- Al Forno Italian cooking done right.
- Gracie's, seasonal upscale American cuisine. 194 Washington Street.
- Aspire Stylish take on local flavors and ingredients. 311 Westminster Street.
- Pot Au Feu Classic French. 44 Custom House Street.
- Temple Bistro fare with sophisticated takes on Rhode Island specialties like stuffies and jonnycakes. The major draw here is the space: a once abandoned Masonic temple that became a haven for graffiti artists. It's now a Renaissance hotel, but Temple retains the building's unusual past. 120 Francis Street.
- La Laiterie at Farmstead. Farmstead is a terrific cheese shop, and La Laiterie takes a page from that, serving "haute farmhouse" food. Small plates and salads shine. 188 Wayland Avenue.
- TINI A small plates venture from the venerable team behind Al Forno, see above. The plates aren't the only thing that's small, the restaurant has just 19 seats. 200 Washington Street.
- Nick’s On Broadway. Terrific for dinner, but don't overlook Nick's upscale diner fare for breakfast and lunch. 500 Broadway.
- Loie Fuller’s Fantastic Art Deco space serving fare that's heavily French-inspired, but with touches from other global cuisines. 1455 Westminster Street.
- Bacarois not just a white-cloth Italian restaurant but also a salumeriaand cicchetteria -- which means they serve Italian style tapas. Order your charcuterie and cheese off a check-list, and then move on to pastas, fish and meat. 262 South Water Street.
- Broadway Bistro A fun and casual environment serving sophisticated comfort food. 205 Broadway. (Warning, music plays on clicking the link.)
Read more about Rhode Island's Favorite Foods.
