Wara Wara is a japanese restaurant in East Side, Providence.
Wara Wara on Hope Street has been serving ramen, cold sake, oysters and tapas since 2016. Compact dining room; the bar takes counter orders late.
Signature dishes: Ramen, Pork belly buns, Oysters and sake
Must order: A bowl of tonkotsu ramen, pork belly buns, a glass of cold junmai.
Tip: Closed Sunday; the small bar turns over for walk-ins on weeknights.
Address: 776 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906
Nicholas and Monica Gillespie's Dune Brothers built a Fox Point fish market, sit-down room and takeout window on Ives Street in 2024. Pier-to-plate fish.
Signature: Fish sandwich, Fish and chips, Underutilised local species
Order: The fish sandwich and a side of fries; whatever local fish is on the chalkboard.
Tip: The Jewelry District shack on Dyer Street is seasonal; the Fox Point room on Ives runs year-round.
Sicilia's on Atwells has been a Federal Hill family pizzeria for 30-plus years. Home of the original deep-dish stuffed pizza; slice service, casual back room.
Signature: Stuffed deep-dish pizza, Cheese pizza by the slice, Pasta dishes
Order: A slice of the stuffed deep-dish, or a small pie of plain cheese for the comparison.
Tip: The slice line moves quickly; sit-down dining at the back is rarely busy.
Andino's on Atwells is a Federal Hill stalwart. Veal scaloppine, snail salad and the canonical hot-pepper Rhode Island calamari; Al Fresco patio in summer.
Signature: Veal scaloppine, Snail salad, Rhode Island calamari
Order: Snail salad, RI calamari with cherry peppers, then veal scaloppine.
Tip: Open daily until 21:45 (22:45 Fri-Sat). The Atwells outdoor seats are best on Al Fresco Saturdays from June through early September.
Cassarino's on Atwells, opened 1988, is the candlelit Federal Hill room locals book midweek. Northern Italian classics, a marble bar, polished service.
Signature: Lobster ravioli, Veal piccata, Tiramisu
Order: Lobster ravioli or veal piccata; close with the house tiramisu.
Tip: Walk-in seats at the bar serve the full menu; book the booths through OpenTable.
Joe and Esther DeQuattro's Pane e Vino, on Federal Hill since 2002, pours Southern Italian cooking and a 120-bottle all-Italian list. Half-price Mondays.
Signature: House-made pasta, Veal Milanese, All-Italian wine list
Order: Veal Milanese with a glass of Aglianico, or a flight of the pasta of the day.
Tip: Half-price wine all day Monday; the Atwells patio is the best seat on Al Fresco Saturdays.
Massimo on Atwells runs contemporary regional Italian under the DeQuattro family. Gluten-free menu, biodynamic wines, marble bar with seats.
Signature: Regional Italian pasta, Biodynamic wines, Branzino
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.
