For years, families have gathered at familiar restaurants to celebrate birthdays, enjoy dinners out, or simply skip cooking for the night.

And if you’ve ever found yourself craving a heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs or a basket of warm, garlicky breadsticks at your favorite neighborhood Italian spot, you’re not alone.

These spots have long been more than just places to eat—they’ve been tied to memories and traditions.

Now, one well-known dining group has entered financial trouble once more, leaving dozens of its locations across the country in jeopardy.

The company has confirmed that it has filed for bankruptcy protection again, marking the second time in just five years.


Bravo Brio Restaurants, based in Orlando, Florida, operates about 50 locations across the two brands.

According to court records and a company press release, a perfect storm of challenges has led to this latest financial crisis. The company points to a few key culprits:

• Declining Foot Traffic: Many Bravo and Brio locations are in shopping centers that have seen a drop in visitors, especially as more people shop online and brick-and-mortar retail continues to struggle.
• Shrinking Sales: The numbers tell a sobering story. Bravo Italian Kitchen’s sales dropped 7.1% in 2024 compared to last year, and a staggering 47% since 2019. Brio Italian Grille isn’t faring much better, with a 5.5% dip this year and the same 47% decline over the past few years.
• Rising Costs: Inflation has driven up the price of everything from pasta to parmesan, while labor costs have also climbed. Add in the lingering effects of the pandemic—like the rise of fast-casual competitors and changing dining habits—and you’ve got a recipe for financial distress.

Bravo Brio isn’t alone in its struggles. The post-pandemic restaurant landscape has been tough for many legacy chains. In just the past year, we’ve seen a wave of bankruptcies and closures:

• JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts shuttered all 800 stores after two bankruptcy filings in a single year.
• Hooters and Red Lobster both filed for Chapter 11, with Red Lobster planning to close over 100 locations.
• TGI Friday’s and Applebee’s are also closing dozens of locations, with Applebee’s experimenting with dual-branded spots alongside IHOP.
• Noodles & Company and other casual dining favorites are trimming their footprints after tough years.

It’s a sign of the times: even the most familiar names aren’t immune to the pressures of changing consumer habits, rising costs, and fierce competition.


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Filing for Chapter 11 doesn’t mean the end—at least, not yet. The process allows Bravo Brio Restaurants to restructure its debt, cut costs, and potentially close underperforming locations.

But it does put all 56 remaining restaurants (31 Brio Italian Grille and 25 Bravo Italian Kitchen) at risk. Already, several locations in Virginia, Ohio, and Missouri have closed their doors in 2025.

The company’s financial filings show it owes between $50 million and $100 million, with its largest unsecured creditor being food distributor Sysco, to the tune of $1.9 million. That’s a lot of pasta sauce.


Also read: This legendary fried chicken chain is facing bankruptcy—what happens next?

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because Bravo Brio Restaurants went through a similar ordeal in 2020, shortly after the pandemic hit.

Back then, the company was owned by FoodFirst Global Holdings and was saddled with $27 million in debt.

More than 50 locations closed, and the brands were eventually bought out of bankruptcy by Earl Enterprises—the same group behind Planet Hollywood, Buca di Beppo, Bertucci’s, and Chicken Guy.

But even with new ownership, the challenges have persisted. Bertucci’s, another Italian chain under the Earl Enterprises umbrella, filed for bankruptcy for the third time in April 2024.

Read next: Pasta pains: beloved Italian chain confirms over 30 closures after leadership shakeup
Have you noticed changes at your local Bravo or Brio? Are you worried about losing a favorite gathering spot? Or maybe you’ve found a new Italian gem in your neighborhood?