Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in Cranston

Walking into Lou Umberto’s Italian Kitchen on a drizzly Saturday morning felt like being hugged by a giant red-checkered tablecloth 🇮🇹—in the best way possible. Before we could even order, Chef Roberto greeted us with a twinkle in his eye and a warm bowl of Pesto Risotto with Chicken and Red Pepper 🥣. Every Saturday from 11 to 1, he hosts a mini magic show of sorts, grabbing pantry staples off the shelves and transforming them into something that could make your Nonna weep with joy.

On this particular Saturday, it wasn’t just about the food—it was about family and community. My neighbor’s son just started working there 🧑‍🍳—his first job! 👏 We popped in not just for a bite but to show some love and support ❤️. And honestly, what a deliciously wholesome excuse to carb-load.

The risotto was creamy, rich, and packed with basil-y brilliance 🌿. Watching it come together felt like front-row seats to a cooking show you wish you could smell through the screen. Plus, Chef Roberto even printed out the recipe 📄 (with a minor but adorable typo—“pest” instead of “pesto”) for anyone brave enough to try recreating the dish at home.

We ordered the Italian Grander 🥖—a toasted sandwich stacked with prosciutto, tomato, and fresh basil, all swirled in a tangy balsamic drizzle. A work of art with a crunch! The Chicken Parm was classic comfort food perfection—crispy, saucy, cheesy, and soul-hugging 🍗🧀. My neighbor’s mystery order looked so tempting I nearly staged a fork heist (photo evidence attached 📸).

Between the warm vibes, community spirit, and risotto revelations, Lou Umberto’s is more than a deli—it’s a weekly Italian love story in three acts: food, family, and flavor 💫.

Final verdict: Come for the risotto, stay for the famiglia...

I’ve been looking for a proper Italian place for a while, since most of the old ones have closed or changed (for the worse). A bunch of friends recommended that I try Umberto’s, and I finally did a few days ago. I wish I had heard about this place sooner. So far I’ve only had a few things from here, but everything has been the way it used to be. I’m not Italian, but having grown up around Italians, I know what home cooking tastes like. This place might as well be a home that the flavors and taste are what you would expect from the old Italian grandmother, who spent hours upon hours cooking for the entire extended family. I was told by the owners that they make everything in house, except the stuffed cherry peppers. Fresh baked bread, fresh made desserts, everything is cooked, it seems, as if they were going to eat it themselves at home. Everything smells so good, I don’t know what I should try next time I go in. The meatballs are fantastic, and the sausage and peppers are phenomenal. The pizzas look amazing, too. So many choices, so much weight...

We’ve enjoyed the food at Lou Umberto’s for years but the last few experiences there have made us decide today was the last time they will get our patronage. 4 arancini - no price listed in the store and was charged $24… $6 each?!?! 4 chicken wing pieces, 1 drumette and 3 flats, $6!!! Called this morning to ask specifically if it was possible to order a hot square pizza with cheese to be ready for 12:30pm. The gentleman that took the order checked with the folks in charge to make sure my request can be accommodated and was told it would be no problem. When I arrived I was given a cold pizza. I let them know they gave me the wrong order and I was told it was a simple miscommunication - the pizza is made the moment they take the order and besides that they can not cut the pizza when it is hot????!!!!!!! Ridiculous!!!!! Every other pizza maker on earth can cut a pizza when it is hot PLUS we have ordered hot pizzas in the past and received it hot and it was cut. Never going...