Well, they've done it again. Mike Sears and Allan, his main (and only) man in the kitchen have gone and produced yet another scrumptious, mouth-watering meal at Ama's. That's right, the man who recently moved a diner from the backside of Loie Fuller's parking lot two blocks down Westminster street and plopped it down on a brand-new foundation without so much as batting an eye. That Mike Sears.

In case you still haven't gotten over to Ama's you are missing out not only on some wonderfully delicious and imaginatively creative cuisine, but at a damn good value. And a wine list to match.

Susie and Andie had the bento boxes (15 bucks each) and the three of us split two orders of the green beans for apps -- and a bottle of French sparkling wine.

Thats living West side style.

New Rivers is doing a semi-special for New Year's Eve

I just heard from Bruce Tillinghast at New Rivers on Steeple Street in Providence. They will be offering a special five-course meal from a limited menu for $65 -- NOT including drinks, tips, tax. That's not bad. . . not bad at all!

Where to go for New Year's Eve Dinner in Providence?

Well, we've started the process of looking for a place to have dinner this NYE -- no, not the eat-until-midnight-and-then-break-out-the-party-favors sort of affair. Just a nice sit down dinner, special menu, maybe wine pairings to relax and usher out one part of our life while we make room for the next part.

So far we've ruled out La Laiterie/The Farmstead in Wayland Square. Their special menu appeared to focus on a beer theme, among other things that didn't really appeal to us.

Gracie's is doing the special midnight thing -- as they usually do, with theme and all. Sounds like fun but, again, not our style.

Tini's is going to be closed this year, I'm told.

Chez Pascal and Cook and Brown are two strong possibilities; they both claim to be working on a special menu -- but we're waiting to hear what the details are and cost. I'm also waiting to hear whether New Rivers is doing anything special at all.

Any ideas out there?

Bacaro's in Providence - An A+ meal

Last Saturday Susie and I headed over to Tini's downtown Providence for an aperitif before slipping across the river to Bacaro's for dinner.

A truly unique food bar Tini's is always a pleasant, cozy (emphasize cozy) place to hang out, chat and sip a cool glass of sparkling wine or try one of their latest cocktail creation (for us it was something called Must Lust that included prosecco, gin and fresh squeezed grapefruit joice).

Anyway, we did notice the big menu change: they are now offering larger portions, the traditional "main course" items featured on your typical menu. Since Darius is still the kitchen guru there shouldn't be any concern about loss of quality that's for sure. But American's seemed obsessed with big: big houses, big cars, big rooms, big portions.

From Tini's we scooted back to the car and drove five minutes through downtown and over the Crawford Street Bridge, up and around to Bacaro's on Water Street. We were right on time for our reservation and  seated straightaway. Service was just about right, although we'd both like to see more American restaurants be less attentive. I don't need someone coming by two or three times to ask if I need anything or if everything is OK. Usually they catch me with food in my mouth. Even so, if something isn't OK wouldn't I flag someone down and let them know?

Anyway, the food was superb -- in fact the starter of crispy octopus on a bed of creamy white beans with Swiss chard and all drizzled with honey was eeeeencredible. Following that up, Susie had crispy chicken with pappardelle and I had a scrumptious filet with tiny bliss potatoes and a salad. Large portions, particularly the pasta dish. (See Tini's above.) We each shared a 1/4 liter of white with the app and 1/4 liter of red wine with the main course.

Our A-list of places to eat in Providence

Providence is a food town -- a really big food town and there seems to be an endless places of eat. That's true, up to a point, for us at any rate. We seem to return to the same places again and again, always for the food first and foremost while service or ambiance typically figure prominently in our choices. Our perennial favorite is Pat Lowney's Broadway Bistro on Broadway (of course) in the west side. Whenever we want delicious comfort food: ribs 'n grits, incredible Brussels Sprouts (in season) or fishcakes or . . ., we never have to think twice about where to go. Whenever we want to just sit and relax over a crisp white or supple red wine, we know where to go.

Broadway Bistro. It's the closet thing to eating in someone's home you're likely to find in a city dominated by the food culture. No pretentiousness, no fancy service, you walk in, peek across the pass-through into the kitchen slide up to the bar or grab an intimate table with a window onto Broadway and you're set for the evening.

Next on our A-list is New Rivers steered quietly, carefully and wonderfully by the dynamic duo of food: Bruce Tillinghast and Beau Vestal. Incredible food and a fantastic wine list (ask Bruce for suggestions).

Next in line -- if such a thing as sating one's hunger for great food at a decent price can be somehow quantified and ordered like so many pieces of furniture -- anyway, our next choices would be:

Chez Pascal
Tini's
Cook and Brown
Derek Wagner's Nick's On Broadway (that street again)
Bacaro's
Al Forno
Iron Wok
Fellini's Pizza (Wickendon Street) tied with Bob & Timmy's Pizza (Spruce Street)

O Dinis in East Providence

It’s no secret that Providence has become something of a Mecca for foodies. From the rather tired, jaded atmosphere of Atwell’s Avenue to the incredible food prepared by the young turks Downcity and on the East Side the food scene here can be quite spectacular.

But there is more to this city than the traffic jams of Atwell’s, the bright lights of Washington Street or the chic casual flair of eateries along Hope Street. There is East Providence where the food caters to families and to Portuguese families in particular. Two places have developed a bit of a reputation, one of which, “O Dinis,” we had the pleasant experience of enjoying last Thursday evening.

Located along the rather tired Warren Avenue and in a nondescript building with no parking (on the street please) the singular giveaway that you are about to enter another world is the large, brightly lit sign hung over the front door. We walked in and found ourselves in a slice of Portugal right here in the New World. The décor reminded us both of so many faceless cafes, bars, oseterie, ristorante, bistro scattered around the Mediterranean, places that we popped into on a whim or at the suggestion of someone who knew someone who we met, places that offered delicious food at a reasonable price, places that reminded you that restaurants, in some cultures at any rate, are meant to be an acceptable substitute for home.

That’s “O Dinis.”

A young woman who had just started balancing a large table of women preparing for a Halloween fest greeted us and quietly informed us we could sit wherever we liked. We scooted across the room past families, couples, and single men and found a table for two not far from the bar, by the front window.

The warm cacophony surrounded us, putting us in a cocoon of comfort and letting us relax in a restaurant for the first time in I don’t know how long. In one corner a TV tuned to a Portuguese channel,, at several tables around us men my age, older and younger, speaking Portuguese, occasionally slipping into English or something else altogether, it wasn’t always clear. But it was most pleasant.

Our server was Michelle. Lively, friendly but without that feigning intimacy so common in American restaurants, she was there when we needed her but otherwise off on her other appointed rounds.

Susie and I both ordered beef: sirloin grilled with a friend egg on top sandwiched by rice on one side and French fries on the other, pretty standard fare for the local Portuguese to find out later. Our starter was homemade grilled chorizo sausage. Our starter was washed down with a delicious Portuguese white, crisp and to the point, whiel the beef was compliment by a nice half bottle of red – from the same vintner as the white in fact.

I should say that I didn’t recognize any of the Portuguese wines on the list, at least they didn’t look familiar to any of the ones we’ve seen at Bottles on the east side of Providence,, where we now buy our wines.

The food was tasty – I’ll skip the rice next time we go -- and the fries were basic, probably out of a large bag – but the meat! Whoa! It was tender, succulent and perfect. We had a homemade flan caramel for dessert, also very nice. Service was impeccable and the price was right -- $58 for the two of the us, tip not included. We’ll definitely go back. And you should definitely go.

New Rivers in Providence for Susie's birthday