Cutting Crew was playing over the speakers. At an Italian deli with a brick oven and an Italian flag hanging in the front window. (I Just) Died in Your Arms, 1986. Whitney Houston a few minutes earlier. Taylor Dayne before that. Huey Lewis somewhere in the rotation too. Somebody behind that counter was a kid in the late eighties and built the playlist around the songs they grew up with while the food their grandparents brought over from Italy came out of the oven twenty feet away. Lou Umberto opened this place in 2017 after graduating from Johnson and Wales. His family is from Cerreto Sannita, a hill town in Campania. He set up shop on Cranston Street, just outside Knightsville, on the edge of one of the oldest Italian neighborhoods in the city. Lauren and I went on a Monday afternoon. Gray skies. One of those quiet Rhode Island days where lunch slowly becomes dinner without anybody announcing the transition. Before we got inside, one of the guys working there was helping an elderly woman through the side door and walking her back toward her car with her groceries. That told me most of what I needed to know. Walk in and the room is doing four jobs at once without any of them getting in the others' way. Shelves stacked with imported groceries. Rummo pasta. Loacker wafers. Baci chocolates. Bottles of olive oil lined up beside jars of tomatoes and peppers. Along the opposite wall sits a long deli case full of prepared food. Eggplant parm. Broccoli rabe. Pasta in vodka sauce. Stuffed banana peppers. Pasta salad. Roasted vegetables. Then the bakery case. Tomato pie cut in squares with red sauce all the way to the edge and enough seasoning on top to perfume the whole counter. Potato pizza. Calzones. Spinach pies stacked on black trays. The kind of food that makes people walk in for one thing and leave with six. Near the front, bags of pizzelle tied shut with twist ties sat on a wire rack underneath a hanging sign that read Welcome Family and Friends. Normally signs like that feel decorative. This one didn't. And behind all of it, through the opening in the back, sat the brick oven. That being said. The pizza. The pepperoni pie came out raised on a metal stand by the window, the Italian flag moving outside in the gray afternoon behind it. Good looking pizza immediately. No stunt toppings. No overloaded nonsense. Just confidence. The pepperoni was placed, not dumped. Natural casing cups charred dark at the edges. Maybe fifteen slices total across the whole pie. Somebody understood restraint. The crust landed somewhere just outside classic New York style. Slightly thicker, but only enough to give the inside some chew. The outer rim puffed up high in spots and blistered dark from the oven. Flour still clung to the bottom and the back edge from the peel. The sauce tasted bright and barely cooked. In some bites it pushed forward sharp and fresh. In others it melted completely into the cheese. Sometimes all you tasted was crust, and that worked too. The cheese browned into amber patches across the surface that pure mozzarella usually doesn't create by itself. Probably some provolone mixed in there. I didn't ask. I should have asked. And the slice held beautifully. Crisp underneath. Enough structure to fold slightly at the front without collapsing. You could see the care in it immediately. Nothing rushed. Nothing overloaded. Nothing trying too hard. Just a very good neighborhood pizza made by people who seem to understand exactly what kind of place they want this to be. The kind of place where somebody helps an elderly woman through the side door before getting back to work. The kind of place that makes you think living nearby might not be the worst idea in the world. Don't forget to grab a bag of pizzelle on the way out. read more

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This place makes the neighborhood even more Italian somehow. I ride by before they open and smell then cooking everyday....and it smells so good! Great place to go with someone who has different taste than you because the selection is vast, even different style of pizza but stay away from the white Italian one, it's addictive. My problem is that I want all of it. Even their drink variety is impressive. Don't have to read menus at all. You can walk in, see the long glass food fridge and point while grunting. Everyone else does Also, don't tell the Original Italian Bakery, the pizza chips are better here read more

Stopped in here for lunch this afternoon. It has been a while since the last time we'd been in, and we are wondering what took us so long to get back!! There is a section of Italian groceries, a case with drinks and soups/sauces for sale, and quite a few tables for guests to sit and eat. Order at the counter, they bring it to you, you pay after. I love the vibe in here, Italian music playing and all the pictures of Italy. For food, it is nice to have this be closer than having to go to Federal Hill. I had a small sandwich I made up of prosciutto, rabe and roasted peppers. No cheese needed on this one! So delicious on a hard roll! Already decided to go next week for lunch, lol. My husband had a sausage and pepper calzone, which was also delicious. There is a small parking lot, as well as on street parking. Just walking in with the aroma in the air is enough to make anyone happy! Check out the website. read more

