Aurora, which means dawn in Italian, was first established in 2003, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn 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. 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. But Aurora prevailed and the team set their sights on opening a restaurant in Manhattan. Since opening Aurora Soho in 2007, the restaurant has been a consistent staple in the neighborhood as it has evolved.

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