TELLINI’S ITALIANO: A new taste of the olde world

Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry| Living 50 Plus

Tellini’s Italiano has long been a Huntsville institution, serving fresh, homestyle Italian food to Madison County for 25 years. The restaurant began in 1995 as Tellini’s Pasta Market and opened its first location in Gadsden, Alabama in 1996. The following year, in 1997, Tellini’s opened its first location in Huntsville off University Drive, which is located at 1515 Perimeter Pkwy NW.

The restaurant has been through a few iterations over the years. It originated as a fast-food style concept with a building ornamented by the bright, eye-catching colors of the Italian flag. Several years ago, the restaurant underwent a renovation that changed the name to Tellini’s Italiano, shifted the concept to fast-casual, and updated the restaurant décor to a fresh, modern feel.

Owner and operator, Allen Mello, describes the mission that came along with the refresh, “We’re providing made from scratch Italian food in a fast-casual setting to our base customers whether they want to sit down or carry out.”

Today, Tellini’s greets customers with a red stucco façade and offers a warm, Tuscan atmosphere inside. The inviting ambience of the restaurant itself pairs nicely with its food that has a fresh, homecooked taste. Their beloved pasta dishes wrap the taste buds in a comforting hug with aromatic herbs like basil and oregano, tangy tomato, and the sharp notes of garlic.

The baked pastas are the stars of Tellini’s menu. They have consistently been the most popular items on the menu, though Mello says the chicken alfredo is quickly becoming a new customer favorite. Mello’s own favorite recommendation is the steak tetrazzini. Their breadsticks are also famous in their own right, and according to Mello, many claim them to be superior to Olive Garden’s breadsticks.

For the few who may not be fans of baked pastas, or who just want to try something different, the menu offers a variety of options to satisfy a range of palates. The extensive menu includes salads, paninis, and pizzas. Diners have the option to finish off their meal with a dessert like their creamy house-made cheesecakes that come in three varieties: plain, strawberry, and seasonal.

“Even though our menu is broad, we specialize in pastas and baked pastas. And we offer great value for it,” Mello notes.

He also describes the great lengths he and the staff go to in order to provide fresh, house-made ingredients and dishes. “We make all our sauces from scratch. We chop our lettuce. Our cheesecakes are homemade.” They make efforts as well to utilize local suppliers for their ingredients.

This devotion to quality is part of why the restaurant has attracted such a strong and consistent customer base over the years. Mello has heard many times from customers who have been frequenting Tellini’s since they were children, me included. He says he is so grateful for those customers that have been with Tellini’s through thick and thin. “I appreciate the loyalty of all our customers. Even though we’ve experienced hard times, our loyal customers were still there.”

As the Huntsville-Madison area grows, new locals discover the gem that is Tellini’s every day and quickly add to the restaurant’s large fan base.

In addition to loyal customers, Tellini’s has been fortunate to have dedicated staff. Some staff, including the general manager have been with the restaurant for over 20 years. Mello himself has been the owner and operator for over 16 years. From the food to the staff, Tellini’s is a welcoming place, starting with Mello himself. He cares for his employees like family, and they all extend the same attention to their customers.

“I’m as much in the people business as I am in the restaurant business. Customers not only look for consistent quality food, but also for consistent quality service,” Mello comments. The magic combination of good food and good people have made Tellini’s a lasting and beloved Huntsville institution.

Enjoy the Tellini’s experience for yourself through either their carry-out or dine-in service. Find Tellini’s online at www.tellinis.com or follow them on Facebook.