(323) 460-4170

5955 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038 34.0835 -118.3303

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Neighborhoods: Hollywood, Central LA

PROVIDENCELA.COM

Years in business

Established in 2005

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 6pm - 10pm

Friday: 12pm - 2:30pm

Saturday: 5:30pm - 10pm

Sunday: 5:30pm - 9pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 6.08.11

What People Are Saying About Providence

Featured Review

Tara Lis

Contributor

A veritable institution in L.A., this nondescript structure might not look like much from the outside, but inside you'll be treated to some of the best seafood on the West Coast. Comrpised of a series of separate, elegant dining areas--including a subdued lounge and a private chef's table--along with the main room and the covered patio, the pared down space (think beige-brown hues and absent artwork, save for scattered clusters of porcelain and ceramic seashells along the walls and ceiling) softly buzzes with servers who float about with easygoing charm. Chef Michael Cimarusti transformed…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
The main room is the epicenter of the action, but can get loud on busy nights--request seating in the patio room for a more intimate experience. Don't get relegated to the small, remote alcove behind the bar.
Parking:
Valet parking is available on the Cole side of the restaurant, but street spots can usually be found in the neighborhood.
What to Drink:
The by-the-glass wine selection is generous. Try the $40 Domaine Vrignaud Chablis 2002, great for multi-fish pairings. Corkage is $15.
ambiance
97.37000465393066% positive
  1. Romantic ambiance, artistic and flavorful food, Providence has just become my husband and my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles.
  2. The service was extremely attentive with out being obsequious, and the decor was very elegant.
  3. The restaurant is fairly small, but the atmosphere is elegant.
  4. So, the bottom line is that the food was great, but the decor and service were not.
  5. The decor is beautiful also.
  6. Nice decor.
  7. The service, atmosphere and food were all impeccable.
  8. Great ambiance, terrible food
  9. Decor: good balance of minimalism and decoration.
  10. Excellent food but so-so service and boring decor
  11. Service is impeccable, the food is absolutely devine, the decor is extraordinary.
  12. our waiter would come out and explain to us what the dish was and some other fun little facts.
  13. We found Providence to be a wonderfully comfortable setting that immediately embraces a relaxed and fun ambience.
  14. The wine pairings allowed my tastbuds to spring to life and helped to create a warm, comfortable and intimate dining experience.
  15. We were seated on the romantic "terrace.
  16. It looks into their wine cellar, was very cozy, and had great energy !
  17. The restaurant decor is pleasing to the eye and the lighting is excellent and romantic, but do not go here if you have any sort of appetite whatsoever.
  18. The decor was fabulous, and warm.
  19. But I would still recommend it for diners who want a leisurely fine dining experience in a comfortable environment.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. On my last visit just last week on a quiet monday night - the new crab cake was delicious (more crab than cake) - and the duck was probably the best duck i've ever had.
  2. the desserts were argyably better than the mains- try the mojito sorbet if you like that flavor.
  3. The desserts were amazing also.
  4. GREAT desserts
  5. At the end, we decided not to order dessert as our waiter was too busy and did not want to wait forever for the final course.
  6. Besides the awesome food their desserts are very innovative and well executed!
  7. The frozen banana dessert was a perfect finish.
  8. Fantastic service, great apps and dessert but the main course was way off.
  9. really delicious chocolate napoleon with hazelnuts and oranges.
  10. Napolean was a good desert to indulge yourself in.
  11. My girlfriend and I shared the dessert tasting menu, and everything was great again.
drinks
93.68000030517578% positive
  1. Even the bar is staffed by real mixologist and they make absolutely delicious cocktails on request.
  2. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and helped us pick the perfect wine while letting us know about it.
  3. the drink and the bartender were amazing.
  4. The food was excellent and the wine service was fine.
  5. The cocktails are "stiff" and the staff is great.
  6. lit from underneath) and asked the Italian bartender to suggest some cocktails.
  7. The wine pairings allowed my tastbuds to spring to life and helped to create a warm, comfortable and intimate dining experience.
  8. The sommelier was quite good, he choose some fabulous wines to go with our courses.
  9. The flavor pairing was good albeit salty but the wine really cut the acidity of the sauce.
  10. The wine selections were impressive.
  11. The service was good, but my friend is known throughout the food and wine industry, and we tend to get top notch service usually no matter where we are.
  12. The food may have been good, but the wait was too long between courses and I was drowning my hunger and sorrows with the wine pairings.
  13. The staff is always so kind and friendly - the bartender remembered my favorite drink.
  14. She was very personable and made a great bourban drink up on the spot that I will not soon forget.
  15. It looks into their wine cellar, was very cozy, and had great energy !
