Award-winning restaurant featuring authentic, unique, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
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You walk in craving real seafood, not frozen disappointments. You get hand-selected catches prepared the way Italian coastal kitchens have done it for generations.
Every dish starts with the day’s freshest seafood—lobster that was swimming yesterday, scallops that taste like the ocean, calamari so tender it melts. Our chefs don’t mask these flavors with heavy sauces or shortcuts.
Your seafood risotto arrives loaded with shrimp, scallops, clams, and mussels in a perfectly balanced saffron base. The grilled calamari comes charred just right, seasoned with garlic and herbs that complement rather than compete. This is what happens when 20 years of experience meets uncompromising ingredient standards.
Tartufo has been Reading’s trusted source for authentic Italian seafood since 2004. Founded by Anna Mountzuris, we’ve built our reputation on one simple principle: never compromise on ingredients or authenticity.
We source organic seafood, meats, and vegetables, preparing everything in the traditional Abruzzese style that Anna learned from her heritage. Reading families have celebrated anniversaries, date nights, and special occasions here for over 20 years because they know what to expect.
Our kitchen team hand-selects seafood daily, ensuring your lobster ravioli contains actual lobster meat, not fillers. Your seafood fra diavolo gets real San Marzano tomatoes and fresh herbs. This attention to detail is why we’ve earned our award-winning reputation in the Reading area.
Your seafood experience starts before you arrive. Each morning, our team selects the day’s freshest catches from trusted suppliers who share our quality standards.
When you order our signature seafood risotto, we start with Arborio rice and slowly build layers of flavor with white wine, saffron, and fresh seafood stock. The shrimp, scallops, clams, and mussels get added at precise moments to ensure perfect texture.
Our lobster dishes begin with live lobsters, prepared to order using traditional Italian techniques. The grilled calamari gets seasoned with fresh garlic, herbs, and extra virgin olive oil, then grilled over high heat for that perfect char while keeping the inside tender. Every plate leaves our kitchen when it’s ready, not when it’s convenient.
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Your seafood dinner includes more than exceptional food. Reading diners choose Tartufo because we understand that dining out should feel special, not rushed.
Our dining room offers both intimate tables for romantic evenings and family-friendly seating for celebrations. Live saxophone music on select evenings creates the perfect backdrop for your fresh lobster or seafood pasta. We accommodate dietary restrictions with gluten-free pasta options that actually taste good.
Our Reading location means you get the authentic Italian seafood experience without the Boston drive. Our wine selection pairs perfectly with seafood dishes, and our staff knows which Pinot Grigio complements the branzino and which Chianti works with the seafood fra diavolo. Private dining accommodates up to 45 guests for special occasions when you want restaurant-quality seafood for your entire group.
We hand-select our seafood daily from suppliers who meet our strict freshness standards, then prepare everything using authentic Italian techniques passed down through generations. While other restaurants might use frozen seafood or shortcuts, we start with live lobsters and day-boat catches.
Our chefs trained in traditional Abruzzese cooking methods, which means your seafood risotto gets built slowly with proper stock and technique, not dumped from a bag. The difference shows up in every bite—seafood that tastes like the ocean, not the freezer.
You’ll taste this commitment in dishes like our grilled calamari, which stays tender inside while getting perfectly charred outside, or our lobster ravioli stuffed with actual lobster meat and finished with a delicate vodka sauce that enhances rather than masks the seafood flavor.
Yes, we work with guests who have specific dietary needs while maintaining our quality standards. Our gluten-free pasta option actually tastes good—not like cardboard—and works perfectly with our seafood dishes.
We can prepare most seafood dishes without dairy for lactose-intolerant guests, using olive oil-based preparations that are traditional to Italian coastal cooking anyway. Our kitchen staff understands cross-contamination concerns and takes appropriate precautions.
For shellfish allergies, we offer excellent fish-based options like our branzino or salmon preparations. Just let your server know about any restrictions when ordering, and we’ll guide you toward dishes that work for your needs without compromising on flavor or authenticity.
Our seafood risotto consistently ranks as the top choice—it’s loaded with shrimp, scallops, clams, and mussels in a perfectly balanced saffron base that showcases each seafood’s natural flavor. The grilled calamari appetizer is another favorite, especially among guests who’ve had tough, rubbery calamari elsewhere.
Lobster ravioli draws customers from across Reading because we stuff the pasta with real lobster meat and finish it with a vodka pink sauce that complements without overwhelming. Our seafood fra diavolo appeals to guests who want some heat with their fresh catches.
The linguine alle vongole (clam pasta) attracts purists who want to taste how Italian coastal kitchens prepare this classic dish. Each of these dishes represents what we do best—taking exceptional seafood and preparing it with techniques that honor both the ingredient and the tradition.
We receive seafood deliveries multiple times per week from suppliers who specialize in day-boat catches and live shellfish. Our lobsters arrive alive and stay in our tanks until ordered, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor.
Fish gets delivered on ice and stored at precise temperatures, with our kitchen team checking quality before accepting any delivery. We rotate inventory using first-in, first-out principles, so nothing sits longer than necessary.
Our menu reflects seasonal availability—when local scallops are at their peak, we feature them prominently. When certain fish aren’t meeting our standards, we won’t serve them rather than compromise quality. This approach costs more but ensures every seafood dish meets the standards Reading diners expect from us.
Reading guests consistently tell us they appreciate our authentic Italian atmosphere that feels upscale without being stuffy. The dining room works equally well for romantic date nights with fresh lobster or family celebrations featuring our seafood platters.
Live saxophone music on select evenings creates the perfect backdrop for enjoying our seafood specialties and Italian wines. The acoustics can get lively when we’re full, so request a quieter table if you prefer more intimate conversation.
Our service style focuses on letting you enjoy your meal at your own pace. Servers understand our seafood dishes and wine pairings well enough to make thoughtful recommendations. The overall experience feels like dining at a family-owned Italian restaurant where seafood is taken seriously, not a corporate chain going through the motions.
Yes, we offer takeout for most of our seafood menu, though some dishes travel better than others. Our seafood risotto and pasta dishes maintain their quality well when properly packaged, and we use containers that prevent sogginess.
Grilled seafood items like our branzino or salmon work excellently for takeout since they don’t rely on specific temperatures or immediate consumption. Our lobster ravioli travels particularly well because the pasta holds its shape and the sauce doesn’t separate.
We recommend calling ahead for larger seafood orders or during busy periods to ensure optimal timing. Some preparations like our whole grilled fish are better enjoyed in the restaurant, but our kitchen team can guide you toward dishes that will give you the full Tartufo experience at home.
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