Tomato Soup

Vietnamese

The Shaw's Plaza off North Main Street is a very strange place. Now that the Shaw's is out of business, the place is desolate and a little eerie. With no cars in the parking lot, and few shops doing business, it is a strange place for a good restaurant.

And yet, there is one.

Pho Horn is a Providence favorite. I have received numerous emails and comments mentioning this unassuming Vietnamese restaurant in the plaza, and last weekend, when Andy and I were trying to think of somewhere to get lunch, all of those emails and comments rang loud and clear in my memory and it seemed the perfect day to try it.

We had Thai Iced Tea:

This was the first Thai Iced Tea I've ever had, so I don't have anything to compare it with, but based on the delicious taste of this, it is going to be a new favorite of mine. You can just taste the fresh, almost bitter taste of the tea (a taste which I happen to love) under the sweet creaminess of the sweetened condensed milk. This is a very addictive drink!

I was starving, so I had to get the steamed Saigon Ravioli appetizer:

I love these dumplings filled with a mixture of chicken, pork, and vegetables. These were served with a nice ginger dipping sauce and definitely helped my raging hunger!

The main dishes came out shortly after (there were only 4 other people in the restaurant).

I had the Lemongrass Tofu:

Andy had the Chicken Curry (is anyone surprised!?):

Unfortunately, both of these dishes (that look a lot alike) were swimming in sauces that were much too salty. Then, they were both topped with peanuts, which made the dish even saltier. When I got a bite of tofu or vegetable that had only a splash of sauce on it, I was happy with the flavor. The lemongrass really came through, but then I would take another bite and all I could taste was salt. Andy had a similar experience with his curry, and neither of us could finish our plates.

I was disappointed by our main dish experience, because I had really expected a lot from Pho Horn. Perhaps I ordered the wrong things- and I considered this as I made my order. I'm sure the Pho is the winner at this restaurant, but neither Andy nor I like beef noodle soup very much.

For those of you who are fans of Pho Horn- what dishes do you generally order? I am not giving up on this place, because I don't believe that from all of the people who mentioned this restaurant to me (including some very serious foodies!), this restaurant deserves a bad review. I am willing to give it another chance, but I want to walk into Pho Horn feeling a little more confident about what to order!

Z Bar

Over a year ago, Andy and I went to Z Bar and Grille on Wickenden Street. We enjoyed our food, but we had an unpleasant experience with the host/owner/manager (I am not quite sure which) and so never wanted to return back. The host had been rude to Andy because he was wearing a hat (we didn't realize that the place was a little more high-end, and Andy gladly would have taken his hat off but was very, very rudely asked by this man). Anyway, Z Bar left a sort of sour taste in our mouth so it wasn't until last week that we finally decided to return. Also, I want to say that I am sorry for the very poor quality of these photos. I left my camera at home, but wanted to capture the experience- so I did so with my phone.

I was immediately glad we returned when this delicious olive oil (along with warm bread) was served to our table:

It had garlic, thick flakes of red pepper, and parmesan cheese in the middle. I really like little touches like this (like the oil at Providence Oyster Bar). It is a refreshing change from butter or plain olive oil, that speaks to the level of detail for a restaurant.

I had the bowties with smoked salmon, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, garlic butter, and reggiano cheese, which actually came with penne instead of bowties:

I liked the lightness of the garlic butter sauce. The dish wasn't swimming in butter, and the noodles weren't all covered in a thick layer of shiny grease. Everything was just lightly tossed and served with a nice, fragrant sprinkle of parsley. I do think the dish could use more smoked salmon- I felt that this was mostly all noodles.

Andy had the same thing he had gotten last time- the burger:

While it's true that Andy loves to order burgers, I do have to give him credit because this burger is different than most you'll find. First, it is served wrapped in fresh baked pizza dough, and the tenderloin burger is wood grilled and served with potatoes and a small salad on the side. Andy really loved it, although he had thought that the burger was served in a pita not on pizza dough. Either way, it's tasty- but I think the burger is a bit too thick for the more delicate pizza dough.

We avoided the host/owner/manager, and Andy made sure not to wear his hat, so it was all around a better experience. I'm not sure it is on the top of my list of restaurants, even though it is close by, but it does promise a satisfactory American bistro dining experience.

Mi Guatemala

I know there have been a lot of Atlanta posts lately- and I do have one more restaurant I'd like to review on here, but I thought I would take a break from Georgia and write about a more recent Providence dining experience.

