Go Right Now: The Red Fez

Everyone has a place they like to go when they feel a little down and they want to redeem the day. For me and my wife, that place is the Red Fez. It's a perfect combination of funky restaurant and chill bar, and it's within walking distance of the best of downtown Providence. If you find yourself at Waterfire and feel the sudden urge to be a bit hipper, get yourself to the Fez, pronto.

When you walk in, the first thing you'll notice is the dim lighting and the odd artwork on the wall. (Say hi to Strong-Ass Sal for me.) Grab a seat downstairs for a more traditional restaurant experience, or ask to go up for the more raucus pub atmosphere. Either way, you'll have a lot of great menu options. The Red Fez has a wide range of appetizers, from a simple hummus plate to the more sophisticated. They also have a late night snacking menu with some great smaller dishes. But your best bet is to go straight to entrees, especially if you like the cheesy goodness of arguably the best mac and cheese you'll ever have. My wife and I fight over who gets to order it. The loser gets the sausage plate, a sandwich, or another of the eclectic America-meets-Turkey-and-goes-to-France type of offerings, and never leaves unhappy.

Aside from the dining, the experience is great. You can spend the whole night checking out the interesting people and the wild decorations. You'll enjoy a music selection that keeps your energy up yet doesn't intrude. Hell, you might feel so good you buy beers for the kitchen. And they encourage that.

The essentials:

The Red Fez
49 Peck St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 272-1212

Entrees: $10 to $20
Bar Savers: Cheap Gansetts and Schlitz are dirt cheap. They always have a bottle of cheap champagne avaiable
Eat Me: Get the mac and cheese and die happy.

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