This is not the same restaurant that it was 30 years ago. We had 7:30 reservations for a large birthday dinner (14 ppl) between the ages of 35-45. We sat in the rear atrium for dinner, service was good and food was as expected. As we're finishing up dessert and last drinks, some punk ass legacy union worker decides to light a cigarette out of the door and wedge it open. Not only is it 20 degrees blowing on our backs, now it's cigarette smoke too. Not a single employee of the restaurant said a word to this child, which leads me to believe this is a regular occurrence, even when they have a designated smoking section out front. What a disgrace this place has become. There are dozens of better Italian restaurants with patrons that aren't absolute pieces of shit. read more

Fantastic food at fantastic prices !!! Love the meatball, Italian sausage and spaghetti with carrot cake. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee read more

I mean.... How could you not LOVE Twin Oaks.Whether gathering with coworkers after work for a drink or attending a repass after a funeral, Twin Oaks always makes you feel at home! Outstanding food and even better service, I swear they wrote the manual on how to be an attentive server/bus person, without being a nudge. And some of the waitstaff are still there from when I was a kid. They are a RI staple for a reason. Treasure them while they still exist.... read more

Not like it used to be. Twin oaks used to be the BOMB and everyone and their mother went there- on weekends, for special occasions. It's been a RI staple for decades. It's not the same as back in the day now though, but you still can get some good Twin Oaks service and a few items worth going for: DO NOT MISS THESE. 1) the house salad dressing here is GOLD. best dressing in RI. 2) the shrimp cocktail are massive, crispy, just trust me on this one 3) veal parm: giant piece, plenty for leftover. We were disappointed by the lobster roll, not worth it. read more

I have been coming here for the last 40 years. Classic place, classic red sauce Italian, and classic decor. Waiters have been working there for decades. Service is always spot on. The veal parmigiana is probably the best anywhere. read more

It never changes and dats a good ting! Tuesday night, place packed by 6pm as expected. Food and service always perfect. A RI Institution. read more

Went for my aunts 95 th birthday day and had an amazing dinner! There was 11 of us . The service was great they were fast friendly and make it so fun for her 95 th ! I had Pam seared scallops and they were the best I ever had had yet:) it's always a great dependable family vibe ! read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Pam seared scallops were ammmaaazing !!!! Photo doesn't do it justice :) the butternut squash side was great too! - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Never disappointed at Twin Oaks. Been going there for over 50 years. This week we decided to get takeout. The order was ready when I arrived to pick it up. It was packed beautifully. We had a lovely dinner at home but we missed the ambience of the oak room at Twin Oaks. read more

If you grew up around or in a traditional Sicilian or Italian family this place is for you. If you did not, proceed accordingly. Everything down to the point blank, honest service screams 80's Italian authenticity. Decor included. For me, it's a trip down memory lane in all the best ways. I stick to the basics when I'm in a place like this, rigatoni and gravy with a meatball. If you don't nail that, it cancels out all of the old school nostalgia. Luckily, they knocked it out of the park. I like to sit at the bar and play some Keno to really get into full Sicilian character. Every time I am in town, this is a must. Thanks for taking me back . read more

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Restaurants come and go but Twin Oaks remains as an institution. The standards have not wavered- good food, pleasant atmosphere and great service. And I love a restaurant where I can sit near a fireplace. The chicken parm was delicious and plentiful. Definitely great for left overs the next day. read more

Had a great visit with my work family and the cozy Twin Oaks dining room didn't disappoint. Derek provided phenomenal service while the kitchen put out great plate after great plate. The table was full of steaks and red sauce as my guests were treated to a feast. All the apps were tasty and fresh, snail salad and calamari plates were fresh and prepared perfectly. I tried the meatloaf on a recommendation and was blown away with how good and tender it was. Rocco did a great job with water & desserts helping Derek round out a great time! Thank you team! read more

Had the liver & onion dinner special on Thursday. Delicious, cooked perfectly. Our seating was on the lake side. Waiter was not very attentive to us but nice. We shared the carrot cake out of this world. read more

The food was good but the waiter, considering how efficient he was and experienced he seemed, was rude from beginning to end - so much so that the night for me was ruined. I won't be going back. read more

