Award-winning restaurant featuring authentic, unique, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
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You know the difference between real Italian food and the tourist stuff. You want pasta that’s actually made by hand, not pulled from a box. Seafood that tastes like the Italian coast, not generic “seafood pasta.” Ingredients that matter.
Here’s what that looks like at your table: Pappardelle rolled fresh that morning, tossed with those rare Abruzzo truffles we’re named after. Grilled calamari that’s nothing like the rubbery rings you’ve had elsewhere. Veal chops stuffed with prosciutto and fontina, cooked the way they do it in coastal Italy.
The result? You get dinner that feels like you discovered something special. No downtown parking hassles. No tourist crowds. Just exceptional Italian food made by chefs who learned these techniques in the Abruzzo region, served in Cambridge where you can actually relax and enjoy it.
We opened in 2004 when Cambridge had fewer good Italian options. Two decades later, we’re still here because we never compromised on what matters: authentic ingredients, traditional techniques, and treating guests like neighbors.
Our approach is straightforward. We bring chefs from the Abruzzo region because authenticity can’t be faked. We source organic meats and fresh seafood because quality ingredients create memorable meals. We maintain relationships with local farms because seasonal, local produce makes everything taste better.
Cambridge diners have learned they can count on us for the meals that matter. Anniversary dinners. Graduation celebrations. Those Tuesday nights when you want something better than ordinary. We understand that your time and money are valuable, which is why we’ve built our reputation on delivering exceptional Italian food without the downtown complications.
Make your reservation ahead of time. Cambridge locals know to book early, especially for weekends, because our intimate setting fills up with people who understand good Italian food.
When you arrive, you’ll choose your atmosphere. Upstairs offers elegant dining with chandeliers and large windows overlooking the street. Downstairs features our renovated bar area with a more modern feel but the same exceptional food. Both spaces deliver that warm Italian hospitality you’re looking for.
Your meal starts with warm, fresh bread while you browse a menu that goes beyond typical Italian-American fare. Our Abruzzese specialties include dishes you won’t find at other Cambridge Italian restaurants. Fresh seafood preparations. Homemade pasta with sauces that take hours to develop properly. Signature items like our bone-in veal chop that guests drive from other towns to enjoy.
Everything is prepared to order using traditional techniques. You’ll taste the difference in the handmade pasta, the carefully selected wines, and even the way we prepare simple dishes like our authentic Carbonara with imported pancetta. This is Italian dining focused on bringing people together over food that actually matters.
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Your Italian dining experience includes the complete package that makes Tartufo Cambridge’s trusted choice for authentic cuisine. Our menu balances traditional Abruzzese specialties with Italian-American favorites that are executed properly.
You’ll find house-made lobster ravioli in vodka pink sauce, authentic risottos that showcase seasonal ingredients, and pasta dishes that use imported Italian ingredients where they matter most. For those who prefer familiar comfort foods, our Chicken Parmigiana and lasagna represent these classics done the right way.
Cambridge diners particularly value our full-service bar featuring carefully curated Italian wines, craft cocktails, and premium spirits. Many guests start their evening at the bar, enjoying appetizers and drinks before dinner. Our wine list focuses on small Italian vineyards alongside American selections that complement the food.
We handle private events for up to 55 people in our upstairs dining room. Whether you’re celebrating a Harvard or MIT graduation, hosting a corporate dinner, or planning a milestone birthday, our experienced team coordinates every detail. Our catering service brings this same quality to your location, delivering authentic Italian flavors for home gatherings and office events throughout Cambridge and surrounding areas.
We specialize in authentic Abruzzese cuisine, which focuses on seafood and coastal Italian preparations that most Italian restaurants don’t offer. The Abruzzo region is known for specific ingredients and techniques, including those rare truffle mushrooms we’re named after.
Our chefs come directly from this region to ensure authenticity. This isn’t Italian-American interpretation – these are traditional recipes and techniques passed down through generations. You’ll taste the difference in dishes like our Grilled Calamari, which is prepared completely differently from the typical fried version, and our Pappardelle al Tartufo, which showcases ingredients you simply won’t find elsewhere in Cambridge.
We’ve also been serving this community for over 20 years from the same location. That longevity means we understand what Cambridge diners value: quality without pretension, authenticity without attitude, and exceptional food that’s worth the investment.
Yes, and we’re good at it because we prepare everything to order using fresh ingredients. This gives our kitchen flexibility to modify dishes or create alternatives that work within your dietary needs without compromising flavor.
We regularly accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian, and other dietary restrictions. Our staff knows the ingredients and preparation methods for every dish, so they can guide you toward options that work or suggest modifications that make sense.
The key is mentioning your needs when you make your reservation. This allows our kitchen to be fully prepared and, if necessary, suggest the best dishes for your requirements. For guests with severe allergies or very specific dietary needs, our chefs often create something special that meets your guidelines while delivering the authentic Italian flavors you’re looking for.
Call us directly or book through OpenTable or Resy. We strongly recommend reservations, especially for weekend dinners and special occasions, because Cambridge locals know to book ahead for quality Italian dining.
When you arrive, you’ll choose between our upstairs dining room – elegant atmosphere with chandeliers and street views – or our downstairs space featuring a modern bar area and more casual elegance. Both offer the same exceptional food and attentive service.
Our dinner service typically runs from early evening through late night. We often feature live saxophone music on certain evenings, which creates the romantic atmosphere that makes us popular for date nights and anniversary dinners. The music enhances the experience without overwhelming conversation, which Cambridge diners particularly appreciate.
Our private dining room upstairs accommodates up to 45 people for seated dinners or 55 for cocktail-style events. This dedicated space includes full bar service and can be customized for different types of celebrations.
We’re experienced with graduation parties for local universities like Harvard and MIT, corporate events, wedding celebrations, and milestone birthdays. Our team creates custom menus that fit your event style and budget, handling all coordination so you can focus on your guests rather than logistics.
For smaller groups of 8-12 people, we arrange special seating in our main dining room. The key is communicating your needs when making the reservation – we’ll work out the best arrangement for your party and ensure the experience meets your expectations.
Start with our signature Grilled Calamari – it’s prepared completely differently from typical fried calamari and showcases our Abruzzese seafood expertise. The Pappardelle al Tartufo features those rare truffle mushrooms we’re named after and represents authentic flavors you won’t find at other Cambridge Italian restaurants.
Our bone-in Veal Chop stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese is exceptional – it’s a substantial dish that demonstrates traditional Italian preparation techniques. The homemade Lobster Ravioli in vodka pink sauce and our authentic Carbonara made with imported pancetta are guest favorites that showcase our commitment to proper ingredients.
If you prefer familiar dishes executed properly, our Chicken Parmigiana and Lasagna with fresh beef and three cheeses represent Italian-American comfort food done the right way. Our servers know the menu thoroughly and will make recommendations based on your preferences, dietary needs, and what’s particularly fresh that evening.
Yes, our complete menu is available for takeout and delivery throughout Cambridge and surrounding areas. We expanded these services during the pandemic while maintaining the same quality standards our dine-in guests expect.
We package everything carefully to preserve temperature and presentation. Our pasta dishes and entrees travel particularly well, and we include reheating instructions when needed to ensure you get the best possible experience at home.
For delivery, we work with major platforms for individual orders and provide direct delivery for larger catering orders. The same attention to quality ingredients and proper preparation applies whether you’re dining with us or enjoying our food at home. Many guests tell us our homemade pasta dishes and signature sauces maintain their exceptional flavor even as takeout – which speaks to the quality of ingredients and preparation methods we use.
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