Food News: Providence Restaurant Weeks, Night Owl Cocktail Bar on Federal Hill, Providence Brewing Company opens at Farm Fresh RI

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Pop-up cocktail bar on Federal Hill

Night Owl Cocktail Bar, a new pop-up bar concept from the owner of Federal Hill mainstay Capri Seafood on DePasquale Square, features late-night bites, inspired cocktails, and smooth sounds by guest music artists ranging from jazz to hip-hop to R&B. “I wanted to create a place with good energy where people can go and hang out,” explains owner Sotheavong Meas. “So many people were doing pop-up food; I thought a pop-up bar would be great.”

The menu features elevated bar snacks like steak tacos, cheese bites, and wings. Meas created the inspired cocktails (with fun names like Pear Pressure and Bounty Hunter) through “lots of trial and error. We got drunk a lot!” Meas plans to keep Night Owl open through the spring while he looks for a permanent home. 

Providence Restaurant Weeks Returns

Providence Restaurant Weeks makes a comeback January 9-22. As always, it’s the perfect way to catch up with a beloved old establishment or try out that new spot around the corner.

The popular dining event was not immune to a pandemic pivot, which was so successful last summer they’re keeping it in place. Before, restaurants were required to do a three-course prix fixe menu to be eligible, but with COVID causing havoc with menus, staffing, and indoor dining, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau changed their requirements. “Restaurants now can put together their own specials,” says Christine Phillips, director of partnership development. “We even do breakfast! As long as you have a special, you can participate.” At press time, restaurants were still coming on board, but a full list of dining options is available at their website.

North Prov brewery finds new home at Farm Fresh

The beer gods were smiling on Providence Brewing Company’s Efren Hidalgo. When they outgrew their space in North Providence, he found a new location at Farm Fresh RI “by happenstance.” It was just two blocks away from the original 19th century brewery, whose name was nearly lost to history until he revived it.

With 2,000 square feet for customer seating, Hidalgo is looking forward to stretching out; some ideas include shuffle board and live music. But mostly, he’s “chomping at the bit” to get back to brewing, having shut down for a year to focus on the build out. And he’s looking forward to “being next to solid businesses [like Tallulah’s Tacos, ISCO, and Revival Brewing Co.] in a setting that has an ‘Austin-weird’ vibe,” Hidalgo says. “It’s a destination where we can feed off each other.” 

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