Cremaldi’s, an emblem of charm and Old World integrity, extends a tradition that’s been a cornerstone of local Italian eating for decades: Trio’s Pasta. Cathi Cremaldi’s grandmother rolled out dough with a broom handle. That led her parents to launch a small business that turned into a pasta empire. Since 1994, there’s been Cremaldi’s, with a cozy eat-in area set off from the counter, cases stuffed with fresh cold cuts, and wagons and shelves stocked with packages of gourmet nibbles from cookies to crackers, sauces to sweets.

Cremaldi’s is a prime stop for the gourmand on the run. There’s usually a selection of three sandwiches; on a recent visit, choices were egg salad, grilled chicken with avocado spread, and Italian with the works ($5.99). If you’re tired of sandwiches, grab a container of pasta, which comes in varieties like ziti with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and mozzarella ($3.50). If you have time before you jet back to the office, relax in true Tuscan style with a sweet morsel. We suggest one of the home-baked biscotti ($13.99/pound).

Finally, to get a taste of what started it all, there’s a freezer full of fresh pasta. With options like roasted-eggplant or smoked-mozzarella-and-basil ravioli ($9.59), you can have gourmet for dinner at home, too.

Cremaldi’s, located at 31 Putnam Avenue, in Cambridge, is open Monday through Thursday, from 8 am to 7 pm, and on Friday, until 9:30 pm. Call 617.354.7969.