Dine In and Takeout

Nestled in the heart of Baltimore's famous Little Italy section, Restaurant offers the best in fine Italian cuisine. As a family-owned, locally operated restaurant, our staff is dedicated to providing you with a combination of exquisite food and impeccable service to create the perfect dining experience. We are one of the oldest restaurants in the area; and we have been in business for almost 70 years!

The Atmosphere: A Visit to Italy
Step through our front doors and begin your journey to the heart of Italy. From the paintings on the wall to the quiet candlelight table settings to the delectable aromas wafting from our kitchen, our restaurant is a trip to Italy for your senses. We're a casual dining restaurant though, so come as you are and bring the kids!

In every bite of our fine Italian cuisine, you can taste the essence of the rocky coastline, winding roads, rolling countryside, and gentle sea breeze of Italy. We feature some great background music to complement your meal, and we have a full bar with an exquisite selection of foreign and domestic beers and wines.

The year was 1937, when Enrico Velleggia- not long removed from Porto San Elpidio, his native city in Italy - opened a tavern on one small part of what is still our present site. He didn't make much money then, but he planted the seed of what is today Little Italy's and one of Baltimore's oldest restaurants. In the beginning was a place where the neighborhood crowd gathered around a small wooden table and shared a bottle of vino while exchanging stories of the old country or indulging in a game of "tre sette","briscola" or other Italian card games. It soon became apparent that these activities made one hungry. It was then that "Miss Mary" Velleggia began to feed her delicious original dishes to her husband's customers. Very shortly her favorite dishes became theirs, and as the word got around, we began growing. No matter what modem changes have occurred, our recipes are still her originals. The passage of time has brought about many physical changes to Enrico's Friendly Tavern. We've grown; remodeled; and completed a third generation expansion which we are told makes us one of the most attractive restaurants in Maryland. Miss Mary and Enrico have since passed. Following in their footsteps, sons Naz and Frank, who literally grew up in the business, continue the daily operations with the same concerns for customer comfort and satisfaction that Papa and Miss Mary always insisted upon. Now a third generation-Enrico, Paula and Frank, Jr. continue the family tradition of service. Despite physical changes two things remained constant through the years: the quality of our food and service. We pride ourselves in this.but more importantly, we've dedicated ourselves to keeping it so, no matter how other things change. We feel that this dedication and the loyalty of our patrons are the major reasons for our success over the past seven decades. In the most important areas, Enrico's original Friendly Tavern hasn't really changed that much. True, it's bigger and more attractive.The little wooden tables are gone but it still retains its"01d World" charm. It is our sincerest wish that you enjoy your visit with us. Grazie! Venga a cena da noi di nuovo. Casa nostra e casa tua.