Brio Tuscan Grille
305 Sail Pl, Annapolis, MD, 21401
Brio Tuscan Grille Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Annapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Annapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Annapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
305 Sail Pl
Annapolis, MD, 21401 - Phone (410) 571-5660
- Website https://brioitalian.com/annapolis_towne_centre.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : 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
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Megan M.
We went to Brio to discuss a possible rehearsal dinner service. Prior to attending the actual sampling, Erica was wonderful! So informative and responsive. Upon arriving to the sampling, we met with the General Manager, David. David went over all of our options very thoroughly and really helped us to understand the possibilities of the service and kitchen. Now for the tasting! Garfield was our server and he was wonderful! Continuously bringing out sharing plates and refilling our wine glasses. We sampled the bruschetta Quattro, shrimp and crab cakes, spicy shrimp and eggplant, and calamari for appetizers...all wonderfully presented and delicious! After the appetizers, the executive chef, Zack, came over to introduce himself. Zack offered his expert advice in pairings for pasta and entrees. So knowledgeable and helpful! For the entrees we sampling Gorgonzola encrusted beef medallions, the grilled salmon, chicken limone, chicken under the brick, and Zack's scallop special for the night. All to die for, especially the scallops and beef. As if we all weren't already stuffed, then came their six dessert sampler! Decadent is the only way to describe it. We left feeling extremely full and with the decision made to hold the rehearsal dinner there. The entire Brio staff really rolled out the red carpet and made us feel so special!
(5)Rob B.
I have heard about this Happy Hour, but the parking is oh such a drag; we have never tried it. Thursday night, we arrived at 5pm, happy hour runs 3-7pm. Wine and draft $5, snacks $3.95. SNACKS?! We had a whopping huge, cooked to order burger, a fair flat bread and the fried cheese rav (3). So dinner was $12 total! OMG and we brought the median age of the clientele up by 20 years. A must redo! Shrimp and eggplant looked delicious, will report back
(4)Alysia D.
The food was fantastic. But even more of a rarity, the service was beyond excellent. My husband and I went here for dinner last night, and I don't think we've ever been treated better at a restaurant by its staff. Our server was perfectly timed, as well as professional and kind. We left Brio raving about it, which is the way it should be. We will definitely be going back again!
(5)Christopher S.
Showed up for a late lunch with a party of eight. It was 3:00 PM and the place was packed this Saturday. Graduation weekend! Our server Blair was amazing. Very talented, efficient, tentative, friendly, funny. One of the best servers I have ever had anywhere. The appetizers, salads and entrees (all pasta dishes) were excellent. Delicious bread. Great appetizers. The price/value is good at Brio. Very consistent well manged restaurant in Annapolis.
(4)Caroline M.
Favorite happy hour in Annapolis. Great service. Love the bartender - Dave. Relaxing atmosphere- great in the summer when the doors are open from the bar to the enclosed patio. Happy hour is incredibly affordable and every plate on the bar menu is rich, and delicious. I love the burger, calamari, shrimptini, mozzarella/tomato/balsamic salad. Pastas are great too.
(5)Ebony H.
Very good food. The bread is yummy. Make reservations because the wait can be extremely long! The hostess brought out flat bread for the guests to nibble on while we waited and that was very good as well.
(4)D W.
We enjoy frequenting this Brio location in Annapolis. Parking is great. You can choose to park in the Whole Foods garage or the Target garage. Valet parking is available too. I love the decor. It's bright and open. We went on a Sunday so we were seated quickly. Our server was very nice and informative. The food was very good. I ordered the lasagna with the Caesar salad. The sauce, noodles, and meat were great. The salad was very fresh. My husband ordered the campanale carbonara. He loved it! My daughter ordered the pepperoni pizza with a side of fruit. It's a big pizza for a child so she had to take half of it home. I was impressed with the freshness of the fruit. We will definitely be back. Bro is a great option for a small or large group. The bread is very fresh too. I would give them 5 stars if they had an option of olive oil for the bread instead of butter, but I didn't ask, so maybe next time I will ask about that.
(4)Ma-e M.
Back to Brio but in Annapolis, near the town's mall and other shopping places. Parking -free is plenty in the Whole Foods Market indoor garage. It has valet, too unlike Brio's Baltimore. That's what I like about this branch is the parking situation. The restaurant interior looks luxurious and extravagant; you will notice like you are in Titanic ship and the design has similarity to The Cheesecake Factory restaurant. When you are in this Brio's, make sure you to look for the nice lady manager or she will stop by to greet you. The service is warm and immediate. I think Brio's business is build in making sure that customers are getting the friendly attention. I definite will frequent here.
(4)David W.
Move over Carrabba's... Way over! This place is heaven. I had the Shrimp and Lobster Fettuccine, my wife had crab & shrimp cakes and my son had pepperoni pizza. Everything was delicious and wholesome. I could only get 1/3 the way through the dish before being stuffed. I did save room for dessert! My son had strawberry cheesecake shooter and I had the bread pudding. Yummmmm-me! The service is top notch for this mid-level type restaurant. I felt well taken care of and the service was attentive. I love a restaurant when the manager asks me how my meal was and how I am doing. I'll be back here soon!
(5)Shaun T.
Going to Brio for the first time was a good experience. I was able to make simple reservations online via Yelp which made walking in on a Saturday right at dinner rush a great experience. My date and I got cocktails, an app, entrees, and dessert and it was all very good quality and very flavorful. Our server was nice, but forgetful. I had ordered a salad with my meal and it never came; when my drink was empty she came to take the glass, but didn't stay long enough to ask me if I wanted another or to allow me to tell her I did; when I placed a specific drink order with dessert half of what I ordered came but I had to send her back for the rest. The decor was nice, but it felt a little "too open." There was absolutely no feeling of privacy which made me feel like I was eating in a cafeteria. It seemed like it would be a great place to host a large gathering, but not a great place for a classy date. The only other issue I took with Brio was that the bar had a very limited selection and the options that were available were not particularly good. I would give it another try in the future, but I wouldn't go there again on a first date.
(3)Drew B.
Pretty good selection of typical Italian food with large portions. I would put it on par with Carabbas/Bertucci's/Macaroni Grill through Brio does tend to have a bit more of a variety to the menu in terms of slightly more refined dishes. The included bread basket they offer includes some interesting choices such as herbed flatbread. As other users have mentioned the Bellini seems to be the drink to go with at this establishment. The restaurant is very open on the inside and as such can, as other users have pointed out, get a little loud. As such I wasn't a fan of the layout but that's a rather small complaint. That being said the service was prompt and seating was fast. Given that its located in the town center ample parking can be found in the nearby (free) parking garages at Target/Whole Foods.
(3)Stacy R.
During a slow paced happy hour, the bartender was slow. The house wine was ok. The food was fresh and hot. However, our order was late.
(3)Jagdish L.
Today I visited this place expect food and every thing was very slow. The server took huge time in Bering the bread and food.
(1)Ashley S.
I've been to this location for brunch, lunch, and dinner. I always have a great meal. Pasta BRIO, Sliced Salad, Grilled salmon salad, Chicken Pomodora Classico are all delicious. Happy Hour prices are good. Their brunch is a great value for the price.
(5)Samuel R.
