Locally Owned Toscana Forno to Bring Rustic Italian Cuisine and Full Bar to Former Bertucci’s Location
Earlier this year, the Reading Select Board unanimously approved an annual all-alcohol restaurant liquor license for Reading Forno, LLC, paving the way for a new Italian eatery, Toscana Forno, to open at 45 Walkers Brook Drive.
Representatives of Reading Forno, LLC, including brothers Angelo and Lucio Perrina, appeared before the Board to present their application. The Perrina family, all Reading natives and alumni of Reading Memorial High School, currently operate three successful restaurants in Peabody, Beverly, and West Peabody under the “Toscana” brand. The new Reading location will be their fourth.
Lucio Perrina, designated as the manager of record for the Reading site, assured the Board that he would be on-site for at least 40 hours per week and that all alcohol service staff would be TIPS-certified. The restaurant will feature a full-service bar, a rustic Italian menu, and a seasonal outdoor patio with liquor service, compliant with town regulations.
The new restaurant will occupy the former Bertucci’s location, which closed earlier this year. The Perrinas plan to renovate the 6,770-square-foot space, including a 945-square-foot patio, and anticipate opening by February 1, 2026.
Board members praised the thoroughness of the application and expressed enthusiasm for the return of a locally owned business to the Eastern Gateway District. Select Board Co-Chair Chris Haley called the presentation “the most well-prepared liquor license application” he had seen during his tenure.
The restaurant is expected to employ 50–60 people and contribute to the town’s meals tax revenue. The Perrinas also expressed interest in offering Sunday brunch service in the future, pending potential updates to town bylaws regarding alcohol service hours.
With the license approved, Reading Forno, LLC will begin renovations immediately, bringing new life to a prominent commercial space and adding another locally rooted business to the Reading dining scene.
