Brown Bee Coffee — Restaurant in Providence

Like many people, I work during the week, so weekends are the time to try to delegate a little time for passion projects and do something for me. I hadn't been to Brown Bee before, so I tried to go. It was busy inside, but I was able to grab a drink, some food, and hole myself up in the bar area in the farthest corner to try to work on some writing projects. I wasn't even planning on staying longer than an hour.

A few minutes in an employee poked me and told me they had a "no laptop" policy on the weekends. Even though I wasn't at a table, and was at a one-person bar seat that people generally use.... for laptops! I want to be clear that this employee was nice about it and it seemed they were just being the bearer of bad news from management/the owner(s). I don't want this review to reflect poorly on the employee. I'm sure Brown Bee probably had "no laptop" signs up that I missed because it was pretty busy and crowded. If I had seen them, I would have left before spending money.

I was told I could go outside if I wanted to. I said, okay, and went outside. There were about four or five tables, and a group of 7 or 8 girls had pushed three tables together and commandeered all the chairs from the other tables. There were two tables that were just empty because all the seats had been stolen away. There was just... literally nowhere to sit. Normally I wouldn't mind this, but if Brown Bee can be so pernickity about laptops, perhaps they could also monitor to make sure the intended seating arrangements aren't being hijacked by giant groups. I would have happily sat outside and worked there.

Anyway, having nowhere to sit, I just... went home! So much for carving out a little writing time for myself on the weekend.

Don't get me wrong: I know why they have this policy. They don't want college kids camping out all day. They want customers moving through the space in a rotating fashion so they can keep spending money. Well, hey, guess what. Your genius policy backfired. I'm not a college student, but I am an adult with a disposible income. I spent $20 here on food, a drink, and a tip only to get kicked out. How did that feel? Yeah, not great.

Not only will I never be back here, but I will make sure to tell everyone I know never to go to the Brown Bee. If you're looking for a coffee shop in Providence where this draconian, paternalistic laptop policy doesn't exist, I recommend checking out RiffRaff, White Electric, New Harvest, Coffee Exchange, or just like... literally any other coffee shop in this city. Good riddance to...

Great local cafe with solid drinks and amazing croissants.

Visited on a Sunday morning to try the famous French Onion Soup Croissant. We arrived around 11, and the cafe was already packed. Fortunately, by the time our drinks were ready, a table opened up just in time.

The café itself had a warm, classic wooden aesthetic. As expected from an owner with a real estate background, the space blended seamlessly into the neighborhood without feeling overly designed. Their pastry selection, however, took a more modern approach. Under the pastry executive chef Alisia Custodio, their selections brought just the right amount of variety and creative twists.

We, of course, had to try the French Onion Soup Croissant and the Pistachio Croissant. The former was a blend of caramelized onion, gruyère cheese, and thyme. The crispy bits of gruyère at the edges delivered an umami kick that beautifully elevated the subtly sweet onion flavor of the croissant itself. A simple trio of ingredients, yet it perfectly captured the comforting essence of the classic soup.

As for the Pistachio Croissant, the filling was relatively light, but the pistachio flavor was rich and intense—extra nutty, likely achieved through a pistachio paste or oil rather than crushed nuts. The glaze rings on the surface also carried a delicate pistachio essence.

If you’re planning a weekend visit, come here before 11. By noon, the line was already stretching...

I'll allow this place the benefit of the doubt since they just opened and i'm sure still have to work out kinks, so in reality this is more of a 3.5-4 review. But some initial thoughts:

Coffee was good, by no means bad, but also no better than all of the other independent shops in the city (of which some I would say I still prefer). Didnt get to try a croissant but they did look quite good, so maybe this is where they will shine. My one gripe.. ditch the boxes that you are handing them out in. They seem like a waste and unnecessary (and I am sure are costing $ that could be spent elsewhere).

The aesthetic inside and out is definitely nice, but I cannot get over the merch that is trying to be sold to establish a "lifestyle brand". Inside the shop, its taking up valuable space that could otherwise be used for chairs or more tables. I have low hopes that over time the quality of the food/coffee will be surpassed by the need to try and push their other goods.. but I could be wrong. So far the shop doesn't seem to fit in with the city, but instead seems more likely to be found in a greater metro area like NYC where people fall for this stuff more.

Overall, there could be promise, but in time we will have to see if they can maintain and improve on what they...