New Rivers Restaurant
Providence, RI 02903-1329
Phone: (401) 751-0350
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Canal Street
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10pm
Message from New Rivers Restaurant
The Premiere Dining room in Providence for Contemporary American food
- Elegant, Cozy and Intimate
- Excellent Wine List
- Bistro-Style presentation
Paid advertisement by New Rivers Restaurant.
Editorial Review for New Rivers Restaurant – by Drew Pisarra
The Scene
Christmas tree lights interlace the menagerie of bare twigs on the ceiling and cast a romantic glow on the billiard green walls. Couples primarily occupy the white-clothed tables, although a few marginally larger groups with more familial intimacy may dine in the banquettes, or at two tables pulled side by side.
The Food
Frustrating servers but delighting customers, the menu changes two to three times weekly. Any given night's offerings are dependent on the current bounty reaped from local merchants' organic harvests. This self-imposed restriction has cultivated adventurous combinations from chef Bruce Tillinghast, whose world-fusion approach attains surprising breadth: Lucky foodies may chance upon his well-salted skirt fish sweetened by beet-lima ragout then topped with beet chips, or his smoky scallops crowned with speck Tirolese and wild mushrooms. Since entrees vary, depend on the homemade cheesesticks and two signature desserts--a gravity defying lemon tart happily weighted by pomegranate seeds, and a praline sundae coated with molasses-thick chocolate syrup--to always be there for you.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Look GoodSure the waitstaff wears jeans, but you'll look out of place if don't arrive dressed somewhat formally. Food this good deserves a good presentation from your side, too.
Where to SitDon't sweat it if you get there early. A small bar in the jewel-like side room is the ideal setting to have a drink beforehand.
Know Before You GoNew Rivers has but a single unisex bathroom.
User Reviews for New Rivers Restaurant
10/12/2006 Posted by differentusername
intimate, romantic, charming, interesting, hip, unpretentious...describes this little gem. The food is always impeccable, wine list is amazing. THIS is Providence's finest.
Pros: everything
Cons: nothing
07/21/2006 Posted by aaront31
My partner and I went to this restaurant as part of our recent visit to Boston for our yearly vacation. We heard about it as part of their Restaurant Week where you have a fixed price menu and just a couple of food choices and a few courses to choose from. Parking for the restaurant is only really available at the pay lot behind the building ($6) as street parking in this part of town is non existent. Also, you have to look really hard to see this tiny little place or you'll miss it! The atmosphere was very cozy without being cramped, sort of like a nice romantic Ney York restaurant you'd like to go back to. The wait staff was adequate, however, they weren't all that attentive (I had to ask for a water refill, etc.). The food was a mixed experience. New Rivers is one of what I like to call the "neuveau riche" restaurants that thinks the only way they can be successful is to charge a lot of money for food supposed to be "fancy," and in tiny portions. I had the mixed grill with steak, shrimp, and sausage. There were two shrimp, about 4 ounces of steak and probably 2 ounces of sausage (about four bites of sausage and six of steak). I'm DEFINITELY not a big eater, but when I'm spending $30 on a meal, I'd like there to be more than 6 ounces of food on my plate. The shrimp were done to perfection, however, with a great smoky taste and the home made sausage was fairly good. My partner had the blue fish and it was very fresh, prepared well. The lemon tart for dessert was very good. Overall, this is a good restaurant, I would recommend it, but go prepared to spend at least $80 and not be stuffed with food when you leave.
Pros: Great atmosphere, Fairly good food
Cons: Parking, High prices, Small portions
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