News Elsewhere: Modern Diner in Pawtucket, RI, Is Up for Sale

An historic diner near the RI/MA border is on the market.

According to a source (Gary Goldblatt) Modern Diner in Pawtucket is for sale, with a Facebook post from the East Avenue spot saying the following:

After four decades serving our community, our family has made the bittersweet decision to put Modern Diner up for sale as we prepare for retirement. This diner is more than just a restaurant — it's been our home, our passion, and a gathering place for generations of friends, families, and neighbors....What's next? Nothing changes for now! The diner will continue to operate just as it always has — with the same familiar faces and menu you've come to love.

Modern Diner, which was the first diner in the United States to go on the National Register for Historic Places, has received much in the way of praise and accolades over the years, including the Food Network including them among the top 5 diners in the U.S. for its custard French toast.

The address for Modern Diner is 364 East Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, 02860.

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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: 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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News Elsewhere: "Ballpark Dining" Introduced at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket

It appears possible that baseball could be finished at a beloved stadium just over the Massachusetts border, but even if it is, fans will still have the chance to return to the ballpark this spring and summer, and it will be for food, not sports.

According to a post from milb.com, the Pawtucket Red Sox have opened McCoy Stadium for "Ballpark Dining," while allows people to have dinner at picnic tables on the field or do curbside pickup out front, with the 20 tables being spaced at least 14 feet apart along the infield dirt--and if the weather is bad, the tables would be brought into the open-air (but covered) main concourse. Food and drink offerings at the stadium include burgers, hot dogs, fries, nachos, chicken tenders, veggie nuggets, and special dinners such as eggplant parmesan, pork and brisket with macaroni and cheese, bacon-wrapped hot dogs with pulled pork and macaroni and cheese, ice cream bars, beer, wine, water, and soft drinks.

Ballpark Dining debuted this past Friday at McCoy Stadium, with the next dates being Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6; additional dates will be announced soon. (Reservations and curbside pickup orders must be made in advance.)

As of now, it appears that the 2020 minor league season will likely be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the PawSox are slated to start playing in their new stadium in Worcester in 2021, it remains to be seen if the stadium will be ready to go there, so there may be a chance that the team could end up playing at least some games at McCoy Stadium next year.

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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Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont Allow Beer, Wine Sales with Takeout Orders

Late last week, we reported that New Hampshire started allowing restaurants and bars to offer alcohol to people with their to-go orders. Now we have learned that three other New England states have done the same.

According to an article from NBC Connecticut, a post from the Providence Journal, and an article from WCAX, the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont are letting dining and drinking spots sell alcohol in sealed containers with people's takeout orders, though Connecticut and Rhode Island will not allow it to be included in delivery orders (it appears that Vermont will allow it, based on the article). This leaves Maine and Massachusetts as the only two New England states not offering unopened beer or wine with orders, though a request to do the same in Massachusetts had hit Governor Charlie Baker's desk last week.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, all New England states have ruled that restaurants and bars are only allowed to offer takeout and/or delivery for the time being, with each state having reopening dates in place, though these dates could certainly change.

[Earlier Article]
Updates: New Hampshire Allows Beer, Wine Sales with Takeout/Delivery; Maine Joins Other States in Restaurant Closings

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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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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More Than Two Dozen People Sickened after Eating at Wright's Farm in Burrillville, RI

An iconic Rhode Island restaurant that has been in business for more than 60 years is getting ready to reopen after a number of diners became ill there a few days ago.

The Providence Journal is reporting that approximately 30 people were sickened at Wright's Farm in Burrillville on Sunday night, with the patrons showing gastrointestinal symptoms after a young boy became sick in the restaurant. Health Department officials are waiting for test results to come back to see if it could be the norovirus, which is an airborne virus, and one that has been in the news of late after locations of Chipotle in Brighton and Billerica, MA, temporarily closed due to suspected norovirus outbreaks. Wright's Farm owner Frank Galleshaw says that they are steam cleaning the carpets and bleaching down the tables and hope to be open today, according to the Journal. (The eatery is only open Thursday through Sunday.)

[March 18 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Wright's Farm remains closed, with the plan being to continue the cleaning and sanitizing process over the coming days and reopening on Thursday, March 24.]