  16. Our beautiful waiter (also a Leo I might add) was superb, and had our cocktails in minutes.
  17. The high point came when the sommelier came to recommend wines to pair with our dinner, without me asking for help.
  18. Dana, the sommelier, was really good and the wine she picked for us was perfect (we wrote down what it was so we can find it later).
  19. Service was excellent my wife enjoyed the accompaning wine pairings.
  20. The cocktails are freshly fantastic and make for the perfect fuel for hitting the dance floor.
  21. They have a reasonably priced wine list, (we drunk too much) and some great cocktails.
  22. The staff was nice, but not very knowledgeable about the food and wine.
  23. We had the full tasting menu with the wine pairing.
  24. The restaurant is beautiful and the bar is amazing.
  25. Also, the mixologist is awesome (I am sadly allergic to wine, so finding great specialy cocktails is a real treat for me).
  26. The food, and the wine selection, didn't fail us.
  27. The best seafood , a great wine list and a fair price for perfection.
  28. One of the best dining experiences to be had in Southern California, bar none.
  29. The drinks were really good - not quite as good as the drinks at CUT, but also a little cheaper, so it evened out.
food quality
95.15000343322754% positive
  1. Many have talked about the great food overall, including the seafood -- which is all true.
  2. The food was FANTASTIC
  3. We all had the tasting menu (everyone has to get it if you want a tasting menu) and virtually every single course was full of flavor and very tasty.
  4. Everything we had was delicious.
  5. Most memorable was the dish of bay scallops with salsify puree and red beet jus.
  6. The blue crab appetizer was so fresh and tasty.
  7. The service is great and the food is delightful.
  8. The food was excellent and the wine service was fine.
  9. Great customer service, great food
  10. Each plate was more beautiful and delicious than the next.
  11. The service was good, but my friend is known throughout the food and wine industry, and we tend to get top notch service usually no matter where we are.
  12. Not necessarily my fav but my friend loved it cause those are her comfort food fav and since it's her birthday, it was perfect.
  13. The food was superb.
  14. Even the bar is staffed by real mixologist and they make absolutely delicious cocktails on request.
  15. other than that the food is all beautiful but completely lacking in depth of flavor.
  16. The food, and the wine selection, didn't fail us.
  17. We added the parfait to the 5 course tasting menu and were very satisfied with every course-- the food was outstanding!
  18. The next day, the food was just as good and amazing.
  19. For the exhorbitant prices, the food should have been the best I've ever had.
  20. On my last visit just last week on a quiet monday night - the new crab cake was delicious (more crab than cake) - and the duck was probably the best duck i've ever had.
  21. It was probably my favorite in addition to a pork belly that was accompanied by an amazing broccolini mash.
  22. The food was wonderful, the presentation was beautiful.
  23. The place looks great, but the food had almost no flavor.
  24. great food, expensive
  25. The presentation of the food is beautiful, but you have to follow up with flavorful food.
  26. the service is great and the food is delish.
  27. The Chef did come to our table, but how do you tell him that you are not pleased with what I am sure he believed was an amazing meal.
  28. Even the bread is good (especially the bacon roll).
  29. The food was great.
  30. Food was very good, though not flawless, and the price is obviously in the range of restaurants where it's reasonable to expect the food to be flawless.
  31. The food may have been good, but the wait was too long between courses and I was drowning my hunger and sorrows with the wine pairings.
  32. We had a tasting menu and each dish was perfect!
  33. We went two nights in a row and both nights, the food was wonderful.
  34. had the lobster w/ hazelnuts (very good) & my hubby got what must be the best dish of all - ahi tuna.
  35. Every course tasted was delicious and plated with such artful care.
  36. The simplicity, yet uniqueness of the dishes provided the perfect backdrop to showcase each masterpiece.
  37. Great service from friendly, knowledgable wait staff, and the food (i had the prawns and chowder) was amazing.
  38. Besides the awesome food their desserts are very innovative and well executed!
  39. Excellent food but so-so service and boring decor
  40. If you like seafood you will be in paradise
  41. My favorite is the coconut soup with passion fruit gelee and lychee sorbet.
  42. The seafood was perfect in preparation and presentation.
  43. All the seafood course were excellent though I thought it stopped just short of the pop factor which defines exceptional quality.
  44. So, the bottom line is that the food was great, but the decor and service were not.
  45. For the record, the food at Providence is truly incredible.
  46. you will love this place if you love seafood.
  47. making the delicious dinner complete.
  48. was happy and ready to pay for good food and good service anyway.
  49. Thank you so very much, Chef, for making our meal so very memorable.
  50. Great food coupled with friendly, knowledgeable service.
  51. don't think the flavors enhanced the meats but rather taken away from the burst of clean, fresh flavors that I expected from a renowned seafood restaurant.
