Sunday lunch options in Providence, RI?

[drfokos]

Why are all the good restaurants in Providence closed a) for lunch, b) on Sunday, c) for Sunday lunch?

I will be traveling to Providence soon to meet up with other family members for a wedding. While there, we have also decided to celebrate my mother's birthday with lunch on a Sunday. I am looking for recommendations for any restaurants with of the following qualities:

terrific food

nice, comfortable and/or hip, cool, funky ambiance (i.e. an easy rather than ultraformal place)

noise level low enough to allow for conversation

I would be most grateful for any suggestions!

Thanks!

David

http://www.davidfokos.net

[ErinB]

The problem you're going to run into is, the good places that are open on Sunday are mostly serving brunch.

What time will you be going at? Are you interested in doing brunch?

[drfokos]

The problem you're going to run into is, the good places that are open on Sunday are mostly serving brunch.

What time will you be going at? Are you interested in doing brunch?

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Our shedule is flexible so a good brunching place would also work.

David

[Chantilly Bob]

Rue De L'Espoir at 99 Hope St. will meet all of your criteria quite nicely. Make a reservation, and ask for a table in the room where the bar is located.

[OwnReward]

Rue De L'Espoir at 99 Hope St. will meet all of your criteria quite nicely. Make a reservation, and ask for a table in the room where the bar is located.

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I second that...

KV

(FYI: Hope street is on "the East Side" , and "the Rue" is on the Wickenden street end of Hope Street)

[Chris Amirault]

The Rue is fine. But if you really want to have great food, go have dim sum at Lucky Garden on Route 44 (Smith St) in North Providence. This is the best Chinese food in New England (yes, including Boston's Chinatown). Absolutely stunning food.

You want a decent eggs benedict? Rue. You want the best pork belly, char siu bao, and baby bok choi you've ever had? Get thee to Lucky Garden.

[drfokos]

Thank you all for your replies -- they are very much appreciated!

While I think either place could work, I am considering trying Lucky Garden for dim sum. I love dim sum and it might be something fun and different for my mother. However, I have a couple of questions before I commit -- I know she would do fine at Rue.

The restaurant's website says that the dim sum is made-to-order. Does this mean that one has to order off a menu rather than select from food rolling by?

What is the ambiance of the place? Standard Chinese restaurant? Is it very loud?

Also, I know that some of the less challenging dim sum -- enjoyed by most dim sum novices -- tends to be the deep fried items (usually made with shrimp paste, etc.) I didn't notice very many of such iyems on their dim sum menu. Would you say that they offer fewer of these sorts of items than their Boston counterparts?

Thanks again!

David

[Chris Amirault]

Lucky Garden questions:

The restaurant's website says that the dim sum is made-to-order.  Does this mean that one has to order off a menu rather than select from food rolling by?

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Right: you order off a menu, plus there are specials, plus whatever vegetables are fresh.

What is the ambiance of the place?  Standard Chinese restaurant?  Is it very loud?

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Not loud at all, but, yes, standard ambiance. Having said that, the waitstaff are wonderful and will make you feel at home. Be sure to ask for the Hong Kong menu when you walk in, say that you don't want bread, and ask for the vegetable specials.

Also, I know that some of the less challenging dim sum -- enjoyed by most dim sum novices -- tends to be the deep fried items (usually made with shrimp paste, etc.)  I didn't notice very many of such iyems on their dim sum menu.  Would you say that they offer fewer of these sorts of items than their Boston counterparts?

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We don't order much deep-fried stuff, usually, and I'm not really sure what you mean. But as someone who eats dim sum where- and whenever I can, I can tell you that Lucky Garden is one of the two or three best places I've ever eaten at, much better than anything I've had in Boston or even NYC (heresy, I know). Only in London have we had better dim sum. We consider ourselves absolutely fortunate to have these fine folks running this amazing place in our little state.

Report back!!

[drfokos]

Well, I am now home after a crazy 59 hour adventure trying to fly from Boston to San Diego, and can happily report that my mother's birthday breakfast was a great success.

In the end, since we were joined by my brother's family (which included his two young daughters) I opted to go to Rue de L'Espoir. Everyone enjoyed their meal. I thought the baked goods were a bit dry, but the coffee was excellent and garnered much praise around the table. Our server was also delightful. Originally, I had wanted to make it for brunch, but the family wanted an earlier start on the day. Ah well, you can lead the family to a restaurant, but you can't make them brunch.

Walking to our cars in the parking lot my mother asked, "How do you find these places?!" I told her about my knowledgeable and generous friends here on eGullet, but I know she won't remember. Instead, she'll just call me when she needs a recommendation.

Thanks again for your help in making the day a success!

David