Visited with a friend and it was a first visit for both of us. We sat down at the bar and were…read moreimmediately drawn in by the casual but classy vibe. My friend knows much more about wine than I do, so he was the decision maker for our wine choices and we ordered a 1/2 bottle of red which we both found to be very delicious. Of course, we had to try some food too and the small bites menu was perfect with something to satisfy nearly every taste. We opted for the meat charcuterie, and it was beautifully presented with enough for the two of us to share. There is also a cheese charcuterie on the menu, but unfortunately there is not an option for a combined meat and cheese plate. We sat, sipped, and tasted for a while and never felt rushed. The atmosphere was so comfortable and we'll definitely consider going back here again.

I didn't have the best time at Providence Wine Bar…read more This might sound a little haughty, but hear me out: I can drink wine at home. I can browse a liquor store & pick out a bottle that exactly fits my preferences, my mood, & my budget. I can bring it home & uncork the wine, checking the cork for freshness. I can pull out my special glassware & pour myself a glass of wine & enjoy it on my own couch. So why go out to a wine bar, if not for the wine? For me, it's for the ambience & the experience. Both of those things at Providence Wine Bar were lacking. The lights were too bright (overhead & fluorescent) & the music was too loud (& just bad). The employees seemed both bored & nervous, with not much to do to occupy themselves. I was one of the only people in the bar, so I felt like I was under scrutiny - I'm certain this wasn't intentional but it was unfortunately how it came across. I brought a book but couldn't focus because of the lights & the music. I even caught myself with my fingers in my ears, trying to muffle the sounds of 2010s hyper pop. I have nothing against 2010s hyperpop, it's just that there's a time & place for everything, & maybe that isn't at a wine bar at 8 PM on a Wednesday. I just wanted to be done with my glass of wine so that I could leave. All of that being said, I wish them the best. It seems like they need a good manager's touch.

We haven't been back to Oberlin for some time. We had a PPAC performance and were lucky to score a…read morelast-minute reservation on a Friday night. The hostess sat us at a table. We were lucky that another patron decided they wanted a table versus the chef's seat at the counter. For us, this is the perfect place to sit because it lets you take in the whole experience. The ambiance was great. I had the same great Negroni as last time, but also had a new take on an Old Fashioned called the Dinner Jacket. Very yummy! Our server was very pleasant and attentive. We ordered the Kohlrabi Caesar and sesame focaccia again. It was as great as the first time. The focaccia is amazing. My wife ordered the Anolini for her entree, and I ordered the fabulous rack of lamb cooked in the wood-fired oven. It was simply amazing. We ended by splitting the warm apple tart. Everything was fabulous...my rating is the same. Go and enjoy yourself.

Rating: 4.3 Came to…read moretry this place since i've heard good things about it. We made reservations for mother's day dinner. Parkings are street only and can be tough to come by. Luckily we did make reservation for early dinner so we were able to find parking right away. We got there early so the restaurant wasn't open yet. We took a walk around the Westminster for a bit until the place was open. We were sat down right away. Inside is cozy with dim lights and open kitchen and some tables. They have few outside seating available as well. We started with some appetizer raw fish and combo as well as kohlrabi Caesar. We got black bass and a seasonal fish with combo that included lightly roasted oysters, shrimp and squid. All seafood was directly sourced from local port and fresh. Seafood appetizer was delicious. The caesar was interesting. I've never had kohlrabi but it reminded me of radish and it was tasty. Personally i would have preferred little less salt and olive oil so that flavor of the raw ingredient stand out more but was not too bad. My entree was the seafood risotto. Flavorful risotto with some seafood on top. Was a bit messy to eat because of the shells but was flavorful. The crab and shellfish itself was small and a bit underwhelming but the rice was rich and full of fish flavor. My mother had the cacio e Pepe which was good but she said that nothing comparable to one she had in Rome. I was not a huge fan of the thicker pasta but that's just is personal preference. Service was excellent but the table was a bit small and tight as we were very close to the next table and can hear what others are talking about so not a very privately setting. Overall i did like the place. Food and service were good. But it was not anything exceeding expectation and there were few things that detracted from our experience such as heavy seasonings, small dining space and etc... The price is quite expensive for the amount of food they serve as well. I think it's a good place for special occasions.

We attended a Maison Ferrand cognac seminar & tasting the other night at Sapphire & it was such a…read morefun & unique experience for us. The staff at Sapphire (Melissa, Marc, & Shiv), as well as the guest bartender (Vannaluck), went above & beyond to make the experience interactive & memorable. We were greeted immediately with a French 75 made with cognac - Did you know that the original French 75 called for cognac, as well as many other classic cocktails? No? Neither did I. The welcome aperitif was a great lil' treat to kick the night off with. We were given a mini charcuterie selection to keep us busy until the main event, which began about 20 minutes after we arrived. Vannaluck talked us through the history & characteristics of cognac. We were given 3 small pours of different cognacs to taste as well as a serendipitous, bonus mini pour at the end. Throughout the night, the kitchen sent out a variety of tapas that UTILIZED COGNAC. Cognac glaze, reduction, brine, etc. Fascinating! I went in knowing next to nothing about cognac & left with a decent understanding of the spirit. I've always wanted to do something like this, & Sapphire made it extremely accessible. It was also amazingly affordable. I'm really looking forward to more events like this one. Sign me up, please.

