Providence Dining Guide

Restaurants in the Campus Area

Cafes/Sandwiches, pg. 2 Dinner, pgs. 3-4

Restaurants in the Wickenden/Waterfront Area, pgs. 5-6

Restaurants in Downtown Providence, pgs. 7-8

Breakfast Spots, pg. 9

Restaurants in the Campus Area Cafes/Sandwiches

Au Bon Pain 223 Thayer Street 751-0472 $ Creperie/Crepes & Smoothies & Wraps A quiet little caf right off Thayer Street. Serving crepes, coffee, tea, wraps, & smoothies. A little taste of France, only a five minute walk from Brown University. Take-Out. 82 Fones Alley 751-5536 $ Geoffs Superlative Sandwiches Deli-style sandwiches, named after local personalities. Wide variety of breakfast bagels and pastries. Lots of vegetarian, too. Take-Out. Open M-F, 8 am-9 pm. Open Sa-Su, 9:30 am-9 pm. Two locations: 163 Benefit Street 178 Angell Street (At Thayer)

East Side Pockets Mediterranean Cuisine, including Falafel (some say best in New England), Gyros, and Kabobs. Lots of vegetarian options. Service is fast and friendly and the prices are unbelievably low. Take-Out. Open 278 Thayer Street 453-1100 $

751-2248 $
Johnny Rockets Burgers and shakes in a '50s diner atmosphere. Very casual. No reservations. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible. Open Su-Th lunch to midnight; F-S to 2 am. 269 Thayer St 276-0003 $ Spike's Junkyard Dogs Featuring the world's best hot dogs - maybe better. Voted best hot dog in RI by RI Monthly magazine (they have vegetarian hot dogs too). Also, has great subs and pizza. Sun Noon-12, Mon/Tue 11-12, Wed/Thu 11-2AM, Fri/Sat 11-2AM 273 Thayer St Wheelchair access (401) 454-1459 $ Tealuxe 101 kinds of tea -- plus sandwiches and scones. Casual. Wheelchair accessible. Open daily for tea and breakfast, lunch and dinner. 231 Thayer Street 453-4832 $ Meeting Street Caf Giant selection of sandwiches, with combinations as interesting as their names. Breakfast and dessert, too. Open daily, 7 am-7 pm. 251 Meeting Street, off Thayer. 273-1006 $ Starbucks Coffee Starbucks offers over thirty varieties and blends of the worlds finest arabica coffee beans, expertly prepared coffee and espresso beverages, and an extensive selection of home brewing equipment. Open M-F, 7 am-11 pm. Open Sa-Su, 7 am-11:30 pm. 218 Thayer Street 421-1677 $

Dinner
Adesso A popular California caf serving nouvelle cuisine in bright, pleasant surroundings. Open Su-W, 4:30 pm-10:30 pm. Open Th-F, 4:30 pm-11 pm. 161 Cushing Street 521-0770. $$$ Asian Paradise Cambodian, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Great values, great selection, friendly staff, and pleasant atmosphere. Open Su-Th, 11:30 am-10 pm. Open F-Sa, 11:30 am-11 pm. 165 Angell Street 454-0222. $ Guidos An Italian-American experience, one that requires a boisterousness of mood and a willingness to pass things around the table. Casual. Reservations accepted. Not wheelchair accessible. Smoking section. Wed-Sun for dinner. No credit cards. BYOB. 102 Hope Street 273-5812 $$ Kartabar New restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 284 Thayer Street 331-8111 $$ Andreas A favorite student spot featuring Greek as well as American cuisine. Casual. Open M-F, 11 am-11 pm. Open Sa-Su, 9 am-10:30 pm. 268 Thayer Street 331-7879 $$

Caf Paragon A trendy, Euro-style hot spot serving a variety of wood grilled pizzas, pastas, burgers, and good house wines. Recently opened its bar dance area next door (Viva!) with an inside connecting passage. Open daily, 11:45 am11:30 pm. 234 Thayer Street 331-6200. $$ Kabob-n-Curry Arguably the best Indian food in Rhode Island. Casual. Reservations accepted. Not wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner, Sun buffet. 261 Thayer Street 273-8844 $.

