345 by Plant City — Restaurant in Providence

I went to 345 this weekend, and my experience spanned the spectrum between great - poor/3-5 star. A lot of reasons I will return, but it does seem like a business that is still working out the kinks.

The space is beautiful and nicely lit. However, I found the music to be loud for the time of night; my friend and I had to raise our voices to hold a conversation. To be fair, my hearing is also starting to go, so that is probably a factor there as well lol. We were seated at a two-top in a row of tables with a banquette on one side and chairs on the other. I have never liked this kind of table. I just don’t like to be squeezing into a small passageway on tiptoes, desperately trying to not hit somebody with my rear end. Especially when the table is wobbly, as ours was. Annoying.

We were seated about ten of the hour, and waited 5-10 min for water. We got one of our dishes served before the drinks. The food was FANTASTIC, and I will be back for more. I wish they had given us plates, as the dishes are meant for sharing. We got sushi and I definitely had a hard time not dropping food on the table. The rolls were pretty big and I had to eat them in two bites. The drinks were good, and nicely spiced with things like cardamom. Our server was friendly and effective, tho I do wish she had updated us more frequently on the status of our drink order; there were two bartenders on and maybe 12-14 seats at the bar. No reason for the seated guests to wait 25 min for drinks.

The bathroom. Attractive. Has soap. Pretty clean. What absolutely killed it for me was the only option to dry your hands after washing - and remember, we have just been through two years of a global viral pandemic - the only thing to dry with was paper dinner napkins. As a nurse I find this pretty unacceptable in general, and particularly for an establishment that is presenting itself like 345 is.

That’s enough kvetching. I must also disclose that I have worked many years in the service industry and have very high standards. I believe attention to detail is essential here, and I am fairly confident it will...

Overall this was a great experience. Here are some notes for improvement the restaurant might want! I noticed multiple guest including our table were served the wrong food items. There was nothing to dry your hands with in the bathroom. The music was more appropriate for a club not a speak easy. Jazz or Blues would have been more appropriate for the atmosphere. It was also extremely loud so I think that might be why dishes were incorrect. I also noticed the wait staff wasn’t writing anything down which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but if the orders are coming out wrong, it might be something to consider as well. The sushi was fantastic but a lot of spicy elements- the tempura asparagus was our favorite! The mock tails are really good but mine was made incorrectly which they fixed and took off the bill which was a nice gesture- overall a little improvement to be made but a super cool concept. Last note- the walls that are opposite the bar are not much to look at if that is where you are sitting- maybe something a little...

I make a point of seeking out speakeasies when I travel and can say that 345 has one of the most creative entrances I've been pleasantly stumped by. The search is well worth it. Cocktails are elevated and well crafted. Food is fresh and delicious. (My bartender was very kind and proactive to ask if I had any dietary restrictions to notify the kitchen about which I felt was very considerate.) The staff are so friendly and accommodating - even when I observed they were very busy and understaffed - and are there to ensure that you feel welcome and absolutely love your experience. The atmosphere is classy and intimate - there are lots of nooks for a small group of friends or a date night. I can't wait to visit again the next time I'm...