After a few low-key months of staying in and dining mostly in the East Bay, I'm all about going back out and dining at Providence restaurants. Providence has a ton of great restaurants and it's been really nice to see new ones pop up and see the city come back to life. Plus, this beautiful weather is the perfect time to be out and see the city in all its springtime glory.
Here are my top four newish spots to eat in Providence, Rhode Island and what to order at each:
Blu Violet at Aloft Providence Downtown Hotel:
Providence does not have many rooftop restaurants, so right away Blu Violet at the new Aloft Hotel feels like a treat. I went to the Rum & B Brunch, which is on Sundays starting at 11am, equipped with a live deejay spinning old school hip hop tunes. The light-filled restaurant boasts views of downtown with multiple seating areas and a sleek bar, which churns out delicious cocktails such as Hit Me Off, vodka, triple berry puree and house made ginger beer and the It's Not Right But It's Okay mocktail featuring pomegranate, cranberry, pineapple and lime juices with an orange turmeric foam. The vibe is lively and come summer, the outdoor rooftop lounge space will be buzzing. Make sure to order the crispy fried chicken and waffles with a topping of herbed butter and spiced honey, and the tiramisu French toast with rum, Kahlua and cocoa syrup.
I just came back from my third visit at Bayberry Garden and it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a while. Located in Providence's Innovation District, on the other side of the pedestrian bridge, this lively spot reminds me of a restaurant you will find in New York City or San Francisco. The light, airy space features lush plants, a long marble bar and open kitchen. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the menu puts an emphasis on local purveyors and fresh local ingredients. Start off with one of their insanely delicious cocktails—my favorite is the Silver Lake featuring tequila, chayote, pineapple and tajin spice and order up some local oysters or the amazing crudo (they are all so good). If you are going for dinner, I highly recommend the Brussel sprouts, arrowhead cabbage wedge, homemade maccheroni and tomahawk pork chop.
This Fox Point tapas restaurant opened in the fall of 2021 and it's still one of the buzziest places in the city. The menu focuses on Portuguese and Latin-American cuisine with lots of great items to share as well as an expansive crafted cocktail menu. I went for dinner with a few girlfriends and it was such a fun evening. The dining space is on the small side, but I love sitting at the bar or at the outdoor patio under the twinkle lights. Don't miss the Spanish meatballs, farmers cheese with locally-made Portugese bread, garlic prawns, cactus tacos and the vegetable paella. Lastly, save room for dessert and order the Bom Boms, chocolate cups filled with Ginja, and Rellinitos topped with espresso chocolate sauce.
As soon as I walked into this stylish downtown Italian restaurant I was sold. The interior feels glamorous with shiny woods, white upholstered banquettes and large vases of cherry blossoms situated throughout the space. I recently went with friends for lunch and had a delicious arugula salad with grilled chicken, which was light and filling. One of my favorites from the afternoon was the signature bellini, a cocktail with champagne and peach puree. I'm still drooling about it right now. Highly recommend this spot for a business lunch or a special occasion.
Have you been to any of these spots? Let me know if you have a newish favorite restaurant in Providence.
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