• HOME
• FOOD
• RECIPES
• DINING
• DRINKS
• SHOP
• TRAVEL
• ABOUT

$----UNDER $10
$$----$10-$20
$$$----$20-$30

Adesso
161 Cushing Street
401-521-0770

CASUAL $$

Chef Thomas Dahl, who has worked at Le Cote Basque and The Sign of the Dove in New York City, describes Adesso as a California cafe with a menu that has Pacific Rim and Italian influences.

Adesso opened in 1986 and has always had a faithful following. Residents of the fashionable East Side of Providence and folks from Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design are regular customers.

A wide-open kitchen and a large greenhouse dining room makes Adesso unique. Authentic wood-grilled food is offered on the menu, as well as hot and cold appetizers, imported and fresh pasta dishes, pizzas, and salads large enough to serve as an entree.

Adesso is famous for its Caesar salad with sliced rare grilled tuna. Other interesting dishes include Cajun fried squid rings, a warm spinach salad, freshly made mozzarella served with plum tomatoes, fresh basil and extra
virgin olive oil, gnocchi in a pink sauce, stuffed pastas, and fettuccine dishes flavored with lobster meat.

Adesso is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 10:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11:30 p.m.

Agora
1 West Exchange Street
401-598-8011

UPSCALE $$$

Agora is located in the Westin Hotel, just a short walk from the brand new Providence Place mall. The menu showcases eclectic New England cooking with an emphasis on fresh seasonal ingredients. Executive Chef Casey Riley constantly changes the menu based on the availability of products.

Seafood is a specialty at Agora. Some of the creative signature entrees include poached Atlantic salmon with corn-jasmine rice salad, cucumber and Chinese chile sauce; skillet roasted crab-stuffed flounder with apricot-almond custard and native greens; seared coriander rubbed yellowfin tuna with annato rice, tempura beans and chanterelle reduction.

Other wood-grilled items include aged beef rib-eye with Dijon glaze, roasted potato and rosemary jus; beef tenderloin with roasted corn crust, smashed fingerling potato with chevre and scallions and a port-basil sauce;
spice-rubbed pork tenderloin with pistachio-cheddar polenta and tomatillo-sweet pepper sauce.

On the side, Riley offers "extra pleasures" such as truffled mashed potato, risotto with many vegetables, and tempura-fried summer beans. His baked sweet potato goes from ordinary to extraordinary with the addition of cinnamon butter.

Desserts include Belgian chocolate cake with a warm molten center sitting in a pool of white chocolate sauce. The extensive wine selection has labels from around the world.

Agora is open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Al Forno
577 South Main Street
401-273-9760

CASUAL $$$

Al Forno means "from the oven." Chef-owners Johanne Killeen and George Germon were inspired by Northern Italy's fine cuisine which makes extensive use of wood-burning ovens and open-flame grills. They are most famous for inventing wood-grilled pizza. In recent years, they also have become known for their oven-baked pasta dishes, vegetable combinations fragrant with garlic, olive oil and Mediterranean herbs, and superb desserts all cooked to order with the freshest ingredients.

The street-level section of this restaurant is called "Provincia," and its menu evokes the sights and smells of Provence, that idyllic region of France where Killeen and Germon often vacation. But the Al Forno "classics" – the signature dishes for which the restaurant is so well known – are available upstairs and downstairs. They include Clams Al Forno, Baked Pasta in the Pink with Cream and Five Cheeses, and, of course, the Garlic Mashed Potatoes. If you like your steak on the rare side, the Dirty Steak – which is cooked right in the burning wood embers, not on the grill – is nothing short of fabulous.

Killeen and Germon have been honing their culinary skills for more than 30 years. They describe their menu – which changes slightly every day and significantly every season – as "original modern Italian" with an emphasized
use of wood-fired ovens and grills.

Al Forno is open Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m.

Amicus
345 South Water Street
401-521-7722

CASUAL $$

Mediterranean and modern American food are served at Amicus, a very hip restaurant that regularly draws young urban professionals to its lively bar. Amicus is located in a prime location along the River Walk, a great spot to try on a WaterFire night.

Chef Tony Lucci changes the menu every few months. Some recent appetizer offerings included wild mushroom dumplings served with frizzled leeks and a truffled smoked tomato broth, a lobster and clam risotto, grilled pizzas, roasted elephant garlic served with warm goat cheese, pan-seared sea scallops, grilled veal sausage, a smoked salmon napoleon, and marinated grilled calamari. The salads are out of the ordinary – duck salad, beet and chevre salad, and hearts of palm salad, among others.

The entrees have something for everyone. Fresh pasta is tossed with a rich meat sauce. The cavatelli features sautéed chicken, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives and fresh herbs. Grilled items include
mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, shrimp, and a vegetarian platter. The roast duck is served with a dried cherry sauce. The leg of lamb is slow cooked for hours in its own juices. The beef rib eye is cooked Cajun style. There's also sea bass, salmon, veal and pork to tempt the taste buds.

Amicus is famous for its decadent desserts, including Hot Chocolate Mousse, which consists of chocolate bread pudding served with hazelnut gelato in an almond lace shell. Also worth trying is the sorbet dish, with scoops of
coconut ice and mango sorbet swirled in a raspberry puree.

Amicus is open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Apsara Asian Restaurant
716 Public Street
401-785-1490

CASUAL $

No matter where you are in Providence, you can find outstanding Asian food in small neighborhood restaurants. Three in particular come to mind, each in a different part of the city.

Depending on who you talk to, Apsara is considered to be the granddaddy of all Asian restaurants in the city. Many say it also happens to offer the best Asian food. Located in South Providence, it certainly lacks atmosphere, but its low prices make it especially appealing to local college students.

Apsara specializes in fine Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes and is famous for its many, many soups, spicy natang, nime chow, orange beef, spicy pork with lemon grass, and sautéed chicken over crispy noodles with straw mushrooms, snow peas, broccoli, carrots and bamboo shoots.

Apsara is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (and a half-hour later on Friday and Saturday nights). Apsara has no liquor license but customers are allowed to BYOB. Free parking is available on the street and in a small parking lot beside the restaurant.

AquaViva EuroBistro
286 Atwells Avenue
401-273-8664

CASUAL $$

New York has Tapeo. Chicago has Ba-Ba Reeba. Boston has Dali. Los Angeles has Iberico. And now Providence has AquaViva EuroBistro, the first tapas restaurant in Rhode Island that features the cuisines of Europe United.

