I was excited to try it out last Friday, as it is in a great location downtown in the renovated Arcade, and features a lot of great local Rhode Island food (Baffoni Farms, Aquidneck Honey etc.) and beer options - but it was without a doubt the most bizarrely poor dinner service I've ever had. Having worked in the service industry I am a very patient and understanding patron - but this was an unequivocal disaster. The service is well intentioned and polite, so I really hope that they are just getting their feet under them because the place does have potential - but some notes. * Hostess was sitting down when we walked in * Beers took 10 minutes to table after order, and was told to get up from table and see the draft list on a chalkboard near the bar * Ordered appetizer but was not ready for entree order, appetizer came and went before waitress offered to take our entree order 30 minutes later * Entrees (steak sandwich and chicken paperdelle).... 30 minutes waitress apologizes for delay, kitchen backed up... 45 minutes, another apology... hour and 10, we unfortunately had to leave so I politely asked to just have our meals to go, not a problem... hour and 45 minutes... meals finally come out in to go boxes. We waited 1:45 for a steak sandwich and a chicken dish to go. * Meals were justifiably comped but I will say we sat with empty water glasses and paid $40+ for drinks, should have been 100% comped * Hope my attitude doesn't cloud the review of the food, but it was mediocre at best Again, I really do wish this place well and have NO IDEA what could have possibly taken 1:45 to deliver two easy entrees, but Rogue Island unfortunately has some serious work to do before I'd consider eating there again.
(1)
Christine W.
I had the pork belly and absolutely loved it! Expertly cooked, full of flavor. There are a lot of great restaurants in Providence and Rogue Island is cooking with the best of them. I really appreciate the emphasis and great selection of local beer, wine, and food. Definitely worth seeking out!
(5)
Nikki K.
Ugh! Not a fan. Went here on a slow Tuesday night with a co worker. Bartender took FOREVER to make drinks with 6 people at the bar then told us she couldn't make one after 6ish minutes. Ordered the arugula salad with chicken to go, I was drawn to the goat cheese that was supposed to come with it as well as walnuts. I should've checked my order before I left but no cheese and no walnuts were on it and for 16 dollars the salad was a joke. It was basically a few oz of dry chicken, onions, arugula, and a few beets. I will not be returning. If you only have 3 salads on the menu and forget 2 highlighting ingredients on one that is NOT a good look ESP at 16 dollars! Stay away!
(1)
Stacey C.
Had dinner here. Had their mac n' cheese, cauliflower melt, and fried chicken sandwich. Had fries and salads and those were great, although "large" salad looked more like a small salad to me. The potato salad was a little bland but all the other food was flavorful, good, and different. Service was great and loved the ambience. Prices were $$. This is a farm to table restaurant so everything was super fresh and organic. They close at 9 on a Tuesday so we didn't get to try dessert :(.
(4)
Liz M.
Fellow craft beer lovers are often tagged here so I had to try it. It's a very small Place but big on charm. We happened to go on a quiet night so we sat down quickly and were greeted and served quickly. This is where you go for craft beers. That is apparent when you get a gander of the draft beers. They had three Maine beer company beers! They had all kinds of tough to find beers and were reasonably priced. Our bartender was great he knew a lot about the beers and was able to help me pick some out. We decided to have some dinner too. A warning if your super fussy you may not find something you like. Everything is made in house using whatever local ingredients are available so you have to be open minded and try something new. I am one of those fussy people but they had a build Your burger option that was perfect for me. It was delicious but a little on the pricy side charging extra for fancy ketchup and lettuce and tomato. I did enjoy my fresh burger and fries and will go there again for sure. I've heard they have a excellent brunch so I will have to go back and try it one day. It's worth going there just for the beers.
(4)
Richard P.
I want local businesses like this to succeed. I really do. However, I think the service is going to continue to be their biggest downfall. We recently had four friends visiting us from Washington, DC, and I recommended Rouge Island a great local business, perfect RI ambiance, and delicious food as an option. They looked at the menu and were beyond excited! Our party was seated in the dining room facing the inside of the Arcade. Throughout the meal, we had to get it up twice to ask the waitress for more water and coffee. The second time that we got up to ask for more water, it took over 10 minutes to get her back into our room to refill the glasses (the restaurant wasn't even half full at this point). The food took more than 40 minutes from the time ordered, until the time it came to the table (which is more understandable with a larger party, but still quite a wait with the lack of our server's attention.) Upon leaving Rouge Island, we agreed that we are not going to return for a couple of weeks. As I mentioned in my original email, we absolutely want this place to succeed. You have all the components to be a great spot, but the front-line of customer service seems still to be limping along. If I may, some unsolicited suggestions - Locals: There are not many brunch places open in downtown Providence on Sunday's, or the weekends for that matter. The residents that live here, will come. It's the service that will drive them away. I've asked other people who live in Providence about this, and many have had similar experiences as well on the weekends with the service. Tourists: I've seen many people in there on the weekends with cameras (who I assume are visiting from out of state). Your restaurant is so unique, given its location in the oldest indoor shopping mall in America. The wait staff should be enthusiastic asking the guests if they are visiting, and if they are tell them about some of the history, about the owners, how the food is locally sourced, encourage them to look at the art (especially in the bathroom of Westminster Street to see what Providence was like in the 1930's), etc. If this was The Cheesecake Factory, I wouldn't have even bothered wasting my time to write this review. You are a local business that we (the residents of Providence) truly believe in and want to support.
(3)
Shannon B.
I've been here twice, once for drinks and the second time, hoping to have dinner. The ambience is great, decor is rustic and charming without being too twee, and the location in the renovated Arcade is perfect. Above all, their local brew selection kicks major behind. Beyond the set dressing, though, I have to admit I'm not impressed. Both times I've visited, I've had to hunt down someone to seat our party, and have been dismissed casually by wait staff that seem more interested in socializing than making patrons feel welcome. My second visit was very short: my friend and I entered through the Arcade and waited to be seated. Two members of the staff looked up, and then returned to their conversation until we wandered to the bar, along with two other groups that were similarly confused. One of the staff members addressed the entire group of us with orders to sit at the "big table over there". My friend and I thought we should check with a server, who then waived us back to the communal table, where we waited in awkward, dimly-lit silence until she finally came back, slid a couple of menus at us without a word, and hurried off. We waited a bit longer, hoping to put in drink order, before finally giving up and heading to the Congress Tavern, which had a similarly impressive selection of local brews, plus a staff that actually looked up when we walked in the door. For me, at least, the third time won't be the charm at Rogue Island. It doesn't matter how fresh your food is or how well you represent local vendors. If the staff is unable to appropriately treat guests and represent the business in a professional manner, another visit is just a waste of my time.
(2)
cynthia r.
Very disappointing. The atmosphere was great. I am a big fan of the Arcade building an all the history in it. I was happy to see some of the interesting items on the menu for brunch. But the service was terrible. With only 4 tables the waitress could not keep up. She very obviously preferred to be at the bar engaged with the people sitting there than tending the people in her section. More than 20 to get my 1st cup of coffee (at brunch) and was never offered a refill. My fiance wasn't given the opportunity to order a drink in the first place. After about an hour we finally got our food and mine was served cold. I ate it because I was starving at this point but for what we paid, it wasn't anything special. We won't be back.
(2)
Kristen M.
I genuinely like Rogue Island. The service is decent, the food is good, they have a great beer selection, bottomless mimosas and bloody marys during brunch and they're in a fantastic downtown location. The reason why it's a 3 star for me is that while I always leave satisfied, I'm not really blown away by the menu and have noticed that regardless of the meal the portions are a little skimpy. None of that keeps me from coming back I'm just not a regular. Between buck-a-shuck on weekdays, brunch deals on the weekend, and other specials they run consistently throughout each week, if you're downtown Rogue Island is a solid choice.
(3)
Mary E.
Unlimited mimosa, beer or bloody Mary's are key. This place never seems to have much of a crowd for such a great deal in the area. The menu changed since last time I was there and along with the prices. During brunch the portions are on the smaller size than when I was last there a few months ago. No entree comes with a salad or fries which makes the presentation of each dish look empty and dull without. Otherwise beer and drink selection is great. 50+ variety of beers to be exact!
(3)
taylor d.
Today my boyfriend and I went to check this place out for a late lunch. When we walked into the Arcade... It didn't look open but it was and I'm glad we went inside! The decor is really rustic and cute. We sat at the bar and we're pleasantly surprised that they locally source all of their ingredients no further than 40 miles away from PVD. The food was good we got poutine and wings. We will definitely be coming Back for more. One thing I loved is they don't serve any Coke or Pepsi products.... they get all of their soda from a local soda company called Yacht Club Soda, all alcohol and beer is local too. It's a great place to take out of towners but it also stands up to PVD locals standards.
(4)
Alexander V.
Came here for brunch for two. Had to wait five minutes or so for a table to be cleared. Sat down and was given water right away. Had to wait another ten minutes before the waitress came back to take our order as she was busy playing bartender behind the bar. The front side was dead and we were the only new group that had walked in. Placed our order and took 30 minutes to be served. In the meantime waitress doesn't inform us of the progress or checked in on us. We had ordered eggs Benedict and the special - peach waffles and fried chicken". The eggs Benedict were fine but the special was underwhelming. There were bits and pieces of poorly attempted chopped peaches on the plate and very little if none in the waffles. The chicken pieces were small and poor battered. If I wanted to wait this long for my food I'd go to nicks on Broadway where the wait is actually worth the food quality.
(2)
Lisa O.
I recently went here for brunch with a friend after finding out that they have $18 all you can drink mimosas or bloody mary's until 3pm. It was fortunately a gorgeous day and we sat at one of the tables outside. The brunch menu had a good assortment of items. I selected the huevos rancheros, and my friend had the eggs benedict. We also had some of those mimosas. The huevos rancheros was quite good and filling. The only complaint with any of the food was my friend's potatoes/home fries were overcooked. But then again, we arrived at 2pm which may have been a part of the problem. I would definitely give them another shot and will be returning soon to try more of their food. The service was friendly and relatively quick. They were nice enough to fix our bill when we confused our waitress.
(4)
Molly O.
I'm giving this place a 3 because I didn't really get a chance to try their food but everything else was AWESOME! Walk into the oldest mall/first indoor mall in America. AKA the Providence Arcade. Head into Rogue Island. You'll find a woodsy-earthy-urban-funky cool Rhode Island fun spot. The vibe is great. You'll feel at home. You'll feel relaxed. It's fresh flowers, it's wood and iron. It's great. We had some wings that were seasoned and had delicious dill-ish dipping sauce. They had a pretty cool variety of cocktails, wines and beers. It was quite early evening during the week. I found a new wine I really like. Service was good. I'll go back and try the food!
(3)
Margaret D.
I don't even know where to begin. Have visited several times during their posted open hours to find a vacant dark restaurant that is not, in fact, open. Have visited several times when they are actually open to find a restaurant that looks dark and closed - what is up with that room you can see from inside the Arcade hallway? At least turn the lights on in there when you ARE open, because I sincerely believed you had gone out of business. Came here for breakfast with visiting friends when they bought a Groupon (good only for breakfast on certain days) to find that the place is NOT EVEN OPEN on those days. Have not received a response to a phone message I left asking how to use this coupon. Drinks take forever, even when the place is slow. Blonde bartender sits at the bar and texts, rather than helping her coworkers when things are busy, though things are never TRULY busy here. When she does help you, she is as rude as can be, almost like if you ask your teenage children to help with chores at home. I can get nicely made cocktails more quickly at Circe on a weekend night than I can get here during weekday lunch. Drink prices fluctuate on a whim - is that martini $12, or $14, or the $16 that I paid last time I was in? Why did I pay $8 for a Gansett? Do the owners know that this is what the bar staff is charging for these drinks? And who is that insane frazzled guy that works there but HAS NO IDEA what is happening ever and does not help staff out when they are in a pinch? Is everyone who works here drinking on the job? Service is deplorable and slow, even when there are NO other tables waiting. Seats are tiny tiny and hard as a rock. The bar is not level, so if you don't watch your glass, it will start sliding. Food comes out wrong, or cold, or is misrepresented from what the menu said. Portions are miniature and way expensive for what they are. If I want to spend 3 hours at brunch, I will go to Julian's, where the food is better and the staff will bring drinks and coffee for the duration of the meal. I come here because I want to see local businesses do well, but I don't have 90 mins for weekday lunch. There are so many reviews like this, I don't know why the staff does not read them and take action. As Providence improves, more restaurants will come into downtown. Would hate to see the place close, but am too frustrated to give them any more of my money or time. What a disappointment.
