A special friend had made a significant step in her small business. I suggested dinner at Twin Oaks. I surprised her at the restaurant with a package and card. The card congratulated her on her success, brought about only because of her hard work, courage and persistence despite some difficult times. I had purchased some crystal, champagne and cocktail coupes. I had removed them from the package, washed and bagged the crystal and repackaged it. I gave her the card and she opened the package. I told her the crystal champagne glasses were to celebrate her success! I ordered champagne which came in a chilled marble container to keep it cold. I had looked at a couple other restaurants before settling on Twin Oaks. Twin Oaks was easy for her to get to after meeting with a new client. The food was delicious. The ambience looking out over Spectacle Lake with the moonlight on the water was wonderful. The waiter could not not have been more attentive yet not intrusive. For all her hard work and her business beginning to take off, she deserved some recognition. It took courage to have given up a career that very few would have walked away from and start her own business. Twin Oaks was the the right place to acknowledge her success that night. I'll not forget how she smiled that night, her surprise, her happiness. She deserved some special recognition and Twin Oaks helped to deliver it! read more

What a delight to visit Twin Oaks again! We were in the area and my husband had never been so it was an easy choice for lunch. We were seated right away. Jimmy and Max took exceptional care of us! We started with the Clams Casino that were so flavorful and the perfect serving size to split. My husband had the friend scallops served with fries and cole slaw ; I ordered the dinner portion of veal parm ( you've got to have leftovers) . The scallops were cooked to perfection. The veal was fork tender and so flavorful and legit, the leftover lunch was the best!! If you're in the area be sure to give them a try, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Went on a week day evening with my two aunts. We were shown to our booth by the host pointing to it... so that seemed weird but observing him, he didn't walk anyone fully to their tables..... Anyways server was very pleasant and took my one aunt's drink order asap (she was desperate for a cosmo) and gave the other two of us time to decide. Steaks were cooked as ordered. Wine was a good pour and our coffee drinks were very good after dinner as well. Prices were reasonable for what we got and how expensive everything is. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Surf and Turf - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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A Rhode Island institution. Old school family Italian. The chicken Parmesan seemed to use a commercially made deep fried chicken and was just fair. However the veal Parmesan was much better and delicious. Attentive service and wood paneling decor is reminiscent of years gone by, but in a good way. Ask for a seat by the window if available. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Great family spot that does things right, like it was done over 50 years ago. The service is great and the building is very large and accommodates large parties. Make sure to get a reservation. Double Lobster Tails are very good with plenty of drawn butter. They are pricey, but they are very filling too. Although Twin Oakes is not known as a steak house, the steaks are good. Mine was cooked perfectly and they usually have decent steak specials. Chicken Parm is where it's at at Twin Oakes...get it done the original way. Chicken Zings are a must appetizer too! read more

It's all good! Been there five times and was never disappointed. Would suggest it to family and friends

The food at Twin Oaks is great. It's a classic Rhode Island restaurant. Good sized portions. We always have great service. Especially when Gene is our waiter. Lots of parking available and there's also valet. read more

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The best of the best! Always worth the wait!! Everything about this place is amazing!

I know I'm in the minority when I say, this place is overrated. The staff and service were exceptional!! The restaurant itself looks like it hasn't been updated in over 30 years!! We sat at the bar and honestly the steak wasn't that good. Might go back and try a pasta dish but won't be rushing back. read more

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Don't order the chicken cutlet, salmon or mozzarella sticks, they are very bland. Service is great, waiters are fast and friendly and for big parties you get seated near the water however the restaurant has a lingering fish smell I wouldn't eat here again read more

The expectations for this place were both high & low. I was told this place is a RI staple but don't expect too much on the food. I found this to be pretty accurate as some of the food was solidly good & some of the food was mediocre. Knowing what to order is pretty key. What made this place memorable & likely why it is considered an institution was the unique interior with old wooden walls giving the area character, the very reasonable food & alcohol prices & most importantly the service was stellar. The server went above & beyond & was highly personable. read more