More than 50 varieties of tapas await you at this brand new city restaurant which opened in 1999. The sleek and sophisticated aqua and silver decor has a South Beach, Florida, atmosphere. The walls are covered with old photos from Italy and huge metal eating utensils. AquaViva EuroBistro is the creation of the very talented Walter Potenza, who is as much a historian as he is a chef.

His menu offers hot and cold tapas from all parts of Europe. The most expensive item on the menu is priced at $12. Customers usually order two or three items and share these small portion entrees with one another.

Some of the hot tapas include Alsatian lentil soup with sausage and potatoes; a Spanish omelet with potatoes, onion, saffron and olives; a Portuguese dish of clams, chorizo, garlic and beans; a tart of onion, anchovies and olives from Provence; Belgian beef stew braised in dark beer with onions and brown sugar; and Venetian-style caronaroli rice with asparagus and chicken breast.

Some of the cold tapas include assorted Spanish olives marinated in citrus juice; a classic chicken liver spread from Burgundy; imported Umbrian porcini marinated in olive oil; and Swedish crackers topped with smoked salmon.

Customers are encouraged to explore the beers and wines of the world while dining at AquaViva EuroBistro. More than 20 beers are available, as well as wines by the flight and a full bar. The espresso beans are roasted
specifically for the restaurant. This unusual bistro is also open for continental breakfast and lunch.

AquaViva EuroBistro is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight.

The Boathouse Restaurant at Waterplace Park
1 American Express Way
401-272-1040

CASUAL $$

Step into the Boathouse Restaurant, and you step back in time. Real boats hang from the soaring ceiling. Old-time photos from summers long past hang on the walls. You can't help but feel nostalgic as you head to the inviting outdoor patio which looks out over Waterplace Park.

The menu at the Boathouse Restaurant at Waterplace Park is updated once a year and features classic dishes as well as contemporary favorites with an emphasis on seafood and Italian cuisine.

The classics include clams casino, steamers, shrimp cocktail, littlenecks and oysters on the half shell, smoked salmon, Caesar salad, New England clam chowder, filet mignon, prime rib, rack of lamb, veal piccata, shrimp scampi, broiled scallops, baked scrod, grilled swordfish, chicken marsala and fried seafood.

The trendier menu items consist of fried calamari, buffalo tenders, crab cakes, crab cocktail claws, grilled portabello salad and lobster ravioli.

The award-winning chef at the Boathouse is Michael V. Lombardi. One of the most popular appetizers on his menu is the bruschetta – sautéed mushrooms sit atop ripe Roma tomatoes flavored with garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar on garlic crostini.

The Boathouse is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch and from 4 to 10 p.m. for dinner.

Cafe Nuovo
One Citizens Plaza
401-421-2525

UPSCALE $$$

Sleek, sophisticated, a chic outpost where fine art and fine food meet and mingle – that's Cafe Nuovo. A panoramic view of the city, spectacular at night, is offered at this out-of-the-ordinary restaurant, located on
Riverwalk.

Executive Chef Timothy J. Kelley's spectacular menu fuses American, European, Asian and Caribbean cuisines. For instance, the ambitious appetizer listing includes baby back ribs, escargot, shrimp nime chow and crab cakes, taking you on a trip around the world.

Kelley takes the ubiquitous Caesar salad and makes it special with the additional of fennel-scented focaccia sticks. The baby spinach salad is dressed with a roasted shallot vinaigrette, and the arugula salad is presented with warm Vermont goat cheese.

Pasta reigns supreme at Cafe Nuovo, from the lobster-stuffed ravioli that is served with a half lobster tail over wilted spinach in a grappa tomato cream sauce to the baked penne with veal tenderloins. Risotto, linguine, lasagna, lo mein and orecchiette – all with unique sauces and accompaniments – round out the pasta offerings.

Main courses include duck, chicken, pork loin, rack of lamb, aged Black Angus sirloin, veal, salmon and yellowfin tuna. The more unusual entrees are the lamb shank braised for six hours and served with Greek orzo, the beef tenderloin "on the bone" with a Cabernet reduction, the Texas antelope with soft polenta in a port wine sauce, the Dover sole served tableside, the Gulf snapper with a Pinot Noir risotto, and the bouillabaisse brimming with native seafood.

Cafe Nuovo is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.

Capital Grille
One Cookson Place
401-521-5600

UPSCALE $$$

The Capital Grille is an upscale classic-style steakhouse, part of a chain that has operations in major cities across the nation.

Executive Chef Chris Phillips , who loves to garden, changes the menu at the Capital Grille at least once a year. Since this restaurant opened, it has repeatedly won the Rhode Island Monthly annual award for "best fine dining"
in Rhode Island.

The dinner menu offers elegant appetizers, mostly seafood: lobster and crab cakes, cold baby lobster with confetti mayonnaise, steak tartare, beluga caviar and raw shellfish. In addition to clam chowder, there's the Capital Grille's famous pea soup and French onion soup. Six different salads are offered, from Caesar to spinach.

Dry-aged steaks take center stage, especially the steak au poivre with a cognac cream sauce. Veal chops, lamb chops and roasted chicken round out the meaty side of the menu.

For seafood lovers, there's lobster, grilled swordfish, Norwegian salmon filet, blackened tuna and giant shrimp scampi.

Side dishes, which cost extra, include mashed potatoes, Lyonnaise potatoes, cottage fries, onion strings, baked potato, asparagus with hollandaise sauce, creamed spinach, roasted seasonal mushrooms and seasonal fresh vegetables.

Desserts match up to the classic entrees: flourless chocolate espresso cake, key lime pie, white chocolate mousse, creme brulee, cheesecake with strawberries, tiramisu, fresh strawberries in cream with brown sugar, ice
cream and sorbet.

Capital Grille is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.

Cav
14 Imperial Place
401-751-9164

CASUAL $$

Cav is an antiques-filled cafe that offers an eclectic menu prepared by an eclectic staff to a curious customer base. Turkish rugs under glass serve as tablecloths. Unusual gifts fill every nook and cranny. Cool jazz is offered
on Friday and Saturday nights.

