Massimo is an italian restaurant in Federal Hill, Providence.
Massimo on Atwells runs contemporary regional Italian under the DeQuattro family. Gluten-free menu, biodynamic wines, marble bar with seats.
Signature dishes: Regional Italian pasta, Biodynamic wines, Branzino
Must order: Whatever regional pasta is the special, plus a glass of small-producer Italian red.
Tip: Open Sunday for brunch from 10:30; Monday through Thursday until 21:30, weekends to 22:30.
Address: 134 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI 02903
Costantino's Venda on DePasquale Square pairs the 1938 Italian pasta market with a full restaurant. Hand-pressed ravioli, the fountain patio.
Signature: Hand-pressed ravioli, Pasta of the day, Federal Hill seafood pasta
Order: Whatever ravioli is being run from the downstairs market, with a glass off the Italian list.
Tip: Free live music on the plaza patio nightly through summer; the deli takes pasta to-go.
Bacaro on South Water is part Venetian bacaro, part full Italian dining room. Cicchetti and salumeria at the downstairs bar; pasta and entree dining upstairs.
Signature: Cicchetti plates, House salumi, Hand-rolled pasta
Order: A round of cicchetti and a glass of Lugana downstairs; a pasta upstairs.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday, 17:00 to 22:00; downstairs bar walks in, dining room takes reservations.
Costantino's Venda on DePasquale Square pairs the 1938 Italian pasta market with a full restaurant. Hand-pressed ravioli, the fountain patio.
Signature: Hand-pressed ravioli, Pasta of the day, Federal Hill seafood pasta
Order: Whatever ravioli is being run from the downstairs market, with a glass off the Italian list.
Tip: Free live music on the plaza patio nightly through summer; the deli takes pasta to-go.
Chef Robert Andreozzi's Pizza Marvin on Wickenden runs New Haven pizza with a small raw bar; the Pepperoni Negroni is the house cocktail order.
Signature: New Haven-style pies, Shucked clams, Pepperoni Negroni
Order: A pepperoni pie, a dozen shucked clams, a Pepperoni Negroni.
Tip: Walk-ins only; the small dining room turns over quickly between 18:00 and 21:00.
Den Den Cafe Asiana on Benefit Street is the all-day Asian counter from the Den Den hospitality group. Bibimbap, soba, tonkatsu, rice bowls, gyoza.
Signature: Hot-stone bibimbap, Seafood pancake, Katsu
Order: Hot-stone bibimbap and a seafood pancake; an order of fried chicken to share.
Tip: Counter ordering; bring it back to the small dining room or take out. Late lunch is the quietest hour.
Den Den's Korean fried chicken counter on Angell Street: double-fried wings and drumsticks in plain or gochujang glazes; small dining room, takeaway.
Signature: Double-fried wings, Sweet-and-spicy drumsticks, Tteokbokki
Order: Double-fried drumsticks with sweet-and-spicy glaze, plus an order of tteokbokki.
Tip: Half-and-half a tray of plain and spicy; orders ship in 12 to 15 minutes once you order.
Apsara on Public Street is Providence's longest-running Cambodian kitchen, with a pan-Southeast Asian menu running through Vietnamese, Thai and Lao classics.
Signature: Nime chow, Khmer curry, Singapore noodles
Order: Nime chow with peanut sauce and a Khmer curry; Singapore noodles if you want heat.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays; lunch is the quickest sit. Counter is no-frills strip-mall style, but the cooking is serious.
