Young business owner Valentina De La Cerda first started working at Helado Taiyaki as a teenager – it was her first job and she fell in love with the ice cream shop’s concept of combining Latin and Japanese influences to make the one-of-a-kind ice cream (helado) in a cute fish-shaped cake (taiyaki). “I’m Guatemalan, so I really love being able to showcase and introduce others to Hispanic culture,” begins De La Cerda. Saddened by the news that the previous owners were moving to Miami, she and her parents decided they would keep it open, with a new name: Taiyaki Cafecito.
The shop still offers ice cream desserts, scratch-made cube croissants, and espresso drinks, and De La Cerda developed a new delicacy, Crostadas, which combine a Hispanic tostada and a buttery croissant, an ideal base for avocado toast or huevos rancheros. “I’ve always loved exploring new cafes, either here in Rhode Island or anywhere I get to travel to, so being able to have my very own coffee shop is a dream come true.” 102 Dean Street, @cafecito_pvd
A from-scratch bakery in Peace Dale opened a second location in Providence, and so far, reports owner Lilibeth Rodriguez, they’ve been fitting right into the neighborhood. “We have had a very warm welcome from the community,” she says. “I hear multiple times a day how Federal Hill was missing Latin options with great food, drinks, and desserts.” Cakelicious Bakery and Cafe specializes in Colombian and Dominican fusion cuisine, with both sweet and hearty options available.
“Our hot food bar is a star attraction,” relays Rodriguez, describing a host of rotating rice dishes, fall-off-the-bone braised meats, sweet plantains, and chicharrón. On the dessert menu, guests rave about their tres leches cake and decadent flans. Any of their offerings pair nicely with a selection of refreshing, natural juices, including tamarind and fresh-squeezed lemonades. “I really want Cakelicious to be more than just a place to eat,” Rodriguez continues. “It’s a place to get away from the fast-paced scene, to relax, eat well, and enjoy a good talk with your friends or loved ones.” 292 Atwells Avenue, Facebook: Cakelicious Bakery & Café
Across the street from where his grandfather George Cardono once sold vegetables by pushcart as a child, today Sean David McBride has his own restaurant, Pasta Bar GEODONO. “I envision the Pasta Bar becoming a new Federal Hill staple with its own niche of Italian food. Most of the legendary Italian destinations on the Hill provide excellent full-service experiences,” says McBride. “We are offering a slightly more casual concept with a made-to-order experience that sets us apart.”
The concept, adapted from Cardono’s tradition of “Pasta Nites,” is a fast-casual open-kitchen for Italian food, in which guests customize their pasta by choosing from eight different sauces, four kinds of seafood, four meats, and eight veggie options. Additional small plates, or “Italian tapas,” stem from a Gourmet Club his grandfather created. “When it was Papa’s turn to host, he would put together a seven-course meal of traditional Italian dishes,” shares McBride. “Federal Hill has a long, storied history for Italian Americans. Papa played a part in that and made sure that our family knew the important history.” 262 Atwells Avenue, @pastabargeo
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