Bar Tabs: Local 121

For the second straight time, I'm writing a Bar Tabs entry about a spot that's at least as much restaurant as bar. And if you want to go to Local 121, at 121 Washington Street (and isn't that convenient?) in downtown Providence, for dinner, you'll be in good company. I've heard the food is good, and they seem to be getting a good crowd. But even if you're in for the meal, you might want to consider asking to be seated in the bar, because in my humble opinion, it is clearly the draw of the place.

The first thing you'll notice when you hang a right into the Tap Room, as they call it, is how amazing all the details are. The bar is filled with panelling that is out of this world in its ornateness, and the space is filled with stained glass windows that are (so I'm told) made out of bottle bottoms. The room is long and narrow, giving it a hole-in-the-wall feel that is accentuated by the minimal lighting, just enough to bring out the character in the space.

One thing I really like about the place is that they have a nice variety of beers on tap, from the local and cheap (aka Narragansett) to the exotic and tasty. I've tried a few beers there I'd never heard of before, which is getting rather hard to pull off, and I've been pleasantly surprised both times. And the prices are entirely in line with what you pay at the neighborhood bar: they haven't tried to institute a cool tax by charging $8 for a Stella Artois or something.

And this is a good thing, because Local 121 is undeniably a cool place. They routinely have DJs playing some cool/random/trippy music, and make sure the vibe is clean and modern without being snobby or off-putting. It is a place I go when I need my watering hole to make me feel a bit more hip, not just to help distract me from the lowlights of my day. Add to that the fact that I've had some of the best bar conversations ever there, and it all starts to add up to a pretty robust drinking experience.

If the fliers I saw the other day are true, there is a regular DJ gig at Local 121 on Monday, and I'm planning on checking it out. I'll let them surprise me with a new beer, order something tasty from the small plate menu (they serve their full dinner menu in the bar until midnight, another big plus) and try to get into an interesting conversation. There are much worse ways to start your week.

Bar Tabs: Remington House Inn

What are the good parts of Rhode Island? Well, Providence is the center of what culture and class the state has. Pawtucket is the Billy Carter to Providence's Jimmy. Newport is its tourist hub. Bristol is Newport for the natives. Warren is the ever-so-slightly edgier version of Bristol, because there are two square blocks that feel blue collar. Jamestown and Block Island are where you go to dream of a different lifestyle. Westerly is that town you go to once a year and say 'why don't I come here more often?'

The point is, all these towns have an identity that draws at least some of us to leave our own and visit them. I could have gone on: Narragansett, Gloucester, Little Compton...all have their strong points. But then there are the towns that people are leaving to go to all these Rhody gems. And while there are actually quite a few (Johnston and North Providence, I'm talking to you), the Warwick/Cranston complex is the beating suburban heart of our state. So the question becomes, what do these towns have to offer the rest of us? What, besides Garden City and Twin Oaks, would draw us in?

In an attempt to find out, I asked my wife, who worked in Warwick for a while, if there were any places that she would recommend people check out. After a pause, she said simply 'The Remy'. A little later, we were on our way to the Remington House Inn, a bar and restaurant that is worth braving I-95 for.


View Larger Map

I posted this under Bar Tabs because we went for drinks and a few appetizers. But by the time we left at 6:30 on a Saturday, the restaurant was packed. It seems the Remy is not exactly a hidden gem. However, I would definitely recommend the bar experience. The drinks are very reasonably priced, and they have a nice selection of beers on tap. What's more, they have a good selection of happy hour appetizers that, at least the day we were there, were available until 6:00. (I had the impression they might have extended this an hour.) We got the bruschetta and the potato skins, which were both a step above the typical bar fare and more than filling enough.

But the real reasons to go are the location (in a cool old building by the water) and the crowd. The people there tend to be a little older than your average Providence crowd, and for whatever reason, this made the people-watching and eavesdropping spectacular. I was priviledged to hear two complete strangers debating the details of the Catholic sex abuse scandals of a few years ago, with one inebriated orator stating emphatically that, "the nuns are just as bad as the priests, and everyone in my school knew it." I only wish he had been together enough to explain where that came from. Another group of 40-somethings looked like teenagers sneaking a drink out of their parents' liquor cabinet, so thrilled were they to be ditching the kids and throwing down a few with some friends. After too many nights of hipper-than-thou bar patrons in the city, it was refreshing to see people letting loose and enjoying themselves, and observing the wild results.

I won't be making the Remington House a regular stop (I've become too much a Rhode Islander to take 95 that often), but I'll always keep it in mind when I need some tasty bar bites and a break from the regular scene.