(1)
Laurie B.
We came here for lunch but just got some apps. It was 2pm, no one else was in the restaurant. The decor is nice. The seats look a little tiny, luckily I had the booth side. The water comes out in mason jars, which really adds to the rustic rhode island theme. We ordered the poutine fries and the pretzel bites with beer cheese. The fries are steak fries which kinda makes it hard to eat. The cheese curds were flavorless. The pretzels bites were delicious though. They were definitely fresh and the cheese was perfect. The menu is different. They have a lot of items from Rhode Island.
(3)
Laurie S.
Here for a night out. Fantastic. First. The bartender, Bill(?) was awesome, knowledgable, friendly and helpful. Big fan! Had a great G&T with a little elderflower. Good stuff. Helped my friend decide between some yummy wines. Great local choices-in beer and wine. Food was great too. Started with the warm pretzel bites. So. Damn. Good. Get them. Yes. Got the Berkshire Bourbon Pulled Pork Sandwich. Equally good. Friend burger was also really good and chocolate cake. Good stuff. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive, The decor is great and love the well curated bar, lots of great gins (my fave). Love the renovations in the Arcade and this place is well worth the trip! A fan already.
(5)
Holly K.
I would definitely head back here again! We went in for their newly started Sunday brunch and it went pretty well. I will say I think out waitress was a bit flustered with the table of 12. Everyone loved their food! My eggs benedict came out a bit cold, but it tasted awesome. I think they just need to work on what brunch food gets fired off first for a big table. My friend asked for an orange juice that never came and coffee remained unfilled. But, as soon as we flagged our waitress down for more coffee or more water she was quick to refill everything. My little cousin got a carton of chocolate milk, she took a sip and said it tasted funny, well it had expired over a week ago and had gone sour! She was very apologetic about it and then ended up making a chocolate milk instead of giving her another carton. I like that they are farm to table, and loved all the local decor! The mural in the bathroom is really cool. I would definetely like to see what their dinner is like.
(3)
Kris W.
Are the Yelpers in PVD so jaded that Rogue Island only has an average rating of 3 stars? This place is awesome. I love the location in the Arcade & love the decor. It's very similar to another of my favorite restaurants (Engine Room in Mystic CT) in ambiance & mission. If you like upsacle farm to table pub food & are passionate about the hyperlocal craftbeer scene then you'll love this place. Their tap list is kinda small but well curated. They are one of the few places in RI to carry Proclamation Ale & Ravenous beers. They have enough selection to appease craftbeer snobs & those who don't have discerning taste. There were plenty of interesting choices on the menu but I was there for a quick lunch & not feeling adventurous. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich with steak fries & was impressed. I loved the bun they used & the combination of the pulled pork with the cole slaw worked well together. The steak fries were cooked perfectly & tasted so fresh definitely not frozen! The only drawback/complaint is that Rogue Island is not that kid friendly. It is a farm to table & they specialize in local craft beer so I wasn't expecting chicken fingers &/or Chuck E. Cheese. Our server did manage to give my son some paper & sharpie markers to draw with. The kitchen did make him a flatbread pizza that he wasn't too thrilled with but he loved my fries! Again, prices aren't that cheap but when I'm in the city of Providence I don't mind spending a little more for quality.
(4)
Karen S.
Rogue Island has been on my "to try" list for a bit so it was nice to pop in for a drink and a bite while at a recent Yelp event at the Arcade. I really liked the look and feel of the interior. We were quickly greeted and seated and told that they were running an unofficial special for Yelpers that if you checked in and ordered an alcoholic beverage then you get a free appetizer. He was a bit vague with the details of this. When he came back to take our drink order and three out of the four of us had checked in he mentioned that it was only good for one free appetizer for the table. That's cool, three free appetizers would have been a bit much. I ordered the Bourbon Brulee. While pricey at $13, it was one of the best drinks I have ever had. When he brought our drinks, we ordered the wings and the pretzel bites. He came back a while later to clarify that only one would be free. While I understand his concern that we could possibly complain when we got the bill, this came off as a bit condescending. The wings were hot, spicy and tasty. The blue cheese foam that was on the plate with it though was pointless as it had no flavor and was just a white puddle. The pretzel bites were delicious. Service was very slow with our waiter disappearing for long stretches of time. While there was a Yelp event going on, it was fairly empty inside Rogue Island while we were there. There were only a few table occupied and a few at the bar. I saw a bartender and two waiters and they all appeared very frazzled. There were some delicious looking sandwiches coming out of the kitchen. While the service could have just been having an off night, I think I'll give them a little time to work things out before I go back.
(3)
Sarah E.
I love this place. It doesn't matter the time of day, the occasion or the season, this place should definitely be on your must-visit list. The staff is wonderful - their recommendations on food and drink are spot-on. I have never been disappointed. Whether it's their twist on a dark 'n' stormy, a local whiskey brew or a draft beer, you cannot go wrong with their opinion. The food is delicious as well. It's not your typical pub food. Their menu is seasonal incorporating local produce and hand-picked selections. And, it's located in the Arcade! Just a fantastic spot in downtown Providence.
(4)
Peter D.
Upon walking into Rogue Island, I immediately assumed I was going to fall in love. The space is gorgeous, the menu is mouthwatering, the Mets spring training was on the TV, and the bathroom smelled exactly like Johnson baby powder and Cool Water cologne.* What I'm trying to say is that Rogue Island is fresh, dressed, like a million bucks. Unfortunately, they seem to have sacrificed substance in the pursuit of such style. Every plate we ordered was gorgeous, but the flavor and technique was a bit lacking. For instance, a blue cheese foam accompaniment to your wings is impressive, but I'd vastly prefer that the effort was actually spent properly seasoning and searing the burger. There was no juice, no meaty flavor, and even the bacon was rock hard and virtually tasteless. And after all, we eat burgers and bacon for the juice and the flavor, not for our health. On the flip side, the steak fries were actually well seasoned, but essentially raw in the center. With a few tweaks in the kitchen, I imagine that Rogue Island could be great, but for now I'd settle for a beer at the beautiful bar. ____________ *And by Cool Water cologne, I mean 8th grade.
(3)
Kelsey D.
My luck for finding good restaurants on a complete whim continues. We were starving last Friday and didn't want to deal with the horrors of Black Friday, so myself and my room mate opted to check Rogue Island out during lunch. It was completely empty inside, but the siren call of weird beers on tap sang to me from afar and we ended up grabbing some barstools and going through a couple flights of excellent local beer, one of which was from a new brewery to RI I had never heard of before -- and as someone who drinks a wee bit too much (read: A Lot), I was pleasantly surprised. What was even more surprising was the food. We split some pretzel bites that were okay, but the entrees were killer. I ate a ridiculously delicious angus steak sandwich with wedge fries that I would like to keep in my pocket and pull out whenever I want. My room mate had chicken wings with a glaze that was out of this world. To top it all off, we grabbed some ice cream and sorbet that I highly suggest trying, if only for their weirder flavors. The cinnamon sorbet made my lactose-sad room mate especially happy. Overall, a pretty cool joint with local food at a reasonable price. Definitely worth a visit and I certainly plan on doing it again.
(4)
Christine B.
Amazing! We went for the Proclamation ale night. They had a bbq night with the beer co. The food was so delicious! It is very hard to find delicious bbq in new england. Either they try to make it fancy with liquid smoke, douse it in bbq sauce or over cook it so it is a dry flavorless mess. The bbq I had tonight was none of those things. I had the ribs and mac and cheese and my boyfriend had the bbq platter with ribs, pullled pork, brisket, baked beans, collard greens, cold slaw, and corn bread. Everything, even the bread, was fresh and delicious. The flavor was perfect. The ribs were tender and juicy without being over powered by other flavors. Proclamation Ale was serving two draft beers tonight the Derivative mosaic and the Dark Sprout. They were not cheap though, $7 a glass but at least they and the food was good enough to justify the price. I will definitely come back here and try the Proclamation Ale again.
(5)
Lizz W.
I forgot to tell the world how much I LOVE Rogue Island's food. OMG I love when this happens, when you can't complain about food after dining out. I tried the wings, the cauliflower sandwich, the ribeye entree and lots of cocktails! The cauliflower sandwich was sooo good. Like I was expecting to devour the ribeye and couldn't stop eating the sandwich. Everything was amazing, you could tell the ingredients were fresh, the cocktails were creative and tasty.
(4)
Amelia S.
Cute place! Love the selection of LOCAL beers-- buying local is important to us and we're happy to do so.The salad was amazing, my only regret was not getting chicken on it which I will do next time. Everyone really liked their lunches. Service was a bit slow for lunch but not horrendous-- and I would have liked a water refill. Prices were reasonable for farm to table! Will be back!
(4)
Kyle S.
I've been to Rogue Island a few different times and really want to like this place more but unfortunately between poor service and average food, I have been let down by this establishment. I honestly really like the space itself, I think the design and ambiance is very cool. And for the beer selection alone I would give them 5 stars. I appreciate the fact that they showcase and carry so many different local beers from RI. I've tried a couple of different dishes here and the flavor has been average at best, which is disappointing because I like the fact that they source local ingredients for their dishes. The other area where they also seem to drop the ball is on service. While sitting at the bar is fine, table service has been slow and torturous at times. I don't know if it is because they are understaffed or overwhelmed by how busy it can be, but I really hope this is one area where they will be able to improve. I really love the improvements and updates they have brought to the Arcade and I would like to see a place like this succeed and do well. It might not be one of my go to places, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to stopping by again in the future for a beer or two.
(2)
Mark B.
Great beers. Good service. Didn't have the food, but it looked good. Love this place.
(5)
Xiao Z.
Catering review: If you needed a restaurant that screamed out its love for RI, then Rogue Island is your place to visit. Tucked in the iconic Arcade, Rogue Island is a nice bar/restaurant, chock full of food and drinks indigenous to our beloved Ocean State. We came here for a conference, in which we were served fish with crabmeat, chicken with bacon, asparagus and brussel sprouts. Nothing really jumped out at me, but they did not make me shirk away either. The dessert was an apple cobbler with icecream, which was quite delicious, and tasted kinda like bread pudding, and that's always a great thing! I had a couple of misfires with the drink selections: the RI based scotch/whiskey...I'd skip it, and the hazelnut beer tasted too sweet for my liking. I did like the clownshoes IPA and overall was very satisfied with the services. I would recommend this establishment if you need a private place for a party/journal club. Food; 3 stars Service: 3.5 stars Drinks: 3 stars Price: n/a Ambiance: 3-4 stars; very RI-dy
(4)
Justin B.
Another gem has opened downtown. I've been poking my head into the arcade for months, just to see if Rogue Island had opened. They are working a soft opening for now and a grand opening is not far away. I grabbed a bar stool and ordered their HOUSE ground burger. Accompanied by steak fries to end all other steak fries. Perfectly seasoned and crispy, and they don't skimp either. The burger was cover with a warm blanket of brie and topped with radishes and arugula. It would be a sin to use ketchup or mustard on this masterpiece. Wood Rules... making the industrial age decor warm and inviting. Lit by the throw back Edison light bulbs, the larger than life wood bar and tables were made from trees, downed by a recent hurricane. (overhead the bartender explaining the wood to another person at the bar) I'm really looking forward to a dinner here soon and will update my review as soon as I do.
(5)
Vimala P.
One of favorite gems in Rhode Island! Would recommend to anyone who loves locally inspired food and booze. Great atmosphere and great staff!
(5)
Laura B.