Over the past five years, Cav has blossomed into a full-service restaurant, open seven days a week, with a vast menu, full bar and seating for 125 customers. All kinds of people are drawn to Cav – men and women in business suits, students, artists, and visitors from as far away as New York come to be dazzled by the decor and the food.

The crispy pan-seared calamari is cooked quickly in a very, very hot pan, then seasoned with fresh basil and plenty of pepper. Portabello mushrooms are also pan seared with red and white wine and herbs, then served on a bed of fresh spinach that has been barely wilted by a hot sauce. A miniature quiche accompanies this dish.

Large-size shrimp are sautéed with mushrooms and fresh tomato chunks in a vodka butter sauce laced with fresh herbs, and it's all served over freshly made pasta, either herb and garlic fettuccine or tomato-basil linguine.

The piece de resistance is the massive filet mignon, pan-seared and served with a tri-peppercorn brandy demi-glace, asparagus and acorn squash, stuffed with a fresh apple and drizzled with maple syrup and toasted almonds.

Stand-out desserts include the Carmen Miranda Fruit Tart, the chocolatey Gateau Concorde and the Viennese Chocolate Mousse Roll -- the house specialty.

Cav is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Downcity
151 Weybosset Street
401-331-9217

CASUAL $$

Lunch at Downcity is always a feel-good experience, whether you order thefamous meatloaf with Maker's Mark gravy or the big burger on a parmesan roll with sweet potato fries.

Burnt sienna, ochre and black make up the warm earthtone color scheme. Even the menu has a sleek look. Great big cocktails are served, and the wine list at Downcity is quite respectable.

The menu offers Finnan Haddie Chowder, prepared with smoked haddock, clams and tiny potatoes in a buttery, creamy broth. The Sun-Dried Tomato Polenta is madewith sautéed portabello mushrooms on a bed of tender baby spinach, and the Roasted Portabello is stuffed with crab meat, shallots and roasted peppers.

For entrees, there's the Atlantic Salmon Teriyaki with crispy chow fun noodles, shiitake mushrooms and plenty of pea pods. The salmon isgenerous in size, moist and flavorful. The chow fun noodles were just plain
fun - they look soft and mushy, but they are crispy and crunchy, toppedwith hoisin sauce. The two-inch thick Spicy Maple-Glazed Pork Loin comes with mashed sweet potatoes.

Desserts include blackberry ice cream pie, Georgia peach bread pudding and Linzer torte.

The most amazing thing about DowncIty is the price of dinner. In Boston,these types of meals would cost at least $25 each. In New York, forget aboutit. Dinners at Downcity cost only between $8.95 and $15.95.

Downcity is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to closing, and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eclectic Grille
245 Atwells Avenue
401-831-8010

CASUAL $$

Ever since it opened in 1994, the Eclectic Grille has been one of the most popular restaurants in the city of Providence. Exuding rustic charm, the casually upscale Eclectic Grille is deceiving in appearance. From the street, it appears to be small. Step inside and it seems to go on forever. In warm weather, the front windows are thrown open to let the sights and sound of Federal Hill into the stylish restaurant.

The romantic bar and dining room glow in shades of yellow and gold with exposed brick, dark woods and a rough-hewn floor. The strange-looking bar stools are surprisingly comfortable – just don't lean back too far. The bar food gets an enthusiastic thumbs up, oversized martini glasses are filled with warm soft honey-mustard pretzel bites.

In the main dining room in the rear of the restaurant, patrons are offered a wide-open view of the busy kitchen.

Owned by the Rocchio family, the Eclectic Grille has Joseph Rocchio as the executive chef. Rocchio describes his menu as "diverse and international with strong Italian influences." The portions are large. The flavors are bold.

The Eclectic Grille is open Monday through Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.

Empire
123 Empire Street
401-621-7376

CASUAL $$$

Ancient Rome meets Metropolis – that's the feeling you get when you step into Empire, one of the city's newest and hippest restaurants, located in the historic Packard Building in the downtown Arts District near Trinity
Repertory Theater.

Chef-owners Loren Falsone and Eric Moshier serve regional Italian cuisine. The menu changes daily. Many appetizers are offered, as well as a half-dozen pasta dishes and a dozen entrees.

Typical appetizers include Nana's meatball soup, a seared beef tenderloin salad, prosciutto and Black Mission figs, Nicoise salad with seared sesame-coated tuna, bagna cauda, and various grilled pizzas.

The classic spaghetti Bolognese is offered, as well as rigatoni with a fresh tomato sauce, buttered fettuccine with spicy shrimp, and farfalle with parsley pesto and prosciutto.

Main dishes feature a double marinated half chicken, an oven-poached salmon, a griddled Delmonico steak, and a crispy duck soup, as well as a roasted Cornish hen, a roasted ocean catfish, a veal chop with fried sweetbread
giblets, a griddled filet mignon, and a roasted rack of lamb. For vegetarians, there's the roasted cabbage stuffed with portabello mushrooms, carrots and onions, served with crispy grilled potato torta. Empire is already famous for its French fries, accompanied by a lemony mayonnaise.

The desserts are sublime: a "roasted" peach pie, coconut mascarpone soufflé, chocolate meringue cake, and the house special – a chocolate-filled caramelized Bomboloncini with custard sauce, fresh cherries and whipped
cream. Dessert wines by the glass are also available, as well as fine European coffees and many exotic teas.

Empire is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight. The hours may vary in the summer months.

Fire + Ice
Providence Place (Francis Street side)
401-270-4040

CASUAL $

Fire + Ice is an "improvisational grill" – that is, you create your own meal by selecting ingredients from a wide variety of fresh seafood, meat, vegetables, pastas and sauces, all on display at gourmet market stations.

Chefs positioned around a 30-foot circular grill prepare your selection in minutes while you watch. Steaming bowls of rice and warm tortillas await you at your table. Salads are also available. They claim you could eat for years at Fire + Ice and never have the same meal twice.

There is no set menu at Fire + Ice. The ingredients change because of seasonality and availability. You may create as many meals as you like, returning to the grill as often as your appetite allows. Prices range from
$7.75 to $13.75.

Fire + Ice is a big, sometimes noisy, fun restaurant The colorful interior design is outlandish. This entertaining interactive dining experience is ideal for families and first dates.