I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars based off of Food and Hospitality. Each is rated out of 2.5 stars. The Front of the House staff was superb, very considerate, helpful, and they communicate very well considering it started raining and we all had to move inside and they still remained on top of things. However if you are going there for the food as a lot of people would considering this is a slightly pricey restaurant then you might want to rethink where you go. The food is good quality if you get what you ordered, I ordered medium steak midalions and peppered shrimp and got well done, good but not what I wanted (Side note I had tried Shrimp for the first time and they were delicious). My mother ordered a salmon that was cooked well but didn't have the right side she ordered, and my sister ordered a pepperoni pizza that was almost raw and very saugy in the center. The wait staff acted as if this happened often so this brought on the thought of possibly getting a new executive chef. All in all 2 out of 2.5 on hospitality 1 on Food. I hope this review was helpful!
(3)Katelyn S.
First, let me say that I LOVE the Brio chain of restaurants, but this particular Brio is just bad. I much prefer the Brio at Tyson's Corner or Baltimore, which is unfortunate because this Brio is the closest one to my house. I've been to this Brio at least 5 times in the last 2 years and this location just keeps getting worse. The service is just plain terrible. Every time we have visited, it takes almost 15 minutes for a waiter to come over to the table to introduce themselves and take drink orders. They disappear for another 15 minutes and finally come back. By this time we already know what we want to eat, order, and they never come back to check on us until the food is ready to be served. I'm not sure why this Brio feels that their staff does not need to check in on their diners or act in a more prompt and courteous manner. The food is okay, but to me it doesn't seem up to Brio's standards. The calamari here is always on the "undercooked" side, not crispy, and appears to be "thrown" on the plate. Brio's calamari is my favorite calamari out of many restaurants, but this location always screws it up. The entrees here are okay, but never amazing. I recently dined at this location on Saturday, 11/15. Upon arriving, we were rudely told that large parties had taken over the dining room for the evening and they were no longer accepting walk ins. We were told to either sit in the "heated" terrace or squeeze in at the bar. The bar was filled to capacity, so we were off to the terrace. I knew we should have left, but we went to the "heated" terrace. The terrace was FREEZING. Yes, there were heat lamps, but I shivered my way through dinner, did not order a cocktail because it was too cold to drink, and left with numb feet and a cold nose. Not necessarily the dining experience I was looking to have. I believe only 1 or 2 waiters were working the terrace, so service was TERRIBLY slow. I think we waited over 20 minutes for bread to come to the table, another 20 for our salads to come out, etc. Our waiter was really nice and I could see he was in over his head, definitely not his fault at all. Perhaps the management could have helped him out or expedited the process? Overall, next time I have a craving for Brio, I'll be making the 45-60 minute trek to Tyson's or Baltimore. I'm done with Annapolis!
(2)Cara B.
Three words: Penne alla vodka! It's like a mini explosion of ricotta cheese in your mouth. (And no, that is not a euphemism.) Their bisque is also INCREDIBLE, and there's one server whos waited on us twice, about 6 months apart, and REMEMBERED us!! Now THAT is customer service! (He's the tallish, thinnish, African American gent who generally seems to have the two sections to the left when you walk into the main dining area.) This place is the bomb and will continue to be our go-to.
(5)Courtney K.
Brio can be a tad loud at dinner time but its perfect for lunch or weekend brunch. Service is always friendly and efficient and today it was even a little sexy. Ohh la la, Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome. . . Anyway, the food is fresh and although Italian can be heavy there are plenty of more waistline conscious items on the menu. Brio's salads are delicious plus they have a list of lighter items and a separate lunch menu. Their petite desserts are cute too and just enough sweet to make me feel satisfied without the guilt. If you want just a teeny tiny bit of sweet them grab some of the chocolate coated mints by the door.
(4)TravelPro P.
I am a fan of the Brio's chain, the food is nouvo Italian, and I find the dishes can lean to the spicy side so I am careful in what I pick. What I like about this location is the service is impeccable. I will typically sit at the bar and the bar staff are always on top of things, and after just a few visits they remember my orders and that I have a Brio's card. Parking is tight around the restaurant, so I usually just park where I want for shopping and walk down to the end of the mall where the restaurant is.
(4)Aubryana G.
I used to love this place but unfortunately the Mother's Day experience will keep me away. The brunch menu was weak and between the consistent swapping of dirty dishes, silverware and glasses...the experience just wasn't worth the hassle. Perhaps there was a change with chefs and or cooks, but the quality of food has diminished.
(1)Richard g.
You wait 45+ minutes for your food - the appetizers. You remind the bartender (yes, we were sitting at the bar) not once, but twice - still no food. And then, after cancelling the food order, the bartender has the gall to complain about the tip?! Jaime, you were not meant to be in this business, and my guess you won't be very long. We used to be regulars. We used to be OK with the somewhat-slow service. No longer. On to somewhere else.
(1)Sally B.
Thoroughly disgusted with BRIO!!! Our family has eaten has at several of them throughout the US and this one has a new manager who is a FOOL!!! We ate there 5/3/15 and our waiter should have been working at McDonald's NOT Brio! To say he was SLOW and UNEXPERIENCED is an understatement! The restaurant was not busy at all, yet another server helped by bringing out the oil for the bread and some drink refills and the manager helped bring out food. Then we asked for our leftover Lobster Bisque to be put in a "to-go" container. The waiter never brought it back to the table so my husband approached the manager who said they would give us a brand new order of the soup, not just the left over soup. HAH!!! The portion they gave was smaller than my leftover bisque. If Brio is smart they will fire this new manager and get one who has a clue!
(2)Christine C.
We enjoy Brio's! They are kid friendly, they have outdoor seating, and the menu is extensive enough to bring almost any palate to the table. I had something off the new light fare menu. Many of the selections are from the regular menu but there were some smaller versions of what is on the main menu. Including what I ordered, a grilled salmon. It came with feta, asparagus, and sweet potato. It was delicious!! Oh and they have overpriced spritzers as well for those of us that don't always indulge in adult libations or soda. We sat outdoors which was great, there is a grassy field the kids were able to run around on for a bit to help them get some energy out. Our server was nothing to write about but I have had pretty good experiences in the past with their servers. We will be back again.
(4)Laseandia H.
Everything from the side salad to the pasta dishes to the dessert are MAGICALLY delicious
(5)C S.
Our meal was good....service not so much. Bartender was very inattentive.....didn't ask how the meal was until we were almost finished although they were not busy. He should go through the training program at Great American Restaurants. They know service. Previous Brio experiences have been very good!
(2)Matti S.
Made reservations to meet a friend here last Saturday. On this particular night, reservations did not matter at all, apparently. We waited over 45 minutes to be seated after checking in at the hostess stand. People walking in without reservations were only waiting about an hour. Never had this happen anywhere else before so it's unclear what the issue was: if they were seating people without reservations before those with reservations, or if it was a massive misjudgment in timing. Either way, it was disappointing.
(3)Ana B.
Nice decor and good food. It's a little loud - restaurant is "wide open". I had the pasta brio, my daughter had the pasta alla vodka. Both were delicious. The Brio salad is ok, but the Bistecca Insalata was good. Service was excellent. Bread and cracker was really good.
(4)Zoë M.
Hmmm.....I've eaten in here twice and had take-out twice. The take-out was nice, one was hot and the other cold (they were supposed to both be hot). My review, unfortunately, reflects my last visit there which was 4 days ago. We took my parents there, having told them about how wonderful it is there. Meh. My husband had steak which was cold. He wouldn't normally moan about food being cold as it's me who likes it nuclear hot. However, the waiter was so apologetic and said he would be given a brand new steak. The waiter didn't lie, it was a brand new steak. However, the vegetables were even colder and, where my husband had tested the temperature with the tip of his little finger, the dent was still visible when the plate was brought back. I had a chicken dish which was, effectively, breaded chicken served over a pile of garlic spaghetti surrounded in a bland tomato sauce. It too was cold and I sent it back. My new one was very hot. My dad had the same as me and was prepared to put up with the tepid temperature. Mum enjoyed hers. As compensation, we were offered free dessert. It seems a cop-out so they don't have to delete the bad meals from the check. The first waiter we had was rude and dismissive. He barely looked at us and didn't say much at all. About 10 minutes later, a new waiter came over and was extremely pleasant (a little too attentive) and explained the first one had been sent home by the manager. We later saw the first waiter skulking about the restaurant. Overall, not the most pleasant experience and not one I will be repeating. It was a little embarrassing, having told my parents how nice the place was, to be given second-rate food.
