R.I.'s newest food destination: Pawtuxet Village

Just a few miles away from Providence stands a historic village that is working hard to make itself into a food-and-more destination.

Pawtuxet Village, a charming neighborhood that straddles both Cranston and Warwick, is enjoying a growth of culinary spots.

It’s long been home to restaurants Basta, recently renovated, and L’attitude Modern Eatery, which will have a makeover in coming months. In the recent past, a tea room, Irish pub and Parisian style café have opened, and later this year Fellini’s Pizza of Wickenden Street in Providence will open a second location with counter and table service and a beer and wine license.

“The more eating options that are here, the better for all of us,” said Basta general manager Peter Lowre. “Right now we depend on the locals. We need to attract more people to this area.”

“I love the village feel here,” said Fellini’s owner Kristy Knoedler.

“It’s totally New England,” she said. “When I go there I feel like I am part of something.”

Being smitten with Pawtuxet Village is easy not just for its looks and intimacy, but also for the easy parking.

“It’s the best kept secret in Rhode Island” said Anthony Albanese, who owns four buildings in the village, including the one Fellini’s will move into, which is adjacent to L’attitude. In addition to renovations at L’attitude, Albanese said Water’s Edge Café, which serves breakfast and lunch fare, will be renovated in 2015.

It all comes after a bit of a dry spell. Albanese notes that the building that once housed Cameron’s Pawtuxet Pharmacy was vacant for some six years and now is home to the newly opened Sweet Indulgence café and Heidi Hope Photography. “Sweet Indulgence is like a Pastiche,” he said, referring to the well-known Federal Hill dessert spot. He said the new café will attract new diners.

Albanese said the neighborhood is lucky to have Heidi Hope and the celebrity clientele she brings in for her business, which specializes in newborn portraits.

“The village is alive,” said Karen O’Connell, who lives in the neighborhood. “I drove by at Christmas and thought how pretty it was there.”

Her family loves the Elephant Room — a tea house that serves breakfast and savory crepes — shopping at Twice Told Tales and dining at Rim Nahm Thai Cuisine.

The village is also home to Betty’s Candies, O’Rourke’s Bar & Grill (which replaced the Gaspee Lounge), Dear Hearts Ice Cream, Little Falls Bakery & Café, Froyo and The Red House, an Asian restaurant.

“When I first moved here in 1990, the village had a few local breakfast spots but I never would have imagined that Pawtuxet would eventually have several ethnic restaurants,” said Marta Martinez, who chairs the Friends of Pawtuxet Village, organizers of the Taste of the Village each fall.

“I love that we can practically eat our way through the day and not leave the village: starting with coffee and a scone for breakfast; pizza or sandwiches for lunch; and a choice of fine Italian or Thai food for dinner.”

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