Big Bites American Diner

Opens in North Providence

By Julia Romano

Big Bites American Diner, located in the plaza at 1818 Mineral Spring Avenue, is one of Rhode Island’s newest family eateries serving homemade, delicious food to residents from near and far. With a grand opening on March 6, 2023, Big Bites is already making its mark as a true American Diner.

For those who love a full plate of hot, enticing fare, the owners of Big Bites, Mario Azrak and Georges Makhlouf, are eager to make sure that’s what you get. With a menu that is complete with breakfast and lunch options, there is something to satisfy every palate.

There is no lack of food industry experience with Azrak and Maklouf, the main chef at Big Bites. Maklouf attended culinary school in both Greece and Lebanon, and has been partnered with Azrak for almost two decades. In addition, Azrak has worked as an executive chef for 25 years in Lebanon, Greece, and the United States, and has had more unique experiences in the restaurant business than most. This amount of knowledge and expertise gives him a leg up on knowing what works.

Azrak also owns and operates Food Beat, with four more locations in Franklin and Worcester, MA, on Providence’s East Side, and the fourth which is currently being relocated. He also runs Spoodles

Deli in Worcester, and provides 15 soup options per day, deli sandwiches, and breakfast dishes. With Big Bites, Azrak is working towards specializing more in the breakfast concept, which he said he and the patrons are seemingly enjoying.

As such, the diner’s menu includes a variety of breakfast foods including huge pancakes that could not be more satisfying for the customers, as well as delicious omelets, made with fluffy eggs and filled with whatever the customer prefers. One of the many special dishes that has become popular with the patrons is called “the Big Bites Melt,” which consists of two poached eggs, bacon or sausage, melted cheese on an English muffin, and a side of crispy home fries.

Lunch items are nothing less than hearty and include crispy fish and chips on Fridays, juicy burgers, Italian dishes, such as chicken parmesan, and many more.

Perhaps, the most renowned menu item, and the one that is a true throwback to the 1950s through the 1980s, is the Magic Chef steak sandwich. Azrak describes this as a “Delmonico steak sandwich with thinly sliced ribeye, mushrooms, onions, mayo, and cheese, on an Italian soft roll.”

If you think you’ve heard of the Magic Chef steak sandwich before, you would not be off base. This popular menu item was originally created at one of North Providence’s most popular former restaurants, The Magic Chef, by the Manzo Family, who owned and operated this well known establishment for more than 30 years. Patrons came from all over to indulge and savor. The Manzo family is proud that the popularity of the Magic Steak Sandwich has resumed and will continue on, along with the restaurant’s success. musical entertainment on weekends

The restaurant’s retro decor is what you would expect in an American diner, with different seating options such as table seating or the typical diner bar seats. Open, yet cozy, you will definitely feel the diner vibe that they are projecting.

So, if you want to do your part in supporting local businesses, stop in to Big Bites American Diner and allow them an opportunity to impress you with a delicious meal made with love and fresh ingredients, as well as amazingly satisfying portions. Your experience will leave you wanting to make this one of your favorite casual eateries that you will want to return to again and again.

Shop In RI's top choice... chicken finger specials every day all new steak sandwich, you have to try!

HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE all new extended menu featuring delicious burger specials

Burger & Brew Special $15 sit back and relax with one of our martini & drink specials

Daily Drink Specials Features:

Starters, Greens, Pizza, Handhelds,Entrees

Musical Entertainment On Weekends

1839 Smith Street, North Providence RI - 401-661-9155

1839 Smith Street, North Providence RI • 401-661-9155

Hours: Mon - Fri 12pm-12am Sat & Sun 12pm - close

Hours: Mon - Fri 4pm-12am Sat & Sun 12pm - close examples of ingenuity that we have seen from successful operators throughout Rhode Island.

For hotels, catering to business and leisure travelers by updating workspaces, digitizing guest experiences like checking-in and checking-out, and offering more personalized options for each individual guest are ways they have modernized the lodging experience and created a standard practice across the industry.