Columbus, Ohio – BRIO Tuscan Grille, a BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group (BBRG) concept, is opening a new location at The Shops at Boca Center in Boca Raton. The restaurant, the eighth BRIO Tuscan Grille in Florida, is slated to open on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011.

BRIO (meaning "lively" or "full of life") is an upscale, affordable restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine. It brings the pleasure of the Tuscan country villa to the American city. The subtitle, "Tuscan Grille," is descriptive of the menu that features grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops, seafood, made-to-order pastas, flatbreads and entrée salads, similar to what one would find in an authentic ristorante inTuscany. BRIO also offers an ample dessert menu, full wine list and cocktail book. BRIO's motto is fashioned after the Tuscan philosophy of "To eat well, is to live well."

Just a few of the delicious menu items at BRIO at The Shops at Boca Center include Bruschetta Quattro, Bistecca Insalata, Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chops, Chicken "Under the Brick," Gorgonzola-Crusted Filet, Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, Roasted Lamb Chops, Grilled Salmon Salad, Pasta BRIO, Pasta Alla Vodka, Beef Carpaccio, BRIO Crab Cakes, Tiramisu and Torta Di Cioccolata.

Additional offerings at BRIO at The Shops at Boca Centerwill be the Bellini Brunch, available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; and the $2.95 Tuscan Taster bar menu, which will feature standouts such as Shrimptini (shrimp cocktail), Beef Carpaccio, mini BRIO Bistecca Burgers, and several flatbreads. The Tuscan Taster menu, available in the bar only, will be available Monday-Friday from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and Monday-Thursday from 9 p.m. until closing. Every Wednesday, guestswill enjoy a $5 martini selection from 4 p.m.-closing during BRIO's Martini Night. The restaurant will also offer a special Children's Menu, and family-style pans-to-go for off-site catered special events and business occasions.

The beautiful new 8,800-square-foot Boca Raton restaurant, located at 5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 239, Boca Raton, FL 33486, will offer indoor seating for 260 guests, and al fresco dining for up to 100 on an Italian-style terrace. A private dining area will accommodate groups ranging from 16-48. The bar area will seat 40.

BRIO's villa-like interior features details such as antique, hardwood Cypress flooring; arched colonnades, hand-crafted Italian mosaics, antique doors, hand-crafted wallscovered in an antique Venetian plaster, Arabescato marble-imported from Italy, and sizable wrought-iron chandeliers.

General Manager Tom Race brings years of comprehensive restaurant experience to his new position, having worked as both a general manager and executive chef. Prior to joining BRIO, Tom served as the general manager of Grand Lux Café in Boca Raton, Fla. Before that time, he worked as general manager of Romano's Macaroni Grill in Ft. Myers, Fla., and as executive chef at The Veranda Restaurant, in Ft. Myers, Fla. Born and raised in Bridgewater, N.J., Race attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

Executive Chef Freddy Sevilla joins BRIO at The Shops at Boca Center with 19 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He first joined the BRIO family in 2008 as executive chef for BRIO at Palm Beach Gardens. He was then offered the executive chef role at BRIO Tampa – International Plaza, and later at BRIO Pembroke Pines, where he worked until he was tapped for the Boca Raton location. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Chef Sevilla began his restaurantcareer at a small Italian restaurant. He later worked his way up in the business at restaurants such as Cozzoli's, Romano's Macaroni Grill and The Cheesecake Factory.

BRIO at The Shops at Boca Center will be open seven days a week: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 pm, and Friday & Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Reservations will be accepted and walk-ins welcomed. For reservations, to book a private party, or more information, please call (561) 392-3777.

"With BRIO's proven success in the Florida market, we're happy to bring this upscale, affordable restaurant to Boca Raton," said Saed Mohseni, Chief Executive Officer and President, BRAVO | BRIO Restaurant Group, Inc. "We're confident that BRIO will be an excellent restaurant choice for local residents, as well as area businesses."

Currently, there are 44 BRIO Tuscan Grille restaurants located nationwide. For additional information, please visit www.brioitalian.com.