It’s a rare thing for a more than 50-year-old restaurant to be a hot spot. But the opening of a new location for Mondo’s has brought with it buzz about the new building in Brookside along with nostalgia about meals eaten and occasions celebrated over the years.

Walking into Mondo’s is like walking into a part of the Aloisio family home. It’s always been the tradition of the restaurant to hang family photos on the walls. But in the new space, those photos feel even more intimate. The cozy 20-foot-wide restaurant has the feel of a big family dining room, with photos of the Aloisio family, friends and longtime customers smiling down.