PROVIDENCE RESTAURANTS: SHORT TAKES

SIENA (238 Atwells Avenue, Providence   401-521-3311)   Siena was voted Best Restaurant in Rhode Island and Best Italian Restaurant in Rhode Island Monthly's 2010 readers' poll. It's a nice enough place, done up to look more high-end than red-sauce trattoria. Psyched for our first visit, guests in tow, the thought was: finally, we'll have fine Italian rather than the usual fare. Not to be. Well that isn't exactly correct - Siena IS better than most of the neighborhood but that doesn't make it great. Appetizers and salads include the usual variations of calamari, clams, buffalo mozarella, caprese, etc. - competently prepared. Moving on to pasta, Frutti di Mare in a red clam sauce over linguine was okay. Tagliatelle alla Bolognese sampled on a subsequent trip promised to be "truly classic" but the beef and pork were overwhelmed by pancetta and the result was a super salty pasta dish. Scaloppine orders fared better. Saltimbocca, normally salty, suffered from too much (or just not good?) proscuitto and an odd sauce. Next time, maybe the fish and chicken.

www.sienari.com/prov-about-rest.html

TRINITY BREWHOUSE (186 Fountain Street, Providence  401-453-2337) It's big. A bar/restaurant (emphasis on bar - definitely bar restrooms), the style is unadorned, the menu is pub fare, most drinkers/diners are south side of 40. Burgers are okay but buried in too-big rolls. Prices are good.

www.trinitybrewhouse.com/