After eyeing Rouge Island every time I've walked through the Arcade, I finally got the opportunity to drop in there for dinner last night. 7:30 on a Friday seemed like more than enough time to have a meal and stroll over to Lupo's for a 9:00 show but Rogue Island could not get us a full meal in that time. The husband and I were sat in a lovely corner seat where we really got to take in the decor and ambiance of the restaurant but I was not wowed by the food or the service. Our waitress was nice enough but she started our interaction by telling us that "the kitchen is really overwhelmed right now so let's just start with drinks first, okay?" Oh boy. Not that we *weren't* going to start with drinks, we just really wanted a meal with our drinks too considering we were in a full service restaurant at dinner time and all. It took half an hour to get the full drink list (beer and cocktails), order them, and receive them. Hubby had a great Triple IPA and I drank a delicious "Bourbon Brulee" cocktail, but half an hour for two drinks is a little much. We ordered two appetizers so we could eat enough to be full during the show and I was extremely disappointed in their take on poutine. Instead of shoestring fries (that do a great job absorbing the gooey gravy/cheese deliciousness of Canada's best fast food treat) they used wedge potatoes that were cooked fine, but just didn't work in the dish. Chartreuse plate was good, although it felt a little overpriced for what it was and they didn't give enough bread with it to eat everything. Judging by the other reviews, I have to assume Rogue Island was having a rough night and hopefully they'll be back on their game during their next dinner rush. Hoping to come back someday to eat a *meal* and see if things improve.
(3)
David R.
When they first opened, I didn't like the menu at all, but recently I went back and they had totally redone things - I loved it and have returned several times. Ingot an excellent salad with grilled chicken, and my wife enjoyed their burger. Great beers too.
(5)
Paul W.
Charcuterie was very good. Then things went terribly wrong! Chicken sandwich was as dry as the Sahara, even after asking for extra aioli. I ordered a cheeseburger medium rare. I'm not sure how they made it so dry but it was definitely not a juicy burger. Fries were very good however. But the reason I am giving it only one star is the fact that both the bartender and the waitress saw a baby being changed at a booth!!!! Neither said anything to the family while dirty nappies, Kleenex and rags were being loaded on another napkin on the bench!!!!!!! I stopped eating, paid the bill and left!..... Seriously! GROSS!!!! Add to this the fact that the bartender never asked us how our meal was. Organic and local is great idea, but diaper changing while touching table, walls and seats is is disgusting!!!!!!! I could NEVER eat here again! Hygiene is tops on my review list.
(1)
Amahl H.
This place should be a solid 4 stars and I want to see it do well but, let me just get it out there at the top, they need to re-think their prices. I'm not one to quibble over prices normally (see my other reviews), I'm happy to pay more for better quality. But my group and I were all genuinely surprised to see our bill. Manhattans and martinis were over $16 each, a beer was $10--these were not special drinks, nor were the Manhattans extraordinary or over-sized, just average in all aspects. So, that's just not what you expect from what is otherwise a very nice neighborhood-style bar. Now let me say some nice things. The decor is very nice, though the lighting was a little too bright. The staff were fine. I had some kind of salad with chicken and while the serving size was quite modest it was really quite good. Moreover, I want to see nice businesses like this succeed--especially in our very cool but under-utilized Arcade. So, come on guys, get in line with your competitors on pricing and I'll definitely be back and will re-review.
(3)
Wendy W.
Impressed! There must've been some growing pains when this place opened based on prior reviews, but I will be back- this place is comfortable w/excellent draft beer selection & interesting drinks Decor: this place is comfy. The wood touches, the attention to lighting. It's warm, clean, cozy. The place makes me wanna drink here... So I did Drinks: draft selection was great- hard to decide on one to try. I want to go back to try the cocktails, they sound so creative & delish! Food: crab cake was so yummy, fresh crab meat, little filler, very flavorful w/every bite. Too bad there was only one cake. The ribeye steak sandwich had fresh crunchy ciabatta w/really good truffle oil & I love the cheese that's on the sandwiches. They skimped on the steak though. House steak fries were huge slices of potato that was a bit too soggy, not crunchy. fries=meh. Dessert was "the small": new harvest marshmallow w/graham crumbs & marshmallow ice cream. Too sweet for me. The locally sourced ingredients make me want to go back to try the rest of the menu. Service: great. Attentive, no probs Will be back. rogue island, hang in there!
(4)
Katie S.
Is there a way to post negative stars? This was the worst restaurant experience that I've had in years. We arrived early afternoon after watching the providence marathon. We were told upon arrival that we'd need to wait 15 minutes due to the "small kitchen". There were about 10 free tables in the restaurant. After about 35 minutes, our drink orders were taken and water was brought to the table. We finally ordered our food, which arrived almost an hour later. When I asked the waitress/manager about the timing of our food, she told me that it had only been "35 minutes". Isn't that long enough to justify a question? Our food finally arrived...actually 5 of our 6 dishes finally arrived. Several of the dishes were served lukewarm. We all ate our entire meal before the 6th dish arrived. We were pleased that the last meal was comped. When we asked to speak to the manager about our experience, the waitress told us that she was the manager. She did not once apologize for the poor experience or service. Later, when the bill was brought to the table and paid, we discovered an 18% large-group gratuity had automatically been added to the bill by the waitress/manager. The service and professionalism of the waitress/manager was laughable. I recommend that you stay far away.
(1)
Ryan D.
Rogue Island is sitting in the very gorgeously redone Arcade in downtown. The restaurant itself is very nice on the inside with an almost weathered pub look that would fit in by the sea but still modern to fit in downtown. Ok let's preface a lot of the "time" issues with previous reviewers. This restaurant is a scratch kitchen using local ingredients. Thus it is going to take a lot longer than your normal restaurant, but what you get out of it is a very tasty meal. To start go for the wings. This is not a suggestion, more of a no-brainer decision. They are in duck fat, they are delicious, you will enjoy them. I went straight for the steak sandwich. After going to Vermont, it is really hard to avoid reading "Vermont cheddar" on a menu. This thing was pretty delicious. Can't go wrong with house pickles either. I really can't wait to go back, just a good bar with a little more on the menu that might surprise you.
(4)
Karen P.
Good was delicious and the service was awesome. I would definitely come back and try their dinner menu. Bottomless mimosas are awesome !
(4)
Colleen T.
Poor food and poor service made this trip to Rogue Island a less than savory experience. A definite skip! My large group of 30-something friends stopped at Rogue Island for an early dinner and drinks. While our female waitress was lovely, the food was less than adequate. All our dishes were either too salty, no flavor, or not cooked correctly. (Fries that were uncooked, too salty burgers, and soup that had whole peppercorns sprinkled on top---why would I want whole peppercorns in each bite?!) For the price point and taste, I would never come back here to eat. The worst part of the meal was being insulted by a man who appeared to be a manager: he tried to hustle us to leave the restaurant after we broke out in loud laughter?! And mind you, we are all female professionals at a semi-empty restaurant ordering drinks and food on a Thursday evening. I have never seen anything like this! So rude. Immediately after the man suggested we move to the private room, we, in fact, told him we're leaving.
(1)
Chris T.
Walkin' downtown, unassuming entrance 10 in our group; not a hindrance Plenty of space, seating all around Dim-light, chill place; look what we found! Nice wooden tables, quaint little place Restaurant and decent bar -- no complaints! Thanks to SouthEast Asia, I'm cracked out on Lychee Saw it listed in a cocktail, I was sold instantly $12 drink, good size; pretty decent overall! Good place for groups, although kind of small Not too loud for conversations; good volume, I thought I'll probably be back to check out this hole in the wall
(4)
Matt O.
Stopped in for a few drinks while I was downtown with my girlfriend celebrating the end of a long day of apartment hunting. Considering I will soon be within walking distance of this place, I will be back. The space is really great too. I didn't try the food, but it looked good on my neighbor's plate. As for the drinks, great local beers on tap and in bottles/cans. I had the Arcade Club cocktail, which was very well made, maybe a bit too sweet for my taste, but that's just me. The bartender was great, even making a list of other places to check out when I move to town in the fall.
(5)
Robert S.
Got there at 5PM for early dinner with friends. When I sat down, the waitress gave me the lunch menu. I looked at it...and ?!?! I thought !?!? WHAT ?!?!? Outside the door...... It says Dinner from 5PM on.. I asked here to come over and when I asked about lunch vs dinner...she said....Oh..well...... We serve lunch until 7 PM....or maybe 6 PM. I asked her to please double check. She asked someone else and she came back with dinner menus. We ordered 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine... It took close to 10 minutes to get these drinks..and there were not that many tables around..... Way too Slow...... After reading the menu, I decided to try the cod and to try a bite of the burger (from my BF). The cod was ok, but small. When we asked how it was prepared...the waitress said...maybe grilled, maybe fried, don't know....................We asked her to check since it would make a difference in our decision. She came back a bit later saying that it was grilled. It came with asparagus (4 little tiny ones) and like 7 small pieces of a purple looking potato. $22 for a dish that was gone in 6 bites !! I ordered a beer...when she brought it...she asked me if I wanted a glass. I said yes. The glass was never delivered to me. :-( The burger was good...nothing spectacular, but at $13 it was also steep. Pluses....location is great inside the Arcade, decor is nice with lots of wood and cozy feel.. Lots of locally sourced ingredients and products. Overall I felt it was good food, not great, but the service and the overpriced menu makes me not to want to come back.
(2)
Lauren M.
I'm dropping another star for Rogue Island's lunch menu. Now that I work in Down City, I am always looking for places to get away from it all and get a good meal. I would love to eat more frequently at Rogue Island, but their lunch menu is lacking and overly priced for lunch. I'm not paying for $16 burger at lunch... It's just ridiculous. I'd love to see Rogue Island rework their lunch menu and include smaller, more affordable options. With so many places to go for a reasonable lunch and dinner in PVD, it's been hard to justify going to Rogue Island lately, even though they still have one of the best beer lists and best interiors around.
(3)
Jonathan P.
Went here for Sunday Brunch with my roommate and her out of town friend. Arrived around 1:30 pm so it was pretty dead. Sat at the bar and our waitress was just OK. I got the bottomless mimosas for $18. For that price I expect my glass to be always filled, I had to keep flagging the waitress down which I didn't like.The food wasn't that bad, honestly don't remember it which means it wasn't that good either. Will be visiting again on June 27th for brunch with my out of town friends. Hopefully my next review will be 4 stars.
(3)
Bob C.
Oysters were good but a little small. Next time we try the mussels. Nice atmosphere, a bunch of local beers to choose from and great selection of local sprits.
(4)
Shannon W.
What a hidden gem this place is. I love the food, I love the rustic ambiance, but what sticks out most to me is the impeccable service. I've been here on three occasions (usually sitting at the bar) and the bartenders are always knowledgeable both about the beer/liquor and the food menu. In a city with a lot of amazing food, great service can be the biggest variable, and it is what will create loyal customers. I appreciate that they source so much of their food/drink menu from Rhode Island and are one of few places to have such a large selection of local whiskeys/bourbons. I've had some of the apps and tried a few of the sandwiches, all of which were good (My only very very minor criticism would be that on the mozz/heirloom tomato sandwich, the bread to fixin's ratio is off. HUGE roll- but still great flavor!). Go to Rogue Island on a rainy Sunday afternoon, get the pretzel bites and the ranch dressing (which my friend explained as a "life changing" experience). Get a beer flight and test out some local brews. This is how I dipped my toes in the water, and I can only imagine you'll enjoy it as much. Keep doing what your doing Rogue Island, but please don't take that ranch dressing off your menu.
(5)
Lor S.
Farm to table fresh! Amazing local beers, great service with a smile and duck fat fried wings.... Sad the past reviews haven't been so hot but they're updated a lot. It's a great place for a flight of beers, games are always on and the steak fries with truffle aioli :) go get yourself some!!
(5)
Alexandra O.
Stopped in to rogue island today for a Saturday afternoon lunch and was pleasantly surprised. They have a great selection of local beer, many were in for their brunch menu which looked amazing. I had ordered oysters, charcuterie, and wings which were all fresh and phenomenal. I couldn't make up my mind on which beer to try so I ordered a flight, another great option to have. Service was great. Atmosphere amazing. Live music. Place was actually packed for the dreary afternoon it was. Definitely will be back !
(5)
Shannon F.
This is one of those restaurants that I won't be rushing back to, but I am not disappointed that we ate here either. I found that the drink prices were waaaaay out of my price range (mine was the cheapest at $11) and even with the free appetizer that they gave us for being yelpers, the bill was still a bit high. We got chicken wings for our free app, and paid for pretzel bites. Being a vegetarian, I didn't try the wings, but I heard they were good. The pretzel bites were very tasty, and the right amount of fried mushiness (that sounds bad, but it really wasn't) , and I really don't like pretzels. As for the drinks. We all ordered off of the holiday drink board posted on the wall. I don't remember what the other people at my table got, but I got the Rogue Island maple taffy drink. If you love whimsical drinks, this one is for you! It comes with maple taffy on the side of the glass!!! Heads up for vegetarians, I noticed a veggie burger on the specials board. Our waiter was great, there at the right times, and we never had to search for him for anything. All in all, a pleasant experience, and a place I would keep in the back of my head for future reference when in the area.
