Chomp is one of those Providence restaurants that I keep finding myself coming back to, even after…read moretelling myself I should probably try something else on the menu. I've eaten my way through quite a few things here over the years, and while there are plenty of good choices, I keep coming back to the Smokey and the Bandit smash burger. At this point, I probably know what I'm ordering before I even sit down. There's just something about that combination that keeps winning.
The food here is consistently good. Everything I've had has been fresh, hot, and full of flavor, and the kitchen seems to have that part figured out without making a big production of it. The menu has enough variety that you can come in with different appetites and still find something you want, but it doesn't feel like one of those places with a menu the size of a small novel where you need twenty minutes just to decide what you're looking at.
The beer selection is another reason I enjoy Chomp. There's enough variety to make choosing a beer part of the experience rather than simply grabbing whatever happens to be on tap. Prices are also pretty reasonable for the quality and portion sizes, which is increasingly something I notice because restaurant prices have a funny way of creeping upward when you're not paying attention.
The location is another part of the appeal. Chomp sits in a great little part of Providence where you can easily make an evening out of being in the neighborhood. There are plenty of other restaurants, shops, and places to wander around nearby, so it doesn't feel like you're making a special trip just to eat and then immediately getting back in the car.
Tonight, though, I have to give a special shout-out to Bella, who was our server. She was outstanding. Friendly, personable, attentive without hovering, and genuinely helpful. She suggested adding bacon to my Smokey and the Bandit, which I probably wouldn't have thought to do on my own. I'm very glad she mentioned it because it was an excellent call. Sometimes the best recommendations are the simple ones, and she nailed it.
One piece of advice if you're planning on coming here: make a reservation if you can. Chomp can fill up quickly, and given how good the food is, that really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It's the kind of restaurant where people come back because they already know they're going to have a good meal, and I'm certainly part of that group.
Five stars from me. Great food, good beer, reasonable prices, a fantastic Providence location, and genuinely good service. I've tried enough of the menu over the years to know that Chomp has plenty of options, but apparently I'm still incapable of walking through the door without ordering that Smokey and the Bandit. Add Bella's bacon recommendation to the list of reasons I'm going to keep coming back.
