Staff Picks: Providence Restaurant Weeks
Rhode Island Monthly staffers name their picks for the foodie favorite promotion, which runs January 26 through February 8.
The sweet potatoes at CRU PVD. Photo by Jamie Coelho
Starting Sunday, you have fourteen days to frugally feast your way through the Ocean State. Providence Restaurant Weeks is once again returning with two weeks of dining deals from more than sixty dining options in Providence, Warwick and nearby towns, as well as some all the way down in South County. Plus, look out for brand new eateries like CRU PVD or Dolce & Salato amongst the ranks. In addition to special prix fixe menus, participating restaurants may offer lunch, dinner, signature cocktails or other special discounts.
“There’s a reason Providence made the list of Eater’s Where to Eat in 2025 — our food scene is among the best in the world, and Providence Restaurant Weeks showcases that,” says Kristen Adamo, president and CEO of the PWCVB. “Twice a year, some of the top restaurants in Rhode Island participate in this special event, offering limited-time specials and menus that are sure to please any palate.”
The deals are on the table now through Saturday, February 8. A list of all participating restaurants, along with their Restaurant Weeks menus, may be found at providencerestaurantweeks.com. Guests are encouraged to share photos of their dishes on social media using the hashtags #PVDEats and #PRW.
If the list of spots is leaving you indecisive, Rhode Island Monthly‘s expert staff members have weighed in with our picks:
Jamie Coelho, Editor-in-Chief: “I recently swung by to try the new CRU PVD inside the former Bayberry Beer Hall, and now I’m excited about their three-course Providence Restaurant Week menu. The food is terrific with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. On our last visit, we tried the sweet potatoes with kimchi ranch, sesame brittle and furikake, which is currently on the RW menu as a starter. Then we had the Statler curry chicken special and short rib (from the regular menu), followed by chocolate mousse for dessert. Menu options change often, so the RW menu features colossal shrimp with crispy rice and xo sauce, as well as the duck raviolo with grana padano brudo or charred winter squash with lentils, roasted mushrooms, broccoli rabe, toasted peanuts and cilantro chutney; all sound terrific! When we were there, they sent out some mini portions of their cocktails, including the frozen margarita and frozen espresso martini. I highly recommend both, or you can opt for the $20 wine pairing. It was cozy and warm inside with lots of tables and booths and a sprawling bar for schmoozing. No reservations necessary and they can handle large parties too. It’s from the same owners as Russell Morin Catering and Morin’s Diner in Attleboro, and it’s the perfect middle ground between a meal at a fancy event and a diner!”
Lauren Clem, Senior Editor: “With Circe getting ready to move into the Chapel Grille space in Cranston, I’d like to finally check out their restaurant downtown. For $22.50 for a three-course lunch, it’s a great deal. The blackened salmon is tempting, but I think I’d go with the butternut squash and kale risotto to warm up from all the frigid weather we’ve been having. For a starter, I’d grab a baby greens salad, and for dessert the vanilla ice cream with polenta crisp topping and caramel sauce sounds like a perfect little sweet treat. Hopefully the new location will participate in Restaurant Weeks as well.”
Edelinda Baptista, Special Editions Editor: “Find me at Trattoria Appia on Federal Hill during dinner, filling up on oven-baked gnocchi al forno – topped with four types of cheeses – or the pizza Bianca from the list of authentic Neapolitan pizzas, made with gorgonzola cheese and caramelized onions. For the nightcap, I’ll make my way to Circe Restaurant & Bar Providence for dessert, whether that be an espresso martini or the Death by Chocolate selection of mini desserts.”
Kaitlyn Murray, Digital Editor: “Every time Providence Restaurant Weeks rolls around, I make it a mission to try out a new eatery. I recently moved back to Providence, so I’m thinking something in my own “backyard” should be at the top of my agenda. The fancy Fleur on Exchange Street is enticing me with its lunch/late night offerings, where I can savor three sliders (of the beef, falafel or pork varieties) and a cocktail (my poison: the Fleur 75, naturally) for just $20, or a three course prix fixe meal of — my picks: the winter panzanella salad to start, followed by the tempura-battered codfish and topped off with the banana milk chocolate panna cotta — for only $35. Then again, the hill’s Providence Oyster Bar is within walking distance of my apartment, and the idea of tucking into a plate of fresh oysters, baked stuffed shrimp and pistachio cake all for $39.95 also sounds like a winter evening well spent.”
