The Red Stripe | Providence

Brunch on a weekend morning is a special time under most circumstances and at this Providence bistro it's even better. The Red Stripe is like New York's Balthazar's but RI style - a touch of bohemia thrown in courtesy of renown restaurant owner Jamie D'Olivera. This morning I opted for poached eggs over pulled barbecue pork hash - eggness perfectly prepared and tasty as hell.

Another great dish we tried was codfish cakes with poached eggs - all accompanied with awesome breakfast toast and some of the finest bloody marys in town.

Funky menu with an inviting attitude makes Sunday morning fun at this cozy bistro.


Map (Providence and South County) | Website

Ebisu | Providence

Shabu Shabu - fun to say and even better to eat. Hot broth with vegetables you soak yourself - swish around super thin sliced beef to cook in that broth and you've got the idea. It's great. Simple and warm and tasty. We had appetizers too that were mighty fine; grilled octopus (yakitori) and spicy (crunchy) tuna tostadas. Accompanied by a coconut juice saki cocktail that was truly great.

If you saw "Lost in Translation" you may remember a scene where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson were mad at each other -- this is what they were eating in the restaurant of that scene. Convinced? Authentic Japanese cooking sans sushi. Worth a visit.

http://www.ebisuri.com/ | Map

El Rancho Grande | Providence

It was a cold rainy Saturday afternoon and we needed some warmth so we headed to this family owned restaurant which was recommended by many.

Carne asada tacos, barbacoa gorditas, stuffed chiles, tamales and mole paved the way to a brand new attitude and the sangria helped.

Beans and rice with tortilla chips were present within this no nonsense authentic atmosphere filled with soccer on tv and mariachi music in the background. Warm smiles and warm bellies all around. We will be back.

El Rancho Grande is located in the Silver Lake area of Providence.

www.elranchogranderestaurant.com | Map

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Apsara | Providence

As far as I know this was the first Thai restaurant in RI and back in 1990 it was novelty for me and my broke friends to get a great inexpensive meal. Not long ago, I went back to this old standard for lunch with my brother and his two kids - who love it as much as we did.

This visit we chomped on fresh spring rolls and had some Satay noodles with shrimp - crunchy asian veggies with a special sauce that none of us can figure out - awesome. I also recommend the Hai Kaing if you're up for it. Get a giant Thai ice coffee too and become wide awake for the next few hours. Yum.

note: there are now two locations of Apsara's
Review | Public Street | Hope Street (new location)

Ba Xuyen | Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY

When Alyssa and I lived in Brooklyn on 10th Ave. in 98-99 the asian food scene was, well, either much smaller or somehow unknown to us (the latter is most likely). Fast-forward to 2009 and some of NYC's best asian dining has come south and east from Chinatown and Queens. Case in point- Bahn Mi sandwiches have been enjoying huge attention in the last year. Yesterday I got onboard the band wagon at Ba Xuyen in Sunset Park and I can't wait for my next Bahn Mi- crusty bread, spicy vietnamese "mayonnaise", paté, ham and bbq pork with carrots, dikon, cilantro and thai chilies.

(image credit: The Pufflist)

Map

Sol | Wellfleet MA

Small, casual and where local chefs eat - some of my favorite restaurant criteria. Martha and I feasted on Tuna Poke, cubes of sashimi with arugula. Next up green papaya salad with shrimp, and then finally sea bass - salt and pepper style with ginger infused sticky rice. A thoughtful menu, well executed with a small drink menu but all very interesting - we opted for St. Germaine margaritas.

Friendly and attentive sevice in this informal restaurant - it lived up to it's reputation as a casual but creative food destination.

Urbanspoon review
-- Post From My iPhone

Tina's Jamaican Caribbean Restaurant

Eric and I visited Tina's today for lunch and it was as close to the home cooking of my imaginary Jamaican mother as I have ever come. We started with a meat patty- moist and spicy filling on the inside, flaky and slightly salty crust on the outside. From there we both ordered the Jerk Chicken, a plate of leg and thigh meat alongside rice and beans, fried plantains and a side of warm cabbage. Washed it down with the tangy-sweet house ginger beer.

