Providence, Rhode Island, is a city that is known for many things, with one of those things being it’s incredible cuisine. There are so many great restaurants in the city of Providence that it can be hard to choose one, so we’ve crafted this video to try and pick the best of the best. From Camille’s to Plant City, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island.
Camille’s
We’ll start this video off by looking at institution that has been a culinary staple of Providence, Rhode Island, for over a century. Camille’s is an Italian restaurant that was first opened up back in 1914, and it’s popularity and quality have only grown over time. While many eateries in Providence draw in crowds by claiming to offer something new, Camille’s makes no pretense about offering anything but tried and true Italian cuisine. As is standard with old-fashioned Italian fare, the portions are exceptionally large and exceptionally filling, though you’ll still feel compelled to order dessert.
Camille’s is certainly a classy joint, but you don’t have to dress up fancy to go there. Their dress code calls for casual elegant attire, and the atmosphere is a good deal more family-friendly than some of the more modern eateries that can be found within the city of Rhode Island. There’s certainly a reason that Camille’s continue to draw in crowds after a century in operation, and those who are looking for Italian cuisine with some depth will find it here.
Aleppo Sweets
While Camille’s offers residents and tourists within the city of Rhode Island a taste of Italy, Aleppo Sweets aims to offer them a taste of Syria! Syria is where Aleppo Sweets’ owners are from, and they’ve brought the country’s cuisine to Providence in a big way. As the name of the shop should suggest, Aleppo Sweets serves cuisine with an emphasis on the dessert menu, though that doesn’t mean that dessert is the only thing up for grabs within the Syrian eatery.
The name of the game at Aleppo Sweets is inarguably baklava, with the regional desert dish drawing in crowds from all over the city. However, those who come to Aleppo Sweets seeking a full meal certainly won’t be disappointed, as the eatery’s menu includes plenty of kabobs and salads that would make an excellent prelude to a sweet treat.
Bellini
Those looking for a fancier place to dine while staying within the boundaries of Providence, Rhode Island, need look no further than Bellini. Bellini is the name of the restaurant located within the city’s luxurious Beatrice Hotel. The eatery is a fine-dining restaurant unlike any other, with exquisite cuisine and décor that will certainly give tourists cause to dress up. Whether you’re staying at the aforementioned Beatrice Hotel or not, Bellini offers a culinary experience that those with a taste for the finer things will want to seek out. The fare included dishes such as lamb chops and salmon.
East Side Pockets
East Side Pockets is a Providence eatery that is particularly popular with the college crowd attending the city’s prestigious Brown University. Those who wish to follow the college crowds to this little eatery will certainly be rewarded, as East Side Pockets is no joke! The little restaurant first open up all the way back in the late 1990s, and has since developed a reputation for serving food that’s a great deal more epic than it’s relatively small location.
As with Aleppo Sweets, East Side Pockets offers Middle Eastern fare. However, East Side Pockets puts a good deal more emphasis on it’s meals than it does it’s sweets. While the name of the game at Aleppo Sweets is baklava, the name of the game at East Side Pockets is unquestionably falafel and kebab wraps. The tzatziki sauce is to die for and comes in handy for dulling the sting of some of the spicier dishes, and the beef is always grilled to perfection.
Haruki East
We’ve taken a look at Middle Eastern cuisine with Aleppo Sweets and East Side Pockets, and we’ve answered the call for classic Italian fare with the century-old Camille’s. To continue to round out Providence’s regional offerings, let’s take a look at Haruki East, which is a Japanese fusion restaurant offering some interesting varieties of sushi. Of course, the restaurant offers all of the traditional forms of sushi that tourists will expect at a Japanese restaurant, but the fusion part comes significantly into play when it comes to such offerings as the Tuna Crisp roll, which is a fried spicy tuna roll with cream cheese. Those who wish to keep things traditional should try out the sashimi, which is unquestionably some of the best that Providence offers.
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Waterman Grille
We’ve taken a look at plenty of regional options in this video, but Bellini is the only restaurant so far that has offered some semblance of traditional New England cuisine. Enter Waterman Grille, which offers singularly Providence fare in an exceptionally unique location. The building that houses the restaurant used to be the gatehouse of an old bridge that was used by trains during the 1800s. This bridge and it’s railroad are still standing, and they serve as excellent scenery for those that are dining at Waterman Grille.
