January 19th~ One of my Birthday Celebrations at Old Canteen Restaurant

Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen restaurant, which opened during Dwight Eisenhower’s first administration, in 1956, Mr. Marzilli was a legendary figure on the Hill, running an establishment where everybody knew your name and the menu was as reliable as the changing of the seasons.

His customers ran the gamut, from crooner Frank Sinatra and then-Sen. John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, to local wiseguys and several generations of Italian food aficionados.

In a 2002 interview with The Journal, Mr. Marzilli said one of the secrets to his eatery’s success was sticking with tradition and spurning avant-garde cuisine and flavor-of-the-week “foodie” courses.

“We’ve stayed in tune with those who like to come in and remember all the old-time cooking like they had at home and at grandma’s,” said Marzilli. “We are an old-fashioned Italian-American restaurant.

In a world in constant flux, Mr. Marzilli was proud that his establishment was an island of Old World familiarity and gentility.

“If people passed away 30 years ago and came back today and walked into the restaurant, they’d see that nothing has changed,” Marzilli said in the 2002 interview. And in 2011, nothing has changed. It is still one of the best places to dine in this state. I am proud and it has been an honor to have known Mr. Marzilli and his family and have been friends with them for 30 years!

Plates overflowing with osso buco, a big veal shank, is a specialty. The Old Canteen, which is run by his oldest son, Sal Marzilli, (seen here in the picture with Me) is also known for its pasta e fagiole and escarole and bean soups, its cacciatores, lasagnas and braciole. My personal favorite is the Veal Saltimbocca!
Thank you for a wonderful Birthday!!
*I want to personally thank my friend, Lynne Renehan Milot, for texting Me and asking what I was doing today. As this celebration was "reserved" for MOM. But my mother wasn't feeling well and had to cancel on Me. Lynne said I will go with you. Thank you for a wonderful lunch, gift and your and Rene's treat as well as your friendship! XO

For more information: http://theoldcanteen.com/
The OLD CANTEEN Restaurant is located on historic Federal Hill
120 Atwells Avenue
Providence, RI
401-751-5544