Farmstead for great domestic cheese and imports. Located in Wayland Sq., Prov.

I'll agree on the WF solution - very fresh and tasty, though the maki rounds are really too large to make for pleasurable eating. If you've eaten sushi there recently you'll notice the hike in prices btw.
Have been going to Quan's Kitchen regularly now and it's very nice from A to Z. Perfect size maki cuts and delicate nigiris. VERY fresh taste. and such a clean and friendly place! Most Japanese restaurants leave this unmistakable odor on your clothes - this restaurant doesn't. WIsh they were in Providence. No background music like at Haruki's, but a warmer atmosphere all around.

went there just this past week and wanted to report a bit (it's around their one year anniversary) So... an uneven experience all in all! DELICIOUS FOOD especially the spring vegetable soup (which is too filling for an appetizer IMO) a lovely selection of ingredients, beaitful to look at, a wonderful broth, really a very nice dish. the foie gras on toast (from the salumeria menu) was fantastic. and everything else we at was great (didn't try desserts though.) but why is the service so bad? impersonal, not attentive, slow, careless (they kept forgetting silverware, or didn't pour the wine as needed, and so forth) just the sort of details one wouldn't expect for that type of place and those prices. and it couldn't be blamed on them being busy because it wasn't the case. decor: too barren for my taste.
couldn't help but think of Neath's... But the dinner was very good.

Not yet, though I'd imagine there should be interested parties looking into it!

Is it Blackstone Pizzeria you're thinking of? In the shopping ctr. right across from the Lincoln Mall... Maybe you have another place in mind.

Depending on where you'll be exactly, you could drive just 5 minutes more and have lunch at Andrew's Bistro (it's in Cumberland, bordering w/ Lincoln.). Really nice place where definitely you'll get "something delicious" and reasonable too.

Next door to C.G. would be Raphael's which just closed.
If you prefer to stay downtown, try Gracie's.

There's always the "Japanese fallback" if you like tempura - Haruki's (in Wayland) soft shell crab appetizer is simple and tasty.

If you haven't yet decided, this could help:
http://www.projo.com/food/content/mom...

Does it have to be PVD? We're going with our family to Andrew's in Cumberland (www.andrewsbistro.com) where we went last year because it was so great - really not far from PVD.

oh right! actually we enjoyed loie fuller quite a bit, especially atmosphere. have found food to be a bit uneven in quality but overall good. didn't realize they're open sundays.
must try the Broadway Bistro. thanks for the suggestion.

leaving the boundaries of providence, what about redlefsen -- anyone been there in recent past?

I would stay FAR from Temple -- the food was not good at all on both our visits there, and definitely service not the kind you'd want to share w/ business associates (or anyone you like/want to impress)
(that was a couple months ago... maybe they've changed drastically?)
Not a chain please. Too much pride in local dining scene to do that route!!
Try Gracie's or Chez Pascal...

Any recent experiences w/ CAV?

Couldn't agree more, just a Lovely special place in PVD.

Anyone recently been to Mediterraneo's?

We'll be going back to Andrew's Bistro (in Cumberland), like we did last year. (Most certainly kids are welcome.) Think they're offering lunch/dinner... Best to give them a call about hours since they're usually closed on Sundays. www.andrewsbistro.com

Should've included Gracie's in the list of already known places!
So where else??

New Rivers, Chez Pascal, Bacaro, Nick's, ... they're all closed Sundays. So: where to go for a nice dinner? (Don't say Red Stripe or Bravo or Siena, been there.)
Thanks!

Particular preference for Chez Pascal and New Rivers. If you really want quality Italian in PVD then yes it should be Siena. But noise level there kinda ruins the evening.

FINALLY made it there. Lovely decor, warm complimentary tones/artwork/floor tiles, simple but tastefully done. The dinner was VERY good from beginning to end. Not only tasty and savory, but beautiful plating. The one disappointing part of the whole experience was the service - weak staff, no polish and insufficient knowledge. Especially with a refined menu such as theirs. The surprising element was how empty the place was... We will definitely go back but more for the culinary experience than the "full package" w/ ambiance etc.

yes yes YES absolutely agree re: Red Stripe. always so disappointing despite the enormous overall appeal. if OP has only one night in PVD, forget about Red Stripe. Blaze isn't much better in terms of food taste either.
Julian's' or Nick's would be nice choices. If you have a car during your few days' visit here, head to Andrew's Bistro (http://www.andrewsbistro.com) it's about 15-20 min. from the hotels in PVD and you will be amazed at what you find hidden there. (don't look for pre/post dinner walk there but it's just so comfy and cozy inside, food and atmosphere.
)enjoy your visit!

BadSneakers, GabachaYucateca: I'd love to hear just a bit more about your aversion towards C.B. I know a bunch of people who like it, never been myself, now I'm curious...

Who's been recently, what do you have to report? Have heard it's as authentic as it gets for Korean outside Korea here in RI - Please share experiences!

yes, but...!! i could swear i've seen some of these priced for less in the Prov. suburbs. let me look into it :-)
on another note, i also think the reaction came from experiencing such poor meals and lousy service at T.R., that the cost at the end of the night seemed all the higher too.

well sure, but can we be comparing suburb prices to downtown prov.? we were feeling out the suburbs only.

Banfi Brunello, Santa Margherita, Principessa Gavi, Cesari Amarone...

Andrew's Bistro in Cumberland ~ www.andrewsbistro.com ~ Great place! (Italian + more
)Cafe Andiamo in Johnston (no website) ~ portions too big, but nice food. (just Italian)
d. Carlo in Smithfield ~ www.dcarlotrattoria.net ~ nice place, but not as consistently satisfying to us as Andrew's bistro.

Here's our experience, dating about a month ago: a major culinary disappointment. The photos on their website are so enticing, and more so yet, the descriptions about their concept. But most of each dish we ordered remained in the plate, failing to please our palates. The smelts appetizer was enormous but more problematic yet it was so spicy that even for one who enjoys that degree of heat, it was excessive heat. And for the one at our table who is not keen on "spicy" food, the waitress profusely assured us that it was just a touch of spiciness but nothing to worry about. Completely un-true. The goat cheese tart entree looked like an appetizer plate -- and it really lacked salt and essential flavor. Their infamous scallops were overdone and the mixture beneath it smelled anythying but appetizing. How can one ruin good ingredients? Too much fuss over them, probably. And the apple crostata did not taste fresh and yummy.
Decor: interesting, but the rest?
As for the review in the media i think it's fair to say most of us on here on the Board won't listen to them :-)

Is that Apsara on Hope St?

Was there just last week actually -- they told us the kitchen was closing at 9:30 (tue. night) I actually thought it was not easy to eat "just a bite" and keep it reasonably priced... Had a salad with braised endive -- the endive was slightly watery, which is surprising for the reputation they've gained. the dressing was interesting, but all in all i didn't think the salad was outstanding. incl. tips + a glass of bordeaux, $24. BTW we had to ask the waitress for bread after waiting forever. I guess I'll have to go back for more and see....