6 Great Neighborhood Joints
Thursday, January 20, 2011
We’re in the thick of it now, fellow foodies – the cold, sharp portions of winter that keeps us from venturing too far afield for sustenance. Thanks to our abundance of great neighborhood haunts, though, good friends and great food are just a few blocks away. These are our favorites. What are yours?
The West Side of Providence
Thought you had to venture Downcity to experience a chef with a deft touch with the local/seasonal craze? Nah--locals have been flocking to Broadway Bistro since it opened in 2008 for meals that never fail to impress. Chef/owner Patrick Lowney made Salvation Café in Newport one of their Broadway’s favorites, and lucky for us city-dwellers he’s done the same here. The menu features many great vegetable preparations, but Wolfe's Neck Farms short ribs braised in port and served with house-cured bacon risotto and Brussles sprouts keep us toasty and happy. But don’t let the menu fool you – this place is as casual and friendly as they come, and draws a nice mix of trendy West Siders, politicians, students, and, well…plain old folks like us. 205 Broadway, Providence, 331-2450.
Pawtuxet Village
This tiny little village that straddles the Cranston/Warwick line has no shortage of good, trendy cafes and bistros. But our favorite is one of the newest additions--O’Rourke's Bar and Grill. In its former life this Irish pub was the seedy
Gaspee Lounge. But the space has been reinvented and now sports an outdoor courtyard from which you can literally say hello to your dog-walking neighbors. The perks, other than the festive “Cheers”-like vibe? Some of the best basic pub grub around. The bacon on the BLT is piled an inch-and-a-half high, the fries are fresh and handmade, the soups are thick, creamy, and perfectly seasoned, and the burger…well, it’s just fantastic. Narragansett Pkwy at Peck Ln, Cranston/Warwick, 288-7444.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Elmwood, Providence
Liberty Elm Diner chef/owner Twillia Glover is a bit of a rock star to other local chefs and her regulars – and there are dozens in each category – when it comes to her beloved diner. While the tiny barrel-roofed building has been around since the early part of the last century, Glover’s take on diner cuisine is as modern and forward-thinking as it comes. She sources her ingredients with expertise and an eye
for quality from farms and creameries and purveyors near and far, and transforms them into magic in a space not much larger than your computer screen. What’s more, she won high praise from the Food Network’s Guy Fieri when he featured The Liberty Elm on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” last year, and she donates part of the profits to purchase Dutch Elm Liberty Elms to help green-up Elmwood Avenue. And speaking of rock stars, well, we see the ghost of Elvis on Elmwood Avenue when we indulge in the Liberty’s grilled Fluffernutter with bananas. No, it’s not the most upscale thing on the menu, but you try to resist it. 777 Elmwood Ave, Providence, 467-0777.
Bristol Waterfront
There’s nary a lad in Bristol who doesn’t frequent Aidan’s Pub, the state’s long-popular Irish pub. What’s not to love, really – well-done basics such as fish and chips, steak or tuna or corned beef or or buffalo-chicken sandwiches, chowders (including a Rhode Island version, with clear broth!), great burgers, fries and onion rings, even some English favorites like bangers and mash. Add an extensive beer
selection (a Rogue Dead Guy Ale, anyone?) and a usually-friendly waitstaff and you’ve got a winner any night of the week. We like Sundays, where there is live Irish music starting at 4 and we tend to know half of the folks in the house. Thursdays through the weekends can get a little crazy and rowdy with the addition of local college students and in the summer, when the population of Bristol seems to swell. If it gets too intense, a short walk (er…stumble?) to the waterfront a block away will cure your ills. 5 John St, Bristol, 254-1940.
Old Wakefield
Fat Belly’s chef/owner Scott Parker began daydreaming about his version of a pub while working long hours in restaurants overseas. The dream? A pub that served the freshest food possible in a comfortable neighborhood setting. The reality? Amazing. One glance at the menu tells you this is no ordinary pub. Truffle fries? Check. Pear and gorgonzola salad? Oh yeah. And it's all freshly prepared –
we swear. The Belly pannini is a fave -- warm roast beef on toasted rye with grilled red onions, Swiss cheese and horseradish mayo pressed together to form everything that is good about a sandwich. The pesto rubbed "T.D." pizza with grilled chicken, chopped tomatoes, feta and mozzarella cheese is great, too, in part because they get the pizza crust sooo right. Fat Belly’s has numerous locations (East Greenwich, Warwick, and most recently, Providence) but this one on Wakefield’s main strip is a nightly stop for some townies, and the first-name-basis between them and the servers will make you feel right at home. 333 Main St, Wakefield, 284-4540.
Narragansett Pier
Our vote? Every neighborhood should have a joint like Crazy Burger Café, which is tucked into a leafy, pretty neighborhood a few streets from the ocean. It’s a great breakfast place and the most eclectic burger joint in the state rolled into one, with a beachy/Hippie vibe and no pretense whatsoever. A surfboard-sized selection of vegetarian and vegan fare, stuffed crepes, the Tex-Mex influenced Baja beach breakfast…wait, are we in San Diego? It’s the 18 burgers that dominate the menu that keep us coming back: vegan nut burgers, salmon burgers with pistachio pesto and orange chipotle mayo, Indian-inspired turkey burgers with a hint of curry. Locals roll in on Saturday mornings for breakfast and a strong cup of coffee with the Times, which they’ll share with their neighbors. On long, hot summer weekdays, local teens come and go and fraternize among the killer fresh sweet potato fries. Wanna sound like a regular? Order a side of “poundies.” You won’t be sorry. 144 Boon St, Narragansett, 783-1810.
Related Articles
- Best Winter Cocktails & Where To Drink Them
- 7 Cheap and Spicy Restaurants
- Rhode Island’s 6 Best Desserts
- Great Date Restaurants
