The Grilled Pizza Revolution: Al Forno, Providence, Rhode Island

This guide will explore the history and art of grilled pizza as well as provide an in-depth look at the birthplace of this innovative dish.

What exactly is Grilled Pizza?

Unlike regular pizza where you cook your pizza dough and toppings in an oven, grilled pizza gets cooked (you guess it) directly on a grill top. The pizza dough gets stretched and covered with olive oil to help it get hotter and cook faster. That also helps the cheese melt and get the toppings cooked correctly.

Photography by Christopher Almeida

This technique also has the added advantage of having different layers of flavor on your finished product. Some parts of your grilled pizza will get charred and have a distinct smoky flavor, while other parts will be soft and chewy.

Photography by Christopher Almeida

Al Forno, the house of the original Grilled Pizza

Video by Thrillist

This beloved eatery first opened its doors when George Germon and Johanne Killeen decided to bring their creative cooking style from Italy to Providence, Rhode Island. Over the past forty years, Al Forno has become renowned for its delicious menu items made with fresh ingredients and homemade dough cooked over an open flame.

The chefs came up with the idea of grilled pizza from a man who told George Germon he made a trip to Italy and had grilled pizza. This was very strange to the couple since they lived in Italy and knew that sort of dish didn’t exist. Still, they were very curious about the idea of making pizza over a grill since they owned a wood-burning grill.

They quickly started experimenting with this idea, and before long they found out that grilled pizza was not only possible but very delicious. The results were so amazing that they included grilled pizza in Al Forno’s menu and have been serving up this dish for the past 40 years.

How good is Al Forno? Watch the Review

Video by James Andrews

Fury! Rating:

Al Forno’s Top Dishes

Al Forno has one of Rhode Island’s most interesting menu selections. In our opinion, the following are Al Forno’s best dishes you should try:

• Pizza Margherita, with Pomodoro sauce and two different kinds of cheese.
• Pizza Asparagus, which includes fresh asparagus pesto and sliced mushrooms.
• Clams Al Forno, with roasted clams, spicy arrabbiata sauce, onions, white wine, and butter.
• Fedelini with Meatballs, with rib-eye meatballs, tomato sauce, and pecorino romano cheese.
• Gnocchi with Sausage Ragu, with hand-made bread gnocchi, hot Italian sausage ragu, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Wood-Grilled Lamb Chops, with roasted broccoli rabe and carrots, and salsa verde.
• Cranberry Cobbler, which includes walnut biscuits, creme anglaise, and fresh whipped cream.

Where is Al Forno located?

Al Forno is located at 577 South Water Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. For reservations, visit alforno.com or call 401-273-9760. They’re open Tuesdays through Fridays from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturdays from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

So, that is grilled pizza for you

Grilled Pizza is a unique, delicious, and fun dish that originated in Providence, Rhode Island. This style of pizza was created by chef-owners of Al Forno, George Germon, and Johanne Killeen.

This restaurant is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Province, Rhode Island, and looking for an amazing dining experience.