We came here for a family dinner to celebrate our grandfather's birthday and honestly, I'm still…read morethinking about it two hours later. Our whole family can't stop talking about how good everything was. That says a lot. First, the space. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the acoustics are genuinely impressive. My grandfather wears hearing aids and he had zero trouble following conversation all night. That's rare and it meant so much to us. We had a reservation and they sat us early, which immediately set the tone. The bread and bread oil kit they bring out? Do not skip it. Just trust me. We had kids with us and their food came out so fast I actually laughed. Our food followed shortly after and the pasta was truly exceptional. Just genuinely high quality, generous portions, and completely worth every penny. We were shocked at how affordable the bill was for what we got. Our server Envy was an absolute gem. Friendly, attentive, and so kind. But honestly the whole staff was like that. Other servers who weren't even in our section came over just to joke around with our kids. The table was never cluttered. A dirty dish sat in front of us for maybe ten seconds before it was gone. I travel for work domestically and for pleasure domestically and internationally and can say that Bar Lino is the only flawless restaurant experience I have ever had. Flawless from start to finish. We will be back. Bring everyone you love!

There's a mural on the back wall at Bar Lino on Atwood Avenue in Johnston. Black background, white…read moretype, Italian town names stacked and scattered across the whole thing. Sant'Angelo. Napoli. Fondi. Itri. That last one matters. That's where Joe and Esther DeQuattro's family recipes come from. That's the promise on the wall. Joe and Esther have been building serious Italian restaurants in Rhode Island since 2002. Pane e Vino on Federal Hill. Massimo, also on Federal Hill. Bar Lino is the newest, and they've built something that has no business looking this good in a Johnston strip mall. Red leather barstools, black tile floor with white cross inlay, globe pendants, warm light, a full liquor wall. Walk in and you forget where you parked. Start with the meatballs. Two of them, in sauce, with a dollop of ricotta on the plate. Tender, dense, moist all the way through. The sauce and the meat came from the same place of intention. Sunday dinner The ricotta cooled things down just enough. Get these. We went for the grandma pizza. Fior di latte, pepperoni, black olives added. It arrived on a sheet pan looking exactly right, cut into squares, edges golden. The crust looked like it would crunch, somewhere between focaccia and Pizza Hut visually and in its golden brown texture, but it didn't deliver in either direction. The sauce soaked into the dough. The cheese separated from the top. The pepperoni carried the pie, crispy-edged and punchy, and did it well. The grandma pie has four versions on the menu. The one with pink vodka sauce and roasted garlic might be worth the next visit. If I come back again I am probably going to shoot for a chicken or veal parm because I think they probably do an excellent version of that based on all visual cues. Service was professional and well-timed. There when you needed them, gone when you didn't.

So always the pizza is so good. I had the fig n a pizza and my husband had the gold digger. Always…read moregood and the staff is very friendly.

Bettola is a VIBE!!!! The staff are always friendly and fun! I think I pretty much ordered 90% of…read morethe menu and NOTHING has disappoint. My ULTIMATE favorite is the Short Ribs and Risotto. The meat is sooooo juicy, tender and flavorful! Next would be obviously their pizza and their salad! (please note: their salads is topped to the BRIM! And if good enough to share with 2-3 people) Depending on the day in the mood would determine which pizza I get my top 3 are/ Gold digger, the San Genaro, and the Marilyn Monroe/Fign' a (I can't decide LOL) don't let the commotion of Rolfe square Seder you from visiting, there is plenty of parking in the back, the restaurant is such a vibe with the decor (learn some Italian LOL) and hilarious placemats. And lastly, what I think is so cool and unique about this place is their Themed Weekend specials! They always have fun drinks and witty names for the items. Oh and don't forget to swing by the dessert case on your way out- they have LEMON TIRAMISU!!!! You heard right! LEMON TIRAMISU!!

love this spot, owner is really nice and so is all of the staff and that's not a surprise when the…read moreowner is such a upbeat guy, best spot in Cranston IMO

Small strip mall wings joint with some Buffalo sports memorabilia for street cred, but their…read moreBuffalo wings have so much credibility on their own that they could put up Captain Kangaroo decor, and I'd still come running. It's over-the-counter ordering, with pizzas another option, and more importantly, you can also get beer to complement your wings. -- Buffalo Wings: From the first visit, some of the best I've had in a long, long time. Not the biggest (I'd say right around average size), but they nailed every aspect, from the piercing tartness of the sauce to match the spice, to the butteriness, to the crispness of every surface, to the tender and juicy interiors on every piece. If that weren't enough, the blue cheese tipping sauce was also spectacular, with noticeable sharpness and lots of chunks of real cheese to go along with the creamy liquid. They matched the buffalo sauce nicely. -- Loganberry Wings: From the second visit, a Buffalo regional sauce mixing raspberry flavors with barbecue sauce. The result is a mix of sweet and savory in a rich, full-bodied sauce with plenty of oomph and plenty of cling. It's sweet for sure, but its barbecue sauce component cuts it and a dip into some ranch cuts it more while adding a little something. I loved the sauce. The wings, though, were a little bit smaller and a little bit dryer this time. Still very good. -- 716 Mulberry Chicken Fingers: Also from the second visit. Nothing like Chinese chicken fingers; more like a chicken tender, and more still like a chicken cutlet. Three flat pieces in the small order provided minimal thickness, but a decent amount of meat, spread out. The Mulberry sauce has a Buffalo base with some additional secret seasonings and other ingredients to change the flavor a bit. Not bad, but I think I'd go straight Buffalo next time. Tender inside, but no crispness outside. This includes fries, which were a very solid McDonald's facsimile. Notable: Easy parking in their own lot. A minimum 25-minute wait for wings, so plan accordingly. Friendly, helpful counter people. So two visits, one great, one very good. Some memorable sauces and some memorable presentations. I'll be back to see if they hit great again and get bumped to a 5.