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I was here years ago... and hadn't been back again for a while. This place is very: Cranston. It is reliably, good, reasonably priced, and hasn't been updated in many moons. It's all part of the charm. Considering we don't live far from here, we haven't been nearly enough and will make another date to get here again soon. read more

I just had the best sausage and rabe sandwich I have ever eaten at Twin Oaks. Sitting at the big bar, we meet the best people from all over. And you can't beat the service. read more

A Rhode Island staple. A good place for a large crowd very professional wait staff. And very nice and hard working. Great drinks. Great prices. I'm giving 3 stars because the decor is VERY tired and they for sure need a facelift. I don't like that the patrons are wearing baseball hats and sweat pants. Not the vibe I am looking for. However you can't tell people how to dress? food is decent. It just depends what you are looking for. read more

Right off the bat, I will say that I think we got food poisoning here. With a kitchen that throws off this many meals ... it happens. Of course I can't be 100% sure it came from here, but my date and I ate the exact same thing and both of us were on our knees hugging a toilet bowl 3 hours later, which never happens. You are probably saying ... you threw up for 3 hours and still gave 3 stars? Well, this isn't our first rodeo with this restaurant and out of the 4 or 5 times we've been here, this is the only time we got sick ... so likely a fluke. Ever wonder what late 1970 was like? After a meal here ... you won't anymore. The decor, waitstaff and even menu is straight out of the 70's. Brown pleather booths, wooden walls, a spindle bar, an all male maitre' de staff and waiters in white shirts and vests. This place has been popular since that era ... and hasn't changed much since. The clientele here is the most 'Rhode Island' crowd you'll see anywhere. If you know what I mean ... you know what I mean. The chicken parm here is the classic 'old school' red sauce version you probably grew up eating. Nothing fancy but its pretty good ... this time it was a breaded cutlet which seemed like it was made far in advance, which could have been the food poisoning culprit. The sauce is the salty red tomato sauce you'd find in Little Italy ... the cheese could use work. Not enough and not completely melted all over the top like at top restaurants such as Dan Tanas in Hollywood or Rao's in NYC. You get a side of pasta ... and by a side of pasta, I mean a family-sized size! You can also ask them to put delicious pink sauce on the side pasta (or the entre, which is cool). Even with a half order of chicken parm, you get a giant bowl ('side') of pasta and bread. The garden salad side with their signature Italian dressing (creamy) is very good ... and vintage vibes ... if only it was served in wooden bowls. The stuffed shrimp are a signature dish here and aren't really worth it. Your choices are 3 shrimp or 5 shrimp and both seem like an appetizer portion, unless you eat the giant meatball-sized bread stuffing balls the medium-sized (and somewhat overcooked) shrimp are sitting on. They are swimming in a dish of butter. Desserts here are off the chain. The carrot cake is the best I have ever had. It seems expensive at twelve bucks a slice (not much cheaper than the half portion of chicken parm) ... but you get like 1/4th of the cake. And it's delicious! Don't skip dessert. Overall, we'll be back ... even if being so sick for the night gives us some ptdd (post traumatic dining disorder) from the food poisoning. You just can't find portions for prices as low as they are offering anywhere else. It's almost like stepping back in time in many ways. Don't expect gourmet food and you'll like it. read more

We came to Twin Oaks for a birthday dinner, and the parking lot and lobby were both packed. I ordered an Old Fashioned, which was okay, though it was missing the maraschino cherry. For appetizers, we had the calamari and caprese salad. The calamari was pretty good, though I'm not sure about the banana pepper sauce. The caprese salad was fine, but I wish it hadn't been served on a bed of lettuce and that the basil wasn't shredded. For the main course, we tried the seared prime rib and surf and turf. The steak was a bit cold and dry, and the shrimp wasn't great. The prime rib had way too much fat. Overall, it was an okay experience. For the price, the food didn't quite live up to the hype. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Chef's special - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Worst dining experience I have ever had. Our busboy reacted to being hailed by one of our party thinking he was called for like he was a dog! He called out our friend, was extremely combative and actually called out our friend. 'Do something abut it' was his response to the misunderstanding. Never have I witnessed such awful behavior by restaurant staff. Will NOT repeat. I suggest you take your business elsewhere. read more