Bar Tabs: East Avenue Cafe

If the East Avenue Cafe had a pool table, I'd live there. Last year, it closed for remodeling, and I was convinced that it would open up with a beautiful expanse of green felt in a corner somewhere. Or at least a foosball table or a dartboard. Something to keep you entertained when the game was a blowout or you needed to slow down your drinking pace. But alas, East Ave, in the Oak Hill section of Pawtucket, is the classic bar/restaurant, and so I've decided to love it on its own terms. And, even though I might not be there every Friday night, there's still a lot to love.


View Larger Map

First of all is the beer selection. In addition to a great range of beers on tap (usually about 15, including Sierra Nevada, which is great on draft) they have a huge case of about 50 exotic beers from around the world. The bartenders are very knowledgeable about the beers, and can guide you to some new labels that you'll greatly enjoy.

Just as good as the drink is the food. My wife has been talking about their buffalo fries since we first tried them a few weeks ago, and they have the slew of classic Rhode Island appetizers. If you're in the mood to be a little less engorged, their salads are quite good for a bar, and of course they have all the burgers and sandwiches you could want. Their menu is actually quite extensive, and included a range of entrees from steaks to seafood to barbeque.

The ambiance is half Irish pub, half sports bar. Tonight, as I'll join the packed house there for the Red Sox game, it will definitely feel more sports bars, as their 10 or so TVs will all be tuned to the game. (Get a table in the dining section in front of the big screen and you'll be all set.) But when the Sox season ends, there's still a relaxed neighborhood vibe, a good jukebox and some cool Rhode Island and Ireland paraphernalia to check out.

I'm willing to forgive the fact that East Ave isn't the exact bar I'd want around the corner, as long as it keeps doing what it does so well.

Bar Tabs: Ivy Tavern

Every guy needs to have three skills in his back pocket: first, a quality story he can tell in awkward social situations. Second, he needs a recipe (preferably on the grill) that he can make better than anyone else he knows. And finally, he needs a bar he can go to with a group of people where he knows everyone will have a good time. My story is about the time I got fired, my dish is flame-grilled bruschetta, and my bar is the Ivy Tavern.

Why the Ivy? First and foremost its the bartenders. Its not that I know them really well. The reason I like them is that you don’t need to in order to have a good bar conversation; about the Red Sox, what’s going on in the neighborhood, whatever. At its best, the Ivy feels like a group of friends hanging out, and the bartenders are the gracious hosts.


View Larger Map

Second, the food is pitch-perfect bar fare. The Ivy is the only place other than San Francisco that I’ve ever had finger-sucking good garlic fries. They also do an exemplary job with hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and other pub sandwiches. If none of that suits you, they usually have some decent pizzas or other specials, and my wife can even find a good salad or the like if she’s trying to be healthy.

Finally, there is just something about the place itself. They’ve got a bunch of good beers on tap (reasonably priced, too), some cool old boxing and wrestling posters on the wall, and a notice board with surprisingly funny messages spelled out in scrabble letters. The crowd is a mix of Brown kids, twentysomethings, and neighborhood folks in for a beer and dinner.
Check it out the next time there’s a big game on or you want to spice up a slow Saturday night. Then you just need a good story and a good grill recipe to complete your manly troika.

Bar Tabs: The Blackstone

Imagine if you and your friends decided to open up a bar, and you had no financial restrictions. What would you put it it? A pool table? Better make that two, and throw in foosball for a change of pace. A good jukebox? Of course. An area with comfortable chairs and couches you can just chill. Big TV's for watching the game. A stage for live music. A porch for smoking or hanging out on a nice night. Decent bar food. A nice wraparound bar with plenty of seats and a good beer selection. You would make it big enough that you always had room to move and relax. And you'd want it to be full of cool neon signs, some bar mirrors, and a general cool look.

Clearly, the people who run The Blackstone understand their audience, because their bar has all that and probably a few other nice features I'm forgetting. The Blackstone is the latest incarnation of a bar that has been open for quite a while, but in a couple of different locations. Now it has moved from Cumberland to a location within easy reach of anyone in Providence, at 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket.


View Larger Map

The Blackstone has quickly become my default watering hole. I enjoy it equally on the quiet weekday nights when I just want to drink a beer and watch a game with some company, and on the weekends when it is taken over by a stream of live acts, most of which are good to very good. (The only downside is that on Friday and Saturday, you'll likely to pay a $5 cover.)

A big part of the appeal is the space itself. The Blackstone is located in Hope Village, an old mill complex that is being redeveloped into living quarters, artists' space and shops. While much of it is still under development, dozens of businesses, most prominently the Blackstone, have already set up shop. The dimensions of the mill means that they have plenty of space to accommodate big crowds; the owners note that the bar is technically the third-largest live music venue in the state.

The crowd is very casual; jeans and t-shirts are the standard attire, though some of the bands may bring with them a more hipster or punk-ish crowd. But with so many things going on, you'll always be able to find a way to fit in and be comfortable here.