Restaurant Review

diVersi adds touch of Italy to Cranston’s Rolfe St.

By Don Fowler
Posted 4/21/16

After five people told me about diVersi, the new Italian Ristorante and Pizzeria at Cranston’s 44 Rolfe St., I decided to leave Edgewood, with its three pizza …

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Restaurant Review

diVersi adds touch of Italy to Cranston’s Rolfe St.

Posted

After five people told me about diVersi, the new Italian Ristorante and Pizzeria at Cranston’s 44 Rolfe St., I decided to leave Edgewood, with its three pizza places within walking distance, and travel the nearly two miles to Auburn to see if their raves were merited.

Donna Zarrella, salesperson for the Cranston Herald, had already given me a menu to check out and told me about the new pizza oven brought over from Italy, so I already had a feel for the place.

We were warmly greeted by the manager and shown to our seats in the open dining room, where we could see the oven and check out what the other patrons were eating.

While pizza is the reason we went to diVersi, we couldn’t help but notice the appetizers, including the Tagliere, a mix of prosciutto, Genoa salami, capocollo, sopressata, fresh olivoni mozzarella, fresh parmigian cheese, asiago with black peppercorn, accompanied by grapes, green olives, figs marmellata and honey (small $14.95, large $27.95). The small would easily satisfy a table of four.

Brushetta and Crostini ($8.95 each) seemed popular, as did the huge calzones ($15.95 and $16.95).

There are over a dozen pizza choices, plus the opportunity to create your own. Pizzas range from $13.95 for the Margherita, tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil, to $18.95 for the Napoli, tomato sauce, mozzarella, artichoke hearts and Portobello mushrooms.

We chose the Wurstel, a delicious blending of the tomato sauce and mozzarella and fresh Italian sausage ($16.95). Eight slices was just right for two people, especially after devouring a basket of fresh bread while we waited.

The pizza only takes 90 seconds to cook in their state-of-the-art oven, and comes out hot and thin-crusted. Our friendly waitress explained that the pizza, with all fresh ingredients, takes longer to make than to cook.

A good assortment of Italian craft beer and wine, draft and domestic beer and a gluten free draft beer, made with handpicked apples, are available, along with the “Best damn root beer” and organic iced tea.

If you are still hungry, there is Tiramisu or Tortino di Manddorla for dessert. diVersi also has take-out and a small bar.

We were pleased to see families, young dating couples and seniors enjoying themselves. We were also pleased that both the manager and the owner took the time to stop by all the tables to say “hello.”

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