[March 21 update: Wright's Farm has confirmed that it will open back up on Thursday at 4:00 PM.]

Wright's Farm first opened in the 1950s, with the present owners purchasing the restaurant in 1972; the dining spot is known in part for its family-style chicken dinners.

The address for Wright's Farm is 84 Inman Road, Harrisville, RI, 02830. Its website can be found at http://www.wrightsfarm.com/

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Update: Seven Papa Razzi Locations Sold to Newport Harbor Corp.

[Ed note: This article was updated in part to reflect the fact that seven, not eight, locations of Papa Razzi were sold to Newport Harbor Corp.]

A Boston restaurant group that sold most of its holdings to a California firm last year has sold more of its eateries, this time to a hospitality company in Rhode Island.

The Boston Globe reports that Newport Harbor Corp. has completed a deal to purchase 8 of 12 Papa Razzi restaurants from the Back Bay Restaurant Group, though it now has been confirmed by the Regan Communications Group that only 7 were purchased. The locations involved in the deal include Boston, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Concord, Framingham, and Wellesley, MA, along with the Garden City location in Cranston, RI. Newport Restaurant Group, which comes under the umbrella of Newport Harbor Corp., currently operates such dining spots as the Castle Hill Inn, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Waterman Grille, The Smokehouse Cafe, Hemenway's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, and more.

San Francisco-based Tavistock Restaurants LLC had bought a number of restaurants from the Back Bay Restaurant Group in the winter of 2011, including Abe & Louie's, Atlantic Fish, Charley's, Coach Grill, and Joe's American Bar & Grill.

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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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Rhode Island Dining Spot Makes List of Top 50 Scenic Restaurant Views

A travel news and commentary website that has been in existence since the late 1990s has come out with a list of 50 restaurants in the United States with scenic views, and a Rhode Island spot made the list.

The list put out by Consumer Traveler, which was released yesterday, shows that The Boat House in Tiverton, RI, is the only New England restaurant to be included among the "Top 50 Scenic Restaurant Views." The Boat House looks out at the Sakonnet River from its location within the gates of the Villages on Mount Hope Bay condominium complex, and it has both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu at the eatery tends to focus on seafood, though it does also have chicken and beef dishes, along with sandwiches.

In addition to The Boat House in Tiverton, The Consumer Traveler list includes several dining spots in New York City, including R Lounge at Two Times Square, Robert, The View Restaurant, and Top of the Tower, as well as Water's Edge in Long Island City.

For a look at the complete list, please go to the Consumer Traveler link below.

Top 50 most scenic restaurant views

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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: The Barn, Adamsville, RI

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for The Barn, a breakfast place in the Adamsville section of Little Compton, Rhode Island. Located near the Massachusetts border in the heart of an historic village, The Barn is a rustic-feeling two-story restaurant that resides in an old structure set well back from the road. The menu includes all kinds of breakfast dishes, including Portuguese influenced fare as well as jonny cakes, a staple in this section of the state. To read more about The Barn in the Adamsville section of Little Compton, RI, please click on the link above.

Latest Review: Sergio's, Saunderstown, RI

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a dining spot in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, called Sergio's Italian Ristorante. Located at the intersection of Routes 1A and 138 (just west of Jamestown), Sergio's is near some of the state's most popular seaside resorts, yet is a bit hidden away, as it sits next to a bridge above the busy Route 138. The restaurant features mostly Southern Italian cuisine, including a number of homemade pasta dishes as well as veal, steak, chicken, and seafood. The restaurant is family-friendly, and has both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a couple of bar areas. To read more about Sergio's Italian Ristorante in Saunderstown, RI, please click on the link above.

Latest Review: Boucher's Wood River Inn, Wyoming, RI

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Boucher's Wood River Inn, a restaurant in Wyoming, Rhode Island. Located just off Route 95 between the Providence area and the Connecticut border, Boucher's Wood River Inn is one of the only dining options along this stretch of highway. The restaurant is housed in a rustic 19th-century building that is cozy and comfortable. The menu at Boucher's Wood River Inn is mostly traditional American fare, with soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as more substantial entrees. To read more about Boucher's Wood River Inn in Wyoming, RI, please click on the link above.