Long dormant Brighton diner could reopen - not far from where brewpub is planned

Robert Zoffreo of Belmont, who now owns the shuttered Pig 'N Whistle Diner on North Beacon Street near Market Street, tonight showed off preliminary plans for re-opening the 70-seat place - to hearty applause from the members of the Brighton-Allston Improvement Association, who are mostly old enough to remember it from its heyday before it closed in 2002.

Zoffreo said he would restore the diner's chrome and serve up classic diner breakfast and lunch fare, but added he would try to spruce up the place with a 25-seat outdoor patio in place of the current parking lot - and with a bright yellow 1930s roadster mounted atop the front entrance.

Zoffreo said he is still deciding whether to keep the name - which BAIA members urged him to do. He has trademarked another name - Dog Byte Cafe - but he registered that when he was thinking of re-opening the diner as an Internet cafe.

After he left, the organization voted to support his plans should he go before city boards for formal approval.

Also winning a BAIA nod was the proposed Brato Brewhouse and Kitchen at 190 N. Beacon St.

Co-owners Alex Corona and Jonathan Gilman are proposing a 100-seat eatery at which they would make their own beer, sausage, bread and pickles. The two, who currently work at the Cambridge Brewing Co. in Kendall Square, said they want to create a neighborhood hangout - and would have a kid's menu