If you haven’t been to Tutti’s, then you’re not a real Westporter.

There’s more than just great Italian food at this Saugatuck staple, steps from the train station.

As soon as you walk in, Tutti’s wants you to feel like you’re part of the family.

Tutti’s parking lot is filled during the Slice of Saugatuck. The restaurant is an important part of the neighborhood.

Which makes sense: It’s a family-run business. Owner and head chef Pasquale Funicello is responsible for Tutti’s homestyle cooking.

Pasquale was born in Salerno, and was introduced to the kitchen at age 10. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of Sorrento in 1972. He has been cooking delicious Italian meals in the Westport area almost since then.

Pasquale and his wife Maria — who  runs the front line with warmth and a smile — were the original owners of Angelina’s Trattoria in Westport, back in the 1980s.

Tutti’s owners Pasquale and Maria Funicello.

Tutti’s motto is “Good food, good friends” — and they live it daily.

Tutti’s happily accommodates special requests, and will make any entree gluten-free. They just want you to enjoy your meal.

Westport-based nutritionist Heather Bauer serves up her top healthy picks — of all types — below.

Heather’s Tips

Italian food is traditionally high in carbohydrates, so if you’re trying to lose weight it’s best to skip the bread, pizza and pasta dishes.

However, if you’re on maintenance you can add 1 to 2 slices of pizza, or share a pasta dish as your appetizer in addition to one of my recommendations below. Use this meal as your carb for the day, so avoid a carb serving at breakfast or lunch.

I also recommend avoiding creamy sauces, and choosing white wine or garlic- based sauces instead. Based on my eating plan, the red sauce will count as your carb, so choose piccata, cacciatore or marsala sauce.

However, if you want to have a little pasta and are in the weight loss phase, have pasta fagioli soup. It’s quite filling, and can satisfy your cravings.

One of the many delicious dishes at Tutti’s.

Appetizers 

• Pasta fagioli soup
• Small Caesar salad
  • This has an amazing homemade dressing, but request it on the side.
  • Keep the anchovies for an added boost of omega-3s.
• House salad
  • If ordering for 1 person, choose the small size.
• House salad with portobello and asparagus
  • Vegetarians: Order a large for your entree, and have the pasta fagioli or caprese as an appetizer.
• Italian chopped salad

Appetizers to share:

Order your own house salad and share any of these:

• Caprese
• Cold antipasto
• Prosciutto, red peppers and mozzarella
• Prosciutto, artichoke and mozzarella

Tutti’s Caprese salad

Healthy Entrees

*For all entrees, request double veggies and skip the pasta

• Any salad recommendation above can be ordered in the large size for entree. Add grilled chicken, grilled salmon (my favorite), grilled steak, shrimp or scallops.
  • Example: order the large Caesar salad with grilled salmon.
• Chicken scallopini
  • The piccata style is a healthier option.
  • Order without butter.
• Chicken parm
  • Order grilled and without breading.
• Eggplant parmesan
  • Order grilled and without breading.
• Grilled salmon with spinach
  • Request pesto sauce on the side.
• Stuffed tomato (grilled chicken with veggies)
  • This is from the lunch menu; it’s more popular in the summer months.
• Zuppa di Pesce
  • This is a filling entree that takes time to eat.

Side Veggies to Share:

• Sauteed broccoli rabe
• Sauteed spinach

Gluten-Free Options:
Any entree can be made gluten-free.

• Pizza