Bruno’s Restaurant & Tavern

Specialties

We offer fine Italian dinners and lunches including homemade pastas, fresh seafood, chicken, steak, and veal. Our steak sandwiches, burgers, and homemade pizzas and calzones have been Portland favorites for decades. Our dining room is delightful for families or couples, providing a casual but charming atmosphere. The tavern is stocked with seven flat screen TVs that play all the action including the NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Package, and the NFL Network. We are also capapble of accommodating large private parties.

History

Established in 1981.

Bruno’s opened in what was once Portland’s Little Italy. Originally serving only beer and steamed hot dogs, five years passed and the kitchen was finally established. Bruno’s was the first kitchen in Portland to serve calzones. The steak and cheese sandwich, pizzas, and linguini with clam sauce became instant classics. Bruno’s was also the first bar to open a patio in Portland. In 1985, the restaurant moved further down India Street to a larger location. After four short years here, it was moved again but this time under a new name, Erik’s. Erik’s was an already established business on Market Street. Not wanting to lose loyal Erik’s customers, the name was kept. Then in 1999, the Bruno’s name was resurrected in it’s new location at 33 Allen Avenue in Portland. Here, the menu, seating, building size, and staff were greatly increased. Despite its many changes, Bruno’s has been providing Portland with the same great service and food for over thirty years.

Meet the Business Owner

Bob N.

Business Owner

Bob Napolitano was born the youngest of eight on Portland’s Munjoy Hill. Growing up in a large Italian family, he was exposed to simple, cheap, but delicicious cooking techniques. He first started working in the food service business at his brother Johnny’s store, «The Hill Sandwich Shop». The shop was the first to sell egglplant parmigiana sandwiches in Portland. With the business in his blood, he started Bruno’s. Many of the Napolitano’s (including Bob’s wife, two sons, brothers, uncles, nieces, and nephews) have worked or still work at Bruno’s.

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