Aurora, which means dawn in Italian, was established in 2003 by chef Riccardo Buitoni and his two friends. Chef Buitoni grew up making fresh pasta with his mother and working in local restaurants. Inspired by the cuisine of his native home of Piedmont, Italy, Chef Buitoni sought to create an authentic Italian dining experience near where he was living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. At the time, the neighborhood lacked the presence of a high-quality establishment serving Italian comfort food.

In 2003, opening a restaurant in Williamsburg was considered a bold move. The area was devoid of the higher end restaurants that it currently maintains today. One thing remains clear, however – Aurora has been a consistent staple in the neighborhood as it has evolved over the last couple decades.

Like when Aurora first opened, every item is made with care, on-premises, from the bread to the pasta to the sausages. The majority of ingredients are sourced locally or from Italy.