I was very disappointed in this place. I had their chicken rolled with ham and cheese. The side of the chicken was gross. It looked like glue. I couldn't even bring myself to taste it. It seems like this food was frozen and microwaved. This place is associated with the VFW. They might have something to do with it. read more

I'm 60 and have eaten all over the country. This place is my favorite!!!! Food is unbelievable, portions are large, Italian bread is fantastic, and the prices are great. If you want Italian food look no more this is the place to go to. read more

This place is deceiving. You think you are going to a rented out VFW hall for an event but there's a restaurant inside. It's not fancy, you can tell most people have been going there and working there for years but the food is great. I took a star off as its cash only and that's always a pain for me but word to the wise, get there as early as you can. We arrived at 11:45ish and shortly thereafter there was a wait. The food was fantastic - they give you Italian bread and butter and water to start. We had calamari which was delightful not too greasy, mixed in were some tentacles too which is always my favorite part. I also enjoyed the side sauce which was sort of a garlic oil as opposed to the usual marinara you get elsewhere but I'm sure one can request that if preferred. Chicken Parmesan and penne was good, huge portion of crispy chicken covered in red sauce. Food was hot, quick and the real deal. Again, not a fancy place but everything's on point. read more

The chicken franchise was not pounded thin. It was just a piece of chicken breast that had no flavor. I didn't even see the eggs wash on it.

I went there with way too high expectations - I should not have read all the reviews. I have no problem dining in establishments that are not upscale, I knew that this place was in a VFW so I knew what it would be like inside. What I was not expecting was super greasy food, service that made me feel as though I was inconveniencing the server and completely stagnant air so I left there feeling as though I had bathed in grease. I am not quite sure what people are talking about when they refer to the food as authentic and "spot-on" - I felt it was bland, oily and very heavy. Sorry Mike, although I am not a fan, you do seem to have your share of followers. read more

Haven't been here in years so I thought I'd try out the place. Let me tell you this place is awful. It's not remotely recognizable from the place that used to have awesome food. The veal was terrible, sauce had no flavor and pasta was over cooked. Our waitress had a terrible attitude and couldn't be bothered to ask how our meal was. The cocktail waitress was MIA the whole night. I shouldn't give this place 1 star. Stay away for your own good! read more

Oh the VFW, I have is fond memories of eating here years ago. The "Post" what all loyal customer call it, is NOT what it used to be. This place was so good that when Al Forno's was putting together it's cookbook they used Mike's Polenta recipe in their book. I would go here for dinner with my dad, and go at lunchtime with coworkers. After my last two visits, I can't recommend the Post to anyone. The food quality has declined so much, just so they can keep the prices low. The chicken I ate was old, it was chewy and had a bad overall taste. The mushrooms in the marsala were from a can and were just mushy. Another time I ordered the swordfish and it was overcooked and fishy. This was never the case when I ate here years ago. I feel bad for the waitstaff because it's the same core from years ago. And they are all such great people. I really hope something changes here and they return to the quality of yesteryear. read more

I just relocated with my company to Rhode Island and clueless where to go. A fellow colleague was raving about Mike's Kitchen, he might be a spokes person for Mike's Kitchen. Since he was preaching everyday how delicious Mike's Kitchen is, I had to check it out. We had a corporate lunch at this VFW hall. I felt out of place since I was the only asian person there, than again, I feel like I'm the only asian person in entire rhode island. The waiting staff was a bit weird and miserable... but WOW was the food awesome. I was struggling to finish my monster size meal. So far the BEST home-style Italian food I've had in the New England area. I had the polenta with sausage and meatballs. It was a taste of heaven! I recommend this to EVERYONE that's hungry. read more

