Good Lobster w/in short taxi ride in Providence

You're in for the night - is it tonight, May 27? If so, forget about eating anywhere. It's Brown graduation weekend and you can't get a table anywhere. If it's some other night, then I'd suggest Hemenway's, which you can probably walk to. No other obvious choices if you have to have lobster.

Note that CH is not a concierge service - if you pop in in mid-afternoon to ask about plans for that evening, you will most likely be disappointed.

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Cape Verdean/Portuguese Food

Thanks for the pointer.

However, I will have to disagree with your grouping of Rancho and Andes. I've been going to Los Andes on and off since about a week after they opened, when there were like 3 people in the place, and I've always been pleased. Yes, the demographics have changed somewhat, but the food has remained good.

El Rancho Grande, on the other hand, has been overrated all along. I'm no Mexican food expert, but I've never had a good meal there, and I doubt that Sysco "mixed vegetables" from a can represent authentic anything. Yes, it's overrun with college kids and West Side hipsters, but the food sucks uniformly. I put it in the category of Wes', a place that I'd have to be way drunker than I've been in decades to think of visiting again.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Downtown Providence and Federal Hill area

There's much more to PVD than the Hill, but the number one question - will you have a car? The immediate downtown area has some restaurants, but groceries, bakeries and cheesemongers are a bit further afield.

That said, more of the interesting action in PVD in the last couple of years is in what you can loosely call Modern American, or locavore, or farm-to-table, of which there are a number of great examples. Hole in the wall ethnic with great food, not so much. This isn't NYC.

For example, there is only one currently operating African restaurant that I'm aware of, which is Abyssinia (Ethiopian/Eritrean) on Wickenden St., which has gotten somewhat mixed reviews here, although I found the food very tasty. There may be only two Vietnamese places, Pho Horn in a little plaza off North Main St. and Pho Paradise on Broad St., both very good in my view. There are maybe three (?) Korean places, but the best, in my view, is fairly far, Sura on Geo Waterman Rd near the Johnston/North Providence line. Chinese is weak, mostly Americanized, no Sichuan or Hunan, let alone Xinjiang. For Japanese, Haruki is the best sushi you'll find, and it's nothing to write home about; for non-sushi, Ebisu is quite good. Mostly you'll find a lot of mediocre "pan-Asian." I think there may be two worthwhile Indian places, Rasoi and India, but I don't know much about Indian. There's one tapas place in the city, Flan y Ajo right downtown, but it's kind of a mixed bag. I know nothing about Mexican, but some people have mentioned a few places in CF or in the Valley St. area. Oh, and the best Italian, oddly, isn't on the Hill.

Broad St. has a few good Asian markets and one bakery (which is invariably closed whenever I go there.) Seven Stars bakery on Broadway and Lasalle Bakery near the PVD/N Prov line are different, but both good. Farmstead/La Laiterie in Wayland Square is the place for cheese (and charcuterie.)

If you want to spend a bit more, though, you really owe it to yourself to try some of the newer-wave restaurants: New Rivers, Farmstead, Nick's, Gracie's, Chez Pascal, The Dorrance are all very good, each in their own way, and are all mentioned here if you run a search.

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Mooring or Castle Hill for lunch this weekend?

Castle Hill. Bring your wallet.

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Best value for sea food in Newport , RI

As Frobisher said, if price isn't a problem, go to Castle Hill, particularly if the weather is nice, as it's supposed to be tomorrow and Saturday. I'm also very fond of Tallulah on Thames. Neither it nor Castle Hill are stereotypical seafood places, but very nice high-end dining experiences.

Scales and Shells was also suggested, rightfully, IMO. Lower price point than the other two I mentioned, but cash-only, if I recall correctly, so keep that in mind.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

High-end sushi in the city?

Oh, I'm no stranger to arguments, having been in my share (and having been slapped a few times by the mods) on my home regional board - if you're ever planning a trip to Providence or Newport, come visit the Southern New England board.

I do appreciate all the advice. In my current environment, really good sushi requires a 3-hour drive to NYC, so any time I can walk to it or take a 10-minute cab ride, that's a plus in my book.

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High-end sushi in the city?

