Outstanding dining experience. Sat at bar and ordered several appetizers and shared a few entrees. Highest quality food preparations. Amazing and unusual but simple flavors. Try anything and you will be wowed. Can't wait to return. read more

The good parts: the ambiance is nice, and the food was quite tasty. My partner had the pork ($40) which was a whole tenderloin and which he thought was delicious and good quality. My pieces were tasty but a bit fatty (hard to chew). I had the eggplant ravioli which was very rich and tasty ($28) - but so heavily sauced it was hard to tell what was what. The less good parts: the cheap wood chairs are too uncomfortable to sit on very long (I moved to the banquette next to my partner). The food is overpriced. It really needed something with it - bread, potatoes, vegetables, anything. The pork came with a few bitter leaves of a salad. I have a small appetite in general - I usually take home half my food anywhere I go. I looked at the food and said "we are going to have to go to IHOP later" because it was a light snack. The only bread available cost $12. Maybe it's amazing but I just couldn't bring myself to pay $12 for bread on principle. The food took awhile to arrive. Long enough for the server to tell us she was leaving for the night and to get up and order two drinks directly from the bar myself. The servers were nice in a way that felt somewhat forced. We are finding someplace else for dessert. I really liked my espresso martini, and that was within the price range I would expect ($13). read more

Ordered: Green Thumb Cocktail (~$13): Lustau Fino Sherry, Rhum JM White Rhum, Cucumber, Lemon, Lavender, Thai Basil, Sea Salt Strawberry El Diablo Cocktail (~$13): Rejon Reposado Tequila, Strawberry Cordial, Lime, Fever Tree Ginger Beer Wood-Roasted Sesame Focaccia (~$12): with Ligurian Olive Oil Raw Scallops (~$22): with cherry blossom mayo, sesame, radish Red Shrimp Quasi Crudo (~$26): lightly roasted with Sardinian olive oil and lemon Carrot & Mascarpone Anolini (~$26): yogurt, sugar kelp, fresh bay leaf, parmigiano Wood-Roasted Basque-Style Cheesecake (~$16): with blueberries & Tuscan olive oil Aya's take: Oberlin was hands down my favorite dining experience on my first trip to Providence! Chef Ben Sukle has received many accolades including being a James Beard Finalist so I knew we were in for a treat. Everything we ordered was so fresh, had a farm-to-table vibe, and felt very intentional. 3 different dishes had 3 different types of olive oil - that's impressive! I was blown away by the Red Shrimp Quasi Crudo. They were slightly sweet, perfectly cooked with a delicate snap, and I still got some of the roasted/grilled flavor. The Raw Scallops were so simple yet so exquisite. This is a must order along with anything on their crudo menu! The Carrot & Mascarpone Anolini was such a unique pasta and was perfectly balanced and delicious. And definitely leave room for dessert because you can't leave here without trying the Wood-Roasted Basque-Style Cheesecake. It's so creamy, borderline custardy, with a beautiful char on top and the delicate blueberries and olive oil that paired so well together. They are really using their wood-fire oven to the max and I'm here for it. What an exceptional meal; highly recommend. read more

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Truly one of the best meals I've ever had and a spot I wish I found sooner. Ordered the tuna crudo, Caesar salad, and lasagna which were all wonderful. Massive kudos to the team at Oberlin for wonderful food and service! read more

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We haven't been back to Oberlin for some time. We had a PPAC performance and were lucky to score a last-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. read more

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We stumbled on this place mostly by accident. So glad we went in. We ordered the New England cheese plate. A great experience. We also ordered the lamb bruschetta toast. This was a highlight for sure. Finally we polished off a strawberry rhubarb tart. I can't say enough good things about the tart. It was light and airy and served with bees wax ice cream. Would go back for that alone. My husband really liked the lamb bruschetta toast. It was served on a charred sour dough and was just the tiniest bit spicy. Was done so excellently. Great find! read more

