A new Italian-American concept rooted in nostalgia is headed to one of Boston’s most iconic restaurant spaces.
Popular hospitality group Tuscan Brands recently announced plans to open Buitoni Spaghetti Bar at 528 Commonwealth Ave in Kenmore Square, bringing new life to the former home of Blue Ribbon Brasserie and, before that, Eastern Standard.
Slated to debut in the spring of 2027, the new restaurant draws inspiration from the original Buitoni Spaghetti Bar that operated in Times Square in the 1940s and 1950s, reimagining it for a contemporary Boston crowd. The concept will “blend classic Italian-American spirit with modern hospitality,” focusing on handmade pasta, elevated comfort dishes, a lively bar program, and a late-night atmosphere designed to keep the room buzzing well beyond dinner.
For Tuscan Brands founder Joe Faro—who is leading the project alongside his son, Max Faro—the opening brings his long-running connection to Buitoni back into focus. A Lawrence native, Joe launched Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta & Sauces before selling it to Buitoni in 2006, when the company was under Nestlé ownership. Nearly 20 years later, Joe reacquired Buitoni in 2024 under The Artisan Chef Manufacturing Company, returning the brand to his portfolio.
“Buitoni has always represented an important chapter of my life, both personally and professionally,” Joe said in a statement. “We’re honored to bring this iconic space back into the hands of a New England restaurateur and breathe new energy back into Kenmore Square. Eastern Standard was a true Boston hospitality institution, and we have tremendous respect for what that space represented to so many people. Our goal is to create a restaurant with that same sense of life and momentum – somewhere guests gather before games, linger late into the night, and feel the pulse of the city.”
The design will lean into that vision. According to Boston Magazine, local designer and TV personality Taniya Nayak is helping shape the interiors, which will feature a retro-inspired, classic Italian palette of deep reds, greens, and white. The long bar along the left side of the space will remain a focal point, with high-top seating that the team hopes will be two or three people deep during peak hours.
Although the menu is still being finalized, guests can expect fresh pasta made in view of the dining room, one-pound meatballs, shareable large-format dishes, and late-night offerings.
And while Tuscan Brands’ other concepts—including Tuscan Kitchen, Napoletana Pizzeria & Bar, Caffe Artisan, and the recently launched Sorella Cucina Toscana—tend to lean more upscale, Buitoni is expected to bring a more energetic, casual energy to the neighborhood. Designed with Kenmore’s game-day crowd in mind, the restaurant will feature plenty of big screens for watching sports, alongside a polished setting that works for date nights and private events.
Additional details on Buitoni Spaghetti Bar’s menu, design, and opening events are expected to be released closer to launch.