I feel a little sheepish here, as it appears I've started a very "inside baseball" argument by posing a couple of simple questions. But you all have certainly given me enough to read, even though it's a bit odd to be reading detailed dissections of restaurants I've never set foot in and chefs I've never seen.

That said, I still have to figure out what's walkable, or how your mass transit works and where it goes. I will be at the W hotel, as it turns out. And if I have an evening free, is it worth my while to rent a car for $40 plus say $20 for gas to drive up to Kaito? How long will that take in real-world (not Google Maps) conditions?

Gin n Tonic in San Diego

High-end sushi in the city?

I've read some of the other sushi threads but still have some questions. I don't get out to SoCal much, and have never been to San Diego, but will be going there for a conference in a couple of months, at the Convention Center, staying nearby. I will not have a car. I am looking for a high-end traditionalist sushi experience, but every rec I've seen is kind of far. Questions:

Is there anything worthwhile that's walkable or in reach of public transit? Is it reasonable to take a cab to Ota or Shirahama? If I do, will I get a cab back? Would the cost of that be such that I should just rent a car for the evening; if I do that, should I then just drive up to Kaito in Encinitas?

What I'm looking for is more along the lines of a small old-school OC-type place, as opposed to a glossy LA type of place, but quality above all. Price is no object.

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Rhode Island Shore Dinner

Like the others, I love Matunuck Oyster Bar, but it's not a clam shack, where the only piece of equipment is a fryolator.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

How is Wright's Chicken Farm?

It's a great place to take your Little League team after they win a big game.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Suggestions for best Chinese food in Southern New England?

Like you, I've been disappointed with Red Ginger in recent years. But you generalize to "between New Haven and Boston", although I have a couple of Sichuanese co-workers who tell me that Sichuan Gourmet in Sharon, MA is the real deal. I haven't had a chance to get up there yet, but it certainly beats the prospect of a trip to Boston. Have you been?

For other regional Chinese cuisine, I have to console myself with the thought that on a good day I can make it to Flushing in a bit under 3 hours.

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3 breakfats, 2 lunches and 2 dinners in Newport. Please advise.

In my view Tallulah is the best dinner in Newport now. Around $50pp for 3 course prix-fixe, excluding wine, tax & tip, and worth every penny.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Artisanal, Hidden Gems, Hole in the wall Providence, RI

LMWW nails it. While I haven't been to Cook & Brown, I eat often at the other three on the list and can't recommend them enough. Budget is relative, so unless you toss out exact numbers it's hard to say, but for the quality of the food and the inventiveness and skills of the chefs I think they are all very fairly priced.

Pastiche is *the* place for dessert.

I like Broadway Bistro (and prefer it to Julian's in that neighborhood), but it's not quite on the same level; as noted, dinner only, and beer/wine only (no distilled spirits).

I don't want to shortchange Nick's on the dinner front, as they are excellent, but they serve hands-down the best brunch in Providence, so if you only want to go there once in the weekend, go for Sunday brunch.

Skip Al Forno.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Newport, RI Restaurant Itinerary Recommendations

You've gotten good recs, and I'm not going to pile on too much. But Clarke Cooke is a nice place, and definitely not too stuffy, even though you'll still get more of an old Newport vibe. Scales and Shells is good for seafood, but if I recall correctly they are cash only, so keep that in mind. That said, Tallulah on Thames is great, as others have said, but well out of your price range at ~$50-60 per person for 3-course prix fixe; although if I had two nights in Newport and were on somewhat of a budget, I'd eat dinner at Wendy's one night to be able to eat at Tallulah the second night. It's that good. Don't think of going there without a reservation, though.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Looking for the best destination restaurants in RI, Mass, and CT

Late coming back to this. I've only eaten there once; it was excellent, just maybe not as personal a connection as you get when, for example, you sit at the counter at Nick's. I guess I'm saying that if Castle Hill weren't where it is, I'm not as sure I'd go there, whereas Tallulah's is, frankly, in a sort of nondescript location, but I'd definitely go there sooner.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Looking for the best destination restaurants in RI, Mass, and CT

Well, you got that right. Driving all the way from South County to Wayland Square is truly an expedition, in RI terms. I'm surprised you didn't have to spend the night before heading back.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

PVD/RI * February '12 * Open/Closed/Coming Soon

And I'm sure with menu "specialties" such as mango fried rice and cutesy-named maki with mayo and cream cheese in them, you'll get fine examples of both.