Fire + Ice is open seven days a week for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and for dinner from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Four Seasons
361 Reservoir Avenue
401-461-5651

CASUAL $
Four Seasons, located near the Cranston city line, offers Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian as well as Szechwan food. No less than nine different kinds of chicken wings are available, not to mention the 22 soups on the massive menu. The Tom Yam soups come highly recommended.

The vegetable mooshi comes with delicate pancakes and a zippy hoisin sauce. Other favorites are the shrimp pad Thai, vegetable fried rice and, of course, the nime chow.

Four Seasons is located in a strip mall and features typical Asian restaurant atmosphere.

Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Four Seasons has a full liquor license and plenty of free parking.

Gatehouse
4 Richmond Square
401-521-9229

UPSCALE $$$

One of the most romantic restaurants in Providence, the candlelit Gatehouse has been pleasing people since opening its doors in 1993. Located in a historic building, the Gatehouse offers a lovely view of the Seekonk River.

What makes the Gatehouse unique is the Chef’s Table in the Chef’s Room, available by reservation only. All who dine in this part of the restaurant are treated as friends of the chef. Beautiful plates of food are brought from
the kitchen into the chef’s room by the chef who takes the time to chat and visit with dinner guests. Customers are offered a choice -- they can order from the menu, or they can put themselves in the hands of the chef who will select a very special menu for them.

Executive Chef Holly Dion's appetizer menu, which has an emphasis on seafood, offers pan-roasted littleneck clams, lobster sherry risotto, Rhode Island grilled oysters, sesame seared yellowfin tuna, and a trio of salads.

Dinner entrees include a wonderful Colorado ribeye steak, a Moroccan-style tilapia, a filet of beef and lobster bordelaise, a lavender-scented chicken breast, blackened yellowfin tuna, a boneless duck with sun-dried cherry
sauce, a tamarind-glazed salmon and a pasta dish that changes nightly.

Those in search of a "healthy" dessert will like the fresh fruit served over lemon-lime granita in a martini glass. The rest can splurge on banana caramel creme brulee, mixed berry summer trifle, seasonal free-form tart, and
chocolate hazelnut velvet cake.

The Gatehouse is open every day from 5:30 to 10 p.m. The lounge is open until 1 a.m.

Gourmet House
787 Hope Street
401-621-9818

CASUAL $

On the fashionable east side of Providence, is Gourmet House, the prettiest of all the Asian restaurants. It specializes in Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese cuisines.

The Gourmet House menu goes on forever. All the usual suspects are there – plenty of appetizers, six kinds of chicken wings, many soups and a wide variety of mooshi dishes from which to choose.

Some of the most popular dishes include the Vietnamese-style nime chow, the string beans with garlic sauce, banh hoi and bee boong.

Open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Gourmet House offers beer and wine to customers. Free parking is available on the street.

Gracie's Bar & Grille
409 Atwells Avenue
401-272-7811

CASUAL $$

You'll see stars when you walk into Gracie's Bar & Grille, one of the newer restaurants in Providence. Stars adorn the windows. Your drink will be placed on a star-shaped coaster. Warm bread from the kitchen will arrive in a star-shaped basket.

The food is "new wave continental cuisine." For instance, the Polenta and Pesto Lasagna is somehow light and rich at the same time. Medallions of polenta sit on a bed of broccoli rabe and portabello mushrooms. The polenta is topped with pesto, ricotta cheese and garlic au jus.

The Blackened Catfish comes with red onion marmalade, fresh whole green beans and roasted red potatoes. Other entrees include filet mignon, New York strip steak, smoked pork tenderloin, rack of lamb, red snapper and grilled salmon.

The pan-fried calamari is very tender, dusted with spices and garnished with an edible flower. Other appetizers include gulf shrimp with newburg sauce in a puff pastry shell, grilled polenta, white water mussels over fresh pasta, Gracie's ravioli, and marinated beef tenderloin strips. The five-onion soup is a simmering crock of leeks, scallions, Spanish, red and white onions in a rich veal stock with a hint of sherry and topped with Gruyere cheese. Clam chowder and Tuscan white bean soup are also available, as well as a variety of salads.

One of the most popular desserts is the chocolate creme brulee for two, garnished with luscious fresh berries.

Gracie's is open for dinner Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11:30 p.m. The bar is open one hour later.

Gregg's Restaurant
1303 North Main Street
401-831-5700

CASUAL $

Pure comfort food – that's what Gregg's is all about. The menu is huge, the booths are big and comfy, and the food is American home-style. The award-winning desserts are considered among the best in New England.

Gregg's menu is awesome with page after page of tempting food items. All the basics are covered, from Buffalo wings to Caesar salad to New York-style deli sandwiches to New England boiled dinner. In some ways, Gregg's is a modern-day diner with classic diner meals such as roast turkey with all the fixings, baked Virginia ham, liver and onions and grilled ham steak. The Mile-High Meatloaf Dinner is memorable – it's served on extra-thick multi-grain bread, smothered with mashed potatoes and gravy, and topped with onion rings.

The more unusual dishes include fried zucchini rings, cheese fries, spinach and cheese dip, focaccia sandwiches, and crispy calamari pasta. One entire page of the menu is devoted to low-fat fare such as Pasta Frizado, penne
pasta tossed with fresh seasonal vegetables and Creole sauce. Another page of the menu lists numerous vegetarian dishes including a veggie roll-up, a vegetable turnover, and vegetable stir-fry pasta.

And then there are those desserts – huge slabs of cakes, including Death by Chocolate; home-style pies; rich and creamy cheesecakes; and old-time favorites, such as eclairs, cream puffs, and hot apple crisp.

Gregg's is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to midnight (1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday).

Hemenway's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar
One Providence Washington Place
401-351-8570

CASUAL $$

Hemenway's – a riverfront seafood restaurant especially popular with the city's younger crowd – is famous for its fresh seafood and raw bar. The menu changes at least once a year. In the annual "Best of Rhode Island" awards,
Hemenway's has taken top honors for its chowders and lobster bisque.

Dinner entrees come with a choice of house salad or Caesar salad, and a choice of baked potato, mashed potatoes, French fries, rice pilaf or seasonal fresh vegetable.

