Diner’s Update

EVENTS, SPECIALS AND MENU UPDATES

9/1-10/31

The patio at India.

India Restaurant on Hope Street is launching a two-month humanitarian fundraiser to support children in Gaza. From September 1 through October 31, 2025, 100 percent of proceeds from the restaurant’s Grab & Go meals will be donated to UNICEF USA, providing food, medical care and emotional support to children affected by the ongoing crisis. Recognizing the complexity and deep pain surrounding the conflict in the region, India Restaurant is approaching this initiative with humility and a singular focus: the wellbeing of innocent children. “We believe that acts of kindness—especially those that transcend borders and divisions—are powerful expressions of our shared humanity,” said Amar Singh, owner of India Restaurant. “Our hope is not to take sides, but to extend compassion and affirm the values of mercy, dignity, and care for the vulnerable.” Grab & Go meals will be available daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. For $13.99, guests may choose from chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, or Punjabi chole as part of the Grab-and-Go menu.

9/30

Join Charter Books in Newport on Sept. 30 from 6-7 p.m. for an evening with New York hospitality professional and James Beard Award-winning author Adam Reiner to discuss his new book The Rules of Dining Out: An Insider’s Guide to Enjoying Restaurants. If you’re a foodie or the designated restaurant reservation expert of your family/friend then join Adam as he tells you the A to Z of getting the most out of your restaurant experience. This event is free and open to the public, kindly RSVP and share with your friends. The conversation will be moderated by Boston Globe Rhode Island reporter Alexa Gagosz.

10/2

Indulge in Savor the Flavors of Rhode Island, a tasting event celebrating the Ocean State’s finest cuisine and beverages. Held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston on Thurs., Oct. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m., this fun-filled evening includes delicious samples from over forty local restaurants, bakeries, breweries and distributors; and an auction featuring signature items – all while supporting the athletes of Special Olympics Rhode Island. Tickets are $100 per person and include admission to event from 6-9 p.m., access to over 40 vendor tables, featuring fine foods, desserts and beverages, unlimited tastings, online and silent auction, and a complimentary gift. Your ticket purchase directly contributes to Special Olympics Rhode Island’s mission of providing sports training, competition opportunities, and inclusion programs for Rhode Islanders with intellectual disabilities, at no charge to them or their families.

10/2

Courtland Club in Providence, a cocktail bar, restaurant and jazz club, is  welcoming a new era of jazz on Thursdays. Following in the footsteps of the beloved Sunday jazz weekly, they are launching Expansions — a new monthly series bringing in some of the most exciting talent from beyond Rhode Island.

10/4

Beginning Sat., Oct. 4, Little Clam at Wayfinder Newport will officially introduce weekend brunch — served every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. The menu, created by executive chef Antonio Wormley, brings a playful spin to coastal New England flavors: think Gulf shrimp & grits with smoked cheddar heirloom grits, garden vegetable shakshuka baked with spicy arrabbiata, lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote, and a biscuit & gravy that pulls no punches. The raw bar gets its own spotlight, while the cocktail list turns brunch into an occasion, from bacon-washed Bloody Marys to spritzes and sparkling concoctions designed for lingering.

Tiverton Farmers Market’s Harvest Market will be hosted at Sakonnet Vineyard on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m..

10/11-10/12

Sakonnet Vineyard in Little Compton will officially celebrate its fiftieth anniversary with a festive two-day harvest celebration on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12. Family-friendly and open to the public, the event will feature live music, wine tastings, food, seasonal activities, and a special Sunday harvest market showcasing local makers and educators. On Sat., Oct. 11, there will be live music from the Dave Alves Band from 1–4 p.m., all-day self-guided vineyard walking tour & scavenger hunt with stops highlighting Sakonnet’s history and sustainable practices, and old-fashioned outdoor fun for all ages. On Sun., Oct. 12, there will be a Harvest Market in collaboration with Tiverton Farmers Market featuring 60–70 local vendors, makers, and growers, as well as educational sessions and demonstrations led by regional experts in regenerative farming, beekeeping, winemaking and more.

10/17-10/18

10/30-11/6

Join Gracie’s Providence Hospitality and Wine Leader Justin Bothur on an unforgettable seven-night Taste of Bordeaux Wine Cruise aboard the elegant AmaDolce from October 30 – November 6, 2025. Immerse yourself in the world of fine wines, scenic vineyards and historic towns, all while enjoying luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, unlimited wine and beer, guided shore excursions, and exclusive Grand Cru tastings. Learn more by emailing lori@innovativetravelconcepts.com.

