Iberian Peninsula day - @@@@@

Dedicated yesterday to Iberian Peninsula dining. Quick summary - some of my favorite food they have in Rhode Island.

Lunch at O Dinis for the bife a casa. Great flavor and still in my mind best Portuguese in the area (including Fall River). Easy 4 rating and could be pushing for a 5

Dinner was at Spain of Cranston. For what it's worth I think this is the best restaurant in the area. Was thinking of a restaurant I like more in the RI/southern MA area and could not come up with one. Just amazing flavors with the food, some I usually don't get elsewhere.

Both restaurants had impressive taste, outstanding value, and attentive service.

O Dinis
579 Warren Ave
East Providence, RI 02914

Spain of Cranston
1073 Reservoir Ave
Cranston, RI 02910

Legal Seafood - @@@

Hard to judge a restaurant if you only order an appetizer. Even harder still is to judge a seafood-based restaurant if you don't really like seafood. Well I guess I will try to do both as accurately as possible. For those that are unfamiliar, this is a pretty popular New England based chain that specializes in the freshest seafood and is generally regarded as a good place to go for tourists like me.

I did come for the chowder which curiously enough I do rather enjoy. The creaminess and potato for me is a great combination and what else could I think of in New England that best represents it? Here I think is some of the best that I have had. It is full of "stuff" like clams, potatoes and other things masked by a rich creamy soup base. Put a little fresh pepper on it and I was good to go. Ordered 2 as a matter of fact and they were both served burn-your-tongue hot which I like.

As far as the other items go, can't be sure so I guess this is only a partial review and thus can only go 3. But for good NE clam chowder, this place has it pretty locked down.

2099 Post Rd
Warwick, RI 02886

Carolina Market Restaurant - @@@@

I was lucky enough to be driving to Cranston the other day around lunch and was able to stop by this restaurant for some carry out. In summary, it was quite good/flavorful and a great value.

This place is in South Providence which depending on who you ask is either not the greatest/safest location or outright dangerous. Because I went smack in the middle of the day I felt fine and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. The place itself has around 10 tables where you can sit so it is not strictly a carry out joint. There are two entrances and my lack of Spanish speaking did not allow me to appropriately figure out which one to best use. When you walk in there is a large glass warmer area (similar to a cafeteria where they serve you) and you pick out your options. Pretty simple sounding but I 100% messed up their flow based on communication, questions, and explanations. Luckily they weren't too busy yet and they speak English well enough to tell you how much and what it is.

I got the $6 plate which includes starch (multiple rices, spaghetti), side (plantains, salad, etc) and main (multiple pork and beef items, fish too I think) from the best of my interpretation. They also have $4 and $8 plates which would make sense to be smaller and larger portions. I got the yellow rice and beans which were very flavorful (and also added some bonus gravy from some other beef dish), caramelized plantains which I thought were cooked right on point, and finally the chicharron. The sides as quickly mentioned were good but the star was obviously the chicharron (fried pork). What I loved here is they chopped it up for you and this were all solid chunks of meat. Great idea for a lunch that way you aren't gnawing on bones or struggling to cut it up with your plastic knife while at work. Juicy and tender, the meat was also well seasoned and the homemade hot sauce added an even better kick to it. Great dish!

To the best of my research, this is labeled as a Dominican restaurant which I never have specifically had. I do think that most Latin American restaurants have similar dishes just with a touch of different spices, seasonings, or method of cooking. I have had the same dish at Colombian, Peruvian, and Costa Rican restaurants but they always taste great. Two things to note is that the pernil (roast pork) is only available after 1 they said and the mofongo takes 15 minutes to prepare which was a slight bummer. Good things to know if I can get back to this place the next time though. All in all a really great meal and a great value as this $6 plate could easily feed 2 meals if one desired. Would recommend to try out!

Carolina Market Restaurant
864 Broad St
Providence, RI 02907

Chick-fil-A - @@@

First Chick-fil-A in Michigan at DTW. Had a few chicken sandwiches on Thursday as I got back from Rhode Island. They taste the same as in other locations which is a good thing. Best quick serve chicken sandwich in my opinion. If possible try a direct comparison between this and another quick serve - I did at ATL and noticed the difference immediately.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Terminal A by gates 70+

O Dinis - @@@@

Honestly this beef "stew" wasn't even that good. It's chunks of top round or something cheap, potatoes, and linguisa/chorizo thrown in a pot with this non-thickened liquid (can't even call it a gravy) and presented as stew. Really?? Carrots...Nope. Onions...None found. But then a 4 of 5?? How and why?

The reason is this liquid of the stew was so flavorful I can't describe it. When you dip the Portuguese bread rolls into it, there is some weird flavor transformation at work. I tried the liquid by itself...its not that special!! But it is. When asking the waitress what's in it, she replied "it's Portuguese and takes a long time to make". Well that helps none at all. I can't place the flavors. I can see oil from the sausage and probably some olive oil in there. It's heavily red tinted so guessing some paprika or slight tomato derivative. I think tomatoes are too acidic usually so I would doubt there is much of that there. What little herbs appeared to be somewhat fresh parsley that I don't think would contribute much. A very slight and subtle spicyness but would surely pass as "mild". To me it does taste like a liquid Portuguese sausage I would imagine. I just don't know. I do know though that the bread and liquid is an amazing meal all by itself. I guess that's why I didn't think the meat and potatoes were that good, and this is coming from someone that is all meat and potatoes all the time. They were just overshadowed by the star.

Otherwise this neighborhood Portuguese restaurant is the place to be. Packed on a Wednesday, the food is served rather slowly but amazingly hot. It took upwards of an hour to get my food but I think it is worth it. They say this beef stew special is every Wednesday but I want to come back for their bife a casa as well (I had it a while ago and remembered that I thought it was better than Madiera). I am picturing a small kitchen with food cooked to order. This is my current pick for best Portuguese in RI and will surely be back. Careful though as they are closed on Tuesdays.

579 Warren Ave
East Providence, RI 02914