The menu lists where today's fresh catch is from – Arctic char from Iceland, catfish from Mississippi, scrod from New Bedford, swordfish from Canada, tuna from Point Judith, scallops from Cape Cod, rainbow trout from Idaho, halibut from Nova Scotia, grouper and snapper from Florida, and so on.Shrimp, crab, lobster and fried seafood dinners are also available, as well as chilled entrees, dinner salads and pastas, all with seafood as a main
ingredient.

For landlubbers, there are steaks and chicken dishes, including a citrus-grilled chicken.

Reservations are a must. Even on a weeknight, an hour's wait for a table is not unusual.

Hemenway's is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Intermezzo
220 Weybosset Street
401-331-5100

CASUAL $$

Intermezzo on Weybosset deserves a standing ovation for its imaginative and diverse menu, its use of the highest quality ingredients, its colorful presentations and - most importantly - its absolutely delicious food.

Located right next to the Providence Performing Arts Center, Intermezzo is a favorite place of the theater crowd.

Two of the more unusual characters that make up the cast at Intermezzo are the Crisp Ravioli, stuffed with jalapeno cheese and topped with a remoulade sauce, and the Tuscan Quesadilla, filled with white beans, chicken and cheese and served with sour cream, guacamole and sun-dried tomatoes. This is fusion cuisine that works.

The signature sandwiches are served on either French batard or focaccia bread, with lettuce, superb tomatoes and satisfying curly fries. The oh-so-tender Black Angus Tenderloin sandwich is grilled to order and seasoned
with pesto. Another good choice is the Summer Shrimp Sandwich made with whole jumbo shrimp and a dressing of yogurt, dill and garlic.

The pasta dishes come in full and half orders. The Tagliatelle di Capensante is made with whole jumbo shrimp, spinach, plum tomatoes, white wine, olive oil, garlic and fresh basil, then dusted with a quality mozzarella cheese.

The dessert menu is small but solid. The mango sorbet is served on a cloud of whipped cream with a large sea shell made of dark chocolate. Cappuccino, espresso and international coffees round out the bill of fare. A full bar is alsoavailable.

Intermezzo is open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday.

Julian's
318 Broadway
401-861-1770

CASUAL $

Julian's is quite possibly the funkiest restaurant in Providence. Wacky little knick-knacks fill every nook and cranny. Even the bathroom is interesting.

Julian's is owned by Julian Paul Fogue, who learned the restaurant business the hard way – on the job. This is his first restaurant. It opened in 1996 and has gained a loyal clientele who appreciate the creative American fare on
the menu. Julian describes it simply as "good food" built around the changing seasons. The menu changes quite often, and unusual specials are offered on a daily basis.

Julian's does not have a liquor license, but customers are permitted to BYOB – that is, bring their own alcoholic beverages to have with dinner.

Julian's is open seven days a week for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Kabob-N-Curry
261 Thayer Street
401-273-8844

CASUAL $

The highly traditional Indian food at Kabob-N-Curry is simply superb. TheVegetarian Appetizer Platter allows you to sample Samosas, Pakoras and Potato Tikki. The Samosas are turnovers stuffed with seasoned potatoes, green peas and cashews. There are two kinds of Pakoras on the platter – fresh vegetable fritters and unprocessed cheese fritters. The Potato Tikki (fried potato balls) are highly seasoned and grilled.

Nann, leavened buttered bread, goes well with Indian food. At Kabob-N-Curry, however, nann is kicked up a notch and stuffed. The choice is yours: potato and green peas; ground lamb; chopped onions and chili peppers; unprocessed cheese. The nann that's stuffed with chopped garlic and cilantro is positively addictive.

The boneless chunks of lamb in the Lamb Curry, cooked with onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes in a curry sauce, are incredibly tender. The Keshmi Kabob causes heads to turn. The all-white chicken meat in a low-calorie marinade – cooked in a traditional clay oven called the tandoor – is served on a sizzling hot platter. Both dishes are served with aromatic basmati rice. The authentic rice pilaf is prepared with saffron and cumin.

The desserts are pure comfort food, especially Badami Kheer, or rice pudding with almonds and cashews, flavored with cardamom and served chilled.

Chef-owner Sanjiv Dhar, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, is extremely proud of his restaurant and does not hesitate to tell you it is simply, without a doubt, the best Indian restaurant in Providence. He just
might be right about that.

Kabob-N-Curry is open every day for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

Leon's on the West Side
166 Broadway
401-273-1055

CASUAL $$

Mighty fine dining awaits you at Leon's on the West Side, as well as a wait staff that seems to really care about its customers. This is a casual metropolitan bistro that serves Mediterranean-style cuisine.

The breaded and deep-fried calamari comes two ways. Billy's Squid is mixed with a blend of olive oil, cheese, lemon juice and fresh herbs. Leon's Squid is a bit wilder, topped with roasted peppers, Bermuda onions, hot cherry pepper rings, fresh garlic and herbs in a dry vermouth and balsamic vinegar dressing (that you just have to dip your bread into).

It is said that Leon's serves the best burgers in the city. The hand-cut fries, in rich shades of brown, are so good, they don't even need to be salted.

Leon's is famous for its create-your-own pasta dishes. For instance, cappellini pasta with shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts in a pink sauce.

Desserts include an extraordinary creme brulee made with dried cherries and a warm bread pudding with a bourbon maple sauce -- airy comfort food.

Leon's is also famous for its Sunday brunch. The wine cellar has a 220-bottle selection.

Leon's is at its best on Wednesday nights when Bill Andrews takes to his drums along with guest musicians, and wife Mary sings her heart out.

Leon's is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., and for Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

L'imaj
566 South Main Street
401-751-3000

UPSCALE $$$

L'imaj is one of Providence's newest restaurants, and it is already one of the city's best. Say hello to a sexy, sophisticated establishment that makes you feel welcome the minute you leave your car with the valet for parking. Cool jazz...subdued lighting...jewel-tone objects of art...an enticing lounge with romantic love seats...a handsome wait staff smartly attired in black-on-black uniforms.

The Paté de Paris was served artfully, with toast points and a Dijon mustard-honey sauce and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The elegant Japanese grilled pork on skewers is served with a lively plum sauce. The spinach salad consists of delicate baby spinach, pine nuts, mild chevre cheese and a warm honey-mustard dressing. The entrees are stunning in their presentation.

For dessert, the hazelnut Amaretto mousse cake with Chambord liqueur on the side is really too good to share.

