good. The drinks are very goos also. My cosmo was made with loveeeeee
(5)Scott S.
I come here frequently for business lunches and have found it to be consistently good. The menu is more varied and original than the area steak places though the level of service is not as high. The bar area is terrific and styled for good interactions for events. The dining room is always clean though bustling. I have never been disappointed with my food and my guests are always pleased.
(4)Cara S.
SLOW SERVICE, BAD FOOD, EXPENSIVE Probably the worst meal I've had in Boca. Salty, flavorless risotto. Rigatoni that barely rivals the Olive Garden. Slow, bad service capped off by 3 mistakes on the check. Don't let the pleasant decor fool you. One star for bread which was good.
(1)Beth B.
Great brunch menu. Good portions, good value, great taste, puppy friendly. Mahi mahi dish is delicious. Mediterranean shrimp great spice flavor with faro... Sauce on the side... So delicious we didn't need the sauce Pasta pesto with grilled chicken was fine tasting, well presented and totally satisfying. Service was great and so where our puppies.
(4)Eryn M.
I went here for a friend's birthday party. There were eight of us. Our server was very nice but not very bright. He forgot my drink order. Then my food order. Then my ticket. But I'll get to that later. One person ordered a martini and it had a bug in it. That happens. But their bar is outside, so you'd think it happens more often than they'd like. But they replaced it, no big deal. One of the girls is allergic to peppers and told the server, who said he'd put in an allergy ticket. She ordered her dish with a different sauce and he said it'd be fine. Everyone else ordered. All was good. Out of the eight, four of us liked our food (thankfully, I was one of them). The women who got the shrimp and lobster fettuccine were not impressed. One of them was the one with the allergy. Although she got a mild sauce, the shrimp were still spicy. The server seemed clueless as to what on the menu was mild. She ended up with a caesar salad. She was the only one who sent her food back, but the other three just didn't like their food. Then, came the checks. I didn't get one. Then I did. I paid cash ($40 for a $27 ticket). Then I got another ticket from another server and had to explain that I already paid. In cash. Then I got my change. $27. Made no sense. The server had given me what my ticket was instead of the change. I'm an honest person, so I had him sort it out. All in all, it was an OK experience but I probably won't be back. There are too many other great options. But it's about the company, and that made it fun.
(2)Scott R.
Here for a party at Brio's in Boca Raton and it was pretty awful. With the exception of one of our servers named Whitney (who was nice), this was the worst experience Brio's. The back area was like a sauna! Our party was for 1 pm, however some showed up at 12:45. Ok when I asked about someone serving us getting drinks etc was told our party didn't start till 1. The food was only ok, salmon was good, lasagna was good, chicken really salty. Took forever in the beginning to bring out bread and it seems no one has enough sense to either bring more or ask if we want more when it is gone. People had to ask for coffee as well. I have had parties at other restaurants and it just seemed that Brio's either didn't know how to handle a party and quite frankly servers (with exception) of Whitney just didn't give a you know what.
(1)Sara O.
I enjoy coming to Brio. They serve fresh bread and crackers. I usually get the lobster bisque (it's to die for). I feel like it's a step up from your olive gardens etc. food is 4 out of 5.
(4)Matthew S.
Visited this establishment a few weeks ago. Looked nice from the outside with open air and nice outdoor plaza seating. The prices looked good too. But the service was terrible. And the manager was really unaccommodating. There were supposed to be some seat cushions on all the patio chairs, but the manager thought it might rain, so he moved them to a couch under a canopy. When it didn't rain, he forgot to put them back, making the patio seats very uncomfortable. My main reason for visiting this place was for the patio. Then the service was just at a stand still. Guess they don't really care about customer service. Will not be visiting again.
(1)Rabia J.
"2014 with good luck:" I have been to Brio before but not this location. After not making any plans for New Years Eve dinner, we decided to do walk in dinner here and hoped our luck would come thru. And sure enough it did, we only had to wait 5 minutes literally even though they had many big parties. I wasn't expecting much service since NYE is one of the busiest days in the hospitality industry. However, our server even though had two big parties still had time to do refills and bring out our food in a timely manner. We had a small incidence with them bringing out the wrong soup and then not having the other soup but the server efficiently managed to bring our appetizers and then entrees. In appetizers: the spicy shrimp and crusted eggplant is a must as well as the lobster bisque. In dinner, I tried the mahi mahi: it definitely is for the healthy eater who wants their greens and farro grain side etc. It was decent but it was missing some spark of flavor. I liked my hubby's ravioli de bello dish better. The Torte de chocolate (warm lava cake) with ice cream was on point. Brio, Bravo ~
(4)Joe D.
