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YOUR TABLE IS READY
McCormick & Schmick’s
Providence Biltmore Hotel
11 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
05-29-2006

YOUR TABLE IS READY
The Napa Valley Grille
Providence Place Mall
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
05-11-2006

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La Luna
272 Thayer Street
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
04-30-2006

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Gracie’s
194 Washington Street
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
04-13-2006

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The Blue Plate Diner
665 West Main Road
Middletown, RI

by Bob Mariani
03-23-2006

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The Lobster Pot
119 Hope Street
Bristol, RI

by Rob Mariani
01-6--2006

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Most Memorable Dishes of the Year
by Bob Mariani
12-5--2005

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Bella Vista
One Finance Way
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
12-24-2005

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A Very Good Year
by Bob Mariani
11-24-2005

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The Hi-Hat
3 Davol Square
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
11-17-2005

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The Salvation Café
140 Broadway
Newport, RI

by Bob Mariani
10-6--2005

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Red Stripe
465 Angell Street
Providence

by Bob Mariani
10-28-2005

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Blaze
776 Hope Street
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
10-20-2005

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Lot 401
44 Hospital Street
Providence Jewelry District

by Bob Mariani
10-13-2005

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Audrey’s at the Johnson & Wales Inn
213 Taunton Avenue
Seekonk, MA

by Bob Mariani
09-29-2005

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Twist
336 Baldhill Road
Warwick, RI

by Bob Mariani
09-22-2005

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McCormick & Schmic
by Bob Mariani
09-13-2005

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Jacky’s Galaxie & Sushi B
by Bob Mariani
08-5--2005

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The Longhorn Steakhouse
400 Bald Hill Road
Warwick Mall, Warwick

by Bob Mariani
08-26-2005

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The Grille On Ma
by Bob Mariani
08-13-2005

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Bella Vis
by Bob Mariani
07-8--2005

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Shogun Steak & Seafood Hou
by Bob Mariani
07-29-2005

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The Downstairs Bist
by Bob Mariani
07-22-2005

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Raphael Bar Ris
by Bob Mariani
07-15-2005

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The Gatehouse Restaura
by Bob Mariani
07-1--2005

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DeWolf Tave
by Bob Mariani
06-3--2005

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Oak Restaurant and B
by Bob Mariani
06-24-2005

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Persimmon Restaura
by Bob Mariani
06-20-2005

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Lot 4
by Bob Mariani
06-10-2005

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Pane E Vi
by Bob Mariani
05-6--2005

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The Nat. Porter I
by Bob Mariani
05-27-2005

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The Hi-H
by Bob Mariani
05-20-2005

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French Regional Wine Class/Tasti
by Bob Mariani
05-13-2005

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L’Epicureo at The Hotel Providen
by Bob Mariani
04-8--2005

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Zooma Bar Ristoran
by Bob Mariani
04-29-2005

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The Glass Oni
by Bob Mariani
04-22-2005

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Cherryston
by Bob Mariani
04-15-2005

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Napa Valley Gril
by Bob Mariani
04-1--2005

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The Mooring Restaura
by Bob Mariani
03-4--2005

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Mediterran
by Bob Mariani
03-25-2005

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Geppetto
by Bob Mariani
03-18-2005

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Caffe Dolce Vi
by Bob Mariani
03-11-2005

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Table
by Bob Mariani
02-4--2005

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Brick Alley P
by Bob Mariani
02-25-2005

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The Ivy Tave
by Bob Mariani
02-18-2005

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Viola
by Bob Mariani
02-11-2005

TABLE FOR TWO
The Sakonnet Fish C
by Bob Mariani
01-7--2005

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Lei’s Bar & Grill (formerly The Catfish Gril
by Bob Mariani
01-28-2005

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The Lobster P
by Bob Mariani
01-21-2005

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Lucky Gard
by Bob Mariani
01-14-2005

TABLE FOR TWO
Best of 2004
by Bob Mariani
12-30-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Best of ’04 Best New Restaurant
DeWolf Tave

by Bob Mariani
12-3--2004

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Best of 2004
by Bob Mariani
12-23-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Best of 2004
by Bob Mariani
12-17-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Best of 2004
by Bob Mariani
12-10-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
XO Steak Hou
by Bob Mariani
11-5--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
DeWolf Tave
by Bob Mariani
11-28-2004

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10 Steak & Sus
by Bob Mariani
11-19-2004

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Chiazza Trattori
by Bob Mariani
11-12-2004

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Big Fi
by Bob Mariani
10-22-2004

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The Downstairs Bistro at Second Story Theat
by Bob Mariani
10-15-2004

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Kabob & Cur
by Bob Mariani
10-1--2004

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Ind
by Bob Mariani
09-3--2004

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Mc Fadden
by Bob Mariani
09-24-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Longhorn Steakhou
by Bob Mariani
09-10-2004