  52. This is a true dining experience, something beyond just good food.
  53. The best seafood , a great wine list and a fair price for perfection.
  54. really delicious chocolate napoleon with hazelnuts and oranges.
  55. Regardless, my wife and I really enjoyed the food.
  56. The food was perfect, stunning, memorable -- I can't praise it enough.
  57. we had the 9 course tasting menu and loved each dish.
  58. Also, the service at Providence is some of the best you will get in LA, helpful and not at all stuffy help make the food even more enjoyable.
  59. He said they have the best seafood in LA, and I can tell you now.
  60. The food is extraordinarily inventive (don't miss the "Chowda") and the service is the best I've had in any restaurant in years.
  61. The service was perfect and the food was fresh and flavorful.
  62. While the tasting menu and the cheese plate looked amazing, we had our heart set on the Turbot for two - it is, after all, a seafood restaurant and if we're going to get Turbot anywhere in LA, we're going to do it right.
  63. Cimarusti has searched the waters for some incredible seafood taste sensations and delivered them with fanatical perfection.
  64. Great ambiance, terrible food
  65. Dishes presentation was a big part of the experience and every fish course was impeccable.
  66. The food-Not so good!
  67. Foie gras ravioli italian summer truffles, aromatics, parmesan - I love foie gras, infatuated with pasta, and I love love love truffles so technically this dish can't fail and it didn't.
  68. It is not like the food is the best I have ever had, but it really is some of the most unique.
  69. The flavor pairing was good albeit salty but the wine really cut the acidity of the sauce.
  70. The staff was nice, but not very knowledgeable about the food and wine.
  71. Again, the food was great.
  72. That was exactly what the food at Providence was like.
  73. love Hollywood Nightlife and I love great food.
  74. We were first treated to an amuse bouche of dungeness crab and a cold pea soup after which we knew we were in for a great meal.
  75. ordered the salmon, which was flavorful and beautifully presented; however, the portion was about one-third of what I expected and the same was true for my companion's dish.
  76. The raw oysters were so good that we ordered an extra dish of them!
  77. As an aside, Chef Cimarusti asked us how we enjoyed the meal as we were leaving and even opened and held the door open for us as we were leaving!
  78. My 3rd visit to this great seafood spot is definetely the best restaurant experience I've had in the whole 2006.
  79. If you like crappy service, and food with no soul, you will love this restaurant.
  80. Everyone was very polite and attentive and our overall dining experience was a great one, the meal lasted about 3 hours and we were not hurried at any point throughout the evening.
  81. The food has always been excellent here.
  82. The only other time I have had a dining experience that even approached the incredible meal at Providence is when Cimarusti was at Water Grill.
  83. The service is excellent and the food is very flavorful.
  84. You could tell that the ingredients were very fresh, however, I think the chef relied too heavily on the freshness of the ingredients to speak for themselves.
  85. In the end, I had sweet bread instead of the fresh unagi, both scrumptous in it's own right.
  86. They have the most creative food and best ingredients in town.
  87. Maybe L.A. restaurant goers like being treated badly, and eating very expensive, fairly ordinary, under-seasoned food.
  88. quick note before I get to the food, the décor is really nice.
  89. Great food but don't understand the server and check operations.
  90. Excellent meal, wonderful service, very light and tasty seafood.
  91. One was the foie parfait- holy moly was this tasty!
  92. went on a fantastic special occasion date here recently and had a great meal!
  93. Our side dishes were pretty excellent, including the lobster risotto.
  94. Service is impeccable, the food is absolutely devine, the decor is extraordinary.
  95. Everything was super tasty, and just kept getting better.
  96. Servers not recommending dishes because they say our palates may be different and there for there opinion is irrelevant is seriously annoying.
  97. our waiter would come out and explain to us what the dish was and some other fun little facts.
  98. The food combinations are unique.
  99. The food was generally good, not outstanding but not awful either, and it certainly was not worth the price.
  100. Romantic ambiance, artistic and flavorful food, Providence has just become my husband and my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles.
  101. The service, atmosphere and food were all impeccable.
  102. had the chef's market menu on my last visit and had some of the most interesting dishes I have ever tasted.
  103. got the 5 course meal and each bite was delicious.
menu variety
59.52000141143799% positive
  1. We had the full tasting menu with the wine pairing.
  2. we had the 9 course tasting menu and loved each dish.
  3. My girlfriend and I shared the dessert tasting menu, and everything was great again.
  4. had the chef's market menu on my last visit and had some of the most interesting dishes I have ever tasted.
  5. The food, and the wine selection, didn't fail us.
  6. ive had the "full tasting", the "five course" and items from the regular menu and not only have i never been disappointed - i've been truly amazed.
  7. We did the full tasting menu and we're delighted with every single bite!
