Hemenway's is a seafood restaurant in Downtown, Providence.
Hemenway's on the Providence River reopened March 5, 2025 after a refresh of the bar, raw bar and lobster tanks. Anchor downtown seafood since 1985.
Signature dishes: Shellfish platter, Maine lobster, Lobster mac and cheese
Must order: The signature Shellfish Platter from the raw bar, or a one-and-a-quarter pound Maine lobster.
Tip: Reservations via OpenTable; the raw bar takes walk-ins and has the best skyline view.
Address: 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
Sarto returned to its downtown Dorrance Street room in 2024. Regional Italian with a 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence list; weekend live jazz.
Signature: Regional Italian pasta, House charcuterie, Wine Spectator list
Order: A regional pasta off the rotating section, with a pour from the small-producer red list.
Tip: Wednesday and Thursday 16:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday to 23:00; jazz on weekend evenings.
Tom and Natalie Dennen's Bayberry Garden in the Innovation District has a plant-filled dining room, sustainable raw bar, and a Pedestrian Bridge patio.
Signature: Sustainable raw bar, Grilled Caesar, Steak frites
Order: Half a dozen New England oysters from the raw bar, then the grilled Caesar and steak frites.
Tip: Dinner Tuesday to Sunday; brunch Saturday and Sunday; the patio under the Pedestrian Bridge is the most-booked seat in summer.
Massimo on Federal Hill's Atwells Avenue runs contemporary regional Italian under the DeQuattro family. Gluten-free menu, all-biodynamic Italian wines.
Signature: Regional Italian pastas, Biodynamic Italian wines, Branzino
Order: Whatever pasta is being run as the regional special, with a glass of small-grower Italian red.
Tip: Monday through Thursday until 21:30, Friday and Saturday until 22:30. Resy reservations.
Joe and Esther DeQuattro's Pane e Vino, on Federal Hill since 2002, runs Southern Italian cooking with a 120-bottle all-Italian wine list. Half-price Mondays.
Signature: House-made pasta, Veal Milanese, Italian wine list
Order: Veal Milanese with a glass of Aglianico, or a tasting of the daily pasta specials.
Tip: Half-price wine all day Monday; the Atwells patio is the best people-watching seat on the Hill.
Sarto returned to its downtown Dorrance Street room in 2024. Regional Italian with a 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence list; weekend live jazz.
Signature: Regional Italian pasta, House charcuterie, Wine Spectator list
Order: A regional pasta off the rotating section, with a pour from the small-producer red list.
Tip: Wednesday and Thursday 16:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday to 23:00; jazz on weekend evenings.
Tom and Natalie Dennen's Bayberry Garden in the Innovation District has a plant-filled dining room, sustainable raw bar, and a Pedestrian Bridge patio.
Signature: Sustainable raw bar, Grilled Caesar, Steak frites
Order: Half a dozen New England oysters from the raw bar, then the grilled Caesar and steak frites.
Tip: Dinner Tuesday to Sunday; brunch Saturday and Sunday; the patio under the Pedestrian Bridge is the most-booked seat in summer.
Andino's on Federal Hill's Atwells Avenue is a longtime stalwart. Veal scaloppine, snail salad and the canonical Rhode Island hot-pepper calamari.
Signature: Veal scaloppine, Snail salad, Rhode Island calamari
Order: Snail salad, RI calamari with cherry peppers, then a veal scaloppine.
Tip: Open daily until 21:45 (22:45 Fri-Sat); Al Fresco on the Hill street seating runs June through early September.
Cassarino's, on Atwells since 1988, is the candlelit Federal Hill room locals book midweek. Northern Italian classics, marble bar, polished service.
Signature: Northern Italian pasta, Veal piccata, Tiramisu
Order: Lobster ravioli or veal piccata, finished with the house tiramisu.
Tip: Reservations via OpenTable; the bar serves the full menu walk-up.