(2)Adam F.
off to a good start, but the lasagna pasta was awful and soft and terrible. I can only guess they prepare these things so far in advance that the bottom layers of the pasta began to dissolve in the sauce.
(1)Dianne Z.
Met some old friends here for lunch (I did not select the venue). This is a chain restaurant wanting to be more. White paper over white tablecloths? "Bread basket" and cold slab of butter was not attractive and went untouched. Our waiter, at first overly suggestive, became more relaxed and let it be known we were welcome to stay as long as we liked (we were catching up on old times). In my opinion, expensive for lunch and food not any better than Olive Garden. Be forewarned that you will most likely need to use a parking garage if you do not elect for the valet parking.
(2)Jen L.
Great specials, definitely ask your waiter or waitress for them! It's worth while to listen to them first before you decide off the menu. They definitely have an extensive list of specials for entree and drinks. The pasta is very fresh. None of their pasta dishes ever disappoint. My favorite salad has got to be the wedge salad; I get it every time I come in here. The portions are huge, so come hungry. They have lots of options so if you are a picky eater you will most likely find some thing here. The dessert portions are actually smaller; especially when you are trying to minimize the sweets. They had a special parfait that was perfect in sweetness and portion size. Just enough to satisfy the need for sweets but not over indulge.
(4)Kathryn E.
Amazing night out on the patio. Excellent wine and loved the 3 course menu for 19.95, which they have Sunday-Thursday. Definitely try the crab-stuffed tilapia which was amazing and perfectly unexpected for a chain restaurant. You will be pleasantly surprised.
(4)Kathea S.
Maybe it was just last night or maybe it was just our server but last night was a very poor experience. There was a 30 minute wait, so we opted for bar seats. Server came over immediately and took a drink order. Salads were delivered quickly but after that service was slow. Server only came by twice, I think to check on us. Never came by after our entrees were delivered. Manager never came by our table at all. I felt my pasta was undercooked. I realize that's probably an opinion but it was far to chewy. That being said the cream sauce was very nice and overall the dish wasn't bad. The table next to us got lamb chops that were overcooked and a smaller portion than the other nearby table. The manager came to check on them. The server never seemed to be able to do more than one thing at a time. So unimpressed. We could've spent the same amount of money at the Chophouse and gotten better food and service.
(2)Ashley C.
This is usually my go-to in MD on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The bar is pretty empty then so my husband and I usually sit at the bar and get great service. The portion sizes are huuuuuge! My favorite dishes are the Pasta Vodka or the Mushroom Ravioli. So yummy! Drink-wise, the Bellini is delicious.
(5)Dave Williams W.
Good food & prices not too bad imo. Best shrimp & crab appetizer I've ever had. Had the shrimp & scallop fettucine(sp) which was very good. Party of 4 was $100 plus tip. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)Chris H.
I was very surprised with this place, caught me a bit off guard honestly. The price was very reasonable but the service and presentation made me feel like I was paying $60+ a dish. I was a bit confused in the beginning as our waiter was an older man, then after he took our drink orders, a younger waiter came to help us and we never saw the other one again. Which is perfectly fine, the first waiter was not very friendly. Anyways, I got the lamb chops and my gf got the filet mignon, I forget which one exactly but it was the last filet on the menu for around $28. Lamb chops were very well presented, 6 of them laid out over a bed of mashed potatoes and a side of sauteed spinach. It was super delicious, all of it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The filet wasn't as well presented but it was delicious. I left very satisfied and content with the meal. I'm actually craving those lamb chops at this very moment, they really were very good. I highly recommend it! As for the look and feel of the place, it was all very good. Had a spice of renaissance feel to it. Everything was clean and maintained. I would definitely go back.
(4)Bighair P.
We went to Brio for a high school graduation celebratory brunch. Several in our party ordered the Mediterranean Chicken Salad--mediocre, at best. The menu indicates "grilled" chicken and all salads had thin slices of chicken (similar to chicken lunchmeat from a deli). The rest of it was OK--nothing special in the way of ingredients or flavoring (not enough of either). For a $15 entree salad, this is a disgrace. Those who had pasta were happy with their dishes. Not one of the 6 who ordered the "specialty" lemonade were impressed with the taste--too sweet.....and refills are not included (as they are with iced tea). Although there were plenty of tables available, our server was a little too quick trying to move us along. She took up the bread bowls (with bread still left in them) before everyone was done with their meals. For a first visit, very disappointing!! The only way I will go back is to check out the bar and happy hour specials. Otherwise--not worthy of my time and money, particularly for a special occasion.
(2)Kayla F.
Met up with a friend for Happy Hour and was very impressed with their drink selection. I ordered one of the red sangrias...delicious! And only $5! Their happy hour dishes (bar only) were only $3.95 each which was an awesome deal, not to mention very delicious as well. Service was superb! Will definitely be coming back for more happy hours here :)
(5)Joseph A M.
Never a bad meal at this a little bit upscale Italian Restaurant! Drinks & Dinner with my wife and visiting son was excellent and the service was great , in spite of an overflow crowd in town on the eve of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run!
(5)Nancy A.
I had been to Brio a few times prior to last night and I had some really good food and wine. The food was probably 4 out of 5 - however - there were a few problems. Last night, it was busier than they expected and it seemed as if all of the staff was losing control of themselves. There did not seem to be a management presence and it seemed very disorganized. There was a 20-30 min wait, so the hostess put my name on the list and gave me a pager. We waited outside on the bench for 30 min and I went inside to check on the wait. The hostess said, "Oh yeah we've been paging you for like 15 min." Uhhhh, I guess the pager's not working because we were sitting 2 feet from the door. I asked her to test the pager, so she did - it didn't vibrate. "Huh, that's weird, yeah, sorry about that." We get to our table and order. Our food comes out - everything tasted very good! That was, until my friend found a spider crawling in her food. She alerted the nearest waitress and the waitress saw the spider and took the plate away. The waitress came back out after talking to the manager and she said, "The manager said the spider probably came in from the patio." Hmm, well, we were sitting more than 10 feet away from the patio, so that spider must have cool as hell to crawl all that way and end up on my friend's plate on a piece of asparagus. I don't know, I just wish they would have apologized and comped our check and left it at that rather then offering up some weird illogical explanation. They had my friend choose another meal on the house and gave us each a $10 coupon for our next visit. Brio did comp my friend's portion of the check... but not mine?? It was weird... comp the whole check and move on, but no they preferred going the awkward route of bringing me a check for my portion of the meal. So, I mean, whatever, I paid it. But they did give my friend a free piece of chocolate cake!!!!!!!! The shining star in this fiasco was Emily - not sure if she was the manager or supervisor, but she handled the situation as best as she could.
(3)Drew M.
I think this can be hit or miss. We have been here in the past and did not have a good experience. However, we went tonight and we had an excellent experience. The service was excellent, the food was very good and large portions. it was a very relaxing meal. Given our experience today, I would go back.
(4)Tom C.
