If you’re a local, Oberlin is the place to take your annoyingly-trendy-but-you-love-them-anyway friends from New York for dinner when you want to show them that Providence is chic and has good food, too. It’s tucked away in the heart of downtown with an attentive waitstaff that’s happy to help if you’re stuck between dishes or don’t know which vermouth to order.

Sit at the bar if dining solo, or grab a table outside when it’s nice out and order a little bit of everything, including some rotating crudos or any other seafood plates. Don’t miss the creamy salt cod brandade with herbs and grilled housemade country bread. The team here is also behind the raw bar Gift Horse, which is next door and a great place to pop over for a drink if you’re waiting for a table.

photo credit: Grace Kelly