Had the Seafood Jambalaya special last night, looked good and tasted good. Couple hours later woke up to violent vomiting. Had food poisoning once before, and this was the worst. Was with 5 of my friends, most stuck with chicken parm and were all fine. Should have stuck with what they are known for. Still recovering, but wanted to get this out in case someone else fell ill.. read more

Marchetti's Restaurant - This took me down for the count. - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Made a reservation for 6:30 pm and didn't get seated till 8:02 pm and while I was waiting I watched as the blonde girl and the man put there friends first a couple of times and was watching people that came in after me with no reservation get seated. I mentioned this to the lady and man and was met with a very rude attitude cause I knew what they were doing and they didn't like that idea when I mentioned it to them. I came with my family and had my kids complaining to me cause of them waiting so long this is not right they should seat people in order like every other place does. I spent $164 there and this is the service that we recieve!! They need to make this right to me and my family and the owner needs to contact me!! Keving700@yahoo.com read more

I am updating my review, because I have been to the restaurant 3 times since they open for dine in. I always get veal parmigiana, since the pandemic the veal is unbelievable tough and does not taste the same, I guess because they don't have the business they use to have, they found a cheaper cut or a new vendor. It is a shame I always enjoy meals there now I will have to find another place. It was not just me my two sons were there also, and they said the same thing. They still give the biggest portions of anywhere I go, but big is not as important as good. read more

Homegirl really wishes i could give everyone a good review. But guess what-homegirl also really wishes i had a Spanish villa in Madrid too. If you want large, flavorful portions, go to Walmart and buy a basketball. Yes, the portions could feed a small Chilean village with enough left for a sacrificial offering, but everything on the menu tastes the same! The menu is every combination of pasta and sauce imaginable. Honestly, sauce from a jar tastes better. I ordered the freshest sounding thing on the menu-a pasta dish with vegetables. I could have changed the oil in my car with the amount of extra virgin on my plate! A particular song comes to mind and a must ask, in the words of the black eyed peas, "where is the love?" read more

Sorry RI. I hate Marchetti's. I used to love it, and I found myself wondering what had changed. Then I remembered that when I was a poor college student Marchetti's was a great place to get HUGE portions for not a lot of money that would last me for several meals following. And, the food was far better than the school's cafeteria so by comparison this was a fine dining experience. But, it's been a while since I've been in college folks. Maybe my taste changed, or maybe my tolerance for poor service has diminished. Perhaps I prefer to have clean silverware/plates/menus now. Maybe it's even the fact that if I dine outside I prefer not to be seated at glorified lawn furniture on the parking lot with a tent over top of me. You will not find class, quality, cleanliness, or enjoyment here. Instead you will find a bunch of RIers who remain ridiculously loyal to this establishment for whatever reason who will still cause you to wait for an exorbitant amount of time for a sub-par experience. Go to L'Osteria on Cranston Street instead, which is literally walking distance from Marchettis. You'll never look back! read more

I'm not sure what all of the hype about Marchetti's is. It must be a Cranston thing. I've only been to Marchetti's once and once was enough for me to never go back. I had ordered a seafood pasta with crab, shrimp and scallops over fettuccine with an Alfredo sauce. The crab was fake crab meat and the shrimp and scallops were the size of a quarter. The pasta was the only saving grace because it was cooked the way I like it, al dente. Even the Alfredo sauce lacked some serious flavor, I had to dump a tablespoon of salt on the dish to make it edible. If you want some GOOD Italian food, take a 10 minute ride to Federal Hill. read more

Service: $1 Tip Worthy. Food: Tasteless and Overcooked. Chefs, when you get a chance check out this new mineral called "salt." Ambiance: Only redeeming quality of our Marchetti's experience was the gray-haired-Tony-Bennet-look-alike singing to us. read more

OMG. I couldn't eat the whole lobster roll in one sitting. I brought the leftovers home to have for lunch the next day, and almost couldn't finish it then! I had the lobster roll with butter which Marchetti''s tops with bread crumbs. (The first time I've ever seen this.) It came with french fries, and the usual salad and bread slices with oil & garlic. read more

Marchetti's Restaurant - Leftover lobster roll for my lunch the next day. Almost too much for me to finish even then! - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