I'll begin by saying that this is NOT the place to go for a quiet, intimate dinner. That's why I'm giving Brio Tuscan Grille only three stars. My wife described it perfectly when she compared it to a feeding trough for cattle! The place is exceedingly noisy and cramped. We had a reservation (luckily) and were seated promptly. However, we grew impatient waiting for our server to show her face. We were just about to moo loudly, scrape the ground with our hooves, and charge boldly at the next server that came by when our lovely server sensed our displeasure and welcomed us to the restaurant. From that point the service was good. The food was excellent, rating a solid four stars. We began with the Bruschetta Quattro, which were delicious. Our chopped salads were made with fresh, crisp veggies accented by a light and flavorful vinaigrette. We grazed as contented cattle do. I chose the gorgonzola-crusted Bistecca for my entree (I guess that makes me a canibal). Cooked to perfection and very flavorful. My wife selected the Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno and was pleased. The portions are VERY generous. Neither of us could finish, even with the multiple stomachs we cattle are blessed with. The desserts were good, albeit pretty pedestrian. But, then, what do bovines know of dessert? I'll close with this question hoping that someone from their organization actually reads Yelp: Why can't restaurants that serve wonderful food set aside a number of tables in a quiet, intimate setting for folks who like to converse over dinner without having to yell, and eat without bumping elbows with the people at the next table? We won't go back to Brio Tuscan Grille because of the noisy and cramped atmosphere. Moo!
(3)E L.
Tuscan Lettuce Wraps - 2 stars Spicy Shrimp & Eggplant - 4 stars Margherita Flatbread - 4 stars Beef Carpaccio - 3 stars Crispy Shrimp Piccante - 4 stars Service - 4 stars
(4)Kelly G.
The day after Christmas I came to happy hour here with Mara G. Went wild. Riesling $5.00. Prosecco $5.00. Shrimp & eggplant $2.95. Shrimp martini $2.95. Bread. The service at the tall bar tables at happy hour was decent. Not overbearing. Not totally missing. And there is valet parking there for $2.00 and you can wait inside of a heated tent. I'm a fan of this place.
(4)Trudy S.
Great dinner tonight. The Bruschetta Quattro was a generous size and was delicious. The Campanelle Carbonara included grilled chicken and alfredo sauce - YUM! The Sausage Peperonata Pomodora was also very good. My sister's Chicken Piccata was somewhat overcooked and when she mentioned it to the staff, they not only prepared it again for her, which was delicious, but they also didn't charge her for the dish and gave us a complimentary dessert. The staff was very attentive and understanding. We will definitely be going back.
(5)Kristell R.
I had the worst service at 3pm with the bartender. Felt ignored. Took 5 minutes to get my first beverage when it was clear that she was not at all busy. Had to ask to order. I love Brio and hope this was a one time thing!
(2)Donald M.
Stopped in for an adult beverage last night. Prices were reasonable, wine selection was varied, and people watching was excellent!
(3)Linda D.
Still 3 stars, and here is why... They added drink specials to the happy hour but upped the price of the Tuscan Tasters to $3.95. Still an excellent deal i will say, however you removed the best taster, Shrimptini. The reason for the 3 stars in the first place was because of the service which still needs improvement.
(3)Geoff G.
When I lived in Annapolis, Brio would not have ever been on my short list of Italian places to eat. Not that there is any kind of overflow on decent Italian restaurants in the area, but just that there are enough of them where Brio would be "next" on the list, if you know what I mean. The funny thing is, now that I live in Olney, I WISH there was a Brio in my neighborhood. (That is just as much of a knock on the Italian restaurants in Olney as it is a compliment to Brio). What I can tell you though, is that there are a decent amount of items that I would gladly order whenever dining at Brio. Take a stab at these menu suggestions below the next time you find yourself at the Tuscan Grille. Appetizers: Any of the Bruschetta, Wedge Salad, Shrimp and Eggplant App, Lamb Chops, Beef Carpaccio. Dinner: Steak Salad, Chicken Milanese, Chicken Limone, Veal Milanese, Lamb Chops, Strip Steak, Spaghetti Bolognese. Pros: Food is not over priced for what you get. They run a great Happy Hour that they call "Tuscan Tasters" which is one of the best deals going. If you stick with what they do well, you will enjoy your meal. Cons: Alcohol here is ridiculously priced for the quality of the wine. Very select food menu items that are going to please you (IMO). Bottom Line: This place deserves a solid 3 stars. It is a good restaurant, and above average for "chain" establishments.
(3)Ildefonso P.
We stopped by for happy hour and appetizers on a Weekday and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the appetizers offered. The bar drinks were good, though a bit sweet for my taste - I had the Mojito Classico. The service was superb and very professional. Keep up the good work. We will surely be back.
(5)Angela Z.
Interesting place, very attractive, but the food is not. My grilled chicken salad looked and tasted like shredded lunch meat. Our waiter disappeared after our apps were served. We waited about 30 minutes after that for the entree to show up. Another waiter dropped them off and that was the last we saw of anyone until we flagged someone down to get the check. Not the service we expected. We were seated (even though it wasn't that busy) right next to the curtain at the kitchen/servers entrance. Hard to believe ewe became so very invisible! I have no intention of going back here again!
(2)Emily S.
I went here recently while visiting family. It was ok... nothing spectacular, but no real misses either. Service was alright, a little slow even though there weren't many people in the restaurant. Everyone's order came out correctly. I ordered a wedge salad, and it came with the core attached to the bottom, which was a bit off-putting. Our biggest complaint was that bread didn't come out until our entrees came out. Prices were standard for other chains in the area. I wouldn't seek Brio out on my own, but would eat here again.
(3)Waverly B.
This past Friday night after some intense Christmas shopping my husband & I ended up here for their late night Happy Hour. We've dined at this specific Brio location several times & have had almost all pleasant experiences. Last night started out a bit rough because we sat at a bar table for roughly 10-15 minutes before we were greeted. I was pretty shocked that there were roughly 5 different servers that had walked by our table in that time without stopping to greet us or grab our server. When our server finally came to take our order he was very apologetic & sincere which I appreciated. Just when I thought that things were starting to head in a better direction I received my "mango mojito" ... in my entire life I have never seen a mojito served without any mint leaves in it & when I asked how the drink was prepared our server said "uhh sorry he's our back up bar tender since the normal one is busy, I guess he kinda half assed it" ... needless to say I was a bit shocked. I understand that since I'm in my early 20's that he must have felt comfortable with us, but it was still very unprofessional. Alright, so you're probably wondering why I still gave them 3 Stars and not less considering the level of service. 1) The food is yummy (esp. the burger) & at under $4 a plate I'm good with that :) 2) The manager that night came over after our food came out & apologized to us for the long wait time. She also took care of our first round of drinks & bought us a lovely dessert. Overall, it is what it is a late night happy hour spot for us after hitting the mall. At $4 a plate I'm not expecting the world just some hot food & refreshing drinks. I've never eaten here for dinner, just for happy hour & although the service isn't always consistent the quality of food for the price is worth it.
(3)H W.
I love this place! The outdoor dining atmosphere is great! They have couches and 2 happy hours. The service is great and I have never had a bad meal there. Good date night spot.
(4)Maseeh R.
