This Providence restaurant just earned top Italian honors in RI

There are so many great Italian restaurants in the Ocean State, one might be torn when it comes to choosing the best one.

But Chowhound, a food website, says there’s one Italian eatery in Rhode Island that stands above all the rest.

Chowhound just released its list of the best Italian restaurants in every state, and the choice for Rhode Island is one of the places that helped establish grilled pizza in the U.S.

Here’s what Italian restaurant chose as the best one in the Ocean State.

Best Italian restaurant in Rhode Island, according to Chowhound

The Al Forno grilled pizza with corn, photographed in 2005. Grilled pizza has been on the menu since the restaurant opened in 1980.

It is Al Forno, located in Providence, RI.

Al Forno is a “true classic and arguably Rhode Island’s most celebrated Italian restaurant,” Chowhound said. “Al Forno helped popularize grilled pizza in America, and it’s been a culinary landmark since 1980.”

The report added Chefs Johanne Killeen and the late George Germon “won a James Beard Award for their innovative pizzas and other enticing dishes, like clams with spicy sausage and wood-fired steaks. Of course, the grilled pizza is a must with toppings like asparagus pesto, shaved mushrooms, and house-made pepperoni.”

Al Forno’s chefs won the prestigious best chef in the northeast award in 1993. Up until 2023, they were the only Rhode Island chefs to win the award.

James Beard in RI Here are the chefs, restaurants who’ve made the list over the years

How can people contact Al Forno?

Diners can visit the restaurant at 577 South Water St. Providence, RI, or they can check out alforno.com.

You can call Al Forno at 401.273.9760 or email the restaurant at mail@alforno.com.

What are the best Italian restaurants in the other New England states?

According to Chowhound, they are:

Connecticut: Strega in New Haven.

Massachusetts: Tonino in Boston.

Vermont: Sarducci’s Restaurant & Bar in Montpelier.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Providence restaurant picked as best Italian spot by Chowhound