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The last time I came to Oberlin, they were in a smaller building (now Cielito) in the block over. So obviously, they've expanded and the place looks really nice. I loved the cream and gold aesthetics, as well as the cool art on the ceiling. They have a variety of seating areas including tables inside and outside as well as highchairs around the open kitchen and highchairs wrapping around the brick oven which is where we sat. We were warned that it does get very toasty, but it wasn't anything unbearable. My friend comes here often, so he noticed that they've made big changes to their menu. He highly recommended the crudo; it can either be ordered a la carte ($14 per fish serving) or one of each as a platter. I chose to try the black bass and bluefin tuna. We also ordered wood roasted sesame focaccia to eat with the crudo and the cacio and Pepe we ordered. Lastly, we ordered a Kohlrabi Caesar salad which comes with Boston blackened boquerones, croutons, and parmiagano. The food came out at different moments but we ate the salad, bread, and crudo together and saved the pasta for last. The crudo was very fresh and decent serving size. It seemed to only be topped with olive oil and salt, but that was enough to amplify the flavor. The focaccia was soft, easy to tear apart, warm, perfectly crispy/toasted, and every millimeter of the focaccia was covered in sesame seeds. It comes with olive oil to dip in. The salad was unique. I have never had kohlrabi before but it was similar to broccoli stems in its firmness, but not as sweet. It was not drowned in dressing which I was happy about, and has a good amount of parmesan cheese. I could taste the crunchy croutons which added an additional crunch along with the kohlrabi. I have never had boquerones before so I wasn't sure which flavor to look out for. The cacio and Pepe was okay. It was a little bland, but since it was my first time having it, I was not sure what to expect. The spaghetti was cooked a little under al dente and the sauce was a lower viscosity than I imagined. My friend had a drink and all together, our bill was close to $100 which is not too bad. The plates look small (about 6-8" in diameter), but the food is filling. I decided to check out the website for fun and I love the octopus art and that it's easy to navigate. The staff was very friendly and made us feel important and taken care of. read more

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We had gone to Gift Horse the night before and thought that if that experience was great, Oberlin must be too. We were not wrong, but not right. Oberlin is a stellar experience and I must admit that it's the prime example of everything I want in a restaurant. Walking in, the vibe is cool. It's casual but also elevated. The design is chic but also cozy. It's a very comfortable place to be in. The comfort extends to the seating as well, with comfortable seats and nice spacing between tables. I thought our reso was at 6pm but it was at 630, something I found out on my own because the host made it seem like nothing was wrong when checking us in. He couldn't find our reservation at first but then did and didn't say a word, just sat us and engaged in polite conversation. I only realized my mistake when my phone reminded me to head to Oberlin for my 630 reservation. Oops. Our server was amazing. She was engaging and really seemed to care about us. This tells me she enjoys working here and I'm down for that. We got some great recommendations on food and other stuff for while we were visiting Providence. The menu is fun and inventive, using a lot of seasonal and local ingredients. We decided to have 3 of the specials as well as ordering some of the hits off the menu. Kohlrabi Caesar salad isn't something I knew I'd love, but here we are, me craving this salad every other day and wishing I could just head to Oberlin to have it. Everything we ate was amazing and I cannot rave more about how great this experience was. I highly recommend coming in and having an amazing meal. read more

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The place is beautiful and outdoor seating is lovely. Service was very attentive and friendly. There was an accident happened right next to us with a couple, but because I'm not the person experienced it so will not go into details. Food was good but not great. If you like more mild flavor food and cold dishes you'll enjoy it. The cheese cake was good but the other one was unfortunately not. Super sour and super sweet but doesn't go well together, surprisingly. We did try this place before it moved to this new location, and the new location and set up does bring some charm to it. But the food does not match the ambience. read more

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This place is absolutely stunning, both in terms of vibes and food. We started off with some oysters - never had them raw at a warm temperature before, which brings out a more buttery flavor. The paté was good but a bit salty. The gnocchi with lamb ragu was amazing. The cheesecake with cranberries was to die for. I highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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We sat on the patio. Server was nice and knowledgeable. We had 3 pastas that were delicious, but the standout was the lightly roasted littlenecks. They were truly extraordinary. We have stopped eating raw shellfish, so the lightly roasted idea is perfect. We have fantasized about them multiple times, but we live in Boston and it's a headache to get there. read more