(4)
Abby B.
Such a cool bar, a friend was in town and we decided to pop in for a drink and stayed for 2. The bartenders were very nice and informative when we were trying to choose a local beer that we would like.
(5)
Rebecca B.
I've been to Rogue Island twice. The first time I really enjoyed myself. I like the cool look and fee of the restaurant and bar. The food was approachable, modern pub food made with locally sourced ingredients. Pizza and salad were tasty and the cauliflower sandwich was so flavorful that I didn't even miss the protein. On my second visit, I couldn't help but wonder if on a Tuesday night, their head chef might not be working the kitchen. The waitress seemed distracted and food and drink took awhile to arrive. I ordered my burger medium and it was delivered well, well done and with little signs of the truffle mayo. My husband's fried chicken sandwich was dry and unseasoned, also with no signs of the sauce the menu had promised. There was a tasting going on in Rogue's front room and we couldn't help but feel left out when the table to the left and the bar seats to the right of us were offered a sample but we were not. I pointed out to one of the waitresses that it was cold in the dining room on this October evening with the a/c blasting and the windows and door all open to which she replied there are other guests complaining that it's warm. Seriously?! Overall disappointing service and food on this visit may make it my last.
(2)
Dan B.
Decided to check this place out because I heard they had a good brunch menu and I like places that source from local farms. I ordered the chicken and waffles, which were spectacular. Seriously. My girlfriend had a veggie burger off the lunch menu which was equally amazing and obviously very freshly prepared. It was pretty much just straight up fresh veggies - mushrooms, squash, black beans, kale, etc with just a touch of bread crumbs on the outside. Potato salad was good too... Oh and all you can drink mimosas/ bloody Mary's was definitely a plus. Can't wait to come back here to try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Hilary H.
I love the idea of locally-grown and raised food making its way into a kitchen like this, where hearty and tasty meals abound. The thought behind Rogue Island is great, and they have the stuff to make it happen, too. A very talented chef, great bar menu and a beautiful space. Every morsel of food I had was totally delicious and perfectly prepared -- beet gnocchi with beautifully plump and moist chicken sausage (which can be tricky!), gorgeous farm egg alongside pork belly and Brussels sprouts, a plate of pickled vegetables (I think there was even turnip in there) and local halibut on a bed of veg. I would eat it all over again in a heartbeat. Where Rogue Island fell slightly short for me was the actual bar where I ordered my drinks and food. Service was really, really slow to acknowledge us, totally unfriendly and at one point even walked away from us as my husband was asking about the beers on draught. My (pricey) cocktail was watery (I think it was the ice chips -- yuck), and I was left generally unimpressed. Next time, I'll make sure to try a table rather than sit at the bar, which in all honestly is usually my favorite place to sit in a place like this. Bottom line, definitely worth checking out. Be adventurous with your food, and grab a table rather than sitting at the bar.
(4)
Charlotte S.
The hyperlocal worship needs to end. I had family come in from out of town and I figured a restaurant where its whole gimmick is 'all RI everything' would be a great bet. Wrong. I called in advance to make sure there wouldn't be a heinous wait (it was Waterfire, after all) and I was told there was no wait which should have been a strong indicator that we should pass but we trudged on. When we got there, it took a while for anyone to acknowledge us. The woman who did misspoke about something then made an off comment about being tired/wanting to go home. Um ok. We were told we could "squeeze into a small table in the corner" (there was 4 of us. That was a table for 2 - 3 people tops) or sit at the huge "Harvest table" (communal table). No one was at it, so we chose the Harvest table. About 5 minutes later, the same waitress/hostess asked if we'd be OK to share the table. Knowing we had no choice, we said OK but the people next to us were rude, reeked of B.O., and drunk which really put a damper on our experience as they constantly dropped dishes and silverware, spilled things, and carried on uncomfortable/ignorant banter with the waitstaff regarding 'don't mention at a dinner party' issues. The 'Harvest Table' is also inconveniently located in front of a window, which we thought was a good idea given how nice a night it was, but actually what happened was two dude-bros sat at the table directly in front of the window outside and smoked cigarettes all night, billowing into the restaurant and our faces. Periodically throughout the night, the smell of sewage/human waste wafted through the restaurant too which, at one point, made us gag. So I guess the dude-bros were trying to do us a favor. It took us a while to take in the entire menu, which isn't even that large. For a place that wasn't even crowded, it was very loud and incredibly dark, to the point that we had to use our phone flashlights to read the menu. Our waitress was pretty rude and, at first, I thought she was just trying to be funny and didn't know how but near the end of our visit, we realized she was just rude. She had, what appeared to be, a new employee shadowing her but there was no mention of it, introduction or anything, which I really like as a restaurant-goer, but I don't think our waitress would've even given us a chance to ask. She spoke at twice the speed of a normal person, interrupted everyone, forgot things then interrupted to share them, and was very quick to bolt from the table. One thing that drove me nuts is she would stop to rearrange things on our table. Baskets. Water carafes. I almost spilled my water at one point because she moved the glass while we were talking (for no reason, she cleared the plate THEN moved my water glass) and my elbow hit it, as I expected it to be further away. It was so weird. Our waitress upsold us on a beer flight, billing it as economical, but when I did the math in my head, it wasn't really that economical in comparison to what we had originally ordered. The Newport Storm Summer Hefe was lackluster but the Ginger Libation was pretty good. Sweet but good. Frankly, i was disappointed with their beer list and was hoping to see Foolproof on there, as they're a Pawtucket brewery, but I digress. As an appetizer, we ordered the pretzel bites. The bites themselves were pretty good but the mustard sauce accompanying them was disgusting, like dipping into the core of a mustard seed. Pungent and jarring. No bueno. I ordered the Spinach Strawberry Salad which was mediocre. Nothing to write home about. In fact, the only thing I'd write home is, "Don't ever order this salad because it comes with these coated nuts or seeds or something that taste like yogurt covered pellets of dirt. Maybe it's local dirt, though. Straight from the banks of the Providence River." Since mine was kind of gross, I split it and got to share the House Pappardelle & Clams which was pretty good. A little on the heavy side (I wouldn't want this as my entire entree but it was good to share). It came with complimentary focaccia bread, which I guess was a new feature, and the bread was good but it felt like overkill to place two huge chunks of hearty bread in an already hearty meal. The guys of our party ordered the Corned Beef & the Fried Chicken sandwiches and neither looked incredibly enthusiastic about their choices. It's a shame that a business which such a clear and positive mission misses the mark so terribly in all areas of its execution, especially to be the only restaurant in the Arcade. I would come back here for drinks, as a lot of the cocktails sounded interesting, but I would never suggest it to anyone. A few weeks ago, I saw LivingSocial had a coupon so, if you're dying to go, keep checking to see if they reinstate it because to pay full price for this hyperlocal trash heap of mediocre food and unwarranted political banter is a crime on your wallet and good senses.
(2)
Kate W.
Definitely five stars go out to Rogue Island Restaurant! What a great find! Not only is this food local and fresh, but it is so delicious and flavorful. I really enjoyed my fresh salad with the most delicious grilled chicken I have ever had in my life! The pairing of local brews/wines is such a welcome touch. They really have a wide selection of options. You are bound to feel right at home in this rustic-feel restaurant with all the RI decals and details. So much to look at around every corner of this place. A little tip, valet was offered at the beginning of the night, but the valet came to our table during dinner and said they were heading out for the night and put our keys on the table. The car was parked right out front, but we weren't expecting this. It was interesting to say the least ;) This restaurant is in such a great, central location that it makes for a nice walk around to other nearby establishments (like Circe right across the street) on a nice night. Enjoy your visit to Rogue Island. Try the local flavors, enjoy the welcoming feel, and savor the restaurant experience that takes pride in our little state.
(5)
William H.
I like this addition to the DownCity scene. The space is really great and we found ourselves a nice perch at the bar. The food & drink: I had myself a very tasty Old Fashioned. I tried their pickled veggies for a starter - the wife got an eggy dish and we shared bites. For an entree I had their fish of the day which was really good and nicely seasoned. I'd go back anytime for the food and it wasn't too pricey, especially for that 'hood. The service, however, wasn't great which always surprises me when I sit at the bar. It wasn't busy but we weren't checked in on and had to ask each time we needed water, wanted to order, get a glass of wine, and get the bill, et. No one was rude in the least, just not very welcoming or helpful. Will definitely try it again.
(4)
Caroline M.
Meh. Underwhelmed. Great potential to be a solid 4-stars, but my first experience was only a 3. Finding the way in? Tried 4 doors until we finally found our way in. First beer I ordered? They didn't actually have it. Market price for flatbread? Are you kidding? It was ok, but $15 for... well... what was basically 1/4 of a thin crust pizza felt steep. Yes yes yes..... I understand that these are the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients. But the same thing at AS220, Local 121, Farmstead, or Nick's would have been at least $5 less. The Pork Concoction was more impressive with its veggie glaze than the pork itself. And the Harvest Salad and service were both generically good. I expected more all around. Especially for the prices. The space is definitely more bar-like than $25-a-plate restaurant-like (boo to the uncomfy, small chairs!). There weren't that many people there, and it was noisy - tables are small and close together. Lots of wood and warm lighting - makes it feel tavern-y. Loved the Edison-style light fixtures. Not sure if they have wifi, but there were lots of outlets across the bar - a major perk for anyone traveling and needing a recharge. I also love the name. Very clever. I would definitely consider throwing an event here because there's so much room to move around the bar - if they'd consider a big discount for appetizers. I will happily return again with friends for a drink or 2 and some shared appetizers. This is not a place I will return soon for an intimate date night.
(3)
Jessica S.
Yet again I wanted to love you Rogue Island, but it is just not meant to be. Our waitress was super nice so that was good. My friend and I shared the pork belly banh mi with potato salad and a dish that was supposed to be buffalo chicken mac and cheese. The potato salad was good but I like extra salt on mine. None on the table. I know chefs like to think their food is seasoned perfectly but that is usually not the case, so leave the salt and pepper on the table k. The sandwich was ok but small and we weren't blown away by the flavors. Not bad but very average. And the pasta was just not good. It did not taste like cheese, buffalo, or chicken. No joke. It tasted like sausage somehow and the sauce did not resemble a cheese sauce. We did not love it but it was edible I guess. My friend did really like her drink so that was good. The indian pudding was ok. It is something I have not had in a long time so I don't know how it compares to other indian puddings. I do know that it sounded better than it tasted. Again, not terrible but not great. Also, if you are going to give a customer a scalding hot mini cast iron pan, give it to to them with the handle pointing away from them and not towards them. I burned my hand on that pretty quickly. This might be an ok place to sit at the bar and get a drink but it does not live up to its potential. I will stick with GPUB or Circe in this part of downtown.
(3)
Margo K.
Disclaimer: I'm a very reasonable person who has worked in restaurants and gets that mistakes happen, some days are better than others, etc. Experience: Knocking around The Arcade on a quiet Saturday morning we decided to have lunch at Rogue Island. Though we noticed that the listed ingredients for the BLT said in part, "tomato, bacon aioli..." we assumed they simply forgot the comma between the bacon and the aoli. Wrong! All four sandwiches came with a few bits of bacon in the aioli but no slices of bacon. Not wanting to embarrass my 13 year old daughter more than I do simply by existing, I took the waitress aside and told her that they shouldn't call it a BLT without the B. She apologized, said they forgot the bacon and this was a new menu. She went back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later she came out with four slices of bacon, each cut in half = one slice of bacon per sandwich. At that point, we wrote the experience and Rogue Island off. Though the waitress initially apologized, their attempt to make the situation right was a fail. We won't be back.
(1)
Vilay S.
Rogue Island, you were so promising with your industrial slick decor and homegrown menu. There just seems to be something a little bit off about their plan. I think that if they trained their staff better, their reviews would improve a ton. At dinner, our waiter wasn't knowledgeable about their food, or food in general. I heard the next table asking him questions and wondering what some of the things were, and I had to fight my urge to jump in and help him out. They try to have a curated local beer menu, but again, it seemed like their staff did not know anything about it. If someone asked "what type of beer is --" or "what would pair with --" it was obvious they were clueless. I still think the food is great but the execution needs some polishing.
