Exhibit (d)(7)
                                   BERTUCCI'S


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 1998

CONTACT:          Norman S. Mallett, Treasurer, Vice President-Finance, and CFO
                  (781) 246-6700

              NE RESTAURANT COMPANY PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE BERTUCCI'S


         WAKEFIELD,  MASS. (April 3) - Bertucci's Inc. (NASDAQ:  BERT) confirmed
today  that it has  received  an offer  from NE  Restaurant  Company,  Inc.  (NE
Restaurant)  to  acquire  Bertucci's  in a merger in which each  shareholder  of
Bertucci's  would  receive  $10.50 net in cash for each share of common stock of
Bertucci's  outstanding.  The offer was  accompanied by a letter  obtained by NE
Restaurant  from an investment  banking firm  regarding  anticipated  sources of
financing for the  transaction,  which letter is conditioned  upon,  among other
things: (i) the absence of material change in the business,  financial condition
and prospects of NE Restaurant or Bertucci's;  (ii) satisfactory  completion and
due  diligence  investigation  of  Bertucci's  and  NE  Restaurant;   and  (iii)
satisfactory  market  conditions for new issuances of high yield debt securities
and in the securities  market in general.  Bertucci's is evaluating the proposal
and is not in a position to comment further until that process is complete.

         Bertucci's,  Inc. operates 84 casual,  full-service Italian restaurants
in 11 states and the  District  of  Columbia.  In  addition,  the  Company  also
operates Sal and  Vinnie's  Sicilian  Steakhouse,  which was opened in the first
quarter 1997, in Norwood, Massachusetts.

         For additional information at Bertucci's,  Inc. contact Norman Mallett,
Vice President-Finance, telephone #781/246-6700, extension 102.