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The chicken parm sandwich is huge! I cohld only eat half. Really, really good! The spinach pies are amazing. Crumchy and crispy dough and well seasoned spinach ( not boring boiled spinach) So good Waiting in line is a huge pain in the ass tho TBH read more

Got a little smorgasbord of different Lou's prepared foods for lunch today. About $50 for a few things and overall was very satisfied. Knightsville is obviously a hot spot for authentic, quality Italian foods with descendants from Itri like my in-laws. This is the best Italian to-go spot in Cranston and Johnston. And I like more than PVD. Their bread and pizzas are amazing. Good crunch. tasty sauce. Liked the eggplant parm, italian tuna was spot-on and could have had 3-4 of the crab cakes if they weren't $9.99/each. The spinach pie was decent but would pass and stick with a nice grandma slice. Wanted to love the frittata but had some egg shells which killed the mood / slice. read more

Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen - Delis Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Lou Umberto's is one of my go to lunch spots in Cranston. I usually order the meatball sandwich with provolone (so good) but today I changed things up and ordered the Pink Vodka Pizza. I'm a huge fan of pink vodka sauce and this pizza did not disappoint! The mix of sauce and cheese was fantastic. I also took home 2 calzones - eggplant parm and rabe with provolone. I loved the eggplant parm calzone and my lunch partner raved about the rabe calzone. I tend to order takeout since I am nearby but you can stay and enjoy your meal at Lou's. There's a decent sized dining area with plenty of window seating. read more

Not a fan. I know a lot of people dig it, but I found the pizza to be very underwhelming. Bland, and really nothing to like about it. Certainly edible, but an easy pass. Friendly people, and a way too crowded inside. read more

Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen - Delis Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Lou Umberto's is the ultimate in Italian food! We have had the eggplant calzone, the spinach and cheese, calzone, eggplant, grinder, sausage and pepper grinder, and we are continuing to try new things every time we go there. Haven't tried it yet, but I hear that the chicken soup is fabulous. Give it a try you won't be sorry. read more

No wonder why they win awards every year, Lou's is most likely the top Italian deli in the state. So consistent, affordable and everything is high quality. I got a large sausage and peppers sandwich ($11.50). It was huge, had amazing bread and packed with meat. Their spinach pies ($3.25) and other calzones are amazing as well. Love this place! read more

Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen - Lg Sausage and Pepper Sandwich ($11.50) - Delis Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Spinach pies were delicious, grandfather loved the soup. Staff was a little anxious and seemed to be making mistakes. I had to turn around half way down the road because the staff forgot to give me my slice of pizza. The manager threw an extra piece in my box as a way to make it right. Good selection of items and a decent sized seating area. The whole pizzas looked amazing and I will be ordering soon. read more

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The food is absolutely amazing!! We visit the restaurant at least once a week! Can't get enough of theircalzones and pizza zzz!

I have had sandwiches, spinach calzone, eggplant and more. All of the food is truly delicious. I have gone back for more many times and will continue to do so. read more

All of my italian favorites. Soup is divine. Love the prepared foods. Always stop when heading home from my stylist in Rhode Island.

We recently ordered a ton of catering from them b/c we host a ton of cousins at our place every few years. I can't stress enough how pleased we were with the options and service. The menu had a good selection. Once we ordered, they texted me a receipt confirmation. A few days before hand, I had to change the pick up time and they accommodated our request. We asked for the food to be ready hot. It was packed up and boxed, hot, and ready to serve. The cousins are all Jersey Italians and raved about how good the food is. We will be back again for catering! read more

Everything about Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen is authentic and fabulous! Definitely returning when I am in Rhode Island next time.

LU historically served exceptional eggplant parm sandwiches. Today the sandwich purchased used eggplant that was slimly & stringy. Seems to have lost the recipe- so sad. read more

What a nice find. We have gotten pizza several times from here. Fantastic Best pizza. We had the party pizza. We have bought spinach pies and other homemade Italian foods. The service was very good and knowledgeable. The dining area is small but is nice and very clean. We will be going here for some time read more

Had the opportunity to try this little hidden gem. Sampled a meat lovers, pepperoni and of all things a potato pizza. All the pizza's were fantastic, but the potato pizza was phenomenal. It's a focaccia dough with super thin slices of potato, fresh herbs and drizzled with olive oil....definitely try it, just be aware it takes an hour. I also tried a cream filled puff pastry dessert. Not my favorite but I'm not really a big dessert eater. Facility is super clean, and it's set up like an Italian deli....fresh take out that I know i'll go back to try. read more