Come on who doesn't know Twin Oaks if you live in RI I'm sure you have visited or have heard of this place. I haven't been here in a few years and it was a treat to come back for a get together. For a Saturday there was no wait (a party if 4) we went at 1:00 pm and the place was already busy. I even found a parking which can be hard at times. For starters we got a charcuterie board and as you can see it was full of meat, I do feel it could have had more cheese but still a great spread. I went with the baked stuffed shrimp with mashed potatoes but this plate goes back in the oven to toast the mashed potatoes a bit. The stuffing is so good in itself. I didn't have a drink but my daughter and friend had the classic margarita which they thought was surprisingly strong ( they are not cheap with the alcohol). I do wonder why they have always only had male waiters. The prices are a bit higher but the quality of food is worth it. It's a busy place so fine with patience. I don't believe they take reservations but I could be wrong. Dress is casual but some do dress up a bit. read more

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Growing up this was the place to be.. always good service and good company .. great menu options - variety of items to please everyone. It has its busy times but is spread out enough so it's not overwhelming. Cranston/Rhode islanders rave about it- I've had my good times and ehh times but always come back for more ! read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Food - the steak and seafood are always cooked perfect but always under seasoned Service - service is always good old school vibes no women waiting the tables Ambiance - a lot of seating, comfortable read more

Got a ceaser salad. Absolutely disgusting!!!! Added chicken it was dry and the lettuce was wilted. Tastes terrible !!!!! It looked like it sat over night in the dressing will not go back there waste of money read more

This place is an institution for a reason. Looking for hip, experimental cuisine? Wrong place. Looking for some solid veal parm, baked stuffed shrimp, a turkey dinner or prime rib? This place does them very well. It's a bit of a time travel to the 70's experience, but that's what I want sometimes. The service is good. Not sure if it's still just male servers, which is odd. read more

What can I say, an absolutely amazing restaurant from staff to preparation of food and patrons, if you want an amazing meal at a moderate price this is the place for you in the state of Rhode Island. This restaurant is legendary, I have had many different meals here and each one has been amazing, and the colossal shrimp. I highly recommend they are the biggest cocktail shrimp I have ever seen, get out and experience the best Rhode Island has to offer. read more

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So a it was a co-workers birthday...i suggested Twin Oaks's for take out. Birthday boy said are you sure? I've heard their quality has fallen off. I said no way! 2 Meatball grinders one no cheese one with provolone, and a Wild Oaker. All 3 with fries. Requested extra salt and ketchup. So get the order back to work, no salt or ketchup at all, only 2 orders of fries not 3. None of the Large grinders were cut in half, kind of a bitch when you are at work with no utensils. And the meatball with provolone, my sandwich, had the cheese buried and melted in the bottom of the roll so the dried out meatballs with little sauce were barely edible! Thank God for the fries which we rationed out. I guess my co-worker was right. Twin Oaks sucks. read more

The Thursday Special of a pork cutlet is out of this world. You never get a short pour on a drink too.

This place is an institution! I've come with my in-laws now a couple times, and we always leave with lots of leftovers. The food is delicious and we had a lovely view of the water this visit. read more

