The Best Providence Restaurants

I moved to Rhode Island a little over five years ago from New York City. While there were plenty of other reasons for culture shock, in my small coastal town there seemed to be a gaping hole where the NYC food scene used to be. Enter Providence. Since I’m not a local, the twenty-five-minute drive doesn’t phase me, and to be honest, this little city gives me the hustle and bustle I need from time to time. As an added bonus, over the last few years, I’ve completely fallen in love with their restaurants. Way more laid back than NYC, it’s not impossible to get reservations and the service always feels enthusiastic and personal. Locals, here are some spots you should absolutely check out and for Rhode Island visitors, definitely don’t miss out on what Providence has to offer:

The Best Providence Restaurants

Oberlin

My favorite spot for date night or a special occasion, it doesn’t get much better than Oberlin. Voted one of the best new restaurants in the US by Bon Appetit, the menu rotates seasonally. What you can always expect? Fine dining with amazing service and delicious food. Chef-owner Benjamin Suckle is world-renowned for his innovative cooking. They don’t take reservations, so on the weekend, it’s a great idea to slip in a little early if you’re a larger party. You can’t go wrong with any of their homemade pasta, bread, or creatively prepared veggie dishes. Ok, yeah that’s basically the whole menu…
Try: The cacio e pepe, the kohlrabi Caesar salad, and basically any of their pastry desserts. Don’t skip dessert! The crusts on their tarts are the stuff of legend.

North

Nestled next to The Dean hotel, I tried North for the first time during restaurant week so I got to have a little bit of everything. I was blown away. This is one of those places where you can close your eyes and point to just about anything on the menu and it will be good. Rich with Asian influences and flavors, their combinations are untraditional but delicious. They also give back to the community, twenty-five cents of every dish sold goes to Amos House or the RI Food Bank.
Try: Anything they put in front of you. Also, the tiny ham biscuits, the Dan Dan noodles, and the sesame noodles.

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Al forno

A Rhode Island legend, most people know about Al Forno. But I’m here to tell you that it lives up to all the hype. Anytime we want to go we do the early bird circuit and show up there at 4 PM on a Saturday—and it’s usually already packed. For fresh, multifaceted Italian food, this is the best Italian restaurant I’ve been to outside of NYC. Their waitstaff is also very knowledgable and professional, don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations.
Try: You can’t go wrong with any other pizzas, but I really love the complexity of the calamari pizza. It’s salty, spicy, and citrusy all at once. The baked pasta with tomato, cream, and five cheeses is so good it has copycat recipes floating around on the internet!

Persimmon

Since they offer small plates it makes it especially fun to share at Persimmon. Another rotating menu, you’re always getting the best of the season. Every dish is impeccably prepared and presented. Housed in an old building in Providence, I love the dining room ambiance here. Beautiful lighting, colorful artwork, and cozy paint colors, it’s a great date spot. The owner is incredibly gracious as well, she’s come to my table and asked how my meal was each time I’ve been here.
Try: Any iteration of their croquettes. The bucatini, the grass-fed beef tenderloin, and the sea scallops.

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Rebelle artisan bagels

It wasn’t until Rebelle opened that this New York bagel snob finally found a place that holds up to NYC. That’s a tall order I know, but I love their homemade cream cheese selection—they rotate the flavors and I swear it’s heartbreaking when they change. Right now my favorites are the spicy veggie and Mexican street corn. The bagels are hand-rolled, aren’t overly doughy, and have a crunchy outside that’s just perfect. Plus, the team there is awesome. They’re all super friendly, kind, and patient.
Try: Their everything or pumpernickel everything bagel, their homemade lox, their homemade pop tarts—or honestly anything in the bakery case, and the tomato jam.

The sandwich hut

Sometimes you just need a sandwich—it took me forever to find a great deli-style sandwich in Rhode Island. Great bread, freshly sliced deli meats, and homemade condiments all make the choices at The Sandwich Hut equally appealing. Plus, they’ve been in business since 1963 and are family-owned.
Try: The Allitalia, the meatball parm, the fried chicken sandwich. Oh and grab a bag of Zapps chips, the voodoo flavor is amazing.

Bayberry beer hall

A great spot for a casual date night or group meet-up, there’s maybe only one or two individual tables. The rest are communal. But don’t worry, somehow the people you end up sharing a table are always super nice. Not sure how this works, but I’ve never had a bad experience. It’s a great spot for families with younger kids. A twist on classic bar food, they do it so much better. Local ingredients, portions sized to share, and a great beer menu all make this a fun night out. They’re also open for brunch!
Try: The kale Caesar salad, Weatherlow beef burger, and the Gastro’s hot dog. Lots of stuff on the menu rotates so don’t be afraid to try the specials, they’re delicious.

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Hometown Poké

I’ve loved Hometown Poke since they were just a food truck. Their physical location is as charming as you’d expect it to be. Lots of great natural light, cute benches, and island-inspired artwork all make your meal feel a little more special. Their poké is like deconstructed sushi, you can choose from their signature bowls or make your own. Oh, and they serve wine too!
Try: The build-your-own bowl, I love their salmon. Plus, their toasts—south and west are so tasty. They catered my mom’s birthday too and did a fantastic job!

Nicks on Broadway

Foodies have been buzzing about Nicks on Broadway, a New American bistro with casual vibe and open kitchen and overall great dining experience. Located on the West side of Providence, Nicks has delicious food and a great craft beer, wine and cocktail bar. With both dine in and take out options, Nicks is open Wednesday-Sunday for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Try: French toast!

Gracie’s

Gracie’s is another favorite restaurant in Providence with locally sourced New American cuisine and fixed-price menu options. They’re known for their wonderful service, cozy vibes and upscale dining located close to Johnson & Wales University. Their menu changes seasonally to respect seasonality harvest and this makes each dish truly unique and special. Try their 5 course tasting menu.

Waterman Grille

Waterman Grille located on the Seekonk River, is a special destination dining experience with refined American small plates and mains. Restored from a former bridge gatehouse, this unique and historic setting on the river offers an open dining room and imaginative seasonal culinary approach. Waterman Grille is open for brunch and dinner.

The Providence Oyster Bar

Located in Federal Hill on the east side of town in Providence’s Little Italy district, The Providence Oyster Bar serves fresh locally sourced Rhode Island oysters, fish and other delicious seafood. Open for lunch or dinner, and they also have their East Greenwich location as well.

Tricycle Ice Cream

Looking for the best ice cream in town? Try Tricycle Ice Cream in Federal Hill. You won’t regret it! Their specialty ice cream waffles are the best!