A Century in the Making: Welcome to Tambellini & Co.
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of dining with a Tambellini, consider this your formal invitation to the family table. We’ve been feeding the greater Pittsburgh area for nearly a century—since at least 1935, according to a dusty photograph of our original E. Carson Street location.
While the exact “who’s who” of that first kitchen is lost to history, the mission was clear: provide a high-quality, traditional, and soul-nourishing experience. That same spirit has haunted (in the friendly, delicious way) every Tambellini restaurant since.
The “Related, Not Affiliated” Rule
In this family, we have a running joke: “We’re all related, not affiliated.” With over 80 Tambellinis scattered across the Greater Pittsburgh area, us Italians really took the “grow where you’re planted” advice to heart.
When our grandparents arrived from Italy, they faced a choice: Cook or Farm. Seeing as Pittsburgh’s steel-dusted hills weren’t exactly the Tuscan countryside, they leaned into what they did best—making sure no one in this city ever went home hungry. At the peak, seven different Tambellini outposts graced neighborhoods from Mt. Washington to Downtown. Today, while the brick-and-mortar landscape has changed, our goal at Tambellini & Co. is to carry that torch into a new century, serving our community with a modern twist that would make our ancestors proud (and perhaps a little full).
Meet the “& Co.”
You might be wondering what sets us apart from the legendary Tambellini heritage. The secret is right there in the name: The “Co.” That would be my wife and business partner, Trista. While I bring the legacy, Trista brings the fire. An accomplished Chef with 12 years of experience opening and running restaurants across the Tri-state area, Trista infuses our traditional Italian core with a modern flavor of inclusion and global flair.
- Global Palate: Beyond the pasta, Trista excels in everything from Latin American to Asian cuisines.
- A Renaissance Woman: She’s even brewed her own custom beer while traveling as a chef for Brewdog.
Our Vision
At Tambellini & Co., we are rooted in tradition but not stuck in it. We are building a space in Brookline that honors the Italian Sunday dinners of the past while embracing the diverse, vibrant flavors of today.
We’re here to grow with this community, feed your families, and—if we have our way—keep the Tambellini name on Pittsburgh’s lips for another hundred years. Mangia!