Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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Adam Stabile PHOTO: Stabile
Adam Stabile has set his sights on opening his own restaurant – for over a decade.
The Federal Hill industry veteran said he had a vision for what he wanted in an Italian eatery – a neighborhood gathering spot, where patrons could dine, drink, and linger.
So when Stabile saw an opportunity on Hope Street, he jumped at the chance.
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This week, GoLocal was first to report that Stabile’s new restaurant Ciao Ciao is opening this spring, and News Editor Kate Nagle spoke with Stabile about his vision for his next chapter.
“Traveling through Italy, I really loved the culture of the ‘aperitivo’ vibe where people get together to be so social,” said Stabile. “[I wanted] a relaxed spot where after work, you kind of kick back, you meet your friends, you have a drink here, you go over to the next place, you have a little glass of wine, you have a little snack.”
And Stabile knows restaurants.
From Teenage Busyboy to Chasing a Dream
Growing up, Stabile attended La Salle Academy – but his career in restaurants began long before graduation.
“So I started in the industry at around 13 years old, and I just recently left the Atwell’s Restaurant Group,” said Stabile. “So I was with them for 34 years.”
It was working as a busboy that Stabile said he “became enamored with the ‘old school’ classic bartenders.”
“I used to see them working behind the bar and, you know, chatting with everybody and everyone knew their name, that kind of thing,” said Stabile, who worked his way up to a top bartender at Providence Oyster Bar – and credits those who came before him. “They kind of took me under their wing.”
Stabile, who also went on to run the lobby bar at the Spring House Hotel on Block Island, knew that he wanted to make the leap to having his own restaurant – for a very particular reason.
“I said, look, you know, I’m not going to go work for anybody else. When I leave, it’s going to be with my name on the door. And that was kind of the catalyst for it. So believe it or not, this has been 10 years in the making, kind of scouting areas,” said Stabile.
And it was his Italian travels, he said, that proved his inspiration.
“I’ve had the privilege and the ability to travel through Italy and see some of the real authentic trattorias and see the hands-on making of really simple Italian food, which is kind of what I grew up on. In every culture they have, where, with little means, they make everything taste great,” said Stabile. “And that really was something that always kind of stood out to me and, you know, seeing it firsthand and the passion behind it and the simplicity of it really kind of drew me to that Italian cuisine.”
For Stabile, who currently lives in Mount Pleasant with his young family, the Hope Street neighborhood was an ideal fit for “Ciao Ciao.”
“The integration of the neighborhood and the commerce here is awesome,” said Stabile, who said his team is in the process of renovating the location at 771 Hope Street. “The support we’ve been getting so far from local businesses has been unbelievable.”
“We want it again to be ‘neighborhood approachable’ – price range, menu – and dialing in that concept to give that elevated experience,” added Stabile. “That’s very important for us to be synchronized with the neighborhood as much as we can.”
And you can expect to find Stabile at his usual location – behind the bar.
“I’ve been behind the bar hands-on my whole life,” laughed Stabile. “And I really, really don’t want to give that up completely.”
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Dining and Cooking