In 1981, Bobby Napolitano opened a small bar in a corner of Micucci’s Grocery on India Street. There was room for beer, steamed hot dogs, and not much else. Forty-five years later, Bruno’s is still here, still run by the Napolitano family, and still built on the same simple idea: good food and a place for people to gather.
A Name With Roots in Little Italy
Bruno’s is named for Bobby’s grandfather, Bruno. The family’s story in Portland goes back well before the restaurant. In the 1940s, Bobby’s grandfather ran an Italian grocery on Middle Street, when the blocks around India Street made up Portland’s Little Italy. Bobby grew up in the East End as the youngest of seven, and two of his uncles opened the original Maria’s Ristorante in the 1960s.
So when Bobby opened a bar in the old neighborhood, he wasn’t starting something new. Food and hospitality were already in the family.
Portland’s First Calzone
In 1985, Bruno’s moved a short way down India Street to a bigger space with room for a real kitchen. The menu grew to include steak and cheese, pizza, and linguine with clam sauce, which is still one of the dishes people ask for most.
That kitchen also made the first calzones in Portland. Bobby’s Uncle Frank came up with them, using meat from Micucci’s and dough from Bruno’s. The India Street location also had the first bar patio in the city, years before patios were everywhere.
Finding a Home on Allen Avenue
The late 1980s brought changes. Bobby’s brother ran the business for a stretch while Bobby took on Erik’s on Market Street, and the business stayed in the family the whole time. In 1999, the Bruno’s name came back at 33 Allen Avenue, with more seating, a bigger menu, and room to grow.
Allen Avenue is the Bruno’s most Portland families know today. It’s where people come for the eggplant parm, catch the game in the tavern, and celebrate birthdays, graduations, and retirements.
Three Generations at the Table
Bobby’s son Danny joined the management team in 2010, the same year the Ocean Star Banquet Room opened. Over the years, the restaurant has been full of Napolitanos, including sons, nephews, nieces, a sister, and an uncle. The same kitchen led to Bruno’s Pasta Company, which brings the family’s handmade ravioli to markets across Maine. In 2025, Bruno’s was voted Gold for Best Italian Restaurant in Best of the 207.
“Generations of families have been coming here to have a quality meal, a drink at the bar, to celebrate a birthday or even to grieve a loved one,” Danny has said. That’s the part of the story that matters most to the family.
Still Family Owned
A few years ago, Bobby was asked why Bruno’s has lasted this long. His answer was two words: “Food’s good.” Forty-five years after that little bar in the corner of Micucci’s, that’s still the idea. If Bruno’s has been part of your story, we’d love to see you again. If it hasn’t yet, come be part of it. Stop in at 33 Allen Avenue or call us at (207) 878-9511.
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