10/31

Ghosts of the American Revolution will take place at the Vanderbilt in Newport on Fri., Oct. 31 from 6-10 p.m. Hosted within the Newport mansion, this year’s Halloween celebration invites guests to step back in time for a spirited evening where colonial history meets the supernatural. Candlelit halls will come alive with ghostly patriots, rebellious specters, and haunted aristocrats, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. The soirée will feature a cocktail-style reception with an open bar and decadent passed and stationed food. Adding to the spectacle, New York-based theatrical troupe No Ring Circus will animate the evening with immersive performances ranging from magicians and mentalists to dancers, singers, and fortune tellers. Open to both hotel guests and local visitors for $300 a ticket, this 21+ event promises interactive entertainment, mischievous indulgence, and a delightfully haunting celebration inside one of Newport’s storied landmarks.

Claudine interior. Photo by Brian Miller.

10/31

Celebrate “Halloween at Claudine” with a ten-course, whole animal-themed feast on Fri., Oct. 31. The special evening will begin with a welcome reception at 6 p.m., where guests will enjoy a glass of champagne (or homemade N/A libation) and passed canapés. A ten-course seated dinner will follow at 7 p.m., featuring different whole animal-centered dishes, which will be broken down and incorporated into several courses throughout. The menu will conclude with two festive dessert courses and will also offer a la carte supplements. Available for an additional cost, beverage options will include a wine pairing, N/A pairing, wines available by the glass and bottle, beers, ciders, champagne, and both seasonal and classic cocktails. Tickets to the dinner are $250 per person and are available here. Menu substitutions and modifications are not possible for this event, therefore, the full menu will be made available online for guests to review in advance and ensure dietary compatibility before purchasing tickets.

11/7-11/12

Mystic has become one of New England’s premier food destinations—now it’s time to showcase its cocktail culture. With exceptional local talent, innovative bar programs and world-class producers, the Mystic Cocktail Classic, November 7-12, will celebrate the people, stories and spirits defining the next chapter of American cocktail culture. The week includes Paired Cocktail Dinners + Panels (Fri.–Mon.) at Via Emilia, The Shipwright’s Daughter, The Port of Call, and The Jealous Monk, featuring Sother Teague, David Wondrich, Shannon Mustipher, and Jackson Cannon. The Mystic Noank Library Book Fair, including author signings, seminars, mocktails and live music (Sat., Nov. 8). A Late-Night Bar Crawl with exclusive menus, pop-ups and guest bartender takeovers, plus Industry Meet & Greets with spirits pros, writers, distillers and bartenders.

11/27

On Thursday, November 27th, The Chanler will celebrate Thanksgiving with a prix fixe menu experience at newly-opened Remy’s Loose. From 1-7pm, guests can enjoy four specially-curated courses highlighting the season’s finest flavors while taking advantage of the hotel’s stunning ocean views. The price per person is $145 + tax; Thanksgiving menu linked here and reservations can be made here.

ONGOING EVENTS

Every Thursday, Courtland Club in Providence will feature its acclaimed jazz program with a recurring live series called EXPANSIONS. The cocktail bar, restaurant and jazz club is known for its Sunday Jazz nights, but now guests can return every Thursday for two seatings at 6 and 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. Upcoming editions of EXPANSIONS include The Cameron and Conway Campbell Trio on October 16, Gregory Groover Jr on November 20, and George Garzone on December 18. Reservation availability for these future dates will be released in the weeks that precede each date.  

Track 15 has expanded with a new 10,000-square-foot outdoor plaza featuring seating, lawn games and a children’s play space. They’ve launched local music sessions on Friday nights with Motif magazine from 7-9:30 p.m. every Friday this fall. Mondays are trivia nights at 7 p.m.; Tuesdays feature the Karaoke Lounge starting at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays feature Game Day with football on the big screens and a Bucket of Gansetts on special at 1 p.m. Artisan Sips Coffee Cart has also joined the food hall’s vendor lineup with a creative menu of lattes and seasonal specialties. Signature lattes include the Track 15 with chocolate, caramel and espresso; the Chocolate Covered Strawberry; and the Caramel Honey Vanilla. Seasonal specialties include the Apple Pie Chai, Blueberry Pancake iced coffee, Pumpkin Patch matcha and Pumpkin Mocha latte. Artisan Sips will be available during Track 15’s regular business hours.