A "family" establishment that prides themselves on the customer failed miserably for my family and I. We walked in on a holiday weekend around 2:30 pm to a semi-filled waiting room and given a 30 minute wait time. We already knew patience would be needed, and we are not strangers to giving grace. By the time 3:30 rolled around, we were told only two tables are in front of us. A bit more time passed only to be rudely told to not ask again because the restaurant is full, and there are now 8 people in front of Us. Was it done on purpose? After an hour plus of graciously waiting, yes of course we want to inquire for our spot in line. Instead, we were met with anger and told please go we will have business anyway. Truly appalled at the two gentlemen working the front desk on December 27! Could never recommend this establishment to friends and fellow yelp community. read more

Have to love Twin Oaks and their lobster bisque in Cranston, RI!! They have it every Friday and it's creamy and tasty with chunks of lobster. They are one of the few restaurants that add chunks of lobster which is rich and very filling. They are hit and miss on some dishes, but the lobster bisque is always spot on! read more

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The food was excellent and the staff was very friendly from the moment you walk in the door.But what make it an amazing experience was our server Gene, who has been working here for 54 years and what a wonderful first experience. Definitely will return!! read more

Great for a quiet lunch or a family dinner. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Food is historically reliable. Ambiance is slightly outdated, but some would consider very comfortable. read more

Twin Oaks has been a favorite of mine for over 40 years! The food is delicious! It's a great place to meet with friends. The menu has something for everyone- pasta, steak, seafood, and much more! The staff is welcoming and helpful. The atmosphere is comfortable. read more

Like most Rhode Islanders I have been to Twin Oaks throughout the years. But I hadn't been in the last couple of years. Today I had a party of eight and the service was horrible. We sat down at 6:00 and left at 8:30. We did not see our waiter during the first hour. We had to get our own drinks from the bar. Because our waiter was absent and we had to ask the young man pouring our waters if he could order appetizers for us. The patrons at the bar got better and quicker service than our party. Unfortunately we will never return. read more

We had lunch at Twin Oaks today (Tue July 15). Excellent service as always (our waiter was Tom), and the food was exceptional - Partner had the Italian platter, and I had the Provimi veal parmesan. One of our favorite restaurants in the Providence area. read more

I've never been a huge fan of Twin Oaks. It's a relic, but my FIL enjoys it. We went there today with 8 people, baby included. We waited for a table and the stuck us directly near the kitchen door, a table that couldn't fit 6 and place the baby's highchair in front of an emergency exit. The host couldn't care less. Glad we were forced to leave because the last time we ate there the food was mediocre. The biggest issue though was the baby placed in front of the emergency exit. There was no where else to place her and I'm pretty sure the exit is supposed to be clear all the time. read more

10/10 one of my favorite restaurants in Rhode Island. Seems like these 1 star reviews are a bit harsh. Portions are huge and the food is always good! read more

I haven't dined at this establishment in over 20 years. Today I stopped in for lunch, it was like walking into a time capsule. It's still how I remembered it, dated but clean and welcoming. The staff was very attentive and provided very well presented service. I ordered the Chicken Marsala (lunch size) and I was not disappointed. Cooked and prepared well, there was enough food for leftovers. For a Tuesday early afternoon this place was packed, which states "Their doing something right.." I can't wait to go back, maybe dinner this time! read more

This was always the place to go for good food and drinks whether with my family ,or just my husband. We always knew we would have a great dinner and great service.. now coming back after 2 decades it's like I never left.. great being back even if it was just for a meal with old friends read more

The whole experience was incredible.. one of the best places we have ever been too !The service was top notch . The atmosphere was perfect.

Ahh, a long overdue review for this joint known as a RI staple. I've been here numerous times over the years - with my first visit many many years ago being horrendous in which the waitstaff showed preferential treatment to regulars and then my order was made incorrectly where I was told I ordered the veal instead of eggplant even though I do NOT eat red meat, but alas - there's always second chances. I've been back several times since then, I do have to say the service has been wonderful since that first visit and portions are large but the food is just ok. During one visit, I ordered the chicken parm and like other reviews have stated - they were like two frozen chicken patties doused in sauce to hide their true identity - an elementary school lunch. I went over the menu prior to my last visit (restaurant of choice from the birthday person) and saw they offered a fresh breaded chicken cutlet that came with mozzarella and red sauce.....umm that's a chicken parm, no? So I took my chances (also asked to get all of it in their pink sauce) and lo and behold - it was delicious. For an extra $3, I'd get this all day everyday over whatever concoction they list on their menu as chicken parm. So would I rule this place out, no. However, there are several other Italian restaurants that I'd go to first. It does have that RI charm and the place is HUGE so it can accommodate a lot of people. Happy eating! read more

