News Elsewhere: Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen in Providence Is Closing, Will Be Replaced by Wally's Wieners and Copper Club

A landmark Rhode Island restaurant that has been in operation for more than six decades is going away, and two new dining/drinking spots will be taking over the space.

According to an article in The Providence Journal, Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen in the Federal Hill section of Providence is planning to close down this weekend after 67 years in business, as the Atwells Avenue space has been purchased by the Heritage Restaurant Group of Newport. The hospitality group--which plans to preserve the historic character of the space--will open Wally's Wieners on the first floor, joining two other locations in Newport and featuring hot dogs and smash burgers, while a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge called Copper Club (which is also located in Newport) will open on the second floor, with both hoping to debut in March.

Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen first opened in 1956, featuring old-school Italian-American fare and attracting such well-known people as John F. Kennedy, Jackie Onassis, JFK Jr., and Buddy Cianci; in 2022, Sal Marzilli (whose father Joe founded the restaurant) said that he was looking to retire and put the restaurant up for sale.

The address for Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen (and the upcoming Wally's Wieners and Copper Club) is 120 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI, 02903.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Bintimani to Leave Roxbury After Eviction, Will Reopen in Providence

A beloved West African restaurant in Boston is saying farewell to the city after being evicted from its space, and it will be reborn in Providence.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Bintimani in Roxbury's Nubian Square (formerly Dudley Square) has lost its home on Harrison Avenue and has been given 30 days to leave the space. The post says that owner Sahr Josiah-Faeduwor and his family will be opening the Sierra Leonean restaurant back up on Westminster Street in the heart of downtown Providence this summer and that he hopes to "innovate with food and inspire other entrepreneurs." The original location of Bintimani first opened approximately 12 years ago and has been known for such dishes as cassava leaves, black-eyed peas, fish stew, pepper soup with chicken, beef patties, kebabs, fried chicken, and more.

The old address for Bintimani was 1127 Harrison Avenue in Roxbury, while the new address will be 326 Westminster Street in Providence.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Bucktown Chicken & Fish to Open in Boston's Mission Hill Neighborhood

by Marc Hurwitz

A new restaurant featuring an array of fried foods is on its way to Boston, and this spot has roots south of the city.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Bucktown Chicken & Fish is planning to open in the city's Mission Hill neighborhood, with the Tremont Street eatery joining a restaurant simply named "Bucktown" in the Federal Hill section of Providence. The article says that place will offer fried comfort food items such as fish sandwiches, hush puppies, oyster and shrimp po' boys, chicken and waffles, and more, and the owners are also seeking a full liquor license for the spot as well. It is not yet known when Bucktown Chicken & Fish might open, so stay tuned for updates.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in Mission Hill is: Bucktown Chicken & Fish, 1522 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02120. The website for the original Bucktown in Providence can be found at http://www.bucktownpvd.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Rachel Klein of RFK Kitchen in Needham Becoming Executive Chef for Red Stripe in Providence and East Greenwich, RI

A well-known Boston-area chef and restaurateur is making a return to Rhode Island.

The Providence Journal is reporting that Rachel Klein of RFK Kitchen in Needham is going to be the new executive chef for Red Stripe in Providence and East Greenwich, though she will also continue on as an owner of RFK Kitchen. Klein first came to Rhode Island as chef de cuisine at XO Cafe in Providence in 2002, and was also an opening chef for the now-closed Lot 401 in Providence before working in the Boston area at OM Restaurant in Cambridge, Aura Restaurant and Tamo Bar at the Seaport Hotel, Asana at the Mandarin Oriental in the Back Bay, and Liquid Art House before opening RFK Kitchen.

The two Red Stripe restaurants are upscale dining spots that feature American fare with French influences; the Providence location is at 465 Angell Street while the East Greenwich location is at 455 Main Street.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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News Elsewhere: Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza to Replace Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza in Providence

Last month, we reported that a trio of nationally-recognized pizzerias shut down, and it was not known if they might open again. Now we have learned that one of the original owners will be reopening one of its locations under a slightly different name.