If I could only eat one more meal, I would go to Mike's. This place really is impossible to describe, you just have to experience it. To someone from the northeast, the idea of a basic Italian spot located in a VFW Post is probably not that exciting, but this is why I say it must be experienced first hand. I have never ordered anything without their amazing red sauce. My standard order is chicken parm with either a side of fries or potato & vegetable. Honestly, it's tough to pick which is better. And you HAVE to get the polenta. It is widely agreed upon that, if you've had Mike's polenta, you will never have better polenta anywhere else. Ever. Seriously, this place is like god and his son decided to open an Italian restaurant. It is so damn good!! Everybody I have taken here has been floored. I even ate here twice in one day. My "last meal" spot without hesitation. read more

I've been going to Mike's since it opened. I've never had a bad meal there, but have had some outstanding meals. Simple Italian menu, simple food and probably the best polenta you will ever eat. I've taken business clients there who although not overwhelmed with the ambiance, were overwhelmed with the quality of the food. My family loves to go here, buy if wr can't go in a group we get take out. The waitresses are friendly if you're not a cavone. read more

Good moderately priced Italian food. Cash only. Reasonable portions and fresh fish. The service is not the best and there is absolutely no ambiance. I enjoy the eggplant parmesan and the salad. Simple but good. Not a place for a date or a romantic evening out. It is eat and leave. read more

"Yup. That's a VFW alright" That was what was said when we drove up to Mike's kitchen. Upon walking in, we sat down at the bar, and started a conversation with the bartender and the waitress regarding vegetarian options. After their help (they were super duper nice) I had a decision to make. Go with something I have had before such as gnocchi or eggplant, or go wild and crazy and go with something I haven't had before, such as polenta. I decided to play it safe and go with eggplant parm for my first visit. I figured that I would decide if they could make simple food that I would like, the next time I came I would get something exotic. Although a little on the mushy side, my eggplant was yummy. The sauce was perfectly made for my tastes. The one thing I can say about the eggplant parmesean is that I wish it came with pasta. Let me clarify: you can get veggies OR pasta OR salad. I chose salad. Did I make the right choice? Can't say. I got a glass of merlot, it wasn't very good. I will have to try the cabernet next time. All in all, a good stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal. I had a good time and will be back again. read more

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OMG good food is worth the 30-40 min wait.. sometimes the wait isnt that long... Ive been three times and havnt been dissapointed yet.. Ive indulged in the veal and peas, artichoke twice, tripe twice, stuffed octapuss and I now know that one order of their famous polenta is never enough.. So I now get two, one to take home as it is also delish cold!! Hope they are around awhile longer as I just found out about this hidden jem last year... GET THE POLENTA!! read more

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I thought I walked into the wrong place !!! This place seems to be a local spot for those who know about it.... I got lost and ended up in the area and said " why not " ??. I can speak for the Polenta with meatballs which was GOOD ASS HELL !! This place seems to be a sit down , local place so getting take out makes you feel kinda weird since there is no waiting area. The waitresses could not be bothered from their conversation as I interupted them to order my to go order, but it's cool ... I would expect that from here... This place is not a fancy place for a first date..but the food is really good... I have never been to a restaurant that is located inside a Elk Lodge !! LMAO ..cheap rent ? read more

I have been coming here since I was little. This place has not changed at all. The food is consistent with big portions but the only things to remember here are that it is cash only and they have separate people for food and drink orders along with separate tabs for food and drink orders which seems weird to me. read more

Doesn't seem as though many Rhode Islanders review on this site, so I suppose this review is only to make my fellow Californians jealous that this place isn't in the Bay Area. So, you mean to tell me I can go to an Elks Lodge on certain nights and there will be an Italian guy willing to make me whatever I want? Well, pretty much whatever I want. Fuckin eh! I came here with a big group over the summer. I had heard nothing but great things about this place, and was stoked to try it. We ordered the snail salad, the calamari, and a stuffed artichoke. Now, coming from NorCal, where the calamari roam and artichoke central, I was nervous about not liking Rhode Island's versions of these foods. It was delicious though! I'm a bit biased and have to say not as good of an artichoke as we have here, but still damn impressive! I had Linguini with red clam sauce, and it was damn tasty, too. I love you, and will visit every time I'm in this state. read more

