Iannuccilli Restaurant — Restaurant in Cranston

This is a very long review, but, for people that read reviews and leave them, this is why. At my wife’s job, the chef recommended this place, And the reviews were good. Waitress was very nice however, came over to the table and asked us if we wanted any drinks….but we had no cocktail menus. We were the first people to walk in, as soon as they sat us at a table, we were instantly told by the hostess, this table"s reserved for 7 o’clock. Right next to us there was a long seat cushioned that spanned 10 feet or more, then the table and seats opposite. Just me, but I don't like sitting next to people on a bench a foot apart for a romantic dinner. Again, just me but, put some booths.

The bread came, 4 small pieces in a tiny little plastic container, alost looked like what you'd get at a clam shack.

Proscuitto was good. Wife got the haddock special with shrimp and a side of penne. I got penne with vodka cream sauce, and chicken. Her dish had the thinnest smallest piece of haddock in a pool of liquid w/no flavor, so half of her haddock was mush, It was almost sitting in half a bowl of soup. Her side of penne pasta that was dry w/no flavor. My dish was Penne vodka sauce w/chicken. I asked if I could substitute the chicken for shrimp and that seemed like it was a confusing question. First, she told me that I could get the shrimp appetizer telling me it’s really good. So then I asked again, I don’t want a side of shrimp, I want to know if I can substitute the chicken for shrimp in my dish and then she said “well they can add one or two shrimp”

I then said for a third time, No, I don’t want chicken at all, I’d like to know if they can put shrimp instead of chicken on the dish, which she then said “Yes, but they charge you per shrimp.”

Right off the bat I knew this wasn’t going to be good. My dish was dry, Pasta didn’t taste like it had any vodka sauce on it at all couldn’t taste anything, & the chicken was dry as a bone. I had two pieces of boneless chicken breast laid flat on top of the pasta next to each other. How you’re serving food that’s not perfect to the very first people sitting down is beyond me. The waitress asked how everything was, she acted surprised when I said we’re not going to eat them and why, she said, “that’s the only time I’ve ever had a food Complaint.”

I thought to myself, Well, if that was the case, you’d be five stars on Google and you’re not. I literally go all over Rhode Island at the top restaurants, and I thought this was going to be one of them. I don’t know if a large percentage of the 200+ reviews here are friends or family, but I’m absolutely baffled that people talk about this place like it’s phenomenal. I can give you half a dozen restaurants off the top of my head that blow this place away. It’s not even close. Then when I was leaving, there was a group of women behind the bar and everybody said goodbye. How do you not have a manager come over to the table to address anything? Also, places that are very good, usually have the managers and owner come over and say hello, ask how everything is, is this your first time here?

I mean, we were the only ones at the restaurant when we walked in. And every time somebody came in the host said the same thing to every table, which was, “this table has a reservation for 7 PM.”

The restaurant Spain is right up the street. I should’ve just went there. Not even a comparison. Or Marchetti’s, Antonio’s Trattoria. Even Trattoria Romano and Lincoln is about 15 minutes away. I mean, I could do this all day long. Drive over to Federal Hill. I wouldn’t go back here if you bought my next meal. Sorry, it seems like all the people there were more interested in talking to each other than the first one or two customers that sat down. I’m Italian, I cook meals that were passed down in my family and I love to cook, but I’m not a chef. That being said I could’ve cooked all the meals that we had twice as good as what...

An amazing new addition to the wonderful new food culture that has popped up in the Knightsville section of Cranston, Chef Nick has done it again!! Wonderful food pairings and a simple but concise wine list wrapped up in a tastefully furnished, casual open lounge/dining room are the ingredients for a an instant success. With plenty of room for large functions or private parties you will find something for everyone here. The food at Iannuccilli's II Is just as good as his flagship restaurant, conveniently located next door! While the atmosphere next door is somewhat more exclusive, Iannnuccilli's II is somewhat more approachable. The larger size and broader menu with more familiar Italian staples has a certain appeal. As do the prices. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to eat in the original location, just now I won't be disappointed if there are no seats! Far from designed to handle overdlow, the food here is a simpler version of Italian cuisine. More rustic. More country. More.....Knightsville. Unlike his flagship, there are more family style portions and dishes designed for sharing, reminiscent of my late Grandmother's kitchen. Tuscan beans, antipasti with vinegar peppers, stuffed crab croquettes. Carchuterie to die for. Chianti or Valpolicella to wash It all down and veal to start it up again! And Pasta for days!!! Some fancy espresso martinis over cappuccino, I can't wait to go back and try the fish. ... All in all, you can say I'm fairly impressed with this place and now I can't decide which one to visit...

Review: Iannuccilli Restaurant – Providence, RI (July 2025). TLDR: Absolutely worth the drive from Boston. Iannuccilli’s is a standout — easily on par with North End’s best, and in several ways, better. Yesterday, I drove 45 minutes from Boston to Providence for an early dinner at Iannuccilli Restaurant — and I’m already planning my return. This place was exceptional. I’d put it right alongside top-tier North End staples like Carmelina’s (my Boston favorite), and in some key respects, Iannuccilli’s outshines them. Let’s get specific: 🍝 Pasta: Perfectly al dente, with authentic, nuanced sauces. I sampled three and couldn’t pick a favorite. 🐔 Chicken Milanese: Crisp on the outside, juicy and tender inside — executed flawlessly. 🌭 Italian sausage: Hands down the best I’ve had in years — seasoned, rich, and satisfying. 🥦 Broccoli rabe: Possibly the best I’ve ever had — tender but with bite, and perfectly balanced. 🍽️ Portions: Generous. Bring your appetite. What really set Iannuccilli’s apart from even the best in Boston, though, was the menu variety, the refined yet comfortable ambiance (bubbly but not loud), and — maybe most notably — the genuinely excellent service. Attentive, warm, and professional without being fussy. I still plan to stand in line at Carmelina’s, and I’ll always love Mamma Maria and Daily Catch in the North End — they’re amazing and absolutely worth the visit. But Iannuccilli’s? It’s earned a spot in that same conversation. In fact, it’s earned a repeat drive. So good....