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The Cheeky Monkey Ca
by Bob Mariani
08-6--2004

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Café de V
by Bob Mariani
08-31-2004

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Sushi-Go, we hope they stay!
by Alica London
08-27-2004

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Mo
by Bob Mariani
08-20-2004

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The Oyster Bar & Gri
by Bob Mariani
08-13-2004

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Summer Round-up
by Bob Mariani
07-9--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Pakara
by Bob Mariani
07-30-2004

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Feast or Fami
by Bob Mariani
07-23-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
McCormick & Schmick
by Bob Mariani
07-2--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Renaissan
by Bob Mariani
07-15-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Chez Pasc
by Bob Mariani
06-4--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Ind
by Bob Mariani
06-25-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Sideb
by Bob Mariani
06-18-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Trattoria Simpati
by Bob Mariani
06-11-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Upcoming Events
by Bob Mariani
05-7--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The King’s Fea
by Bob Mariani
05-28-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Blue Fin Gril
by Bob Mariani
05-21-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Lot 4
by Bob Mariani
05-14-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Caffe It
by Bob Mariani
04-9--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Downstairs Bist
by Bob Mariani
04-30-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Providence Pri
by Bob Mariani
04-23-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Le Bistro Newpo
by Bob Mariani
04-2--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Kartab
by Bob Mariani
04-16-2004

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The Canfield Hou
by Bob Mariani
03-5--2004

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Redlefsen’s Rotisserie & Gri
By Bob Mariani
03-26-2004

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Jack’s Family Restaura
by Bob Mariani
03-19-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Providence Oyster B
By Bob Mariani
03-12-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Capital Gril
by Bob Mariani
02-6--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Haruki Ea
by Bob Mariani
02-27-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Café Nuo
by Bob Mariani
02-20-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Portabel
by Bob Mariani
02-13-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Kabob and Cur
by Bob Mariani
01-9--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
The Lobster Pot, 119-121 Hope Street, Bristol
by Bob Mariani
01-16-2004

Your Table Is Ready
McCormick & Schmicks
11 Dorrance Street
Providence Biltmore


No question, McCormick & Schmicks snazzy seafood restaurant has added some much-needed energy and glamour to one of Providence’s more prominent landmark hotels, The Biltmore. The dark woods, mission style stained-glass lighting and cozily-curtained "snugs" make M & M’s a very inviting place to dine. And on a recent Tuesday night as the summer draws to a close, they were bustling.

The large menu, which prides itself on offering only the very freshest seafood, is reprinted twice a day to keep up with the new arrivals from local and regional ports. This evening I began with a cup of Chef Tony’s (formerly of the Providence Oyster Bar on Federal Hill) Maryland crab soup ($3.95). I was expecting a mild, pink bisque but instead it was a spicy, red broth with peas and rice and shreds of crabmeat. Though a very delicious starter, I thought the delicate flavor of crab had been somewhat lost in the spicy strength of the broth.

My wife had one of the best versions of the ubiquitous fried calamari ($10.95) I’ve tasted in a long time. The tender squid rings were fried in a truly delicious, light flakey batter and served with a trio of dipping sauces, a spicy red, a creamy pink mayo, and a really interesting horseradish marmalade.

From a list of seafood offerings that truly covered the waterfront, I chose the Nahant Bay (MA) grey sole ($21.70). It arrived piping hot in an oval dish accompanied by rice, three rather lonely asparagus spears, and some tasty spaghetti squash. The delicate slices of sole were wrapped gently around a stuffing of baked crabmeat and breadcrumbs. The flavor was wonderfully mild and buttery and each piece melted in your mouth.

Jan had the New Bedford sea scallops ($18.70), a really interesting mélange of tender scallops sautéed artfully with tender baby artichoke leaves, mushrooms and smoky bacon in a luscious sherry-butter sauce.

M & M’s menu also includes everything from linguini with clam sauce ($15.95) and Alaskan halibut ($21.90) to rainbow trout from Idaho ($17.80), Ecuadorian talapia with a cashew crust ($17.80), and a Cajun Etouffée ($17.85) of crawfish, chicken, Andouille and shrimp. There’s Maine lobster, of course, along with a good selection of meat and poultry for those who are not seafood fans.

The house-made dessert tray is blatantly seductive. From a variety of rich and chocolaty offerings, we chose a truly entrancing Boston cream pie, spongy and rich and soaked in brandy; and the blueberry cobbler with a tender, light crust.

To compete with all the shoreline seafood eateries in Rhode Island, M & M’s has gone the extra step and offers a variety and a standard of freshness that’s definitely worth coming "into town" for.

There’s valet parking at the front of the Biltmore Hotel and they’re open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information call 351-4500 or visit their website.

Bob Mariani is a Southeastern New England freelance author. Besides his "Your Table is Ready" restaurant reviews found here, he also writes jazz articles on allaboutjazz.com.

 

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