This place gets 1.5 stars in my book, but for yelps sake, we'll just round DOWN. Dining here was one of the more frustrating experiences of my winter break. I had high hopes coming in to Brio, but those were shot down quite bluntly. I started by waiting 15 minutes before even being acknowledged by our elderly and completely inattentive server (management, if you are reading, his name was Robert, and he is too old to be doing this.) Getting this mans attention for a drink or app order was a feat in itself. We ordered the bruschetta sampler, and they were all gross save for the normal bruschetta. Just a bad mix of ingredients on all of them, really bad. I then ordered a chicken parm, and got something I could have had in a frozen dinner...nothing special at all. After dinner we did our best to wave named server down and ordered lemon drop shots...we got lemon drop martinis...too sweet to even smell. After waiting another 15 minutes in a now nearly empty restaurant, I finally got up to ask the waiter for a check. This place is not good...I'd actually go to squisito before going to this dump again... P.S. Where the hell was gnocchi? What kind of italian restaurant is this? meh...
(1)John K.
If Brio's were a hotel it would be a lively, animated resort with something for the whole family as opposed to an intimate bed and breakfast or a Holiday Inn. ******************* I used to lament that Annapolis didn't have an Olive Garden. *I sense my fellow Yelpers judging me right now. * Please hear me out. (I'll admit, I love their bottomless salad bowl and bread sticks.) Now I'm glad Crabtown waited and got a Brios instead. As Jason M. noted last month, it has a fun atmosphere, and the decor brings the cavernous interior down to a more comfortable, personal scale. It was a perfect venue for my daughter's 16-year old birthday dinner. Perhaps Brios has worked out the kinks, and service problems noted by previous reviewers have been corrected. Even with a table of 12, there were no hiccoughs or burps. Everyone was happy with their food. Darling wife and I split our favorite, the 14 oz gorgonzola strip steak. It was cooked perfectly. If Brio's were a hotel it would be a lively, animated resort with something or the whole family as opposed to an intimate bed and breakfast or a Holiday Inn. If the chain were a cruise line, it would be like Norwegian. All the amenities of a big ship, not at all stuffy, and maybe just a tad raucous.
(4)Brooke S.
I love going to Brio in the summer and sitting outside. It's just so relaxing, especially with the fountain right next to it. Honestly, I go for the atmosphere more than the food. All of their food is good, only some of it is great. However, their happy hour options are really great deals for good sized portions. They also have been very accommodating when I bring my dog. Unfortunately upper management didn't agree to the law Annapolis passed this year to allow dogs on the outside patio areas. But when I do go with my dog, they let me sit in the bar patio with my dog on the other side of the "barrier" (which is no more than a single chain). They also bring water for my dog. It's nice that they are so accommodating when they don't have to be.
(4)Jason M.
Stopped into Brio a few weeks ago, my wife and I frequent PF Changs right across from Brio and I must say I'm very impressed with the atmosphere and inside is just beautiful. The inside of Brio looks very fancy but it is a casual dress restaurant. The service was good, kind of slow but that's fine. The food was great, my wife and I both had the Pasta Fra Diavolo with chicken. The menu said it was going to be spicy but I've been to many places that said the dish was going to be spicy and wasn't. Well this dish was spicy, not overly spicy but has a nice kick to it and it doesn't take away from the flavors of the dish. Will be going back, I want to try and order something different but I'm sure I'll end up getting the same thing again.
(4)Denise R.
The best thing about this Restaurant is that P.F. Changs was in walking distance. We ordered two beers, which is what earned the two stars even though they weren't that cold, and the Flatbread appetizer. 20 minutes later we got our appetizer and it was just Luke warm. Place was not even that busy. Needless to say we decided we didn't want to wait over an hour for our dinner so we decided to walk over to P.F. Changs. That was our first and last visit.
(2)Heather M.
Brought my parents here who eat at their local Brio in Chicago all the time and are treated like royalty. This Brio is a disaster. The hostess wasn't at her post so we stood around for several minutes waiting. Our waiter was young and nervous (we didn't mind that) and spilled wine every time he poured, the one appetizer we orderd took 50 minutes to arrive and was ice cold (margarita flatbread) and our dinners (two salads and two vegetarian pastas) didn't arrive until nearly 90 minutes after we had sat down. The waiter apologized and kept saying the food was coming, but it really wasn't. We asked for a round of wine on the house since we had finished the bottle we ordered long before our meals arrived. The glasses came, with the manager's apparent approval, but he never stopped over to ask what went wrong. Also, the restaurant was about 40% full that night so it's not as if the kitchen was slammed. We had been warned the service was atrocious here and went anyway, but never again.
(1)Kurt C.
I had a pleasant time here. I visited with a colleague on a Saturday evening around the winter holidays. We didn't wait long at all, even though the place was packed. We waited ten minutes, if that. Our waiter was indifferent, but she was friendly and professional. The food was good. I liked the taste and presentation. I ordered a bruschetta dish with a couple of Long Islands and a delicious cinnamon sugar apple martini. Don't judge me! It was great! The portions were small, but I did order light. I ended up ordering a chicken parmesean for home and called it a night. The ambience was casual/conservative, with good nonintrusive light. The tables are close in proximity, but leave a respectful distance between you and other patrons. I'm not rushing to go back. In fact, I havent returned since that beautiful winter night, but I surely wouldn't mind another visit.
(4)David M.
I dined at this restaurant on a Friday night as the event coordinator of a 22 person group. Everyone was happy with the food service and the food quality, as well as the overall speed of delivery throughout the dining portion of the evening. Additionally, our group was serviced in a curtained-off section of the restaurant that afforded privacy and intimacy for the event. The reason I rated the restaurant 3 stars instead of higher is because we ran into an significant, unexpected problem during check-out that nearly ruined the experience for everyone in attendance. Our waitress informed us that she was unable to split the check and instead brought out a single bill of $627 and told us that we were to pick out what we had consumed and hand over our credit cards with a note saying how much each card was to be charged. Further complicating the issue was the fact that all drinks and similar entrees/appetizers were on single line items with no organization at all. Needless to say, everyone was surprised because such check-out experiences are unheard of when large groups go to restaurants. After about 30 minutes of discussions and math done on various smart phones, we were finally successful in settling the monster bill. On the bright side, I spoke with the manager that evening, Jessica, and she assured me that we had been misinformed and that splitting a check is supported by the billing software. It might be some time before I organize another large party event at this restaurant but if I do, I'll be sure to call ahead and ensure there are no surprises awaiting checkout again.
(3)Master Z.
Awesome happy hour special for $2.95 and even dessert was $2.50. I took my wife here for the first time and she really enjoyed it. Great brio burger with home made chips, try the shrimp and fried eggplant as well as the ravioli. Highly recommend the Tyson corner and Annapolis locations for Happy hour from 3pm to 7pm.
(5)Joe K.
I started the evening wanting something quite, a little different, and no children. I decided Brio was worth a shot plus it was about to storm. A twenty minute wait kept us up front, as the bar became packed in from the storm. A server walked between the bar and waiting room, he carried the chef's special flat bread, I wasn't a fan but they kept wanting to pawn it off, "I can't go back to the chef with a food still on the tray," instantly I knocked one star off. We were seated in doors, the surroundings were very loud, something I couldn't notice from the front. The seats were fine, I had no issues with them, thankfully this place has a little taste ie. no booths. Broken tile on the wall's, chandeliers, bowing drapes and open windows with a view to the town centere, I like the atmosphere. Our waiter was quick and greeted us and had our wine orders taken in seconds. His recommendation on my preferences were spot on. Upon his recommendation he said,"DO NOT order that." Suggesting the item I wanted wasn't that good and if I like "spicy, try this." Before the meal i got the lobster bisque. This is amazing, some of the best I have ever had. Rich, creamy the way it should be. Hunk's of lobster meat swam in my bisque, adding enhanced flavor to my meal. After a good wine, the meal came. It was okay, at the best. Nothing was too spicy like i was sold on. I couldn't wrap my self around the idea of spicy here, maybe it was because the meal was topped with scallions , that might be spicy? I am unsure what he was thinking, I didn't finish the meal, a little too large for me. Very creamy, with a little but of tomato here and there, but wasn't that special. I also opted out on a box for this, but was willing for another glass of wine and desert. A little bit of creme burlee never hurt anyone, even if it's shared. The desert was average fair and what I would've expected from the dish. The wine again was very spot on from the recommendation my waiter gave. At the end of the day this place was a upscale visit to the olive garden. No endless soup and bread sticks but it was passable for Tuscan inspired dishes. I am unsure if i can make a return to such a average place with above average pricing.
