The Polenta Fries At This Johnston Eatery Are Pretty Fantastic

A friend just told me she used to babysit for the owner of Luigi’s, and if that’s not quintessential Rhode Island, I don’t know what is.

It’s a wildly popular spot for private parties — Christenings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, and the like.

Let’s talk about the food and service at this charming Johnston restaurant if you go for lunch, supper, or carryout, though.

The hubs and I took his brother for lunch last time he was in town, and our wait person treated us like family.

We’ve had the stuffed mushrooms, fried mozz, Greek salads…and their POLENTA FRIES which I didn’t realize were even a thing.

I mean, if you grew up with an Italian American parent in Lil Rhody, you’ve probably eaten traditional polenta.

These fries, however, are a completely different story.

All the food’s yummy but those are a foodie revelation! (Did some online research and apparently the dish can be traced back to Sgagliozza — fried polenta cut into small square shaped pieces — that originated in Bari.)

This Image And The Ones Above Are All By Jaclyn Altieri

And I actually had to order MORE because my husband kept dipping into the ones in front of me, a ringing endorsement if there ever was one. (He’s really picky, too, lol.)

Hello, crunch meets creamy smoothness with lotsa flavor, thanks also to the marinara dipping sauce. (You can also get a Calabrian Chile Aioli btw.)

So, next time you pop into Luigi’s for sandwiches or a nice din din or some sweets (always tempted by the cases of desserts in the entry), I highly recommend adding the Polenta FRIES.

Find Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express at 1357 Hartford Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island.

As always, if you go after reading THIS, please let them know you were inspired by Patty J and PattyJ.com.