La Dolce Vita……..

If you have ever been fortunate enough to visit the countryside around Florence, you are sure to recall vivid images of picturesque hills and wide-open fields of gold. Tuscany is overflowing with cultural as well as culinary experiences, becoming a most coveted tourist destination.

There is a saying that “Italians live to eat while the rest of the world eats to live”— a most accurate representation of the culinary preferences of Italians. Tuscan cuisine is based on simple preparations using fresh, in-season ingredients. It is often a challenge to find a Tuscan-style restaurant in this country with authentic appeal. Suffice it to say, Brio Tuscan Grille in Town Square conjures up fond memories of one of the most celebrated cuisines in history.

Brio’s is a truly spectacular setting. Inside, vaulted ceilings and archways reminiscent of a Roman Coliseum elongate the circular dining room. The beauty of the room is accentuated with aesthetic visuals— handcrafted Italian Mosaic paintings, Venetian-style plaster walls and marble countertops. The patio outside is delightful, perfect for a business lunch or casual dining with friends.

The menu at Brio is well engineered and alluring. Start off your experience with the Tuna Caponata— blackened and sliced paper-thin with spicy arugula, Sicilian-inspired eggplant caponata, tangy lemon vinaigrette and parmesan flatbread.

Brio’s Bruschetta & Flatbreads seek to satisfy the carbo-loading crowd. The Margarita Flatbread with fresh mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil is a take on a Neapolitan classic, while the Shrimp Bruschetta with creamy lobster-sherry sauce, silky fontina and rustic charred tomato cilantro relish is new and innovative.

Entrée highlights include Chicken “Under the Brick” with seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes and mushroom-marsala sauce, and Fresh Fish “Del Giorno”. Brio’s Bistecca alla Fiorentina will transport you to Italy— grilled in the Tuscan manner displaying a crusty, charred surface and a juicy, hot pink interior.

The wine list at Brio features varietals from all over the world, with a definite focus on Italy. The Terradora Greco di Tufo from Campania is outstanding, as is the well-rounded Araldica Gavi from Piemonte. The Camiglano Brunello di Montalcino is rustic and bold with firm tannins. Paired with some ‘Bistecca’— a marriage made in heaven.