New Italian Restaurant Preparing To Open In Tewksbury
Owner brings 20 years of restaurant experience to Al Fresca Ristorante.
Authenticity.
For Mark Angluin, that's the goal as he makes preparations to open Al Fresca Ristorante, Tewksbury's newest Italian restaurant.
"All of our ingredients will be imported," said Angluin. "From the oils, to the cheeses to the deli meats. We'll be grinding our own Romano cheese. We're going for authenticity."
Al Fresca Ristorante takes over the space once occupied by Cusano's Kitchen, at 1768 Main St. Angluin is leasing the space, which has been vacant for about three years, and purchased the contents left behind.
A complete renovation of the interior has created what Angluin describes as a "modern Italian bistro."
The restaurant is divided into two sections with a 50-seat dining area on one side and a full bar with additional seating for 20 on the other. The bar will feature a variety of "craft beers," also known as microbrews. Angluin cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night (July 17) when the Board of Selectmen granted him a full liquor license.
"We should be ready to open in about two weeks," he said.
Angluin, a Dracut resident, is no novice in the restaurant business. He got his start as a dishwasher at age 13. He worked his way up through the ranks to cook and ultimately to executive chef. He cut his teeth at restaurants such as Scola's in Dracut and Trattoria Almalfi in Salem, NH.
He chose Tewksbury as the location for his first restaurant because of the success of other Italian restaurants in the community, such as Luna Rosa and Capellini's. But he admits that the Tewksbury's huge ethnic Italian population also made the town attractive.
"No that you need Italians to do Italian food but they were here," he said.
Angluin says he is still in the process of hiring staff and is taking applications for all positions, including wait staff and hostesses, kitchen staff and bartenders.
Joe Bill
8:03 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Mark, best of luck. We desperately need more dining options in town. I look forward to dining at your establishment.
SD From T-Bury
10:30 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Really looking forward to this! I wish Mark luck with his new restaurant! So exciting to have more and more dining options in town! :-)
Karyn
11:26 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
It seems so many restaurants have come and gone from that location but I'll be optimistic and hope 'THIS' is the one with staying power to turn it around! Best of luck to you Al fresca and welcome! :)
Michelle
7:41 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Good luck, Mark. Mark kindly let me take a sneak peek of his establishment. The bar area has been tastefully done and so cozy. I am happy to hear you got approved for your liquor license.
Mark Angluin
10:10 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Hello, my name is Mark Angluin and I am the owner of Al Fresca Ristorante. My wife and I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome and tremendous support. Please feel free to stop in to say hello, and check out the progress we made. We take a lot of pride in what we have done at the restaurant and look forward to earning your dining experience. Sincerely, Mark and Erika Angluin
SD From T-Bury
9:49 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Glad to have you in town, Mark. I wish you and Erika all the best!
Susan Sylvester
10:40 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Thank you Mark. I will come every week. The food was over the top.
Dennis Johnson
7:54 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
Mark & Erika, Good luck. We'll check it out when we come up .
Dennis & Elaine
John Parasole
1:01 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
Erika & Mark, best of luck...John &Teresa !
Samantha Perkins
3:38 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Hello Mark and Erika my name is Samantha and i would like to personally welcome you to town! I am curious about how i may apply for a job at Al Fresca Ristorante because it is not clear. I wish both of you the best of luck and if you could get back to me with some informtion that would be fabulous. Enjoy the nice weather we've been having and i can't wait to come down and check the place out very soon!
Mark Angluin
6:08 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Thank you everyone for your support !! If anyone is interesting in applying to Al Fresca, you can stop by anytime to fill out a application.
Tom
4:05 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Anxiously looking forward to my first meal at Al Fresca's. What's the latest on opening date?
Mark Angluin
1:03 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
WE ARE OPEN!!!! We start tomorrow Saturday August 18th with our regular business hours.
Sun, Tues, Wed 11am-9 pm
Thurs, Fri and Sat 11am-10pm
We will also be having a late night bar menu on Friday and Saturday nights 10pm-12 am
Come on by. We look forward to serving you!! We also take reservations.
978-851-3332
Karyn
1:38 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Are you going to have a website with menu listing? Good luck on your opening!
Heather C
7:07 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Had the BEST meal in a long time!!!! Food, service, atmosphere was excellent! Great job Mark and Erica!!!!!
CHERYL
8:25 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Love Al Fresca's. I look forward to many dinners there!
Susan Sylvester
10:39 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Love it too. Deliciousness
Donna
7:52 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Went there for dinner last night. All i have to say is we will not be going back there again. The waiter was great and was the best thing about the restaurant. We started with sitting behind were the cashier is and it was freezing. The cold air felt like the AC was on and they assured me that it was not. I ate my dinner with my jacket on and that was not a relaxing atmostphere. We orded the antipasto for two. All i have to say is for that price you would think you would get olives or artichokes or more that one peice of salami and one piece of mortadela and more than one peice of prosutto and maybe 4 pieces of cheese that were cut in triangles.Then it was spinich lettus cut up tomatoes, oinon and epplant. Three small balls of mozzerella??? All that for $12.00 at least in the north end you get a anipasto with everything on it for the same price and it is outstanding? I then ordered the eggplant rolitini because that was the only thing i could eat that was under $16.00 and we were afraid that for the price we were not sure on what to expect. We will not be going back there it was to exspencive for the quality and quantiity Sorry for the bad review ?
jburke
8:27 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013
I have been there and I think their food is excellent and the fact they have crowds on Tuesday night speaks to that. The hostess wasn't great last time I was there but other than that I highly recommend.
James Notello
5:51 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013
So you won't go back because it was cold? Wow! As for pricey, well you get what you pay for. They use fresh quality ingredients in everything the do. i have been there many many times and the food is amazing and fresh!