I have been going here since I was a kid with my grandparents and it has always been consistently delicious. My advice: get the lobster roll! It is huge and there is an insane amount of lobster in it. Don't get suckered into the expensive tiny lobster rolls in Narragansett -definitely go here instead. The portions are huge and very reasonably priced. If you go for lunch they have glasses of wine for $2.99 before 3pm. Great place for family and friends. read more

Marchetti's Restaurant - Cold lobster roll. - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

See all

Sooo we were enjoying a nice time at marchettis until a f*cking cockroach ran across our table. Then they just took off the appetizer and gave a round of drinks! Really? When I was in the food business if something was wrong we had to blow sunshine up ppls asses. All set. I've gone here for years along with other ppl I know that do too. Also, after posting what had happened on Facebook another friend of mine posted that they've had a similar experience, but the thing ran up the wall and behind a picture. Very disappointed. Bad management. read more

Updating my review back to 5 stars. I had one not so perfect experience years ago, but that was an exception. I love this restaurant.

Short and simple.. The pros: decent prices, huge portions The cons: food isn't anything special - you can tell a lot of it is processed/frozen items, service wasn't too inviting either But hey, if you're super hungry.. give it a try.. you'll definitely bringing home leftovers. read more

I came to Marchetti's a few months ago for the first time and was very pleased with my first experience here. I went with a huge group of family members for a dinner get-together and good thing we made reservations early because the whole parking lot was mobbed as well as the inside of the restaurant. The wait wasn't long thankfully, about ten minutes tops. Not bad. Once we got in and settled in at our area, the staff from that moment on made sure we got everything we asked for. Terrific service at this place hands down. They're friendly, outgoing, and right on time. Now, I don't know why some people are bashing the food. Yes, the food portions are huge, what do you expect? Go to most Italian restaurants and you'll find and/or recieve huge portions. Trust me I'm Italian and if there's one thing Italians make you do it's eat, eat, eat! Does that mean you have to feel forced to devour the entire plate like a scuzti (glutton)? Not at all! Does that also mean you're a fat slob for getting a huge plate like everyone else? Of course not! That's just the way the restaurant chooses to serve. Some like it, some don't, that's life. I found the food to be delicious in my opinion. I had the Fried Calamari for a starting appetizer, which was perfect and crispy not soggy like most places. The bread was fresh and hot as if they just made it. For the real deal, I settled for Chicken Alfredo, which was huge I'll admit, but it was creamy and satisfying and the chicken was nice and tender. I ate half the plate and took the rest home. For a first timer, I was very pleased! I will definitely stop in here again for dinner reservations. Four stars! read more

The service here is almost always rude. The food is extremely bland. This is good for people who prefer quantity over quality. read more

pink vodka is so good! ask for extra sauce takeout is always quick and easy hometown restaurant

When you go to marchetti's you should be prepared to eat left overs for at least 3 days afterwards. The place is loud and you'll get trampled if you don't move around quick enough. But it is real Rhode Island. It doesn't try to pretend to be anything that it isn't. The things I like about Marchetti's: The sauce The moderately priced alcoholic drinks The moderately priced food (Ok it is cheap when you consider how much food they actually throw on a plate). Then they slap a huge bowl of spaghetti next to you just for shits 'n giggles. The salad. I could come here and just dine on the salad bowl alone. The things I don't like about Marchetti's: The wait The parking lot I eat way too much but still have tons of left overs to take home That I can't eat here everyday. This place is top drawer! read more

First off, Closed Mondays.. so keep that in mind... hahha. I didn't learn my lesson the first 3 times I had the urge to go and forgot it was closed on that day. HAHA... Aaaaaanyways... I can't say I'm the most knowledgeable about Italian food, despite living/growing up in a place with alot of Italians, but I like this restaurant. It's a family style restaurant and 3-4 people can EASILY share one dish. I usually get some kind of alfredo or the eggplant parm. They first bring bread and a bowl of salad to share, followed by the entree. then DIG IN! :D This is a large restaurant and it can get VERY crowded and sometimes the waiters are a little backed up, but usually they are very attentive. All in all, i recommend it! read more

Definitely a little disappointed. This place is very popular in Cranston, and several recommended it as "the next Twin Oaks." Not exactly. The service is fantastic. Superior to Twin Oaks. The free salad was a nice touch. The bread is just ok, but better than the crappy Twin Oaks rolls. I ordered my apples-to-apples Italian restaurant go-to, veal parm. The veal was ok, but not as chewy and flavorful as TO. The pasta was somehow starchy. The sauce was HORRIBLE. It tasted burned and greasy. They also charge for soda refills. That always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Huge portions don't make up for the sauce, especially. Will not repeat. read more