According to an article in The Providence Journal, Tim "Timmy" Doyle is going to be opening Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza in the space on Spruce Street in Federal Hill where Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza had been until closing this summer. The post says that Doyle and his business partner, Kyle Klewin are currently renovating the space and that while the menu will remain the same, they are planning to give the pizza and other food items "a good upgrade overall." It looks like the other locations of Bob and Timmy's in North Smithfield, RI, and North Attleboro, MA, are not included in the plans, though Doyle does say that he hopes to hire some of the workers from those two spots along with the Providence location.

Bob and Timmy's, which first opened on Federal Hill about 30 years ago, has gotten quite a bit of recognition over the years, including being featured on NBC's "Today" show while GQ Magazine once considered it among the top 10 pizza spots in America and USA Today awarded it best pizza in Rhode Island. (It was also featured on "The Rhode Show" and "Man vs. Food.")

The address for the former Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza (and upcoming Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza) is 32 Spruce Street, Providence, RI, 02903.

Thanks to @RaymondMcGinnis for bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
News Elsewhere: Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza Closes All Locations; Exact Status Unknown

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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News Elsewhere: Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza Closes All Locations; Exact Status Unknown

A trio of nationally-recognized pizzerias has shut down operations, and it is not known if or when the shops might reopen again.

According to a Facebook post from last month, Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza has closed its stores in Providence and North Smithfield, RI, along with North Attleboro, MA, with the note saying "Bob & Timmy's is temporarily closed. We hope to re-open in the near future but we do not have a date at this time. Thank you to all of our customers for your support and we hope to be back soon." No updates have been posted since this one (which went up on July 14) and an article this week from the Providence Journal says that Rick Samone, who is president of the Federal Hill Commerce Association where the Providence shop is located, states that some sources who are "familiar with the situation" say the owners are planning to sell the business.

Bob and Timmy's has gotten some notice since opening its original location on Spruce Street in Providence approximately 30 years ago, with the Journal article saying that it has been featured on NBC's "Today" show and GQ Magazine once considered it among the top 10 pizza spots in the United States, while an old post from The Sun Chronicle said that USA Today awarded it best pizza in Rhode Island and the place has also been featured on "The Rhode Show" and "Man vs. Food."

Thanks to a source for initially bringing this story to our attention.

[September 19 update: The three locations of Bob and Timmy's Grilled Pizza remain closed, and now the phone numbers of all three shops are out of service.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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George Germon of Al Forno in Providence Has Died

A James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of one of New England's most iconic restaurants has passed away.

According to an article in the Providence Journal, George Germon of Al Forno on South Main Street died Tuesday, leaving behind his wife Killeen with whom he opened the landmark restaurant back in 1980. Al Forno has been seen as a true dining destination over the years--in part because of its signature grilled pizza--with the article saying that chefs saw Germon as a "renaissance man" who came to stardom long before the Food Network and other media outlets helped spawn celebrities in the culinary world. The Journal notes that George and Killeen won a James Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast category in 1993, and that the two of them cooked for President Obama in 2010.

In addition to running Al Forno, Germon and his wife also put out two popular cookbooks--"Cucina Simpatica" and "On Top of Spaghetti."

Funeral arrangements have not been announced as of yet, according to a post in Providence Business News.

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Matt and Kate Jennings Closing Farmstead in Providence, Opening Townsman in Boston

The couple behind an award-winning restaurant in Providence are selling the place, with the plan being to return to their hometown of Boston and open a new dining spot.

According to a press release, Matt and Kate Jennings will be shutting down Farmstead, Inc. in Wayland Square on June 1 after ten years of being in business, with the space going up for sale. The Jennings couple will then set their sights upon the new Radian building on Kingston Street by the Greenway in downtown Boston, opening a new restaurant called Townsman there later this year. Little information has been given on the upcoming eatery, though the release does say that it "will showcase Matt & Kate's incredibly personal approach to dining and hospitality" and that they "hope that our many Farmstead friends will visit us often at Townsman."

[February 4, 2015 update: According to an article in The Boston Globe, Townsman plans to open on March 1, with a "brasserie" style menu that will include such items as baby octopus, a fisherman's stew, and sweetbreads.]

[February 23, 2015 update: A Twitter post from @chefmarydumont indicates that Townsman is having a soft opening for friends and family this week.]

[February 24, 2015 update: Eater Boston mentions that Townsman opens its doors to the public on Thursday (February 26).]

