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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

YOUR TABLE IS READY
La Luna
272 Thayer Street
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
04-30-2006

YOUR TABLE IS READY
Gracie’s
194 Washington Street
Providence, RI

by Bob Mariani
04-13-2006

YOUR TABLE IS READY
The Blue Plate Diner
665 West Main Road
Middletown, RI

by Bob Mariani
03-23-2006

YOUR TABLE IS READY
The Lobster Pot
119 Hope Street
Bristol, RI

by Rob Mariani
01-6--2006

YOUR TABLE IS READY
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

YOUR TABLE IS READY
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

YOUR TABLE IS READY
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

YOUR TABLE IS READY
Audrey’s at the Johnson & Wales Inn
213 Taunton Avenue
Seekonk, MA

by Bob Mariani
09-29-2005

YOUR TABLE IS READY
Twist
336 Baldhill Road
Warwick, RI

by Bob Mariani
09-22-2005

YOUR TABLE IS READY
McCormick & Schmic
by Bob Mariani
09-13-2005

YOUR TABLE IS READY
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

YOUR TABLE IS READY
The Hi-H
by Bob Mariani
05-20-2005

YOUR TABLE IS READY
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

YOUR TABLE IS READY
Viola
by Bob Mariani
02-11-2005

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

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

TABLE FOR TWO
The Lobster P
by Bob Mariani
01-21-2005

TABLE FOR TWO
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

TABLE FOR TWO
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

TABLE FOR TWO
10 Steak & Sus
by Bob Mariani
11-19-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Chiazza Trattori
by Bob Mariani
11-12-2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Big Fi
by Bob Mariani
10-22-2004

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

TABLE FOR TWO
Kabob & Cur
by Bob Mariani
10-1--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Ind
by Bob Mariani
09-3--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Mc Fadden
by Bob Mariani
09-24-2004

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

TABLE FOR TWO
The Cheeky Monkey Ca
by Bob Mariani
08-6--2004

TABLE FOR TWO
Café de V
by Bob Mariani
08-31-2004

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

TABLE FOR TWO
Mo
by Bob Mariani
08-20-2004

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

TABLE FOR TWO
Summer Round-up
by Bob Mariani
07-9--2004

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

TABLE FOR TWO
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

TABLE FOR TWO
The Canfield Hou
by Bob Mariani
03-5--2004

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

TABLE FOR TWO
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
Twist
336 Baldhill Road
Warwick, RI


Although Twist’s menu covers a wide range of cuisines from Mexican and Italian to Asian, Cajun and Creole, Executive Chef Russell Kerman is quick to point out that this menu is not about "fusion." Rather it’s about offering a full palette of specific dishes from a variety of cultures-- not trying to mix them in one dish.

Hence the appetizer menu contains a classic Italian Calamari Arrabiata ($8) in a plum tomato sauce; a chicken quesadilla ($7) with jalapeños, salsa and sour cream; Creole ale-steamed mussels ($8); a Sesame tuna "martini" ($8) with wasabi paint; and a warm Phyllo crusted brie Pillow ($8).

The entrée list is equally eclectic, but more on that in a moment. I began with the Creole ale-steamed mussels, a more than ample serving of fresh, whitewater mussels cooked perfectly in a very flavorful ale and butter broth accompanied by a crispy ciabatta crostini for dipping. An excellent start and I dipped my way right to the bottom of the bowl. Twist offers eight different pastas and eight different salads and seven different grilled pizzas, all of which are large enough for one or two people.

For my entrée I had the very American BBQ Meatloaf ($12). The portion is intentionally huge, says Chef Kerman, because people like to take half of it home. Two meals for one. What’s not to like about that? The meatloaf was soft and crumbly and the house-made BBQ sauce was an excellent blending of the sweet and the just-hot-enough. It came with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a hefty portion of garden-sweet sautéed snap peas, a great end-of-summer treat.

I was without a dining partner this night and so I only got to try the single entrée, but there are others that looked really worth returning for. For instance: the Sesame Encrusted Pan-seared Yellow Fin Tuna ($15); the Cajun Jambalaya ($18), a mélange of chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, clams, mussels and peppers over New Orleans style dirty rice; Blackened Red Snapper ($17) with a corn and black bean salsa; a Mixed Grille ($16) with BBQ ribs, chicken, and shrimp; and New Mexican style stacked Enchiladas ($14).

The servers at Twist could not be more friendly and attentive and the atmosphere has the relaxed and convivial feeling of a neighborhood pub, despite the fact that it’s located on a kind of isolated "island" across the road from the Warwick Mall.

For dessert I had the blueberry crumble, which is not house-made. It was a tall slab of mild white cheesecake with sweet blueberry accents. Again, it was enough for two.

There truly is something for just about everyone at Twist—unless, of course you’re actually seeking a "fusion" restaurant. But if it’s straightforward, good, wholesome food you’re after, Twist will not disappoint. They’re open for dinner and lunch every day. For more information call 734-4440 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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