The hubs and I had a really nice lunch at the Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen on Atwells Ave. the other day.

This legendary and very pretty-in-pink Italian restaurant has been around since 1956, and it’s still such a splendid spot for a cozy lunch or dinner, like something out of an amazing movie about Italio American life in Lil Rhody.

The other day it was hopping, so busy, in fact, that I thought we were not going to get a table, but everything worked out in the end thankfully. (You definitely want to make a reservation for dinner.)

If you’re looking for old world, Italian comfort food, this is the place to tuck into a parm (eggplant, chicken, etc.), yummy pasta, soups, fresh and crusty bread with butter, and tempting desserts (more about THAT in a sec).

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the late Vincent “Buddy” Cianci — who was the mayor of PVD from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 2002 — had his own table there back in the day. In case you were wondering, they do indeed have a little tribute to him by way of the Buddy bobblehead in the glass case facing the entrance.

And you simply cannot leave without catching a few glimpses of the phone and vintage rooms in the back, which will further transport you back to another era.

The hubs had their chicken parm and I had the cavatelli. Almost most got the polenta appetizer…NEXT TIME is all I will say.

These dishes were hot and as tasty as anything your nonna, auntie or momma might cook up in their pantry or 2nd kitchen in the basement. (What, you didn’t know that so many Italian households around here boasted a whole 2nd kitchen in the lower level of the house? That’s another story for another time, though.)

For dessert, Tom had jello. I opted for their ricotta cake with strawberries which is made in house and was one of the absolute best I’ve ever tried. (You gotta get it when you G-O!)

In addition, the prices are quite reasonable.

Regulars also rave about their lunch specials (ginormous menu), calamari, meatballs, mushroom caps, broccoli rabe, and much more.

Find the Old Canteen at 120 Atwells Avenue on Providence’s Federal Hill.

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

Photo Credits: Above images courtesy of PattyJ.com