Rhode Island Stores and Shopping

Mondo Restaurant was featured in the Wesleyan Argus, giving it four out of five stars. One hundred percent of Urbanspooners recommend the restaurant and more than 250 Facebookers are fans.

Two Papas Biscotti inspires dreams of Italian cafés or Tuscan countrysides with its biscotti, which are handmade and hand-cut, resulting in various shapes and textures. King Arthur flour builds each biscuit's skeleton, and fresh fruit and chopped nuts give varieties such as the cranberry walnut or limoncello their distinct flavor. Traditional vanilla-almond biscotti charm palates with slivered almonds, and a double-chocolate-chip biscotti satiates cocoa lovers. All biscotti are twice baked, allowing eaters to experience a taste of Italy without making out with Fabio.

Glitter flashes on a set of rainbow-hued fairy wings. A pale pink peony headband adds a splash of color to infant ensembles. Whimsical and feminine, Gigi's Glitzy Boutique’s collection of apparel and accessories appeals to the fairy-tale sensibilities of many young girls. The boutique reflects the vision of its owner, Angela, a mother of two who grew weary of searching the Internet for fashionable children’s attire.

Angela strives to create a playful, tyke-friendly environment at Gigi's Glitzy Boutique: the walls are bright pink, and tissue-paper flowers hang from the ceiling. Her shop also hosts princess-themed birthday parties, replete with storytelling and seminars on how to negotiate interest rates with the tooth fairy. Additionally, the boutique houses Shear Glitz Salon, which offers kid-friendly treatments including feather extensions and temporary glitter tattoos.

In business since 1942, Anthony's House of Formals outfits men with fashions that combine time-honored tradition and modern design. Customers can peruse tuxedos and other formalwear crafted from high-quality fabrics by designers such as Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren. Modern accents such as thin lapels and fitted coats give ensembles an up-to-date look.

At ShelaLara Vineyards & Winery, vintners work with modern equipment to produce more than 20 different wines. Using grapes and fruit imported from California and other sun-soaked regions, the enophiles fill tanks with sweet elixirs including their in-house specialty wine slush. The glacier wines, fruit essences, and vintage wines run a colorful gamut from the off purple of the sky just after sunset to the hue of warm honey. ShelaLara’s winemaking process, including fermentation, bottling, and 21-gun salutes following spills, all takes place in Rhode Island.

The Bradford first opened its doors 30 years ago as a neighborhood convenience store, supplying the community with groceries, newspapers, and quick lunches of classic Italian-American cuisine. Although the aisles may have disappeared, The Bradford remains dedicated to cozy, homestyle comfort foods that draw inspiration from the Old as well as the New World.

Pasta dishes, oven-crisped pizzas, and pan-seared seafood entrees fill the menu of familiar-sounding meals. The restaurant's chefs import prosciutto and make everything from meatballs to pesto sauce in-house. Dedicated as it is to Italian flavors, The Bradford acknowledges the region's culinary character by incorporating ingredients such as locally grown produce.

The Bradford's ambiance embraces a similarly familiar vibe. Exposed brickwork and high-topped wooden tables create an inviting setting amid the earth-toned walls lined with framed artwork. In the recently redesigned interior, pendant lamps dangle from the high ceilings, ensuring that the warm space remains well-lit and comfortable.