The Cafe In Providence's Little Italy For Coffee, Pizza, Pasta, And More

Today’s guest blogger is talking about his go-to on Federal Hill for the best coffee, lunch, pasta, and beyond.

CAFE ROMA PROVIDENCE

Living most of my adult life on the Upper East Side of Manhattan has given me a deep appreciation for the wonderful Italian food and coffee options in my native Providence, Rhode Island. 

Cafe Roma on Atwells Avenue is at the top of my list.

Walking into Cafe Roma (family owned for over 30 years) is the equivalent of going back in time when the Federal Hill section was a neighborhood of Italian immigrants. 

My mom Gilda is first generation Italian American and grew up a few blocks away on Gessler St. 

When I was a kid we would come here on Sunday mornings to buy the Italian newspaper Il Progresso for my Italian grandmother who only spoke a few words of English. 

Now, some 50 plus years later, I come to Roma to brush up on my Italian (Sunday mornings in particular when there is a consistent cadre of men speaking it as their first language) and order a cafe as you would in Italy: it’s an espresso and not a tall American brewed Starbucks coffee.

It’s one of the only places in RI that knows how to make a real espresso macchiato with Lavazza coffee no less. 

On this particular visit, I went to the Tavolo Calda and asked Oliver to fix me a light lunch with Parma proscuitto and fresh buratta sprinkled with olive oil and toasted Italian bread.

During this past winter, a treat for the whole familia was bringing home their delicious stuffed peppers, lasgna, broccoli rabe, and other treats, especially their sfogliatelle pastries.

And if you’re up for cooking (which my family always is) there is no shortage of the most delicious pasta from Italy with brands such as Garafolo and Beretta.

There is nothing fancy about Cafe Roma, it’s an authentic Italian food emporium that even has Italian brick ovens for the most delicious pizza.

Before there was an Eataly or any of the other contemporary specialty food stores, there was Cafe Roma, which all these “wannabes” aspire to emulate. 

If Anthony Bourdain had made it to Providence, I’m confident Roma would have been on his short list of recommendations!

Grazie e andate a farci visita,

Bob

Roma Ristorante is located at 310 Atwells Avenue in Providence.

If you motor over to Roma for a cafe, some pizza or some food shopping AFTER reading this, be sure to let them know you were inspired by a post on PattyJ.com.

Photo Credits: All Photos Above Are Courtesy Of Bob.