<p>I will be visiting Brown on Wednesday and am hoping someone can give me some ideas of good places to eat that have character and reflect the area. Thanks</p>
<p>Mediterraneo has really good food. It is kind of expensive, but if you like Italian, then its for you.</p>
<p>There’s a lot of stuff on Thayer Street, but my personal fave is Cilantro’s - a cheap Mexican place downtown between 7-11 and one of five Dunkin’ Donuts near to the Providence Performing Arts Center. It depends on how adventurous you want to be :b</p>
<p>East Side Pockets. Delicious falafel/wraps.</p>
<p>Cilantro’s? Really? It’s like a significantly less good Chipotle. If you’re venturing into Downcity at least try something like Farmstead’s satellite sandwich shop, Mama Theresa’s, Gourmet Heaven, AS220’s F(o)od, etc.</p>
<p>If you want the “student” experience I wouldn’t stray far from Thayer, Wickenden, or South Main. If you want a wider Providence experience, give us a price range at least.</p>
<p>Federal Hill has a wide range of Italian and other restaurants for dinner. Brickway on Wickendon for breakfast.</p>
<p>Federal Hill is rather far away, in the city and not part of the student culture.</p>
<p>Thayer Street is typical student quickie fare for the most part. Good quick food, gppd pizza, good falafal. Some nicer restaurants, though I never found one I liked much.</p>
<p>Wickendon is closer and cuter. But the better places are in the nearby Wayland Square. My dd loved the Japanese place, starts with an H? maybe? I loved La Laterie. It has been a year–not up to date…</p>
<p>^Haruki East^</p>
<p>The Farmstead store at Wayland was recently updated. Their lunches aren’t over $10 for a item if I remember, but their menu is heavy on pork for some reason. </p>
<p>Ditto Modest on Cilantro, it’s generic mild unauthentic Mexican food, but I feel the same about Chipotle :)</p>
<p>You could define which “area” you want to sample I guess. There’s the Brown bubble food, RI sea food (stuffies, clam cakes, chowder), a variety of Providence restaurants, ethnic foods, etc.</p>
<p>Well if you truly want character, there’s a place called Louis’s Restaurant (at least that’s what I think it’s called.) However, we stumbled upon it so I’m not entirely sure where it was. I think it was Thayer, but the not the super crowded end of Thayer. Also, there’s a Thai place on the busy end of Thayer, possibly called Spice (?) And Kebab and Curry was good, I thought, and I am almost positive it was on the busy end of Thayer. And now that I have given you possibly the most useless directions and recommendations, I will be quiet.</p>
<p>Louis’ is great. It is on Brook, not Thayer and very cheap.</p>
<p>I’ve gone there for sunday brunch basically every week this year.</p>
<p>It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Drives.</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives: Louis Restaurant](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>It’s one of two diners on the Hill if you count Ruffel’s at Wayland. Ruffel’s is overpriced, and I’ve had better diner food elsewhere in Providence than at Louis, but I know Modest has a fondness. Aside from the food, they always served my chocolate milk with the milk on the outside of the cup. That’s just lazy. You never hand someone a sloppy glass. Also, the tables I’ve gotten have been sticky and dirty most times. Not the cleanest ship…</p>
<p>The key to Louis is go before 8am so that you’re assured one of the owners, Johnny, is on the grill.</p>
<p>As for modest’s affinity: if you’re looking for a place that you’ll actually CARE about during your college time here, go to Louis. While not exactly the tightest ship, it’s got all kinds of character, the muffins are uniquely delicious, and there’s all kinds of good choices. It’s the place to go after an all-nighter (the only place on the hill open before 7? Or is it 6? I can’t remember from last semester)… which technically could be me tonight, but instead it’s bed. zzzzzzzz…</p>