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Burp... grabbed lunch to go at Lou Umberto's today which had a great vibe to it. I went there for the sandwich but was upsold on the Cherry pudding bread and figured I'd try a slice of pizza as I heard so much about it. The meatball sandwich was sooo good, the hard roll had a great crunch while the inside was soft, the meatballs were tender and melted in your mouth, and the sauce was delicious. I ate it so fast I don't know if the garlic was in the sauce or the meatball but the flavor exploded from the first to last bite. Best Meatball Sandwich I ever had except for mom's. The pizza... was soupy sloppy and I should not have attempted to try it on the way home while driving. But you know what they say, If it doesn't get all over the place it doesn't belong in your face. It was pretty tasty no doubt but I'd just as soon try other places for pizza. The Maraschino Cherry Pudding Bread was outstanding. $20.50 out the door. read more

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Good is great, parking not so much, but worth it. Always fresh. Service is fast, and staff are very nice and knowledgeable.

This is seriously the best pizza in the state. No contest in my opinion. I think it comes down to the dough, which has great flavor and texture, far better than the other pizza shops around. It tastes like really good bread dough, which is why it's so wonderful. I also really love their sauce. The combination really sets the pizza apart from others. I have enjoyed some of their typical pizzas off the menu, as well as selecting my own custom toppings. I also enjoy their spinach pies! I have only eaten their pizzas and spinach pies, although the other foods in the deli look delicious. I just haven't tried them yet. I also think the staff is friendly and helpful. I have had good experiences returning here for many pizzas over the past many months. This is 100% my go-to pizza spot now. read more

It's an authentic Fresh Italian Deli. Brick oven pizza, anything I order is delicious

The food here is great! I have stopped by for lunch a few times and have never been disappointed. They have plenty of sandwiches, pizza slices, and calzones waiting to be heated up. They have a deli section stocked with great italian food, antipasto, meatballs, chicken parm, and a lot more. The staff is friendly and the wait is never very long. read more

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Authentic Italian food, in a great location. Lou and his son are make some of the best breads, pizza, calzones, grinders, and prepared foods in Cranston. This is truly a family business, and because of that, the quality is second to none. If you haven't tried this place out yet, you don't know what you're missing! read more

Stopped in to pick up some pizzas. The interior is charming. Tables are safely distanced. This is my first visit and it reminded me of a café in Italy. Very nice. When the cashier found out it was my first visit he told me about their pre-made foods for take out or dine in. There were a couple of tables occupied having what looked like double espresso (un doppio, per favore!). The pizza's here are huge. Seriously, I was astounded. Next time I would definitely get one 'half and half' pizza. That would be plenty. I was disappointed by the amount of toppings on the pizza. One was pepperoni and the other was 3 different types of veg. I suppose I can understand that they do not 'over load' the pizza with pepperoni, but the veggie one, I expected 3 times the toppings. Having lived in Italy, we've had some seriously amazing pizzas and often the toppings completely cover the pizza, crust and all. I do miss the fresh cheeses over in Italy. I'm not sure what type of cheese/s they use on their pizza, but it was not reminiscent of the creamy and 'stringy' cheeses like mozzarella, scamorza, stracchinata or burrata. Over all, sauce, crust, and toppings in mind, this was not my all time favorite. The staff I encountered were all very nice, professional and friendly. I see all these great reviews, and want to get back to try some other items, and stay for an espresso. It's tough to find food in 'the states' with the taste of Italy: the sun, soil, water of Italy all make their food taste amazing and those things can not be duplicated here. We have learned to love 'all things Italian' since living in Italy and are seeking authentic as possible locations here in the states. I'm anxious to give this place another visit. read more

Lou has the BEST pizza, bread, spinach pies, and ready made Italian food around. I have never been disappointed with anything from this place. read more

They have the best sandwiches I have had. They have great pizza and the service is great as well. All in all you should try this place you won't be sorry, I bet you will be back again many times. read more

I stumbled upon this place purely by chance. Originally, I had planned to eat lunch at Dee's Deli last Thursday, but left there after I realized the line of customers wasn't moving (they were apparently short-staffed that day). After driving further down Cranston Street, a "Best of Rhode Island" banner hanging outside Lou Umberto's grabbed my eye, so I gave 'em a try. Whoever their interior designer was deserves kudos, as the place is very warm and inviting, with varying hues of earth tones. I arrived just before the lunch rush, and customers were about evenly split between take-out and dine-in (there are about a dozen tables). As I always do when trying a new deli, I ordered an Italian grinder on a hard roll; I added a slice of pepperoni pizza for good measure, since I was hungry. Service was fast and friendly. While Umberto's Italian grinder was good, it was not good enough to unseat Dee's Deli or Italian Corner, my reigning co-champions for best Italian grinder. The roll was nice and crunchy, but the meats, cheese and veggies were lesser quality than the aforementioned competitors. Also, I didn't care for whatever brand of oil and vinegar Umberto's uses; it tasted a bit 'off.' Their pizza, however, was fantastic! Usually, I prefer thicker crust pizza, but their thin crust was perfectly cooked and crisp. The cheese and pepperoni were of high quality, and delicious. For some reason, many of the dine-in customers during my visit were old-timers, and it felt like I was in the midst of a family reunion ("I knew your father," one customer said to another). They also had a Christmas tree set up to the right of the front entrance, so it felt kind of festive. read more

Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen - Delis Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Fantastic new deli in Cranston. It used to be another deli but seemed like it hot a wall and went out of business. The new owner really seems to know what hes doing. Being Italian, I am always looking for the next best Italian deli. This passed the test. Had an italian grinder w/ side of pasta. They have fresh specials everyday. Pizza looked great as well. Will definitely be back. Place is fantastic. New after the first time i went that this place would be successful. Now that I went back, place is packed and food is still excellent. Just wanted to update my review and praise the best deli in Cranston now read more

Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen - Side of pasta - Delis Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Love the broccoli rabe and sausage sub, as well as the chicken parm. Calzones were great. Nice people, good service.

OMG get the pizza. Went here for dinner with a few other people and man oh man was the pizza good. I got 3 pizzas for the table, one pepperoni and cheese, one meat lovers and by far the most amazing was a 1/2 pan of the square potato pizza. The square crusted pizza takes about an hour to make so be sure to order ahead, but OMG it is worth the wait. The crust is focaccia like, golden buttery crust.... Both of the other pizzas were amazing as well. The crust is the perfect thickness, is crisp crisp crisp and absolutely holds up well to the toppings. Wow! Some of the best pizza I have had in a while! read more

Italians are great critics of Italian food. We know what good food should taste like. There are not enough superlatives to describe Lou Umberto's. I drive 25 minutes to get there for lunch! I've often used their catering. It has my guests asking "This is delicious-where did you get it?" The pizza is great. The sandwiches are made to order on fresh homemade rolls. The eggplant is beyond compare as are all the prepared foods. Daily specials often become my dinner! I tell everyone about this place! read more

Great food, staff, and service. They have a great assortment of items and their wings are delicious. Highly recommend!

The Bread!!! New spot in Cranston. Great addition. We went I and had a sandwich, calzone, and a piece of pizza. The food is delicious, but the star of the show here is the BREAD!!!! I don't know if they make it there or where they get it but it's really incredible. Maybe the best in the state and that is a bold statement in Rhode Island. We will 100% be back, the place is too good. Thanks read more

Yum!!! I am so happy I stopped in today for lunch. My husband suggested it as we've been wanting to try it since they opened. Though everything looked delicious, I was bringing the food back for a few people at a house renovation project so I decided to get picky foods. I chose the steak and cheese calzone, spinach pie and nonna's pizza. All were heated in their pizza oven and boxed up to go. The cavatelli with rabe and sausage was calling my name when I was waiting so I opted for a small container to try and I'm so happy I did. This is a dish I grew up eating and also make at home frequently. It's relatively easy and I love other people's spins on it. Everything was so flavorful though the crowd favorite was the spinach pie. I thought I had ordered the ones with pepperoni and cheese but these were without and honestly were so good it didn't matter. My friend liked his lunch so much he went back and grabbed dinner for his family. Cant wait to go back! read more

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Delicious food! Had a birthday party and ordered meatballs, big and awesome, sausage and peppers, YUM, Nona's pizza the best I've had hands down, antipasto - fabulous with all the right Italian meats and cheese and don't get me started on their calzones... the absolute best! If you need catering or just want some great Italian food, check out Lou Umbertos! read more

One of the best pizzas I have had in RI. Ingredients taste fresh with none of the overly processed citric acid laced sauce and greasy cheese you get from other places. Only regret is not getting it well done because a little char would've put it over the top but that's my mistake. Crust was fantastic with great crisp anyway. Can't recommend enough. read more

Lou Umberto's Italian Kitchen - Margarita Pizza - Delis Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Best Pizza In The State! This is the third time we got the meat lover and it is always consistently great. Way better than some of the "best voted" places we have been to. read more

Great Italian type deli outside the Knightsville section of Cranston. The pizza was great and the Italian grinder one of the best around, especially good bread which only enhanced the sandwich. A nice assortment of Italian dishes are available. The atmosphere is also very nice. Well worth a visit. read more

The food is great and the restaurant is run professionally. Good people making good food, it's a great recipe read more