Cambodian$$west-side
Apsara on Public Street is Providence's longest-running Cambodian kitchen, with a pan-Southeast Asian menu running through Vietnamese, Thai and Lao classics.
Signature: Nime chow, Singapore noodles, Khmer-style fish
Order: Nime chow with peanut sauce, plus the Singapore noodles or a Khmer curry.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays; the no-frills strip-mall storefront is the giveaway you are in the right place.
Peruvian and Bolivian$$$west-side
Los Andes on Chalkstone Avenue is Providence's Peruvian and Bolivian destination, with a waterfall and koi-pond patio. Lomo saltado, anticuchos, salteñas.
Signature: Lomo saltado, Anticuchos, Salteñas
Order: Lomo saltado and a round of anticuchos; salteñas if they have them at lunch.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday for dinner with a 15:00 Sunday lunch; book the patio in summer.
New American$$$downtown
The G Hospitality rooftop on Dorrance has a retractable glass roof, fire pits and the city's best State House view. Brick-oven flatbreads, raw bar.
Signature: Brick-oven flatbreads, Raw bar, Cocktails with a skyline view
Order: A flatbread off the brick oven, oysters, a cocktail at golden hour.
Tip: Mon to Wed 16:00 to 22:00; Friday and Saturday to 02:00; the retractable roof opens in fair weather.
Contemporary American$$$$downtown
Ellen Gracyalny's Gracie's on Washington Street has been Providence's special-occasion room since 1998. Five- and seven-course seasonal tasting menus.
Signature: Seasonal tasting menu, Wine pairings, Chocolate dessert plate
Order: The seven-course tasting menu with pairings; ask for the chocolate dessert flight to close.
Tip: Sister bakery Ellie's, two blocks away on Westminster, opens late as a wine and small-plates room.
Pizza and raw bar$$fox-point
Chef Robert Andreozzi's Pizza Marvin on Wickenden runs New Haven-inspired pizza with a small raw bar; the Pepperoni Negroni is the house cocktail.
Signature: New Haven-style pizza, Shucked clams, Pepperoni Negroni
Order: A pepperoni pie and a dozen of the shucked clams, washed down with a Pepperoni Negroni.
Tip: Walk-ins only; the small dining room turns over quickly between 18:00 and 21:00.
Italian$$$federal-hill
Alan Costantino's Venda complex on DePasquale Square pairs the 1938 pasta market with a full restaurant. Hand-pressed ravioli, the prettiest Hill patio.
Signature: Hand-pressed ravioli, Spaghetti alla chitarra, Fresh seafood pasta
Order: Whatever ravioli is being run from the market downstairs, with a pour from the Italian wine list.
Tip: Free live music on the DePasquale Plaza patio nightly in summer; the deli takes pasta orders to go.