Providence area food reviews

Pizza

Pizza Marvin

(Providence)

★★★★☆

Varies depending on the type of pie. Roni Island is excellent. The one with potato is not. Sort of expensive. Very loud in the store so best to take out. In good weather, pleasant-ish to eat in their outdoor area and get soft serve cones after.

Nice Slice

(Providence)

★★★★☆

Their unfortunate move from Thayer to Westminster makes it much less convenient, but it’s still a nice slice (or pie).

A Guy and His Pie

(Pawtucket)

★★★★☆

Mostly takeout but they do have some seating. In Pawtucket. Detroit style pizza (i.e., in a pan). Plain Jane and Bee Sting are excellent. Open on limited days (currently Wednesday – Sunday).

Pepe’s

(Warwick)

★☆☆☆☆

New Haven Pepe’s is great. This one seems to have somehow lost the recipe making this a no-go.

Caserta

(Fed Hill)

★☆☆☆☆

Not good despite many RIers inexplicably thinking it is.

Pizza strips from anywhere

☆☆☆☆☆

Some kind of RI specialty which is cold tomato sauce on soggy pizza bread. A bad concept from the get-go.

Japanese

Maruichi

(Downtown)

★★★★★

Excellent sushi and other Japanese food options and all around good fun. Café style seating there is very pleasant. Parking usually challenging but sometimes you’re lucky.

Haruki

(East Side)

★★★☆☆

Unexceptional sushi, but does the job. Bento boxes are a nice lunch option.

Ran Zan

Worth a try to see if it's better than Haruki.

Middle Eastern / Vegetarian

East Side Pockets

(East Side)

★★★★★

Excellent falafel. Mediocre baba ganoush.

Aleppo Sweets

(East Side)

★★★★★

Great Syrian food and very nice eating area. Excellent, smoky baba ganoush. Other recommendations include lamb kebab, tabbouleh, cardomom tea, and baklava. But, it would be hard to make a mistake.

Garden Grill

(East Side / Pawtucket)

★★★★☆

Solid vegetarian fare. This falafel alternative to East Side Pockets has a much healthier vibe which I think I like.

Asian

Jahunger

(East Side)

★★☆☆☆

Quite greasy/oily Uyghur food which some people seem to like though that may just be a testament to the absence of decent Chinese food in the area.

Minh Hai

(Cranston)

★★★★☆

Very good Vietnamese food. Don't be in a rush - service is leisurely.

Sun & Moon

(East Providence)

★★★★☆

Very good family-run Korean food. They also own the Korean food store across the street.

Italian

Italian Corner

(Seekonk)

★★★★☆

Well above average Italian sandwich shop.

Venda Ravioli

(Fed Hill)

★★★★☆

Very good market and restaurant. Busy, but pleasant indoor eating area, but the outdoor seating is the way if the weather cooperates.

Angelo’s

(Fed Hill)

★★★☆☆

Very basic fare which doesn’t aspire to much and succeeds.

Cafe / Dessert

Madrid Bakery

(East Side)

★★★★★

A real gem that we’re lucky to have. Great croissants and everything else.

Cafe La France

(Amtrak station)

★★★★★

Don't be fooled. Even though this has the same name as the chain, it is independent and much, much better. Inspired sandwiches and workers. Great music playlist.

L'Artisan Cafe

(East Side)

★★☆☆☆

Great outdoor seating area, but, other than that, I don't know why you would go here unless Madrid (which is 1/2 block away) is closed.

Burgers / Dogs

Spike's Junkyard Dogs

(Warwick)

★★★★☆

First they abandoned the East Side; then they left Branch Ave. It probably isn't worth a trip to yenemsvelt for a great hot dog, but if you're in the area...

There, There

(West End)

★★★★☆

Solid burgers and fries.