FjmArch's Profile
PVD/RI * May '12 * Open/Closed/Coming Soon
Eggroll cafe is opening on Airport Road in Warwick next Tuesday. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eggroll-Cafe/187363987563?sk=app_117784394919914
Blount's Clam Shack Providence
Here is a long overdue update on Blount's.
The day after I posted this review I received a voicemail from Patty at Blount's; she was very apologetic regarding my experience. We played phone tag for almost two weeks and finally touched base, Patty assured me that they are working out the kinks and are even making physical changes to the kitchen because they did not feel the flattop out front was working. I was pleased to see they were taking the issues seriously.
I have been back to Blount's twice since the original post.
The first trip in I just grabbed a cup of chowder to go but I must say the atmosphere had changed immensely. I was greeted as I walked in the door with a nice hello and an explanation of how things worked; you can order at the counter and sit down and they will bring it to you or you can sit at the counter and they will wait on you.
The cup of chowder was delivered quick, I took it to go and when I arrived at my destination five minutes later it was still steaming hot the way a soup should be.
On my second return trip I arrived at about 11:40ish. I was greeted to a friendly hello as I walked in the door. I sat at the counter again and was waited on by Jami,
I ordered a cup of chowder, once again very hot and delicious.
I opted for the whole belly clam roll. It is served on a large grilled New England hot dog roll, with fries and slaw. The portion of clams was large, they were hot with a light breading that was crispy and in no way greasy. The fries were hot and crispy as well. The slaw was also one of the better slaws I have had in a while, the cabbage was nice and crunchy with just the right amount of dressing.
At noon the place really started to fill up with folks from the area, it appeared that most were opting for the soup bar. The three gentlemen that were sitting next to me each had a different soup and were very pleased with their selections.
Service was very friendly and attentive enough without being intrusive. I do have to say having a better food experience the friendly appropriate banter between the staff and customers gave the place a more authentic clam shack feel.
Jami also mentioned that they were working on ordering bread from Olga's to serve with the soup bar.
Guaranteed I will be making additional trips back to Blount's for some great clam shack food soon.
Good and cheap in Warwick RI area
You may want to try Fat Belly's - either the Warwick or East Greenwich locations.
Blount's Clam Shack Providence
I sent an email, will let you know if I receive a response.
Blount's Clam Shack Providence
I will preface this post with the fact that I have been shopping at Blounts Market in Warren for a little over a decade now, love their soups that you can also have if you eat Legal Seafoods chowder because Blounts makes it for legal.
I noticed about a week ago that the Stanley's in the Jewlery District is now a Blount Clam Shack. I had the opportunity to stop in today to take a look and have lunch. www.blountretail.com/providence/home
Where do I start?
1. I walked in the door and was half way into the dining area before I was greeted so I just headed to the counter to sit down.
2. Waitress came over promptly handed me a menu asked if I wanted anything to drink and then said are you ready to order? "I had not even opened the menu how am I going to order.
4. They did a nice job renovating the place and have a wall of reach in coolers with all of their soups for sale to go cold.
3. I decided on the Fish Rueben. The description on the menu reads: Fired Haddock topped with swiss cheese, cole slaw and tarter served on a grilled bun.
The order was placed and here is where it gets interesting. The girl at the front on the grill "I am assuming old flat top from Stanley's" grills a hamburger roll puts on a plate and puts it up in the window to the back kitchen. From my seat about 3 stools down the counter I can see the microwave featured prominently along the back wall. Oh No, not the microwave.
4. The person that I would assume was the manager proceeds to sit down at the counter next to me with his yellow pad and proceeds to have a conversation with the waitress about what they need to order from Patricia. If you are interested they are getting new hats, red, blue and green T-shirts. The waitress does not like the white shirts. She also thinks they need name-tags. "I agree because nobody introduced themselves so now I can only refer to them as I think he is this and she was that rather than Bob (sic?) the manager.
5. The waitress proceeds to yell into the back, that reuben is for here just in case you were wondering. So naturally I look up and see the cook placing my fish with a piece of swiss cheese on top into the microwave, I guess melting the cheese on the bun while it was on the grill never entered their minds.
6,5,4,3,2,1, "BING" your fish is done and out it comes onto the bun in the window. It gets pulled into the back for slaw (this was the best part of the meal.), tartar sauce and cold fries from under the heat lamp.
7. I get the sandwich and yes the cheese is melted and greasy as all of the oil has been pulled to the surface by the microwave and the breading on the fish is soggy. The fish itself was fresh and tasted decent enough but OH THE MICROWAVE, why oh why did it have to go into the microwave.
8. As, I sit there and make my way through lunch the waitress yells to the manager that she is taking her 15 minute break, proceeds to grab a drink sit at one of the tables and has a conversation about the qualities of yogurt as a substitute for sour cream with another staff member that I will call the bearded one. Oh she is eating the yogurt because she wants to lose her gut.
9. The positive, the menu looks good and it is nice to have a clam shack in Providence. They have an all you can eat soup bar, did I mention I like their soups and you can buy their soups in bulk to go. Did i mention they have good soup?
10. Will I go back probably, will I have the reuben again maybe but will be sure to ask that the cheese not be melted in the microwave. Am I emailing Blounts with a link to this post absolutely, it is not fair to post and not let them know of the issues.
Lunch with kids in East Greenwich RI
Fat Belly's Pub on Main Street, TIo Mateos Mexican, or you could drive south on Post Road into North Kingstown and go to Seven Moons Asian Cafe.
3 breakfats, 2 lunches and 2 dinners in Newport. Please advise.
Jumping on the bandwagon for Gary's.
The coffee at Peoples Cafe on upper Thames across from the waterfront / harbor area has decent coffee. You can grab a cup to go and take a nice walk along the harbor.