Maxs Upstairs Comfortable, contemporary cafe with Southwestern flavor M-Th, 11:30 am to 11:30 pm F-S, 11:30 am to 12:30 am Su, Noon to 11:30 pm 272 Thayer Street 273-7427 $

Rue de LEspoir An outstanding French country-style restaurant. The brunch is great, and inexpensive, too ($). Reservations accepted. Open Tu-F, 7:30 am2:30 pm, and 5 pm-9 pm. Sa, 8:30 am- 2 pm, and 5 pm-10:30 pm. Su, 8:30 am-2 pm, and 5 pm-9 pm. 99 Hope Street 751-8890 $$$

Ristorante Pizzico "Best of Award of Excellence" from The Wine Spectator magazine since 1992. For one of the best wine lists in the world. Rated four stars from the RI Monthly and reviewed by the NY Times, Pizzico offers creative Italian food in an upscale bistro ambience, refined in a European sense. Lunch 11:30/2:30 Dinner 5 to Closing Wheelchair access (401) 421-4114 762 Hope Street $$

Tortilla Flats Reliable, tasty Mexican food. The nachos are yummy! Open M-F, 11:30 am-10 pm, and SaSu, 11:30 am-11 pm. 353 Hope Street 751-6777 $

Restaurants in the Wickenden/Waterfront Area Al Forno A casually upscale trattoria-style restaurant with terrific Mediterranean-inspired food and a warm, cozy atmosphere. The array of grilled pizzas offered as appetizers and the made-toorder desserts are mainstays for which the restaurant has become nationally known. Reservations are not accepted. Not wheelchair accessible. Open Tues. through Sat. for dinner. 577 South Main Street 273-9760 $$$ Cable Car Cinema and Cafe The Cable Car helps define what is unique about Providence. Cafe sandwiches, tasty desserts and our unique blend of coffee, combined with the best of alternative films nightly. Over two decades of memories have been served Everyday 7:30am to (around) 11:30pm Wheelchair Access 204 South Main Street 272-3970 $ Fahrenheit Bar & Bistro Chef-owner G. Michael Munroe's menu is simple yet sophisticated, with a strong emphasis on seafood and wood grilling, although there is a large selection of steaks as well. 345 South Water Street 521-7722 $$$ Barnsiders Mile & A Quarter Steaks and seafood with a bountiful salad bar. Nice atmosphere, within walking distance to night life. Open M-Sa, 5-11pm and Su, 49pm. 375 South Main Street. 351-7300 $$$

Coffee Exchange Best coffeehouse in town. Atmosphere more like coffeehouses from the sixties than the gourmet nineties. Breakfast pastries served. Open M-F, 6:30 am-11 pm, Sa-Su, 7 am-11 pm. 207 Wickenden Street 273-1198 $

Fellinis Pizzeria Gourmet, thin-crust pizzas, New York style. Sandwiches, desserts, and espressos, too! Hottest selling pizzas are the garden pizza and pesto pizza. Priced from $11-$20. Open SuW, 11:30 am-12 am, Th, 11:30 am-2 am, and F-Sa, 11:30 am-3 am. 166 Wickenden Street 751-6737 $$

Hemingways Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar Enjoy steaks, chops, and seafood in a grand dining room with soaring ceilings and windows that overlook the city's riverwalk. Open-air dining is available on the front patio, which has a partial view of the park. 121 S. Main Street 351-8570 $$$

Neaths Inspired and refreshing Asian-infused food from chef Neath Pal, formerly of Grappa and L'Epicureo. The view of the river is amazing as the city lights up. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair access to downstairs lounge only. Open Tues. through Sun. for dinner only. 262 Water Street 751-3700 $$$ Taste of India Serving vegetable dishes, chicken, lamb, rice and freshly baked breads. Lunch 11:30-2:30, Dinner 5pm-10pm Wheelchair access 230 Wickenden Street 421-4355 $