After I wrote a review on Chilango's, a reader commented about another restaurant just up the street that he always ends up choosing over Chilango's- Mi Guatemala. Ever since reading that comment, I've been wanting to try it out. There seem to be a lot of hidden gems in that area of Atwell's, and I was excited to try another one of them.

I rounded up the supper club because I figured we needed a break from cooking and thought it would be nice to chat with everyone when no one has to get up and run into the kitchen every couple of minutes!

Most of us started with the appropriate margarita (on the rocks, with salt):

The margarita mix was heavy on the lime and not the sugar- which I prefer- but there was barely any tequila. I like when the tequila is the predominant flavor, not the mix. Andy had ordered a shot of tequila (a type he was curious to try) to sip with his meal, but we ended up pouring it in the margarita and sharing it because it tasted much better. While we were sipping these enormous drinks (nobody could really lift them up because the glasses were really heavy as well!) we munched on the chips and dips:

The chips were warm and thick and crunchy, and we had two different rounds of dips. The first time we go the chips, we had two chunkier salsas- one mild, one hot. In the picture above we had a smooth black bean dip and a very thin salsa that tasted a lot like tomato sauce because of similar seasonings. The black bean dip was a favorite- everyone agreed that there was a lot of lard in the beans that gave it a sinfully deep flavor.

For my main I had the grilled chicken (I thought I had written down the correct, Guatemalan name for the dish, but I didn't!):

It was a huge portion. I think, that if you eat as many chips as I tend to, that this plate could easily be shared between two people (as long as that person also indulged in the chips). The chicken was perfectly well seasoned with a mild blend of spices including salt, pepper, chili powder, and I think paprika. Andy also ordered this dish, but they brought out the fried chicken meal instead, and Andy was not very happy with it, because he is not a fan of fried chicken. He ate off of my plate mostly.

Someone else at the table ordered the pollo con crema:

This dish was similar to a curry- but the use of cream instead of coconut milk gave it an entirely different flavor. It wasn't sweet but still had a strong flavor of chillies. It was tasty, and would be a fun dish to try and replicate at home.

Besides the margarita, my only true complaint was the service. It was a Friday night so it was busy, but we had to ask several times for our drinks because they had been forgotten, and Andy and I had ordered a side of guacamole that never came. I think I may prefer Chilango's if I am going to head to the end of Atwell's, and I also prefer Mexican over Guatemalan- I  just really love the Chilango's flautas!

**Don't forget to enter my Food for Thought Contest here- win a ticket to the 11th Annual Food for Thought and a cookbook!!!**

 

Nice Slice

Thayer Street has no lack of pizza places, and while Andy and I's hearts are with Gourmet on Hope Street, it doesn't offer late-night dining. So, one late night when we were craving pizza, we decided to try Nice Slice.

Andy ran into the place and ordered up three different kinds, pepperoni, mozzarella and basil, and buffalo chicken:

And all of them were pretty delicious. The mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil one was my personal favorite because I think fresh mozzarella adds something extraordinary to pizza. The buffalo chicken was my least favorite because I thought there was way too much cheese and not enough chicken or buffalo sauce. But I do applaud Nice Slice's inventive pizza selections, because it's always nice to try something other than the standard cheese and pepperoni!

Nice Slice

267 Thayer Street

Providence, RI 02906

401-453-6423

Spice

The journey through Rhode Island's Thai Restaurants continues with...Spice Authentic Thai Bistro off Thayer Street.

It was a nice day to sit outside, but be warned that the tables and the outdoor patio are really, really dirty. Nevertheless, we stayed and ordered our usuals, Chicken Red Curry:

and Pad Thai:

The red curry was nice, although not spicy enough for me. I really like to feel it at the back of my throat. But it was overflowing with yummy vegetables and bamboo (my favorite part) and the sauce was a nice milky consistency.

The pad thai was very average. It was very, very gooey and while noodles in a pad thai dish always tend to be a little sticky and clump together, this was one big mass of noodle. Because there was too much sauce, the after taste wasn't entirely pleasant. It was much too sweet and left a sort of residue on my tongue. We were also the only people in the place and it still took 30 minutes for us to get our meal. I don't think I'll be going back, except maybe to check out East Side Perks, the coffee shop that occupies the front half of the store space.

