Pinocchios Italian Eatery

Pinocchio’s is the newest restaurant in Brighton. It opened several months ago and was instantly a popular place. Prior to this downtown Brighton restaurant your Italian options were limited to whatever the casual dining chain stores (Applebees & Chilis) had on their menu or Serafini’s. While Serafini’s is good, it does not hurt to have a little competition to make sure standards don’t slip.

What really sets Pinocchio’s apart is the location and ambiance. Pinocchio’s prides itself on being a more upscale dining establishment. The waitstaff is all in white long sleeves shirts and black pants. The lighting is low, without being dark. The restaurant occupies a building that has been a fixture in Brighton for many decades. The latest occupant of the building was a UPS Pack n Ship. When that tenant moved out Annie Vick and local partners renovated the building and did a great job. It has an upscale feel, without being snooty or oppressive.

The building is on the eastern end of Brighton’s old downtown (I think we are calling it The Historic District now). There is a lot of renovation and changes going on. When our new Cultural Center is completed and concert goers are looking for a meal, Pinocchio’s will be very convenient.

The food at Pinocchio’s is good. They offer the standard variety of Italian fare, (including calzones and pizza) with a thick tomato sauce, which I really like. The pasta is not homemade, but still good. Their sausage is spicy and instead of being in a large link, They serve it diced. The menu has plenty of variety and everything that Margo and I have tried has been good. They have a full bar, but the wine list is limited. That does not bother me in the least, but it is a factor for many seeking Italian food.

The most telling part of your overall dining experience is if you would return. Margo and I have been back several times, so obviously we think this place is worth our time and money.