  8. The wine selections were impressive.
  9. She recommended the tasting menu and it was truly one of the top 3 meals I have ever had.
  10. While the tasting menu and the cheese plate looked amazing, we had our heart set on the Turbot for two - it is, after all, a seafood restaurant and if we're going to get Turbot anywhere in LA, we're going to do it right.
  11. We added the parfait to the 5 course tasting menu and were very satisfied with every course-- the food was outstanding!
  12. Tasting menu was a 5-hour marathon; slow service for a fancy restaurant
  13. We all had the tasting menu (everyone has to get it if you want a tasting menu) and virtually every single course was full of flavor and very tasty.
  14. Don't confuse this place with some fufu frilly restaurant because the proportions are small and the menu is expensive, it is absolutely worth every dollar.
  15. The service was painfully slow and we did not order a fixed course menu.
  16. We had the chef tasting menu; just perfect.
  17. Ive had tasting menus at Sona and other nice places and service is absolutely critical.
  18. The 5 course Prix Fixe menu was superb!
  19. took my boyfriend here for his 30th birthday with the intent to try the full tasting menu.
  20. We had a tasting menu and each dish was perfect!
  21. The tasting menus are a good deal, and great if you're looking for a very full dinner.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. What a great restaurant.
  2. Had a great bottle of 1996 Joseph Phelps Insignia reasonably priced for a restaurant of this caliber.
  3. This is my favorite restaurant in the world.
  4. The food is extraordinarily inventive (don't miss the "Chowda") and the service is the best I've had in any restaurant in years.
  5. The best restaurant I have ever been to
  6. It is nice to go to a restaurant in Los Angeles where service is so good.
  7. If youre looking to entertain an important client or have a nice evening with a loved one, please consider another restaurant.
  8. My 3rd visit to this great seafood spot is definetely the best restaurant experience I've had in the whole 2006.
  9. Providence is my new favorite restaurant.
  10. Romantic ambiance, artistic and flavorful food, Providence has just become my husband and my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles.
  11. If you don't have a budget, then this is the best indulgence within the restaurant realm.
  12. since dining at some of the finest restautants around the world - who would have thought that the consistantly best restaurant of recent times is located right in my own neighborhood.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. With wonderfully refreshing and eclectic music swimming in the background and impeccable service, I can't wait to return.
service
90.7699966430664% positive
  1. Everyone was very polite and attentive and our overall dining experience was a great one, the meal lasted about 3 hours and we were not hurried at any point throughout the evening.
  2. For a special occasion I highly recommend this place, we are not wealthy people and I felt we had full value for what this wonderful restaurant provided.
  3. The staff was nice, but not very knowledgeable about the food and wine.
  4. The sommelier was very knowledgeable, down to earth and friendly.
  5. It is nice to go to a restaurant in Los Angeles where service is so good.
  6. Ive had tasting menus at Sona and other nice places and service is absolutely critical.
  7. Our server, to start with, was wonderful and kept a smile on our face.
  8. the service is great and the food is delish.
  9. and the service was great.
  10. However, the service was not as good as what you'd expect to receive in high scale restaurants like Providence.
  11. The service was outstanding also.
  12. Service was warm, friendly and knowledgeable.
  13. If you like crappy service, and food with no soul, you will love this restaurant.
  14. Excellent meal, wonderful service, very light and tasty seafood.
  15. Great food coupled with friendly, knowledgeable service.
  16. Excellent food but so-so service and boring decor
  17. The food is extraordinarily inventive (don't miss the "Chowda") and the service is the best I've had in any restaurant in years.
  18. The courses were perfectly timed to arrive just as the prior one had settled in our stomachs, and were served by an unfailingly warm and gracious staff that has neither the pretense and condescension nor the obsequies of other restaurants.
  19. The female bartender was knowledgeable and very professional.
  20. was happy and ready to pay for good food and good service anyway.
  21. The service was perfect and the food was fresh and flavorful.
  22. Fantastic service, great apps and dessert but the main course was way off.
  23. lit from underneath) and asked the Italian bartender to suggest some cocktails.
  24. Tasting menu was a 5-hour marathon; slow service for a fancy restaurant
  25. Earlier posters complained about poor service at Providence, and it seems clear that the management has worked hard to correct the problems.
  26. You and your excellent staff have my deepest respect and admiration.
  27. The people were very friendly and down to earth.
  28. our waiter would come out and explain to us what the dish was and some other fun little facts.
  29. the service was very professional and attentive.
  30. Service was outstanding from busboys to waiters.
  31. The service was impeccable and flawless, although I felt a little sorry for the waiters as it looked like they were wearing brown sacks, not very flattering for them.