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This joint has been around for ever and you think they would have stepped it in the food and service dept. but they haven't . Went to meet a friend. Sat at the back bar waited 15 minutes for the tender to take a drink order. it being close to Christmas. It was not busy for a Saturday night. Nobody waiting to eat. Then we proceeded to wait another 30 minutes for the tender to come back and take our order which by the way we had to flag him down so he would come over to us so we could order. Young incompetent help. The food was dried out and cold. Meatloaf came out. Cold mashed potatoes were cold. it's overrated, entitled family that should be doing a lot better for the price that they charge for food let alone the service and the quality of service was absolutely horrendous. Good luck, overrated, overstated overpriced. The decor is absolutely ugly. Don't even waste your time. read more

I hadn't dined here in years and was surprised how the menu is basically the same...and that's a good thing. It's not a gourmet's foodie rush, but well-prepared dishes with quality ingredients. I kept thinking, how can they charged this little for great meals? They also do a great job with take out meals. Good choices: turkey dinner (all white meat, not processed turkey, @ $17) and chopped sirloin plate (16oz @ $12.95). read more

1970s decor and food choices.. Clientele averages 60 and over. Oversized desserts if that is your thing.

We had a business dinner here. We were seated fairly quickly considering how busy they were. Once seated, we received our drinks and appetizers fairly quickly. Our waiter had a buss boy who was trying to help, but failed to order our bread. That was disappointing. The salads arrived, and we tried their proprietary salad dressing. It was outstanding! Delicious. The dinners arrived, and we had a few issues. Two of the steaks were not prepared as ordered. I ordered beef stroganoff. Maybe that was my fault, but it wasn't good. The meat was tough. The sauce didn't taste right, and there was a ton of dry noodles in the bowl. One of my colleagues ordered the pot roast and she said it was great. I'll try it again next time I'm up there. Maybe we hit it on a bad night. read more

Great Italian food. Waiters always amaze me since they don't write anything down. Service is always the best. Can't get better italian themed food. Ty's a Happy place to dine. read more

The servers are always kind and knowledgeable. For being such a large restaurant, you're never neglected. Service is always on point! It's a great place to eat and relax and enjoy your company. The food never disappoints no matter what you eat. Love coming here! read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Veal cutlet - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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We haven't ordered food here since COVID. The food was good then, albeit fairly average. Tonight we were staying home and decided ordering Italian from here would be delicious. I just had the worse chicken parm. They use the same prepared breaded chicken cutlets that they probably use for all their chicken dinners, except they melt mozzarella on it and dump red sauce over it. Very salty, overly breaded garbage. They should be ashamed of themselves. I give it a 2 star instead of 1 because my wife enjoyed her veal parm. read more

The only reason I go here is that my friends come here. They like it. Here's a few notes if you've never been. Don't expect good service. Not going to happen. The bartenders are angry. Why, I don't know. You can ask for something and when they're ready, you'll get it. I asked for water 3 times and it took 20 mins to get it. Onto the food. I got the Portuguese stuff quahog. The chourice makes it Portuguese. It's an extra dollar, $4.25 rather than $3.25 for the regular stuffie. I got 2 pieces of chourice the size of a nickle for an extra dollar. Ooooh, so generous of you. Not chopped up either. Just sliced and added to the stuffing. That's not the worst of it. I added a picture of the finished 2 bite product. Yeah, really, that's it. The shell is the size of my pinky finger. Ridiculous. This thing wasn't worth 50 cents never mind $4.25 If you go be advised. Be ready to wait and don't expect much. Good for their following, I'm happy for you. If you like it, have a great time. I know I will NEVER order food from there again. When I go next time to meet my friends, and I will, I'll bring a couple of bucks and play keno. read more

Twin Oaks Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

This restaurant is a well known RI tradition. I've heard about it for years and finally decided to try it out. Four of us went for lunch on a Wednesday around 1:30pm and we still had to wait about 25 min for a table. Lots of people ! Many of them are retired seniors enjoying comfort food. As you wait there's a daily special blackboard with the highlight dishes for the day...all of them were over $20. I knew they also had daily specials on their menu and some of them were more fairly priced. We got a table by the window, overlooking the pond and it was a nice setting. Our waiter was very efficient and prompt. I decided for the Chicken Pot Pie (less than $10), and my friends all got seafood dishes. Everyone enjoyed their meal (the portions tend to be large and plentiful). The parking lot is large and ample, but at peak times it might be hard to find a place to park. They do separate checks. read more