Matt Jennings, who is known as the "Prince of Pork," has gained numerous awards and accolades over the past decade, including getting three consecutive wins at the culinary competition Cochon 555, receiving a Star Chefs "Rising Star" award in 2014, and being recognized a number of times by the James Beard Foundation.

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Providence Restaurant Week to Be Held January 15-28, 2012

The city of Providence is getting ready for a restaurant "week" that lasts for most of the rest of this month.

According to the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, Providence Restaurant Week will be starting up on Sunday, January 15, and will continue until Saturday, January 28. Many of the city's best restaurants will be participating this year, with such dining spots as Bacaro Restaurant, Caffe Dolce, Chardonnay's, The Dorrance, Gracie's, Hourglass Brasserie, Libations Restaurant & Lounge, Meritage, New Rivers, Parkside Rotisserie & Bar, Red Stripe, Rick's Roadhouse, Spats Restaurant and Bar, and Trattoria Zooma taking part in the event.

The cost for a three-course lunch at any of the restaurants is $14.95, with three-course dinners costing $29.95. In addition, some restaurants will be having 2 for 1 specials.

For more information on Providence Restaurant Week, please go to the link below.

http://www.goprovidence.com/RW/

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Update: The Ugly American in Fall River Is Closing, Moving to Providence

About a month after we first reported that a popular Fall River eatery was planning to open a second location in Providence, it now appears that the original location will be shutting down.

According to The Herald News, The Ugly American at 240 New Boston Road in Fall River will close sometime within the next few days, as the owner decided that it would be too difficult to maintain two separate outlets of the restaurant. The article mentions that the new location of The Ugly American should be open later this month at 167 Ives Street in Providence's Fox Point neighborhood.

The Ugly American first started out in Fall River in 2007, though the owner had originally hoped to open Providence or Newport, RI back then, according to The Herald News. The rents were too high in those two cities, causing him to look over the border in Fall River.

The website for The Ugly American can be found at http://www.uglyamericanburger.com/

Thanks to Grub Street Boston for bringing this to our attention.

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News Elsewhere: The Ugly American in Fall River to Open Location in Providence

A dining spot in Fall River that features burgers, hot dogs, and fries is going to be opening another location in Providence.

According to The Herald News, The Ugly American, which is located on New Boston Road in Fall River, is looking to open another branch on Ives Street in the Fox Point section of Providence. The article mentions that the original Ugly American will apparently remain open in Fall River--at least for the time being--as the owner is in talks with the landlord to extend the lease.

The Ugly American first opened in Fall River in 2007. Its website can be found at http://www.uglyamericanburger.com/

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McBride's Irish Pub to Open in Providence Funeral Home

A new Irish pub will be opening in Providence early next year, and its location may surprise you.

According to MyFoxBoston.com, a bar called McBride's is going to open in the Monahan Funeral Home at 230 Waterman Street in the Wayland Square section of the city. A garage that is attached to the funeral home will be converted into McBride's, which will serve both food and drink. The Fox 8 News website mentions that McBride's will have a capacity of about 55 to 60, and that it will be open until 11:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 midnight on weekends. Both sites state that the pub should be open in March of 2011, in time for St. Patrick's Day.

Wayland Square is a mostly residential neighborhood on Providence's East Side, just east of College Hill and Brown University.

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Latest Review: Rufful's Restaurant, Providence, RI

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a diner in the Wayland Square section of Providence, RI, called Rufful's Restaurant. Rufful's is a simple, basic greasy spoon joint that serves breakfast and lunch to residents and visitors of this wealthy neighborhood on the East Side of Providence. The breakfast menu consists of all the basics, while the lunch menu features all kinds of salads and sandwiches (including triple deckers and subs). To read more about Rufful's Restaurant in Providence, please click on the link above.

Yet One More Review: Sawaddee Thai in Providence, RI

Another new review is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. The restaurant, which is on the East Side of Providence, RI, is called Sawaddee Thai. Located in a quiet, upscale neighborhood of beautiful homes and tree-shaded streets, Sawaddee Thai is not well-known outside of this section of Providence, but it is an excellent Thai restaurant that includes both authentic Thai dishes as well as the more familiar, Americanized entrees.