(3)
Becky M.
I've been following the creation of Rouge Island on Twitter and Facebook. I found myself at the Arcade last weekend and we popped in for lunch. First, welcome to the Providence food scene, Rouge. I will undoubtedly be back. And am happy to share with Yelpers out there. This is a solid spot. Second, I love the decor -- every last detail of the rustic, modern goodness. I think I love the bar the most -- rough sawed plank that follows the shape of the tree it was cut from. Then polished and coated smooth. I appreciate a barstool that has a back to lean on. I love the Rhode Island Red Rooster painted outside the door into the kitchen. The flatware was even well thought with a nice rustic heft. Lunch was sharing 2 apps. First, the chicken wings baked in duck fat. I promise you will never look at another wing the same way again. They were MORE THAN PERFECTLY cooked -- yes, roll that one around in the ol' brain. The homemade ranch sauce...I won't tell you about to let you enjoy its deliciousness yourself. We also had the flatbread of the day -- which was ground beef, picked onions, and a green herb-based sauce. Yum, yum, yum. Not greasy, perfectly seasoned, full of flavor. We each enjoy a drink from the bar -- wine for me and beer for him. All local. All delicious. So happy to try this spot. Love the atmosphere. Will be back. And I hope to bring friends.
(4)
Bob B.
Great space. Hidden in the back streets near the Arcade. Just had beers. They have a great selection.
(4)
Marie L.
I am absolutely thrilled to see places like this not only coming on the scene in pvd, but doing it oh so right by encouraging pedestrian traffic and helping to realize the great potential of downcity. If you live in or around Providence (or anywhere in RI for that matter) and have yet to visit the reopened arcade, you're in for a treat. While there, definitely check out Rogue Island. Great beer selection and thoughtful menu featuring many local selections. Don't miss the poutine. Update: since this review draft has been pending in my yelp app, I've actually returned for a second visit to Rogue Island. The experience was absolutely consistent with the first visit. Little quirk about me: I consider ordering the same dish during a second visit to a new restaurant a near mortal sin, but guess what I did? The cauliflower sandwich was so ridiculously....er...ridiculous that I actually ordered it again during my second trip. I regret that I may never try another item on the menu but I've resigned to the fact that my love for this sandwich outweighs my desire to try new things. While I hope to never be confronted with the opportunity to order a "last meal" (would rather go a bit more suddenly), should I ever have the need, at this point, the rogue island cauliflower sandwich would be on the menu for me.
(5)
Taylor K.
Three entrances, one from the stairs, one from inside the Arcade, and one from the side by Tommy's. Phenomenal lunch menu!!!! Try the Chicken Sandwich, ask for the Mustard Aioli to dip the steak fries in. Veal Sliders are great as well, both very filling/reasonably portioned for the cost. Lots of decent beers on draft. Try the Newport Storm, Zeppelin, or Whales Tale. Couldn't be happier with the service, as a server, I'm very picky. My water glass was never empty which is my pet peeve. Can't wait to try their dinner menu! Critique soon to come!
(5)
Pamela S.
Overpriced. I'm almost concerned they won't make it in Providence. While the bartender was nice, the service was terrible. We watched two couples sitting at tables walk out. It took ten minutes before someone acknowledged us and asked what we wanted to drink. It was also so warm in there we were sweating. The decor is great and very quant. The concept of local beers, liquors and wines is great but, it comes with a hefty price tag.
(2)
M F.
This place may be the slowest service of all time. I ordered a simple sandwich 37 minutes minutes ago and am still waiting. Not one table has their food yet.
(1)
Robert H.
My wife and I took our young daughter here on a Saturday afternoon. First of all if you haven't been to the refurbished Arcade it is a great spot. We came down from the RISD museum, and parking on Benefit St. makes for a lovely walk. This looks like it would make a nice spot for happy hour, with a long bar, a great cocktail menu, and good beer selection. Rogue Island features local ingredients and local foods, and that extends beyond the mains to the beer and iced tea. I ordered the burger which had Brie, arugula, and bacon - delicious. My wife had a grilled cauliflower sandwich on rustic bread that she loved, we also shared a beet salad with our little one.
(4)
Rachael M.
I love this place. This is the only restaurant that I am able to go to without any advance notice of my incredibly long list of food allergies. They use local, high quality foods and I've never felt sick from eating there. The service is amazing and the chefs are so accommodating to my needs. The prices are very good for farm to table food and I've never left hungry like what seems to happen at most high quality restaurants. They do not have the most creative dishes, but I'm just looking for a perfectly grilled grass-fed steak and they do it perfectly!
(5)
James M.
Place is cute...but service was deplorable, food very disappointing. Went for brunch today...longest wait for an omelet, home-fries and bagel breakfast sandwich I have ever had in a restaurant...there were only 3 other tables (2 in 1 out) when we arrived, 2 other tables were seated well after we were...it wasn't busy...the table closest to us that ordered more than 15 minutes after we did...their food came out the at came out at the same time ours did...The omelet came out to $14,50 w/corned beef (not that good), onion, red & green pepper and cheddar cheese and it had to be the SMALLEST omelet I have ever seen served in a restaurant. Home-fries & toast (if we had had the toast) were all extra...seriously, an omelet w/no toast & home-fries or a side of fruit optional? The ONLY redeemable item was the bacon on the breakfast bagel. No coffee/water refills, our server appeared to be in a daze most of the time floating around but not engaging the few tables she had. It's been a long time...YEARS, since I've left less than 15%...and that's for bad service...I left just 8%...the minimum that the fed expects servers to claim on their sales.To top it off, I had an Amazon Local voucher that expired 4/25...they said the 180 days had passed, I was upset enough that I didn't think about till I got home...I called and after an argument about the dates and a refund...I called back, got someone else who offered to take care o the issue over the phone, deleting the first charge & putting it through for the correct amount...back to Classic Cafe...
(1)
Adam M.
We've been to Rouge Island a few times, and I'm not sure we'll be back for a little while. We went a few times when it was still in it's soft open stage and enjoyed it, and we understood the hiccups any new restaurant may have with service, getting food to the table, etc. Service was always good every time we went, maybe a bit slow at times, but again, new place figuring out their system so they get a pass. The food though... It's tipping the scales to the expensive side of things, for what ends up being elevated bar food. Most everything we've had was good, but not worthy of the prices. Every time we've been the food has also been a little slow to come out. I get that it's a "scratch" kitchen and they're not just pulling out canned tomatoes and green beans, but this is Providence, there are a lot of really good restaurants here doing the same thing and charging less. It's not like this is some podunk town where that aspect of things stands out at all. All that up there could have probably been ignored if not for the last time we visited though. My wife ordered the Cod entree, and the fish came out stone cold. She mentioned this to the server and she took it back right away. This kind of thing happens so no worries right? Well when it came back the fish was still cold, but on top of that they had just reheated the plate, so the asparagus was cooked beyond done, so that part of the dish was ruined as well. The server to her credit was not very happy with this, she took it back and took it off our bill. We'll probably be back at Rouge one day, but that last experience will probably keep us away for a bit.
(2)
Don W.
Big improvement. I went here when it first opened and didn't like the food at all. It took me a while to come back, but there's a different chef and you can see it in the menu and the food. I'm a meat eater generally, but the RI mushroom arancini lunch special appealed to me. It was delicious. Beautifully crisp and soft arancini; fresh, light tomato sauce; lots of nicely diced mushrooms, carrots and zucchini. It was the only thing I had, but it rekindled my interest in this restaurant. I love its hyper-local model and really want in to succeed. I'll be back to try more things.
(4)
Evan M.
Really good food although it took a little longer than expected. Way too loud - they had live music and his amp was up all the way.
(3)
Shane H.
Awesome new breakfast menu, very unique and uses local ingredients! Tried the pumpkin spiced rum French toast and it was delicious! Will be back
(5)
Courtney M.
My friend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island while whiling away the time before our restaurant week reservations just down the road. We came in only to get a drink or two, and would up being blown away by the atmosphere right off the bat. It was a bit early on in the evening, so equally quiet to match, but the decor was so welcoming, and the waitstaff extremely warm and helpful. I wound up ordering the Bee's Knees cocktail, with my friend opting for the 5th Ward. Both were delectable, and I cannot wait to return to try out some more of the pre-Prohibition era cocktails, and some of the food as well!
(5)
Sophie R.
Buck a shuck oysters, and a true reverence for our local farmers and such. I really was pleased to see a shout out to all their growers and providers in the corner of their menu! Now, down to the nitty gritty. Their bar is stocked with the most local wines and spirits possible. I found that a very cool concept, as we don't often see it taken beyond the kitchen to the bar. I always ask for particular liqueurs and spirits when I order my drinks and I was initially disappointed when they didn't seem to stock anything I was asking for. While they didn't for example carry Domaine de Canton, they had something called Giffard Ginger of the Indies. The bartender also said they didn't have Goslings but had a different aged dark rum and that I probably wouldn't recognize a lot of the brands carried. And she was right. Although to have such an ambitious mission for their bar, the cocktails should be equally impressive, and my dark and stormy seemed to have missed the mark. The bar while beautiful, simultaneously modern and rustic, did have one design flaw. The counter slopes perilously downward, and is highly varnished and slippery. I asked the waitress if peoples' drinks often end up in their laps, to which she replied yes. So my sister and I had a laugh envisioning all the hapless drinkers who have walked out of the bar with wet crotches. Make sure you keep your drink well away from the slope! Also the rough-hewn wooden bar stools put a run in my brand new pair of stockings. I was a little miffed about that. The oysters were so so. Small cup, and a little too briny for my taste. They were served with some spicy cocktail sauce and a flavorful mignonette. We also ordered the Shishido peppers, a simply prepared plate of grilled peppers served with a sesame oil sauce and a pepper mayo. I have never really had peppers prepared this way and the fresh simple approach was a success. I think I would go back if I happened to be in that part of town, but I don't know if I'd make a special trip for it.
(3)
Neal L.
I went to this super local new restaurant in the Arcade, and found it to be just that- a new restaurant still finding its way. First impressions were really good. The decor is sort of rustic with lots of pleasant wood tables and a very inviting well stocked bar. Then the trouble started... the server spent a solid 10 minutes searching down my date's glass of wine to no avail. It's no problem to be out of something- but just let me know so that I can decide on something else! Our food also seemed to take an unduly long period of time to make it over. When it arrived, the flavors were nicely done and well balanced. However, we each ended up with a lukewarm entree and steak fries that were face meltingly hot. If it were a busy night, I'd be ok with a little mistimed cooking from the kitchen, but this was a random weekday evening and there were less than 10 people in the place. Prices are also at a premium here because of the super local food suppliers. I'd consider it again, but only after they have a chance to develop as a restaurant and iron out the kinks.
(3)
Tyler W.
Great lunch experience. Craft beer menu is fantastic, and better enjoyed with live music. The build your own burger was good, though a little dry - that would have given this place a 5th star. I stumbled in by chance and overall did not disappoint. Give it a try if you're in the area.
(4)
Erin J.
Wow -- UNDERwhelming! I couldn't wait to try the new über-local Rogue Island. The Arcade revival really interests me, and although the Arcade has a ways to go to improve its flow and vibe, it's an architecturally neat space. I want the Arcade to become awesome again and that's what drew me to Rogue. Regardless, here's my run-down of Rogue Island: Price: Go big or go home! There's no way to sugar coat this -- the prices are outrageous. The price point sets the bar very high for the quality of food and drinks, and sadly, they fall short. Food: Small portions, big price. If you order their wings as an appetizer, you will get 3 wings. Maybe technically 6 since the upper and lower wing remains intact. So let's say 6 wings. They will be served with approximately half a tablespoon of blue cheese foam and about 4 shreds of pickled celery. If you're food photographer, these are to die for. If you are interested in eating them, however, try to stifle your laughter. Drinks: They market their drink menu as "Prohibition-era." I imagine drinks of that era being much stronger than Rogue's. Probably more inspired, too. Adjusting for inflation, you could probably buy a bathtub of booze in 1924 for the price of one cocktail at Rogue now. Ambiance: Very cool inside. A total hipster dream. Bring your Ray-Bans. This is where Rogue is going to lose some point: They play Pandora. THE FREE PANDORA. So you're sitting there, paying $15 for an Old Fashioned with your 3, I mean 6, wings and listening to Pandora ads. You're kidding, right? I pay the $3.99/month to have ad-free Pandora. Maybe I should start charging guests in my home $15/drink. Good plan. Overall: If you're someone who thinks the price of a wine dictates how good it tastes, you'll love Rogue Island. If you're someone who wants delivery when the prices promise excellence, you will be disappointed. Perhaps even annoyed. The moral of the story is this: Providence is TINY. Go to Cook & Brown.
