The most coveted reservation in Rhode Island right now?

It’s not in Providence. (Before anyone starts @-ing me, no one’s saying there aren’t truly fab spots for dinner in the capital city.)

And you won’t find it in heavy rotation in Deux Moi’s posts. (Hellooooo, you must know she was behind a big spike in interest in NYC restaurants like Carbone among the 20-something set.)

Hands down, it is Iannuccilli in Cranston’s Knightsville neighborhood, open for several years with owner and head Chef Nick Iannuccilli in the kitchen (and, I hear, going table to table to check in with customers) and Kelly Iannuccilli overseeing front of house.

Regulars and 1st timers alike rave about their signature Lauderdale Salad (are you even a Rhode Island resident if you don’t fly back and forth to Florida over the winter at least two or three times), chicken parm, pasta (including gluten free options), desserts, wine list, espresso martinis, and more.

Some say it’s the most splendid Italian food not only in Cranston but in all of Lil Rhody (which, as we all know, has become known for having some of the most incredible pasta, antipasto, and parms this side of Southern Italy).

Now, the only reason I have the image ⬇️ below is because one Saturday night this past summer, my husband suggested we change up our usual routine and get takeout from Iannuccilli instead of from our usual haunt.

Guess what? They don’t do to-go. (Nice try on the hubs part, though.)

PS And BTW — They also aren’t open for lunch but that’s the norm among most fine dining type establishments, especially in that neck of the woods (aka, Cranston’s Little Italy).

Then, there are two of my nieces…

One had to reschedule her dinner a while back because they were apparently over-booked.

And the other?

Well, after promising me (ok, there was probably some badgering on my end 😂 ) she’d take photos of a recent dinner there with friends, and text me a review, ended up saying something along the lines of: “The food’s great, what else can I say? WE should go for dinner this week.”

All I will say at this point is stay tuned for a follow-up post, wink!

Find Iannuccilli’s at 1791 Cranston Street in Cranston, RI.

As always, if you go after reading this, let them (and your friends) know you were inspired by Patty J and PattyJ.com.