2 Best Restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island

The city's best spot for a romantic meal is Table 21 in a private alcove at Gracie's, across the street from the Trinity Rep theater. Owner Ellen Gracyalny mixes sophistication with whimsy in the main dining room, and executive chef Matthew Varga sources many of his ingredients from a local Rhode Island farmer; Varga's tasting menus are a standard setter for fine dining in Providence.

Handsome brick walls and vaulted casement ceilings lend a cozy New England vibe to this contemporary, French-influenced American restaurant. The menu includes selections from both land and sea, mostly cooked in the open kitchen's wood-fired oven, as well as an extensive wine list.