Rhode Island Shore Dinner
And that is why I prefaced my post with most of the better places are shuttered still. You could give Champlin's in Galilee a shot or even Iggy's on Oakland Beach in Warwick.
AikiLou, Don't remember saying you couldn't sit outside at Matunuk. It is the reason I love the place in the fall and spring. I am able to sit outside without having to wait and not having the wait staff trying to push us out the door if we feel like lingering and enjoying the outside.
Rhode Island Shore Dinner
Most of the better places are still shuttered for the winter. But, there is one place that is still open that far outshines the rest ant that is the matunuck oyster bar. http://www.rhodyoysters.com/index.html
PVD/RI * February '12 * Open/Closed/Coming Soon
Frob
It is actually a coffee / yogurt shop, it is a knockoff of "Pinkberry" to the point that they even formatted the website very similar. http://www.pinkberry.com/
Hopefully the pricing structure is a little better than pinkberry. I look forward to stopping by and checking it out.
Best Seafood Dishes in RI?
I'd have to repeat your #1 and #3 but go comfort food for number 2. Fish and Chips at Tommy's Pizza in Cranston. I know you are thinking but it's a pizza place. The batter is perfect, the fish is tender and the chips are crunchy and tasty (The other plus is the fact that I am convinced they use nuclear fusion to cook food there as I have never had a plate set before me that I did not have to check to make sure It was not going to scald the inside of my mouth.)
Best Seafood Dishes in RI?
Gin N Tonic:
You have ended this discussion as far as I am concerned. It gets no better than the two ideas you have presented.
Chapel Grill in Cranston, RI
Chapel Grille is located in Cranston, RI.
I was there last week with the Mrs., the atmosphere inside the place is spectacular, the service was great, the food was good but not great. The Mrs. had a filet, it was cooked to the perfect temperature but there was no seasoning, the mashed potatoes were clearly instant and not prepared well. It looked more like a glob of paste on the plate.
I had swordfish, it was a little overcooked but tasty.
The desserts were stellar, but I would expect no less from Pastry Chef Erin Flynn.
I am hoping that chef Tim Kelly and his staff will work out these issues. They opened at a bad time of year, no time for a soft opening to work out the kinks.
Does Anyone Know the Name of This Newport Pub? (And Is It Still Open?)
You may have been thinking of Aidans' that was just off of Washington Square. Sadly, it is no longer there. Not sure what opened in its place.
Where Daily Bread used to be (Broadway, PVD)
Well at least it isn't a Dunkin'.
Was hoping there would be an addition to the great restaurants on this street.
Where Daily Bread used to be (Broadway, PVD)
Does anyone know what is going into the old Daily Bread on Broadway. I drove by today did not have time to stop but saw work going on and a sign with rendering in the window.
Seeking fine dining near to Coventry/W Greenwich, RI
Bistro 9 in East Greenwich is probably the closest to Coventry / West Greenwich.
Best Italian in Providence
Agreed on Itri. The Chicken Gorgonzola Gnocchi is a must have for me. You may also want to try L'Osteria across the street, the Chicken under a brick is a great dish or anything with their pesto.
Best Italian in Providence
Capriccos is not only stuffy, the interiors are so out of date and there is that odor of old restaurant when you walk in the door.
I would go for Siena or La Masseria If you order the right things off the menu it is still very good.
Tomatoes in Rhode Island
I second Jaswells, I was there over the weekend. They had tomatoes in bulk don't know the price though.
I only bought a few beefsteaks that were the size of a large grapefruit. Perfectly ripe, sweet firm flesh and a single slice to a slice of italian bread.
August Opening, Closing, and Coming Soon in PVD/RI
For a preview of Jacky's just look at their website.
http://jackyswaterplace.com/
New Restaurant - Rumford RI
Has anyone been to Nick Rabar's new place in Rumford?
I am planning on going this weekend but wanted to check here first.
http://www.avenuenamericankitchen.com/index.php
dinner in Wakefield, RI?
Just having some fun. Jealous that you are too close to Downtown Wakefield to leave. It is one of my favorite villages in RI.
dinner in Wakefield, RI?
That is a full Rhode Island if I have ever heard one. Can't justify drive from Wakefield to Narragansett.
dinner in Wakefield, RI?
Could not agree more, but we are a Brickley's on Boston Neck Road family. Take it to go and drive up to URI bay campus and enjoy the view.
Geocachers there are a few caches there as well.
Please Help me Find My Perfect Remebered Clamcake
Sorry FriedClam but there is nothing in Rhode Island known as a Clam Fritter. They are clam cakes plain and simple. The best I have had lately are Iggy's Doughboys on Oakland Beach in Warwick, but only in the winter when you can ask for them well done. During the summer they are too busy to really pay the attention that I like; don't get me wrong they are still good in summer but not perfect like winter time.
You could also try Monahan's at the end of the wall in Narragansett.
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Iggy's Doughboys
1157 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882
Freeman's Super Food Warehouse - Providence
I shop there all the time. The provisions are all top quality. You just need to know what you are looking for while there. Everyone there is very helpful.
But do me a favor and keep this place a secret ;) I like the fact that it is not very well known and crowded.
thai orchids in cranston, ri?? reviews/suggestions please
Just made it back into Thai Orchid last night. Food and owners were awesome as always.
I love the country Pad Thai and spicy basil fried rice.
The place is BYOB and there is a Package Store across the street if you forget to bring something from home.
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Thai Orchid
2655 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631
Best Providence Dinners These Days>>What do you think of My List?
The old restaurant in Hotel Providence was "L'Epicureo." It was Neo-victorian.
Gracies is in fact not open on Sundays and they are closed this entire week for vacation.
