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

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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