(3)Tina T.
If you're dining- in at Brio I'd say it's a great place, good food, atmosphere & friendly staff. However if you order carryout, not the same experience. Twice I've ordered the beef carpaccio & both times the serving was quite a bit smaller & the crostini were not included. If you want carryout after a busy day I wouldn't suggest getting it from Brio.
(3)C W.
Been several times for happy hour as well as dinner... Generally a nice, classy place. Service is a bit slow especially surrounding drinks ordered from the bar but the food is good. The specials are reasonable, some other stuff not so much. If you get a good waiter, ask them their opinion of specific dishes, they have served us well and we have always liked ours.
(3)Debbie K.
To begin with, you cannot beat the easy and free parking at Annapolis Towne Centre. Then you stroll from the parking garage over to Brio and walk into this BEAUTIFUL restaurant. On a Friday evening, there was no wait-- awesome! We went out onto the patio for dinner and the ambiance was so lovely from the lights to the giant pillar structure between Brio and PF Changs, I really lost myself forgetting we were right next to a main road. The bread they bring you is absolutely delicious. I ordered a glass of wine and the salmon plate which came with a hilarious amount of potato crisps (garnish?) on top; however, once I moved those aside, the salmon and asparagus was absolutely the best. I had to force myself to not eat any more or to get dessert, which I had a feeling would also be delicious. The service was a bit on the slower side, but again, we were enjoying just sitting there and relaxing, so I was almost glad that the slower service forced us to enjoy the atmosphere. I would come here again in a heartbeat... but probably only for special occasions for dinner because it was a bit on the expensive side. But trust me, i will look for an occasion to come back here!
(4)Shane N.
I wasn't really expecting much from Brio, but I was hoping it would be on par with an Olive Garden. This place is no Olive Garden. It tries to be more than Olive Garden, but it is setting its sights too high. A message to smaller chain restaurants: Just be yourself. We stopped in for a late lunch, because we wanted to try something new. We hadn't been to Brio and we were by the Towne Centre, so that is where we stopped. I had a pasta with vodka sauce. The vodka sauce was terrible. It was basically water. It was extremely thin and with hardly any flavor. It was like my pasta was floating in a bland soup. The pasta was little packages filled with ricotta. The pasta was soggy (probably from soaking in the water based sauce) and I don't even remember tasting the ricotta. Also the fried calamari just wasn't any good. It was caked in breading that didn't have any flavor, so not only did the breading not provide any flavor, but it was thick enough to mask any potential flavor from the calamari itself. It didn't come with any lemon, so I took the lemon from my water and gave it a squirt so that the calamari tasted like something. The service was good and the price was reasonable, but I don't see myself going back any time soon.
(2)Frank R.
Went to Brio's for yet another celebration and the choice was on point. First we went during happy hour with $5.00 drink specials. Then we sat on the patio and waited for our server we waited a bit but it wasn't too long but long enough that another server asked have we ordered yet. Our server was a kid, friendly but clearly inexperienced and rattled because of the busy atmosphere. He was asked about a drink selection's taste and was informed he was underaged. Now perhaps a underage kid should not be a server during happy hour but who asks about a drink's taste? I'm giving him a mulligan on that. Now about the food, the appertizer fried calmari was great. The entrees were plentiful. Great job. Brio's was a welcolme respite from the Olive Garden chain but because of service I will give them a 4.5. Worked in the food industry for a few years, 18 year old bus tables so I can't blame him for his inexperience.
(4)Michelle D.
We went here to celebrate my son and daughter-in-law getting married! Everything was wonderful. The pasta is home-made, the sauces have a lot of flavor (also house made... at least they tasted house made) Serving sizes are large enough to very comfortably feed two! I ordered the lasagna and I think it was enough for three! I had their version of the wedge salad... I could have just had that and the bruschetta. I absolutely loved both. We shared two orders of the bruschetta sampler. Each one was good and very fresh. My favorite was the roasted red pepper and mozzarella. Had the cheesecake for dessert. Loved it too! It was also huge... Again, more than enough for two people. Service is a bit slow paced... But very good. The total bill for 7 of us was $253.00. This included about $50.00 in alcohol, 3 appetizers, 7 dinner entrees with salad, 4 coffees, 6 soft drinks, and 7 desserts. Decor is very Tuscan... Very beautiful! Will definitely return... Loved it!
(5)Patrick H.
There are possibilities here, but the execution is a long way off. My dining partner in crime and I stopped in for a late lunch this past weekend eager to give this newest addition to Annapolis Towne Center a try. Let me start by telling you the space is spectacular. High cielings, faux marble, tasteful prints and flowing gossamer adorn the dining room. We were seated promptly and greeted by a server who took our drink order. Shortly after that we were greeted by a different server also wanting to take our drink order. Apparently they duked it out in the back and Server number Two was the victor because we never saw Server One again. Too bad. Server Two really needs some training. We started with the Spicy Shrimp and Eggplant appetizer. The shrimp were cooked nicely and appropriately spicy, served on top of crisp rounds of deep fried eggplant. The sauce is rich and dark and frankly, indescribable. I asked Server Two what it was. He wasn't sure either, adding, I could ask the chef or something. That's ok Server Two, don't knock yourself out. I can tell you it was VERY OILY. It would have been great to have some bread with it. We asked for bread no less than 3 times. It finally came with my grilled flatbread. Uh, yeah, great. Grilled flatbread and... bread. Thanks. I had a chopped salad. Very simple presentation, which is fine by me. The dining partner in crime had the caesar salad. It was also fine. For entree I had the pepperoni, sausage and ricotta cheese flatbread. Essentially an oblong pizza. It was good, but lacked a little verve. The dining partner in crime had the same. We decided to sample dessert, and since we were in an Italian restaurant I wanted an espresso. When I ordered the espresso, Server Two explained to me that they were out of single espressos and I would have to have a double. Ok, I understand what's going on here, but does anyone else see the irony in that? For dessert we shared the mini dessert sampler. All come in espresso cups... unlike my espresso which came in a big coffee cup. I've already intimated that service was a little lacking. Let's just say, it took 2 full hours for lunch. Granted we ordered a lot, but still, there were LONG periods of time where we waited for someone, anyone to stop by our table. At the end of our meal, Server One happened by and asked if we had enjoyed ourselves. I simply replied, "We missed you." They've only been open for a month and I'm sure we will give them another try. They do serve brunch on the weekends, which is nice. If they can work out the kinks, this will be a great spot and another great addition to Annapolis.
(3)Kevin B.
