Award-winning restaurant featuring authentic, unique, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
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You walk in craving good Italian food. You leave with memories of how dinner should actually taste.
Every plate tells the story of authentic Abruzzese tradition—handmade pasta rolled fresh that morning, seafood that arrived hours ago, not days. The kind of Italian restaurant where we know your name and your favorite table, where live saxophone music drifts through warm conversations and the wine list features bottles you’ve never heard of but will absolutely love.
This isn’t chain restaurant Italian with pre-made sauces and frozen portions. This is the real thing. The kind of place where you bring someone special and they understand why you drove to Reading, MA instead of settling for something closer to home.
Since 2004, we’ve been the Italian restaurant Reading, MA locals guard like a secret. Founded by our owner Anna Mountzuris, who brought authentic Abruzzese and Mediterranean traditions to Massachusetts, we’re not just another restaurant—we’re a family legacy.
Twenty years in the same location means something. It means neighbors trust us with their anniversaries, their first dates, their celebrations that matter. It means we’ve earned our reputation one plate at a time, not through marketing campaigns or flashy concepts.
The 4.5-star reviews tell part of the story. The fact that regulars have been coming here for decades tells the rest. This is where Reading comes when Italian food needs to be perfect, not just good enough.
We start with ingredients that matter. Pasta rolled fresh each morning, not pulled from a box. Seafood that arrived today, not last week. Sauces that simmer for hours because that’s how long they take, not because a timer went off.
Anna’s approach is simple: if it wouldn’t pass muster in Abruzzo, it doesn’t make it to your table. Every dish follows traditional Mediterranean methods, from our signature Veal Chop stuffed with prosciutto and fontina to the lobster ravioli that converts skeptics into believers.
Our process hasn’t changed in twenty years because it was right the first time. Your order arrives at your table exactly when it’s ready, not when it’s convenient. The live saxophone creates atmosphere, not noise. Wine pairings come from someone who actually knows the difference, not someone reading from a script.
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Our menu reads like a love letter to Italian tradition. Signature dishes include the Grilled Calamari that converts seafood skeptics and the bone-in double cut Veal Chop that’s become legendary among Reading, MA diners. Our homemade gnocchi melts in your mouth. The Sunday gravy simmers for hours before it reaches your plate.
But it’s not just the food that sets us apart in Reading’s Italian dining scene. Our full-service bar features premium wines selected to complement, not compete with, your meal. Gluten-free pasta options mean everyone can enjoy authentic Italian food without compromise. Our private dining accommodates up to 45 people for celebrations that deserve better than generic banquet halls.
Parking isn’t a problem here—one less thing to worry about when you’re focused on enjoying the evening. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance: elegant enough for special occasions, comfortable enough that you don’t feel overdressed if you just want great Italian food on a Tuesday night in Reading, MA.
Twenty years of doing things the authentic way, not the convenient way. While other Italian food restaurants rely on pre-made sauces and frozen portions, we follow traditional Abruzzese methods that Anna Mountzuris brought from the Mediterranean.
Every pasta is rolled fresh that morning. Every sauce simmers for the time it actually takes to develop proper flavor. The seafood arrives daily, not weekly. This commitment to authenticity is why locals have been coming here for decades and why visitors understand immediately that this isn’t typical “Italian-American” food.
Our award-winning reputation speaks for itself, but the real proof is in regular customers who’ve been trusting us with their special occasions since 2004. When you’ve earned 4.5 stars over two decades in the same Reading, MA location, you’re doing something right.
Absolutely, and we do it properly. Our gluten-free pasta isn’t an afterthought—it’s actually quite tasty, prepared with the same attention to quality as everything else on our menu.
Because everything is made to order using all-natural ingredients, our kitchen can accommodate most dietary needs without compromising flavor. Whether you need vegetarian options, have food allergies, or other dietary considerations, our staff works with you to ensure your Italian dining experience meets your needs.
This flexibility comes from cooking everything fresh rather than reheating pre-made dishes. When you control the entire process from ingredients to plate, accommodating special requests becomes part of good service, not a burden.
This is exactly where we shine. Our second-floor private dining room accommodates up to 45 people for dinner service or 55 for cocktail events, with full bar service and the same attention to detail that makes regular dinners special.
Our atmosphere naturally lends itself to celebrations—live saxophone music some evenings, elegant but comfortable setting, and service that makes guests feel genuinely welcomed rather than processed. Many Reading, MA families have celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, and other milestones here for years.
Our staff coordinates event planning to reduce your stress, creating custom menus tailored to your celebration. Whether it’s an intimate anniversary dinner or a larger family gathering, we provide the kind of memorable Italian dining experience that makes special occasions actually feel special.
Our signature Veal Chop is legendary among Reading diners—a bone-in double cut stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese, topped with mushrooms and port wine reduction. It’s the kind of dish that converts people who “don’t usually order veal.”
Our Grilled Calamari consistently surprises guests who expect the typical fried version. Instead, you get perfectly tender seafood that showcases the Mediterranean preparation Anna learned in Abruzzo. The lobster ravioli in vodka pink sauce with crab meat and arugula is another standout that regulars order repeatedly.
For pasta lovers, our homemade gnocchi with tomato-basil sauce represents everything we do right—simple ingredients prepared with traditional techniques that let authentic flavors shine. Our Sunday gravy over fresh tagliatelle with homemade meatballs brings families back week after week for the best Italian food in Reading, MA.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend dinners and any special occasions. Twenty years of reputation means our tables fill up, particularly when locals know they want reliable Italian food for important evenings.
You can book through us directly, and it’s worth calling ahead if you have specific seating preferences or timing needs. Our staff knows the rhythm of service and can help you choose the best time for your particular celebration or dining goals.
For the full experience, consider coming on evenings when our live saxophone player performs—it adds to the atmosphere without overwhelming conversation. If you’re new to Tartufo, trust our staff’s recommendations. After two decades of serving Reading, MA, we know what works.
Come hungry and don’t rush. This isn’t fast-casual Italian where everything arrives in ten minutes. We prepare dishes to order using traditional methods, which means your meal arrives when it’s actually ready, not when it’s convenient.
Our portions are generous—designed for sharing if you want to try multiple dishes. Our wine list features selections you probably haven’t heard of but will definitely enjoy, chosen to complement the Mediterranean-style cuisine rather than impress with famous labels.
Parking is available and not a concern, which eliminates one common restaurant headache. Our atmosphere is elegant but not stuffy—you can dress up for a special occasion or come as you are for quality Italian food. Most importantly, we’re a family-owned Italian restaurant where hospitality matters, so expect to be treated like a welcome guest, not just another table to turn.
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