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Visited for a retirement party. Staff did a great job with keeping up with everyone's needs and food was delicious. The parking here is pretty awful. They do offer valet. I really enjoyed the chicken Parmesan, ravioli and stuffed mushrooms. I had no room for dessert but my coworkers said they were delicious. Portions are huge and prices pretty reasonable. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Chicken parm with raviolis - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Solo llegamos a la sala de espera . Fui recomendada por un vecino sobre este lugar y tuve la curiosidad de conocer y ver que tan cierto era la sugerencia en platos con frutos del mar.ya que mi familia y yo gustamos mucho de mariscos pero de la sala de espera no pasamos mas ya que es muy desordenado en el tema de orden de llegada . Nosotros al entrar hablamos con el joven que recibia a los clientes y nos puso en una lista que escribió a mano nos dijo en unos minutos estara la misa lista esperamos mi familia y yo sentados un buen rato cuando observamos a otro seńor mayor sin cabellera sobre peso con un blazer claro que cambio con el otro muchacho joven y se puso hacer el trabajo de recibir a los clientes este seńor hablava mucho y por lo que observe conocía a los que llegaban despues de nosotros y rápidamente los colocaba en mesas a los que llegaban y a nosotros que estabamos en lista ni nos miro ni miro la lista mucho menos nos llamo .este personaje sin cabellera fue bastante grosero cuando me acerque y le pregunte porque no nos llama estamos esperando desde hace mucho y estamos ahi antes de los clientes que el esta colocando en mesas . El me respondio riéndose cual es tu nombre yo le dije que estamos en lista desde el comienzo y el burlonamente responde oh!!! Ya lo vi tienen que esperar que puedo hacer tienes que esperar como el resto y yo le dije cual resto usted entra rápidamente a todos los que llegaron despues de nosotros nosoquiera mira la lista de quienes estan esperando usted se rie con ellos y los acomoda en mesa . El hombre gordito calvo me miro con REPUGNANCIA y reitero tienen que esperar!! Yo me senti muy incomoda con ese trato de ese hombre que esta ahi para servir y no escojer a quien le da mesa antes. Le dije a mi familia vamonos de este lugar es muy desagradable la atencion de este ignorante. Nos retiramos y luego mis hijos me preguntaron mami porque nos trajiste a este lugar? Yo les respondi que fue un vecino que me recomendo ese lugar mi hija me dijo que ella nunca antes escucho de ese lugar y desde el cominzo le dio mala impresión por lo Escondido que esta situado al fondo de una vecindad y dentro es muy oscuro con muebles antiguos . Yo los lleve porque me deje llevar de una sugerencia de un vecino bastante mayor pero amable y pense porque no conocer . .... Pero no fuimos atendidos con respeto por lo contrario nos llevamos muy mala impresión de ese hombre sin pelo barrigon viejo grosero que trabaja recibiendo a los clientes . Si yo fuera manager de ese lugar observaria con camara como trabajan los empleados ya que pueden dar muy mala imagen de ese negocio. read more

First time here! We had delicious meals. Prices were so reasonable for the portion size. The service was unbelievable! My friend sprayed tomato on his shirt and the waiter gave him a damp cloth to clean it! Very attentive to our every want & need. I was convinced this kind of service was a "lost art" but I was wrong. Will be going back! read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Veal Parm - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Visited for first time .. drinks great and huge .. food was delicious too and large portion . Sat at the bar great service .

Twin Oaks is a real classic. If you dig what they do you are going to have a good time. It's a throwback to the time when the restaurants did their thing and if it wasn't for you then so be it. I had an excellent lamb chop special with a side of spaghetti and it was excellent. My wife had the chicken caprese and it was also very good. It's like you distilled Cranston into a restaurant by a lake. It's a neighborhood joint on a big scale. The place was slammed on a Saturday at 3pm. That's a great sign. The service is fast and to the point, and the waiters are pros. Who knows how many tens of thousands of covers they have under their belt. The drinks are cold and well made. The menu has everything from big steaks to a turkey sandwich. I'd go back for the grill, or the red-sauce dishes specifically. Everything I saw coming out of the kitchen looked good, but the grill items looked great. My chops were on the money. Would I have liked warm rolls? Sure. Is it the place for a quiet romantic date? Probably not. But they are very good at what they do: Feeding families and not bothering with any pretentiousness. Long Live Twin Oaks. Co read more

