Mike's Kitchen

Home cooking at its best pasta cooked perfectly chicken cutlet that melts in your mouth eggplant lasagna never had any better a fun and comfortable place to go have dinner on a weeknight fine dining in an extremely relaxed atmosphere immaculately clean facility. Great weight staff and the place is packed. Check your hours because they have unusual hours for a restaurant. Make your accommodations and get down to Mike’s kitchen for an incredible Italian experience.

Wasn’t sure what to expect and was truly impressed. Italian food - so many options. We had veal and peas and chicken malorie. Both outstanding. Service was superb. Hard to describe the atmosphere. Will just say that I felt like I was transported back years ago to my grandma’s kitchen. Solid 10 out of 10. Just don’t forget to bring cash. No cards accepted.

MIKE’S KITCHEN Went for lunch on Saturday and the place was jammed. Got seated immediately, greeted with smiles and delicious bread was brought to our table. Served beverages and got our orders taken within minutes. The food is spectacular. Tasty and all home made. Can’t wait to come back and try more goodies. Plenty of parking. Service awesome.

The food was good, however we did not appreciate being chased down as we walked out of the restaurant because we did not realize the beverage and food tabs were separate. We paid our bill and left a generous tip and we were accused of trying to skip out on the bill. The owner or manager (not sure who it was) did not handle the situation properly. A lot of commotion over diet cokes....

I just want to comment on a meal I had here recently. I ordered the pasta Inferno with linguine. I have to say this was by far one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten in my life and I cannot wait to have it again.!

Food is good but we sat at the table at 6 and weren't served until 7. Not enough wait staff or not enough cooks.

Incredible Italian food in a VFW HALL. Been going there for about 40 years. They’re good to us and always find room at the busiest of times.

One big happy family for lunch. Good prices, good sized portions.

Go back in time for large portions of home cooked meals in a homey atmosphere. Great prices and ample parking.

Solid Italian restaurant. Service was very good and attentive. We went right at 5 o'clock and there was a line outside the door. I got chicken Parm with eggplant and my husband got the veal and peas. Good prices, fresh for Italian food.

Well I've been wanting to come here since a while !!! And I am happy we made it out to Mike this summers night in Cranston . what a gem hidden from the public eye .., that being said . This a time warp I feel like it's 1990 and I love it since I walk in just has the I am at home felling . Hostess was so nice sat us right to our table. The waitress also was very helpful. Our appetizers were calamari and the fried cheese with a stuffed artichoke. All three were great. I never had a stuffed artichoke at a restaurant before pretty good you just got a jazz it up with some salt, pepper, lemon so far I am in love oh

I have been a huge fan of Mike's Kitchen for many years. Honestly, I have never had a disappointing meal there. To start, it is a bit of an unusual place, as it is part of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post in Cranston. As a result, it has odd hours, so if traveling a distance, I suggest that you should call to check whether they are open. Also, you purchase your drinks separately from your food order, and it is all cash only (there is an ATM inside). But the food! I ALWAYS get their calamari, which is a generous-but not enormous-appetizer of a plate of very fresh, very hot fried calamari (never tough or chewy, it's always tender) with lemon wedges and also a separate bowl with their addictive sauce of vinegar, hot Italian peppers and garlic. It's priced at less than $15 and is heavenly. Another frequent appetizer there is their sautéed broccoli rabe, with olive oil, garlic and a bit of crushed red pepper. Again, it is wonderful with their fresh Italian bread. And finally, if you like Italian stuffed artichokes, you will be VERY happy! Their veal and chicken dishes are amazing, as are their eggplant dishes. I also love their fresh grilled swordfish, which is enormous and served simply with lemon and mild spices, and still "bubbling" from the grill. And the price is probably $15-25 LESS than you would pay anywhere else. And their scallops and the smelts are also worth a try. But the claim to fame is the polenta, which can be ordered with wild mushrooms (yum!) or with red sauce and meatballs, sausage, etc. The interior was recently renovated (this Summer). Due to the Summer hours (closed on weekends in August) I have not been able to check out the improvements. But the folks who work there are excellent (some of the waitresses have been there for 30 years) and you should check out what other diners have ordered--my guess is that at least 60% of them are "regulars" at Mike's. To be honest, to properly try all the goodies (and yes, there are many specials) you should be prepared to return there again and again.