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Food and service was good as always Something should be said to the woman that works at the merch counter. She is rude and looks totally miserable. We left without making a purchase because she acted like we were disturbing her. I'd like to apply for that job! I am pleasant and can sell your products with a smile read more

Excellent service, good and ambience. One of our favorite places in Rhode Island. Went before we left for FloridA and sat at the bar. We had a wonderful time. read more

First, one must understand what Twin Oaks (TO) is, and is not. It is essentially an institution that has thrived (more or less) for nearly a century. Its menu today is not significantly different from its menu in the 1960s (although the prices have sure changed!). So it is not a modern restaurant that substantially changes its menu and focus to attract lovers of Italian nouveau cuisine or the like. TO still has the famous "Pewter Plate Special" that my father would order during visits in the 1960s (my sister and I would split his dessert, which was, and continues to include spumoni.) That should be a tell of what TO means. Their food is fairly consistent. But note that they have a certain fondness for such old fashioned accompaniments for grilled dishes that they are usually served with pickled apple rings, and/or pickled beets, and a leaf of romaine lettuce. Their steaks and chops are still excellent, and despite rising prices, are still fairly affordable, with very generous portions. Their lamb chops seem to weigh in at about 8 ounces each, so one single order of their lamb chops (served with the ubiquitous apple ring, along with old fashioned mint jelly) probably weighs in at more than a pound. My usual meal at TO will generally start with a cocktail, which are generous and often include a sidecar. Their whisky sours are made from scratch, including with egg whites for froth. And their cocktail shrimp are both amazing and enormous. I am guessing U-6 to U-14. Lobster salad is close to a pound of lobster salad (expect prices that reflect such quantities!) and are best shared, or "doggie bagged" for multiple meals. Again, the salad on which the mountain of lobster salad rests is far from fancy: expect lettuce, some cukes and pickled beets with tomatoes. The servers today look amazingly similar to the servers 55 years ago. Men, in formal attire, who remember your order without writing it down. They will remember the names of most regulars (again, an old fashioned thing!). Most diners at TO should not expect the most sublime and ingenious sauces. Their red sauce is okay, but doesn't match what you would find at a new and authentic modern Italian restaurant. But it works, as it is merely what is expected. The stuffed shrimp are a perennial staple. Some will debate that the baked stuffed shrimp aren't as good as in 1973. Many might find such debates as kind of pointless. They are good and buttery, no matter the context. The veal parmesan includes one (or sometimes two or more) enormous slabs of veal, fried to true crispness. It is covered with the ubiquitous red sauce, and the usual slices of melted mozzarella. Together with the pasta accompaniment, it is so big I usually take home half of the portion. Note that with many entrees, one can split them with a guest, or even order half portions. Its ambiance is not unlike a 1970s style Italian family restaurant. It has views of the reservoir, but is often filled with loud (and recognizable) regulars. This may seem imposing to some, but it provides the comfort of familiarity to those who seek a trip back in time. In short, what one will usually find at TO is very good, quality food, in enormous servings, and at reasonable prices. The food (other than the shrimp cocktail, which may be the best there is!) will not be the most extraordinary or creative versions of what you order. The steaks in general are excellent quality choice angus, but not the prime (although sometimes they do have prime steaks as specials) or wagyu you will find at fancier places. So TO may (or may not) be what everyone wants for a destination. But it doesn't really matter to them, as they found a recipe for success many, many years ago, and except for some minor adaptations, they have stuck with that formula. And it usually succeeds. But anyone who tries Twin Oaks should know what to expect. You won't find truffled risotto nor white asparagus nor branzini grilled with wild mushrooms and exotic herbs--but you will find very good filling food, with occasional glitches, but as it has thrived for all these years, even after a glitch, one may just choose to return anyway, as its quality (including shortcomings or limitations) is sufficiently consistent that the experience might be an aberration. And for the Italian American guests, the calamari appetizer may not be as "amazing" as the $30 plate you might find elsewhere, but it is still excellent and generous at half that price. And yes, TO had fried calamari way back when, even when it was strange for some, and not yet cool. read more

I hadn't been here in years but the food remains outstanding. I can recomment the Chicken Parmesan. It was almost enough food for 2. The restaurant has remained a classic interior & the service was excellent. read more

Just a simple classic place with consistent food. Honestly my go to place for lobster rolls, chicken parm and teriyaki tenderloin. Definitely some of my favorite meals from this here. Always busy too. read more

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