Providence has one of the best food scenes in New England – Parade even recently called it better than Boston for a long weekend – so it’s not surprising that every now and again a celebrity sighting pops up at one of the restaurant.
Most recently, John Legend stopped to eat of Federal Hill during his world tour.
The Grammy award-winning musician had dinner at Massimo Ristorante last night, Monday, April 27. Massimo confirmed the celebrity visit with an Instagram post of Legend posing with employees outside the restaurant.
“An unforgettable night at Massimo,” reads the caption. “Honored to host @johnlegend for dinner last night!”.
Here are five other restaurants celebrities have dined at over the years.
Jamie Lee Curtis recommends Seven Stars Bakery and more in Providence
While filming the movie “Ella McCay,” Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to share a few of her favorite spots to dine at in Providence.
Curtis endorsed a local bakery that also happens to be a reader favorite; Seven Stars Bakery was voted one of the best coffee shops in Rhode Island.
The actress wrote Seven Stars Bakery was a “daily visit” that left her “inspired, caffeinated and satiated and collaborated and HAPPY!”
Also while filming, Curtis said she hosted a dinner for the film’s cast at New Rivers Beau in Providence. She recommended the restaurant’s roast chicken and lobster rolls.
She also recommended Providence’s Little Sister for brunch.
Gwyneth Paltrow ‘best lunch’ of her life in Providence
When speaking at Brown University in 2025, Gwyneth Paltrow made stops at two Providence restaurants and raved about them on Instagram.
At Al Forno, her party ordered “griddled pizzas, beet and avocado salad, linguine with clams, duck confit, baked pasta.”
Then she “had the best lunch of my life” at Frank & Laurie’s where she said she had “deviled eggs, cucumber salad, tomato salad, egg sandwich, hash browns.”
Olivia Culpo has a lot of favorites
A Rhode Island girl, Olivia Culpo has a list of restaurants she loves in Providence, and the greater Rhode Island area. The reality star’s family has opened five restaurants in the state – The Back 40, Union + Main, Lake Taco, Evie’s and Black Oak Kitchen & Drink – since 2017 that she has a hand in.
However in Providence, she specifically recommend Al Forno for “such good Italian,” Bacaro, Julian’s, and Bellini as it “is reallyyyyy cute.”
Sarah Jessica Parker dined at Figidini
Back in 2021, when Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick were dropping their son off at Brown University they stopped at Figidini for a family meal. The advanced team for “Hocus Pocus 2,” which filmed in Rhode Island, likely gave Parker the recommendation after they ordered takeout from the restaurant.
It isn’t the only time Parker dined in the city. She was also once spotted dining at Persimmon.
‘The Incredible Hulk’ Lou Ferrigno spotted at this well-known Italian restaurant
When he’s not covered in green body paint, it would be easy to miss Lou Ferrigno out for a meal. But even when he’s not done up as the Incredible Hulk, Ferrigno was spotted at Capriccio restaurant. The classic downtown spot is known for its Italian food.
He was in Providence for Comic Con in 2023.
Previous reporting contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Check out 12 Providence restaurants celebrities love
Dining and Cooking