Website | Map

Iggy's | Warwick Neck

( photo caption - took this photo midway through the meal - this is a half eaten lobster roll with a friend dipping a clamcake into chowder)

Writing about Iggy's is strange for me - I feel as if I'm talking about a friend. I am here all year - ordering the same thing: lobster roll with white chowder and a half dozen clamcakes.

Instructions: Dip the clamcakes in the chowder as I do. Ignore the fries as best u can, eat the lobster roll and a few dipped clamcakes, then take the remaining chowder and clamcakes home for a second meal tomorrow.

Located on Warwick Neck and South County, lines are long year round and the "Best of" magazine covers decorate a no-nonsense interior.

In bad weather you will find me usually parked in the lot facing Narragansett bay - eating in the car and looking out at the water. Occassionally feeding hungry gulls with fries.

IMHO the best clamcakes in RI + best deal on lobster rolls in the state. I am addicted to this place plain and simple.

Website | Map

Hewtin's Sausages

Yes, summer is defined (for me) by the return of the scant selection of Street Food ® that Providence, RI is known for- Del's Frozen Lemonade, Palagi's Ice Cream and an occasional variant of these two. I don't like either which is why I am really happy for Matt Gennuoso's Hewtin's truck. Every decent day from around June till it gets too cold in September he's been sending out a truck to Lippitt Park across Hope Street from his East Side restaurant, Chez Pascal. This week I discovered he's started a sausage business, too- a truck that's been making what he says are "test runs" to local bars (like the Scurvy Dog) in the evenings. Not one to get out much after dusk, I got to try one of his sausages today for lunch (this one Asian themed with cucumber slaw, pickled pineapple and peppadew peppers)- yum.

Taqueria Lupita

There's almost nothing nicer than visiting Taqueria Lupita on Dexter Ave. in Central Falls, RI with Alyssa for lunch. While I enjoy the taqueria's variety of soups and tacos, the fish tacos are the perfect balance of flaky cod and slightly crispy fried goodness. I am especially fond of both the green and red salsas as well as the horchata (that yummy cinnamon and rice shake that quells the heat of serano and jalapeño chilies.)

Yelp | Map

The Vanilla Bean | Pomfret CT

Enroute to Tanglewood , Martha and I stop at this roadside biker/hippie-ish cafe that is famous for it's chili and fine food overall .

Today we opt for a cheese quesadilla with chicken and spinach and cups of gazpacho. The quesadilla is perfectly grilled -crispy and filled with fresh spinach and juicy chicken and served with a fresh salsa. The gazpacho is crunchy with veggies, cold and tangy. Although I have fresh brewed ice tea, I scope out good bottles of wine and a great beer selection too!

We are always happy to stop here and get our granola vibe on. I recommend it.

Location Pomfret CT: Website | Map

-- Posted on the road from my iPhone

Los Andes | Providence

WOW. We took a little trip to this awwwwwsome restaurant for lunch and were pretty impressed.

Did the whole appetizer thing with the foods you see in the photo (white cheese lovers will dig the Cunape) - all of them were wonderful and are repeat orders for me next time I am lucky enough to get back.

We were lunching so we steered towards the soup menu which was exciting and chose a pork meat soup that was full of those little south american corn kernals and huge chunks of stewed pork. Brothy and tomato-y and a side of yucca for dipping. How could this be wrong? It's not. Don't come. I want this place to myself.

Location Providence: Map | Website

Lucky Station BBQ

Lucky Station BBQ
Originally uploaded by Wicked Stella

Wicked Stella commented on this a few months ago, and I'd have to say that so far I agree with her- the bbq ribs and the duck have been pretty good.

Map

The Barking Crab | Newport

This restaurant (Newport, RI) is an extension of the one located near Summer Street in Boston and is a casual seafood eating place with simple foods.

Some of the highlights for me are: Bucket (1 pound) of peel and eat shrimp and gigantic crabcake sandwiches. I was there last weekend and eyeing some awesome looking fried clams with bellys which I made a mental note to order then next time I am here.

(UPDATE: I had the clams. Rocked!)

Paper towels on picnic benches. Fresh seafood. Good beer selection and prices that aren't nuts make this a fine addition to Newport and a place to re-visit.

The Newport and Boston locations - enjoy!