It was much needed time that he’d missed while working nights and weekend’s at DiMillo’s. But after a brief stint with a mortgage firm and later FedEx, he started to get the restaurant bug again. This time Gene and Renee wanted to strike out on their own.
They looked at a number of spots, including the former Espan’s and the Roma. Nothing seemed right until Gene got a call from Ross Furman, the owner of Skillful Vending. He told Gene that Bleacher’s was closing up shop in the building next door. He wondered if Gene and Renee might be interested.
Located just up the street from all the construction happening on Marginal Way (including a massive new dorm), the spot clearly has potential. So Gene and Renee decided to go for it. And three weeks ago, G&R DiMillo’s opened its doors.
The layout is similar to Bleacher’s, with a bar, dining room, little nook and game room. But the differences are obvious as soon as you walk in the door. The walls have a fresh coat of mocha paint and sharp-looking tables, chairs and booths (in cherry and black leather) fill the room. A bunch of flat-screen TVs line the walls, and more are on the way.
The menu has changed too. Under the direction of Sonny Breggia, who used to work at Maria’s Ristorante with chef Anthony Napolitano, the pub standards remain but they’ve been joined by an impressive selection of Italian classics. This means you can still find game-watching necessities, like chicken wings ($8), nachos ($7) and sweet potato fries ($4). Or you can try the gnocchi (hand-rolled daily) pamadorro ($9), the chicken cacciatore ($11) or the fettucini with prosciutto and peas ($12).
A new hot stone pizza oven means you can get a variety of hand-tossed, thin crust pies, like Greek ($8), Philly Steak ($8) or Great Garlic ($7). Sandwiches include the popular meatball parmagiano ($7), the reuben ($9) and the vegetarian wrap ($6). Soups, salads and burgers are available too.
The bar room includes a juke box and a set of stained glass windows made by Mike Doucette. The glittery trio pay homage to the Red Sox, the Bruins and the Patriots. Beers range from Allagash to Coors Light with a solid wine list and a full bar. The game room, away from the hustle and bustle of the dining area, offers up a pool table, a foosball table, video games (including Ms. Pac Man) and a pinball machine.
“The goal we’re trying to achieve is comfort and warmth,” Renee says. “We want it to be a place for people to come, enjoy a meal and have fun.”
— Avery Yale Kamila
G&R DiMillo’s is located at 118 Preble St. in Portland. It is open Mon.-Thur. from 11 am-11 pm and Fri.-Sat. from 11 am-close. Food is served all day. When football season starts up in September, it will be open on Sunday. FMI call 699-5959.