Seriously, we need another mundane "pan-Asian" place about as much as Thayer needs another pizza place.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Looking for the best destination restaurants in RI, Mass, and CT

Matunuck Oyster Bar is a great place, and in fact all of LMWW's recs are excellent, but I'm not sure I'd agree on their being "destinations". To me, that term has two words, not just "restaurant" but "destination", which means some place that has location and location, so if you spend hours driving there, there's scenery and not just food. The Tarrytown Blue Hill is like that, to me, and in my little corner, I'd throw out something like Castle Hill Inn in Newport which is just gorgeously situated.

Don't get me wrong, I love, say, Nick's or La Laiterie, but I wouldn't drive from New York or Fairfield county *just* to eat there - I'd need some other reason to be in Providence. Castle Hill would be worth a day trip, OTOH.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Looking for the best destination restaurants in RI, Mass, and CT

I'm with diakon in curiosity about the nature of this inquiry, and can't help wondering what the CH mod team thinks. You give two examples that are both outside this board's scope, so how about you give an example or two that are in scope, and see what people think about those.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Brunch / Breakfast suggestions -Southeastern, MA

Reaching the top end of your acceptable driving range, Nick's on Broadway (Providence) has a stellar brunch.

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Ceviche in RI

Tilapia and carp may have similar feeding habits, but they're not the same fish.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

where to find bone marrow bones in RI?

I have found them at the regular supermarkets (Shaw's or Stop & Shop) -- not always, but often enough.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

providence -- need italian restaurant near hilton

Walk out the front door, make a right, walk over the highway on Atwells Ave. and you're a couple of hundred feet from Federal Hill, the heart of Italo-American Providence, where there are many to choose from. The closest to the hotel will be Camille's and Mediterraneo on the left and Angelo's on the right, the first two a little more upscale than the latter, but all acceptable. Further along on the same side as Camille's you have Siena, which has a "younger" atmosphere and more of a bar scene, but is popular on this board. Pane e Vino also has its fans, at least in part for the impressive wine list; it's on the other side, and is more or less the end of the restaurant strip. More views can be found in this thread http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/818282 or by searching under "Federal Hill" or any of the resto names I listed.

Wherever you eat, skip dessert and head to Pastiche on Spruce St (parallel to Atwells but one block north) for coffee and sweets.

None of this needs a car or cab unless the weather is really foul.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Providence restaurant rec for bf's birthday

Romantic atmosphere and good food? Not sure I'd come up with this rec, but whatever. Though you might wish to Google the place and see what you see.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Providence restaurant rec for bf's birthday

Adding to Jenkins' recs, also in the downtown area I'd suggest Gracie's or New Rivers. Both have the atmosphere you're looking for and are several notches above what you mention as your regulars.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Providence quick reviews...

Thanks for posting this.

I've only fairly recently discovered Ebisu, but have been extremely pleased. Not sure why it hasn't gotten more love here - I've only seen it mentioned once in passing.

Sura: I've only ever eaten at the George Waterman Rd location. While I've always been very pleased, you're right that prices seem a tad high. Not high enough to keep me from going when I have a craving for Korean, because driving to Flushing takes a lot more time and money, but just a bit over what seems reasonable. What strikes me about that location, though, is it's fairly large, and every time I've been it's nearly empty, so I don't know how they stay in business.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Recommendation in Providence for affordable restaurant

I think Broadway Bistro is a very nice bet. Fairly limited menu, but most (maybe all?) entrees are $20 and under.

Capriccio and Nuovo are tired and overpriced.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

need a great resturant

What's your budget? What kind of food do they like/dislike?

You may get more help if you put the location in the title.

Gin n Tonic in Southern New England

Flounder

My local fish market (in New England) sells something labeled "Filet of sole (flounder)." I've read the Wikipedia article about European vs North American sole, and on my last visit to the fish market I asked why he uses the terms interchangeably. He said "they're the same fish," but biologically they aren't, and I suspect "sole" just sounds a little better than "flounder." But the flounder was fresh and reportedly native, so I have no problem with it - I was just wondering whether this confusion/renaming is common.

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