Providence Restaurant Weeks is back. Here are the restaurant deals you don't want to miss.
Tuck away any thoughts of going quiet in January. That would be silly when there are deals to be had for the winter version of Providence Restaurant Weeks.
It's underway now with 73 restaurants offering specials through Jan. 20. Many of the restaurants are in Providence but there are also participating ones in East Providence, Johnston, Cranston, Warwick, East Greenwich, Pawtucket, North Providence, Wakefield, Bristol and Warren. There's even a food truck that offers pickup in Warwick.
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There are many popular fine-dining restaurants continuing the tradition of offering two or more courses at a fixed price. The menus generally give diners choices within those menus. The appeal is that it allows diners to try a place that might normally be out of their price range. You'll find a wide range of prices for these meals, but many seem to be in the $40 range.
There are also taquerias, cafes, pubs, sandwich shops and pizzerias participating with different kinds of specials. Beer and hot wieners are on the menu, too.
Diners might want to check out the new restaurants on the list.
Three are in downtown Providence. There's Gift Horse, 272 Westminster St., a raw bar and seafood spot, sister to Oberlin, which is also newly expanded in a freshly built space at 266 Westminster. Both will offer three-course fixed-price menus. Backstage Kitchen + Bar is the new restaurant located in the Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster St. They hadn't posted their special yet at press time.
The Patio on Broadway, at the corner of Dean and Broadway, offers three courses for lunch and dinner deals.
Also new in Johnston is Bar' Lino, a pizzeria and restaurant from the DeQuattro Group, owners of Pane e Vino, Il Massimo and the Crow's Nest. Bar' Lino is at 1395 Atwood Ave., in the space that was formerly Brewed Awakenings. But a pizza and get a free cannoli during Restaurant Week.
Sponsored by the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, the promotion has menus posted online as they are submitted by the restaurants at goprovidence.com/rw.
Here's a sampling of the deals available for Providence Restaurant Weeks
Narragansett Brewing
The Providence brewery will offer a beer-paired menu with flatbread and nachos. They will also host Dune Brothers as the seafood shack takes up residence from Jan. 11 to 14 featuring lobster rolls, chowder, fried scup and more. Narragansett's taproom at 271 Tockwotton St., Providence.
Il Massimo and Pane e Vino
These sister restaurants are both on Federal Hill and have three-course, fixed-price menus for $41.95. Both offer a variety of choices within each course and both have cannoli for a dessert selection. Il Massimo at 177 Atwells Ave. and Pane e Vino at 365 Atwells Ave.
Waterman Grille
Choose a selected bottle of red or white wine for $35 when you order the $42.95 three-course fixed-price dinner from Sunday to Friday. Chicken Fried Steak, Blackened Atlantic Cod and Waterman Pho, a plant-based dish, are entree choices at 4 Richmond Square, Providence, watermangrille.com.
Patio on Broadway
Executive chef Mike Kudzma's dishes will be featured for the three-course fixed-price menus ($39.95) offered for both lunch and dinner. Choices include their crispy duck meatballs as an appetizer. Diners can also order a flight of wine for $12. 166 Broadway, Providence, thepatiori.com.
Ellie's
It's a lunch special at Ellie's with a choice of sandwich, accompanied by pommes frites or a side salad plus a slice of Funfetti Pistachio Strawberry Cake. The cost is $20.12. In Providence at 225 Weybosset St., Providence, elliesprov.com is open Wednesday through Sunday until 3 p.m.
Nasturtium at Agawam Hunt
This private club opens its dining doors to the public for the winter Restaurant Weeks only. Nasturtium at Agawam Hunt, 15 Roger Williams Ave., East Providence, and executive chef Mitch Mauricio will serve a three-course dinner for $40.
Res American Bistro
Choose your own deal according to how much food you want at Res. Choose one course from the menu for a 15% discount, two for 20% and three for 25%. The restaurant is at 123 Empire St., Providence, respvd.com.
