When you ask someone about their favorite restaurant in Providence, one name comes up a lot — Al Forno. Love it or hate it, it’s a Rhode Island institution — a husband-and-wife affair that began as a side project by two RISD-trained artists. Some say it made Providence a culinary hotspot when it opened in 1980. Forty six years later, a table at Al Forno is still a hot commodity.
All my meals at Al Forno start the same. It could be a 9 p.m. last-minute walk-in or a pre-planned celebratory dinner, but I always start things off with the grilled pizza. Whether it’s the simple pepperoni or the delicious sweet corn they offer in warmer months, it’s always a treat to share with the table.
It’s always loud, busy and exciting inside this two story brick warehouse building. There’s a bar area near the entrance, and multiple sectioned-off dining rooms within. For this meal we were seated by the windows, our table packed but comfortable…