MakMak Eatery - Cranston, RI - Review
MakMak Eatery in Cranston presents itself as the kind of place that could be a neighborhood gem - all exposed brick, industrial-chic lighting, and a moody atmosphere that whispers "date night." The space is thoughtfully designed, with pendant lights casting a warm glow over wooden tables, black metal chairs that would make a Parisian café proud, and a bar adorned with winter-white garlands that soften the urban edge.
The dining room, with its dark ceiling, exposed brick, and large windows offering views of the street, has that essential quality that makes you want to linger. String lights twinkle along the windows, and amber-bottled centerpieces add to the casual-romantic vibe. It's the kind of place you want to love - before the food arrives.
And here's where the story takes a turn. The focaccia, which should be a celebration of olive oil and yeast, arrives more like twice-baked bread - disappointingly dry and missing that essential chewy interior that makes focaccia, well, focaccia. It's served with olive oil that looks the part but can't salvage what's essentially toast masquerading as artisanal bread.
But the real tragedy here is the pizza - a $14 lesson in how not to interpret Italian cuisine. The crust, while achieving a reasonable crunch, has that peculiar texture that triggers memories of frozen pizza past. The sauce is playing hide and seek, but it's all hide and no seek. And then there's the cheese - oh, the cheese. In a decision that would make a Neapolitan weep, they've committed the cardinal sin of using what tasted almost exclusively like cheddar, turning what should be a harmonious blend of flavors into a discordant mess of dairy. At $10 plus $4 for pepperoni, it's reasonably priced, but that's little comfort when you can only manage a slice and a half before surrendering.
The service, at least, hits the right notes. From a fantastic hostess to a competent waitress, the staff manages the room well, never rushing, always present. The '80s soft rock soundtrack would work perfectly if it didn't occasionally ghost like a temperamental radio signal.
This is a classic case of style over substance - a beautiful room serving food that doesn't live up to its surroundings. While the wings achieve adequacy (hardly a ringing endorsement), the pizza is a clear miss. MakMak Eatery has created a space where you want to spend an evening, but unfortunately, not one where you want to eat.
Would I come back? Maybe for drinks and atmosphere. But for pizza? Sometimes the simplest dishes are the hardest to get right, and this one misses the mark entirely.
Come for the ambiance, stay for the drinks, but eat before you arrive.