  32. The waiters were friendly and professional at the same time, enthusiastic and very accommodating.
  33. They have great service, and fill you up with several courses and several complimentary accompaniments.
  34. They have friendly staffs too.
  35. Great food but don't understand the server and check operations.
  36. The host was able to get us a table earlier than what our reservation was for, which was nice of him - our service the entire night was perfect.
  37. My lengthy (10 course) dining experience there last weekend was extremely pleasant, and I'd say that the service was the high point.
  38. EVERYTHING exceeded my expectations--the tasteful & relaxing décor, the attentive & knowledgable wait staff, the artful presentation of each course and OH!
  39. So, the bottom line is that the food was great, but the decor and service were not.
  40. the drink and the bartender were amazing.
  41. Our server was friendly and approachable.
  42. Food was superb, service could be improved
  43. Pity the great staff.
  44. The service was amazing.
  45. The food was excellent and the wine service was fine.
  46. Don't mistake not being rushed for bad service!
  47. our servers (there were many) were all very professional but also very friendly.
  48. Also, the service at Providence is some of the best you will get in LA, helpful and not at all stuffy help make the food even more enjoyable.
  49. The wait staff is very friendly and knowledgable.
  50. Our waiter recommended that we do the 5 course tasting and order the rest ala carte.
  51. With wonderfully refreshing and eclectic music swimming in the background and impeccable service, I can't wait to return.
  52. wont be going back which i regret because it is such a civilized and friendly place.
  53. The service was impeccable from host to sommelier to waiters, very knowledgeble and caring staff.
  54. thought the service was terrific.
  55. Unless you're someone important, the service is very "snooty", slow and not very welcoming.
  56. Waitstaff was attentive.
  57. The service was excellent, our waiter attentive and knowledgable.
  58. First off, getting the staff to change a reservation from 3 to 5 persons took divine intervention.
  59. Great service from friendly, knowledgable wait staff, and the food (i had the prawns and chowder) was amazing.
  60. Hands down the best service in L.A.
  61. The cocktails are "stiff" and the staff is great.
  62. The service was extremely attentive with out being obsequious, and the decor was very elegant.
  63. The service is great and the food is delightful.
  64. At the end, we decided not to order dessert as our waiter was too busy and did not want to wait forever for the final course.
  65. Our beautiful waiter (also a Leo I might add) was superb, and had our cocktails in minutes.
  66. The service is excellent and the food is very flavorful.
  67. The staff is always so kind and friendly - the bartender remembered my favorite drink.
  68. I'm glad to see a restaurant that does not have a pretentious staff.
  69. The service was painfully slow and we did not order a fixed course menu.
  70. Lots of friendly staff, too.
  71. Great customer service, great food
  72. Both our captain and our server were flawless: friendly but professional; always close by but never obtrusive; knowledgeable but not snooty.
  73. The service, atmosphere and food were all impeccable.
  74. The service was good, but my friend is known throughout the food and wine industry, and we tend to get top notch service usually no matter where we are.
value
63.88999938964844% positive
  1. This restaurant is pricey but totally worth it.
  2. Don't confuse this place with some fufu frilly restaurant because the proportions are small and the menu is expensive, it is absolutely worth every dollar.
  3. Random: they bring out the huge black truffles and white truffles for you to smell.
  4. these prices are way over the top for this mediocre fare.
  5. For the exhorbitant prices, the food should have been the best I've ever had.
  6. For a special occasion I highly recommend this place, we are not wealthy people and I felt we had full value for what this wonderful restaurant provided.
  7. Food was very good, though not flawless, and the price is obviously in the range of restaurants where it's reasonable to expect the food to be flawless.
  8. The best seafood , a great wine list and a fair price for perfection.
  9. The food was generally good, not outstanding but not awful either, and it certainly was not worth the price.
  10. expensive great experience
  11. great food, expensive
  12. Maybe L.A. restaurant goers like being treated badly, and eating very expensive, fairly ordinary, under-seasoned food.
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. This was absolutely one of the best meals I have had in a long time.
  2. As an example, it was at least 45 mins after our cheese course before we got the next course (which was not a warm plate).
  3. The service was painfully slow and we did not order a fixed course menu.
  4. Our beautiful waiter (also a Leo I might add) was superb, and had our cocktails in minutes.
  5. The food may have been good, but the wait was too long between courses and I was drowning my hunger and sorrows with the wine pairings.
  6. Unless you're someone important, the service is very "snooty", slow and not very welcoming.
  7. quick note before I get to the food, the décor is really nice.
  8. Tasting menu was a 5-hour marathon; slow service for a fancy restaurant
3 Star Rating: Average

