Italian$$$downtown
Sarto returned to its downtown Dorrance Street room in 2024. Regional Italian with a 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence list; weekend live jazz.
Signature: Regional Italian pasta, House charcuterie, Wine Spectator list
Order: A regional pasta off the rotating section, with a pour from the small-producer red list.
Tip: Wednesday and Thursday 16:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday to 23:00; jazz on weekend evenings.
Coastal New England$$$downtown
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.
Italian$$$federal-hill
Andino's on Federal Hill's Atwells Avenue is a longtime stalwart. Veal scaloppine, snail salad and the canonical Rhode Island hot-pepper calamari.
Signature: Veal scaloppine, Snail salad, Rhode Island calamari
Order: Snail salad, RI calamari with cherry peppers, then a veal scaloppine.
Tip: Open daily until 21:45 (22:45 Fri-Sat); Al Fresco on the Hill street seating runs June through early September.
Italian$$$federal-hill
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.
Italian$$$$federal-hill
Camille's, in a Bradford Street mansion since 1919, is the oldest continuously operating Italian dining room on Federal Hill. White-tablecloth.
Signature: Veal chop, Lobster fra diavolo, Tableside Caesar
Order: The veal chop, with tableside Caesar to start.
Tip: Book the front-room booths; the Roman Gardens private dining room is the city's anniversary destination.
Korean$$east-side
The Den Den group's Korean fried chicken counter on Angell Street. Double-fried wings and drumsticks in plain or gochujang glazes; small dining room.
Signature: Double-fried wings, Sweet and spicy drumsticks, Tteokbokki
Order: An order of double-fried drumsticks with sweet-and-spicy glaze, plus tteokbokki.
Tip: Sister cafe Den Den Cafe Asiana on Benefit Street handles bibimbap and katsu in the daytime.