Always a great meal here at this Cranston institution. I have been coming here for about 22 of the 35 they have been open, going several times a year. My personal favorites are the chicken penee', veal parm, chicken francais' and veal cutlet with gravy. As everyone mentions, portion sizes are huge and you will get at least one more meal even if you are a big eater. Two reasons for only four stars: The hours have been seriously trimmed over the past few years. The only day they open during lunch hours is on Sunday. Service can be a little spotty at times, as I'm sure some of the servers are overwhelmed by thr volume and turnover. I've heard rumors that they won't be open forever as the younger generation doesn't want to continue the business. I hope this is not the case! read more

The service was fantastic it was very busy and the staff didn't miss a beat glasses filled before they were empty. I agree with other reviews about the portions you can't beat the price for the food portions you get (It's like a pound of pasta with every meal). I am a big eater and I didn't even put a dent in the food. The veal and the chicken parm was huge I didn't even see the plate even after I was full. Every meal comes with salad with house dressing and bread with garlic oil for dipping (YUM). I will be going back. read more

I know this place has a ton of reviews. A lot of good stuff here. My hubby surprised me with take out after a really long day. He got me the seafood gorgonzola. Holy cow. It was like lobster mac and cheese...big claw pieces. There was no overwhelming gorgonzola chunks. Huge clumps of tail meat. Wow! Just wow! I got the takeout portion so idk what would happen in house, but be prepared to eat lobster and bow tie pasta for two days. I will order this or the carbonara everytime. read more

Why are people complaining? This place is the bomb. Now obviously it shouldn't be compared to a chain like Olive Garden, but just to clarify, Olive Garden is more expensive than Marchetti's and the portions are tiny compared to Marchetti's. Marchetti's boasts HUGE portions. and I know places in America usually have big portions unless you're at some yuppie vegetarian upscale joint (it's okay I've had my fair share of those too), but Marchetti's portions are MASSIVE. Like I'm talking 3 days worth of food. It's almost scary. And bread and a gigantic bowl of salad are complimentary with dinner. I almost wonder how they make a profit. My favorite dish is the pink vodka sauce Chicken Parm served over linguini (or penne if you're a square). While you're at it, order a sangria bowl. Even the drinks are largely portioned. read more

Are you starving? Are you a baller on a budget? Marchetti's is for you. I'm sure you've heard, the portions are HUGE! I know most people brag about how big it is, but Marchetti's follows through every time. The food is fantastic. I've never had a bad experience here. Yes, it gets busy and there is often a long wait. However, I learned quickly to just make a reservation. WHOA, mind blown. Any time I have made a reservation I've waited less than 10 minutes and as soon as you get to your table you get immediate service. Totally worth the very short wait. The only problem is...the menu is too big, and there are too many amazing options. So, here is my advice. I have two meals that I choose from, and I do not open the menu anymore. If I open the menu, I will certainly sit there for a good 20 minutes telling the server I haven't yet decided and wasting their time. It works for me. They have fantastic long island iced teas, by the way. Make sure you get a lyft/uber or a DD if you plan on having more than one. It comes in a giant, delightful glass of happiness. I usually have enough leftovers for two more meals at home. So if you don't feel like cooking for a few days, definitely go to Marchetti's! EAT AT MARCHETTI'S. DO IT. read more

If the dream of the 90s lives on in Portland, than maybe the 70s lives on in Cranston. Marchetti's reminds of the places I went growing up in the area. For special occasions we would hit up Twin Oaks, Archies, and Harry's Beef Hearth (which became Chelo's). What may be looked upon now as a low-rent Olive Garden was a big deal for middle class Rhode Islanders in the 70s and 80s. Marchetti's was never a place my family frequented, but as soon as I walked in I felt like I died and went to Twin Oaks. The decor is... inspired. Inspired by what, I'm not sure. The walls are covered with celebrity photos and movie posters. I'm guessing the motif was originally focused on rat pack and Italian-American icons (like Marlon Brando who's most famous for his role in The Freshman) but now it includes the likes of Dexter. Not the actor who plays Dexter, mind you, but a poster of Dexter. The food is typical Italian-American fare. If you're looking for authentic Tuscan cuisine, you may be in the wrong place. If you want gigantic portions of pasta, this is where you go. they also have steak, chicken, and fish, though I didn't try any of those. I'm a big dude, and I could barely finish the fettuccine I ordered. There was absolutely no room for appetizers or dessert. Marchetti's may not be a regular place that I go, but if you've never been there it's definitely worth checking out - if for no other reason than to see what Rhode Island was like for those of us who grew up here. read more

