Bravo Brio Restaurants, the parent company of well-known Italian dining spots Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a move that underscores the mounting pressures facing the American restaurant industry. The Orlando-based company, which operates nearly 60 restaurants across the United States, made its filing on Monday, August 18, 2025, according to court documents reviewed by several outlets, including Newsweek and Restaurant Dive.
In its official announcement, Bravo Brio cited “insurmountable” challenges as the primary reason for seeking bankruptcy protection. These included weak consumer demand, rising costs of operation, and intensified competition from other casual and fast-casual dining chains. The company stated that the bankruptcy process was “necessary to improve its financial position as it brings on a new investor,” a sentiment echoed in statements to Newsweek and TODAY.com.
“The bankruptcy process is generally expected to be seamless for Bravo! and Brio’s guests, employees and vendors, and result in minimal disruption to operations,” the company said in a statement reported by Newsweek. Despite the gravity of the filing, Bravo Brio expressed optimism that the process would allow it to emerge on stronger financial footing.
This marks the second time in five years that Bravo Brio has turned to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Back in April 2020, its previous owner, Food First Global Restaurants, filed for bankruptcy, which led to the closure of 48 locations and a subsequent acquisition by Earl Enterprises—the group behind Planet Hollywood. While it remains unclear if Earl Enterprises is still directly involved with the company, the connection highlights the ongoing turbulence within the sector.
The court documents reveal a complex financial picture. Bravo Brio’s estimated liabilities and assets each fall between $50 million and $100 million, with the company owing money to as many as 999 creditors. Notably, the group is indebted to the tune of $335,000 to a restaurant supplier in Illinois and a staggering $19 million to food distributor Sysco, as reported by Restaurant Dive and local news outlets. These debts, combined with hundreds of thousands owed to landlords and property managers across multiple states, paint a sobering picture of the company’s financial health.
Currently, Bravo Brio operates 25 Brio Italian Grille locations and 23 Bravo! Italian Kitchen restaurants, according to its website and recent press releases. While the company has not disclosed exactly how many locations may be shuttered as part of its restructuring, the bankruptcy filing will allow it to close underperforming restaurants, restructure debt, and streamline operational expenses. A spokesperson told TODAY.com that there are “no current plans to close any locations,” but industry observers note that some closures are likely as the process unfolds.
The company’s struggles are emblematic of broader trends buffeting the restaurant industry. Bravo Brio cited “macroeconomic forces beyond the Company’s control” as central to its woes. These include rising food and labor costs, which have forced many consumers to cut back on dining out, as well as high vacancies and declining foot traffic in shopping centers where many of its restaurants are located. Increased competition from other casual dining chains, including fast-casual upstarts, has made it even harder for traditional sit-down restaurants to remain profitable.
“Rising costs have led many consumers to eat out less to save money,” the company said in its press release, as reported by TODAY.com. At the same time, restaurants themselves have had to shoulder the burden of higher food and labor costs, eating into already thin profit margins. The result? “Underperformance” for Bravo Brio, especially in locations hit hardest by changing consumer habits and economic headwinds.
This trend is not unique to Bravo Brio. The past year has seen a wave of high-profile restaurant bankruptcies across the country. In March 2025, Hooters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas, with a group of owners and founders stepping in to buy more than 100 company-owned restaurants. TGI Fridays followed suit in November 2024, closing dozens of underperforming locations before seeking bankruptcy protection. On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Red Lobster have also filed for bankruptcy within the last 18 months, according to AP News and other sources. Even other Italian-themed chains such as People First Pizza, Bertucci’s, and Bar Louie have not been immune, each filing for bankruptcy in 2025.
Meanwhile, the challenges facing Bravo Brio are mirrored by other restaurant operators. For example, Noodles & Company, a casual dining chain, announced it would close between 13 and 17 locations this year despite reporting a 4.4% increase in same-store sales and a 5% rise in comparable sales since the launch of a new menu in March. CEO Drew Madsen sounded an optimistic note in a press release, saying, “We are very pleased with the strong comparable restaurant sales and traffic performance we achieved during the first quarter despite a challenging macroeconomic environment.” Yet even with these gains, the company felt compelled to shutter underperforming stores, underscoring the tough choices facing restaurant groups nationwide.
Bravo Brio’s bankruptcy filing is designed not just to address immediate financial pressures, but to position the company for long-term survival. According to Restaurant Dive, the company hopes to use the bankruptcy process to attract new investors, improve its balance sheet, and ensure that its restaurants can continue to serve guests with minimal disruption. The company’s leaders remain confident that, with a streamlined operation and a focus on profitable locations, Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille can emerge from bankruptcy stronger and better equipped to navigate the ever-shifting landscape of American dining.
For now, regular patrons of Bravo! and Brio are unlikely to notice major changes. The company has pledged to keep operations running smoothly for both customers and employees while it works through the bankruptcy process. Emails sent to Bravo Brio Restaurants for further comment were returned as undeliverable, but the company’s public statements reflect a commitment to “quickly and efficiently reorganize its business for a sustainable and successful future.”
As the restaurant sector continues to grapple with inflation, changing consumer preferences, and fierce competition, Bravo Brio’s story is a telling example of the challenges and resilience that define the industry today. Whether the company’s bet on bankruptcy and reorganization pays off remains to be seen, but for now, the doors at Bravo! Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille remain open—at least for most locations.