In terms of cuisine, Waterman Grille offers traditional New England cuisine with an expected emphasis on seafood. Scallops are one of the more popular items that you’ll find being ordered by tourists and locals alike, and they’re generally accompanied with a heavy sauce. Seafood isn’t all that Waterman Grille has to offer, and adventurous eaters will find no shortage of hearty meals to explore on the menu. The menu changes seasonally, and also changes throughout the day depending on whether you’re coming for brunch or dinner. The brunch menu includes some awesome omelets.
Big King
Big King is the brainchild of a Providence chef by the name of James Mark. James is perhaps better known for his restaurant North, which was his first creation. The chef famously had to move locations after North started becoming a bit too popular, but he kept the land that the original North location was on and created a new eatery to fill the void. For many, this new eatery has come to be viewed as offering an even more exquisite culinary experience than James’ first restaurant. Big King features a different six-course menu everyday, and James always writes the menu personally.
Due to the fact that there’s always a set menu, tourists will find that they’ll have to be content with whatever James is offering up on the day that they come. However, few have ever been disappointed by Big King’s offerings. All of the meals served at Big King are bound to be exquisite, and visitors are liable to receive a dining experience better than any that they could’ve hoped for. Though the cuisine offered at Big King is very New England, there’s also a Japanese influence at work in the food that can be found both in the tempura batter that is oftentimes used and in the fact that sake can be ordered during your meal.
Knead Doughnuts
Besides Aleppo Sweets, another Providence, Rhode Island, location that has become known for their sweet treats is Knead Doughnuts. Knead Doughnuts first opened up back in 2016, though the relatively new eatery has plenty of old-fashioned values when it comes to the fare that they serve. Those looking for a tried and true piece of fried dough need look no further than Knead Doughnuts. The doughnut shop also serves coffee that comes from another of it’s owners’ endeavors, which goes by the name of Bolt Coffee. Though those looking for a big meal should look elsewhere, there’s always a time and a place for coffee and doughnuts.
Bayberry Beer Hall
If you’re not in the mood for java and donuts, then perhaps you’re in the mood for some cold beer and a hearty meal! The Bayberry Beer Hall offers just that, with a rotating tap of 14 different craft beers that are typically supplied by local craft breweries from around the New England area. Beyond this multitude of beers that can be found on tap, the Bayberry Beer Hall also offers a vast plethora of canned beers that can be ordered. With this huge emphasis on alcohol, some may wonder if the Bayberry Beer Hall is lacking when it comes to cuisine. Thankfully, it’s not!
While the Bayberry Beer Hall is unquestionably most popular with tourists and locals due to it’s vast selection of craft beer, the location also offers some exquisite food that will make the perfect pairing with the beer of your choice. The most popular food items that can be purchased at Bayberry Beer Hall are unquestionably it’s burgers and pork-belly sandwiches, though vegetarians can find some solace in the popular mapo tofu.
Plant City
The aforementioned mapo tofu at the Bayberry Beer Hall may offer one small option for vegetarians trying to find something to eat in Providence, but a much greater variety of vegetarian dishes can be found at the aptly named Plant City. Plant City is an eatery with a focus on plant-based foods, and they offer such things as jackfruit tacos, plant-based burgers, and vegan chili con queso sauce. There’s also vegan pizza and lasagna, meaning that the fare at Plant City isn’t limited to just one region. Vegans and vegetarians will unquestionably find their fill at Plant City.
Modern Diner
Finally, let’s take a look at Modern Diner! Despite the name of the restaurant, the building that houses it is actually included on the National Register of Historic Places. This diner has been standing since the 1930s, and eating at it offers the decidedly unique experience. Though the appeal of Modern Diner is unquestionably it’s historic charm, the diner also offers a plethora of great dishes that aim to take traditional diner fare to the next level.
Hopefully, this video made it easier for you to pick out a place to eat in Providence, Rhode Island! Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that there’s an Italian restaurant in Providence that’s over 100 years old, and that a few of it’s eateries are located within historic buildings? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more ViewCation videos are on their way!