L'imaj is open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner and late-night dining.

Mediterraneo
134 Atwells Avenue
401-331-7760

CASUAL $$$

Mediterraneo is a very European-style restaurant that attracts Hollywood celebrities whenever they are in town. In warm weather months, the front and sides of the building completely open up, and tables are placed on the
sidewalk for al fresco dining.

Authentic, traditional Italian cuisine is offered at the lively Mediterraneo.The menu is written in Italian with English translations. Antipasti (appetizers) include paper-thin cured beef tenderloin, arugula, shaved parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and extra-large capers, drizzled with fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, and Portuguese-style littleneck clams sautéed in olive oil with garlic, fennel, clam juice and fresh tomatoes.

The Insalate (salads) include a Caesar salad with anchovy dressing, and the classic Italian combination of imported mozzarella cheese, Parma prosciutto, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Four pizzas are offered, including a four-cheese pizza with Bel Paese, fontina, mascarpone and Asiago cheeses.

The Primi Piatti (pasta dishes) consist of orecchiette, rigatoni, penne, fusilli, ravioli, pappardelle, gnocchi and spaghetti, each with their own unique sauce. The spiral-shaped fusilli, for instance, is served in a pink sauce made from plum tomatoes sautéed in butter with onions, pancetta Italian bacon), vodka and heavy cream. The gnocchi (potato dumplings) are flavored with a fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil sauce.

For Secondi Piatti (entrees), a dozen dishes are listed – chicken, turkey breast, salmon, veal, pork chops and steaks, as well as medleys and mixed grills of seafood and fresh seasonal marinated vegetables. One of the more popular dinner items is the Italian-style surf and turf – a grilled filet mignon and grilled jumbo shrimp.

Mediterraneo is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. The restaurant is also open on Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. in the winter months and from 5 to 9 p.m. in the summer months.

Napa Valley Grille
Providence Place Mall
270-NAPA (6272)

UPSCALE $$$

Napa Valley Grille is a casual fine dining restaurant featuring Wine Country cuisine and ambiance, and emphasizing seasonal ingredients and an impressive selection of wines from the Napa Valley and other premium California wine-growing regions.

Executive Chef John Caputo's philosophy is simple. "Buy the best, freshest quality ingredients, and prepare them simply but with a flair – that is the key to great cuisine," he says.

The dinner menu at Napa Valley Grille features exciting first courses, such as a Wine Country harvest platter, a warm leek confit and portobello tart, clams steamed in Chardonnay, an oxtail, fingerling potato and leek terrine,
and a wood-fired quail salad.

Entrees include crab-crusted Maine cod, cinnamon-smoked duck, and olive-crusted rack of lamb. To go with all this superb food is a massive wine list, more than 400 bottles from which to choose. Many are also sold by the
glass.

Napa Valley Grille is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch; Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner; Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. for dinner; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch, and from 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner.

New Japan
145 Washington Street
401-351-0300

CASUAL $$

New Japan is an authentic Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Providence within walking distance of Trinity Repertory Theater. With only 30 seats, New Japan offers an intimate dining experience.

The dinner menu lists nine appetizers including sashimi, an assortment of ocean-fresh raw fish, for which Japanese restaurants are so famous. Gyoza are steamed dumplings filled with finely chopped beef and vegetables. Yaki Tori is succulent skewered chicken breast broiled in teriyaki sauce.

Two soups and nine entrees round out the menu. Rice and salad accompany every dinner item.

Teriyaki dinners are prepared with a choice of beef, chicken, fish, swordfish or salmon. One of the more unusual menu items is the Foil Yaki Dinner in which fish, shrimp, chicken and vegetables are seasoned with soy sauce and butter, then wrapped in foil for roasting in the oven. The foil packet is cut open, placed on a large platter and served piping hot. Udon and Tempura are two of the most popular items on the menu at New Japan.

A complete line of sake is available. This Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice is often served hot, but the high-end very expensive sakes (as much as $80 a bottle) are made to be served chilled. Japanese beer, plum wine and tea are also available to complete your authentic Japanese dining experience.

New Japan is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

New Rivers
7 Steeple Street
401-751-0350

CASUAL $$$

New Rivers – one of the finest, most understated restaurants in the city of Providence – is known for its simple yet robust food and colorful bistro-style presentations. The menu celebrates the cuisine of various ethnic
groups which have given the city a rich culinary heritage. Customers with special dietary needs are always accommodated.

New Rivers is located at the foot of College Hill, near Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design, just steps away from Riverwalk and within walking distance of the downtown hotels.

With two decades of experience, Bruce Tillinghast serves as the chef of New Rivers. He describes his food as "multi-cultural," and his menu changes with every season. The availability of fresh local produce helps him create his new menu items.

For starters, there's an heirloom tomato salad plate with aged balsamic vinegar and basil oil. The crab and corn quesadilla comes with tomatillo salsa and mizuna with a poblano-lime vinaigrette. New Rivers is famous for
its half-pound burger, arguably the best in the city, served on a Portuguese sweet roll. Grilled items include a pork tenderloin, Atlantic halibut, and shrimp and native sea scallops. The rosemary and garlic beef with white beans and broccoli comes highly recommended.

New Rivers soars in the dessert department. The huckleberry ice cream is refreshingly different, as is the praline ice cream with fudge sauce and cookies. The lemon tartlet is garnished with seasonal fruit, and there is always something rich and chocolatey available.

New Rivers is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Olives
108 North Main Street
401-751-1200

CASUAL $$

Stepping into Olives for the first time, you almost expect to be greeted by Humphrey Bogart. Olives is a burger and martini bar. The big burgers are "legendary," and the many martinis are served with a twist. Daily specials go
beyond burgers.

There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are also 50 waysto order a martini at Olives, everything from the basic Naked Martini to theParrothead Martini (with a nod to Jimmy Buffett). Black-and-white
photographs of the martini in all its glory adorn the sepia-tone walls ofOlives, depicting Hollywood stars shaking, stirring and sipping theirbeloved cocktails.

The hearty Cuban black bean soup is served with Spanish crackers. The appetizers include the unusual Fried Olives - an assortment of olives dipped in seasoned bread crumbs, then fried to a golden brown and served with
tapenade (a spread made of olives, anchovies and capers) and focaccia bread. Another interesting appetizer is the Jamaican jerk chicken wings served witha coconut crème dipping sauce. Chef Leigh Ann Sanders should be commended for coming up with such innovative dishes.