Went for Father's Day with my extended family, there were eleven of us in the party. They took our reservation the day before, something we did as a precaution. Our reservation was for five o'clock but we could've been seated right away as there were only a few parties at their table. In the interests of full disclosure, the place was full by six o'clock. We had two servers which, to me, means we should've been waited on hand and foot. They were adequate yet seemed distant and came by our table just enough to let us know they hadn't forgotten us. I ordered their lobster bisque and gorgonzola crusted strip steak. The bisque was pretty standard. It comes with shrimp in it and I view that as a filler so that they don't have to put in as much lobster. Another in our party ordered the calamari and that was actually pretty good; I enjoyed the lemon aioli that came with it. The steak was just a bit overdone but wasn't bad. The space inside is very open and has very low walls so that you can see everything going on including the kitchen. There is outdoor seating and would've been nice considering it was a beautiful day outside. While I'd go back if somebody wanted to go there, I'll never suggest the place as there are plenty of places in West Annapolis.
(3)Liz S.
We had a great time at the restaurant until the end and then they blew it. The food was good it came out right on time until we ordered dessert. Yes, the restaurant filled up by that time but not being able to handle dessert in a timely manner (20 minutes) is not good. I suggest they hire more staff in the kitchen. The food was so fresh that the fettucine melted in your mouth and the lobster and shrimp was cooked to perfection. The salad though was not okay I do not believe you should serve brown lettucue. I should have sent it back. The raspberry cheesecake was heaven. They did give us our desserts for free because of the wait. In my opinion that is the sign of a manager that knows how to treat his clients. We would definitely go back.
(4)Tim M.
Gave Brio a shot for carry out lunch today. Had the lobster bisque $5.95 and the Garganelli Carbonara (carbonara, for you regular 5-star yelpers is that heart-attack-waiting-to-happen cream and cheese sauced pasta dish with bacon). Brio's description of this dish is 'wood-grilled chicken, crisp bacon, parmesan cheese, and sauteed spinach' for $13.95. Garganelli was a surprisingly new pasta for me - basically a hand rolled penne. The portion for 14 bucks was massive - I couldn't finish it all and unfortuantely carbonara does not make for good leftovers (the sauce typically breaks when reheated). My order also came with 3 pieces of herbed flatbread and a half loaf of foccaccia. I'm not a big bread guy so I gave the focaccia to a co-worker but the flatbread was really very good. The pasta dish overall was good although the bacon was hardly 'crispy'. Carry out can have its drawbacks - I take that into account. If you order fried food to go and complain it is soggy when you get it home you're being a dummy. If the pasta in this dish was truly hand-made I have to say I did like it alot - it's a little lighter than penne and it was cooked to my liking (very al-dente). The lobster bisque had a nice presentation with a splash of sherry, olive oil, and a few chopped shrimp still intact in the center when I opened it up. I've had far worse lobster bisque but I can't say that I could really identify any true lobster flavor in it - it was much more like a shrimp bisque. It was good however - not 5-star AMAZING (lol) but it was good. The place is gorgeous - maybe too much. The bar is adjacent to a open-air patio as described by other reviewers. I will bring the fiance for a sunset dinner sometime and give the in-person service a spin. I'll update this review if necessary after that visit. Service by the way was fine on my visit. My order was ready in the agreed upon time coordinates and my wait on hold for carry out ordering around noon was minimal. Everything was ready when I walked in and I was out and on my way with no delay. Everyone was friendly and efficient. All in all this place was fine for my first visit. Nothing to write home about - I don't know that Mezzanote or Domenica's has anything to worry about. This is a chain after all. If you're really looking for 4-5 star italian in Annapolis go to one of those places. Brio is geared more for the adult-mall-rat crowd who are not fully discerning in regard to complete authenticity.
(3)miss marie b.
I have only eaten in the bar area so that's all I will review. service is quick. friendly and helpful. there is a happy hour food specials for $2.95 after 3-7 and after 9... although the deal is good if you want to get a bunch of different things to try. Italian wedding cake martini- very yummy. they have mini desserts in cappuccino cups for $2.25. my favorites are the tiramisu and the vanilla bean creme brulee. they have good lunch specials where you can choose an item and a side salad. I had the seafood risotto. It was good but there was some kind of vegetable in it that I didn't like but other than that, it was tasty. they have a nice out door patio area with tables and couches. very comfy looking. the inside of the building is nicely lit and is decorated beautifully. funny thing- the servers there aren't allowed to tell you their names unless you ask.
(4)Erik P.
I, too, have only eaten at the bar, so I can't say much about the service in the restaurant area. The food is pretty good, especially if you can get the happy hour appetizer special and the Wednesday wine special, but you usually have to come early to get a seat as the bar area is small (outside on the side of the bar does not count). Many appetizers were very good including the eggplant and bruschetta, and I have not found something I did not like. For the main course our waiter recommended the veal, which was tender and delicious and I would recommend it too. They have no problem splitting orders, which then come on separate plates. The drinks are well made; although, I did not have wine or see their selection. The wait staff were usually attentive, but the food was fast (granted the restaurant was not very busy at the time). The patrons are usually middle age or older, but I suppose that is who they are aiming for. They have cheap valet parking in the front, and it is easy to walk around or have a beer afterward at Gordon Biersch.
(4)Mimi J.
It's a lovely place to dine. This was my second visit. The first visit for brunch I loved, but this second dinner visit I just liked. I went with some girlfriends to catch up on life, so, we where there for a while. I know that the new thing is for the wait staff to rush folks along (and I HATE that), however, I explained up front that we were going to be catching up so there's no need to rush us and that we'd tip her very well for her patience...and we did. Our waitress was excellent, except she forgot our appetizers. I won't hold that her against her, however...Now on to the food. I had the Crab and Shrimp Cakes with Roasted Veggies and Crispy Potatoes. It was very very tasty, yet the serving was very very skimpy. The two cakes where about the size of silver dollars and the veggies and crispy potatoes I'm sure equaled about 1/4th cup COMBINED (S/N- I really like veggies) This meal was served on a HUGE Brio monogrammed plate which made the presentation even more hilarious...Hmmm tapas come to mind. Anyhoo, it's a good thing that eating smaller portions is on my "to do" list for 2013. This was definitely a start.
(3)Chelsea M.
The restaurant itself is really nice and service is good. the food were ok nothing special might go back again.
(3)Jenn M.
I'm such a fan of Brio Tuscan Grille and I've been to a number of different locations while traveling. The food is always done just right and on the one occasion where my steak was just a tad overcooked - they took care of it and brought out a brand new filet. I love the smaller sized dessert selections - it's just enough without feeling too guilty about indulging your sweet-tooth.
(4)Jamie H.
After telling my mom for the last three months to try Brio, we finally did while I was visiting. I know there's Brio's in Texas aka home but I don't spend that amount that often. So we waltzed in, got a seat and within a split second our waiter was at the table asking how we were and what we'd like to drink. For my first impression of Brio, they blew me out of the water. I finally figured out what I wanted after going back and forth. So I ordered a Brio Bellini, Bistecca Insalata and a Mezza lasagna. Everything was lick your chops good, the only thing I would of changed is the salad. The Bistecca isn't my cup of tea however I did get a few bites of the amazing chopped salad. Next time, I'll go with the chopped.
(5)Michelle P.