(2)
Cara I.
Fantastic craft beer and whisky menu and great service. The entree menu however may need some revamping. Or at least the pricing.... My husband ordered the steak and I ordered the fish. They weren't terrible but definitely not worth the money. Plus the dining room atmosphere was a little cold. Probably a great lunch spot but not great for dinner.
(3)
Timmy J.
Have been here a couple of times for breakfast and lunch and I must say rogue has some great food with some awesome local beers.The staff is very friendly and attentive.I haven't had food I did not like yet ! My favorite for breakfast would be the rancheros and lunch would probably be the pulled pork sandwich, the fries are great! Will be coming back in the future for sure!
(5)
tammy k.
Really nice atmosphere in a fabulous historic building. For an appetizer do not miss out on the pretzel bites. I am not a pretzel fan but I am telling you, these are an absolute must!!! Love the farm to table concept. High quality food. We have enjoyed the Buffoni farm chicken sandwich, wings, RI cod, pulled pork. The french fries that come with sandwiches are real fries..hand cut. So far everything we have tried has been outstanding. Love the lemon tart with raspberry sorbet. Two of my fave things combined. yum!!!
(5)
Greg F.
The food was good. The drinks were good. The service reminded me of going to Friendly's... Chaotic and slow.
(2)
Rob S.
Started coming to RI in RI when consulting for a local beer festival. This is one of those places that gets better the more familiar it becomes. Here's what I mean. . . We sourced a lunch location via ratebeer.com and yelp. RI have excellent reviews on both. I immediately worried that it would suffer from overhype. Well it did NOT. First visit (lunch for 4 people) we sat at the bar. I had a phenomenal burger and great local beer - Grey Sail I believe. Second visit - table (lunch for 2) chatted up the bartender and staff who remembered us from a month prior. Had a Chixand & a few beer tastings. Excellent. 3rd visit - We brought our BrewFest Crew - 13 people. We let them know in advance. They were ready for us. Had a nice large table. In short, they were 13 for 13 that night. Their commitment to FTT (Farm to Table) is bravisimo and they make it very approachable. Everything gets a 5 star rating. Ambiance - New England Trendy Country - Nostalgic incandescent light bulbs, natural woods. Service/Staff - Friendly, fun timely & very polished. They anticipate your needs. Selection - It's all fresh and local. There are a variety of offerings for everyone from the diehard carnivore to the full or part time vegan. Beers, when you're serving the best local craft, you've nailed the selection. Food - Perfect. Not a lentil out of place. Value - If you define value the way I do, it's right on point. You're getting the best of the best in dining experiences. You're going to pay. I think this place is a bargain compared to other highly touted restaurants. That said, if you're on a tight budget, I would wait for a special occasion. Overall - this place is excellent and you should rush to get here.
(5)
Lyndsy C.
Wow, the "new" Arcade is strange..Kind of a good strange, but definitely not tailored for the working class at all, as it was in the past. Went there to not only check out the Arcade, but we also wanted to see what Rogue Island was all about (love the name, and the history). First impression: Nicely decorated in a trendy way, with a small nod to Colonial decor. There's a large raw oak communal table that was pretty cool to look at, might be uncomfortable to sit there on a busy Sat. night though. Yet, this was lunch. There was an older crowd there(40's-50's), almost half full on a Sat. afternoon. Service was just ok. Seemed like there were more than a few people working, not sure why we waited over 10 minutes to get our drinks..I asked for a beer that, while printed on the menu, was not available. O well, there goes another 5 minutes.. We decided against lunch for budgetary reasons, and I have to say I thought the prices were a little bold. $14 for a cheeseburger with fries that comes in a basket (add $2.50 for bacon!). I didn't understand why a flat bread appetizer with seasonal veg. would be "market price". Veering closer to a 3.5 rating on this one.
(3)
Meghan D.
Delicious. A girlfriend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island on a Sunday afternoon after touring the Arcade. Their locally sourced menu made it hard to choose. I opted for a corned beef and cabbage sandwich and my pal went for a BLT with pork belly. The fries were great, beer selection was spot on and our sandwiches were delicious. Great find.
(4)
Linda R.
Great place to grab a beer. They have the best tap list downtown. So happy that I can take a walk downtown and grab an afternoon beer on the weekends now! I haven't eaten here but the menu looks great. The wait staff is really friendly as well.
(5)
Erica C.
This place was on my to do list for the last year. I was really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately we had a pretty lackluster experience. The prices were understandably higher than most bar menu places are considering it's Farm to table. We came for a full meal. The small menu only had very heavy items on the menu that night and we finally decided on just an app with drinks. The buffalo wings fried in duck fat seemed to be a no brainer. We were underwhelmed. very un flavorful, surprisingly un crispy, and the blue cheese foam that came with it... It just struck me that the dish would've been better served with a well made traditional blue cheeses dressing instead of the bland condiment it was served with. The pickled celery was a fun add on but it overwhelmed everything else since the wings were so devoid of vinegar in their dressing. Liked the decor. The drinks were again super pricey and didn't impress anyone. Sad to give two stars to a place we wanted to like.
(2)
Elle S.
Great beer on draught. The first time I went with my sister and the waiter was quite friendly and suggested a few apps including wings. The wings priced at $10 sounded good so we gave them a try. FOUR WINGS. And they were tiny too. That's a joke. Super small portions, of tasty food. But can I say worth it? No way. Not in providence. There are a million better places that also stand for farm to table cuisine. The second time I went with a few girlfriends for a drink. As I glanced at the bar to see if there was room the waitress rudely told me it was full(I have eye too) and we could have a drink at a table. Condescending and short, I cannot say I felt welcomed. Strange, because both times I've been, no one seems to dine in, just an older crowd at the bar. I will not be back!
(2)
Lisa C.
We ate at the bar and the bartender was very knowledgeable and fun...he suggested a beer flight which we let him choose based on our likes....he chose well...now we have some new beers we are going to have to look for. Food was great....charcuterie board was great especially accompanied by the house made tomato jam ....pickled veggies were good but not great...my cauliflower sandwich was very tasty with a whole bunch of tastes going on...nice alternative for the vegetarian people out there...which I AM NOT!! My husbands Reuben was delicious even for me because I'm not a fan of that sandwich, but he devoured it fast. Desserts were very very good especially the homemade sorbets. All in all I loved the place and will be back, probably at night to see what the dinner vibe is as well.
(5)
Jonathan B.
FOOD POISONING!!! Not to mention that my poisoned meal didn't arrive until after they gotten my order wrong, and everyone else in my party had long since finished eating. Spent the next day laying on the floor and going to the bathroom at least once every hour. Save yourself the horrible discomfort. AVOID!
(1)
Linda C.
I just had the best corned beef sandwich I ever had and I have had a lot of them. The bread was so tasty as was the corned beef. The service was great the place has great atmosphere in the historic Arcade in Providence. The waitress suggested a great beer when I told her basically what I like. Definitely will be back!!!!!!!!
(5)
Eliza M.
Keep in mind, 3 stars is "A-OK" - We will definitely come back and try some more menu items... My partner and I have been here twice - on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Granted, these are not hustle-bustle date/times, but considering how few customers were there, our service was SUPER slow and frustrating. My partner had finished his first beer before my cocktail arrived. Same problem both visits. The food was really great. We've had several things so far, I really liked the steak sandwich, but the amount of meat was rather stingy. My partner loved the oyster mushroom arancini. We love the prohibition-era vibe, cocktail list, farm-to-table/bar menu. I just wish they put more effort into providing a better experience through great customer service.
(3)
Jon H.
The beer was good, the service very good but the sandwiches that we ordered were underwhelming. The steak sandwich which I ordered used good ingredients but based on the taste and amount of meat, it tasted like a pepper and cheese . The other corned beef was only slightly better due to the fact you could almost taste some corned beef in the sandwich.
What a fantastic meal at Rogue! Wonderful drinks--cucumber vodka and soda (the vodka was amazing!)--and mussels and fried chicken sandwich are a must! Whatever the special dessert is, you must get it! So looking forward to visiting this establishment again! Bravo to the waitstaff and chef--you have done well!!!
(5)
Will J.
As some of the reviews suggest, this place is still working it out. But all (4) times I have been here they were cordial, helpful, maybe a bit harried (never a good sign when the owner/manager is discussing his business at the bar) and the food and drink very good. My bartender made me a custom cocktail based on tastes I enjoy and came up with the most delicious concoction I have ever had. The cod was good, burgers were good, all-veggie plate requested by one in our party was entirely OK. Each time I go in to Rogue Island it seems like they have tweaked the formula and improved things; for the concept alone they deserve more attention and business.
(3)
J R.
There IS such a thing as taking a concept too far. Their stated aim: "Our highly seasonal menu is chef-driven and sourced exclusively from nearby farms..." What this apparently means to them is no fish. NO fish! In the Ocean State? Pulled pork they have, but no fish. Sure, we don't "farm" fish locally (they do farm oysters and they have them on the menu) but they sure do catch them locally. Not only do we in Rhode Island actually like fish, tourists are often looking for local swordfish, flounder, bluefish ... enough said. Please add a fish dish to your lunch menu. When you do I'll increase the rating to 3 stars.
(3)
Susan J.
Great place!!! We walked around town trying to find a cozy place and we stumbled upon rogue island. A hidden culinary treasure!!!!! local and sustainable. We ended up going back again, truly a talented chef , everything is house made down to the condiments. All of the staff is friendly and knowledgeable on the vast array of local spirits and beer they offer. They even changed the music on their sound system when we asked.... Katie was our server and she was awesome!!!!!!!!!! They even have outlets with USB all along the bar.
(5)
Jeff G.
I give this three stars because I really like the space and the beer selection. Although the food sounded good, it ended up being very under seasoned and just poorly constructed, especially at the 12-14 bucks for a sandwich. The cocktails, though tasty, were small and way overpriced at 10 bucks and up! Overall, great local beer on tap, nice space at the bar, (avoid the back room), and very friendly staff, make it a good place for a drink before heading somewhere else for dinner.
(3)
James R.
My wife and I dined at the new Rogue Island for lunch on a Saturday to experience the new place in the arcade. I ordered the mushroom soup and my wife ordered the Brussels sprout salad. The soup was good but the amount for $11.00 was ridiculous, the cold salad had no dressing on it and was very bland. I was very disappointed due to the quality of food and the amount the bill was, everything is overpriced. I doubt if this place will make a run of it in the arcade as new customers will figure this place out quickly and will not return.
(1)
Rita S.
Perfection. I can't wait to go back-I don't think you can go wrong with a single thing on the menu. Only one side note to the restaurant-bigger chairs at the tables may be a good investment. Great aesthetic overall though!
(5)
Elaine C.
Went today for an early-ish lunch (noon). Ordered salads and drinks, and waited about 25 minutes for them to arrive. Meals were fine, but the long wait made me question a return trip.
(2)
Suzanne S.
omg, went for lunch. ordered a fried chicken sandwich. after FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, the poor bartender just gave me my money back in exasperation. i left hungry. no explanation. do not try to eat here!
(1)
Michelle K.
