The Providence Journal
Thursday March 25th 2004
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Hot spots to find warm meals and cold brews
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 25, 2004

BY GAIL CIAMPA
Journal Food Editor

So much food and dining, and so little time.

That's what visitors to Providence have before them.

To make the city's food hot spots a little easier to navigate, we've got a few suggestions to keep hockey fans going strong, and eating well, from morning until night.

In compiling a list like this, it is apparent what a wealth of riches the city has to offer foodwise. That means we can't list everyone, everywhere. We've mostly confined our list to spots that are within walking distance of the Dunkin' Donuts Center, the hub for the weekend's Frozen Four action. But that doesn't mean visitors can't hop into a car or cab and wander Wickenden Street for its fine restaurants, bakeries and pizzerias, or explore Hope Street and College Hill and find some of those gems.

You won't go wrong trying a bite in Providence. The people in the kitchen and behind the counter will see to it.

The basics

Need a morning coffee? Starbucks aficionados can get a fix at the shop in the Providence Biltmore.

There's also Brewed Awakenings, 5 Memorial Blvd., a stone's throw from the Courtyard Marriott, a very comfortable coffee house with many breakfast pastries. It's open late for cocktails and java and has plenty of dessert offerings.

If you make a visit to the Arcade, 65 Weybosset St., America's oldest mall (and probably its tiniest), you'll find Johansson's Bakery and Cafe, which is run by Johnson & Wales University and manned by its culinary students. Across the street is Amenities, 10 Dorrance St., (401) 272-2723, another good spot for breakfast and lunch sandwiches and salads.

Should you take a walk toward the river, Cafe 101 stands at the corner of Dyer and Pine streets, and offers comfy seating, coffee, sandwiches and salads througout the day and evening.

The brews

Those on the hunt for a good beer and a bite to eat have many nearby choices, including Trinity Brewhouse, 186 Fountain St., and Union Station Brewery, 36 Exchange Terrace, both of which brew their own specialty beers and ales. There's also Blake's Tavern, 122 Washington St.; Murphy's Deli and Bar, 55 Union St., and RiRa, an Irish pub at 50 Exchange Terrace.

The mall

In addition to having a food court on the third level that boasts sandwiches, fast food chicken and burgers, pizza and a Dave & Buster's arcade and restaurant, Providence Place mall on Francis Street also offers other dining alternatives.

There's Napa Valley Grille with its incredible California wine list and seasonal cuisine; the Cheesecake Factory with its outrageous portions of everything from avocado rolls to penne pasta; Joe's American Bar & Grill with burgers, chicken and more; Fire + Ice, where they stir-fry dinner in front of guests; and Leon's & Stitches Metropolitan Bistro, a comedy club and bistro.

'The Hill'

Federal Hill, along Atwells Avenue and Spruce Street, is Providence's Italian neighborhood for all things food and wine.

You can have veal parm at Angelo's Civita Farnese, 141 Atwells Ave. (or take it to go); fabulous Italian cookies and biscottis from Scialo Bros. Bakery, 257 Atwells Ave.; candy from Ocean State Chocolates and Confections, 294 Atwells Ave.; and some legendary desserts served in a cafe setting from Pastiche, 92 Spruce St. Venda Ravioli, 275 Atwells Ave., serves lunch in the back of its specialty market or slices up fresh cold meat for panini sandwiches on the grill.

Venda's owners have a restaurant for dinner, Costantino's Ristorante, 265 Atwell's Ave., in DePasquale Plaza. Along that square you'll also find fine dining at Plaza Grille, 64 DePasquale Plaza, and Viola's, 58 DePasquale Plaza. A few blocks down on Spruce Street is Casa Christine Restaurant, 145 Spruce St., a BYOB family-run place open for lunch and early dinner. Stop at Gasbarro's Liquor, 361 Atwells, whose parking lot practically faces Casa Christine, for a bottle of Italian wine to take there.

Back on Atwells Avenue, other fine dining spots to try include Mediterraneo, 134 Atwells; Pane e Vino, 365 Atwells; L'Epicureo, 238 Atwells; Aquaviva Restaurant, 286 Atwells; and Naissance, 242 Atwells. You'll find Camille's, 72 Bradford St., just off the avenue.