Spice
110 Waterman Street
Providence, RI 02906


**NOTE- I'll be absent from Tomato Soup until September 10th because I will be in California on vacation gathering tasty materials to post!**

Olga's Cup and Saucer

Olga's Cup and Saucer is one of those restaurants that, when people find out I'm a foodie and they ask about places I've been, is usually on the list. And it's one of the places that every time they ask, I'm embarrassed to say that no, I've never been, not even to stop in, check out the garden, and grab a coffee. But, like most places that people recommend to me, eventually I make it there. And yesterday, I had an eye appointment at the Coro Building (right up the street) right around lunch time and when it was over, I knew my chance for Olga's had come.

It was a beautiful day outside and after I ordered I sat myself in a bench nearest to the street right under a nice shady tree. While waiting for my sandwich, I sipped the iced tea of the day:

Even though it was just yesterday, I honestly can't remember what kind it was. I'm pretty sure it had peach and ginger in it, but none of the flavors were too strong. It tasted most like the lemon I squeezed into it, but it was still refreshing.

To eat, I had the chili lime brined chicken sandwich with coleslaw:

The sandwich was supposed to come on roasted garlic bread, but this bread basically tasted like artisan white bread. It was also much too soaked with chipotle mayonnaise. The chicken itself was tender, and I loved the roasted tomatillos, but other than that the sandwich didn't thrill me. I saw a corn, tomato, and pesto pizza pass by me and cursed myself for not ordering it. In fact, everything else I saw ordered looked absolutely fantastic, so I think I may have just made the wrong choice. Does anyone have favorites that never fail them? I may go back and indulge in the baked goods instead- there was a brownie in the dessert case that was making my mouth water! I really enjoyed the experience of Olga's, and I am definitely up for returning. I think it is a great unique spot that maybe needs to spice up their chili lime chicken sandwich a bit!

Olga's Cup and Saucer
103 Point Avenue
Providence, RI 02903
401-831-6666

Tina's

It takes a brave soul to set up shop on Atwells and not be an Italian restaurant. But I'm glad that there are restaurateurs who work up the courage- I don't think any street or neighborhood should limit itself to one type of cuisine. I want to go to Atwells and know that I have some options available, and I think Tina's Caribbean might be my new non-Italian top choice.

I had the Curried Chicken that is generously served with cabbage, collard greens, rice and peas (red beans), and fried plantains:

The chicken was extremely tender from being slow cooked, and very aromatic. I had never had Jamaican curry before, and I had no idea what to expect. Curry was introduced to the Caribbean with the influx of Indian's who came to Jamaica in the 1830's so the curry powder itself is similar to that of West Indian curry with turmeric, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and coriander seeds and the rest of the sauce includes coconut milk, onions, and garlic. But a key ingredient to Jamaican cooking is the Scotch Bonnet chili pepper, which gives curries and jerk dishes their distinct flavor.

I think that this dish could have used a little more scotch bonnet chili, because it didn't have enough heat for me. But the mixture of all of the flavors from the bitter collards, sweet plantains, vinegary cabbage, and salty curry was unbelievable. I liked having a plate with so many options that all exposed me to the flavors of Jamaica. And for $10, this meal was also a great deal. While there, we also tried the sweetened cucumber juice with ginger and I highly recommend it. It was refreshing and had a wonderful ginger kick to it that complimented the crispness of the cucumber flavor.

Red Stripe

Back in March I went to Red Stripe for brunch with my mom. I raved about my blintz and the bustling bistro atmosphere of the place, and noted that I would be back sometime soon for dinner. Alas, "sometime soon" turned into 5 months later when I finally decided to check back at Red Stripe with Andy in tow. We made a reservation for a Friday night because I know that the restaurant is usually packed with local patrons (I believe Red Stripe to be a favorite within Wayland Square residents), and I was right on my assumption. The place was pleasantly crowded but we were seated on time.

A glance at the menu left me pleased- all the entrees were well priced and interesting. We started with the sweet potato latke with applesauce and horseradish (just the way a latke is meant to be served!):

These were phenomenal. The sweet potatoes had been shoestringed before being assembled into patties which gave the latke a great texture. The cinnamon essence was strong and the horseradish complimented the sweetness. They were also done fairly "al dente" so the sweet potato wasn't mushy, it was still slightly firm in the middle and sandwiched by the nice crispy layers on the top and bottom from the frying pan. This is one of those dishes that you can't wait to go home and try out yourself, and if you fail, one of those dishes that you can't wait to go back for.