Hidden gem and the place all local Italians have been eating at for years. Best polenta in the state. Get the order with meatballs so you can eat together. Other favorites include: veal and peas, veal and mushrooms, rabe, eggplant, chicken alla mike. This is italian comfort food - nothing fancy but amazing traditional home cooked flavors and real italian- not the stuff you find on the hill. tips: -go when they open, the lot fills up shortly after and you will wait -the bar is separate from the food, so if you want drinks you order with the bar

Very loud pasta came out with water from not draining it properly and the protein I ordered with the pasta was very little could not find it just bits of pork

Ok, this place is the BOMB!!! We met up on a Thursday night and got a table right away. There were SO many options, it was hard to pick, but we started with stuffed artichokes which were superb, best ever and one order was easily enough for two. For dinner I ordered the eggplant parm and it did not disappoint AT ALL. I honestly love eggplant parm and my love is matched by my hatred of making it myself. For this reason, I order it a lot when eating out and fully understand that there are many many ways that it can be prepared. Mike's eggplant parm was the closest to the old family recipe i've ever had. We ended the meal with hot coffee and chocolate ice cream bombs. Cash only

Another great meal at the cash only restaurant. There isn't much more to say about the simple but delicious Italian fare. Service is quick and the food comes out the order the order is out in. Drinks are sold at the separate bar, but they do come to the table to take the drink order. It is a separate tab. Make reservations, especially if you are a big party. The wait can be long, but worth it!

Really good meal here. The atmosphere is extremely casual, cash only with ATM inside and a very laid back experience, which is nice, because the place is really about the food. So many amazing options to choose from with Italian American classics galore. I chose the stuffed calamari over pasta. Although there were just 2 stuffed tubes, the whole plate and sauce were totally loaded with sliced calamari rings, I would say equivalent to maybe 3 more calamari. It was so much I couldn't finish it! The sauce was rich and there was plenty of it. It was very spicy, but good. The fried calamari appetizer was fantastic and cooked perfectly. Nice tender calamari with great flavor. I love that it is served plain, not doused in disgusting oil and garlic which you seem to get at too many places. The bar is also cash only and run separately from the food. My dad and I each had a glass of wine which was good, smooth, and reasonably priced. Very old school style place. Although plenty of people have comments in their reviews about the service, we found it to be good. It's not exactly the service of a 5-star high end restaurant in Manhattan, but that's not what Mikes Kitchen is about. More of a mom and pop, homestyle place where the "waitress" could be anyone's mother or aunt or even grandmother. Really looking forward to trying this place again and cannot wait to try the chicken parm.

Yummy our fave Italian in ri! Hole in wall not fancy. Love it and service rocks. The chicken parm is life changing

You can never go wrong at Mike's kitchen. All homemade fresh Italian food. Don't expect fancy! Actually if you have been in the past don't expect paneling on the walls now the VFW is all dolled up! Your drink orders come from the bar server and paid separately while your food order is paid separately to your waitress. The staff is friendly and the food is outstanding! Cash only but don't worry they have an ATM.

Have not been there since they renovated the inside. Very bright very white there is nothing on the walls. So to say that there a zero ambience is an understatement. The food is awesome as always the calamari is some of the best in the state. Chicken Parm is amazing and my wife had the polenta with two meatballs and she absolutely loved it. Can't wait for them to put some art on the walls, I even offered to donate some large paintings.

If you like good Italian food and lots of it, you will like Mikes. This iconic eatery found on Randall St. in Cranston, RI is a great place to have lunch. It has a great menu and full bar in a newly renovated hall. It gets crowded but the wait is worth it.

Delicious Italian American food in a warm, casual setting. No credit cards accepted but there is an ATM on site. A popular spot for locals and tucked in a VFW hall. Very friendly staff and yummy comfort food. Full bar available, too!

Delicious food, reasonably priced. Servers are kind and I always know whatever I choose to order will be great. This is a must try!

Excellent lunch today; calamari, veal parm sandwich, veal Marsala with cavatelli - all so good!

My wife and I visited Mike's Kitchen with some Family friends on a Saturday afternoon. They've been going to this place for 40 years and fondly refer to it as "The Post", most likely because it may have at one time been a VFW Hall, but I'm really not certain. Anyway, the inside is like a VFW hall and it was packed when we arrived. If you like delicious Italian food, this place is for you! They have a large selection of items on the menu to choose from including meat and fish dishes and many combinations of pastas and sauces. We started with a double order of Fried Calamari, which was crispy, fresh tasting and very tender. It came with a bowl of pepper and oil sauce which I believe is a Rhode Island variation that is absolutely delicious when drizzled over the dish. I ordered the Linguini over Squid with red sauce. The squid could not have been more perfectly cooked and was "melt-in-your-mouth" tender. The sauce had that wonderful flavor that is immediately recognizable to anyone who has ever had this dish. I've had this many times prepared by members of my Family and I have to give "the Late Mike" the nod and tell him he makes it the Best! My wife very much enjoyed her Chicken Parm and everyone at the table loved their dishes. Mike's Kitchen is a must visit if you love great Italian food at a reasonable price.