This place is still amazing. I agree the staff could be friendlier, but the food makes up for it. There's no where else to get polenta like they serve it! And the mozzarella is out of this world. So good, go try it! read more

They remodeled the bar area a bit this year, but not much else has changed. Thank goodness. Still the quintessential neighborhood joint, where friends and family meet up and chat while waiting (sometimes quite a while) for a table. There are 2 sets of waitstaff, bar and food are separate. The red sauce dishes are the legendary versions of home kitchen classics, but the seafood choices are no slouch. The calamari would suit me better if it were sautéd as well as fried, pickled hot peppers are served on the side. The sole française I had this Friday was perfect, sweet and flaky. My go to choice is usually anything w/ Polenta. Here, its the "Roman" cake like form, dense and rich with cheese. A slice of polenta, with a bit of (OK a rather huge) meatball or sausage, a little bit of gravy, feels just like the Italian kitchen I grew up eating in, except its a little bit quieter here. read more

Wow! When my daughter in law suggested eating at a restaurant in a VFW hall I was was kind of skeptical. Boy, was I wrong! Located in a largely Italian community, Mike's offers classic Italian, with the kind of Neapolitan menu that we associate with restaurant Italian. Yes, it's in a VFW, there is basically no decor; so don't visit for atmosphere. But everything else is classic. We had a party of five and were seated within minutes of our arrival. Just about the time we arranged ourselves, our waitress arrived. We ordered drinks; they came right away. We ordered artichoke and fried calamari as apps for the table. The artichoke is breaded and stuffed and was good but didn't wow any of us. The calamari were, perhaps, the best I've had, lightly breaded and perfectly prepared. Our entrees covered the ample but not overwhelming menu. Chicken parm, veal rollatini, spaghetti with meatballs, veal parm and linguini with white clam sauce. Every dish was simply and deliciously prepared in a portion size that would easily feed two. Prices are surprisingly reasonable. It's the kind of place to bring the family. All of our entrees were less than twenty dollars. In an era where restaurant profits largely depend on "turns" no one hurried us to finish. The service was well paced. I'm not a Rhode Islander, but if I were, Mike's would be my go to place for family style Italian! Oh yeah, did I mention it's in the VFW hall. read more

Best Italian food of all time. Had the clams casino, calamari and chicken parm. My buddy brought me here and it through be off that it was at the VFW, but the place was packed, the service was super fast and the food was awesome! read more

Mikes kitchen - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Although the atmosphere of a brightly lit VFW Hall leaves much to be desired, you'll find that once you're inside it's a GREAT place to people watch. While we were there, we spotted a well-known Channel 10 News anchor waiting in line for a table. Also, I was glad I brought cash since credit cards are not accepted here. Another slight inconvenience is If you want to order a drink, it is done separately by a different server who demands immediate cash payment upon receipt, meaning you have to stop eating or chatting to fish for money in your wallet each time you order one. As for the food, I ordered the stuffed artichoke--and it was pretty pricey at $11.99-- but I had to order it since hardly ever do you see a whole, stuffed artichoke offered on a restaurant menu. It was drenched in butter and stuffed with spinach, breadcrumbs and cheese and fell apart at the lightest prod of the fork. It was a little too overdone, both in regard to the stuffing and the consistency for my tastes. However, the polenta is to die for. Here it's served as a generously sized entree covered in a delicious red sauce. I chose mine served with a meatball and a sausage. It was heavenly! read more