The biggest disappointment was that the "House made pappardelle" is not pappardelle at all. It's fettucine. Not especially good fettucine. I was so disappointed with my experience at Rogue Island. This place is not what it pretends to be. We went on a Saturday night at 6:30, and it was empty. So empty that the waitresses and hostess were just hanging out at the front, chatting. The waitress came to our table and pretended to be a huge foodie, describing the specials in terms she clearly did not understand. It was when she said that, "oooh, and the flavors are all in your mouth," (as opposed to where?) that I really caught on that she had no idea what she was talking about. We put in our drink orders and chatted a bit, then looked up and saw the bartender just standing against the wall, looking out into space, and the waitresses and hostess just chatting away. In another few minutes, the waitress noticed that the bartender hadn't made our drinks, and notified him that he had a ticket waiting. The drinks were excellent, strong and delicious. My husband got the wings, which he said were good, but not spectacular. He had the same feeling about the Steak Sandwich. As I said, I had the "house made pappardelle." Except it wasn't. It was fettuccine. Pappardelle, my absolute favorite noodle, is a wide, flat noodle. These were not. They seemed home made because of the irregular texture, but were not that great. It really irritates me when the description of the food is totally different from what you get. I KNOW that any chef knows the difference between pappardelle and fettucine. Call it what it is. I had the pesto sauce and cream sauce mixed, which was tasty. I paid $4 for "farm fresh vegetables" with it, which turned out to be a handful of tiny diced zucchini and a few sliced cherry tomatoes. Big disappointment all around. We definitely won't be going back.
(2)
Sheila T.
Husband and I discovered this restaurant while walking around Providence yesterday. The menu looked intriguing when we saw it displayed inside The Arcade. So we did a little more walking and headed back for an early dinner. We were pleased with the interior of the place - cool and funky. The staff were very friendly and our waitress - sorry, forgot her name! - was attentive and sweet. The problem I had was the "chintziness" of some items in my two dishes I ordered. The pickled veggie ( basically thin sliced veggies soaked in white vinegar) plate was nice looking and I liked the crispness of the veggies but the amount of cauliflower was dismal. I would like to get into the head of whomever plated the dish. Two small florets and then a bunch of the very tiny pieces that come off when breaking off the florets from the head. Why not just four decent florets? And the tiny bit of mayo dressing was sad, too. My other dish was the beet and goat cheese salad. The amount of goat cheese was laughable. This type of salad is bland unless there is enough of the tangy goat cheese to add some 'zip'. I asked for more and assumed I was going to be charged extra, and was ($1.00)- but this was the amount that should have been in the dish to begin with! A little More beets would have been nice, too. My husband's turkey sandwich was fine, but the homemade pickles were forgotten! We were looking forward to trying them. I noticed most of the other complaints of the new restaurant were about the lack of food on some of the plates. A little more attention to those complaints would add a star or two to the reviews. The little extra amount of food added to some of the dishes will not cut into the profits- it will get more repeat diners.
The interior is nice. Seating is not the greatest, stools are small and hard. Mostly tables for 2 and one large community table. The menu is limited and what we ordered was very over-priced. Ordered the chicken wings fried in duck fat for $9.00. Was shocked when the plate arrived with 3 whole wings on it. They looked nice but were terribly spicy....not for me. Ordered both soups on the menu, for $9 and $11. One was pretty, had apple chutney and cauliflower, was not impressed with the flavor although it was edible. The other soup was Mushroom and looked disgusting. It was slate gray in color and was mostly creamy but had long stands of cabbage (I think). It was way salty. My daughter ordered a fried chicken sandwich, $9. The batter they use on the chicken is different not bad. Her bun was toasted a little too much around the edges (black and crispy) and the top piece looked like there might have been a large air pocket when it was sliced. So it was especially thin on one side. The fries were very good but I didn't care for their home made catsup at all. Have to give them props though for trying. My husband ordered the Brother's Burger, $14 plus $2.50 for bacon which they did not skimp on. The burger was cooked perfectly and hubby enjoyed it. Beverages we consumed: water and 2 local sodas. Total check - $66, not worth half that much in my opinion. We won't be back but daughter who lives in PVD will try again in a couple of months.
(2)
Wayne P.
stopped into the arcade to check it out yesterday. it was near lunch time so we decided to try this place. kinda small as in not alot of tables but still roomy to get around in. nice atmosphere/decor. first the is a great beer selection here, nearly every RI brewery represented here. i started with a Newport Storm IPA mmmm. my wife had a Downeast cranberry cider, quite refreshing. the food menu is small but seem to be just what you would need. my wife and i started out with the cauliflower and potato soup very tasty and it seems to have some heat in it that builds at the end, which i liked a lot. the wife had a salad with tuna fish. the waitress asked how do you want that cooked. we were??? so my wife said medium. well us old timers were a we bit surprised when it came out but my wife ate it all anyway. my son would have know exactly what to expect being a sushi guy and all. i had the carved turkey sandwich. the fresh thin sliced turkey was great add in the cranberry relish and some brown/turkey gravy and it was great. i had a side of the house potato salad. the flavors were interesting and yes i ate all of it. there appeared to be only one waitress and she was a joy to work with. i heartily recommend this place for a saturday afternoon meal.
(4)
Liz M.
Fellow craft beer lovers are often tagged here so I had to try it. It's a very small Place but big on charm. We happened to go on a quiet night so we sat down quickly and were greeted and served quickly. This is where you go for craft beers. That is apparent when you get a gander of the draft beers. They had three Maine beer company beers! They had all kinds of tough to find beers and were reasonably priced. Our bartender was great he knew a lot about the beers and was able to help me pick some out. We decided to have some dinner too. A warning if your super fussy you may not find something you like. Everything is made in house using whatever local ingredients are available so you have to be open minded and try something new. I am one of those fussy people but they had a build Your burger option that was perfect for me. It was delicious but a little on the pricy side charging extra for fancy ketchup and lettuce and tomato. I did enjoy my fresh burger and fries and will go there again for sure. I've heard they have a excellent brunch so I will have to go back and try it one day. It's worth going there just for the beers.
(4)
Richard P.
I want local businesses like this to succeed. I really do. However, I think the service is going to continue to be their biggest downfall. We recently had four friends visiting us from Washington, DC, and I recommended Rouge Island a great local business, perfect RI ambiance, and delicious food as an option. They looked at the menu and were beyond excited! Our party was seated in the dining room facing the inside of the Arcade. Throughout the meal, we had to get it up twice to ask the waitress for more water and coffee. The second time that we got up to ask for more water, it took over 10 minutes to get her back into our room to refill the glasses (the restaurant wasn't even half full at this point). The food took more than 40 minutes from the time ordered, until the time it came to the table (which is more understandable with a larger party, but still quite a wait with the lack of our server's attention.) Upon leaving Rouge Island, we agreed that we are not going to return for a couple of weeks. As I mentioned in my original email, we absolutely want this place to succeed. You have all the components to be a great spot, but the front-line of customer service seems still to be limping along. If I may, some unsolicited suggestions - Locals: There are not many brunch places open in downtown Providence on Sunday's, or the weekends for that matter. The residents that live here, will come. It's the service that will drive them away. I've asked other people who live in Providence about this, and many have had similar experiences as well on the weekends with the service. Tourists: I've seen many people in there on the weekends with cameras (who I assume are visiting from out of state). Your restaurant is so unique, given its location in the oldest indoor shopping mall in America. The wait staff should be enthusiastic asking the guests if they are visiting, and if they are tell them about some of the history, about the owners, how the food is locally sourced, encourage them to look at the art (especially in the bathroom of Westminster Street to see what Providence was like in the 1930's), etc. If this was The Cheesecake Factory, I wouldn't have even bothered wasting my time to write this review. You are a local business that we (the residents of Providence) truly believe in and want to support.
(3)
Shannon B.
I've been here twice, once for drinks and the second time, hoping to have dinner. The ambience is great, decor is rustic and charming without being too twee, and the location in the renovated Arcade is perfect. Above all, their local brew selection kicks major behind. Beyond the set dressing, though, I have to admit I'm not impressed. Both times I've visited, I've had to hunt down someone to seat our party, and have been dismissed casually by wait staff that seem more interested in socializing than making patrons feel welcome. My second visit was very short: my friend and I entered through the Arcade and waited to be seated. Two members of the staff looked up, and then returned to their conversation until we wandered to the bar, along with two other groups that were similarly confused. One of the staff members addressed the entire group of us with orders to sit at the "big table over there". My friend and I thought we should check with a server, who then waived us back to the communal table, where we waited in awkward, dimly-lit silence until she finally came back, slid a couple of menus at us without a word, and hurried off. We waited a bit longer, hoping to put in drink order, before finally giving up and heading to the Congress Tavern, which had a similarly impressive selection of local brews, plus a staff that actually looked up when we walked in the door. For me, at least, the third time won't be the charm at Rogue Island. It doesn't matter how fresh your food is or how well you represent local vendors. If the staff is unable to appropriately treat guests and represent the business in a professional manner, another visit is just a waste of my time.
(2)
cynthia r.
Very disappointing. The atmosphere was great. I am a big fan of the Arcade building an all the history in it. I was happy to see some of the interesting items on the menu for brunch. But the service was terrible. With only 4 tables the waitress could not keep up. She very obviously preferred to be at the bar engaged with the people sitting there than tending the people in her section. More than 20 to get my 1st cup of coffee (at brunch) and was never offered a refill. My fiance wasn't given the opportunity to order a drink in the first place. After about an hour we finally got our food and mine was served cold. I ate it because I was starving at this point but for what we paid, it wasn't anything special. We won't be back.
(2)
Kristen M.
I genuinely like Rogue Island. The service is decent, the food is good, they have a great beer selection, bottomless mimosas and bloody marys during brunch and they're in a fantastic downtown location. The reason why it's a 3 star for me is that while I always leave satisfied, I'm not really blown away by the menu and have noticed that regardless of the meal the portions are a little skimpy. None of that keeps me from coming back I'm just not a regular. Between buck-a-shuck on weekdays, brunch deals on the weekend, and other specials they run consistently throughout each week, if you're downtown Rogue Island is a solid choice.
(3)
Mary E.
Unlimited mimosa, beer or bloody Mary's are key. This place never seems to have much of a crowd for such a great deal in the area. The menu changed since last time I was there and along with the prices. During brunch the portions are on the smaller size than when I was last there a few months ago. No entree comes with a salad or fries which makes the presentation of each dish look empty and dull without. Otherwise beer and drink selection is great. 50+ variety of beers to be exact!
(3)
taylor d.
Today my boyfriend and I went to check this place out for a late lunch. When we walked into the Arcade... It didn't look open but it was and I'm glad we went inside! The decor is really rustic and cute. We sat at the bar and we're pleasantly surprised that they locally source all of their ingredients no further than 40 miles away from PVD. The food was good we got poutine and wings. We will definitely be coming Back for more. One thing I loved is they don't serve any Coke or Pepsi products.... they get all of their soda from a local soda company called Yacht Club Soda, all alcohol and beer is local too. It's a great place to take out of towners but it also stands up to PVD locals standards.
(4)
Alexander V.
Came here for brunch for two. Had to wait five minutes or so for a table to be cleared. Sat down and was given water right away. Had to wait another ten minutes before the waitress came back to take our order as she was busy playing bartender behind the bar. The front side was dead and we were the only new group that had walked in. Placed our order and took 30 minutes to be served. In the meantime waitress doesn't inform us of the progress or checked in on us. We had ordered eggs Benedict and the special - peach waffles and fried chicken". The eggs Benedict were fine but the special was underwhelming. There were bits and pieces of poorly attempted chopped peaches on the plate and very little if none in the waffles. The chicken pieces were small and poor battered. If I wanted to wait this long for my food I'd go to nicks on Broadway where the wait is actually worth the food quality.
(2)
Lisa O.
I recently went here for brunch with a friend after finding out that they have $18 all you can drink mimosas or bloody mary's until 3pm. It was fortunately a gorgeous day and we sat at one of the tables outside. The brunch menu had a good assortment of items. I selected the huevos rancheros, and my friend had the eggs benedict. We also had some of those mimosas. The huevos rancheros was quite good and filling. The only complaint with any of the food was my friend's potatoes/home fries were overcooked. But then again, we arrived at 2pm which may have been a part of the problem. I would definitely give them another shot and will be returning soon to try more of their food. The service was friendly and relatively quick. They were nice enough to fix our bill when we confused our waitress.
(4)
Molly O.
I'm giving this place a 3 because I didn't really get a chance to try their food but everything else was AWESOME! Walk into the oldest mall/first indoor mall in America. AKA the Providence Arcade. Head into Rogue Island. You'll find a woodsy-earthy-urban-funky cool Rhode Island fun spot. The vibe is great. You'll feel at home. You'll feel relaxed. It's fresh flowers, it's wood and iron. It's great. We had some wings that were seasoned and had delicious dill-ish dipping sauce. They had a pretty cool variety of cocktails, wines and beers. It was quite early evening during the week. I found a new wine I really like. Service was good. I'll go back and try the food!
