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BEST CHOWDER & CLAM SHACK: IGGY’S doughboys & chowder house
The line may stretch around the block, but it’s time well spent when you finally get to dunk a half-dozen Iggy clam cakes (or a pint of their fried clam bellies) into their Manhattan Red, classic New England White, or the “Rhode Island Clear” (go for the combo — a bowl and three cakes). The Oakland Beach location is open year-round, a calm shack rarity. 889 Oaklawn Beach Ave, Warwick | 401.737.9459 + 1157 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett | 401.783.5608 | iggysdoughboys.com
BEST DELI: pauly penta’s italian deli
Pauly Penta’s Italian Deli is heaven, and the quality and service is ever-stellar. Grab a number and start studying that deli case. It’s all good — from snail and cavatelli pasta salads to ricotta and rice pies for order. Pick up a large Italian grinder loaded on a loaf of Sicilian bread (one of the state’s best meatball grinders is here, too). Menu specials are posted daily on Facebook (facebook.com/pauly.pentas). 1290 Mineral Spring Ave, North Providence | 401.722.3222 | paulypentasdeli.com
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT: SIENA
One of the two locations is in bucolic suburbia, where bluebirds may twitter but demanding foodies eye menus like hawks. The original place is on Federal Hill, where Italian culinary competition is gladiatorial combat. Chefproprietor Anthony Tarro calls his
succulent fare “Tuscan soul food,” and heaven knows he’s right. 5600 Post Rd, East Greenwich | 401.885.8850 + 238 Atwells Ave, Providence | 401.521.3311 | sienari.com
BEST pizza: bob & timmy’s
Thin crust, of course, soaked with olive oil, carefully charred over charcoal, piled high with ingredients while on the grill. Smoky, sumptuous, sinful. The mushroom version has three wild varieties. The Great White with optional chopped clams is popular. There’s even a lasagna pizza, for those who were considering having pasta. A calzone instead? It’s huge and fun-packed. 32 Spruce St, Providence | 401.453.2221 + 621 Pound Hill Rd, North Smithfield | 401.768.3490 | bobandtimmys.com
BEST south county RESTAURANT: coast guard house
The view is breathtaking, which ensures that everyone driving by wants to enjoy a meal here at least once in their life. Hurricanes have taken out the sweeping, wraparound windows on dramatic occasions, but odds are that your visit will be calmer while you sip a Cavit prosecco or dine on Georges Bank monkfish. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett | 401.789.0700 | thecoastguardhouse.com
BEST BEER SELECTION: JULIAN’S
Julian’s proves the adage: quality, not quantity. Sure, they have “only” 18 draft lines, but you’ll usually have a very difficult time choosing from the always-alluring and exceedingly well-chosen beers (so get a flight and sample four
6 Di n i n g on the town® | summer 2012
of them; savor, hydrate, repeat). And the bottle list runs the gamut, from Harviestoun Ola Dubh 40 Year to Victory Prima Pils. And they shoot for honorary dive bar props: you can always get cans of Black Label and ’Gansett tallboys to contrast and compare with the more refined offerings. Julian’s truly has the best of all possible worlds. 318 Broadway, Providence | 401.861.1770 | juliansprovidence.com
BEST mexicaN RESTAURANT: tortilla flats
We remember coming to the Flats as a child, giddy for crunchy tacos, perfectly seasoned rice, and a handful of quarters ready for the tabletop Pac-Man. Now we’re all grown up and aching for a pitcher of tasty sangria and/or one of the 75-plus tequilas, the perfect accompaniment to their blazing-hot salsa verde. The menu is more Gringo-fied than the typical Mexican taqueria (bison burgers, Cowboy Steak Tips), but the Chile Rellenos and El Doarado Chicken are winners. Dinnertime curveballs include Louisiana crawdads and deep-fried gator. 355 Hope St, Providence | 401.751.6777 | tortillaflatsri.com
BEST vegAN RESTAURANT: garden grille
The restaurant itself goes back only to 1996, but 25 years earlier its owners opened the Golden Sheaf, Providence’s first organic and natural foods market. Apple and smoked gouda pizza, anyone? Gluten-free mac & cheese? Anyone who has ever laughed at a soybean just hasn’t tasted their tempeh sausage or their smoky tofu BLT. 727 East Ave, Pawtucket | 401.726.2826 | gardengrillecafe.com