I just added my review on g+ and thought I should add it here too. happy hour, outside lounge service is just bad. food is good value, but honestly the service is slow, and the wait staff seem very overwhelmed, on what appeared to be a average night. I have eaten here several times, and had very good service inside, (this is not a cheap place), so I expect excellent service at these prices. also had happy our inside the bar area. no problems, good deal on food. but the seating outside, is hit or miss, and mostly miss. -plan to go to the bar and help yourself, for food and drinks. otherwise a nice place. (just the service needs work).
(3)Aaron K.
Had lunch at 1:00 PM on a Saturday, hence the place was almost empty. So I expected good service and we got just that. Ate outside. Had the soup and Salad plus iced teas. Lunch for 2 plus tip was $34. Everything was excellent The bread was superb. Basket refilled by the waiter without first asking. Ditto multiple iced teas. No this was not a demanding test of a restaurant but nonetheless it was a very pleasant experience.
(4)Jay Z.
Worst experience ever. Service is abhorrent! My order was forgotten and when brought was poor to fair. Noise to a fault.
(1)Carmine H.
Absolutely Terrible! The food is among the worst italian I've had. The sauces are bland and greasy. The server asked what soup/salad we wanted with the meal, I was later charged for this. If you are going to ask what soup or salad we want with our meal, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CHARGE US FOR THIS. This is a typical americanized italian place. The soup was meh and the tomato sauce was absolutely horrendous. I had terrible heartburn after this greasy meal and I only finished a quarter of it, mainly because of how disgusting it was. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! There are much better italian places in the area that are authentic and better priced.
(1)Noreen L.
Our first visit and not impressed. Food - Ok. Service - not very good. Brought appetizer with salad. Charged for a more expensive wine than I ordered but waiter probably could not hear because it is so very noisy. Ambiance - not very good.
(2)Linda L.
The food is always fresh and delicious here. The happy hour menu is $3.95 per item and its such a steal! The peach bellini is refreshing and just the amount of alcohol to kick off the night. The beef carpaccio is amazing. The beef is thinly sliced and perfectly spiced. The staff is very nice and helpful.
(4)Richard M.
This was our 2nd visit to this Brio. The first visit was excellent. This time was a huge disappointment, starting with a disinterested server and followed by an overcooked pork chop. When we finally got the server's attention we were told that the cook always does pork at least medium; "medium rare is not safe." We offered to make another choice if the cook could no comply, but nothing came back from the kitchen except two "just another minute or so" notices. But there was no improvement. We won't be coming back here soon.
(2)Eric K.
Awesome Italian food, great atmosphere, really friendly staff. Fatia, the hostess on Tuesdays is INCREDIBLE
(5)Diane N.
Brio in Boca Raton is one of my favorite restaurants. My husband and I usually go there for lunch. You have the choice of sitting inside the restaurant or outside on their patio. I like to go inside because the restaurant is beautiful, and more important, it's air conditioned. This is Florida and it can be pretty hot around lunch time. My favorite dish is the fettuccine campania. The marinara sauce has capers, Kalamata olives, and basil. It is very good. The lasagna is delicious. I also love the ravioli di bello. It is ravioli with Cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, and thyme in a champagne butter sauce. The service has been very friendly and attentive.
(5)Ed B.
Went here for Saturday brunch with my gf, staying in Marriott for a wedding weekend. Was overall disappointed in the food at brio. We ordered cappuccinos, Stuffed French toast and Tuscan omelette. - Drinks were flat, minimal flavor and colder than I would prefer. - she had to send back her omelette because the inside was barely cooked, egg whites were super runny and she couldn't even pick it up with a fork. -French toast was okay, minimal amount of fruit, perhaps a tad undercooked - decor was clean and nice for he style, typical Florida theme. -menu was pretty basic and nothing fancy or special -staff was nice -price was a little more expensive than quality of food would deserve in a non touristy area Overall, would not go back or recommend this bland tasting, simple food trying to sell itself for some fancy Italian restaurant, which it is clearly not.
(2)Eileen F.
Food & atmosphere are very good. Patio is delightful on a pleasant evening. Service is consistently slow and inattentive.
(3)Kolbos C.
