By Benjamin McNeil

Italian cuisine connoisseurs rejoice; co-owners Pina Conte and Andrew Angillela warmly welcome all into the Mare E Monti Trattoria, Worcester’s new premiere Italian restaurant. And Conte and Angillela are serious about their food. I have interviewed numerous restaurant owners, but talking with owners so passionate about their establishment never fails to inspire me. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love authentic Italian?

Most Worcesterites have either driven by Wall Street or are at least familiar with the former Café Espresso location. Now, 19 Wall St. is home to deep Italian roots and authentic Italian cooking. Since its grand opening at the beginning of April, allegiance to tradition, a fierce devotion to cooking from scratch and treating guests like extended family has helped place Mare E Monti on central Massachusetts’ culinary map.

“Everything is baked fresh daily, and our chef [Angillela] takes time in making supper,” explained Conte. When I casually quipped about the Amy’s Baking Company disaster on Kitchen Nightmares last month (recall that ABC’s owners were offensive and their food primarily store-bought), Conte laughed back. “I assure you, you’ll see none of that here.”

So what can patrons expect from Mare E Monti, which translates to “sea and mountains?” They can expect to see Conte’s familiar, genuine smile upon entering; after all, Conte and family owned Café Espresso for more than 20 years, where customers were greeted with a hug and left with fond memories.

“When people enter, they say to me, ‘Oh, my god, this place looks amazing!’ They’re happy that we’re back,” Conte said. From brick walls and an open floor plan to an accommodating wait staff and a chef who refuses to cut corners, Mare E Monti possesses comfortable charm. The renovation and transition from Café Espresso to Mare E Monti took about one year, but customers’ overwhelming satisfaction has demonstrated that the year-long break was worthwhile.

Patrons can also expect food from a renowned Worcester chef, as Angilella has worked at Anthony’s on Shrewsbury Street, Amici’s and the old Fire House Café. He draws inspiration from more than 20 visits to Italy to experience the country’s cuisine.

Trattoria means “an Italian restaurant serving simple food,” and a menu inspired by Angillela’s exploratory trips to Italy reflect this idea of simplicity, defined by fresh ingredients and the chef’s pride in every meal served at the Mare E Monti. After some heavy deliberation, Conte says that her favorite dish is the Maiale Saltimbocca, a “14-ounce, double-cut pork chop, stuffed with prosciutto, fresh sage and fontina cheese in a mushroom brandy sauce, served with polenta and rapini.” And then there’s the seafood ~ grilled salmon, herb-crusted salmon and littleneck clams. And the cannoli and tiramisu. … As an aside, writing about Italian food on an empty stomach is no simple feat!

“So long as the people are happy, the food is good, and the place is clean, we are happy,” Conte said. With the passion exhibited by Conte, a dedicated chef and a welcoming ambiance, Mare E Monti is primed for a future of happiness.

For more information, visit mareemontitrattoria.com.