My husband and I decided to come to Sapphire for a drink...I had really enjoyed the cocktails and…read morethe food during the recent Yelp Elite even, so I told my hubby to check out this place with me. I loved the Jacobean cocktail, so we both got this smooth scotch cocktail...Melissa made the drink with an expertise that few have and while she was making them, we engaged in conversation with Marc, the beverage manager. Both were very engaging and very friendly, making the visit very relaxed and enjoyable....we also got some steakhouse sliders that were outstanding...the meat was just slightly medium, keeping all the moistness and flavor.... Overall a great place for a drink and/or light bites...... The ambiance is inviting and cozy and the patio outside is great for those nice warm Rhode Island evenings....

Didn't get a picture! But updating to describe the excellent cocktail Bianca made me!…read more I've been getting the espresso martini by default here cause they are quite good...but my drink of choice is usually a citrusy gimlet of sorts. I mentioned this to Bianca when I was ordering and she essentially said "say less"... made me the perfect drink. I was so pleased... it can get quite busy but if you know the general profile of what you're into- Bianca will get the vision and make you the perfect cocktail. It's that personalized touch that'll get me back again and again!

XO is cute! Always a great spot for celebrations. I've been here on various occasions, mostly…read morebirthdays. The drinks are expensive, but not shocking given the feel of this bar. The weekends are always busy and booming. Good vibes.

It is a cute place to have some small plates and a glass of wine. But it is not a place for a quick…read moremeal because the wait for food was very very long. The food was interesting and delicious. I like that when you walk in the server explained what food they're serving and ask if it is okay or if it is what you are looking for. They don't really cook there more like assembling canned fish and other ingredients together and present it nicely. You can see in the photo the presentation was lovely. Also remember to ask for more bread if you are three or more people, a few little slices will not be enough for three adults. The stools were not comfortable if you have back problem needs support. But the cold color goes well with the decor.

My family and I had dinner here and it was just as close as you're going to get to dining in Italy…read more The food is imported from Italy and they have an amazing wine menu, all coming from small vineyards in Italy. There's no other authentic Italian wine bar on federal hill, and it's perfect for wine tasting and trying all their amazing Italian small plates. They also have a market next door where you can buy the wines and food you ate! Luigi the manager was also excellent and gave great menu recommendations. Will definitely be back it's truly an underrated spot on the hill.

A chic, modern seafood restaurant with a variety of raw and hot selections. Lots of oysters to…read morechoose from, and most of them are local from RI. Our knowledgeable server helped recommend the types that we'd like, as they knew the specifics about each type of oyster. $2 for happy hour is a deal!! Another must‑try dish is the raw scallops. Not only is it beautifully plated, the taste is intricate with the sesame oil mixed with fresh raw scallops. Btw, they have sake on tap!

Stopped in here on a Monday while visiting Providence for work. It's a cozy little place with a big…read moreoyster bar in the center. The oyster bar is impressive and I sat at the bar behind it where I enjoyed watching the gentleman work on shucking. What a great experience. I was very hungry after a long day of traveling so I tried 3 stone crab claws, fish dip, and crispy oysters to start. The crab was okay, they were smaller than expected and didn't have much meat. The fish dip is phenomenal with unique chips unlike anything I've ever had. The crispy oysters were very flavorful and very tasty. I finished this amazing meal with a scallop roll that came on a pillowy toasted bun. It was excellent and satisfying.

