Author: Matt Ingersoll

Tammaro’s Cucina coming to Litchfield

Donna Tammaro and her daughter, Lindsey Russo, quickly gained a following among family and friends last year for trays of their homemade Italian dishes, starting with Russo’s lasagna before expanding to others like meatballs, chicken alfredo, stuffed shells and eggplant Parmesan. The feedback was so positive that it inspired them to pursue opening their own restaurant, where they’ll soon be offering a variety of scratch-made options to the public for the first time.

Tammaro’s Cucina, on track to open later this month in northern Litchfield, is expected to feature a diverse menu of homemade Italian dishes cooked to order, plus a case of take-and-bake pasta trays, pastries and other options. Many of the dishes are named after and use recipes from multiple family members, including MaryAnn Tammaro — Donna’s mother and Russo’s Nana — as well as Russo’s aunt and even a few of her cousins from overseas in Italy.

While cooking most of the meals out of MaryAnn’s home kitchen in Manchester, Donna Tammaro and Russo looked for potential restaurant locations over the course of several months. A friend eventually tipped them off earlier this year about a small space on Charles Bancroft Highway in nearby Litchfield that would soon become vacant.

Tammaro’s Cucina will feature salads, soups and a few Italian hot subs like chicken Parmesan, meatball, and sausage, pepper and onion. But the stars of its menu will be the pasta dishes, from Russo’s meat or cheese lasagna to chicken penne broccoli alfredo, shrimp scampi, chicken ziti broccoli in a garlic wine sauce, and a five-cheese tortellini. Each will be served with two pieces of garlic bread, made with Tammaro’s own garlic butter in house.

“Some dishes will have other sides you can choose,” Russo said. “We’ll have risotto, ricotta mashed potatoes, broccoli, mixed vegetables and mozzarella sticks for sides. … We’re also going to be doing cheese and pepperoni Sicilian pizzas.”

A few pasta dishes, Tammaro said, will likely be cooked in half trays ahead of lunchtime and available out of a grab-and-go case. Several homemade desserts are also expected, including cannolis, lemon or blueberry ricotta cake, tiramisu and assorted Italian cupcakes and cookies.

Half- or full-sized trays of any of the menu’s pastas will be cooked to order too, feeding about six to eight or 12 to 16 people, respectively, according to Russo.

Potential specials may include Italian meatloaf with ricotta mashed potatoes, or items traditionally served around the holidays like pizzagaina.

“Pizzagaina is a meat pie with Italian cold cuts and fresh ricotta and Parmesan cheese,” Tammaro said. “It’s absolutely out of this world. … My mother used to make one that was so huge.”

While they expect to offer mostly takeout and delivery, Russo said there will be a few tables inside for customers to dine in, as well as outside the restaurant in nice weather.

Tommaro’s Cucina
An opening date is expected in the coming weeks. Call, email or follow them on social media for updates.

Where: 469 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield
Anticipated hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
More info: Follow them on Facebook @tammaroscucina4 or on Instagram @tammaroscucina, email tammaroscucina@gmail.com or call 377-7312

Featured photo: Penne with meatballs from Tammaro’s Cucina. Courtesy photo.

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