After now dining at Brio several times, I feel that I am well versed enough to fully and highly recommend this establishment. My first visit, approximately a year ago (which would be just a few months after they opened) was superb. I cannot for the life of me recall what I ordered, but both me and my parents thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the service. We had a reservation, which allowed us to be seated at (in my opinion) one of the best tables in the house. It was quiet and had a good view out the window. The second visit provided for my least enjoyable dining experience at Brio- we endured a 5 minute wait, and a table slightly close to the kitchen. The service was still outstanding, and overall, my "least enjoyable experience" at Brio was still better than my average experience at most other restaurants. As my third and fourth visits ranged closer to my description of the first visit (even though the 4th visit was on Father's day- still no wait? amazing!) , I'll skip over them and go right to the food. I would like to respectfully disagree with one of the previous poster's descriptions of the Pasta alla Vodka. It is by far my favorite dish of what I have tried, and one of my waiters verified that it is the favorite of most of the Brio employees. It features a light, cheese-filled pasta, with a zesty vodka sauce. Another one of my favorites is the Chicken Diavolo. Both are must haves! The desserts are cute and perfectly sized, and exceed all expectations. I've tried other espresso-sized desserts, most notably at P.F. Changs right across the street, and I must say that they don't even come close to Brio's selections. Lastly, the service at Brio is nothing short of phenomenal, although, if you are looking for a quick in-and-out service, this is not the place to come. The servers are humorous, kind, and attentive, and heed all of my, admittedly, annoying requests. It would appear that waits are uncommon up at the host stand- 6pm on a Friday night and we only had to wait 5 minutes? The restaurant is actually quite large, with an uncommonly large amount of outside dining, so perhaps this accounts for it. Overall, I have never been less than thrilled after meal at Brio. The service, the food, and the atmosphere are all unmatched in the Annapolis area.
(5)Larry L.
Our visit started as a one star trip. It was cold (about 65) on the summer day we visited and all the customers had coats. We wanted to suggest turning down the temps, but had to request a server after about 7 minutes of just sitting there. We finally got a server and probably wanted a total of15 minutes before getting our drinks. We asked again about the temperature. Then, the whole visit turned around. A manager came up & detailed all her problems with HVAC and said they were turning it down. After that the meal flowed quickly. I would give most of food a serviceable mark. Good, but not great. The decor is very nice, the sound level was high on an 80% filled night. They brought a round of free desserts which was very, very generous for our slight discomfort.
(3)r. h.
This is an upscale chain (think a grade above The Olive Garden) in the new upscale mall in Annapolis. The food is fine for what it is -- middle of the road American Italian fare. My only concern is that their tap water source doesn't seem very good. This is affects not just the drinking water, but also anything they washed (e.g., the salad greens). The dishes are heavily seasoned, so there is only a hint of mustiness. The service is polite and attentive, if overly scripted. The waitstaff cracked the same tired joke to us and the tables next to us. They are also trained to prompt the patrons to order drinks ("you look like you *need* a martini!"); extra sides ("and would you like soup or salad with that?"); and, of course, desserts. The menu is not too expensive, though I feel that the price to quality ratio was not particularly favorable. Overall: if I were in the neighborhood and starving, I'd probably stop in. I probably would not make a special trip there otherwise.
(3)Viv J.
LOVE thier Martinni Wednesday Happy Hour. Martinni's are $5 and appetizers under $4 bucks! Plus the bartender keeps you in stiches with his jokes! Lastly I had my daughter's 18th birthday party there and the food & service was AWESOME. We had two great waiters and they were on point! They accomadated our party of 15 with ease.
(4)Maureen P.
I have been to Brio several times now and not Yelped anything. Mainly because I was waiting to try a few things. They are a Tuscan grille so one would suspect they have good flat bread and pizza...I prefer their flat bread pizza to their regular pizza by far. Also have had the lovely beef carpaccio. Now, I have been to the Piedmonte of Italy and not been a fan of the mound of beef they serve you raw there. But here at brio it is oh so thin and delicate, with a light dash of capers and small greens just faintly dressed. All perfect. The only thing I would change would be added another piece of flat bread, ONE IS NOT ENOUGH BRIO FOLKS! But this last visit I stopped for lunch with a friend. We ordered from the nicely priced lunch menu. We decided on splitting the Caesar shrimp and the pizza of the day which was their take of a BLT pizza but included boursin cheese. First, let me premise by saying I often judge a who restaurant on its Caesar. This time Brio didn't stand up. The dressing lacked spunk, and the parm was not, or didn't seem, fresh. It certainly was not grated on my salad at the table. The shrimp on top were wonderful but they didn't make the dish in the end. The pizza was ok, but we both thought the boursin cheese was not quite the right choice, too much of it and over rich when expecting that BLT flavor. I'll be back, but Ill be a little more careful in choosing what I get. I'll keep you posted.
(3)Darrell B.
Just so-so. The prices don't equate to the quality of food or prices. The seating area was so loud, it made conversation nearly impossible. I'm not sure if it was just a busy time we were there, or if it's always this loud.
(3)Michael B.
Typical chain restaurant. Happy hour is the only reason to come. The have a early and a late happy hour. Good portions and price but no drink specials. OK food and can be hard to get a seat in the bar area.
(3)Virginia S.
We just had a bridal shower for a friend at Brio, and it was fabulous. We had a private room, which wasn't an extra fee, and the staff was extremely helpful and super nice. The food was great as well and the price for a party was very reasonable. I would definitely have another party there in the future.
(5)tracey s.
Definitely over priced for what it is. The food was good/average, I like the atmosphere, had a great time & the server was very nice - he seemed a bit over-worked. I'm not rushing back.
(3)meerkats k.
dependably good food! try the bellinis :) one of our favorite places in Annapolis
(4)Crista T.
Ok, let me start by saying that I would give the food itself 5 stars. It was delicious and plentiful. It is the service, or lack of, that is forcing me to give 3 stars. We came to Brio on Mother's Day. Now before you say, "of course you will get bad service on such a busy day" let me assure you that we arrived at 9pm and we took up 1 of 4 tables in the restaurant. It was certainly not crowded, so we should never have waited as long as we did. We were seated immediately, but waited several minutes for our server to arrive. After taking drink orders, it took several more minutes for her to return, only to dump the tray and the drinks all over the table. Now, I am not cold hearted, and I know accidents happen, but an apology is in order when there is iced tea covering every inch of the table and dripping onto the floor. Instead, we were told that she was going to get someone to get a new tablecloth for us and she was gone. Several more minutes went by before our table was cleaned and new drinks arrived. Then we waited about 10 minutes for our salad to arrive. The server said she would bring bread, but she did not. I caught her eye and asked for it as our entrees arrived. From the time we sat down to the arrival of the entrees was about 30 minutes. We all ordered pasta and we not offered any fresh parmasan cheese although the family at the next table was, and they had the same server. I flagged her down again to ask for cheese and she looked at me like I had 2 heads. Upon her return she offered my husband and I cheese, looked at my daughter and walked away. Not cool. We never received refills on our iced tea and at this point we just wanted to go. I asked for a box and she dropped it off with the bill. She sweetly asked if we wanted dessert but I wanted to be home before midnight so we passed. Amazingly, she was right behind the table waiting for us to slip in the credit card and was back in a flash with the receipt. If she would have moved that fast during the meal, it would have been much more enjoyable. I loved the food and may consider dining in one more time. If I can't bring myself to pay to be treated poorly, I will certainly order it and bring it home. My fingers are crossed that Brio rethinks their server training because it has the potential to be a wonderful dining destination.
(3)Mike M.
Here's the pecking order of Italian restaurants: Olive Garden; Macaroni Grill; BRIO. Its not that BRIO is bad, its just that its not that outstanding. If you're looking for a good meal, its a great place to go. If you're looking for a classy restaurant, its a good place to go. If you're looking for good wine, its a good (though overly-priced) place to go. If you're looking for unique Italian, you might be disappointed. Though it may fare better in quality to other Italian chains, it's still an Italian chain with that "mass-produced" chain feel.
(3)Phil B.
The food is good quality, and the staff are friendly. I have only been here for lunch. Sitting outdoors is nice when the weather agrees. Ask for a frequent luncher card - five lunches, get one free.
(3)