Minh Hai | Cranston

Pho and more. Drove by this the other day - Googled it - and went the following week. Oh Yeh! Charming no frills atmosphere for my lunch trip there - the place was overwhelmed with hungry customers - slow (but polite) service - but authentic awesome-ness on the menu and coming out of the kitchen - food, coffee, soups, drinks. Lots more to eat here. I had Ginseng tea and the BUN CHA GIO (Beef with Imperial rolls over Vermicelli - see photo above ) and my friend had the pork chop lunch special with a Vietnamese coffee that accelerated my heartbeat by just looking at it.

Tables of happy Pho soup eaters were slurping and noodling nearby making me dream of a trip back real soon.


Yelp | Directions | Website | Lunch Menu

Chez Pascal | Providence

If you've been reading about the Hewtin's truck in Providence you might want to know that the chef that runs that is the owner of Chez Pascal on Hope Street. This great French restaurant is filled with hearty and thoughtfully prepared foods and drink. We opened the night with a selection of pate's and charcuterie made by Matt Gennaro - rabbit and duck and pork and fennel etc etc etc. My wife had a braised veal on a potato cake, green cabbage, served with a reduction sauce that was wonderful. I opt for my favorite French meal - a cassoulet with beans, duck and Chez Pascal made sausage. Not a light meal but a warmly satisfying one on a wintery windy cold providence night.

Directions | Yelp | Website

La Arepa | Pawtucket

Arepas are wonderful white cornmeal sandwiches served with a variety of fillings and are native to Venezuela and Colombia. I am a big fan and lucky enough to have had them in Caracas (slideshow of Venezuelan food here). But when I have a craving locally - and that's often - this little restaurant is my destination.

Photo above shows three arepas: one with shrimps (camarones) and one with shredded roast pork (pernil), and lastly one with chicken salad with avocado called "Reina Pepiada" - considered the best after a late night - you know - after dancing your feet off and drinking whiskey all night. :-)

But u can eat them fine without all that. I recommend them. Go and be fed.

Map | Website