10 Best Restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island (From a Local)
Wondering where to eat in Rhode Island? Here are the best restaurants in Providence to try this year!
Providence, Rhode Island is one of the best foodie towns in New England, and the whole of the US. The city has a fantastic mix of fine dining and casual eats, with plenty of old favourites and hidden gems. But, with so many to choose from, you might be wondering which are the best restaurants in Providence.
To help figure this out, I recently reached out to my fellow blogger and Rhode Island local, Eryn Gordon, who is very well-acquainted with the Providence food scene.
Eryn is the Founder of Earth To, a blog for culture-curious travellers. She’s an avid traveller and creative writer who pairs the two interests through visceral storytelling. On her blog, she shares her passions for cultural exploration, ethical travel, and of course food!
Providence is one of Eryn’s favourite food destinations, so she knows what the city’s best restaurants are. And to share her insider knowledge with us, she has put together this complete guide to eating out in Providence.
So, if you’re looking for the best restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island, read on for everything you need to know.
Providence Restaurant Guide
Written By Eryn Gordon from Earth To
Little Rhody might be the smallest state in the U.S., but we have a lot of personality. Just like your short friend who somehow has the most attitude, the state makes up for its lack of land mass in spice and flavour.
Because of our location close to the water (our nickname is the Ocean State!) Rhode Islanders feast on a lot of seafood. The most popular restaurants among locals will usually have a selection of local oysters from Point Judith in Narragansett, and calamari caught off the coast.
The state is also ethnically diverse, with residents from all different backgrounds calling Rhode Island home. And, coupled with our internationally recognized colleges, the state earns a high volume of global visitors who bring their own unique flavours to the area.
Rhode Island is a foodie state with new restaurants opening every single month here. And to help you navigate this bustling food scene, here are the 10 best restaurants in Providence which are hot right now!
10 Best Restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island
1. Persimmon
Led by Chef Champe Speidel alongside his co-owner/wife Lisa, Persimmon quickly became an East Side staple. The restaurant takes an ingredient-first approach to curating their menu, so you’ll always find dishes with fresh, colourful vegetables.
Persimmon makes all their pastas in-house and even have a few gluten-free options as well. You must try the seared scallops from Massachusetts, or the carbonara with guanciale and sweet peas.
2. Gracie’s
Gracie’s brings the old world charm back to Providence, but they do it with a high achiever mentality. Since opening, they’ve earned a ton of different accolades from AAA, Trip Advisor, The Knot, and Wedding Wire.
Why the last two? Because Gracie’s is also a full-service event venue and off-site caterer! Tons of Rhode Islanders host their weddings here, not only because the dinner menu is bound to be a hit, but they’re also well-organized and talented when it comes to hosting a big event.
Reigning from Connecticut, where he spent a childhood knee-deep in the ocean fishing and crabbing, Chef Matthew Varga has brought his love for the ocean to the table. You’ll find items like Point Judith clams and Rhode Island Striped Sea Bass on their tasting menu.
3. Aleppo Sweets
Hidden next to a cute independent bookshop and a few residential apartment buildings in Fox Point, you’ll find Aleppo Sweets. It’s perfectly understated on the outside, but walking in is like transporting yourself to a cafe in the heart of the middle east.
The back wall of Aleppo is ornamented with brass cezve coffee pots that stack into high towers. The floors are made of mosaic designs like the interior of a humble mosque.
Youssef, the owner and head baker, began making baklava when he was a teenager growing up in Aleppo. He turned these early skills into a successful baking business in the Syrian capital, until a sad end came. The Syrian war broke out and forced his family to flee their home country. Youssef left Syria with his life, family, and his dream of baking, which upon resettling became Aleppo Sweets as we know it today.
This Syrian restaurant is known for their honey drenched cakes and assorted baklava (hence Aleppo Sweets), but you can come here for a sumptuous, flavorful dinner. Make sure to try the marinated olives and plate of baba ganoush, a delicious dip made from roasted and pureed eggplant.
4. Al Forno
Al Forno opened in 1980, and over 40 years later it’s still one of the most popular spots in Providence. In the dining room, there is an eclectic mix of restaurant goers: families celebrating a birthday, couples on a date night, and students sharing a few grilled pizzas among the table.
The primary menu features Italian dishes recrafted to reflect the seasonal vegetables and typical ingredients you’d find in New England. Their signature dish is clams Al Forno, which consists of local clams tossed in a spicy arrabbiata tomato sauce and served over pasta.
You must also try the seasonal grilled pizza. Because the Rhode Island harvest dictates the toppings, you never know what will be available until you arrive at the restaurant. Frankly, any season will be fantastic, but their October grilled pizza shines with local sweet potato and ricotta.
