• Remember Sunnyside, the Warren waterside breakfast and lunch place run by Joe Simone? Well Mr. Simone is back and his new home, Simone's Restaurant (275 Child Street, Warren), may not be on the water but it is picturesque. Simone
paid attention to every detail and the result is a cleanly- designed
airy space with a great-looking bar and a view to the kitchen. It's
light-hearted, vibrant, modern without being self-conscious. I like
the menu. You can mix it up with starters and small plates (maybe
roasted marrow bones with shiitakes, oysters, and a small bowl of
Linguine alle Vongola made with Narragansett clams). Over four visits,
with different groups, we tried a lot, and liked a lot. The selection is
broad without being overly inclusive. Below is a list of entrees, or
large plates, as listed on the website today. Note, though, that the
menu changes. We've eaten excellent roast chicken, a beautiful cod
roast, grilled salmon and lobster and an excellent pork chop (a daring
menu option in my view since it goes wrong so easily).
Lemon-Fennel Roast Nantucket Bay Scallops, Spinach-Mushroom Gratin, Tomato Vinaigrete 29
Grilled Salmon Fillet with Braised Artichokes and Caramelized Lemons 25
Jumbo Shrimp a la Plancha wrapped in Pancetta, melting Onions, Polenta Bianca 27
Wood Grilled Lobster, “Spiked Olive Oil,” Mushrooms, roasted Peppers, wilted Escarole, Quinoa 27
Native Cod Roast White Beans, Kale and Chorizo 26
Quinoa with Tomato Coulis, and organic Vegetables (vegan) 25
Long Island Duck Breast Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Tamarind Leeks, Grilled Focaccia 28
Wood Grilled Flank Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Mushroom, Charred Onion and Arugula Salad 27
Roast Baffoni Farms ½ Chicken, Lemon, Rosemary, roast Farm Vegetables and Potatoes 25
Hand Cut Blackbird Farm Berkshire Pork Chop, Chorizo-Potato Cake, Braised Cabbage 26
We had to share desserts. I can endorse the butterscotch pudding, lovely. And a spongecake with strawberries too.
simonesri.com
275 Child Street (use your maps app), Warren 401-247-1200
• Hourglass Brasserie (382 Thames Street, Bristol) closed in September. It was maybe a little too cute in its presentations for me but, that said, I certainly ate there often enough and enjoyed most of it. It's a tough business. In its exact place is the recently opened Christian's Wood Fired Grille (401-396-9811)(christiansri.com). Here's hoping.
• Another replacement restaurant is The Salted Slate (186 Wayland Avenue, Providence 401-270-3737) which moved into the space vacated by Farmstead when the Jennings moved back to Boston. The cheese shop now holds the main bar (long, deep, good size) and elevated tables; the old dining room is all tables. After one brunch/lunch and two dinners I'm not smitten but I'm hoping for refinements so I can be smitten, because I like the location and want Wayland Square to thrive as a foodie neighborhood. Anyway, brunch/lunch was good, both food (especially the home-made doughnuts) and service. Dinner was the fall-off. Too much dubious sauce (think the brown stuff a country club will try to put on a New York sirloin or the too-much-soy coating on salmon). And, alas, service was very very slow so we all had time to think about food flaws. Desserts did not atone.
• What's with the Chow Fun Food Group? Rick's Road House (370 Richmond Street, Providence 401-272-7675), serves possibly the worst barbecue. And XO (125 North Main, Providence 401-273-9090) is limping along giving almost nobody a reason to return.
Lemon-Fennel Roast Nantucket Bay Scallops, Spinach-Mushroom Gratin, Tomato Vinaigrete 29
Grilled Salmon Fillet with Braised Artichokes and Caramelized Lemons 25
Jumbo Shrimp a la Plancha wrapped in Pancetta, melting Onions, Polenta Bianca 27
Wood Grilled Lobster, “Spiked Olive Oil,” Mushrooms, roasted Peppers, wilted Escarole, Quinoa 27
Native Cod Roast White Beans, Kale and Chorizo 26
Quinoa with Tomato Coulis, and organic Vegetables (vegan) 25
Long Island Duck Breast Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Tamarind Leeks, Grilled Focaccia 28
Wood Grilled Flank Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Mushroom, Charred Onion and Arugula Salad 27
Roast Baffoni Farms ½ Chicken, Lemon, Rosemary, roast Farm Vegetables and Potatoes 25
Hand Cut Blackbird Farm Berkshire Pork Chop, Chorizo-Potato Cake, Braised Cabbage 26
We had to share desserts. I can endorse the butterscotch pudding, lovely. And a spongecake with strawberries too.
simonesri.com
275 Child Street (use your maps app), Warren 401-247-1200
• Hourglass Brasserie (382 Thames Street, Bristol) closed in September. It was maybe a little too cute in its presentations for me but, that said, I certainly ate there often enough and enjoyed most of it. It's a tough business. In its exact place is the recently opened Christian's Wood Fired Grille (401-396-9811)(christiansri.com). Here's hoping.
• Another replacement restaurant is The Salted Slate (186 Wayland Avenue, Providence 401-270-3737) which moved into the space vacated by Farmstead when the Jennings moved back to Boston. The cheese shop now holds the main bar (long, deep, good size) and elevated tables; the old dining room is all tables. After one brunch/lunch and two dinners I'm not smitten but I'm hoping for refinements so I can be smitten, because I like the location and want Wayland Square to thrive as a foodie neighborhood. Anyway, brunch/lunch was good, both food (especially the home-made doughnuts) and service. Dinner was the fall-off. Too much dubious sauce (think the brown stuff a country club will try to put on a New York sirloin or the too-much-soy coating on salmon). And, alas, service was very very slow so we all had time to think about food flaws. Desserts did not atone.
• What's with the Chow Fun Food Group? Rick's Road House (370 Richmond Street, Providence 401-272-7675), serves possibly the worst barbecue. And XO (125 North Main, Providence 401-273-9090) is limping along giving almost nobody a reason to return.