Rating: 4.3 Came to try 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. read more

The restaurant was able to accommodate our family of 6 on short notice. The food was great and the atmosphere was very nice. Easy to have a table conversation. read more

Went for our anniversary - got seated in the worst seat in the house. There should not be a chair jutting out from a table by the corner of the bar - everybody walking by, totally in the way, got bumped in the head twice. Sesame bread was subpar. Comes with basic oil and have to rip a huge piece apart with your hands. Tuna basically had a can of beans on the bottom and a couple small slices of tuna. Ravioli was super bland and small - chef boyarde coming to mind as better is not a good thing. Portions also too small - left hungry and as quickly as we could, would definitely not go back. read more

Came in and sat at the counter. Food and drinks were good. Had a great N/A cocktail (Evenglow) and a regular cocktail (Clandastino). The Carrot and Mascarpone anolini was our favorite. I wouldn't get the Spaghetti Spezzatin again however we did love the lentil ragu portion. It was the mussels that we didnt love. The desert was great. Sadly forget the name. read more

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An epic birthday dinner. We sat overlooking the kitchen. A feast for the eyes seeing the ballet of food creation. The menu was novel and amazingly well considered. The waitstaff knew the menu and the right food sequencing (especially with us sharing plates) and great wine pairing. A restaurant that would be outstanding in san Francisco or New York is right here in Providence. read more

Very creative food. Highly recommend the unusual lasagna and Caesar salad. Also, the cheesecake was wonderful. The only disappointment was the the whitefish spread (which goes by a different name). Realizing we weren't enjoying it, the server immediately removed it from the table and the bill. Speaking of the server, service all around was great. read more

Such a cute and classy date spot. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so reservations are definitely the way to go--but if you can't snag one, try walking in right when they open; I've had luck with that before. Parking is all street, so plan a few extra minutes. The food is where Oberlin really shines. The pasta was the clear highlight--perfectly al dente with sauces that feel both comforting and creative. Desserts were equally memorable, and the drinks were strong, balanced, and fun to try. The unexpected star of the meal, though, was the bread: covered in sesame seeds, deeply toasty, and absolutely addictive. Don't skip it. Everything's a bit on the pricier side, but you get quality in exchange. The space itself feels intimate but not stuffy, making it a great choice for a date night, though I'd happily come back with friends too. Already looking forward to my next visit! read more

A wow place, really interesting dishes. Got to try this one if you're in Providence. Fantastic service and good atmosphere. Went for family dinner read more

The patio area was perfect for group drinks and some apps. The focaccia is delicious. As it got closer to dinner time it got very busy so keep that in mind but this was perfect for us to grab afternoon drinks. Service was quick. Nothing to write home about but I wouldn't mind going again. The entrees smelled and looked amazing. The only weird thing is that the bathrooms are shared with the other restaurants that are connected and there was quite a line. read more

Oberlin - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Oberlin is a fantastic restaurant with high-quality food and drink the service and ambience is quite amazing! It can be a fine dining experience or casual. I highly recommend. read more

This trendy Providence restaurant offers a mixed experience that may appeal to some diners more than others. The establishment presents several noteworthy features alongside some areas for improvement. Our third visit. The ambiance deserves recognition - it's vibrant and fashionable, with particularly impressive décor including distinctive unisex bathroom design. The service staff maintains professional standards, though the pacing between courses could use refinement. The concise menu, while admirable in concept, may prove limiting. If a menu has 50 - 100 items: no chef can stock all those ingredients fresh nor he/she and his/her team nail each dish. Look at the menu - you may not find an appetizer that works for you. It focuses heavily on pasta dishes for entrees, with a single market-price whole fish as the non-pasta entrée. Appetizers: Marinated olives with bread - good (hopefully they bake their bread?). Cheese plate - should be priced at $15 or less; $20 is a bit much for 3 mini pieces of cheese. And I assume the preserves were not made in-house (the server did not say so which is the standard spiel when you are hawking what you do well)? The cacio e pepe stands out as exceptional, though portion sizes trend small. Appetizer options are selective - no oysters but featuring crudo and some unconventional choices like "raw RI lamb." Practical considerations include mandatory lot parking ($20) due to scarce street parking, and a somewhat chaotic coat check system. Enjoy the treasure hunt after your meal in finding your coat among 50 other dark winter coats - there is no way the hostess can remember what you wore and then find it. Finally, we were seated at a table right in the traffic flow of servers from kitchen to tables. The table could have been flipped 90 degrees and eliminated us being a "bottleneck." Our meal for two, including three cocktails and gratuity, totaled $155. While the restaurant shows promise in several areas, particularly in atmosphere and certain dishes, there are other Providence establishments, including New Rivers and various local taquerias, that may offer a more compelling value for our 40-minute drive. I'm sure my so-so review will not slow down this place's popularity. read more