5. Los Andes
Los Andes has been a Providence staple for decades, and there’s a reason why it continues to be a favourite among locals. Cesin Curi, the owner of Los Andes, wanted to bring the primary flavours of his home country (Peru), but prepare it in a way that would speak to an American audience.
Visitors love the lobster paella – traditional Spanish rice with saffron aromatics and a healthy topping of seafood, all served within a lobster hardshell. We also recommend trying the Ceviche Clasico, which adds a local spin to Peruvian cuisine. This delicious combination of local mussels, squid, and Barramundi is mixed with garlic, lime and Rocoto pepper.
Plus, if you have a favourite Chilean wine, you might just find a bottle of it here!
6. Little Sister
The cutest little brunch spot just opened on Hope Street on the East Side, and it already feels like family. Little Sister was rated in the top must visit dining spots by Bon Appétit Magazine, and for good reason.
Try some Latin-inspired cuisine on the chef’s tasting menu, which includes empanadas and sweet plantains, but Little Sister really shines at brunch.
Their brunch menu has fresh pastries like the cardamom bun made in-house, and the savory Cubano sandwich served on a brioche bun.
Something to note is that they recently phased out single-use plastic cups in an effort to align their store with more eco-friendly practices. So, if you come here for a take-away coffee, just be sure to bring a travel mug!
7. The Patio on Broadway
Federal Hill has always been the culinary hub in Providence, with Atwells Avenue being the main event. It’s such a popular spot and is lively until the early morning hours with street performers, cocktail bars, and restaurants open until midnight. Most people don’t even step off of the main strip!
So, for some of the nearby streets, like Broadway, which runs parallel to Thayer, it was hard setting up successful businesses that could contend with The Hill.
But, the Patio is a new installation to Broadway and is doing just that. It’s a new American spot, giving it an added edge against the typically Italian cuisine you find on Thayer Street. Come early for a curated brunch menu, or stay late for the lively bar scene at night. Here, you’ll find dishes like chicken and waffle sandwiches, or your quintessential New England lobster roll.
8. CAV Restaurant
CAV is a lot of different things to different people: a standout restaurant, a local favourite, and a place for interior design inspiration.
Even if you’re not a fan of the menu, you could still appreciate the restaurant for its decorations and atmosphere. However, based on their rave reviews, the food is fantastic and the menu is much loved.
They’ve been in the Providence food scene since 1989 and occupy the basement level of an old mill right downtown.
Here, you’ll find miss-matched table cloths that somehow go together perfectly, and antique items which each appear to have come from various parts of the world. Every surface has something that will catch your eye!
9. Aguardente
Of the 1 million residents of Rhode Island, 10.6% are Spanish speakers. So the state packs a strong punch for cultural inclusivity, demonstrated best through the authentic dining experiences you can find there.
The latest and greatest is Aguardente, a tapas bar that opened in 2023. The tapas on the menu are representative of cuisine found in Portugal, Guatemala, and the Azores – the home countries of the owners.
As stated on the website, Victoria Pereira claims the idea for Aguardente came from a resistance to losing touch with their roots, despite building lives in the U.S. She said, “There is a restless longing inside each of us, calling us home.”
The taste of home comes through with dishes like grilled chouriço, a Portuguese spicy sausage with fried plantains. We also recommend trying the authentic spirits on the menu: pisco, tequila, and mezcal.
10. Mare Rooftop
Rhode Islanders drive to the coast for summer sunsets, but there’s a place right in the heart of Providence where dinner is accompanied by the splendid colours of the sky.
Mare Rooftop is a Mediterranean restaurant with a huge glass dome over the top. That means you get a lovely rooftop view of Providence that even a chance of rain can’t ruin. This spot is also popular in the winter months with their glass igloo domes that insulate individual tables for extra privacy.
“Mare” is the Italian word for sea, nodding to the Mediterranean diet, predominated by fish and vegetables.
What Should I Eat in Rhode Island?
Rhode Islanders are proud of the dishes unique to the state, but you should come ready to try everything.
In Rhode Island you’ll find a great selection of seafood restaurants, from high end dining and rooftop restaurants overlooking the water, to clam shacks by the beach.
However, we’re also proud of the culturally diverse cuisines celebrated in our state. The best advice we have to give is to come with an open mind and an empty stomach!
Final Thoughts – Best Restaurants in Providence
So, there you have it, our 10 best restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island.
Whether you’re a seafood lover, have a sweet tooth, or you’re looking to try some interesting international cuisine, there’s bound to be a restaurant that will satisfy your tastebuds on this list.
Hopefully we’ve given you some new inspiration for where to eat in Providence, and helped you work up an appetite for when you visit!
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