Tucked along the banks of the Pawtuxet River is a living postcard where the edges of Cranston and Providence’s Washington Park neighborhood blur together. Gentle rapids run under the bridge that connects the two halves of Broad Street, and a picturesque waterfront is lined with colorful boats.
Edgewood is a town that looks like it minds its manners, but the rebellious spirit of its neighboring Pawtuxet Village – where, as Rhode Islanders well know, colonists sparked The Revolutionary War in 1772 by burning the British Royal Navy ship the HMS Gaspee – spills over into this quaint town, in the form of a bold restaurant scene that refuses to play it safe. There’s no watered down coffee or limp lettuce to be found here. Instead, there’s everything from high-end dining to quick bites. And the neighborhood serves up a riot of global flavors that prove rebellion tastes better when shared.
Those who wander from the busiest blocks of Broad Street will find a few fun food spots that draw foot traffic to Edgewood. One such locale is Ming’s On Broad, a brick-and-mortar that put down roots this spring after its start in 2018 as a food truck slinging Asian-inspired fried chicken sandwiches. Owners and husband-and-wife partners Josh Burgoyne and Korn Suom returned to their home to open the new spot.
“Korn and I were born and raised in Cranston, moved all over Rhode Island in our 20s, and then we were fortunate enough to buy a home in Edgewood,” Burgoyne explains. “When we saw that the space formerly occupied by Edgewood Cafe had become available, we knew it would be a great spot for our concept.”
One reason for their commitment? Since Suom and Burgoyne grew up in Cranston, they already have a serious fan base in the form of friends, family, and friends of friends. But the other reason is because they noticed a vacuum they could fill. “Selfishly, I always just wanted to see a good sandwich shop in the area,” Burgoyne says. “There’s already a solid base of places to eat and drink. But I always thought that just a straight-up sandwich shop would kill it here.”
The menu of panko-fried chicken sandwiches is rounded out with a variety of treats and apps like dumplings, crab rangoon, and wings. The new hotspot, outfitted in marigold-yellow awnings, was eagerly anticipated by neighbors. “We remodeled the whole restaurant in a little less than three months and we could feel the hype while we were building. People were looking in the windows and knocking on the door during the remodel. So we knew there was a good energy here,” Burgoyne says. “And this is a great neighborhood. Everybody loves
walking, biking, and being outside, which is perfect for foot traffic. People who live here are really proud of the area.”
Closer to the Pawtuxet border is another new-ish kid on the block: Pawtuxet Village Market, a bright little country store with a small-town vibe that opened its doors last fall. Owner Jaymie Hazard was born and raised in Pawtuxet Village and grew up going to the local market, Lindsey’s, which closed its doors in 2012. “I opened the market because I love the nostalgia of it,” Hazard explains. “But I also filled a void here.”
Pawtuxet Village Market combines old-school charm with a modern vibe. Its shelves are stocked with organic, vegan, and gluten-free items, many of which are from other local small businesses. “My Italian side comes through in the bakery,” Hazard says. “My goal is to provide a little something for everyone.”
Hazard’s market fits right into the energy buzzing through Broad Street. “There’s lots of exciting changes going on here,” she says. “There’s a reimagining of The Blue Room that will offer live music. The village staple O’Rourke’s just changed hands. Everyone in the town is lovely, and I love the fact that people come into my store to wander, chat, and meet their neighbors.”
Chatting with neighbors is one of the things Lily Scott, owner of Lily’s Soups and Scoops, likes best about her Edgewood restaurant. “People seem to feel really comfy sitting down at our little takeout counter. People in this neighborhood have a keen interest in supporting their own, and people like to come in and talk. We get to know our neighbors pretty well.”
Lily’s Soups and Scoops is a long-held idea made manifest. “The soup and ice cream concept had been floating around in my head for years,” says Scott. Eight years ago, she began making bone broth commercially under the label Lily’s Ladle. Scott sources vegetable and animal products from local farms and turns them into mineral-rich beef, chicken, and veggie broth that she sells to regional grocery stores, including Pawtuxet Village Market. “The broths have nothing in them but lovely ingredients,” Scott says. When she started her broth company, she shared her kitchen with a caterer that eventually bought its own building. When the catering company moved out, Scott took over the lease to make her dream of a soup and ice cream shop a reality.
“I use my broth as the base for our ready-to-eat soups,” she explains. Four permanent fixtures – tomato basil, Portuguese kale, chicken noodle, and chicken and rice – anchor the menu, but everything else rotates almost daily. “I think of them as guest stars, featuring seasonal ingredients.”
Summer menus feature some of Scott’s favorite ingredients, like watermelon. “When it’s in season, I make a watermelon gazpacho. It’s vividly pink with base notes of tomato, cucumber, and red onion. We finish it off with lemon and vinegar and add a sprinkle of feta cheese to add those salty notes,” she says. “Four Town Farms in Seekonk grows abundant watermelons, so when they become available, I walk in and say, ‘Load me up!’”
Bread is baked fresh daily as a side to every bowl of soup that leaves her shop, and grilled cheese rounds out the menu for those who want to take home the perfect comfort combo. Another pairing she serves with pride is ice cream and coffee. “We offer Warwick Ice Cream by itself, but we can also make an affogato, which is ice cream with espresso poured over it. We also have a frozen coffee and tea menu – including frozen matcha – that people really like.”
Scott is delighted with her restaurant neighbors popping up along the street, as she sees them more as collaborators than competitors. “I think it’s great if you find Lily’s Soups and Scoops because you went to All Favorites Cafe,” she says. “This is such a lovely part of town, and the more restaurants that choose to make their home here, the less we have to do to convince people this is a cool area.”
Start an Edgewood and Pawtuxet Village afternoon visiting these spots (mentioned in the article), and discover favorites of your own while you’re in the neighborhood.
All Favorites Cafe
1678 Broad Street
AllFavoritesCafe.com
The Blue Room
Visit online for updates:
TheBlueRoom.com
Ming’s On Broad
1864 Broad Street
MingsRI.com
Lily’s Soups and Scoops
1850 Broad Street
LilysSoupsAndScoops.com
O’Rourkes Bar & Grill
23 Peck Lane
ORourkesBarAndGrill.com
Pawtuxet Village Market
2180 Broad Street
PawtuxetVillageMarket.com
Now Open:
Watch for a new Seven Stars Bakery opening on Broad Street in the Edgewood neighborhood – the seventh location of this local-favorite! SevenStarsBakery.com
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