Parkside Rotisserie & Grill The Parkside offers a wide variety of innovative foods ranging from spicy crab cakes to grilled tenderloin and Portobello salad. The menu also includes several creative pasta dishes and Parksides signature rotisserie meat items. Enjoy watching the culinary staff prepare your meal in the open kitchen and relax in "casual elegance." 76 South Main Street 331- 0003 $$ Tokyo Restaurant The Japanese cuisine served here is the best in the state. Choose traditional or American seating - or take a stool at the sushi bar, where local fish like tuna, mackerel, and eel are prepared alongside red snapper and fish from points beyond. The designer rolls include beef, squid, duck, and seaweed. 123 Wickenden Street 331-5330 $$

Z Bar and Grille Upscale bistro featuring casual dining in a contemporary atmosphere. Courtyard dining is available. Open daily 11:30 am-11 pm. Sunday brunch. 244 Wickenden Street 831-1566 $$

Restaurants in Downtown Providence

Agora In the Westin Hotel. Inventive eclectic cuisine with a New England flair. Sumptuous surroundings, excellent waitstaff. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open Mon. through Sat. for dinner only. Highchairs available. 1 W Exchange Street 598-8011 $$$$ Big Fish Big Fish -- a place where things are real, yet surreal -is a restaurant for the new millennium. While the decor screams over-the-top, the menu is as down to earth as a seafood restaurant's menu should be: a raw bar with oysters, clams, shrimp; local Cape bluefish and swordfish, fried fish and chips, lobsters and pasta dishes such as shrimp fra diavolo and lobster ravioli. 370 Richmond Street 751-3474 $$$ Capital Grille Dry-aged beef is the star, but lobster and fish are also on the menu at the cavernous Capital Grille. The mashed potatoes, cottage fries, and Caesar salads are served in portions that will sate even the heartiest appetite. Leather, brass, mahogany, oil portraits, a mounted wooden canoe, and Bloomberg News ticking away in the barroom lend this establishment the feel of an opulent men's club. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends. 1 Cookson Pl. 521-5600 $$$$ CAV NY Times 5 best restaurants in Providence, CAV serves fresh cut pastas, creative entrees: chicken, duck, fish and shrimp dishes as well as vegetarian dishes. Located in a quaint, historic loft surrounded by intriguing gifts from all over the world. Continental Breakfast, M-F; Lunch, M-Sa; Dinner, M-Su. Wheelchair access. 14 Imperial Place 751-9164 $$$

Caf Nuovo The dining room of this modern downtown restaurant is dominated by two huge murals in lively colors, an open kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city and River Park. Outside dining is an option during warmer months. The food is a fusion of American regional, European, Asian, and island flavors, and entres are served with dazzling presentations. Chocolate lovers should order the pot of mousse for dessert. Closed Sun. No lunch weekends. 1 Citizen's Plaza 421-2525 $$$ Capriccio Continental and Italian cuisine dominate the extensive menu at this luxurious restaurant. The dcor is formal and elegant. Valet parking available. Open M-F for lunch and daily for dinner. 2 Pine Street 421-1320 $$$$