I can't believe this is my first time coming to Bacaro! I was very impressed with the experience as…read morea whole. We were a party of three, but it could have been a party of six with all the food we ordered. We had the first reservation at 5 PM. We parked on the street, but you can park in the lot and they will validate your parking for you. The service was a 5/5 and the ambiance can be casual or fine dining. The lighting is perfect for a romantic night out and the view of the Providence River right over your shoulder. We made our own board: Umbriaco di Raboso "Drunken Cow" - amazing cheese, very high quality, sharp, not over powering. Definitely get it! Provolone - sharp very good quality provolone cheese Proscuitto di San Daniele - sliced very thin, soft and flavorful. I was very pleased with the portion size and the flavor. A must have! Spicy Olives - assorted olives with a spicy olive oil. All of the olives were fantastic and there definitely was a good kick from the spice. They threw in the pickles, jams, nuts and honey, all were fantastic. I really liked the blueberry jam. The warm tapas came out at all different times. Fried Bolognese olives - Although these were unique and delicious, I would skip these next time. The Bolognese is just a pinch on the inside of the olive. It would be a game changer if there was a side of Bolognese sauce to dip them in instead. Eggplant - Definitely a must order. Super simple sauce packed with flavor and the buffalo mozzarella is to die for. The pork belly is also a must order. Tons of flavor and not a lot of fat, which surprised me. It was a good sized portion too. Now of the the pizza...we ordered Pizza Salumi. Very thin dough, wood fired for the flavor and the crisp. There is a good amount of sauce, which can make the crust floppy, but it's so worth it! The flavor of the sauce is so good. All fresh and top quality ingredients. The soppressata was perfect, taking this pizza to the next the level. It was cut super thin, as it should, and gave the pizza the flavor a margarita is missing. It would be tough not to order this next time. So just as we should have been walking out of the door because we were so full, we had the duck and the wood fired NY strip to split among the three of us. The duck - The duck dish came with the two legs so it was the dark meat with crispy skin. The duck was flavorful, moist, tender, and had some sort of apple based sauce to accompany it. The mashed potatoes were great and the Gorgonzola chunks were a treat, especially while sipping the sangiovese/cab red wine blend that we ordered for the table. The NY Strip was my favorite. The steak was tender and came with the flavor from that wood fired grill. The sauce was so good that I dipped every piece in it, trying to reserve some for the mashed potatoes. I ordered the steak medium rare + and it came out just how I wanted it. We ordered the lemon tart for my mom's birthday dessert. I would skip the dessert next time, but I always skip dessert. My mother loved it...very fresh and vibrant. I would have to say that Bacaro is my favorite RI restaurant, especially for a special night out. It is also a perfect spot to go and grab a snack or two with friends after work with a drink. It is affordable as you want and can find high end alternatives as well. The bottle of wine was $48 and you couldn't have asked for a better pairing with all of the food. We also ordered an after dinner cocktail, called the Call to Italy...very refreshing for a digestive type cocktail.

Decided on Saturday night for a Mother's Day celebration…read more I love the idea that they have amazing Tapas for apps! More restaurants should think about this. For Apps we had the Fried Burrata, Sausage Trio, and arancini balls! All amazing!! For dinner I went light as the apps were delicious. Buffalo Mozzarella on arugula and prosciutto with balsamic. My wife ordered the chicken parm also delicious.

I was early to a dinner reservation, so I walked by this place and ended up stopping in. The staff…read morewas very nice, the music was great and the whole vibe of the place was on point. I had two drinks. The first drink was a spicy. Margarita, it was really good but rather small. The second drink I had was it ginger drink that was phenomenal. Great before dinner spot!

Have been multiple times now and every time I leave having had an excellent drink…read more I love that Lambrusco is making its way on menus and there is no shortage of delicious wine on the menu at Glou. The lighting is dark and intimate, perfect for a drink on a date! While the wine list is what I go for, there's also cocktails, beer, and a variety of non alcoholic options, which was great for meeting friends here during dry January. Can't wait to be back in the summer with the patio!

TLDR: Ambience: 10/10…read moreFood: 7.5/10 --OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE! DRINK: 10/10 Friend and I needed a place to go after a community event. A lovely woman in the restroom overheard my friend and I unsure on where to venture, and she suggested this place! Moody and welcoming. Absolutely loved it. We went in ~10:45 on a Wednesday pm. Apparently they do live jazz weekly as well, but we'd come too late. A handful of bar patrons, a couple making out in the back of the dining room at their cute table, a lovely bartender, me& my bff. We really hit the jackpot for ambiance last night. Decor in there is so cute. I wish I took a picture of the table lamp on the bar. It was embellished with beads hanging on the rim of the shade. Our drinks were top notch. Mine was a citrus vanilla profile and hers was a savory martini. The sandwich, I had one bite of it was yummy. I don't like imitation lunch meats though. CATFISH was breaded and fried fabulously. Not oily. Crispy and crunchy. So happy to have discovered this place! The bartender told us they just celebrated 6 years of business!

Ambiance was perfect from the moment we walked in. The decor is beautiful, and the staff was…read moregenuinely kind, welcoming, and attentive, which made the whole experience feel elevated. They also had live music, and that was honestly the highlight of the night, it was amazing and added so much to the overall vibe. The food was okay, not bad by any means, but nothing that really stood out or blew me away. This is definitely the kind of place you come to for the drinks, the live music, and the atmosphere more than the food. If you're looking for a spot with great vibes and a fun, lively energy, this is it.

The space itself is super tiny, however the aesthetic of it is cool! Ambiance & service were…read moregreat!! Matt makes such great cocktails, which by the way are awesome here! The drink menu isn't the most expansive, however the bartenders here made it clear that they could make drinks beyond what is on the menu. Food menu consists of small appetizers, however, they don't miss!

Cool bar. Seating is limited but I have never had to wait too long for a seat. The cocktails are…read moreamazing. I talked to the bartender about a few drinks on the menu I was torn between and he made something not in the menu that was a blend of everything I liked! Truly impressive and delicious.