The salads at Olives are big enough for two to share. The hand-rolled pizza is topped with asparagus, goat cheese, roasted garlic and red peppers. The oversized Chocolate Bread Pudding is right up there with the very best.

Olives is open for dinner Sunday through Wednesday from 4:30 to 11 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.

Parkside Rotisserie & Bar
78 South Main Street
401-331-0003

CASUAL $$

Parkside offers its customers the best seat in the house when it comes to viewing WaterFire along the Providence River. Outside dining is available in warm weather.

Mediterranean, South Pacific and French influences are apparent on the Parkside menu, which is simple yet satisfying.

The unusual polenta and eggplant appetizer has layers of flavors: sun-dried tomatoes, ricotta cheese, polenta, grilled eggplant, Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a balsamic vinegar demiglace.

The South Main Salad is brimming with imported Italian meats, marinated white beans, provolone cheese, tuna and Roma tomatoes on a bed of romaine lettuce drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

The pizzas are grilled as well as the Black Angus burgers. In addition to sandwiches and pasta dishes, the menu offers three rotisserie entrees: flame-roasted chicken with a zippy green herb sauce, chicken marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs, and chicken stuffed with roasted garlic, fresh lemon and herbs. All are spit-roasted and served with a side salad and hand-cut French fries made from sweet and russet potatoes.

Parkside is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.


Players Corner Pub
194 Washington Street
401-621-8738

CASUAL $$

Big! That's how owner Jimmy Kazounis describes the menu at Players Corner Pub, which has been satisfying customers since 1970. "We have a diverse American menu, from buffalo wings to pasta, from steaks to hot fudge sundaes," he says.

Located across the street from the city's highly acclaimed Trinity Repertory Theater, this restaurant is especially popular with theater-goers, before or after the show, and with local sports fans, before or after basketball and
hockey games.

Executive Chef Charles Travers changes his menu annually. He offers all the basics: soups, salads and classic appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, coconut fried shrimp and calamari. The half-pound Angus beef burgers are
served on a bulkie roll with fries and a pickle. Sandwiches, grilled pizza and pasta dishes are also available. The seafood items are grilled, baked oroven roasted with white beans, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts and herbs.
Grilled chicken, pork chops and steaks round out the menu along with several Italian veal dishes.

Desserts include lemon torte, mud pie, ice cream, chocolate mousse torte, strawberry shortcake and cheesecake.

Players Corner Pub is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Raphael Bar•Risto
1 Cookson Place
401-421-4646

UPSCALE $$$

Since 1983, Rhode Island has been blessed with Ralph Conte's "progressive Italian" cuisine in five separate incarnations. The newest Raphael Bar-Risto is said to be his best endeavor yet. Conte learned his culinary skills at Johnson & Wales University and in Italy, where he also has worked as a chef.

Located in the city's old train station near Waterplace Park, Conte's current venture is one of the most sophisticated restaurants in the city. Interior designer Elisa Conte (Ralph's wife) has created a retro-modern dining room of blond maple and Travertine marble, with dramatic lighting and bold artwork.

There's no doubt that Raphael Bar-Risto is a happenin' kind of place. The restaurant's Tunnel Bar is a stylish 40-seat lounge carved into the concourse that connects Waterplace Park with the city's popular ice skating rink.

Appetizers that can only be described as awesome include the pizza of smoked salmon, golden potatoes, goat cheese, capers and red onion; the chilled Prince Edward Island oysters, served with lemon vodka creme fraiche and Osetra caviar; and the pan-seared diver scallops with sautéed spinach in a sauce rich with the flavors of tomato, anise and saffron.

The wondrous desserts, such as the Toasted Chocolate Ravioli filled with citrus mascarpone, cherry brandy sauce and caramel gelato, are made in-house.

Raphael Bar-Risto is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. On Friday, the bar is open until 2 a.m.

Ristorante Romanza
312 Wickenden Street
401-421-5544

CASUAL $$

Ristorante Romanza is a quiet little restaurant on funky Wickenden Street on the fashionable East Side of Providence. The award-winning chef, Wayne Clark, changes his menu seasonally. He describes his cuisine as eclectic Italian/modern American. His free style of cooking is apparent in dishes such as Tortellini di Gorgonzola – imported pockets of pasta stuffed with blue cheese and served in a creamy pink vodka sauce.

A perfect meal at Ristorante Romanza would begin with the ricotta chive gnocchi stuffed with four cheeses and served with butter, fresh sage and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or the Pizza Toscana topped with sausage, goat
cheese and diced tomatoes.

This perfect meal would continue with one of the nine pasta dishes on the menu, perhaps the classic Fettuccine Alfredo or the lobster ravioli in black squid ink pasta with shrimp, diced tomatoes, fresh herbs and cream. All this would lead you to the signature dish of the restaurant – Sogliola Madornale, a lightly breaded filet of sole pan fried with a Parmesan crust topped with hardwood smoked bacon, onions, tomatoes and scallops.

If you have room for dessert, ask for Chef Clark's version of tiramisu, made special with a peach puree.

Romanza is open Monday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Rue De L'Espoir
99 Hope Street
401-751-8890

CASUAL $$

A fashionable restaurant that has stood the test of time, Rue De L'Espoir was opened in 1976 by Deborah Norman. In her own words, she cooked for three years and then turned that job over to more qualified people.

Chef Michael Koussa's menu changes every season. The style of cooking is a combination of New American Cuisine, regional and bistro cooking with French, Italian and Asian influences.

Typical menu items include sun-dried tomato pesto stuffed mushrooms, rosemary shrimp with remoulade sauce, chicken cashew spring rolls with orange hoisin sauce, Thai crab cakes with tomato chili oil, and grilled shrimp in an oyster brie sauce served over fettuccine.

Rue De L'Espoir is open Tuesday through Sunday. Breakfast is served Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 to 11 a.m., and brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

Trinity Brewhouse
186 Fountain Street (on the corner of Empire)
401-453-BEER

CASUAL $$

Honest food, beer, great prices, beer, dining on the deck, beer, a downstairs pub with a pool table and darts, beer, live music with no cover, beer, validated parking, and yes, beer – Trinity Brewhouse has it all. It is an
eclectic pub with a menu that changes seasonally.

