Mangia e Bevi

Danella’s Restaurant - Federal Hill’s Newest, Best Kept Secret

As soon as I walked into the restaurant, I was warmly welcomed and the place had a very comfortable atmosphere. Danella’s Restaurant located at 332 Atwells Avenue is located right in the heart of Federal Hill. What is nice about the location is that it is set back from the hustle and bustle of Depasquale Square while being right where the action is. The restaurant has a very upscale and elegant appeal while giving its clientele value for their dollar. In other words, “you get a lot and pay a little” and get cuisine that is as special as, and delicious as a traditional Sunday dinner. One cannot help but notice all the photos and memorabilia on the walls. I found myself sneaking a closer peek to see if I recognized someone. Danella’s had a warm glow to its interior with a soothing red color with an old world stylish décor. I found it very cozy.

The staff was very hospitable as they pampered me and my guest as we prepared to order. Looking over the menu, I found it to have a good variety of selections to choose from. I ordered the baked scrod (Albert’s specialty) with a side order of linguine with sauce. My guest ordered the fried clams platter. Though each entrée is always freshly prepared, the wait was not long. Once our meals arrived, neither one of us was disappointed – the food tasted great. My scrod was cooked to perfection – not too soft while the consistency of the fish was just right. The dish had a savory butter sauce with a hint of wine. The linguine was a dente just the way I like it and the sauce had an Italian home style taste. When my guest got her meal, I was just amazed at how big the portion was. I had to sample some of the clams finding them to be very flavorful and light. The Rhode Island way is when everyone eats off of each other’s plate and don’t forget the vinegar!

After dinner, we ordered coffee and dessert - who could pass up “death by chocolate”. We were graciously greeted by the owner and master chef, Albert Danella. Over coffee we were talking about his history and how he was inspired to open this restaurant. At 77, his life experience was fruitful and having been a cancer survivor his values are those of being honest and sincere. His family, especially his mother was the reason why cooking became his passion. His mother taught him how to cook and to use spices while showing him old Italian recipes. Albert told me of how he remembered Federal Hill when he was a boy. Atwells Avenue was filled with push carts, men with soft hats, women dressed with handbags and trolley cars strolling down to Providence. He had warm memories of how things were on the Hill. He formerly owned a restaurant on Smith street called Albert’s Café. Getting up each morning to shop for fresh ingredients for his dishes is his key secret to exceptional cuisine. Having a desire to be next to the freshest food in Providence was the reason why Albert decided to open up Danella’s restaurant on Federal Hill. During the summer there will be entertainment and outdoor seating. Overall, I would say that this restaurant is a place that everyone must try. Buon Appetito!

by Donna Marie King - a contributing writer for the FederalHill Gazette.