Oberlin – Providence, RI

• Oberlin is a stylish, contemporary restaurant in downtown Providence
• The menu takes advantage of a wood oven and highlights seafood and pasta
• Oberlin is attached to its sister restaurant, the raw bar Gift Horse

Oberlin, named for chef Benjamin Sukle’s alma mater, has stacked up plenty of awards. When it debuted in 2016, Bon Appétit named it the seventh best new restaurant in America. The New York Times gave it two stars. And Eater has named it one of the best restaurants in Providence several times.

Located on Union Street in the heart of downtown Providence, Oberlin offers a variety of seating options including an attractive outdoor dining area, traditional table service, and counter service at their minimalist bar. While the building is classic, the decor is light and modern. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to talk about food.

The menu is contemporary with Italian influence, featuring fresh seafood and a selection of pastas. A selection of crudo leads off the menu including local scup, also known as porgy. The Brandade a creamy blend of potatoes and white fish is topped with herbs and served with grilled sourdough.

Entrees are mostly pastas, but also offered is a seafood risotto and a whole wood-roasted fish. The rotating Lasagna al Forno, is nontraditional. Sheets of pasta are served in a single layer, adding texture and intensifying flavor.

The bar is minimalist both in design and contents. There is no bottle clutter here, but carefully selected sake, wine, and spirits. Keeping with the Italian themes in the menu, Oberlin offers an gin and tonic featuring Bordiga Occitan Gin from Piedmont, Italy.

If Oberlin isn’t enough, another project by chef Sukle is just steps away. Gift Horse is a small raw bar with an expanded cocktail program. There, along with a large variety of shellfish, you can try gin from The Industrious Spirit Company, Providence’s first distillery since Prohibition.

For more see our travel bites page.