Not another chain restaurant?  I’m boycotting chains and doing mom and pops from now on---seriously. 

That’s what I said when we went to Brio’s Tuscan Grille the other day for brunch and dammit, if we didn’t go back last night for dinner. 

This chain eatery in the ritzy Shops at La Cantera, was formerly Bravo, owned by the same peeps, but is now Brio’s.  It changed names sometime after Mother’s day.  I always thought Bravo was a Mexican restaurant and actually never ate there.   S had eaten at a Brio’s in Florida and suggested we give this place a try.

BRUNCH:  of course I had a Bloody Mary.  Bloody Mary’s are requisite beverages for brunch.  This one was quite tasty.  I think I had two.

Isn’t that the largest pat of butter you ever did see?  The bread basket was good and kept refilling as if by magic.  Waiter was that good. 

Started with the Lobster Bisque as recommend by S, this sucker was good.  I wish the tureen were large.  I lapped up this soup like there was no tomorrow.  Luckily I came back like two weeks later.  LOL.

Off the brunch menu I had the Sausage Florentine Crepes:  With scrambled eggs, creamy spinach, Italian sausage and Parmesan cream, served with potatoes peperonata and fresh fruit.  This dish was generous and full of flavor.  I would have it again.

DINNER:  So as we returned from the Apple Store in La Cantera last night, S suggested we try the lasagna at Brio’s.  I was game.  It was so busy and S hates to wait so we ate outside under the hot winds of that supposed tropical storm Don. 

I tried the Watermelon Martin.  It was pretty good for a sweetened martini.  I was looking for something to refresh the palate on a hot night.

Same bread basket as before but for some reason tonight, it didn’t refill by magic as it did during brunch.  

Of course I had the Lobster Bisque again and it was even more appetizing than the brunch setting.  I kidded with the waiter and suggested they use a larger tureen next time.  He said they actually have a large size that is not on the menu.

My Bistecca Insalata was delicious.  This wedge salad was not drowned in the creamy Parmesan dressing like it can be at other restaurants.  I ate it all up and had to fight the waiter when he wanted to clear the table to make room for the entrees. 

So I had heard a bunch of good things about the lasagna at this joint.  The lasagna was very good and very generous size portion to boot, but it was not the best lasagna I ever had.  I prefer the house lasagna at the joint on Broadway:  Sorrento’s.    I still ate most of the dish and was well sated for the evening.

Alas I was so sated I didn’t leave room for dessert.   Next time I supposed.  Dammit, I guess I like this joint and there will be a next time. 

BRUNCH:  4.2 stars out of 5

DINNER:  4.1 stars out of 5

PS:  dining in the shadow of the fireworks at Six Flags Fiesta Texas is 'kinda cool.