Award-winning restaurant featuring authentic, unique, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
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You shouldn’t have to drive to Boston’s North End for authentic Italian seafood. Not when you want fresh catches prepared the way we do it on Italy’s Abruzzese coast – with respect for the ingredients and techniques passed down through generations.
Our seafood dishes aren’t just “Italian-inspired.” They’re rooted in the coastal traditions of Abruzzo, where seafood isn’t an afterthought but the centerpiece of the meal. Think pan-seared scallops with pappardelle, linguini loaded with clams, mussels, and calamari, or our signature lobster ravioli that keeps people coming back.
This is what happens when you stop settling for chain restaurant seafood and start expecting the real thing.
Since 2004, we’ve been serving Townsend and surrounding communities the kind of Italian seafood cuisine you’d find along Italy’s Adriatic coast. Not the Americanized version – the real thing.
Our founder Anna Mountzuris built our restaurant around a simple concept: organic ingredients, traditional techniques, and the coastal flavors of Abruzzo. We hire chefs from the region because authenticity isn’t something you can fake. It shows in every dish, from our truffle-infused specialties to the way we handle fresh seafood.
Twenty years later, we’re still here because Townsend deserves better than driving an hour for a decent seafood dinner. You deserve Italian coastal cuisine that respects both the tradition and your time.
Fresh seafood starts with sourcing, not seasoning. We work with suppliers who understand the difference between “fresh” and “fresh enough.” Our seafood arrives daily, gets prepped to order, and never sits under heat lamps waiting for pickup.
When you order our Frutti di Mare, you’re getting linguini with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and calamari that was swimming recently. Our lobster ravioli uses real lobster meat, not imitation. The scallops are seared properly – caramelized outside, tender inside.
We prepare everything to order using traditional Abruzzese techniques. No shortcuts, no microwave reheating, no frozen seafood passed off as fresh. Just the way coastal Italian families have been doing it for generations, now available in Townsend without the drive to the North End.
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Every seafood entrée comes with the attention to detail Townsend has been missing. Fresh catches prepared using traditional Abruzzese coastal methods, paired with housemade pasta when appropriate, and finished with ingredients that actually enhance the seafood instead of masking it.
Your meal includes more than just the main dish. You get warm, fresh bread to start, properly paired wine recommendations from our curated selection, and service from staff who understand the difference between rushing you out and giving you space to enjoy the experience.
For special occasions, our upstairs dining room provides the intimate atmosphere Townsend couples have been driving to Boston to find. Live saxophone on select evenings, private event capabilities for up to 45 guests, and the kind of memorable dining experience that makes anniversaries and celebrations feel special without the city hassle.
Our seafood comes from the Abruzzese coastal Italian tradition, not the generic “Italian-American” approach most restaurants use. We source fresh catches daily, prepare everything to order, and use traditional techniques from Italy’s Adriatic coast region.
While most local spots treat seafood as an afterthought or rely on frozen ingredients, we built our menu around authentic coastal Italian preparations. Our chefs trained in the Abruzzo region understand how to handle fresh seafood properly – when to sear, when to poach, how to pair with pasta, and which seasonings enhance rather than overwhelm the natural flavors.
You’re getting restaurant-quality seafood that respects both the ingredient and the tradition, not something that tastes like it came from a chain restaurant’s freezer section.
Yes, we work with guests who have specific dietary requirements, allergies, or preferences. Our kitchen prepares everything to order, so we can modify preparations, adjust seasonings, or suggest alternatives that fit your needs.
If you have shellfish allergies, we can recommend our fresh fish preparations that don’t involve cross-contamination. For gluten sensitivities, we offer dishes that skip the pasta or can substitute gluten-free options where available. Our staff knows which dishes contain which allergens and can guide you toward safe choices.
The key is letting us know when you make your reservation or when you arrive. Our kitchen team has experience accommodating various dietary needs without compromising the quality or authenticity of the preparation.
Most of our seafood entrées are complete meals designed to satisfy without requiring multiple add-ons. Dishes like our Swordfish Dinner or Salmon preparation include a fresh salad, properly prepared potato or pasta side, and seasonal vegetables.
Our seafood pasta dishes – like the Frutti di Mare or Lobster Ravioli – are generous portions that work as complete meals. We’re not trying to nickel and dime you with tiny portions that require expensive sides to feel full.
Every meal starts with warm, fresh bread and includes our attentive service. Wine pairings are available if you want them, but the food portions are designed to be satisfying on their own. You’re paying for a complete dining experience, not an appetizer disguised as an entrée.
Fresh seafood has tells that are hard to fake – proper texture, clean smell, and flavors that taste like the ocean, not the freezer. Our suppliers deliver daily, and we prep to order rather than batch-cooking and holding under heat.
You can taste the difference immediately. Fresh scallops sear properly and have a sweet, briny flavor. Fresh fish flakes cleanly and doesn’t have that “fishy” smell or rubbery texture that comes from sitting too long. Our mussels and clams open properly when cooked and have the clean, oceanic taste that only comes from recent harvesting.
We’ve built relationships with suppliers over twenty years who understand that our reputation depends on ingredient quality. If something doesn’t meet our standards, it doesn’t get served. You’re not getting yesterday’s catch passed off as today’s special.
Absolutely. Our upstairs dining room provides the intimate, elegant atmosphere that makes anniversaries, proposals, and celebrations feel special. We regularly host date nights, birthday celebrations, and romantic dinners for couples who want something more memorable than the typical Townsend dining options.
The ambiance includes soft lighting, comfortable seating, and on select evenings, live saxophone music that creates the perfect backdrop for conversation. Our service team understands how to make special occasions feel special – attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about wine pairings, and experienced with celebrations.
Many couples choose us specifically because they want the intimate, upscale dining experience without driving to Boston. We’ve hosted engagements, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations for Townsend families for nearly two decades. The food quality and atmosphere consistently deliver the memorable experience these occasions deserve.
Our Lobster Ravioli consistently ranks as a guest favorite – housemade pasta stuffed with real lobster meat in a vodka pink sauce with crab meat and arugula. It’s the kind of dish that brings people back regularly and creates those “you have to try this” recommendations.
The Frutti di Mare is another standout – linguini with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and calamari in a garlic and cherry tomato sauce that showcases each seafood properly. Our pan-seared scallops with pappardelle pasta, spinach, and portabella mushrooms in vodka mascarpone sauce appeals to guests who want something rich but refined.
For those preferring simpler preparations, our fresh fish specials change based on daily availability but consistently deliver properly prepared catches with traditional Italian accompaniments. These dishes have earned their popularity through consistent execution and authentic flavors that keep Townsend diners coming back instead of driving elsewhere.
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