SMALL STATE , BIG MENU
Rise and Shine
As they say , the early bird gets the best breakfast , and when it comes to coffee and flapjacks , these places have got you covered .
Coffee and Cream This Blackstone Valley classic offers breakfast and lunch in a homey space that pays tribute to its farmhouse roots . Order a bloody mary with your Norm McMuffin , named for family patriarch Normand Branchaud , who founded the restaurant in 1990 . North Smithfield , coffeeandcream restaurant . com
The Corner Cafe This famous cafe is known for its lines around the block , but the pancakes are well-worth the wait . Don ’ t forget to BYOB ! Newport , cornercafenewport . com
Mesa Cafe and Grille The menu at Mesa Cafe will take you around the world , with options like Portuguese sweet bread French toast , Parisian crepes , a Greek-inspired omelet or eggs Benedict with Italian sausage . Cranston , mesacafeandgrille . com
Celestial Cafe Open for breakfast , lunch and dinner , Celestial Cafe has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options that spotlight farm-fresh and locally sourced ingredients . Don ’ t forget to take a look at the craft cocktail menu . Exeter , celestialcaferi . com
Plant City Plant City is a Providence mecca for everything plant-based . The food hall has a burger bistro , gourmet grocery , pizza bar , Mexican restaurant , bakery and more options that all offer entirely veg-forward menus . Providence , plantcitypvd . com
PiANTA PiANTA manages to translate your favorite comfort food into plant-based forms so good that even the toddlers at the table will eat with gusto . Brunch is loaded with sweets ( icing-drizzled French toast ) and savories ( tostadas with salsa verde ) and the cocktail list will make you want to extend every meal into
GO GREEN
Here ’ s where you can eat your heart out , veggie lovers .
the next day . Providence , piantaveganrestaurant . com
Sprout and Lentil The entirely vegan menu at Sprout and Lentil uses innovative meat substitutes like cauliflower , chickpeas and jackfruit to create soups , wraps , burgers and sandwiches . Check out the Middletown storefront or find Sprout and Lentil pop-ups at farmers markets . Middletown , sproutandlentil . com
Foglia This chef-driven , plant-based restaurant offers Italian classics alongside craft beers and cocktails ( both alcoholic and zero proof ). There ’ s something for every palate . Bristol , fogliabristol . com
Basil and Bunny This plant-based food business went from blog to food trailer to a brick-and-mortar restaurant . Basil and Bunny ’ s expanded menu includes the popular grain bowls , and plant-based fastfood matches like the Bacon Hopper Impossible burger with smoky maple tempeh bacon and a Chicky Bunny crispy seitan sandwich with bread-and-butter pickles . Bristol , basilandbunny . com
Veggie Fun The Asian-inspired menu at Veggie Fun has a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes , from dumplings and samosas to bibimbap and Malaysian curry . Providence , veggiefunri . com
Wildflour Bakery & Cafe Vegans and gluten-intolerant folks can indulge without worry at Wildflour , where the plant-based chocolate brownie is even better than traditional versions . Choose from muffins , scones and breads , melt-inyour-mouth cookies , cupcakes and more . The sister cafe of Garden Grille holds the same principles for high-quality vegan food . Pawtucket , wildflour bakerycafe . com
Miss Lorraine Diner Within the diner car in front of the Lorraine Mill Complex , order fluffy pancakes or stuffed French toast . If you ’ re absolutely famished , the Hungry Man — served with eggs , a short stack of pancakes and your choice of ham , bacon or sausage — is sure to satisfy . Pawtucket , misslorrainediner . com
Maria ’ s Breakfast and Lunch For a classic mom-and-pop breakfast experience , head down to Maria ’ s Breakfast and Lunch . Portuguese or kielbasa omelets are served with only the crispiest home fries , and pancakes come in flavors like Reese ’ s , Oreo or chocolate chip . Get there before 9 a . m . for early bird specials and to avoid the crowds . Lincoln , 262-9987
Bubble Tea Bliss
If you prefer your tea chilled and packed with irresistible chewy pearls , these spots have you covered .
Kung Fu Tea This spot offers everything from traditional milk tea to fruity sips , yogurt or slushy style drinks and even espresso-caffeinated pick-me-ups . Providence , kung futea . com
Kimochi Boba Cafe With nearby locations in Providence and Attleboro , Mass ., this Instagrammable boba cafe has a trendy vibe with menu items to match . Providence and Attleboro , Mass ., instagram . com / kimochibobacafe
Boba Lova Tea and Snack Bar Come for the bubble tea , stay for the mochi doughnuts in flavors like ube , churro or chocolate . Cranston , instagram . com / bobalovari
Charuma Tea Bar You ’ ll find authentic Taiwanese cuisine and bubble tea at this tea bar that also serves snacks you ’ d typically eat in Taiwan . Providence , charuma . com
Ten One Tea House Ten One Tea House provides artisanal drinks made with high-quality ingredients in a minimalist setting . Providence , tenoneteahouse . com
Vivi Bubble Tea Both Providence locations of this vibrant shop — on Thayer Street and Providence Place — specialize in Taiwanese fruity teas . Providence , vivibubbletea . com
16 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY ’ S NEWCOMERS ’ GUIDE l 2023