Cassarino's Ristorante - Providence, Rhode Island

One of the last places I dined on my trip to the East Coast was Cassarino's Ristorante. Cassarino's is an old school Italian-American restaurant located on Federal Hill in Providence, Rhode Island. For those who don't know, Federal Hill is Providence's little Italy. There you'll find lots of great dining, shopping and depending on the time of year a great Italian festival. 

I love a good red-sauce, Italian-American restaurant and Cassarino's delivered. We started out with a drink at the bar...

A vodka martini? Yes, please!

Once we were seated we ordered a few appetizers to share. All of them were good but the the Burrata Salad was outstanding. Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. All I can say is if you see it on a menu somewhere, order it.

Burrata Salad - Creamy fresh mozzarella with Prosciutto di Parma & sliced tomato, finished with olive oil, sweet balsamic vinegar & black sea salt

We also had the stuffed mushrooms and the bruschetta.

Mushroom Caps - Mushrooms stuffed with a Ritz cracker & vegetable stuffing

Traditional Bruschetta - Toasted Italian bread layered with sliced fresh mozzarella & marinated diced plum tomato

For our main courses we decided on the filet mignon and, what I believe were two specials, the papardelle arrabiata and a fillet and stuffed shrimp dish.

Filet Mignon - Grilled filet, portabella mushroom demi glace, with a sprinkle of gorgonzola cheese. Served with asparagus & potato

Papardelle Arrabiata

Grilled filet with mixed veg, potatoes and stuffed jumbo shrimp

Dinner was great. Just what you'd expect from a joint that's been serving local diners since 1988. Great company and good food. No better combination for a fabulous evening.
After dinner we walked over to Pastiche Fine Desserts for a couple of cannolis and a few other treats. A wonderful end to a great evening.

A box of goodness - Cannolis!

If you plan to visit Providence you have to make Federal Hill one of your stops. So many great restaurants, places to get traditional Italian pastries and other yummy goodies.I can't recommend it highly enough. It's touristy but in the best possible way. It'll be a highlight of your trip.

Happy dining!

Colt State Park - Bristol, Rhode Island

During my recent trip to New England I had the chance to revisit Colt State Park in Rhode Island. The park is located in Bristol along the shores of Narragansett Bay. It's a beautiful location.

There are walking and biking trails that pass along the bay...

...as well as picnic areas, an historical museum and an open air chapel.

It would be very easy to spend a day in the park strolling along the trails, admiring the views and just enjoying the natural beauty. There is also a lot more to see in the area. The park is about a 25 minute drive away from Newport with its great beaches and lovely mansions. And there is also downtown Bristol. 

Bristol, Rhode Island is home to a charming downtown that features shops, restaurants and historical homes. You can enjoy the beauty of the park as well as some shopping and grab a bite to eat. 

For those of you who enjoy bike riding, Bristol, nearby Barrington and Warren, share the East Bay Bike Path. The path starts in Providence and winds its way 14.5 miles past many state and local parks. The path is paved and runs along an old railroad line.

You can visit the park any time of year. While some parking areas are closed during the winter, Colt State Park is open year round. There's something so peaceful about the beach in winter.

There are lots of places to enjoy all that Rhode Island has to offer. Beautiful beaches, charming historical cities and fantastic state parks are just a few.


If your travel plans take you to New England be sure and take some time to visit Rhode Island. The miles of coastline, charming historic cities and breathe taking natural beauty make it a must see for everyone.

Happy travels!

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