Franco family carries on Nino’s tradition

Don Fowler
Posted 10/29/14

I can’t think of any restaurant specializing in pizza that has been around Cranston since 1957. Nino’s started serving pizza back in 1957, continuing under its namesake until he sold it to the …

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Franco family carries on Nino’s tradition

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I can’t think of any restaurant specializing in pizza that has been around Cranston since 1957. Nino’s started serving pizza back in 1957, continuing under its namesake until he sold it to the Franco family in 1994. The Franco children had started there as kitchen workers, learning the business from the bottom up and understanding the importance of customer service and quality food.

Nino’s continues to serve its friends and neighbors today, expanding the menu to include not only pizza, but tantalizing appetizers, calzones, salads, pasta dishes and great dinners. In addition to an expanded menu, the family has also enlarged the facility, adding more space to serve large families and their growing number of return customers.

Nino’s does a large take-out business, especially in the Cranston/Johnston area, serving three generations of customers. An 80-year-old gentleman returns to Cranston every year from Florida, where his first stop is Nino’s. Nino’s has entered the 21st century, with orders taken online and a concerted effort to “buy green,” local and gluten free whenever possible.

But when it comes to cooking, tradition reigns, with the freshly made pizza still cooked in a brick oven and only touching a dish when it is brought to your table.

On our last visit we enjoyed the balsamic calamari, mixed with roasted red peppers, black olives and a balsamic drizzle that easily feeds two ($9.99) The calamari was melt-in-your-mouth tender, with the roasted red peppers adding a unique touch.

Our favorite is their spinach and cheese pie, a bargain at $3.29, and calzones, a meal at $6.99.

And, of course, their pizza, with a sauce to die for. The blend of four different cheeses, used for many dishes, is all done on site daily, as is the sauce and dough. Pizzas range in price from $6.99 to $13.70 for some very interesting specialty and gourmet versions.

The emphasis is on customer service, with the Cranston family knowing their regulars on a first-name basis. Nino’s is known for their charitable work, supporting many local events. They are open 7 days a week.

Want to learn more, or order a pizza to be delivered or picked up? Go online at www.ninospizzari.com or call at 222-0578. They are located at Atwood Ave. in Cranston, near the Johnston line.

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