I was heading down to the boat to meet up with hubby & decided to use a gift card to pick up a…read morepizza. Napolitano's Brooklyn Pizza in Cranston was on the way! I ordered the garlic knots, extra garlicky, with marinara dipping sauce & a large pepperoni pizza, extra sauce, well done. The garlic knots were packed with flavor & we loved the extra garlic. The pizza was exactly what we were craving - crispy, cheesy, saucy & loaded with deliciousness. Everything absolutely hit the spot! NOM NOM NOM #YUM

Really good pizza at a reasonable price. Excellent service with a smile. The lunch price for two…read moreslices and a drink was $10 and change; cant beat that

After 53 years of having a different pizzeria as my favorite, Catanzaro's has taken over. This is…read morethe best pizza in Rhode Island. It's a Sicilian style: thick, chewy, and crunchy all at the same time. They use incredibly fresh toppings and a level of quality that you really can't get in most places. We got a cheese, pepperoni, and olive pie this time. They use California olives, which hardly anyone can get in Rhode Island. They have to buy pallets of them in order to have them on hand, and the taste is significantly different than any other olive you're going to get on a Rhode Island pie. Also, the pies are huge. Whatever size you're usually order,go down one size so that you are not overwhelmed. The good news is you'll get to eat more pizza for the rest of the week, and you won't be disappointed in that. It's an old-school spot in an old-school part of Cranston that knows pizza, and the line never stops moving. This is the best pizza in Rhode Island.

This was the first time for me, and I was beyond excited. I run a local pizza group and so many of…read morethem told me this was THE BEST and I was ready to experience that for myself. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the counter, then the oven behind a wall of pizza boxes stacked high and ready for service. In front of that wall stood a smiling face. She warmly greeted us and let us know to seat ourselves in the dining room. The bartender was also the dining room server and came over to take care of us. She was a treasure. Every time she came over she brought with her a smile, an anecdote and loads of charm. We ordered a meatball each, then a medium pizza with pepperoni, half olive. While we waited, I checked out the space. At first the place seems small, but it has high ceilings and bright lights that show how much space is actually inside. Beautiful bar, tables of different seating sizes and some cozy booths tucked into the corner shaped perfectly for close conversation. The meatball took no time to arrive, served with a garlic breadstick made from Buono's bread, a local bakery favorite if you did not already know. The meatball was tender, it reminded me of the meatballs my grandfather used to make growing up, and that's when I knew I was in the right place. The sauce was chunky, thick enough to scoop onto the bread. I cleaned my plate, my mother would be proud. Then the moment I had been waiting for: the pizza. It arrived scalding hot and smelling like heaven. I could see the crispy cheese on the edges of the crust and the generosity of the toppings. I am not a patient woman when it comes to pizza so I braved the lava like sauce and took a bite. And understood why so many love Catanzaro's. The thick crust and tangy-sweet sauce combining with the cheese, pepperoni and olive created a moment of sensory excellence. It was a study in Sicilian done well and I can absolutely say the group choosing this spot for Best Sicilian in Rhode Island was well deserved. While we were eating, I noticed one of the owners, Anthony, by the bar. He made his way around to every table. Some people he knew, some he did not. But he spoke to everyone with the same good-natured, welcoming approach. The reputation of Italian hospitality is well known, and Anthony is a terrific continuation of that. When he got to our table, I had the chance to introduce myself to him and explain further what we're trying to do here with our pizza community group. He was immediately excited about what we are trying to build. He and his wife Lauren - great name - love the community we are growing. Outside of the rainy weather, I couldn't have asked for a better beginning to this Best of RI trip based on our group votes. I was happy to connect with another iconic Rhode Island pizzamaker and experience his craft first hand.

