Providence, named in gratitude for "God's merciful providence," is located at the head of Narragansett Bay in the state of Rhode Island. The city is known for its festivals, historic sites and museums, including the Museum of Rhode Island History, and for its numerous colleges and universities, including Brown University. Its diversity has given rise to many restaurants found in and near Providence, including different kinds of Spanish restaurants, from South American- to Mediterranean-inspired.
Machu Picchu Restaurante is a Peruvian restaurant located in Providence. It's described as a small, hole-in-the-wall type restaurant. The menu consists of seafood, chicken and beef entrees as well as soups and desserts. Try the ceviche de camarones, which is fish marinated in lemon juice with onion and shrimp, served with potatoes, or try the bistek encebollado, which is steak sauteed with onions and tomatoes, served with rice. Also served is polo ala brasa, or rotisserie chicken, which can be ordered in whole, half or 1/4 sizes.
Machu Picchu Restaurante is open daily and breakfast is served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Spain Restaurant of Cranston is a casual dining restaurant just 11 minutes away from Providence. It features a spacious and elegant interior that mixes contemporary elements with traditional Spanish design. This restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine that includes entrees such as Veal Spain, which is bone-in Provimi veal loin chop stuffed with lobster, crab, smoked ham and Castilian cheese, topped with a roasted mushroom Malaga wine sauce. Paella Valenciana is shrimp, sea scallops, clams, mussels, chorizo, chicken and calamari with saffron rice. Private functions can be accommodated at the restaurant for groups of up to 200 people.
Spain Restaurant of Cranston is closed on Tuesdays.
About 30 minutes from Providence, LOCO Tapas & Wine Bar is described as a restaurant that's upscale but not pretentious. Aside from the dining area, the restaurant also features a bar and a lounge. Some of the tapas on the menu are assorted Spanish cheeses, warm saffron potatoes, fried artichoke hearts, smoked chicken and ham croquettes, and boquerones, which are white anchovies in Spanish oil. Have paella as an entree or chicken cazuela, which is pan-roasted, orange-brined chicken breast with black beans and rice, peppers, garlic and onion sauce.
LOCO Tapas & Wine Bar is open from Wednesday to Saturday for dinner. The lounge is open until midnight.