Sarto in Providence.

Sarto in Providence.

Sarto introduces the new Chef’s Table, an intimate prix-fixe dinner for two, available on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings after 6:30 p.m. For $79.99, guests will savor multiple courses of seasonal Italian-inspired cuisine paired with the option to enjoy select bottles of wine at half price. Make it a weekday or Sunday tradition at a steal. Reservations are recommended at sartoprovidence.com. Sarto is also adding on a new Late Night Lounge. Every Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., guests can extend their evening with after-dinner cocktails in an atmosphere that’s as swanky as it is relaxed. Once the kitchen closes at 11 p.m., the bar takes center stage with curated cocktails, signature Negronis, and complimentary bar snacks designed to keep the night flowing.

Mill’s Tavern now has an extensive Wagyu program. From rare Japanese A5 to premium Australian Grade 6–7 Wagyu and prime grade steak, each cut comes from carefully selected vendors who share Mill’s passion for quality. For more information, visit millstavernrestaurant.com/wagyu. For reservations, call 401-272-3331 or email  info@millstavernrestaurant.com.

La Vecina in Newport is now offering brunch. Executive Chef Mariana Gonzalez-Trasvina has created a menu of authentic Mexican dishes perfect for a Sunday morning, including chilaquiles, a breakfast burrito, the La Vecina omelet, carnitas hash, steak and eggs, Tres Leches French toast, and fried chicken & churros.

Get a feel for the Providence and Newport dining scenes with Rhode Island Red Food Tours. For Rhode Island Monthly magazine’s Best of Rhode Island Award-winning Downcity Providence Food Tour, delicious adventure awaits where food, art, and architecture collide in Providence’s vibrant Downcity Arts District. Sample from diverse Rhode Island favorites and award-winning culinary restaurants, and between bites get an insider’s view of this lively and creative small city. Expert guides will help you discover the treasure of epicurean favorites, hidden art, historic architectural gems, sharing local stories and the many happenings to be found in Rhode Island’s Creative Capital. Tours take place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, mid-April through November. Tickets are $79 Per Person (no alcohol) or $99 Per Person (with alcohol), or $105 (no alcohol with Rhode Island Food Crawls book) or $125 (with alcohol and Rhode Island Food Crawls Book).

During the Rhode Island Red Food Tours’ Newport Neighborhood Tour, guests will discover diverse, eclectic out-of-the-way neighborhood eateries – with a homespun vibe, where the locals know to go as well as hotbeds of food and fun in the more traveled parts of the city. Step inside some of what may appear as a hole-in-the-wall café or an authentic, cozy 18th century tavern and you will be surprised to find a mouthwatering food scene, using both cultural & regional influences with a strong commitment to sustainable ingredients. Tours take place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, mid-April through November. Tickets are $79 Per Person (no alcohol) or $99 Per Person (with alcohol), or $105 (no alcohol with Rhode Island Food Crawls book) or $125 (with alcohol and Rhode Island Food Crawls Book).

The Beatrice hotel is offering a “Choose Your Own Providence” summer package. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a summer picnic with prosecco and cheese. Culture seekers can opt for a private gondola ride along Providence’s picturesque waterways. Alternatively, foodies can enjoy a $75 dining credit and a copy of the new book Rhode Island Food Crawls to explore the local culinary scene. This package allows guests to curate their ideal Providence-style Italian vacation without the transatlantic flight.

Whoopie pies on the snack-sized dessert tasting menu in the Giusto lounge.

Giusto in Newport offers a nightly shared Freestyle Tasting Menu. It’s $55 per person and suited for the whole table to participate, family style. The menu changes daily and may include dishes from the regular menu. The beverage pairing is $40 per person. Giusto’s pastry chef Sarah LaRose also recently added new snack-sized desserts to the outdoor lounge menu alongside a beverage pairing. They’re offered in Giusto’s lounge as well as the bar, 2 p.m. until close Monday–Friday and 11 a.m. until close Saturday and Sunday. The current three options include tiramisu with cream puff, mascarpone and cocoa nib; a whoopie Pie with chocolate amaretti, black sesame and blueberry; and an ice cream sandwich with fennel pizzelle, pecorino gelato, honey. The lounge also offers a snack menu of dishes such as chickpea fritters, johnnycakes with Jonah crab, Kevin’s signature Scotch meatball and more.

