Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Lili Marlene's - @@@

Wow, incredible backlog of restaurants to look at.  On Tuesday April 12, we went to a local bar called Lili Marlene's that is also on Federal Hill.  Even though there are mostly Italian restaurants in Federal Hill, there are the assorted other types too including Chinese and American.  I learned of Lili Marlene's online through yelp listing good burger spots and a coworker also said it was pretty good.

Walking in it was clear this was the dive bar that the online reviews noted.  It was a tiny spot with 4 tables.  It was also relatively dark similar in manner to Red Coat Tavern in Detroit.  We were able to get a table easily as it was self-serve seating and looked at their expansive menu.  And by expansive I mean hamburger, cheeseburger, fries, or rings.  They also had a few appetizer selections that were inspired by bar food.

To start, I ordered some sliced sausage with spicy mustard that was really good.  The sausage was cooked well and even though it was sliced it was still juicy.  The mustard was flavorful and added a nice, cool contrast to the warm sausage.

For dinner I opted for the cheeseburger and fries.  If the menu reminded you of Miller's Bar in Detroit, the burger presentation was similar as well in that it was simple.  Burger came with no-frills, just bun, patty, lettuce, and tomato.  One thing I noticed was the white American cheese that is always used out east.  I have not seen the yellow American used at all.  As for the taste, the burger was plain and simple, not overly juicy.  To me, it seemed like a normal burger that was on the smallish side.  I did order another one as I was pretty hungry that day.  I did like the fries as they were the thinner, crispier type that I prefer.  They were not shoestring size, but more the shape of McDonald's than anything else.

I thought this place was a good place to hang out and get some food and drinks.  They also have free pool at least on the day I was there which is always a bonus.  Though the burger was not outstanding, I thought overall it was a cool, local spot that I would go back to if I wanted to hang out in an informal setting.  With this, I give it a 3 of 5.



422 Atwells Ave
Providence, RI 02909

2 comments:

  1. Thinking back to the first few times I ate at Subway, I remember thinking, "why did they keep giving me that white cheese when I ask for american cheese?" I clearly grew up on yellow, kraft, Michigan/Midwest american cheese as well.

    I wonder why they're called "dive bars." Wiki and Googs not overly helpful.

    How do you prefer your burger topped? Welp, Jon's making it pretty clear with the picture there, although I expect that there's some ketchup/catsup in there somewhere.

    I like burger, some salt (or lawry's), moderate amount of ketchup, melted american cheese, 2 thin sliced tomatoes (if available, fresh home-growns make all the difference), a piece of lettuce just like the one in the picture, and on lightly toasted sesame seed bun. I'll allow a couple thin strands of white onion (like one thin circle) to be interspersed with the tomatoes. Basic burger winner right there.

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  2. no ketchup needed but mayo is always requested. no onions

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