A new restaurant will soon serve casual Italian fare in Allston.
Borgo Italian Kitchen is taking over the former NY Bagel & Diner space at 111 Brighton Avenue, according to a post in the Friends of Boston’s Hidden Restaurants Facebook group and a “coming soon” sign recently spotted outside the building. Co-owner Dariusz Zywina confirmed the plans with What Now Boston.
Zywina is no stranger to the local dining scene. In addition to Punjab Palace next door, he and his team operate Da Vinci Bistro and Soul of India in Sudbury. Inspired by the feel of an Italian trattoria, Borgo will serve a range of familiar favorites, including pizza, pasta, paninis, and salads.
“We aim to offer an approachable and affordable menu without compromising quality,” said Zywina.
The menu will be curated by Shingara Singh, also known as Chef Peppino, who previously worked at Da Vinci Ristorante when the eatery was located in Boston’s South End and who now leads the kitchen at Da Vinci Bistro.
While Zywina recognizes that Allston already has plenty of places to grab a slice or sit down for Italian food, he said Borgo will offer a middle ground between the two experiences, pairing the convenience of quick-service dining with a more casual Italian restaurant format. The eatery will primarily focus on self-service, takeout, and delivery, although a handful of tables will also be available for guests who prefer to dine in.
“Allston is already full of great restaurants, but I feel like we can bring something different to the table,” Zywina explained. “There are numerous pizza shops and a full-service Italian restaurant, but we want to offer people the best of both worlds: delicious, quick food at approachable prices.”
Borgo Italian Kitchen is currently undergoing minor cosmetic and decorative updates, with the team hoping to welcome guests in about a month.
NY Bagel & Diner opened in October of 2025, serving up a menu of traditional kettle-boiled New York-style bagels, all-day breakfast, and other diner classics. The circumstances surrounding its closure are unclear, though the eatery’s last social media post dates back to July. Before that, Pizza Days occupied the space for more than a decade.