I highly recommend this place. It is no-frills but awesome food. Get there early to get a spot and also realize that the VFW sells alcohol separately from the kitchen and you must have cash.

This is a fantastic place to get an excellent meal for a great price! The atmosphere is not fancy but down-to-earth--a great place to go with a group of friends. You should make a reservation because it is always packed.

EXCELLENT chicken parm. TERRIBLE veal parm (don't know if they just don't know how to cook veal). TERRIBLE service. Waitresses act like they hate being there. Never refilled water.

Great food. SERVICE, DID I mention the GREAT FOOD?? W O W ! I had the stuffed pepper here it was fantastic today I'm coming for the chicken parmigiana and fried calamari and I'm sure they'll be equally is fantastic as everything on the menu good job all that work and run this wonderful establishment

Been coming here for 30+ years. Some of the best Italian food in a state filled with great Italian food. The fried squid is the best I've had. There is nothing fancy about the place, the food is the star!

My wife and I got back to Mike's after a couple of years and ordered our usuals: veal parm for me and chicken parm for her. As outstanding as always. A wonderful hostess spotted us waiting in line, saw we wanted a table for two and set us up at pub table by the bar, cutting the long line. Our waitress was magnificent. No place better than Mike's for a casual Italian dinner of high quality.

Great food, all fresh, and a great environment! The diner area has been renovated. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Best italian food in Rhody. Service is always quality. Polenta for the win. Except nothing less than Mikes.

The food is real good. It's kind of strange the way it's set up, but we enjoyed our meal very much.

If you want amazing Italian food just as good as Federal Hill but at half the price this is your place. As long as you're not looking for ambiance you can't go wrong. The cash only restaurant is located in a VFW. The staff is fast and efficient but don't try to give them attitude because you will lose "Italian style" Lol. I especially love the stuffed artichokes.

Definitely a good place to try. It's a VFW post so it has a restaurant yet pop up restaurant feel. We started off with an Artichoke which tasted like my Aunty's. Then we had salads which were normal- nothing special. They did serve bread but it was smaller slices not like a hearty Italian bread. Then our entrees were delicious. I had the chicken With eggplant and my nephew ate the gnocchi Sorento. The food came hot and it was a nice size for the price. This is a great place to try once in awhile but I do not like the separate bar. 2 bucks for a small soda - no refills- just too much. On a good note the waitress was friendly and very responsive.

Authentic Italian food. I can't recommend any one dish, because no matter what you order it's going to be authentic and delicious. Cocktails are very good also.

I visited about 3 years ago and decided to see if anything had changed. It has not. Still good food in a casual atmosphere and reasonable cost. CASH ONLY ATM available. Very local place. In the VFW building. Menu is very Italian. Lots of pasta, chicken and veal. Few vegetarian options but some salads. I had the chicken parmesan. Comes with a choice of salad, pasta or potatoes and veggies. Portion was quite large. I took half the chicken home. The chicken was very tender and flavorful and the tomato sauce was very good but not great. Service was very fast. Prices were good, about average for the area.

this place rocks! food is homemade, delicious and plentiful. Hesitate to spread the word of this gem. I don't want to wait in line

This was the first time that we have ever been disappointed. The smelts order was small and tasteless. The veal Parmesan was not up to par. I've had much better in the past.

Always a delicious Italian feast when enjoying lunch or dinner at Mike's Kitchen!!! So many home-cooked Italian and seafood specialties!! Everything is cooked to perfection and always delicious! Prices are reasonable & portions are large enough that you will end up bringing home enough food for another meal! I highly, highly recommend Mike's Kitchen!!!!

So underrated because it is hard to Find!! Italian cooking like grandmas on a Sunday!! Their sauce is fresh and perfect!!

The best hidden gem in RI!! One of the best Italian restaurants in RI!! You can't go wrong with any food item. I love the chicken parmigiana.

Omg the stuff artichoke is to die for, can't wait for my daughter to come in from SC to try it. Amazing how everyone's waiting at the door to get in. I can see why

Great food great service great price . No frills ... Highly recommend this place for lunch !