The new AI service is horrible. We love ghe food there and order quite often. Now that there is…read morean ai service, we cannot get through.And we cannot talk to anyone.And we refuse to use the online menu.So now we use another pizza place.And it's too bad because we really enjoy the food there. They say that we should hold on, but we hold on.And it just sends us to the menu again. We really hope they get rid of that service.

solid pizza, good quality ingredients and very nice staff with good service. As a pizza connoisseur…read moreit's top 5 in the area ! Mozzarella sticks are really good too and decent Pricing, all in all a good spot

This place is great ... you can tell not too much has changed since the 1970's and unintentional…read moreretro/vintage is my thing. This place could be so perfect with only a couple small changes! - There are white flourescent style lights on the ceiling. This really kills the vibe. It's almost like the top of the restaurant and the bottom don't match. You have cozy, 70's style wood paneling with dark wooden booths and stained glass lights hanging over the tables. Warm, cozy and intimate. Then, bright white lights above. I'd love to eat here with those bright lights turned off sometime. - Probably not economical but red checkered tablecloths, like vintage Italian restaurants used to have would make this place look like a movie set in a good way. That being said, everything else about this place is cool ... you know a good spot by how many regulars are there and everyone seemed to know everyone else by name on a Tuesday night. It wasn't crowded ... but it wasn't empty on an off-night. - The staff is exceptionally good. The waitress and hostess couldn't have been any sweeter and more helpful. Fast refills on the soft drinks and helpful without being intrusive. - The pizza is good. I have to admit, I am not sold on the cheddar cheese vs. mozzarella. I thought it would give the cheese an interesting, sharper taste but it seemed a bit bland. I will do the Italian-style next time with mozzarella. I liked my pizza but there was just something different about it. The crust is Greek-style ... kind of like the old Pizza Hut, when it was actually made fresh. Back in the 1980's and 90's there was nothing better than a golden, buttery light and crisp pizza crust from Pizza Hut, before the brand went to shit. This reminds me of that goodness of 1980's pizza crust. I'm not a thin crust guy ... but if you are, they have a thinner crust on the menu as well. Topping was good, maybe a bit spicier pepperoni would be a bit better ... toppings are a tad expensive for a few slices of pepperoni. A 3-topping pizza adds around $5. The small is good for two-people with light/moderate appetites. I wouldn't be able to eat a small and a salad by myself. Speaking of the salad ... one of the best regular house salads I've ever had. The dressing is amazing ... tangy, salty, perfectly done. I know it's hard to get all worked up over a standard Italian dressing but often the simplest things in cooking are the hardest to get right ... and they get the dressing right! Also, the lettuce was super fresh and the tomatoe slices were as well. The only issue I had was there was no 'side salad' version. There was a 'small' salad for around $8 ... but that could easily feed 2 - 4 people. Overall, this place gets just about everything right. It doesn't change or modernize. It's portions are great ... the food is very good ... prices maybe a bit high compared to other spots ... but you can tell they don't cut corners and everything is freshly made. The bar is where I'd want to sit normally ... but the seats are very close together and I didn't want to be elnow to elbow with strangers, so I snagged a small booth, which was also fine. The customers seemed nice ... but they all seemed very 'Cranston'. If they could deal with the lighting situation and make it less bright, I'd eat here 2 times per week. You can't beat a classic ... and this place is a classic.

WOW! I'm a native NYer who worked at a pizza place for a decade just outside the city. I am usually…read morenot impressed by pizza in New England but Big cheese & pub exceeded my expectations and I'll def be back to try more than just this pizza! I came in for RI food fights and got to pick three toppings for a small pizza. I went with eggplant, chicken and black olives. It was amazing! Honestly I have enough food for the rest of the week! I didn't get my servers name but she was subbing for a sick bartender and she was great! I enjoyed chatting with her. She got me in and out as quickly as she could before my dance class and I greatly appreciated that! Everyone that worked there was super friendly and attentive. I wish i was in less of a rush to have taken in even more. The spot has an old time feel but in the best way possible. It just felt like home. I can't wait to go back for more Italian goodies!

Merlino's had a nice renovation and went from a takeout place to what is truly a lovely little date…read morespot. The decor is fantastic. Merlino's also added what I think is probably the best tomato pie in Rhode Island. Anytime I'm anywhere in the area. I am absolutely there for this. It's somewhere between a New Haven pizza and the best pizza strip you've ever had in your life. Herby, thick, aromatic, crispy, and absolutely delicious, it's an incredible pizza. We also got one of those fancy sandwich things that are made with a pizza crust. I can never say the name of it, so I don't bother, but let's just say it's freaking amazing. Get the chicken parm. You will not be disappointed. The meatball is also fantastic. The fries that come with it, with a little bit of cheese and aromatics on it, are fantastic. This is one of the best-kept secrets in Rhode Island: truly great pizza and truly great people working behind the scenes. You'll love it here.

Interesting little place in a small strip. Ordered pizza and side appetizer…read more Place is dark with an aroma of burning oak. Nice bar... check out the beer glass...old school -we affectionately call them "Guido glasses"... Friendly...one guy working the front. Pizza was excellent, great crust and toppings. The meatballs were very good too as was their marinara. I want to go back and try a meal in house. I think it will be a good experience.