Three Quarters of a Century Young

This year, Belluscio’s restaurant at 352 Midland Avenue, is marking its 76th year in Rye. What is particularly remarkable is that, since its opened in 1933, it has maintained the same basic philosophy: good northern and southern Italian cooking in a family atmosphere.

Generations of Rye families have eaten here, and they keep coming back. While the building has undergone renovation and expansion, and some new items have joined the menu, the pastas, pizzas, steaks, chops and veal dishes are still prominently featured. So is the ever-popular eggplant parmigiana. And don’t overlook their mussels and a special lobster pasta dish.

The front-room bar at Belluscio’s evokes past decades, feeling just like the neighborhood venue it is. That old-time feel also runs through the dining rooms, where owner Frank Belluscio has hung dozens of historical black-and-white photos of Rye, many one of a kind.

Belluscio’s is open every evening for dinner except Mondays. The setting is casual and comfortable, just the way the Belluscio family has done things for more than three-quarters of a century.