Faro Italian Grille to open new restaurant on Union Ave

The former Pizza Hut on Union Avenue in Laconia awaits its new owner, the Faro Italian Grille. (Adam Drapcho/Laconia Daily Sun)

By ADAM DRAPCHO, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — Four years ago, Richard and Michael Ray opened Faro Italian Grille, transforming the former Weirs Beach Lobster Pound into an eatery reminiscent of those they grew up with in the North End of Boston. They are now poised to repeat the trick, having signed a lease for the building at 1135 Union Avenue, which for decades was home to a Pizza Hut.

The new venture will be called Faro Express, and will offer the same flavors and quality that have built a reputation at Faro Italian Grille, said Richard Ray. Faro Express will be differentiated from its crosstown kin by utilizing a different level of service and a more affordable price point.

Ray said he, his brother and their management team started thinking about a second location more than two years ago. They first set their sights on the Portsmouth market, where they planned to duplicate the Faro menu and business model.

“We had a handshake deal that didn’t work out,” said Ray. “At the end of the day, it’s probably best that it didn’t work out, because we’re all centered here.”

Instead of opening the same business in a different market, they are going to open a different type of eatery within the same city. Faro Express is modeled after a restaurant that Ray knows from the North End, which he said is very successful and provides a quick, delicious product for less than what conventional restaurants can offer.

At Faro Express, customers will walk up to a counter along the side of an open kitchen and place their order directly with the chef or cook, who will make the dishes to order. The diners will then take their food to a cashier, pay for their food, then carry their meal to a table. Most dishes will be assembled within three to five minutes.

Faro Express could be open as early as the middle of May.

Ray and manager Bri Heney think they’ll be able to staff the business with three cooks, a cashier and a worker to bus tables.

The menu is still being finalized, but Ray said there will be pasta dishes, salads, panini sandwiches and pizza, both whole and by the slice.

Due to the lower overhead costs as compared to a full-service restaurant, Faro Express should be able to pass those savings on to the customer. For example, a dish such as chicken Parmesan costs more than $20 at Faro Italian Grille

“We’re looking for $13, for almost the same dish,” said Heney.

“We want to make it affordable but keep the quality as high as we can,” said Ray.

Faro Express will have about 40 seats for dine-in customers. Ray expects to do brisk call-in and take-out business, as well as use the kitchen for catering.

“We’re excited,” said Ray. “Basically, it will be fast-casual, focused around Italian, at an affordable price point.”