Bellini Providence has curated a WaterFire pre-fixe dinner menu, which will be available for full, partial and “starts at sunset” lightnings throughout the season. The menu features a three-course meal and a wine pairing, including Italian specialties (e.g., Pappardelle “alla Bellini”) as well as a delicious panna cotta and sorbet selection. Guests can make their reservations on Resy.

OPENINGS

Yellow Door is now open.

Yellow Door Taqueria opened in downtown Providence. It currently has three other locations in Dorchester, the South End and Mission Hill. Located on the first floor of the Aloft Providence Downtown hotel, Yellow Door’s newest location serves modern Mexican cuisine in a high-energy atmosphere. Known for inventive street tacos and its agave spirits program, Yellow Door blends West Coast surf vibes with East Coast style. Co-owned by Dropkick Murphys’ frontman Ken Casey, husband-and-wife team Brian O’Donnell and Taniya Nayak (HGTV, Food Network), and hospitality expert Colleen Hagerty, these neighborhood spots serve adventurous cocktails and a lively twist on traditional Mexican street food.

Anna’s pizzeria is now open on the East Side of Providence inside the former Piemonte, next to Frank & Laurie’s. The business started out as Anna’s Vesuviano, a mobile pizza oven, but now it’s a bricks and mortar spot with a wood-fired oven pumping out margherita, provola and summer tomato pies. It’s open Wed.-Sun., 5-10 p.m.

Our friends at Lucky Enough opened a new bar and grille called High Motor in the former Doherty’s East Ave. location at 342 East Avenue in Pawtucket. They are continuously adding to the food menu and it’s a great spot to stop at before or after a RIFC soccer game. Follow @highmotorgrille for more updates. Read more here.

Club Frills is a new bar with a retro vibe now open in Providence’s Fox Point, from Pizza Marvin co-owners chef Robert Andreozzi and renowned bartender Jesse Hedberg. It’s located in the former PVDonuts location on Ives Street. Read more here. Follow @clubfrillspvd for a first look and updates.

TRANSITIONS

Neptune will soon launch Memere’s restaurant.

Michael Lester, formerly of the legendary The Dorrance, is back on the Providence dining scene with the opening of Memere’s inside the newly rebranded Neptune (formerly the Dean). The restaurant is located in the former north space, where Thick Neck last had a pop-up residence. The restaurant is inspired by Lester’s grandmother, and the menu delivers New England comfort food with a Quebecois twist — or, in Lester’s words, “Montreal during the week and Paris on the weekends.”

Pawtucket’s famous nationally recognized landmark, the Modern Diner, is up for sale. The breakfast spot inside of a 1940s Sterling Streamliner, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is looking for a new owner to take over for the family that ran it for decades. Nick Demou started working at the Modern Diner with his father, Arthur Demou, in 1985. The family, including Nick and his father, Nick’s sister and his brother-in-law, ran it for nearly four decades. “This is a bittersweet decision,” says Nick Demou, who grew up in Pawtucket. “The Modern Diner has been part of our family for generations and we’ve loved every moment of serving our neighbors, watching families grow, and being a source of comfort and nostalgia.” During the transition, the Modern Diner will remain fully operational and continue to be run by the family. Guests can expect the same warm service, classic dishes, and familiar faces throughout the process. The sale includes the iconic diner car structure, the business and real estate. Interested parties should contact Brian LaFauci at Won Strategy at 401-533-3991.

The Jewish deli Maven’s Delicatessen is opening a second location on Providence’s Thayer Street this fall, called Maven’s Jr. Diners can expect the same pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, bagels, salmon and lox, matzo ball soup and more, now steps away from Brown University.

Easy Entertaining is teaming up with Linden Place in Bristol as its new catering partner. The Providence-based hospitality company is known for its seasonal menus and flawless event execution for weddings, corporate meetings, community events and intimate celebrations. While Linden Place will honor existing contracts with Russell Morin Catering and Events through 2027, Easy Entertaining is now the lead catering partner.

Newport Restaurant Group’s former Foodlove Market space in Middletown will soon become J.T. Commons in the fall. The space will offer a casual, comfortable year-round dining experience anchored by an extensive pizza program and a menu of everyday favorites.

NOTABLES

“Hell’s Kitchen” premiered its twenty-fourth season on FOX, and the show features Chef Antonio Wormley of Little Clam at The Wayfinder in Newport. Wormley focuses on New England seafood, and is one of fifty chefs chosen nationwide.