Camille's is the oldest Italian restaurant in
Rhode Island
Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...
, located in
Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island. Camille's has been open since 1914 when it was known as Marconi’s.
They are known as the best Mafia restaurant in America.
History
In 1914 Camille's opened for business under the name Marconi's.
In 1919 The restaurant changed ownership, name and location when Pasquale Parolisi bought the restaurant. In 1952, Jack and Camille, his son and daughter-in-law, inherited the restaurant.
Camille's is the second oldest family owned restaurant in the US.
The restaurant is housed in what was a former mansion. Camille's may have been the first restaurant to feature fried calamari.
Reception
Camille's was honored with an Award of Excellence from ''
Wine Spectator.''
''The Phoenix'' said “Camille's exudes ''duende'', the rare place that's pure Rhode Island with a dash of Las Vegas, the kind of joint where
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...
would have felt right at home.”
In fact, Sinatra was supposedly a big fan of their
Italian wedding soup. Other famous customers include several US Presidents including
John F. Kennedy and his son,
Lyndon B. Johnson,
Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
and
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...
;
Jane Fonda
Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress and activist. Recognized as a film icon, Jane Fonda filmography, Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television. She is the recipient of List of a ...
,
Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono (, usually spelled in katakana as ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking.
Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York ...
as well as members of
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...
and
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
.
Mafia boss
Raymond L. S. Patriarca was a frequent customer.
References
External links
Scenes From a Chianti-Soaked Italian Restaurant
{{Restaurants in Rhode Island
1914 establishments
Speakeasies
Restaurants in Rhode Island
Italian restaurants in the United States
Italian-American culture in Providence, Rhode Island
Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island