Wow what happened to this place.. Went with a birthday group to have dinner and it had to be one of the worst meals I had at Brio.... The restaurant was not even half full for a thursday night, so cannot believe the guys at the kitchen were tired to cook. The kitchen looked like they had lot of people working but the lamb chops and pasta we ordered should never had come out of a kitchen where cooks take pride in their art. There was 6 pieces of Lamb Chops and all of them were differantly cooked , although I ordered them medium well !! The Pasta which came with the veal Marsala was so overcooked it felt like eating cuddled flour!!! Quite shameful when an Italian restaurant serves up Pasta like that. The Service and ambiance of the place is still top notch!!! But the quality of food seems like it is going down and there is no way one should spend $29 and $22 for entre's of such substandard quality. There are great Italian restaurants in this city so I hope they get their Kitchen back in order.
(2)Scott G.
Want to be more generous because the setting is nice but the food is mediocre at best, wine list sparse and now they charge for valet parking. I'll go the 100 restaurants nearby with better food, wine and free parking
(2)Chriss F.
Went on a Monday night for din din. Had the calamari, beef carpaccio, lobster bisque, and the shrimp and lobster fettuccini. All dishes were tasty and above average. Server was very nice and accommodating. Really enjoyed eating outside too.
(4)David C.
Four hours later and I still have heartburn from eating at Brio. I went there today for a company holiday lunch and read the reviews. The recent reviews were spot on, as I feared. A coworker found a hair in her entree, Instead of apologizing and whisking the dish away, the waitress asked to see where the hair was "to show the chef". Was that really necessary? I think a free dessert, at the least, would have been appropriate yet none was offered. There is no excuse for the hair or the lack of appropriate effort to make the situation right. Another thing, this waitress was rather rough and surly for the image they are trying to project. We weren't a large group and we came off hours. Her service was rushed and sloppy with water and soda splashing on me and the table. I felt like an obstacle, not a diner. The men's room was still a stinky, nasty mess as was described by another reviewer several months ago. Will I be back? I think you get the message.
(2)Mary J.
Do not waste your time. Four times received filthy utensils and napkins. We waited 2.5 hours for steak salad.. First salad overdo . Second cold . You have to be really really hungry and stupid to ever ever go here . Ever . I would have made it 0 stars if possible. PS We sat outside. The manager brought out a hostess to give her an explanation of how to tell what stage of meal-service each table was and how to turn table for new customers. This was in earshot and truly disengaging .. Do not go here ever ever ever and TRAIN your staff and hire managers who don't wear diapers!
(1)Robert K.
I have dined at another Brio location and had a nice experience. Our waiter here. however, lacked personality and was ambivalent about our table and I had to ask for basic things. The food was OK, but not as I remembered it from my last experience.
(2)Susanne H.
We went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I had wine, so I can't judge the drinks, but I do know they don't serve shots at the bar. The servers were on it, for a party of 60, no one had empty drinks or dirty plates left in front of them. The food was excellent, I had the chicken, salmon, potatoes and a pasta. It was quite loud, the acoustics are not great here. The bathrooms were clean and well kept. Overall, it was a great experience for a chain restaurant. Also, Oscar the bartender was awesome, great personality.
(4)Ashley H.
Surprisingly, this is a chain, but it's actually a really nice chain for really good prices and delicious food. My husband raved about this restaurant because he sometimes goes there with some of his coworkers for lunch. I was a bit worried that it'd be "stuffy" like most restaurants in Boca, but it was actually very casual and really nice atmosphere. The food was really good, however if you are the kind that expects to have a huge meal like Outback Steakhouse (same price)... then this place isn't for you. This restaurant actually serves NORMAL portions of food that humans are supposed to consume like they do in Europe. My husband and I were very pleased with the portions and felt full as we reached the last bites. This is a perfect place where you don't get to feel guilty that you couldn't finish your plate and don't have to feel rushed to take the leftovers home right away so you can continue the rest of your evening at a party.
(4)Jessica A.
Only reason 2 stars is for Britney bartender being nice. Shift change second bartender forgot my drink. I ordered 2 salads ( don't have to cook that) 30 minutes later still waiting. Next was happy hour orderd my second cocktail and a happy hour app another 35 minutes later and still waiting. Avoid this place if your hungry. Food fine just more annoying.
(2)Frank L.
I had a business meeting tonight. Our waitress, poor thing, must have un diagnosed ADD or she is skipping her med's. Clueless on a party of 7. Two people returned the food, due to poor quality. First and last time I will go there . I hope management takes note. Frank L.
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