Old Canteen

The Old Canteen is an Italian restaurant in Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island, opened by Joe Marzilli in 1956. They were Rhode Island’s oldest family owned restaurant and noted for their famous guests, particularly Mayor Buddy Cianci (when he died in 2016, they left his regular table empty in his honor) who has brought Frank Sinatra with him to dine.[1]

Raymond L. S. Patriarca, boss of the Patriarca crime family, was a regular that held "top-level meetings" there according to his FBI files.[2]

Patriarca would use the apartment above the restaurant to host card games "when there was something private going on".[3]

In 2022, owner and head chef Joe Marzilli wanted to retire and was putting the restaurant up for sale after more than 65 years.[4]

Legacy

Food & Wine named it "one of the 50 Best Classic Restaurants in the United States".[2]

The Old Canteen was compared to NYC's Sardi's as a place "to see and be seen".[5]

References

  1. ^ Perrington-Turner, Kevin (June 9, 2022). "Legendary Old Canteen restaurant on Federal Hill up for sale". ABC6 Rhode Island News. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Old Canteen - Federal Hill Icon - For Sale: Hosted Mobsters, Hollywood Stars & 1,000s of Engagements". GoLocal Prov. June 10, 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. ^ Gagosz, Alexa (July 4, 2022). "From mafia hideouts to secrets only restaurant owners on Federal Hill know". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  4. ^ Rozas Rivera, Adriana (June 10, 2022). "Iconic Federal Hill restaurant up for sale". WPRI. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ Lioce-Narvell, Mary (July 15, 2022). "Reliving Nostalgic Memories of the Old Canteen". Rhode Island Monthly. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

41°49′23″N 71°25′19″W / 41.82312°N 71.42196°W / 41.82312; -71.42196