Federal Hill, the stretch of Atwells Avenue west of the highway, marked by the famous bronze pinecone at DePasquale Square, is the densest concentration of Italian dining in Rhode Island. A working order for a regular's day on the Hill:
- Morning: espresso and a pastry at one of the Italian bakeries on Atwells. Bring cash.
- Mid-day: a sandwich, salumi, fresh pasta to take home. The specialty grocers do this better than anywhere in the state.
- Late afternoon: a Negroni or a glass of something Italian and natural while you wait for your reservation. The bars open before the dining rooms do.
- Dinner: The Hill runs from white-tablecloth classics (the long-running rooms everyone knows) to newer, less formal places, including us. We're a wood-fired pizzeria and a real wine program, in a loud neighborhood room, the deliberate middle. Visit us at 188 Atwells →
- After: cannoli or gelato within a five-minute walk in either direction, or pull up a barstool at one of the Hill's many smaller wine and amaro programs.
Parking is best in the lots off Atwells; street parking is possible but tight on Fridays and Saturdays. Tuesday and Wednesday are the easy nights everywhere on the Hill, including here.