02/11/12

Good service, can't say the same about the food

by BenFrank

I know that when a person comes to a restaurant such as Providence, they go for the flavors and the experience. When I came to Providence I had a very mixed experience.

The service was very nice, everyone answered all my questions I had, because let's face it, not everyone will know every ingredient on the menu unless you're a strong chef. The one thing I didn't like was the extra's they brought out and explained super quickly and left. Other than that, great service.

The food wasn't as I had expected. I know culinary creativity to mix flavors with visual pleasure is key, but a lot of these flavors, although recognized, didn't seem to really sync together. I have to admit though, the Chowda' was very, very good.

I think it just depends on what you order, some of these dishes were amazing while the others were sadly not so very good.

Came here with my girlfriend and she ordered the john dory while I ordered the main lobster. The lobster came out of its shell in a creative little salad, came recommended by the waiter, unfortunately it wasn't all that it was hyped up to be. I tried a piece of my girlfriends john dory, whatever it was wrapped around gave it an awful aftertaste, and her salad didn't seem to be very good either, was a very strange mix of bacon and what looked like seaweed. The flavors weren't complementing each other.

Maybe we just ordered the wrong dishes, but our experience wasn't what we'd hoped it would be. Hopefully for others it's better.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/11/10

my best experience in LA

by george43

We had the full tasting menu with the wine pairing.

Every dish was spot on from the bread to the mignardise, and the wine was well paired with every course.The service was outstanding also. They were kind and very flexible with all our requests.Every dish was perfectly explained. We also had some awsome cocktails. Thank you Providence.

  • Pros: beautiful, flavorful, professional
  • Cons: far from my house
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/01/10

5 star experience with 3 star food.

by ronnielee

Finally. Providence.

We thought long and hard about the tasting menus versus ala carte. Our waiter recommended that we do the 5 course tasting and order the rest ala carte. Win win. A quick note before I get to the food, the décor is really nice. Draped in a simple blue grey palette with high ceilings, it was airy, calm, spacious.

Food Breakdown from great to bad (desserts are just ok):

- Santa Barbara Salt Prawns - These are amazing! They smell so delectable and the table side presentation was pretty cool. Roasted in kosher salt and rosmary, the prawns shelled in front of you and drizzled in olive oil. It tasted amazingly sweet. Almost like crab flavored lobster.

- Foie gras ravioli italian summer truffles, aromatics, parmesan - I love foie gras, infatuated with pasta, and I love love love truffles so technically this dish can't fail and it didn't. The truffles are shaved tableside and he didn't hesitate to overload my ravioli with truffles. Mmm. Random: they bring out the huge black truffles and white truffles for you to smell. So baller.

- Japanese wagyu beef with wild mushrooms - This was the 2nd to last course and by this point, I was pretty stuffed. The wagyu is sliced tableside and was deliciously fatty. Almost too fatty at this stage of the meal. I was slipping into food coma. The intense fattiness of it went well with the asparagus and chanterelles and potato. Paired nicely with the wine.