Federal Hill has pizza, too. There's Old World style with thick crust and great sauce from the family run Caserta's Pizzeria, 121 Spruce St. You can have pizza and specialty cocktails at Sikar & Providence Pizza, 200 Atwells Ave. For wood-grilled pizza, and great Caesar salads, calzones and more, there's Bob 'n' Timmy's Grille, 32 Spruce St. There's Chicago-style deep-dish pizza at Sicilia's Pizzeria, 181 Atwells Ave.

Find yourself on Federal Hill but not in the mood for Italian? There are sister restaurants Providence Prime, 279 Atwells, and the Providence Oyster Bar, 283 Atwells, a steakhouse/bistro and seafood/bistro with raw bar, respectively. There's also Gracie's, 409 Atwells Ave., which boasts exquisite neo-classical cuisine from chef Champe Speidel.

A few blocks south of Federal Hill is Broadway. There you'll find the city's only dim sum, served seven days a week at Phoenix Dragon, 256 Broadway. That street also offers Nicks on Broadway, 259 Broadway, a tiny but top spot for breakfast and lunch all weekend, and dinner Friday night; and Turtle Soup on Broadway, 166 Broadway, which serves dinner, and a late-night menu over the weekend.

The brunch

For Sunday brunch, there's CAV, 14 Imperial Place, a funky restaurant with fine food and fun surroundings, and for Saturday and Sunday brunch, Downcity Food & Cocktails, 151 Weybosset St., with fun food inspired by near and far. Both also serve lunch and dinner.

There's also LJ's BBQ, 605 Douglas Ave., which serves brunch both weekend days and offers a wide-ranging menu.

Downtown restaurants

Within easy walking distance of The Dunk are restaurants big and small. Small but fine is New Japan, 145 Washington St., with Japanese cuisine, and sushi on the weekends. Kestral, 123 Empire St., one of the city's newest spots, does food and drink on two levels. Tazza, 250 Westminster St. in the Alice Building, is a spot where food and drink and music equal fun.

In the Exchange Terrace area, you'll find the Capital Grille steakhouse and Raphael Bar Risto, an inventive, upscale Italian restaurant. High up across the Water Park you'll see Bella Vista, 1 American Express Way.

Walk beyond the area and you'll find some of the city's best spots. Cafe Nuovo at One Citizens Plaza has the best restaurant view of the river and contemporary cuisine. Keep walking and you'll find the cozy jewel New Rivers, 7 Steeple St., whose menu takes from international cuisines. Mill's Tavern, 101 North Main St., is a stunning restaurant with open kitchen, raw bar and American cuisine. XO Cafe, 125 North Main St., serves the city's best and most expensive hamburger (truffles and foie gras make it so).

Follow the river south and you'll find a French-made rotisserie keeps things warm and makes great food at Parkside Rotisserie & Bar, 76 South Main St. Neath's, 262 Water St., serves Asian fusion at its best. Fahrenheit Bar & Bistro, 345 Water St., serves creative American bistro fare. Hemenway's Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar, One Providence Washington Plaza, is a popular spot for treats from the sea. 3 Steeple Street, 125 Canal St., is a comfortable restaurant in one of the city's oldest buildings.

For a romantic dessert, or liqueur-laced coffee, there's L'Elizabeth, 285 South Main St.

Cross over the river to find 10 Prime Steak and Sushi, 10 Pine St., which does both well and makes fabulous drinks, too. Pot au Feu Bistro, 44 Custom House St., does lovely French dishes in a romantic setting. America, 52 Pine St., has an American menu and cigar lounge.

The short-hop spots, and more

Nearly everyone coming to Providence has one place they want to try -- Al Forno, 577 South Main St. George Germon and Johanne Killeen set the tone for upscale dining with Mediterranean-inspired food and grilled pizza no one can touch. No reservations, so arrive early or stay late.

Big Fish, 370 Richmond St., is a flashy seafood restaurant that offers fun and food.

On College Hill, there's great Indian food at Kabob and Curry, 261 Thayer St., and Italian specialties at Adesso California Cafe.

Chez Pascal, 960 Hope St., makes it French modern.

For the late night crowd, Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, does great tapas plus great cocktails. Bevo, 566 South Main St., does late-night bites and a stellar martini menu.

To top it all off

Try one perfect piece of handmade chocolate from Garrison Confections, 17 Washington St., which faces City Hall from its sweet little shop in the back of the Biltmore.