Oberlin - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Wow! Overall what a wonderful dining experience. I booked a table on their outside patio and we got lucky that the weather was perfect. Although honestly they are well equipped to handle both rain and cold on the patio, with a large awning and large heaters. I love the design of the interior and appreciated how much thought went in to everything. Our waiter was friendly and did a great job explaining things and answering our questions. The only downside was it took a logn time for our food. We sat at 5:50 and were eating a little after 7pm. Normally we wouldn't care but we were headed to an 8pm show at PPAC so we had to keep things moving. We ordered the lamb special of the night, which include a lamb rib, lamb sausage, and lamb chops, with peppers. It was honestly the best lamb dish I've ever eaten. The lamb chop was a bit to raw for me, but we were in a rush so we still ate the whole thing up. It was honestly just so flavorful and delicious, I will be dreaming of that dish! We also got the grilled bread with the cod dip and lasagna al forno. Both were good, but they didn't hold a candle to the lamb. Next time when we have more time, we definitely want to give that basque cheesecake a try. Overall a gem with a beautiful interior, interesting and thoughtfully local food, with friendly service. read more

Oberlin - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Sat outside on a beautiful evening. Service was spotty but the dishes were fantastic. Eggplant was great, ceasar with turnips was a nice change, and tuna was nice. I was offended by the anti-ICE signage at the front door and won't be back as Im there for food not a lecture by liberals. read more

What a wonderful experience with modern and chic decor, and I loved that they were playing The Princess Bride on a projector--it added a fun and casual vibe to the evening. We ordered the grilled fish special, which was recommended by the server. It turned out to be weakfish, and I appreciated that they kept it simple with a lemon-based seasoning instead of a heavy creamy sauce, which was perfect for us since we're salt-sensitive. The portion was generous enough for two people, so we skipped any appetizer. Instead, we got the tomato salad, which was a fresh and light complement to our fish! A delicious spot with thoughtful food and a cozy atmosphere! read more

Oberlin - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I was disappointed with Oberlin, not because the service was poor it was friendly and quick or that the meal was not good. It was the relative value for what you receive. I ordered a $28 pasta that arrived in an appetizer portion with a few noodles and some fresh peas. The ingredients probably cost $3. If you are a visitor to this beautiful city you are a captive audience and may feel taken. The wine was reasonable priced at $14 a glass. It's a tough environment for restaurants but to be sustainable, there needs to reasonable meal for the price. read more

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Delicious restaurant but very small quantities of food and very expensive. For example, the lasagna was very good but super thin so not a lot of food yet over $40. It was a bit exaggerated. The atmosphere was nice and positive. read more

