Went out to dinner with friends on Saturday night in Providence, RI. If you think that ambiance makes the food taste better, than I’d definitely recommend CAV restaurant.
CAV is a unique loft space in Providence’s jewelry district. It’s like eating in an antique store — and just about everything you can see is for sale.
We started the meal with cocktails (I continued my experiment into retro cocktails with a Makers Old Fashioned). Then moved on to the NE clam chowder (heavy on the cream with huge chunks of taters) … if you believe in the spoon test – thicker the better – it didn’t pass, but it was still tasty. For dinner, Conrad’s meal won the prize … seared scallops in a lobster butter, balsamic reduction served with lemon risotto and frenched snow peas. Holy wow – that dish alone made me write this review and recommend it to others.
The maître d’ was truly the Master of the Hall. He ran the restaurant’s seating like a perfect hostess, getting a feel for your particular dining desire and seating you at just the right table. “I have everything ahead of time on the floor chart,” he said, “but that’s just a guideline. Once people get here, I know which table is just right for them.” Tash was great – he introduced us to the owners and told us if we called before our next visit, he’d save a great table. Tash and some of the other restaurant staff work at CAV as a way to see walls beyond their jewerly-design studios. Before we left, he showed us some of the pieces he’s working on for his next project – a jewelry exhibition that’s based on the Armenian genocide…
All in all, a great dining experience from cocktails to antinques to victuals (CAV 
). Even the NY Times agrees, it’s one of the 5 restaurants they recommend for visitors to PVD.
The owner (and Tash-proclaimed Prophet) left us each with a silver angel to keep in our pockets and a vow that whenever we see it, to say a prayer for Peace on Earth. “If enough of us do it,” she said, “we’ll start to see the world change.”
Sweet ending to a great meal. (I still have my angel if any New Yorkers want to come over and make a wish.)
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