Why Bruno’s Has Been Portland’s Go To Italian Spot for Over 40 Years

Ask around Portland and someone is bound to have a Bruno’s story. Maybe it was a family dinner after a school concert. Maybe it was their go to spot for pizza after Little League. Or maybe it was just that familiar tray of baked ziti passed around at a family party. However people find us they tend to stick around.

Bruno’s opened in 1981 in what was once Portland’s Little Italy. It started as a small corner bar inside Micucci’s on India Street. Back then we served beer and steamed hot dogs. Nothing fancy. Just a welcoming spot to relax. But people kept coming back.

A few years later we moved into a bigger space and opened a full kitchen. That is when the menu really started to grow. Bruno’s was the first restaurant in Portland to serve calzones and the first bar in the city to offer patio seating.

Since then we have changed locations and expanded but the goal has always been the same. Make good food from scratch. Keep it simple. Treat people right. And create a place worth returning to.

What Keeps People Coming Back

Our sauces are still made in house. Our pasta is fresh. The dough is our own. The meatballs are rolled by hand. Some of the recipes go back decades and have not changed because they do not need to.

We serve the kind of food that brings people together. It is made to be shared around big tables with family friends coworkers and neighbors. You do not need a dress code or a reservation or a reason. You just need to be hungry.

And it is not just about the food. For a lot of people Bruno’s feels like home. They know the servers. They know what they are going to order. They know they are welcome here.

A Place for Gatherings

In 2010 we opened our banquet room to give people more space to celebrate. Since then we have hosted wedding receptions birthdays retirement parties reunions company dinners and everything in between.

We also offer catering. Trays of baked pasta chicken parm meatballs salad garlic bread. It is food that makes people feel full and taken care of. Whether you are hosting at home or at the office we can bring Bruno’s to you.

A Family Business That Keeps Growing

Bruno’s has always been a family place. Founder Bob Napolitano started it all back in 1981 and his son Danny helps lead it today. What began as a small neighborhood bar has grown into a full restaurant banquet hall and pasta company.

In 2018 we launched Bruno’s Pasta Co so our customers could cook their favorite ravioli at home. You can now find it in stores across Maine but it is still made the same way in our kitchen.

Still Part of the Portland Story

We have guests who came here as kids and now bring their own families. Some come every week. Some stop by when they are back in town. Some have not missed a holiday party here in years.

However often you visit we are always glad to see you.

Thank you for making Bruno’s part of your Portland story. We will keep doing what we have always done and we hope to see you soon.