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Restaurant Reviews

Review: El Rancho Grande

¡Muy authentico!
Having a yen Mexican food and limiting yourself to tacos and burritos is like craving French food and choosing french fries.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | May 21, 2013

Review: Trattoria Longo

Every dish done just right
Preparing most Italian dishes doesn't require the complexity of organic chemistry. Fresh ingredients, a good recipe, well-timed cooking, and ecco! Benissimo!

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | May 13, 2013

Review: Adesso On the Hill

As special as ever
Adesso is now "On the Hill," as opposed to off of Thayer Street, where the marvelous restaurant was located until closing in 2005.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | April 09, 2013

Review: Leo’s Ristorante

An Italian tradition in Bristol
Over the decades, Leo's Pizza became a Bristol staple, after Panteleone Mancieri (aka "Leo") opened it in 1948.

By: JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | March 20, 2013

Hot spot, Jamaican style

The Half Way Tree
Among the virtues of Jamaica, which include the glow of its sunshine and friendly people, is the island's cuisine.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | March 06, 2013

Review: Flan y Ajo

Little place, little dishes
It's a tiny place, which is appropriate.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | February 26, 2013

Review: Golden Chopstix

Some yummy dim sum
Since the Chinese invented gunpowder, the toothbrush, and paper money, we might as well also credit them with Spanish tapas and Scandinavian smörgåsbord.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | February 12, 2013

Review: Bonefish Grill

A well-polished and very tasty link
There are chains that give chain restaurants a bad name, that think earned popularity can be franchised.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | February 05, 2013

Review: Uncle Jo Jo’s Pizza & Pasta

Bountiful simplicity
Since there are more Italian restaurants on Federal Hill than potholes on Providence sidestreets, it's easy for newcomers without favorite spots to just go home and order Chinese delivered.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | January 22, 2013

Review: The Square Peg

From snacks to burgers, less is more
Have you ever opened an elaborate menu at a nice restaurant and, deciding you're not up for a big meal, just pick a snack?

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | January 08, 2013

Review: Jigger’s Hill & Harbour Diner

Delightful fare in a classic setting
It's been a long time since we've been to Jigger's, and in the meantime, it sat empty for almost a year, with new owners Steve and Karie Head cleaning and renovating this jewel of an official Worcester Dining Car.

By: JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | December 12, 2012

Review: Federal Hill Pizza

It’s in Warren. Go!
No, Federal Hill Pizza was not driven into Warren exile by the envy of its Italian restaurant competitors on Providence's Federal Hill.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | November 27, 2012

Review: Jamestown Fish

Doing seafood proud
Seafood on the coast of New England should be no more difficult to find than pebbles on a beach.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | November 13, 2012

Review: Ella’s

Excellence worth the price
In the Rhode Island tradition, Ella's can be described as the place where Capizzano's Restaurant used to be, prominently located. But Ella's has been earning a name of its own, and a recent visit made clear why.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | October 31, 2012

Review: Malt

Pretty fancy for a pub
Wisely, a new addition to the Newport dining scene is starting off modestly; it's little more than a pub, but enough more that it shows good promise and even some adventurousness. Malt opened this summer with little fanfare but soon earned a growing fan base.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | October 18, 2012

Review: Bistro 9

Not just puttering around
Although Bistro 9 is located at the East Greenwich Golf Club, you don't have to be able to tell a nine iron from a tire iron to be comfortable here.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | September 26, 2012

Review: Pizzeria Mezzo

Sublime pies, and ‘BBQ’ too
Since it opened in May, Pizzeria Mezzo (half pizza/half "BBQ") has become the go-to spot in Wakefield for a casual supper for summer visitors, South County locals, URI students, and everyone in between.

By: JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | September 12, 2012

Review: Plum Pt. Bistro

The Contes do it well again
Plum Pt., the new eatery in Saunderstown, is definitely designed as a bistro, as was emphasized by our server, who noted that such places are intended to be noisy to provide the kind of bustling "energy" that attracts hip, young diners.

By: BILL RODRIGUEZ | September 04, 2012

Review: Jacky’s Waterplace

Bursting with culinary character
The first time I visited Jacky's Waterplace, it was just before the grand opening, and who should be there to give us the grand tour but Jacky Ko himself.

By: JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | August 28, 2012