Oberlin — Restaurant in Providence

Oberlin is easily the single most unique culinary experience I have ever had to date and I have been around a lot! Oberlin literally means "nobel or bright" and does not fail to live up to its namesake. It's as if Grandma grabbed a fine dining establishment by the ear and said "Everything is to be finely curated, made in house from scratch or else!" Everyone knows to listen to Grandma when it comes to a meal...

The first thing you will realize is that the employees are very happy to be there and quite welcoming. The place is spotlessly clean with an elevated casual vibe. The staff works like a well oiled machine, very attentive without being overbearing. Now the Exec. Chef is really something to watch; Chef Chris performs his job of multitasking with the kitchen, wait staff all the while speaking with customers with effortless precision. This was indeed something to watch!

Drinks are finely crafted to delicious and picturesque perfection. I think I had the single best Gin & Tonic of my life.

Apps: Wood Roasted Sesame Focaccia, Ligurian Olive Oil, Oberlin Antipasti, Pistachio, Pickles, Agrodolce, Rosemary, Tempura Skate Cheeks, Piri Piri Mayo were all very unique and tasty small plates that really primed our party for dinner!

Entres' off the menu: Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe; Ricotta Gnudi with Cabbage, Sunchokes Chestnut Preserved Lemon; Lasagna al Forno RI Lamb & Pork Ragu Ricotta and I had the Special Roasted Black Sea Bass. We could not avoid sharing with each other as the Chef has a very fresh look at preparation of classic dishes and did I mention unique enough?

Dessert (save room!): Wood Roasted Basque-Style Cheesecake, Cranberry & Calamondin was a mouth watering finish to an outstanding meal!

Honestly Oberlin is a must try destination while in Providence RI you will NOT be disappointed!

I would be remiss if I did not mention their sister restaurant Gift Horse right next door. We started our night there with beautiful drinks, The Smoked Fish dip and Scallop Crudo were simply delicious! Again we had ultra friendly service there as well!

What a ...

Our visit to Oberlin was incredible. Not just on this occasion but ESPECIALLY on the latest trip.

It's hard to imagine this place getting any better than it previously was, but I really feel like it's come up a tier in excellence regarding their menu and food preparations in the last couple years. All of that is underpinned by exceptional service from a wonderful wait staff.

So, for the last visit we started with an array of fresh crudos - Fluke, Black Bass, Scup, and more - each with distinct flavors that danced nicely with each other. The scallops and mussels are also must try, and one of my favorite apps from the sea. Their own sourdough bread, made with local grains, added a comforting, homely touch to the meal.

The Kohlrabi Caesar salad is a staple, it's a creative twist on a classic, boasting of cured Butterfish and Parmigiano. The pasta dishes are all super memorable, with the Paccheri alla Pesto and the Strozzapreti Carbonara being the clear standouts.

The small plates, especially the local Lamb Tartare and the Lamb & Pork Sausage, were both inventive and satisfying. But the star of the meal was the whole grilled Scup, which was one of the best whole fish fries I've tried anywhere in the world.

Finally, the Basque style cheesecake stole the dessert show, though the Rhubarb Tart with Geranium Ice Cream gave it a run for its money.

Oberlin offers an impressive culinary experience, with an exquisite menu, skilled preparation, and top-notch service. It's a gem worth...

We wanted to go to Oberlin because we miss the now closed sister restaurant, Birch. We love the creative menu and friendly staff.

Service: Adam is all you need on a bad day, specially the day the news reported the Russian attack on Ukraine. I bet Adam could resolve that conflict. He is that friendly.

Adam can also read minds: He offered us bread to soak in the sauce off our plates and brought us the check before we could let him know. He is so attentive that when I told him I loved the Chardonnay from Valencia, he brought me the bottle so I could take a picture.

Adam is the best.

The Restaurant: I found the chairs (long bench against the wall) uncomfortable. I did not enjoy the music. I was not happy with the bathroom with the broken lock, but I do appreciate the sign that says to knock because the lock is broken.

The Food: If you want unique flavors and experience, Oberlin is for you. I’m very traditional with my food choices, so there were items I didn’t like, but my husband ate everything.

The portions are small, so you don’t leave stuffed. I like that.

Menu: Thank God for Adam, our waiter, because the menu was so weird, we had to ask Adam to interpret it for us. Recommendation: Put a main title in layman’s terms and then use what you currently have as the description. Adam did a good job explaining the menu to us.

The warm apple & ginger tart was delicious. The raviolis with clam sauce were my...