- Cod in shiso and lemon - The cod was so delicate. I have cooked cod before and it was NOTHING like this. It was one of the best pieces of fish I've ever had. Thought the sauce was a bit overpowering though for such a delicate fish.

- Hokkaido sea scallop with chanterelles, bacon - I love scallops and this was no exception. The flavor pairing was good albeit salty but the wine really cut the acidity of the sauce.

- Kanpachi sashimi with soy crème fraiche with blossoming coriander - Good. Fresh.

- Veal tenderloin, hazelnuts, roasted garlic, King Edwards potatoes, onion, veal jus - Perfectly cooked. It was so tender and juicy. The accompaniments paired nicely though I wish the meats were served in the middle rather than the end cuz I was so full.

- Mojito, the gin and tonic, and chilled carrot soup - the amuses. It was ok. Creative and cute. Liked the mojito the most. The gin and tonic tasted like frozen G & T which is the point but I kept thinking. It's a G & T ice cube! I'm so pedestrian I know.

- Chowda' smoky bacon, manila clams, creamy clam broth - It was ok. The broth wasn't creamy enough. It tasted like watered down clam chowder. It actually tasted like the sauce the scallops was paired with .. Just like the soup version.

- Bacon, Mushroom, Truffled Risotto - I really don't want to sound full of myself. But I will. I know I can make better risotto. In fact, BOTH of us thought the same thing. This risotto was noticeably undercooked, lacked the creaminess I expect from risotto, and the bacon threw it off. I did like the truffles on top cuz it's truffles.

My problem isn't that the food is overly 'avant garde' or innovative to the point where I'm just dining on foam and gels but I thought the flavoring was off in a lot of the dishes. The sauce and/or seasoning was either too salty or too rich in contrast to the protein. I don't think the flavors enhanced the meats but rather taken away from the burst of clean, fresh flavors that I expected from a renowned seafood restaurant.

Despite my minor quips with the food, I am so so so lucky and thankful to have dined at Providence for my birthday no less and had celeb chef moment: I almost head butted Chef Michael Cimarusti when I was trying to escape from the bathroom (the door is uber heavy). He's so nice and has such a pleasant demeanor although I think I confused him cuz I got nervous and bowed and waved at the same time. Fml.

  • Pros: Service is casual and friendly. Decor is clean.
  • Cons: Food is not amazing.
2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/03/09

Amazing Food, Annoying Service

by Goldie M

For the record, the food at Providence is truly incredible. There’s a dish featuring these ginormous langostino shrimp cooked under a mound of piping hot rock salt tableside that truly has to be tasted/seen before your life expires. Too bad the humans who make up the waiter and maitre’d staff aren’t 1/5 as appealing as the crustaceans they’re serving. The best way to sum up our EXTREMELY expensive dinner at Providence – one that we anticipated with excitement for weeks leading up to the meal as friends and family talked up their encounters with the salt shrimp and other delicacies – is to quickly quote an exchange my Grandpa (the nicest gentleman you are apt to encounter this of Gandhi) and our waiter had regarding a menu heading entitled “Hand Corked Beers”. Grandpa: “I’m wondering, what exactly is a ‘Hand Corked Beer’?” Waiter: “Exactly what it sounds like.” Not exactly the kind of ingratiating dialogue you expect when a restaurant is asking you to pay $40+ for a plate of food – and lets just say it set the mood for the type of service that followed. Really really a shame since it was such a culinary delight. But, sadly, not the type of treatment I ever care to have the privilege to pay for again.

  • Pros: Best Shrimp You Will Ever Put in Your Mouth
  • Cons: Worst Attitude You Will Ever Pay $120 For
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/02/09

Number one in tasting menu

by jrizal

If you've got the money, this is the place to go for tasting menus. Period.

  • Pros: the food
  • Cons: the price

The Details on Providence

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • impeccable knowledgeable service
  • favorite first rate restaurant
  • knowledgable wait staff
  • great course meal
  • slow service
  • highly recommend place
  • memorable dish
  • very knowledgeable original sommelier
  • comfortable dining experience
  • best seafood
  • beautiful restaurant decor
  • great specialy cocktails
  • great whole experience
  • fantastic dessert
  • full single course
  • great everything
  • best fine dining
  • full fixed course menu
  • really good bourban drink
  • beautiful waiter
  • very full dinner
  • just perfect chef tasting menu
  • perfect seafood spot
  • very professional server

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