Award-winning restaurant featuring authentic, unique, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
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You’re not settling for another generic seafood spot. You want the real thing—coastal Italian cuisine that transports you straight to the Adriatic.
That’s exactly what happens at Tartufo. Every dish starts with the freshest catch, prepared using authentic Abruzzese techniques that we’ve perfected over generations. Your Grilled Calamari arrives tender and smoky, not rubbery like so many places serve.
The difference is obvious from the first bite. This isn’t seafood with Italian seasoning thrown on top. This is genuine coastal Italian cooking, where the seafood shines through expert preparation, not heavy sauces or gimmicks.
We’ve been serving Somerville’s most discerning diners since 2004. Founded by Anna Mountzuris, our restaurant specializes in authentic Abruzzese coastal cuisine—a rare style that showcases the seafood-rich traditions of Italy’s Adriatic coast.
Our commitment to authenticity runs deep. We regularly bring in chefs from the Abruzzo region to maintain traditional techniques. This isn’t about creating fusion or putting a modern twist on classics. It’s about honoring the genuine flavors that make coastal Italian cuisine so distinctive.
Located in Newton Centre, we offer Somerville residents an elegant dining experience without the hassle of downtown Boston traffic. Our two-level design provides options for both intimate dinners and larger celebrations, all supported by a team that understands hospitality.
Your dining experience begins with ingredients we source daily from trusted suppliers. The seafood arrives fresh each morning, ensuring every dish meets our exacting standards.
In our kitchen, traditional Abruzzese techniques guide every preparation. We make the pasta by hand using methods passed down through generations. Seafood is prepared simply but expertly—grilled, sautéed, or incorporated into signature dishes that highlight natural flavors rather than masking them.
Our service team understands timing. Your appetizers arrive at the perfect temperature, your wine is properly paired, and your entrées are delivered when you’re ready. Our two dining rooms offer different atmospheres—elegant upstairs dining for special occasions, or the more casual downstairs space for relaxed meals.
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Our menu reflects the coastal abundance of the Abruzzo region. Signature dishes include our acclaimed Grilled Calamari, prepared with a technique that ensures tender, never tough results. Our lobster ravioli showcases handmade pasta filled with fresh lobster meat in a delicate vodka sauce.
Beyond individual dishes, we offer complete dining experiences. Our full-service bar features an extensive wine list emphasizing Italian selections that complement our seafood-focused menu. Live saxophone music on select evenings adds to the romantic atmosphere that makes us a favorite for date nights and celebrations.
For Somerville residents, this means access to genuine coastal Italian cuisine without the trek to Boston’s North End. Our private dining options accommodate groups up to 45 people, making Tartufo suitable for everything from intimate anniversaries to corporate events. We also provide catering services, bringing our authentic flavors to your location.
We specialize in authentic Abruzzese coastal cuisine, which is distinctly different from the typical Italian-American fare most people know. The Abruzzo region sits along Italy’s Adriatic coast, where seafood is the star of traditional cooking.
We regularly bring in chefs from this specific region to maintain authentic preparation methods. This means your seafood is prepared using techniques that have been refined over centuries in coastal Italian kitchens, not adapted or “Americanized” versions.
You’ll taste the difference immediately. Our Grilled Calamari, for example, uses a specific grilling technique that keeps the squid tender while developing a subtle smoky flavor. It’s completely different from the breaded and fried calamari rings you’ll find elsewhere.
We receive fresh seafood deliveries daily from trusted suppliers who understand our quality standards. Our kitchen team inspects every piece before it’s approved for service, ensuring only the highest quality makes it to your plate.
Our reputation depends on this consistency. After nearly two decades in business, we’ve built relationships with suppliers who know exactly what quality standards to meet. This isn’t a place that accepts “good enough” when it comes to freshness.
You can see this commitment in action. Our daily seafood selections change based on what’s available at peak freshness, rather than forcing inferior ingredients to fit a static menu. When our kitchen recommends the catch of the day, you know it’s because that particular fish met our exacting standards that morning.
Absolutely. We’ve been the setting for countless celebrations over our nearly 20-year history. We offer two distinct dining environments to match different occasions—elegant upstairs dining with chandeliers and formal atmosphere, or the more relaxed downstairs space.
Our live saxophone music on select evenings creates a romantic atmosphere that’s perfect for anniversaries, proposals, or date nights. Many couples have made us their go-to spot for celebrating milestones because the combination of exceptional food and ambiance creates memorable experiences.
For larger celebrations, our private dining room accommodates up to 45 guests with full-service bar access. Our staff understands how to coordinate special events, from birthday celebrations to corporate dinners. We’ll work with you to create custom menus and ensure every detail supports your celebration.
We offer a warm, sophisticated atmosphere that strikes the right balance between elegant and welcoming. Our upstairs dining room features chandeliers, large windows with golden drapes, and formal table settings that create an upscale experience without feeling stuffy.
Our recently renovated downstairs area provides a more casual option with an expansive bar and modern touches like mirrors that open up the space. Both levels maintain the same commitment to service and food quality, just with different energy levels.
Our live saxophone music adds a special touch on select evenings, creating the kind of romantic atmosphere that makes ordinary dinners feel special. The noise level can get lively when we’re full, which many guests enjoy as part of the vibrant dining experience. If you prefer quieter conversation, requesting a table during earlier dining hours or in specific sections can accommodate that preference.
Our kitchen team understands that great hospitality means accommodating guests’ needs whenever possible. While our menu focuses heavily on seafood and traditional Italian preparations, our chefs can often modify dishes to work with common dietary restrictions.
Our extensive menu includes options beyond seafood, including traditional Italian meat dishes, pasta preparations, and vegetarian selections. Our homemade pasta can be prepared with different sauces to avoid dairy or other allergens when advance notice is provided.
For serious food allergies or complex dietary needs, calling ahead allows our kitchen to prepare properly. Our staff has experience working with guests who have specific requirements and will communicate directly with the kitchen to ensure safe, enjoyable dining. This level of personal attention reflects our family-owned restaurant’s commitment to making every guest feel welcome.
We’re located in Newton Centre, which can present parking challenges during peak dining times, especially on weekends. However, our location offers several parking options that most guests find manageable with a little planning.
Street parking is available on surrounding streets, though it fills up during busy periods. There are also municipal parking areas within walking distance of our restaurant. Many regular customers recommend arriving slightly early for dinner reservations to allow time for parking.
The slight parking inconvenience is often outweighed by our location’s benefits—you’re avoiding the traffic and parking challenges of downtown Boston while still accessing high-quality dining. Many Somerville residents find this trade-off worthwhile, especially since our quality and atmosphere justify the extra few minutes of parking consideration.
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