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Restaurant Reviews

Review: Mr. Peabody's

Proud home of 'white trash/gourmet fusion'
It's the kind of neighborhood spot where locals gather for an annual get-together with their state senator, there's a rotating library of book donations on the window sills, and the coffee and tea have their own self-serve corner.

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | February 18, 2009

Review: Walter's

Chef Walter Potenza: A one-man food industry
It's easy to imagine Chef Walter Potenza as a boy in Abruzzo, playing with kitchen utensils and recipes like other boys play with toy trucks and chemistry sets.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | February 11, 2009

Salvation Café

Going strong in Newport
In the world of quick turnovers, Salvation Café, now in its sixteenth year, is a keeper.

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | February 04, 2009

Aspire

Earth and Ocean
An upscale restaurant in an upscale hotel is disadvantaged in ways that give the advantage to us.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | January 29, 2009

Cucina Twist

High volume, high quality
In the eight-restaurant empire owned by Bob Pinelli and Steve Marra, Cucina Twist has a special place in the hearts of Wakefield and Kingston residents.

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | January 21, 2009

Bacaro

Classy snacks and entrées
Restaurants in food-oriented cities like Providence can be relied upon to beget spin-offs that, like high-achieving children, strive to make their parents proud. Thus was born Bacaro, the highly regarded prodigy that arrived in the spring of 2007.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | January 15, 2009

Spumoni's

Big on family atmosphere
In far eastern Pawtucket, almost Massachusetts, sits a 30-year-old family-owned restaurant that's a great hit with locals.

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | January 07, 2009

Angkor Restaurant

Cambodian with a Khmer accent
There is an interesting story behind many of the recipes at Angkor Restaurant.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | December 29, 2008

European Café

A tasty little getaway
At this time of year, when the weather is messing with us and we don't know whether we're going to romp sand or shovel snow, a restaurant like this can be a lifesaver.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | December 22, 2008

Two Four Two

Italian fare, with a twist
Italian fare, with a twist

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | December 17, 2008

Mike's Kitchen

A foodie favorite in deepest Cranston
A foodie favorite in deepest Cranston

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | December 10, 2008

The Loft

Dining in a surreal seascape
The Loft is the restaurant at NYLO Providence/Warwick, a new hotel, so the impression that diners get over their Point Judith calamari or apple-tini is going to affect how they anticipate the digs upstairs; Crisp salad, crisp sheets.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | December 03, 2008

T's

The definitive family breakfast restaurant
How in the world can a restaurant that serves only breakfast and lunch — the least expensive two-thirds of the business — stay in business?

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | November 26, 2008

El Tapatio

South of Providence, south of the border
Once upon a time, Rhode Islanders would have been enormously grateful to have a Mexican restaurant like El Tapatio in our midst: good burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas

By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | November 19, 2008

Estoril

Inexpensive elegance
Usually, an ethnic restaurant in Rhode Island means one of two things: cheap eats or fancy surroundings. Estoril, in Fall River, offers a twofer — chandelier and cloth napkin elegance, plus good Portuguese food that’s surprisingly inexpensive.

By BILL RODRIGUEZ | November 12, 2008