If you’ve always dreamt of visiting a cozy Italian trattoria, there’s good news—you no longer need a passport and a plane ticket to get there.

Married couple, business partners and native Italians Stefania and Andrea Matteucci hoped to bring the experience of a modern trattoria to Colleyville when they opened Loveria in 2017, a casual eatery mirroring those from their home country.

“A trattoria is warm and intimate,” Stefania says, sitting in the restaurant she and her husband have nurtured like a third child.

Andrea nods in agreement. “The idea is that you don’t feel like you’re in a restaurant, but someone’s home.”

And like the best dinners with friends, the Matteuccis hope their customers linger after enjoying their signature Italian dishes with a bottle (or two) of imported Italian wine.

Customers can indulge without concern for unnecessary additives or preservatives since the couple prides themselves on serving scratch-made dishes with organic ingredients like cheese, olive oil, tomatoes and dried pasta from Italy for a taste of their home country.

Andrea says Loveria means “yummy” in Italian, also “very tasteful” and “irresistible,” a sentiment pushing them to outmaneuver the meatball-and-spaghetti stereotype every day. Loveria thrives this way, relying on native dishes it knows well, including four varieties of ravioli and a lemony dish named after the Amalfi coast, Pollo Amalfi.

The wines, which the owners personally select, are meant to pair with the food. It’s no wonder the combinations are successful; wine was born in Italy and is in the Matteuccis’ blood.

“I think we were one of the first, if not the first restaurant, in the Metroplex with only Italian wines,” Andrea says.               “We have been successful, and we let people taste wines. We love people tasting and experiencing old-world wines.”

Their love story is long, beginning as childhood sweethearts. They both studied architecture in college but found it unfulfilling. 

“Food is more of a passion than a background,” Stefania says, grinning. “We like food and wine, talking and entertaining.”

Loveria is tucked into a shopping center near Colleyville Boulevard, where televisions play Italian programming instead of sports. The restaurant’s wood floors, black tablecloths and white overlays exhibit a mid-century modern aesthetic, both sleek and clean.

The couple liked the area for their children, where they could establish a safe and happy home and neighbors inquired about the rich culture of their beloved hometown in Ravenna, known for producing Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari.

The family came to Northeast Tarrant County in 2017 without knowing a soul, and between Tarrant County’s continued road construction and the global pandemic in 2020, it was a rough start. The community’s welcoming support took hold of the family, however, and the Matteuccis were eager to return the sentiment, sponsoring the GRACE gala, PTA fundraisers and the Colleyville Woman’s Club fundraisers.

“We see that people are respectful, loyal and friendly,” Stefania says. “The community made us feel like we’re not that far from home.” 

Next for the Matteuccis, who remain eager to share their culture, is a food and wine tour from May 31 through June 8 in Sicily. Their customers often ask the couple to take them “home,” to the Italy in their stories. So, for the second year, the couple has planned a trip that’s available to the public. Participants will explore the Siracusa archeological park, Palermo and the Valley of the Temples, where the itinerary includes a cooking class and wine tours.

In the meantime, the restaurant continues refreshing its menu with seasonal favorites, catering events, booking private parties and sponsoring charity events. The couple explains that the patio will open when the weather cooperates, allowing customers to resume regularly scheduled episodes of “The Best of Italy.”

When the atmosphere is mild, customers eat, drink and talk a little longer; it’s a lingering group the Matteuccis consider friends. They get to know those customers, asking them where they’re from and which wines they enjoy.

“You meet new people and make new friends,” Andrea says. “We have customers who came in the first day and never left. This is the best reward.”