With a love-focused foodie holiday right in the middle, February is a welcome break from the chilly gloom of winter to indulge in a proper Providence date night. It’s our personal favorite time of year to get dressed up and hit the town for dinner. This year we opted for an eclectic three-stop adventure in the heart of Fox Point.
If you want to kick off a special evening with a place that truly cares about their craft – and also touts a robust selection of whiskey – The East End on Wickenden Street is for you. We opted to put ourselves in the hands of the skilled staff and try a few of their recommended cocktails, and we weren’t disappointed! Ride the Tiger is passion fruit-forward with the perfect juice-to-vodka ratio and a hint of cinnamon, served in an irresistible coupe glass we couldn’t stop stealing sips from. If you’re looking for something a bit more complex and warming, go for The King’s Maze, a rye cocktail with a cranberry-maple cordial.
After indulging in a few drinks, we headed east down Wickenden to the more casual and retro-themed Pizza Marvin, a newcomer to Fox Point that daringly threw its hat into the world of Rhode Island pizza. In a small state that holds its pies in high regard, you must be really good or really innovative.
We started with Nancy’s Chopped, a salad made of bitter greens, chickpeas, cured meats, cheeses, and little peppers. It’s dressed with a mix of red wine vinegar and herbs that kept us coming back for one more bite. But the star of the show is clearly the pizza. Neapolitan style with a twist, these pies are made from scratch with fun toppings and boast a chewy crust delightfully blackened in the pizza oven. Roni Island is the most popular pie, covered in pepperoni, cherry peppers, and a sweet honey drizzle. If you’re up for a second round of drinks – or want to bring one home for later – many of their local sodas and housemade cocktails are canned on site.
The guys at Pizza Marvin have curated a distinct ambiance at this lively joint, from the DJ-selected playlist to the high tops and red-checked paper lining plastic trays. We recommend a seat by the window to people-watch Wickenden’s night denizens between shared glances with your sweetie. Who would’ve thought retro could be so innovative?
Steps away from Pizza Marvin is Aleppo Sweets on Ives Street – the perfect place to round out a date. We found ourselves sipping ginger, cardamom, and mint tea while enjoying the many baklava options – lady fingers with whole pistachios being our favorite.
Whether with friends or that special someone, it’s worth emerging from that winter cocoon to don your hat and scarf for a delicious evening traipsing Fox Point. For more foodie adventures follow @providencedatenight on Instagram.
244 Wickenden Street
468 Wickenden Street
107 Ives Street
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