I was very excited to try this place with my boyfriend since I had read all the stellar reviews of it, including one by NYT. Based on those reviews and the fact that this restaurant is walking distance from our apartment, we thought we had found a real hidden gem! This place always seems to be very busy when it's open, so we went right at opening on a Saturday for lunch. We were not shocked or put off by the ultra-casual interior; we had expected that, given that it is inside a VFW. We did, however, have to leave and go back to our apartment since the one thing none of the reviews we had read mentioned was that Mike's Kitchen is a CASH ONLY establishment. The staff was polite enough, but we got the vibe that we were intruding (most of the customers who poured in moments later were several decades older than us and seemed like locals/regulars). The food was not our style at all. If you are looking for a place that makes really simple comfort food that tastes like it came right out of your grandma's kitchen, then this is the place for you. We ordered the polenta and meatballs, stuffies, and crab cakes. To us, they all tasted bland. I don't think we'll be going back to Mike's Kitchen, but people who are looking for some authentic, Italian home cooking will probably love it! read more

Always delicious, not fancy, and fun. Mikes is a staple great Italian in Cranston. Just go there, try the polenta and chicken parm! Everything is outstanding! read more

Ahh... "The Post". Many Monday nights have been spent here with both family and friends. It's home-cooked Italian food outside of your home. So, to be clear... It's a VFW hall. We aren't talking cloth napkins and an extensive wine list. In fact , the kitchen and the bar are completely separate. That's right... What some bread? Grab the waitress. Want a drink? Grab the bar girl or get up and get it yourself. Not unlike my grandmothers house. Food is always spot on. The artichoke appetizer is a meal in itself. I normally opt for the chicken francaise. It's not the best I've had, but is always a solid choice. Pair that with a side of cavatelli and I'm set! Service is always good - but be warned, it can get packed fast! Plus - cash only. Finish off your meal with some delicious bon bons and head home for a nap! read more

Photos look good but you can't eat them but that wouldn,t be too bad that would allow you to avoid the miserable waittesses the quality of the food went way down quantity is also down but what is up is the general attitude of the entire staff just down right MEAN .I'm done. read more

Why must great food be so hard to obtain? With a polenta that is out of this world (especially with the special secretive mushroom topping) and the Mike's Kitchen's specialty red sauce, waiting outside the dining area for over 30 minutes while smelling the wondrous aroma of the seafood is truly torturous for just a party of three people. The entire dining establishment is inside a VFW with tables and chairs even sprawled out. The waitresses are very friendly, but also no-nonsense and will not hesitate to tell you what you are ordering correct or incorrect. My friends and I ordered the fried smelts, the antipasto, the squid pasta, the polenta and the chicken cutlets. The polenta definitely stole the show as it incorporated red sauce into a chewy and firm (aka perfect) texture. The mushroom may have marred the perfect presentation, the taste was definitely worth the artistic sacrifice. The antipasto was not that impressive, but I quickly forgot about it after eating a handful of the perfectly fried smelts. The chicken cutlet was large...but otherwise forgettable. At the end of the day, the food is served family style, in large quantities, and paid with cash only. My only recommendation is to expedite the wait time, so we don't have to wait almost an hour to eat such an amazing meal. Food: 5 stars Price: 4 stars Service: 3 stars Ambiance: 2 stars read more

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This place brings back memories of Nonna's kitchen, complete with her telling me that I've gotten too thin and need to eat more! Go prepared for casual. Get the polenta and,frankly everything else on the menu. Try the banana pepper sauce for calamari - its amazing!! Fwiw - not sure what the service complaint s were about...everyone was lovely and made me want to come back so often then know me by name! read more

Mike's is ALWAYS a favorite ,great food and excellent portions,,,BUT this one time my friends and I got takeout and there were three orders of chicken parmigiana,,, we'll it was grilled chicken with cheese smothered in sauce,,,, very, very disappointing coming from Mike's, read more

Try the chicken marsala the gravy is unbelievable and the ravioli my daughter also as good.