Don't be fooled by this little gem! Located at a VFW post, it's one large room, but the food is abundant and delicious! We had a large party & every meal was phenomenal. I can't wait to go back and try every item on the menu. Service is quick and almost invisible, yet you always have what you need. Note: the bar has a separate tab for drinks. The restaurant and bar are both CASH ONLY.

The worst food we've had since moving back to RI two years ago. My husband ordered the crab cakes. They tasted of the oil they were cooked in and the marinara sauce that came with it was awful. I usually eat healthy but wanted cheese ravioli. The sauce on the ravioli was lousy. I could have bought ravioli and put Rao's sauce on them and it would have been better. Then I ordered a meatball because I couldn't eat the cheese ravioli. Same awful sauce and not good. My husband ordered the stuffed sole. It was fair to bad. The veggies that came with it seemed out of a frozen package. I've never had potatoes that were so greasy and fried. Usually the potatoes are decent. I don't know how there are so many good reviews for this restaurant.

The waitress, Robin, was amazing and helped me with my dietary restrictions. Everyone was friendly. I had polenta and Rabe, and it was an amazing experience.

Food is excellent. Real Italian cooking. No ambiance but best home made Italian cooking ever. The food was even better tasting when the original Mike the chef was alive. He was a people person where he would come out of kitchen and greet his patrons. They the patrons including I all loved Mike.

The red sauce has almost no flavor.... Veal parmesan was said to be "real" which i do not doubt but "freshly prepared" should have been a question... Place was jumping and price was good. My mom was with me and mid meal she said, "i could have made this better at home." The special she had also advertised "lobster tail." Her plate only had a half of a lobster tail... Not ok in Rhode island. The staff was nice and did a great job but the food was "so-so" at best.

Always excellent and good service. For over 20 years I have eaten the same meal everytime I come here - Linguine Napolitano! Perhaps the most perfect pasta dish ever made!

Simply the best, staff and food. The polenta is epic!

What can I say? The reviews are all right. Went to Mike's Kitchen with a work group of 20. A few people were a little skeptical, as was I. I decided that in order to determine whether this was truly a good Italian place, I would order the pasta and meatballs. A good meatball is very hard to come by. The pasta and meatballs was good, I just wish it had a little more flavor. The texture of the meatball was perfect! It was so soft, it practically melted in your mouth. The prices were average. I believe my pasta and meatballs was $12-$13. I will definitely go back. I'd like to try the chicken parm.

Best chicken Parmesan in the state! Nothing beats their service. We love Mikes, it's our go to for all family dinners!

I brought three friends to Mikes last nite. None of them had ever been there, as usual, the place was packed but we waited for a table. All agreed the wait was worth the GREAT food, amassing service and all around wonderful evening. The calamari appetizer was claimed by everyone as the best ever and the entrees exceeded our expeditions. You just can not go wrong at Mikes.

Great, consistent food in huge portions Family style and familiar faces Long waits and usually sub-mediocre service The Tabor-Franchi VFW Lodge doubles as a restaurant of plenty. Given that, however, you are NOT HERE for the ambience, friend. It's heaping helpings of delicious Italian-American food, and not much else. Prices are very fair; merely for good food and lots of it, they'd be a steal, but combined with wait times and nary a single person in the place particularly concerned with your customer satisfaction (a nice young woman named Paula is an exception), I'd say it nets back to simply "very fair." Be prepared - you'll pay as you go with alcohol, and it's cash only throughout. If surefire, never-fail recommendations are your only game, wipe your waited-too-long frown off with the polenta and meatballs...no appetizer, bread, or anything else, really, because you'll want to save room for the platter on its way. And even if you're normally a member of the Clean Plate Club, you might end up requesting a to-go container anyway here. If it's your first time, map it before you go, and watch for sudden moves from old fogies in the parking lot. If only for the sake of your taste buds and growling belly, you should put it on your list to give a try.

There's no place like Mike's. Located in a VFW hall in Cranston, it's Southern Italian diner food, or 1950s home cooking, in a 1950s cafeteria setting. Despite this - or perhaps because of it? - the place is nearly always packed. There's no pretense, no fancy shmancy, and for a lot of folks, probably as close as they can get to what they remember from going to Nonna's for Sunday dinner. The red sauce is a bit too sweet for my taste and pasta is clearly from a box. But it's fine really, and portions are generous and if you're into saving the earth, bring containers with you because you will surely be taking leftovers home. Prices are higher than they used to be but still very reasonable. I do eat here occasionally when I don't feel like dealing with driving and parking in Providence. It's perfectly OK if you don't expect too much.