In recent news, the ongoing financial struggles within the casual dining sector have landed another Italian restaurant chain in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The most notable current case involves Bravo Brio Restaurants, the parent company behind Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, which filed for Chapter 11 protection on August 18, 2025. This move marks its second bankruptcy filing in five years, as the business attempts once again to organize its debt and salvage nationwide operations.
Bravo Brio Restaurants, which also operates under the names Bravo! and Brio, officially disclosed assets and liabilities in the range of 50 million. This bankruptcy filing has already led to the abrupt closure of six underperforming restaurant locations, impacting both staff and loyal patrons. In Ohio, Brio at The Greene, the Canton location, and the Lyndhurst restaurant have shuttered. Nearby, Bravo! Italian Kitchen at Dayton Mall and Brio Italian Grille at Liberty Center in Butler County continue to operate for now.
This development adds to a growing list of Italian restaurant chain Chapter 11 filings over the past year. Earlier in 2025, Bertucci’s—a Massachusetts-based brand famous for brick oven pizza and pasta—sought Chapter 11 protection for the third time since 2018. Bertucci’s cited economic deterioration, flagging consumer demand, inflation, and surging food costs among the reasons for its financial woes. Following its bankruptcy, Bertucci’s closed seven additional locations, including five in Massachusetts, one in Rhode Island, and one in Maryland, leaving just 15 restaurants open across six states.
The pattern reflects increased competition from fast-casual dining alternatives and a broad shift in customer preferences, signaling ongoing volatility in the legacy casual-dining sector. Bravo Brio’s bankruptcy filing lists Sysco Corporation, a major food distributor, as its largest unsecured creditor,
Key Facts About Recent Italian Restaurant Chain Chapter 11 Events:
- Bravo Brio Restaurants filed Chapter 11 on August 18, 2025
- Estimated assets and liabilities: 50million–50million–100 million
- Six locations closed prior to filing; includes high-profile Ohio closures
- Largest creditor: Sysco Corporation ($1.9 million owed)
- Parent company, Earl Enterprises, also owns Bertucci’s and previously owned Buca di Beppo (both have filed for bankruptcy since 2024)
- Bertucci’s cut locations following April 2025 Chapter 11 filing, now only 15 locations remain$
Table: Impact of Recent Italian Restaurant Chain Chapter 11 Filings
| Chain Name | Filing Date | Locations Closed | Remaining Locations | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bravo Brio Restaurants | Aug 18, 2025 | 6 | Numerous nationwide | Earl Enterprises |
| Bertucci’s | Apr 25, 2025 | 7 | 15 | Earl Enterprises |
| Buca di Beppo | Aug 4, 2024 | Unspecified | 40 (sold Nov 2024) | Sold by Earl Ent. |
Within the past year, these chains have faced similar challenges, with sectors hit hard by rising costs, competitive market pressures, and a gradual shift away from traditional sit-down dining experiences.
While Bravo Brio aims to reorganize and potentially maintain its remaining operations, uncertainty remains for employees and guests regarding the future of their favorite dining spots. The repeated filings among Italian restaurant chains serve as a warning and a signal of shifting dynamics within the broader restaurant industry.
The coming months will determine if Bravo Brio’s reorganization strategies succeed, or if further closures are inevitable. For local communities, each closure means losing not only jobs, but also longstanding venues for gatherings and celebrations.
Do you have memories or thoughts to share about these restaurants? Drop your comments below and let’s keep the discussion going.