Bellini | Providence — Restaurant in Providence

First off I would like you to know that all the line staff at this restaurant have excellent training and wonderful people skills. Johnson & Wales may have a hand in that. We had two meals in the restaurant over the course of two days during our stay at the Beatrice. Deandre was our server for breakfast our first morning in the hotel. Excellent service and attention to detail. My other half had the avocado toast, which he found to be a bit overwhelmed with red onion and citrus. The scramble eggs that he had were "fine," and his salmon was not to his liking. Orange juice was literally a shot glass...OK, not a shotglass, but maybe 4 Oz? Not enough to seem like I'm dining in Providences' most luxurious restaurant. I would personally rather be charged much more and receive a generous portion rather than keep continuous orders for OJ moving thru the kitchen. My mom would have called it stingy. Our Cappaccinos were underwhelming. As for my Eggs Benny, I would call them dry sporting a piece of Spec or Canadian ham the size of a postage stamp. It was so small it was hard to tell! I'm Italian, trust me, it's not a good way to go about things in a long game with a lot of options for Italian dining. Did I mention the place was dead. Just one other lonley soul that morning at 11 am. Enough about breakfast...on to dinner Christmas Eve 🎄. Well, one of the first things to become evident is the resrestaurant. Is wildly popular on Christmas Eve. We had used 'Resy' to book our reservation about 4 weeks in advance for a 7:30 pm seating. When we arrived, the hustle and bustle of Christmas was everywhere. There were no tables available, so we needed to wait until approximately 8 o'clock for our table. And when it was made available to us, it was on the bar side of the restaurant, which did not make me happy. We had driven down to Providence from Boston for the holidays, and I was under the impression that being a guest of the hotel might provide me with a seat in the dining room proper. No such luck. The host offered us seats at the bar while waiting , but we weren't having cocktails, and the bar tender needed the seats for paying customers. So we waited our 15, and then we're taken to the bankette at the very front of the bar, at the entrance adjacent to the hosts table. We tried to offer to come back later for a restaurant- side table in the dining room, later, but it was this, or someplace else. Did I mention that it is now 8:15 on Christmas Eve? So we stayed. I must admit, it was great people watching because literally every person dining that night walked right past ua. We found the cold air emanating from the nearby front door to be refreshing, but others might find it a bit breezy. The host was very busy meeting, greeting familiar patrons, and, of course, collecting Christmas cash. Did I mention that he wears athletic trainers, not proper dress shoes. This would not pass muster on Hanover Street in Boston's North End. Just saying. Our waitress, whose name eludes me, was lovely and did her best to keep up on this very hectic night. For apps, I had the beef carpaccio, which may have been about the finest I have ever had, stateside. My better half had the Burrata, tomato, and prosciutto, which he said was 'good', but not excellent.

We both had the steak Tagliata with an enormous amount of creamed spinach. It was EXCELLENT. For disserts, we took tiramisu back to the room. It was OK. So, there is a real mixed bag here. As a proud Boston Italian who spent many years in customer service (Concierge/ Boston Harbor Hotel) , I think it is safe to say that things could have been better. I don't like being placed at a bar side table when I'm a guest of the hotel (Dante Suite) and made my reservation over 1 month in advance. At the very least, someone should have mentioned it was only bar seating available. I would have had plenty of time to make other arrangements. Also, we were advised that dress was business casual, but nobody apparently told the Millennials...

My food was delicious with a good presentation. See attached photographs. I loved the plating, but I heard the Karens complaining. It reminded me of my Nonna’s old plates and I love a good flashback! Everything was delectable. The pasta just melted in your mouth. Dessert was perfect & my crème brule’s lemon was HEAVEN! DM me for more food info because I can talk food all day, but I’d rather highlight the service as the pictures shall speak for themselves. Trust me!

Alesso (or Alexo) brought our bottle of wine and was so professional. He was simple elegance at its best. He was just friendly enough while being welcoming and professional. I can tell he’s a cool uncle type with a big heart, but he’s at work so you only get a glimpse.

Abby was our main server for the evening. She really blossomed throughout the night. She was simply adorable. She made my dinner what it was and although the food was delicious Abby was the cherry on top! Truly. She knew the menu, ate the menu, gave me all the suggestions that mattered to me and my stomach. She's a gem. She deserves one of those pink blazers. If y'all don't buy her one, I will! Also, she is one of the best servers I've ever had. She's quite adaptable and although young and probably not in this forever, she should be promoted. This should be your trainer for incoming servers. You could also use her at the Front Desk in The Beatrice. I truly believe you have an asset in her. Everything is genuine and she's got the best mannerisms and involvement within her tables.

Myra was also a sweetheart we encountered. She is simply gorgeous just like Abby, but I can tell she just hangs in the back and lets the others shine. She came to fill our waters, drop off miscellaneous items and just check in with the table. She was friendly, warm, and easily embraced hospitality. She, too, should have a more elevated guest-facing role. She’s quite the peach! I’m sure she was wondering why I asked her name same as Alesso. I just stopped them in the middle of the dining room and asked their names which they told me without hesitation, but I didn’t tell them why. She deserves recognition and I am sure it rarely, if ever, happens. Please let her know we thoroughly enjoyed her time and company.

Alberto was helpful and mindful. He took our menus, brought more wine, checked in on us and chatted all while keeping busy. He was dressed to bless! He took great care in our experience as a whole and I loved that.

Paolo came out from the kitchen and spoke to a few tables. Very interested in us enjoying our meal as well as dining experience. He smelled delicious – like garlic, olive oil, and bread. YUM! He greeted us with a big smile and warm welcome. He had to go back to the kitchen, but I understood my food more after meeting him. My food was made with love and good spirits.

I cannot...

I had an amazing experience at Bellini Providence! As someone who works in the hospitality industry and enjoys fine dining, including Michelin Star restaurants, I must say that my experience at Bellini Providence was exceptional. The restaurant has a classy ambiance, and I was impressed from the moment I walked in. Although I didn't have a reservation, the manager kindly accommodated me.

Upon being seated at the table, I was warmly greeted by Lillian, attentive and professional server for the evening. To start off the evening, I opted for a refreshing Hendricks gimlet with a hint of mint, setting the stage for a delightful dining experience. For the first course, I savored a delicious Burrata salad paired with flavorful heirloom tomatoes. This was followed by a delightful Pinot Grigio with crisp and citrusy notes, perfectly complementing the subsequent course of octopus accompanied by a flavorful chickpea purée. While the octopus was slightly chewy, the accompanying sauce was incredibly flavorful and enhanced the overall dish. Moving on to the third course, I enjoyed exquisitely cooked scallops accompanied by a light and refreshing side salad, creating a perfectly balanced and satisfying meal. As a delightful accompaniment to the dinner, I selected a wine from one of my favorite wineries in Paso Robles, Daou, adding a perfect finishing touch to the evening. Overall, it was an impeccable dinner experience that left me thoroughly satisfied!

As a lover of desserts, I couldn't pass up trying the pistachio and hazelnut gelato, and to my delight, Lillian also brought out an extra dessert, a complimentary Panna Cotta. Both desserts were amazing, and as a Pastry Chef, I couldn't decide which one I liked better. I’d say both.

At the end, while I was leaving, Maître d’ checked how was my experience, which I shared and said I’d love to give a 5 start on rest, so she was very nice to add me as a guest so I can leave a review.

The restaurant is beautifully maintained, with every corner telling a great story. The ambiance and decor are stunning, and Bellini is a place that Providence needed. Wish it was in Newport, but I can't wait to dine there again soon!

Thank you, Bellini Providence! Looking forward to returning...