Oberlin is easily the single most unique culinary experience I have ever had to date and I have been around a lot! Oberlin literally means "nobel or bright" and does not fail to live up to its namesake. It's as if Grandma grabbed a fine dining establishment by the ear and said "Everything is to be finely curated, made in house, from scratch or else!" Everyone knows to listen to Grandma when it comes to a meal... The first thing you will realize is that the employees are very happy to be there and quite welcoming. The place is spotlessly clean with an elevated casual vibe. The staff works like a well oiled machine, very attentive without being overbearing. Now the Exec. Chef is really something to watch; Chef Chris performs his job of multitasking with the kitchen, wait staff all the while speaking with customers with effortless precision. This was indeed something to watch! Drinks are finely crafted to delicious and picturesque perfection. I think I had the single best Gin & Tonic of my life. Apps: Wood Roasted Sesame Focaccia, Ligurian Olive Oil, Oberlin Antipasti, Pistachio, Pickles, Agrodolce, Rosemary, Tempura Skate Cheeks, Piri Piri Mayo were all very unique and tasty small plates that really primed our party for dinner! Entres' off the menu: Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe; Ricotta Gnudi with Cabbage, Sunchokes Chestnut Preserved Lemon; Lasagna al Forno RI Lamb & Pork Ragu Ricotta and I had the Special Roasted Black Sea Bass. We could not avoid sharing with each other as the Chef has a very fresh look at preparation of classic dishes and did I mention unique enough? Dessert (save room!): Wood Roasted Basque-Style Cheesecake, Cranberry & Calamondin was a mouth watering finish to an outstanding meal! Honestly Oberlin is a must try destination while in Providence RI you will NOT be disappointed! I can't say enough but yet my words fall short of our experience at Oberlin... I would be remiss if I did not mention their sister restaurant Gift Horse right next door. We started our night there with beautiful drinks, The Smoked Fish dip and Scallop Crudo were simply delicious! Again we had ultra friendly service there as well! What a spectacular night!!! read more

Oberlin - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

My daughter and I went during restaurant week. Had the tuna crudo, pasta and desserts. The food was excellent. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. Great meal. read more

THIS IS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT AND I'M NOT EMBARRASSED TO SAY IT OKAY??? my go to order is the scallop crudo and one of each pasta and maybe a whole fish if I'm feeling frisky my bathroom at home is full of Oberlin matchbooks I thrifted little glass plates at Savers bc they reminded me of the dishes that Oberlin uses to serve scallops someone bring me Oberlin lasagna :( read more

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My favorite go-to spot in Providence. This is one of the coolest spots- the decor is amazing, the people are wonderful and oh-my the food. It's one of the few places we go back to (amazing considering how many great restaurants there are in Providence). The menu constantly changes- so just come hungry to try any combo of their crudos, seafood, salad and pasta. Also don't forget the Basque Cheesecake on your way out. Pro Tip: Try to get a seat at the counter so you can check out the cool cooking techniques and also sit in front of the fire. read more

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We stumbled upon Oberlin for dinner on a Friday night when visiting Providence. The menu was unexpected and delicious. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic. They took our preferences into account and made great recommendations. read more

I really enjoyed my meal and as I am writing this review, I am currently savoring my leftovers! I dined solo and sat at the chef's counter where I was able to watch the kitchen in motion as well as enjoy my book. This was my first visit to Oberlin, so I cannot speak for the previous location. I can say that they have ample space for dining. The inside has two sides split by the bar, which also boasts quite a few chairs to accommodate guests. The chef's counter has limited seating, but they also have a spacious outdoor patio. I dined on a Sunday and the inside as well as the outside were bustling with energy, so I suggest that you make reservations. I dined on the raw black bass, focaccia and cacio e pepe and as stated above, I loved every bite. Visiting the restroom is a must. It has psychedelic wallpaper and the lights change colors. With the music that plays overhead, it reminded of a Meow-Wolf exhibit. I was not sure of the attire so I wore linen slacks and a long sleeve top and I was a little overdressed for the crowd. Jeans and shorts were very favorable. read more

Oberlin - Really cool ceiling art in the main dining room. - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Amazing food and the best dessert I've ever had with the Basque Cheesecake. Ambiance is great and staff was amazing.

We had babysitters in town so we're looking for somewhere a little special to go and we lucked into reservations here! We ended up splitting everything including mussels, pasta and focaccia. I don't remember any individual dish being a particular standout but we did enjoy everything. It felt like a solid meal that was a little pricier than our usual meal but the quality of the food justified it. We would certainly come back for another nicer date night dinner! read more

Great Chefs dressed in Chef whites! Staff - couldn't tell if vagrants or Peter Pan bus passangers...attitude on the younguns UNACCEPTABLE = Grade of "F" read more