Most of the reviews I see on this site that have a 5-star rating are because the portions are HUGE - a huge portion does not equate to good/great food - the food is ok if you like ok food .. read more

My family and I have been coming to Marchetti's for many years, but tonight may have been my last visit. This place is known for quantity, not quality, which I accept only because I love their version of chicken Milanese. The server tonight was just plain AWFUL! Who gives a customer water with no ice, asks the customer what they want for a side dish instead of giving choices ( am I supposed to guess?), has no idea all the customers in her section are looking for knives-someone actually got up to go to the server station to try and find one himself, and then says nice meeting you both? Really? This woman had no clue how terrible she was. NO CLUE. I'll also mention the salad is a joke and the bread is even worse. read more

This Italian spot in Cranston is always packed on a Friday or Saturday night so I figure they must be fantastic. So Sunday afternoon when I drove by and noticed their cute little outdoor seating area I decided it was a great opportunity to give it a try. Marchetti's is known for having HUGE portions, and my experience there was no exception. Bread and a big bowl of salad came first. The bread came with a really good garlic dipping oil - I love garlic! When my meal arrived my jaw dropped. It looked like a casserole dish of melted cheese that could feed a family of six, with a side of penne too. Don't get me wrong, I love cheese, but wow. The dish weighed a good 6 lbs. The most important question though.. How did it taste? Well, once I was over the shock of the sheer size, it was pretty good. Nothing spectacular to be honest, but it was good. Even after what I ate that day at lunch I still had about 8 servings left to take home. read more

Okay, this is where you go when you have a might powerful hunger or you are trying to feed a whole lot of people on a budget. So the food is 3 stars, it is good and flavorful but it is made for quantity. It is not AlFornoes. So on this, my introductory trip, I ordered some lasagna. I think the total weight was just shy of 7 lbs. Okay, maybe I exaggerate, but it did come in close to 5 lbs worth of stuff. This was huge. It was 2 bricks of the stuff, about 4 or 5 inches square and about 3 - 4 inches deep. The sauce was good, the beef was standard. But for what I paid, it was a value. Everyone at the table took home about 1/2 of their food. There were four adults. or total bill including 2 beers, 1 sangria and a soft drink was less than $40.00 So is this top of the line RI Italian, no. Is this a great place to go and enjoy 'good' food with friends at a really reasonable price, you bet your arse. read more

I've been in RI 10 years and have yet to visit some of the establishments given "True Rhode Islander" street cred, so we decided to go to Marchettis as a start. We got there and the parking lot was PACKED. We had to wait for a spot, and we did, after about 5 minutes we scored parking and went inside. On the way in, I noticed that on the patio, there was musical entertainment (an italian man singing some tunes with an electric keyboard), and I saw a few open tables outside. The hostess informed us it would be about 30 min so we asked if we could sit outside, and we were seated almost immediately. I ordered the chicken parm. The CP came with a salad and pasta, and 2 HUGE pieces of chicken. It was satisfying and i brought more than 1/2 home. The service was quick and friendly and I'd go back for sure. The meal was very affordable, it came to $30 for two (2 entrees, 1 soda, 1 beer). The large glasses of sangria were tempting but unfortunately i couldn't partake! read more

I absolutely love Marchetti's. It is a great deal, the portions are huge, it is family owned, and the food is tasty. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is becauset it is certainly not gourmet Italian food. It is basic americanized Italian food. So if you are looking for gourmet, Marchetti's is not your place. I recommend going for lunch, as the prices are cheaper, it is less busy, and you can still eat the portions for days! They also have good drink specials and cheap house wines. This place is a gem. I always look forward to a chance to go to Marchetti's when I'm in the area. read more

Huge portions of delicious food! Only downside is parking and sometimes the wait. Well worth it, though.

