About Bertucci’s: The Story


The original Bertucci's location

CLASSIC ITALIAN FOOD AND HUMBLE ITALIAN BEGINNINGS

Our first kitchen opened in 1981 in the Davis Square neighborhood in Somerville, MA. Inspired by great Italian food from family recipes and with a brick oven at its center, every Bertucci’s since then has remained true to our tradition of serving classic Italian food made to order, using the freshest ingredients. We’ve perfected the art of brick oven cooking in our open kitchen for all our guests to see and more importantly, taste!

We’re firing up brick ovens from New England to Virginia, with each Bertucci’s restaurant reflecting the same passion for serving authentic Italian food made from scratch. Our goal is to provide you with a family dining experience that you can’t find anywhere else. Over the years, we’ve become your favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant serving Italian food handcrafted from the heart. We love being your choice for casual pizza night and anytime you gather family and friends around the table. Visit us today and see for yourself what makes us the best Italian restaurant in town! Want to know more about the Bertucci’s story and humble beginnings? Check out the Bertucci’s Through The Years timeline below.

BERTUCCI’S MENU IS HANDCRAFTED FROM THE HEART

We believe great Italian food should be prepared fresh daily, from our tomato sauce to our dough which is made from scratch and given the proper time to rise and proof. Taste the freshly baked goodness in our famous signature rolls, garlic knots and brick oven pizzas. All of our classic Italian dishes are handcrafted using only the best ingredients which is why Bertucci’s has been your family favorite since 1981.

Our tomato sauces for pizza and pasta dishes are made from scratch daily with our own blend of tomatoes and hand-cut fresh herbs. The tomatoes for our sauces are grown exclusively for Bertucci’s in California and are harvested and blended to Bertucci’s specifications. They are then packed and shipped to every Bertucci’s restaurant to prepare our homemade tomato sauces.

Fresh vegetables are chopped and roasted early each morning and throughout the day. They add a special flair to our menu, including many of the toppings on our signature brick oven pizzas. We pride ourselves on the authenticity and flavor served in every Bertucci’s location and we believe it’s a difference you can taste in every dish on our menu. Hungry? Click below to find a Bertucci’s near you!

A young Joey Crugnale making pizza
The Bertucci's story
Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizza being taken out of the oven
An image of Bertucci's rolls
An image of Chef Petroni
Boston Pizza Festival 2024 People's Choice Winner

1981


1981: Inspired by a visit to his grandmother’s home in Italy, young entrepreneur and ice cream shop owner Joey Crugnale opened the first Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in Davis Square, Somerville, MA. Complete with a custom made brick oven at its center and a bocce court in its basement, the original Bertucci’s became a popular local spot, recreating the family experience Joey fell in love with in his grandmother’s kitchen. The restaurant used only the freshest ingredients to make its signature pizzas, many of which are still on the menu today.

1985

1985: The second Bertucci’s opened in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA and number three opened in Holliston, MA shortly thereafter.

1989

1989: Growth continued with the opening of our 14th restaurant. USA Today listed Bertucci’s as one of America’s top 10 pizza restaurants.

1990

1990s: Bertucci’s brick oven pizza story was told outside of Massachusetts, with Bertucci’s locations opening from Florida to New Hampshire and as far west as Illinois.

2011

2011: Bertucci’s celebrated its 30th birthday by bringing back some classic dishes from our earlier menus.

2021

2021: November marked a major milestone. Bertucci’s celebrated its 40th Anniversary! There are currently Bertucci’s restaurants up and down the east coast from Manchester, NH to Springfield, VA. Every one of them adheres to the simple concept that Joey started 40 years ago: Great food from the freshest ingredients, good friends and family, and the brick oven at the heart of it all.

2022

2022: Bertucci’s announced a partnership with celebrity chef, Christian Petroni, with the addition of his signature Italian cuisine to the Bertucci’s menu. Chef Petroni brings new energy to Bertucci’s with new menu items featuring reimagined tastes and flavors while staying true to its authentic Italian roots.

2024

2024: Bertucci’s proudly earned the title of People’s Choice Winner at the Boston Pizza Festival! This prestigious award is a testament to our commitment to serving the best brick oven pizza, made from the freshest ingredients, and handcrafted with love. We’re honored to be recognized by the community we’ve served for over 40 years and look forward to continuing to bring authentic Italian flavors to your table.