A good way to sample all that award-winning beer is with the tasting tray that consists of six small glasses of different beers, all made on the premises. Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., a behind-the-scenes tour of the
microbrewery and a tasting take place. Reservations are recommended.

The menu is global. The sandwiches alone will take you around the world. There's everything from a chili dog to a falafel to jerk chicken to pulled pork BBQ to a burrito. Entrees run the gamut as well – fish and chips, grilled sausage platter, grilled chicken breast with brie, shepherd's pie, chicken parmigiano, pork chops and steak.

The award-winning Penne Cariati consists of penne pasta with small bites of grilled chicken, hot Italian sausage, asparagus, red peppers and Asiago cheese in a garlic basil cream sauce.

Trinity is famous for its chocolate bread pudding, served in a pool of creme anglaise with a spicy brown ale sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Trinity Brewhouse is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from noon to 2 a.m., and Sunday from noon to 1 a.m. The kitchen closes at midnight.

Walter's Historical Fine Dining Restaurant
286 Atwells Avenue, 2nd Floor
401-273-2652

UPSCALE $$$

Walter's is quite possibly the most authentic Italian restaurants in the city. Chef-owner Walter Potenza's attention to detail and devotion to history gives his customers a taste of the real Italy.

Located on beautiful DePasquale Square on historic Federal Hill, Walter's opened in 1995 and is known for its dishes that are cooked in clay pots. Some of the clay cookery menu items include a dish from the Italian Renaissance combining pasta with pancetta, chicken and peppers; and soft polenta served with a stew of sausages and roasted onion cooked in wine with a touch of tomato and pecorino cheese.

The menu is a collection of recipes that are centuries old, but presented in a lighter, more contemporary manner. Potenza's style of cooking is rooted in simplicity, and his menu changes every 90 days. His dishes reflect whatever foods are in season.

Appetizers include classic soups and creative salads, such as Belgian endive, pears, raspberry vinaigrette and toasted walnuts. Typical entrees might be pasta filled with salmon and porcini mushrooms in a sauce of arugula pesto with a touch of cream; risotto with shrimp and spinach in a seafood broth with thyme; and roasted filet of beef with a sauce of gorgonzola, rosemary and raisins.

Walter's is the only restaurant in New England that offers authentic Italian-Jewish cuisine. Dishes include fritters made with polenta and anchovies, served with a warm tomato, basil and olive oil marmalade; fresh vegetables lightly sautéed in olive oil and garlic and finished with orange zest, ginger and white wine; and a pan-seared chicken breast filled with spinach in a sauce of orange and veal-infused broth.

Walter's Historical Fine Dining Restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Wes' Rib House
38 Dike Street
401-421-9090

CASUAL $

If you build it, they will come – no matter how hard it is to find. But finding this Rhode Island institution is worth the effort.

Award-winning Missouri-style barbecue is on the lengthy menu. All kinds of Southern foods are offered, including a legendary chili. Wes' Munchie Platter includes buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, beer-battered onion rings and Wes' famous BBQ chips. The restaurant is famous for these BBQ chips – they are what French fries want to be when they grow up.

Ribs can be ordered by the piece, from two to a bushel. Chicken is also available by the piece.

The Show Me Platter does just that – it's what Missouri-style barbecue is all about with a choice of four meats such as ribs, chicken, chopped BBQ and ham, along with coleslaw and BBQ beans. Other dinners, including sirloin steak with a baked potato, are available as well as the Back Woods Burger and other sandwiches.

On the lighter side, there's the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad and junior portions of the regular menu items. Cornbread comes with many of the meals. This is not your mother's cornbread. It is moist and heavy and almost chewy – one of the best parts of the Wes' Rib House dining experience. Some people enjoy it as their dessert. The regular desserts include apple or peach cobbler and sweet potato pie.

Wes' Rib House is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner with late-night dining available on the weekend.

XO Cafe
125 North Main Street
401-273-9090

CASUAL $$$

Artsy, sexy and sophisticated – that describes the newly opened XO Cafe, with the well-known John Elkhay as its executive chef and Jules Ramos as the chef de cuisine.

Located at 125 North Main Street, XO Cafe is co-owned by Elkhay with Richard and Cheryl Bready of Providence. As one of Providence's hippest restaurants, XO Cafe celebrates the marriage of fine food and funky art.

The food on the menu – an exciting mix of Asian and Mediterranean fare – is equally artsy, sexy and sophisticated. Tapas is the order of the day, with lots of appetizers from which to choose. One of Chef Elkhay's signature dishes, the Bento Box Appetizer Sampler, includes the aforementioned tuna, calamari and beef appetizers with glass noodles in a sesame vinaigrette.

Wildly creative pizzas emerge from a wood-burning brick oven. Salads include the house specialty – an egg-free Caesar salad made with hearts of romaine, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, anchovies, lemon and mustard. The pasta dishes are far from boring. Nearly a third of the menu is vegetarian in nature.

But it is with the entrees that Chef Elkhay outdoes himself. The desserts are equally innovative. XO Cafe also offers extraordinary cocktails, particularly martinis.

XO Cafe is open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Z Bar & Grill
244 Wickenden Street
401-831-1566

CASUAL $$

One of the best-secrets in Providence is Daniel Pierre Rouvrais, the executive chef at Z Bar & Grill, who came to the Northeast from the Northwest with a very important stop in France. There his mother taught him the
importance of using locally grown ingredients. She also taught him a thing or two about wild game.

Rouvrais moved to Seattle, Washington, where he worked at four different restaurants and learned the nuances of American regional cooking, Pacific Rim cuisine, Italian, Latin and Spanish foods. He also spent a year at sea,
serving as the chief steward for the Emerald Seafood Company. Cruising the waters of the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, he prepared meals for a 125 members of a fishing crew.

He has brought all that diversified experience to Z Bar & Grill, where the menu is decidedly "eclectic Mediterranean."

Z Bar & Grill, which opened in 1995, is owned by Kevin Killoran. It is a multi-level restaurant with a charming private patio in the rear for al fresco dining. The cozy booths and the tables by the window, where you can
watch all the action on funky Wickenden Street, are the best seats in the house. The bar does a lively business and always draws a handsome crowd.

Z Bar & Grill is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.