For my entree, I had the Friday night special, the Red Stripe Seafood Paella, that comes with a green salad (for only $17.95!):

Mixed Green Salad


Seafood Paella

The paella was filled to the brim with seafood goodies- clams, mussels, shrimp, and salmon. There was also some spicy sausage, lots of thinly sliced vegetables, and tasty rice that had been simmered in an absolutely savory saffron broth. This dish was fantastic. It was quite a huge portion for the reasonable price, and Red Stripe definitely did not skimp on the seafood for this, one of their signature dishes. Even though it was a warm summer night, this really hit the spot.

Andy went with the Red Stripe 10oz Black Angus Burger:

Which came juicy and cooked to his liking (medium) and piled high with havarti cheese, avocado, and grilled red onion. On the side was a garlic aioli that paired well with the fries I kept sneaking off his plate! This burger and massive pile of fries was only $8.50. At most restaurants, $8.50 will get you the bare minimum burger but this came with lots of yummy extras. Definitely another star on the menu.

For dessert (I couldn't resist) we shared the coconut cheesecake:

Simple, but good. There were a lot of other dessert options on the menu, and I would probably try those before going back to this cheesecake, but all in all the main meals were just so memorable that the dessert had a lot to live up to. I think it will be less than 5 months before I return to Red Stripe to enjoy a great dinner!

The New Nick's

Before I had a blog, only a couple of weeks after Andy and I moved to Providence, we stumbled upon a small breakfast joint, Nick's on Broadway, on our way to go the the B Sharp music store. There was a line out the door and a great hustle and bustle inside that we couldn't resist. We put our name in and were luckily seated promptly at the counter- the best seat in the house for entertainment purposes. We watched the cooks scramble in the back and flip and grill some of the best brunch food I had ever tasted.

Time went by and we pledged to return to Nick's and then some more time went by and we found out it moved several blocks down the street to a new, bigger location. Andy and I were intrigued and even more determined to make it back. Well, we finally did make it back on Saturday. Beware that the Nick's link above has their old menu on it. Their new menu still has the same classic breakfast and omelette choices, but also has a couple more artisan options, and their prices have gone way up.

For example, I had the Maine smoked salmon platter which used to be $8.00, but which is now $12.95:

I had an everything bagel which was toasted with pesto and then topped with cream cheese. I couldn't taste the pesto as much as I would have liked- there was only a subtle garlic taste to each bite I took. The salmon was silky and delicious and I love the rosebud presentation! The tomatoes were also perfectly ripe and sweet and complimented the Maine salmon very well. However, I still do not think this dish is worth $12.95.

Andy had a ham, broccoli, and cheddar omelette:

He opted for a fruit cup in place of the homefries and I told him he was crazy because the homefries have both russet potatoes AND sweet potatoes and I consider them one of the best things Nick's makes. I didn't try the omelette but Andy wasn't impressed. He said it wasn't very big or particularly flavorful and not even close to the wonderful memory we have of the asparagus omelette we tried at the old Nick's. I did run into a friend there  who had the pancakes with peach compote and said they were heavenly- so maybe the sweet things are the right choice to make.

I also thought it odd dining in such a new, sleek space. I did really like the design and thought it gave Nick's a cleaner, hipper vibe, but I think something may have been lost in translation. I think Nick's may be meant to be a little greasier and a little less expensive!

The Hot Dog Cart

I did it, I FINALLY went to the Hewtin's Hot Dog Cart. This gem, located in the park on Blackstone Boulevard on Hope Street, is in its 4th year of existence. It is owned by the upscale French restaurant, Chez Pascal, across the street and all of the ingredients are made fresh there. It is open on Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30-5:30 p.m. weather permitting. On the website, it says "non-rainy days" but I have been by the park on  just a miserably cloudy day, and the hot dog cart is nowhere to be seen. So, make sure it is nice and sunny before you venture out to get yourself a dog.

I had a hot dog with sauerkraut, sweet relish, spicy mustard, and ketchup:

And Andy had the chili dog (they put the chili on the bottom to help make it less messy):

We both agreed that the hot dog itself and the toppings were delicious (and well worth the $2.50-$3.00 we paid for them) but we echoed the reviews of others and thought that the bun needs a lot of work. It's a standard  Wonder Bread type split bun, so it's very soft and doesn't hold up to the ingredients very well. I prefer a stronger, crustier on the outside bun like the fresh ones they make at Spike's. But, overall,  the hot dog cart is delicious with lots of fresh toppings and a friendly server! I'll definitely be back to try the brisket sandwich!