Honest opinion: Oberlin is just alright. I came here for dinner in the late summer, and-- given how much praise I'd heard for the place-- I was slightly underwhelmed by both the ambiance and menu. I was most excited to try the crudo, and ordered the RI scallops served with radishes and mayonnaise. The presentation was delicate and refreshing, but the taste of the scallop was completely overwhelmed by the mayo. I was content with the dish after a few (very tasty) bites. The fluke was not to my taste. It was a bit thicker than I anticipated, and I think I needed more of a crunch (like radish, ginger, cucumber, etc.) to round out the dish. The fish alone lacked the texture I craved. I also tried the lasagna, which was very good. I have no complaints about the quality of the dish; but for the price, I'd prefer to go some place on federal hill. The dessert, however, was simply scrumptious. The basque olive oil cheesecake was decadent, creamy, airy, and smooth all at once. In the future, I would go back purely for an after-dinner coffee and this dessert. Inside, the tables were very, very close together. So close, in fact, that it was impossible not to bump the neighbor's table when getting up at any point. Water was not consistently filled, but other than that the service was good. Overall, a fine option to go downtown, but (for the price) not my first choice for a fancy dinner out. read more

Oberlin - Lasagna (forefront) and Crab Garganelli (background) - New American Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Came here for brunch with some friends and really enjoyed my time! The service was very friendly, and when we had originally sat at the bar, they asked if we wanted to switch to a table when it became available! The interior decor is beautiful in their new location (they have moved just across from their old location) and have clearly put a lot of thought into the overall ambiance. I would highly recommend checking out each of the bathrooms--the lighting and wallpaper is trippy and fun! My friends and I got several dishes to share, and everything was tasty! My favorite was probably the Oysters Foche, which pairs extremely well with the side of scrambled eggs (which were perfectly buttery and creamy for a soft scramble). A close second was the tapioca pudding, which was delicious and quite filling! The smoked fish spread was also very good, and parts of the scrapple were good, but it didn't quite stand out as much as the oysters. All in all, a great brunch place that I will have to be back to! read more

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Visiting from Pennsylvania, this is my first time at the new Oberlin location -- the food, and friendly, helpful staff remain great. The new location opens everything up -- the large wall of windows separating the bar and indoors swing open to the patio bar and tables, making everything feel airy and welcoming. The architecture is clean, bright (just enough), polished, and very attractive. It's Oberlin+ with space and ambiance to make the meal even more enjoyable. Oberlin gets my highest recommendation. Ben Sukle and his team continue to deliver my favorite food in Providence, and the best raw fish and oysters (see also Gift Horse) I've ever had. Oberlin is a great introduction to the best from the Ocean State. I ate at the kitchen bar, near the wood oven. Starting with an outstanding Negroni (Bimini Gin, Cappelletti, Carpano Antica), I had the Scup and Bluefin Tuna raw fish (with olive oil, lemon) - as remembered, it was amazing. I like the combination of the mild Scup and savory Bluefin. Server Adam poured tastes of two sakes - Kubota 'senjyu' Ginjo and Amabuki 'ichigo' Junmai Ginjo - I chose the Kubota with the fish. Perfect. Next the Linguine con Pesce Crudo, Pesto Genovese, Aji Dulcjo. Crumbled bits of raw fish (Black bass?) on top of the linguine and pesto added flavor from the sea to the best pesto I've had since Genoa. The pasta was toothsome. A great dish. For dessert, an off menu Sabayone with strawberries. Four Town fresh strawberries and some honeycomb at the bottom, and scoop of strawberry purée on top. Delicious. read more

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I visited Oberlin last week for an early dinner. I understood maybe 20% of the menu. It is definitely a cozy spot - suited for two or a small group. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone with this meal - RI Raw Scallops and Tempura Skate Cheeks. Never thought I would try a skate fish, but it was pretty good! Their menu does change seasonally, so I am intrigued to see what they will be serving for their Summer menu. My friend and I also ordered the risotto and linguine with pesto for our entrees. Honestly, both meals would have been better if there were cheese sprinkled on it. I also had to ask for salt and pepper for flavoring.. not sure if I just ordered the wrong things. The service was fast and our server was really knowledgeable. I may have to revisit again. read more

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