Service was great and food very good.it was hot and very tasty and crispy Italian bread was a nice

We ordered parm and our waiter asked if we wanted cheese. Of course I said yes. Noticed after they charged 5.00 extra on both entrees. Doesn't parm always come with cheese? We eat out quite frequently and never have experienced such a thing. We will not go back. read more

Great hand cut steaks. A full steak dinner for $23 with 2 sides. Half portions of Parm that fill the plate. Great friendly staff throughout. A wide variety of items on the menu. The soup is outstanding Will return many times to try the rest of the menu read more

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The best thing about the restaurant is the service. The service is always amazing no matter what. The servers remember all orders by heart and knowledgeable on all menu items. I was so bummed because when the food came out it looked promising and I was so excited to try it but everything had zero flavor. I ordered a medium sirloin but it came out overcooked to the point where the meat was very tough to cut and chew. By the time we received dinner it was almost 9pm so I didn't bother sending it back. My boyfriend ordered the chicken parm and it was bland. The sauce had no flavor, taste like water and the pasta is always overcooked and mushy. The broccoli was also overcooked and mushy. The restaurant is very dark, dated, dull, with fluorescent lighting. It reminds me of a dungeon. I truly wished I loved it there because it has been a trademark in RI for so long but truly needs an update. The location is horrible, in the middle of a random neighborhood with very tight parking. However, there is valet available for those that do not want to deal with parking. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Puke lousy service overcooked meat , wilty salad , not worth it .Too many great restaurants to waste your time and money on this

Hey, I really like this place! I've been here countless times with the family and have yet to review? I'm always satisfied here! Why the yelpie 3 star rating?! Come on folks! There's just so much to love! It has a great old school cordial staff. There's usually a wait, (except tonight for some reason!?) but it is comfy on the couches or bar & just adds to the ambience. Anticipation is key! Everything is pretty good and it's a great traditional Italian menu. Specials are pretty special, too. I totally adore the option to get a half order of almost any main (& the accompanying lower price tag!). Side choices are terrific and plentiful. It's good generous local dining the way you remember from mom & pop shops. If you choose the larger full main plate you'll have enough for lunch tomorrow. Yay! And the desserts?! Oh, don't get me started...SO many in house faves. Look over all the delish pics, pick your favorites & be a happy diner like me! Twin Oaks is all that. Check it out when you're in town. Thanks for reading my reviews & happy healthy yelping!! read more

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This is not the same restaurant that it was 30 years ago. We had 7:30 reservations for a large birthday dinner (14 ppl) between the ages of 35-45. We sat in the rear atrium for dinner, service was good and food was as expected. As we're finishing up dessert and last drinks, some punk ass legacy union worker decides to light a cigarette out of the door and wedge it open. Not only is it 20 degrees blowing on our backs, now it's cigarette smoke too. Not a single employee of the restaurant said a word to this child, which leads me to believe this is a regular occurrence, even when they have a designated smoking section out front. What a disgrace this place has become. There are dozens of better Italian restaurants with patrons that aren't absolute pieces of shit. read more

Please stop before I become a higher life-form on eating all this Alfredo. And please tell me how are the employees so happy. THE LAKE VEIW IS SO AMAZING, and the music is just nothing I've heard on other restaurants. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - #THISISSOGOOD - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Very, very disappointing today. We have enjoyed Twin Oaks for decades and make it a point to visit when we return "home" to Rhode Island. Today we visited and I was pretty shocked when our waiter was changed midway through the visit. I asked the original waiter what was going on and he said the new waiter would be taking care of us and we continued to be ignored, shocking for sure. I used the ladies restroom and was appalled at the filth I observed - I stopped at the maitre de stand to let him know the rest room needed attention. He said he would notify the manager. I, of course, assumed it would be taken care of but much to my surprise it was in the same condition 1 and a half hours later. It will be a while, if ever, before I return with my family to Twin Oaks which has been an institution in Rhode Island till now. Do better my friends, do better. read more