Bistro Limoncello

Marc Turo, owner and host of Bistro Limoncello Ristorante and Bar, takes a plate of stuff ed calamari from head chef Bruno DeOliveira. The new restaurant in Northborough features Italian specialti es and a terrific wine list, all served in a warm and friendly atmosphere. PHOTO/K.A. ESPOSITO Northborough – The first face you’ll see at Bistro Limoncello Ristorante and Bar is likely to be that of owner Marc Turo, and you can be fairly sure he’ll be smiling.

On a recent Friday evening, Turo worked the crowd like an impresario, smiling, shaking hands, bussing cheeks and cracking jokes. It’s no accident the intimate dining room and stylish bar area are packed, with weekend reservations usually completely filled by mid-week.

“People love the vibe,” Turo said, although the Bistro has only been open since October 2009. “I’ve got a tremendous amount of regulars.”

Turo should know how to bring in the diners and revelers. The grandson of Italian immigrants who opened Turo’s Market on Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, Marc Turo is also the son of the late Leo Turo, namesake for the well-known Worcester dining institution, Leo’s Restaurant.

Growing up in Leo’s kitchen, Marc himself became a chef. But he also followed in the family tradition of starting businesses. He and his late brother, Franny, opened Goodfella’s Martini Bar and the Pearl Oyster Bistro, both in Worcester.

A hands-on owner, Marc Turo designed the simple yet classic décor for the restaurant and bar. Walls are painted in terra cotta, illuminated by art-deco-style sconces and highlighted by wood-framed mirrors. Mahogany chairs with lattice backs surround square, clothcovered tables. In several areas, family photos covering generations adorn the walls. Music is also classic, including Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

“I wanted people to come in and have a cozy feeling,” Turo said. “I try to sit with everybody.”

In fact, Bistro Limoncello has already built a loyal following of regulars.

“It’s great. You come in here and they make an eff ort to know you,” said local attorney Marshall Gould. “I tell people about it, and then I see them here. It’s like Cheers,” he added, referring to the television show. “I started walking by the bar [tonight] and realized I know half the people here.”

Turo’s involvement in the restaurant doesn’t end with greeting guests, however. After all, his roots are in the kitchen.

“I’m here every morning in my [chef ] whites,” he said. And he’s not alone. His Uncle Franny Turo is with him every day, and sometimes, the next generation - his 11-year-old son, Dante Leo - helps out.

The food is, after all, the main attraction. Marc Turo credits his classic family recipes and his head chef, Bruno DeOliveira. The restaurant’s Dover sole Francais ($26) is one of the more popular dishes, Turo said, along with the homemade veal braciole ($21) and Uncle Patsy’s stuff ed calamari ($24). The meatballs, he said, are “the best in the world.”

Marc Turo is planning a special five-course wine dinner ($75) Saturday, March 13 to usher in a seasonal change in menu and in the wine list. For more information, call 508-393-5440 or visit www.bistrolimoncello.com.

Bistro Limoncello Ristorante and Bar, located at 290 West Main St., Northborough, is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 11 p.m., and the bar is open until 2 a.m.