"My wife and I, along with another couple, came to Providence, RI this evening to see a Jeff Dunham show, and our friend had made reservations at Spirito's for dinner after the show. We all come from Boston, a place where some of the best Italian food in this country can be found, so I tend to be picky when it comes to Italian restaurants. This place, this Spirito's, is amazing. Situated in the Italo-American club on Broadway in Providence, this house, built in 1890, is stunning in just how beautiful it is. The rooms are incredible, the old woodwork is truly a sight to see. The high ceilings, the pocket doors, the staircase, all architectural eye candy. It's a really nice atmosphere. OK, enough about the building, we were there to eat. Sara, our server, welcomed us at our table, asked about drinks and let us settle in while she went for our drinks and we looked at the menu. When she returned, she took our appetizer order, checked to see if there was anything else we needed, and went on her way. When the appetizers came, she took our dinner orders and again went on her way. My wife and I have been fortunate enough to have been able to go to some pretty nice restaurants here in the US and abroad, and I'm a firm believer in the idea that no matter how good your food is, the person bringing it to your table counts every bit as much in your success. Sara was great. She knew when to come over and check, didn't hover, and let us enjoy what had to be the most relaxing dinner out we've had in a long time. She was a pleasure to have as our server. To the food. Appetizers were fried calamari and the meat and cheese board. Both were ample enough for the four of us. The calamari was not heavily breaded (awesome , very tender, and very tasty. The meat and cheese board featured Italian meats and cheeses and was equally delicious. Next, the soup/salad. Three of us had the Chicken Escarole. SO GOOD! It reminded me of the way my grandmother made it when I was growing up. Plenty of chicken, hot, and served in a bowl that was small enough to not fill you up, but big enough to let you enjoy it. My wife had the salad, and for me, salad is salad, and she seemed to liked it, it was salad. On to dinner. We all had something different: Chicken Florentine, Veal Capri, Chicken Saltimboca, and Chicken Erica. We talked and ate, and not a single complaint. The meals were well presented on the plates, there was more than enough for each of us to have something to take home, and we each raved about how good each of our selections were. I had the Saltimboca and for me, it was excellent. The two chicken breasts were tender, the mushrooms plentiful, the sauce was amazing and overall, a great meal. Each of our group had the same to say about their meals. Finally, dessert. Sara brought around the dessert tray and I gained weight looking at it. I forgot to ask if they made their own or had them brought them in, but there wasn't a bad choice there. Once again, each of us chose something and I went with the chocolate molten lava cake. Delicious. Nice warm gooey center and a very tasty cake outside. Large enough to satisfy any chocolate craving, but not for overload. Each of our party had to say the same to say of their choices. Delicious, enough to satisfy without the sweets overload. The most surprising part of the meal wasn't the food. It was a wonderful meal, served over a period of time that allowed us to really enjoy each course, relax, and take it all in, converse without need to raise your voice. It was just so comfortable a way to have a meal. Too many places today just want to turn tables over. Here, it seemed that they wanted you to have the time to enjoy the experience. The surprise was one of the owners, Greg, I believe (and if I'm wrong, I apologize in advance. . He came to our table and asked about our meals and we talked about Boston, the North End, and things that we all had some experience with. After a bit, while we we were getting ready to leave and I asked about getting a taxi back to our hotel, he asked where we were staying, and then offered to take us himself. It was snowing pretty heavy at that time, and he insisted, and we accepted. Blew my mind. The restaurant is beautiful, the food even better, but when the owner decides to give you a ride home in horrible weather, that goes beyond good service, that's a different level you never see anywhere today. We'll be back. That's a fact. It's easier to go to Providence from where we live (near Quincy than to go into Boston, even though it's twice as far. No hassles with parking, excellent staff, incredible food, and it appears, ownership that will go the extra mile when the situation calls for it. Spirito's, a new name on our go-to list for great restaurants. Sorry for the long review, but sometimes, one or two paragraphs isn't enough."
