2 Pauls City Grille, East Providence

At 2 Pauls City Grille, a restaurant that takes its name from owners Paul Shire and Paul Roidoulis, cooks serve up homestyle American cuisine. Plates of meatloaf, Saugy hot dogs, and macaroni and cheese emerge from the kitchen, carrying with them their familiar, appetizing aromas. "We sure are talking comfort food," wrote one The Providence Phoenix reviewer.

While much of the menu features straightforward and familiar flavors, Shire also draws on an extensive culinary background to prepare more complex dishes. Those range from shrimp mozambique in a beer-and-saffron sauce to braised short ribs with porcini mushrooms in a loosely made ravioli. Liquid offerings are just as extensive–wine, draft beer, and specialty martinis round out the menu.