The Capital Grille
The $55 three-course, fixed-price menu includes plenty of the restaurant's best dishes, including the eight-ounce filet mignon, Citrus Glazed Salmon, Tenderloin Medallions and Chicken Breast with Risotto. There are also several add-ons and elevated dishes offered. Restaurant Weeks are not available on Saturday at the restaurant at 10 Memorial Blvd. Providence, thecapitalgrille.com.
Matunuck Oyster Bar
This popular restaurant with its own oyster farm is a hard restaurant to get into during the summer. There's no better time than Restaurant Weeks to enjoy oysters, stuffies or chowder and the entree of your choice for $36.95. There are some price additions, but it's still a deal at 629 Succotash Road, South Kingstown, rhodyoysters.com.
Capriccio
Sit by the fireplace and enjoy three courses for $47.95. Escargot is a first-course choice, and entrees include their Surf & Turf (with a small surcharge), Scampi Cardinale or Scallops. You can go Italian with gnocchi and veal or chicken Parmesan. Don't miss the Tiramisu for dessert. The menu is also offered before every Trinity Rep and PPAC performance beyond Restaurant Weeks. Take the stairs down to 2 Pine St., Providence, capriccios.com.
Bacaro
Three courses from chef Brian Kingsford's kitchen will cost $65 during Restaurant Weeks, and the offerings include his classics of Pan-Roasted Chicken Marsala, Wood-Grilled Salmon in Lemon Butter Sauce or Pasta Con I Funghi. A Caramel Tart is among the dessert choices. The menu is available for takeout. 262 South Water St., Providence, bacarorestaurant.net.
Otra
Go Spanish with Otra Restaurant's three courses for $48. Among the choices is a vegetarian Paella, Flan and the best kind of French fries, Huevos Cabreados. The global reach is lovely at 303 South Main St., Providence, otrarestaurant.com.
Gracie's
It's Restaurant Weeks all month long at Gracie's with a Chef's Tasting Menu of five courses for $100. The wine pairing is $60. Sit under a star at 194 Washington St., Providence, graciesprov.com.
Moonshine Alley
Three courses at this fun pub will cost $28.95 during Restaurant Weeks at Moonshine Alley, 52 Pine St., Providence. Main courses include their Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.
Bellini Providence
Dine in the style of Miami Beach in the 1960s at The Beatrice. Lunch is offered for three courses plus a bread basket for $35. Dinner is $65. The setting is priceless at 50 Westminster St., Providence, thebeatrice.com.
Angelo's Civita Farnese
Dine in under the toy train tracks or take out during Restaurant Weeks, the choice is yours. This family restaurant offers comfort food at affordable prices and will have a three-course dinner for two for $49.99 and lunch for $24.99 per person. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays but open for lunch and dinner each other day at 141 Atwells Ave. on Federal Hill in Providence, angelosri.com.
Casa Azul Taqueria
When Yelp, the crowd-sourcing review site, chose the nation's best tacos, Casa Azul was on the list. The owners met in Rhode Island after both emigrated from Mexico City. They are offering a free Mexican beer with any item from their seasonal winter menu. They have created a fun environment with excellent food at 890 Allens Ave., Providence, casaazulri.com.
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Legal Sea Foods
Lunch and dinner deals are offered at 175 Hillside Road, at Garden City, Cranston, legalseafoods.com. The $40 cost for dinner is for two courses. The lunch price is determined by choice of sandwich, ranging from $16 for a Petite Chicken Salad Roll to $25 for a Petite Lobster Salad Roll. Clam chowder is a starter choice for lunch and dinner.
Parkside Rotisserie and Bar
Diners can enjoy three courses for lunch ($24) or dinner ($41). Rotisserie Duck is on the dinner menu as a choice, along with Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Black Angus NY Strip Loin. A Croque Madame headlines the lunch menu. French Onion Soup is a starter choice for both menus at the restaurant at 76 South Main St., Providence, parksideprovidence.com.
Plant City
The plant-based food hall that serves Italian and Mexican cuisine, as well as burgers, salads and breakfast items, will offer specials for all-day dining including a fixed-price, three-course meal. There were no further details at press time. 334 South Water St., Providence, plantcitypvd.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Restaurant Week has lots of deals you won't want to miss
