PROVIDENCE RESTAURANT WEEKS: THROUGH JANUARY 28, 2012

Providence Restaurant Weeks began yesterday. The basic outline is $14.95 for a three-course lunch and $29.95 for dinner. But check the site (www.goprovidence.com/RW/) because there are variations - some restaurants offer two-for-one deals, some offer dinner but not lunch, at least one has even cheaper dinners, etc. etc. The participant list is really good this year. I note Providence locations here but there are out-of-town restaurants too (e.g., Meritage in East Greenwich, DeWolf in Bristol).

Don't look for Al Forno on the list, or the Broadway contingent - they're above the fray - but you'll still find some of the best restaurants in town.

Here are a few options, by neighborhood:

Downtown/Central:

Bravo Brasserie (123 Empire Street  401-490-5111) (www.bravobrasserie.com)  It is what it is, a generally decent place in a good location. Two-for-one dinner special includes a bottle of wine instead of a dessert course

Capital Grille (One Union Station  401-521-5600) (http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/Locations/Providence/Main.asp) - Here's your bargain steak opportunity

Dorrance (60 Dorrance Street  401-521-6000)  (http://www.opentable.com/the-dorrance)
Time to try downtown's newest venture

Gracie's (194 Washington Street  401-272-7811) (www.graciesprovidence.com)
Choice-of-three dinner menu. Gracie's and Bravo are as close to Trinity Rep as you can get

Tazza (250 Westminster  401-421-3330) (www.tazzacaffe.com) Open for lunch and dinner. Good shop-and-eat location. Go to Symposium Books next door and Craftland  (www.craftlandshop.com), good shop for local art despite the dumb name, across the street

Downtown/Brown Med:

CAV (14 Imperial Place  401-751-9164) (www.cavrestaurant.com) Lunch and dinner  - with fish tacos (!) as one lunch-time option. It's out of the way but you can browse art supplies next door at Jerry's Artarama

Federal Hill:

Cassarinos (177 Atwells Avenue  401-751-3333) (www.cassarinosri.com) Where locals go for basic Italian, lunch or dinner

Don Jose Tequilas (351 Atwells Avenue  401-454-8951) (www.donjoseteq.com) If you thought Federal Hill was all Italian you've been sleeping

Along the River/Point Street end:

Bacaro (262 South Water  401-751-3700) (www.bacarorestaurant.net) Open for dinner only. Take advantage

Along the River/Steeple Street end:

Cafe Nuovo (One Citizens Plaza  401-421-2525) (www.cafenuovo.com) Offers the deal for dinner only. Admittedly, this is a not-outstanding lunch spot for a strictly business crowd but for dinner the room can work

New Rivers (7 Steeple Street  401-751-0350) (www.newriversrestaurant.com) Open for dinner only. Be cozy in the ambient light of Providence's prettiest landmark


Upper Hope:

Chez Pascal (960 Hope Street  401-421-4422) (www.chez-pascal.com) It's dinner only,  with warm bread pudding on the menu

Cook & Brown (959 Hope  401-273-7275) (www.cookandbrown.com) Also dinner only. Hmmm, pork meatballs

Check out the restaurant weeks website for menus and prices:
www.goprovidence.com//RW/


Continues through Saturday, January 28