This place is consistently good. No matter what type of reservation you make...you will wait...but i think that is just part of the experience. We attended a birthday dinner last night- filet's, surf and turf, veal parm, baked haddock, broiled salmon and balsamic calamari and calamari a' la mama. It was all good. Huge portions of salad, bread and garlic soaked olive oil for dipping. My compliments to the chef as that cookng team cooks an amazing menu that will not dissappoint. read more

Marchetti's has been a staple for the locals for many years. Huge portions of authentic Italian food. I think they brought in a new head chef because the marinara has improved massively over the past 3-4 years. The veal parm is huge and enough for two normal eaters. The "side" of fettucine with your entree is roughly 1/2 lb of fettucine alfredo, the broiled seafood plate is really good, baked stuffed shrimp is a bit heavy on the topping but very good, even the house salad dressing is good. Protip: Get there by 6pm on Saturday or just call in for take out. Even reservations will not save you from standing in the packed lobby for 30-45 minutes, without reservations - well over an hour. Don't even bother trying between 7-8pm on Friday or Saturday. read more

My husband and I went with 7 other friends for dinner. We had reservations and had no wait. The parking sucks. It was a little cramped at the table we were at. I ordered Chicken Mushroom Wild and it was pretty good. Next time I will ask for extra garlic in it though. My husband had the chicken alfredo and he said it was pretty good. In my opinion, each entree was enough to feed 4 people after eating the bread and salad. The Calamari was TO DIE FOR. I have been thinking about it for days and will probably order just Calamari next time as my dinner. We will be going back. read more

Food and service were both really good. Extremely busy place but worth the reservation call and trip. Bring an appetite portions are crazy! Would definitely go again. read more

See all

This review is for takeout only We ordered penne ala vodka. I'm from NYC, so I was delighted to see the huge portion for $15. This is one of my favorite dishes so I am a bit picky. It was delicious. The sauce was good, the dish had huge chicken strips, and the bread was good. read more

In short: my favorite restaurant. Decor is definitely cheesy, but that shouldn't matter once you get to the food. I never eat salad but I love the salad here, the oil and vinegar they use is delicious. You also get bread with olive oil and garlic, which is great, but sometimes they give you rolls and butter instead without explanation. The only appetizer I've ever tried is the calamari and it's great, nothing particularly special about it, but wonderful quality. Their meat sauce is my favorite red sauce I have ever had. When I try pasta anywhere this is the standard I mentally compare it to. The pink vodka sauce is also great. Don't even get me started on the portions! I always get approximately 2 extra meals out of even just a simple pasta dish. I've never tried dessert because I've always been stuffed to the gills when I leave. On an average weekday the wait isn't too bad but on weekends I would recommend calling ahead for reservations. read more

What can you say about Marchetti's that hasn't been said already? Food. Incredibly solid. Never gourmet, but always stick-to-your-ribs (and your waistline!) delicious. Portions. Ginormous--with a capital G. Even the bar pours generous drinks. Prices. Reasonable--most dishes--including veal are (just) under $20.00 The only drawback is the crowds. And with a relatively small waiting area that seats 20 or so, expect 30-40 people most evenings. On weekends, the waitstaff are hurried, but competent. weeknights, they are even personable. A true RI Italian food icon. read more

Is it possible to leave so full after eating your dinner that half must come home with you and pay such a low price? Yes, when dining at Marchetti's for lunch. $8 for salad, chicken parm and fries! And delicious too. (Note to management- it's not quite chicken parm without cheese!!! I swear I'll pay extra!!!) Service is always great and the perfect place for meeting a group of friends. It beats a few places on the Hill- especially Angelo's! read more

This place doesn't even need a review because word of mouth travels near and far with this place. You do not want to ever walk in here without a reservation or being hungry. With a reservation we still waited an hour. Did I mind?! Not really because the food is AMAZING!! They used to have a dish on their menu that no longer exists but it was steak and peas and mushrooms over rice in a gravy sauce. I was so sad to see it wasn't on the menu any longer. However, this place is a place where I take friends who are visiting out of town. It definitely isn't a monthly visit because of the price. With that being said, every meal I've had there has been so worth the price. Our server last time, I hate when I can't remember someone's name, was so damn friendly and never forgot a thing. Was checking on us but not smothering. Now that I write this I want to find some money to go back again. I'm like Homer Simpson drooling. Worth every penny!! read more