Love the calamari it's the best! What I don't like is that they are closed on Mondays and if I don't have cash on me I can't go either. Credit cards only. But this place is always busy. Great food & great prices. Drinks are sold by a separate waitress which is confusing at first but once u get it, their system works! I love mikes kitchen read more

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Ok, so I am withholding the fifth star because of the atmosphere. Oil cloth table coverings, paper napkins and plastic water glasses. Nevermind the whole weird separate server and tab for the bar. But, all that said, go early or you will wait. No matter if it is lunch or dinner. The food however is a home run so go and eat. You'll be happy. read more

This is my favorite place for Italian food. It seems to be a local favorite as well as we usually have to wait in line when we get there. My favorite dishes are the the pasta with clam sauce, and the calamari. Portions are big, so we usually take food home. I would not say that it is a place to take a date, but its great for family and friends. Some things to note. Its located at a VFW. Drinks are sold separately from the bar. I find the food reasonable priced. read more

A mouse was running around on the floor. The manager was totally unphased and told us they are in all restaurants!!!!

Amazing. Rhode Island's best kept secret. This is one of the top Italian restaurants in the state, which is certainly praise given that this state that has the highest percentage of Italians of any state in the country. Forget the fact that Mike's portions are always family-sized, and that they have an exhaustive menu of authentic Italian dishes my grandmother used to make on special occasions, the thing is the food is outstanding. The service is good. The waitstaff has been here for years. The women here are always running around bringing dishes back and forth non-stop and somehow manage to be pleasant. His menu is varied and includes polenta, tripe, seafood, great pastas with clam sauce, red and white, broccoli rabe, crab cakes, meatballs, steaks, great antipastos, veal parm, sausage, and many more. A special treat is the Christmas dinners (call in advance for times) where Mike serves the Feast of the 7 FIshes that is a tradition of Italians in Southern Italy. "The custom of celebrating with a simple fish such as baccalà reflects customs in what were historically greatly impoverished regions of Southern Italy, as well as seasonal factors. Fried smelts, calamari and other types of seafood have been incorporated into the Christmas Eve dinner over the years." - Wikipedia And MIke serves them all. Also note that many of these dishes are served year-round. Special note, this is a cash only business. The prices are low to moderate. Drinks are served by the bar-side of the house meaning that you need to pay for that aside from the meal. I think this has something to do with the fact that this is in a VFW hall and Mike rents the space. Which takes me to ambiance. The place is in a hall frequented by locals. The average age has to be 60 or older. Why? Because it is affordable and good and authentic and locals run there for lunch. It is like you are going to your cousin Vinney's wedding in Cranston. Also, note their hours before you go however, it is usually 11:30 - 3:00 and 5:00 - 8:00. Check it out, you will not be disappointed. Rocco read more

This place is amazing!!! The best Italian food!!! Ever!!! Low low price!!! Food was on table in 6 minutes!!!!! The waitress offered to heat my coffee!!! read more

Food was delicious. I went for the swordfish but it wasn't available. The waitress asked if I liked octopus. I ordered it on her recommendation, and I was glad I did. It was tender and delicious. Great portion too. read more

Mikes kitchen - Octopus tender and delicious - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

This is it when it comes to Italian comfort food. Five star luxury ritzy restaurants can simply not create a better dish- especially the calamari. It's truly, the tops. The atmosphere is better and improved- but it really doesn't matter- the food is superb. Bottom line. It's awesome. Forever. read more

My husband and I went Monday for lunch. I got the lunch portion grilled chicken parm (a special) and my husband the chicken with cannellini beans. We both got the cavateli on the side with red sauce. I'm sure I misspelled the beans and pasta but that lunch was a big hit! Best Italian in R.I.! The salad was fresh too! Double cleaned the tables, very far apart seating. I'd eat there every day! read more

Always amazing!! Great service and yummy food. My favorite apps are the fried smelts, fried mozzarella triangles, and polenta.

Had to see for myself the reasons friends of mine drove the 30 miles to have a meal at Mikes. My wife and I enjoyed our meal and the menu had many choices to chose from. As far as what some of the other reviewers said, I found the waitresses to be very friendly and helpful. Wouldn't hesitate to drive down again and try some of the other items on the extensive menu. All items that you would find in top notch Italian restaurants. Kenny T, Uxbridge, Ma read more