Downcity Diner One of the best deals in town! 1940s diner style specializing in international comfort food! Specialties include warm duck salad, sausage and goat cheese crostini, and fettucubu with grilled sausage. Open for breakfast and lunch, M-F; dinner, W-Sa; and brunch Sa-Su. 151 Weybosset Street. 331-9217 $$ Mills Tavern Grand, inspired American dining from chef Jules Ramos and owner Jaime D'Oliveira. The dining room is as breathtaking as the menu. Casually upscale. Open for dinner Sun.-Thurs. 5-10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. till 11 p.m. Reservations recommended. Handicapped accessible. 101 North Main Street 272-3331 $$$ Pot au Feu Bistro and Salon Classically prepared French bistro fare in a wonderfully cozy setting. Bistro is casual, Salon is more upscale. Reservations accepted for Salon Not wheelchair accessible. Open for lunch Mon-Fri and dinner nightly (in July and August, they are closed on Sundays). 44 Custom House Street 273-8953 $$-$$$ 3 Steeple Street Eclectic food, from meal-size salads to nightly specials, at a perennial Providence favorite. Casual. Reservations accepted for 6 or more. Not wheelchair accessible. Open Mon-Sat for lunch and dinner, Sun for dinner only. 3 Steeple Street 272-3620 $$ Union Station Brewery 36 Exchange Terrace, Providence. 274-2739. Now owned by Cambridge's John Harvard Brew House, this was the first brewpub to open in Rhode Island. It sports a casual, brew house atmosphere with well-made food that's fun with the sporty beers. Casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open daily for lunch and dinner. $$

Empire In the heart of downtown, Empire lives up to its regal name and is perfect for before- or after-theater dining. The open, modern, and bright setting is matched by great selections of pasta, fish, chicken, and meat. The grilled pizza is a must. Closed Sun. 123 Empire Street 621-7911 $$$

New Japan Restaurant An authentic Japanese restaurant serving such specialties as tempura, teriyaki, sashiri, and suki yaki Sushi on Sunday evenings only. Fresh hand-selected fish, imported Japanese ingredients, quality sake, Japanese beer & plum wine available. Lunch & dinner, Tu-Su. Wheelchair access. 145 Washington Street 351-0300 $$ Raphael Bar-Risto Raphael's sophisticated menu puts an innovative spin on traditional Italian dishes such as ravioli, gnocchi, and risotto. The atmosphere is "see-and-be-seen" rather than intimate. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open Mon. through Fri. for lunch and dinner and Sat. and Sun. for dinner only. 1 Union Station $$$ Trinity Brewhouse Trinity Brewhouse serves a variety of foods including American, Hamburgers, Ribs and Steaks. They also have a wide range of sandwiches including vegetarian choices. Last but certainly not least, they micro brew all their own beer. 186 Fountain St 453-2337 $$ X O Caf A cozy spot with big-city style and creative dishes with on-the-edge presentation. Casually upscale. Reservations recommended. Bathrooms are wheelchair accessible, but there is no wheelchair ramp into the building. Open seven nights a week for dinner only. 125 North Main Street 273-9090 $$$

BREAKFAST SPOTS AROUND BROWN UNIVERSITY

Au Bon Pain 233 Thayer St. 751-0472 M-F: 7 am-8 pm Sat & Sun: 8 am-8pm Bagel Gourmet 250 Brook St. 453-5560 daily 7 am-6 pm Brickway on Wickenden 234 Wickenden St. 751-2477 M-F: 7 am-3pm S: 8 am-5 pm Su: 8 am-5 pm Coffee Exchange 213 Wickenden St. 273-1198 M-S: 6:30 am-11 pm Su: 7 am- 11 pm Down City Diner 151 Weybosset St. 331-9217 S & Su: 9 am-2 pm Dunkin Donuts 275 Thayer St. 621-9624 daily 6 am- 3 am Louis Restaurant 286 Brook St. 861-5225 daily 6 am-3 pm Meeting St. Caf 20 Meeting St. 273-1066 daily 7 am-8 pm Ocean Coffee Roasters 110 Waterman St. 331-5282 daily 7 am-8 pm

Rue de Lespoir 99 Hope St. 751-8890 T-F: 7:30-11 am S & Su: 8:30 am-2 pm Starbucks Coffee 218 Thayer St. 421-1677 M-F: 7 am- 11 pm S & Su: 7 am-11:30 pm 729 Hope St. 729 Hope St. 273-7290 M-Th: 6 am-9 pm F: 6 am-10 pm S & Su: 7 am-5 pm Tealuxe 231 Thayer Street 453-4832