Bertucci's Bankruptcy Filing (Boston, Burlington, Wilmington: house, closing, live)

[AtkinsonDan]

Here are the links:

https://www.boston.com/news/restaura...for-bankruptcy

Bertucci's reportedly set to file for bankruptcy | masslive.com

Bertucci’s Reportedly Preparing For Bankruptcy Filing « CBS Boston

Are you sad, indifferent, surprised or angry over this news? One of my aunts got one of my grandmothers hooked on Bertucci's back in the 1990s. I never really liked the place, the food always left me physically uncomfortable after eating there. I am in the indifferent camp.

[tysmith95]

I feel like competition in that space (thin brick oven pizzas) has increased. There are better options out there in that style. Flatbread Pizza Company is my personal favorite but there are other competitors (Anthony's, upper crust, among others).

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

Here are the links:

https://www.boston.com/news/restaura...for-bankruptcy

Bertucci's reportedly set to file for bankruptcy | masslive.com

Bertucci’s Reportedly Preparing For Bankruptcy Filing « CBS Boston

Are you sad, indifferent, surprised or angry over this news? One of my aunts got one of my grandmothers hooked on Bertucci's back in the 1990s. I never really liked the place, the food always left me physically uncomfortable after eating there. I am in the indifferent camp.

Count me on the "sad" side. Experience with Bertucci's back to 2007 when we were in CT. Food was consistently good (even got the stamp of endorsement from one of my first-generation Italian colleagues, who refused to set foot in Olive Garden). But service was highly uneven, depending on who/when at the same restaurant, let alone across different restaurants. Highlights are the minestrone soup, cheese ravioli, the polenta (when they had it) and of course the rolls.

[Brave Stranger]

Not bad for a chain restaurant. They were big in the 1990s.....tastes change. I always liked Uno's better.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by tysmith95

I feel like competition in that space (thin brick oven pizzas) has increased. There are better options out there in that style. Flatbread Pizza Company is my personal favorite but there are other competitors (Anthony's, upper crust, among others).

But Bertucci's has always been more than pizza. The problem is that IMHO, there are just too many competitors in that $15-25 entree price point. Bertucci's, Magianno's, Carrabba's, Olive Garden, Chateau all compete in that same food space. Then the ones that went away include Vinny Testa's/Vinny T', Buca di Bepo, Macaroni Grill.

Overall, the restaurant scene locally and nationally is one of over saturation. It often is a zero sum game. Here in Burlington, one of the first Chili's opened over 20 years ago. They did a good business. Chili's then opened up in Wilmington and was always empty. It closed after a couple of years. Now the Chili's in Burlington is closing in March with the rumor being Yard House is taking the space. Now the will compete with Tony C's right up the street.

The Macaroni Grill in Burlington closed last year and the building is coming down for a new high end seafood chain called Eddie V's owned by Darden who also has Seasons 52 and Capital Grille nearby. Add that to Del Frisco's, Bancroft, Redstone Grille, La Andana, and the grande dame Cafe Escadrille in town, and there are 8 places to spend $75-100 per person on dinner.

[tysmith95]

^Maybe that's part of the problem. Places do better when they focus on being good at one thing.

[GeePee]

Shame. I thought they were one of the better chains. And they sold raw dough to make pizza at home.

[BostonMike7]

I'm a sad. That's our go-to when my wife or myself doesnt feel like cooking and need take-out

[OutdoorLover]

I haven't been there too many times, but I liked it when I went. Am not happy to hear they are folding. Beyond enjoying the experiences I did have there, I just can't see it as a positive when a significant local business goes bankrupt.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

I haven't been there too many times, but I liked it when I went. Am not happy to hear they are folding. Beyond enjoying the experiences I did have there, I just can't see it as a positive when a significant local business goes bankrupt.

Oh yeah, this development is certainly not a positive from an economic standpoint. I wouldn't expect anyone to be happy about the news unless they had an ax to grind with the company.

I am just not big on Italian style food. It is just too heavy and I always feel like a Candlepin bowling ball is sitting in my gut after consuming it, thus my overall indifference to the news from a consumer standpoint. I do not consider it to be a choice in dining out.