Move over quahogs and coffee milk — pizza may be Rhode Island’s signature serve.
Home to the original grilled pizza and a nostalgic regional speciality known as pizza strips that get as much ire as adoration, Rhode Island has a quirky and enticing pizza landscape. The Ocean State is home to a plethora of worthy pizza spots — here are six to seek out.
Al Forno (Providence)
Courtesy of Al Forno Restaurant
Upscale dining institution Al Forno is credited with inventing the grilled pizza. Developed by owners, chefs, and spouses Johanne Killeen and George Germon, the Providence restaurant’s trendsetting pie is served alongside a menu of coveted baked pastas and steaks. The pizza margarita starts with a high-gluten, quick-proofed dough lightly coated in oil and hand-pressed in preparation for the wrought-iron grill. After the raw dough is pre-grilled, it’s topped with a three-cheese blend, San Marzano tomatoes, and extra virgin olive oil in a cooking process that takes only a few minutes. Once off the heat, the asymmetrical pizza is finished with fresh herbs — basil, parsley, and Al Forno’s signature thin strips of scallion.