Wickenden Street restaurants include two of Providence's most popular pizzarias, two popular sushi bars and the city's quintessential cafe. Wickenden Street is the southern-most commercial district on the East Side, located just across I-195 from India Point. The west (lower) end of the street is just blocks from the small but important cluster of restaurants near the Hurricane Barrier.
Wickenden Street is peppered with small, independent shops and great places to eat. The energy here is relaxed, with a sort of "art student" refinement to the way of life. A cup of freshly roasted coffee is never far out of reach, and the places to go are very creative.
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Restaurants
From the top of the hill (east end) to the bottom:
- Rue de l'Espoire - a Providence institution offering a varied cuisine focused on locally-grown ingredients; an LGBT community hangout for people of a certain age; on Hope Street, corner of John Street
- Sawadee Thai - very small, very good; on Hope Street, corner of John
- Round the Corner - ???; Goulding Street (more of an alley) just north of Wickenden
- Tokyo - very popular for sushi; fairly large by Wickenden Street standards; Wickenden just west of Hope
- Pizza Pie-er - gourmet pizza delivered; a Providence institution; recycle your pizza box for points towards a discount
- Abyssinia - hands-on Ethiopian dining
- Duck and Bunny - crepes and cupcakes in an historic house
- Z Bar and Grille - more traditional cuisine with an arty flair
- Cafe Zog - coffee and more
- Brickway on Wickenden - popular breakfast spot
- Amy's Place - breakfast and lunch
- Sakura - very popular for sushi; includes traditional Japanese sit-on-the-floor section
- Coffee Exchange - coffee roasted in-house; the quintessential Providence cafe
- Angkor - southeast Asian fare; very small; BYOB; Traverse Street just south of Wickenden
- Fellini's Pizza - gourmet slices and pies; an arty scene
Bars and Pubs
- Wickenden Pub - extensive beer on tap; pub fare; a long-standing institutions; atmosphere can get fairly "dude bro"
- The Point Tavern - ???; used to be Babe's on the Sunny Side, a renowned punk rock hangout
Pro Tips
- Not the place to go with a large party; the restaurants are physically very small; call ahead for a capacity check
- Wickenden street is quiet and laid back; the days start late here but everyone is up for brunch on weekends