5 Great Rhode Island Sandwiches
Ann & Michael Martini, GoLocalProv Food Editors
5 Great Rhode Island Sandwiches
Gary's Meatloaf Club
Local 121, Providence
Okay, we admit we've been writing quite a bit about this Downcity restaurant in the past few months. It's thanks to new Executive Chef Tyler Demora, whose recent gigs include a stint at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in San Francisco. Demora has just released new menus at Local 121, and his meatloaf club is among our favorites on the lunch menu. Many super-thin slices New England Grass Fed beef meatloaf are layered with smoked bacon, mixed American cheeses, and house ketchup. The meatloaf is perfectly seasoned, the bread sublime, and the whole concoction leaves you in a state of delight.
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401-274-2121
Lobster Salad BLT
White Horse Tavern, Newport
To paraphrase the classic saying, when in Rome...get the lobster salad! There is no better place to sample our local lobster than the White Horse Tavern. A recent sale has brought in a much-lauded new owner to take over from the passionate Hogans, who helped return this gem to prominence. One thing that hasn't changed is the talent in the kitchen. Chef Rich Silvia and his team use applewood smoked bacon to accent the lobster in this tasty sandwich.
26 Marlborough St.
401-849-3600
http://www.whitehorsetavern.us/
Hot Coppa Grinder
Italian Corner Deli, East Providence
We hate to give this place up. Lots of people already know how good it is and we don't like lines. This little spot is a combination market and deli with lots of great Italian specialties. They have imported pastas and sauces and whatnot, but the real stars come from the back of the shop. Freshly baked breads and imported cold cuts come together in near perfect sandwiches. We love the hot coppa with imported capicolla, provolone cheese and their addictive slasa verde. The crusty bread pulls it all together. If you are looking for a healthier option, the natural turkey sandwich is also very good.
10 Boyd Ave.
401-431-1737
The Allitalia
Sandwich Hut, Providence
The Sandwich Hut is what every classic sandwich shop should be but few ever attain. The lack of pretension is refreshing. They make great sandwiches and that's it. When we go to places like this we want a sandwich that we've had hundreds of times before.You want a good base for comparrison. The Allitalia is as good as we've ever had. Everything is fresh. Everything is classic, right down to the dressing. The saltiness of the meats is perfectly offset by the rest of the fillings. It's a real classic...just like the Hut.
1253 North Main St.
401-272-2590
The Vanderbilt
The American, Providence
This cool spot is located over in the old American Locomotive yard just around the corner from the mall and Federal Hill and it features delicious sandwiches and burgers. The interior is beautiful and helps to whet the appetite when you arrive. We had great service and the waitress suggested the Vanderbilt. This sandwich features grilled chicken, arugala, gorgonzola, parmesan and a tasty walnut pesto. It all comes together on a nice Italian bread. Like everything else we tried at the American, it was very nicely done.
555 Valley St.
401-865-6186
RI's 5 Best Desserts
Fresh Lime Mousse Tart, Pastiche, Providence
One of the long standing traditions in Providence is dinner in one place and dessert at Pastiche. We have top-notch pastry chefs producing tasty treats all over Providence but Pastiche is where we always end up. It is the perfect "end of date" setting for a finely made cappuccino and a slice of their lime mousse tart. This tart is the perfect aperitif. It's light and refreshing and paired with the java, it might just wake you up enough for a little dancing!
92 Spruce St.
401-861-5190
Sweet Potato Tartlet, The Ocean House, Watch Hill
This seasonal sweet was one of the highlights of our fall dining experiences. Everything at the Ocean House is done right, from the moment you arrive. The fine dining restaurant, Seasons, serves some of the best food in Rhode Island and they wowed us with this dessert. Pastry Chef Adam Young has balanced the delicate flavors of sweet potatoes with cinnamon and honey perfectly. We can still taste the deliciousness.
1 Bluff Ave.
401-315-0579
Tiramisu, d.carlo Trattoria, Smithfield
The western side of the state is covered by d.carlo Trattoria. They have been churning out authentic Italian cuisine since the day they opened. Today, under Chef Aaron Thorpe, they have raised the bar again. The pasta dishes are very good and we almost got too full for dessert. Luckily for us, we persevered and discovered the tiramisu. This was a delicious rendition of the classic and it had us licking the plate. The flavor of the coffee and the lightness of the filling were the highlights for us. It left us feeling sated and happy.
970 Douglas Pike
401-349-4979
http://www.dcarlotrattoria.net/
Nutella Pizza with Sliced Strawberries, Basta, Cranston
Sometimes, when you take your nephews to dinner, you end up with pizza for dessert. And, sometimes, it's really, really, good. We were there for the pizza anyway, so this was a natural. And anytime you can get the kids to eat fruit, it's good. The pizzas at Basta are some of the best around and with warm Nutella and fresh strawberries on top it was a really good way to wrap up a very good meal. Plus, we like the coziness of this restaurant, and surrounding Pawtuxet Village, especially at this time of year.
2195 Broad St.
401-461-2300
Crème Brulee, Pot au Feu, Providence
Where else in Providence would you go for classic French? The Pot has been "the" place for the classics since the 1970's. Owner/impresario Bob Burke likes to say that they're not really interested in recipe until it's at least 150 years old. The crème brulee is among the best we've ever had...in the world. It comes in a soup bowl--not that tiny portion we've grown to accept--and the brulee'd sugar layer is like that thin ice that's forming on ponds and puddles across Rhode Island currently. It's pretty perfect.
44 Custom House St.
401-273-8953
www.potaufeu.businesscatalyst.com