(3)
Margaret D.
I don't even know where to begin. Have visited several times during their posted open hours to find a vacant dark restaurant that is not, in fact, open. Have visited several times when they are actually open to find a restaurant that looks dark and closed - what is up with that room you can see from inside the Arcade hallway? At least turn the lights on in there when you ARE open, because I sincerely believed you had gone out of business. Came here for breakfast with visiting friends when they bought a Groupon (good only for breakfast on certain days) to find that the place is NOT EVEN OPEN on those days. Have not received a response to a phone message I left asking how to use this coupon. Drinks take forever, even when the place is slow. Blonde bartender sits at the bar and texts, rather than helping her coworkers when things are busy, though things are never TRULY busy here. When she does help you, she is as rude as can be, almost like if you ask your teenage children to help with chores at home. I can get nicely made cocktails more quickly at Circe on a weekend night than I can get here during weekday lunch. Drink prices fluctuate on a whim - is that martini $12, or $14, or the $16 that I paid last time I was in? Why did I pay $8 for a Gansett? Do the owners know that this is what the bar staff is charging for these drinks? And who is that insane frazzled guy that works there but HAS NO IDEA what is happening ever and does not help staff out when they are in a pinch? Is everyone who works here drinking on the job? Service is deplorable and slow, even when there are NO other tables waiting. Seats are tiny tiny and hard as a rock. The bar is not level, so if you don't watch your glass, it will start sliding. Food comes out wrong, or cold, or is misrepresented from what the menu said. Portions are miniature and way expensive for what they are. If I want to spend 3 hours at brunch, I will go to Julian's, where the food is better and the staff will bring drinks and coffee for the duration of the meal. I come here because I want to see local businesses do well, but I don't have 90 mins for weekday lunch. There are so many reviews like this, I don't know why the staff does not read them and take action. As Providence improves, more restaurants will come into downtown. Would hate to see the place close, but am too frustrated to give them any more of my money or time. What a disappointment.
(1)
Laurie B.
We came here for lunch but just got some apps. It was 2pm, no one else was in the restaurant. The decor is nice. The seats look a little tiny, luckily I had the booth side. The water comes out in mason jars, which really adds to the rustic rhode island theme. We ordered the poutine fries and the pretzel bites with beer cheese. The fries are steak fries which kinda makes it hard to eat. The cheese curds were flavorless. The pretzels bites were delicious though. They were definitely fresh and the cheese was perfect. The menu is different. They have a lot of items from Rhode Island.
(3)
Laurie S.
Here for a night out. Fantastic. First. The bartender, Bill(?) was awesome, knowledgable, friendly and helpful. Big fan! Had a great G&T with a little elderflower. Good stuff. Helped my friend decide between some yummy wines. Great local choices-in beer and wine. Food was great too. Started with the warm pretzel bites. So. Damn. Good. Get them. Yes. Got the Berkshire Bourbon Pulled Pork Sandwich. Equally good. Friend burger was also really good and chocolate cake. Good stuff. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive, The decor is great and love the well curated bar, lots of great gins (my fave). Love the renovations in the Arcade and this place is well worth the trip! A fan already.
(5)
Holly K.
I would definitely head back here again! We went in for their newly started Sunday brunch and it went pretty well. I will say I think out waitress was a bit flustered with the table of 12. Everyone loved their food! My eggs benedict came out a bit cold, but it tasted awesome. I think they just need to work on what brunch food gets fired off first for a big table. My friend asked for an orange juice that never came and coffee remained unfilled. But, as soon as we flagged our waitress down for more coffee or more water she was quick to refill everything. My little cousin got a carton of chocolate milk, she took a sip and said it tasted funny, well it had expired over a week ago and had gone sour! She was very apologetic about it and then ended up making a chocolate milk instead of giving her another carton. I like that they are farm to table, and loved all the local decor! The mural in the bathroom is really cool. I would definetely like to see what their dinner is like.
(3)
Kris W.
Are the Yelpers in PVD so jaded that Rogue Island only has an average rating of 3 stars? This place is awesome. I love the location in the Arcade & love the decor. It's very similar to another of my favorite restaurants (Engine Room in Mystic CT) in ambiance & mission. If you like upsacle farm to table pub food & are passionate about the hyperlocal craftbeer scene then you'll love this place. Their tap list is kinda small but well curated. They are one of the few places in RI to carry Proclamation Ale & Ravenous beers. They have enough selection to appease craftbeer snobs & those who don't have discerning taste. There were plenty of interesting choices on the menu but I was there for a quick lunch & not feeling adventurous. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich with steak fries & was impressed. I loved the bun they used & the combination of the pulled pork with the cole slaw worked well together. The steak fries were cooked perfectly & tasted so fresh definitely not frozen! The only drawback/complaint is that Rogue Island is not that kid friendly. It is a farm to table & they specialize in local craft beer so I wasn't expecting chicken fingers &/or Chuck E. Cheese. Our server did manage to give my son some paper & sharpie markers to draw with. The kitchen did make him a flatbread pizza that he wasn't too thrilled with but he loved my fries! Again, prices aren't that cheap but when I'm in the city of Providence I don't mind spending a little more for quality.
(4)
Nikki K.
Ugh! Not a fan. Went here on a slow Tuesday night with a co worker. Bartender took FOREVER to make drinks with 6 people at the bar then told us she couldn't make one after 6ish minutes. Ordered the arugula salad with chicken to go, I was drawn to the goat cheese that was supposed to come with it as well as walnuts. I should've checked my order before I left but no cheese and no walnuts were on it and for 16 dollars the salad was a joke. It was basically a few oz of dry chicken, onions, arugula, and a few beets. I will not be returning. If you only have 3 salads on the menu and forget 2 highlighting ingredients on one that is NOT a good look ESP at 16 dollars! Stay away!
(1)
Stacey C.
Had dinner here. Had their mac n' cheese, cauliflower melt, and fried chicken sandwich. Had fries and salads and those were great, although "large" salad looked more like a small salad to me. The potato salad was a little bland but all the other food was flavorful, good, and different. Service was great and loved the ambience. Prices were $$. This is a farm to table restaurant so everything was super fresh and organic. They close at 9 on a Tuesday so we didn't get to try dessert :(.
(4)
Karen S.
Rogue Island has been on my "to try" list for a bit so it was nice to pop in for a drink and a bite while at a recent Yelp event at the Arcade. I really liked the look and feel of the interior. We were quickly greeted and seated and told that they were running an unofficial special for Yelpers that if you checked in and ordered an alcoholic beverage then you get a free appetizer. He was a bit vague with the details of this. When he came back to take our drink order and three out of the four of us had checked in he mentioned that it was only good for one free appetizer for the table. That's cool, three free appetizers would have been a bit much. I ordered the Bourbon Brulee. While pricey at $13, it was one of the best drinks I have ever had. When he brought our drinks, we ordered the wings and the pretzel bites. He came back a while later to clarify that only one would be free. While I understand his concern that we could possibly complain when we got the bill, this came off as a bit condescending. The wings were hot, spicy and tasty. The blue cheese foam that was on the plate with it though was pointless as it had no flavor and was just a white puddle. The pretzel bites were delicious. Service was very slow with our waiter disappearing for long stretches of time. While there was a Yelp event going on, it was fairly empty inside Rogue Island while we were there. There were only a few table occupied and a few at the bar. I saw a bartender and two waiters and they all appeared very frazzled. There were some delicious looking sandwiches coming out of the kitchen. While the service could have just been having an off night, I think I'll give them a little time to work things out before I go back.
(3)
Sarah E.
I love this place. It doesn't matter the time of day, the occasion or the season, this place should definitely be on your must-visit list. The staff is wonderful - their recommendations on food and drink are spot-on. I have never been disappointed. Whether it's their twist on a dark 'n' stormy, a local whiskey brew or a draft beer, you cannot go wrong with their opinion. The food is delicious as well. It's not your typical pub food. Their menu is seasonal incorporating local produce and hand-picked selections. And, it's located in the Arcade! Just a fantastic spot in downtown Providence.
(4)
Peter D.
Upon walking into Rogue Island, I immediately assumed I was going to fall in love. The space is gorgeous, the menu is mouthwatering, the Mets spring training was on the TV, and the bathroom smelled exactly like Johnson baby powder and Cool Water cologne.* What I'm trying to say is that Rogue Island is fresh, dressed, like a million bucks. Unfortunately, they seem to have sacrificed substance in the pursuit of such style. Every plate we ordered was gorgeous, but the flavor and technique was a bit lacking. For instance, a blue cheese foam accompaniment to your wings is impressive, but I'd vastly prefer that the effort was actually spent properly seasoning and searing the burger. There was no juice, no meaty flavor, and even the bacon was rock hard and virtually tasteless. And after all, we eat burgers and bacon for the juice and the flavor, not for our health. On the flip side, the steak fries were actually well seasoned, but essentially raw in the center. With a few tweaks in the kitchen, I imagine that Rogue Island could be great, but for now I'd settle for a beer at the beautiful bar. ____________ *And by Cool Water cologne, I mean 8th grade.
(3)
Kelsey D.
My luck for finding good restaurants on a complete whim continues. We were starving last Friday and didn't want to deal with the horrors of Black Friday, so myself and my room mate opted to check Rogue Island out during lunch. It was completely empty inside, but the siren call of weird beers on tap sang to me from afar and we ended up grabbing some barstools and going through a couple flights of excellent local beer, one of which was from a new brewery to RI I had never heard of before -- and as someone who drinks a wee bit too much (read: A Lot), I was pleasantly surprised. What was even more surprising was the food. We split some pretzel bites that were okay, but the entrees were killer. I ate a ridiculously delicious angus steak sandwich with wedge fries that I would like to keep in my pocket and pull out whenever I want. My room mate had chicken wings with a glaze that was out of this world. To top it all off, we grabbed some ice cream and sorbet that I highly suggest trying, if only for their weirder flavors. The cinnamon sorbet made my lactose-sad room mate especially happy. Overall, a pretty cool joint with local food at a reasonable price. Definitely worth a visit and I certainly plan on doing it again.
(4)
Christine B.
Amazing! We went for the Proclamation ale night. They had a bbq night with the beer co. The food was so delicious! It is very hard to find delicious bbq in new england. Either they try to make it fancy with liquid smoke, douse it in bbq sauce or over cook it so it is a dry flavorless mess. The bbq I had tonight was none of those things. I had the ribs and mac and cheese and my boyfriend had the bbq platter with ribs, pullled pork, brisket, baked beans, collard greens, cold slaw, and corn bread. Everything, even the bread, was fresh and delicious. The flavor was perfect. The ribs were tender and juicy without being over powered by other flavors. Proclamation Ale was serving two draft beers tonight the Derivative mosaic and the Dark Sprout. They were not cheap though, $7 a glass but at least they and the food was good enough to justify the price. I will definitely come back here and try the Proclamation Ale again.
(5)
Lizz W.
I forgot to tell the world how much I LOVE Rogue Island's food. OMG I love when this happens, when you can't complain about food after dining out. I tried the wings, the cauliflower sandwich, the ribeye entree and lots of cocktails! The cauliflower sandwich was sooo good. Like I was expecting to devour the ribeye and couldn't stop eating the sandwich. Everything was amazing, you could tell the ingredients were fresh, the cocktails were creative and tasty.
(4)
Amelia S.
Cute place! Love the selection of LOCAL beers-- buying local is important to us and we're happy to do so.The salad was amazing, my only regret was not getting chicken on it which I will do next time. Everyone really liked their lunches. Service was a bit slow for lunch but not horrendous-- and I would have liked a water refill. Prices were reasonable for farm to table! Will be back!
(4)
Kyle S.
I've been to Rogue Island a few different times and really want to like this place more but unfortunately between poor service and average food, I have been let down by this establishment. I honestly really like the space itself, I think the design and ambiance is very cool. And for the beer selection alone I would give them 5 stars. I appreciate the fact that they showcase and carry so many different local beers from RI. I've tried a couple of different dishes here and the flavor has been average at best, which is disappointing because I like the fact that they source local ingredients for their dishes. The other area where they also seem to drop the ball is on service. While sitting at the bar is fine, table service has been slow and torturous at times. I don't know if it is because they are understaffed or overwhelmed by how busy it can be, but I really hope this is one area where they will be able to improve. I really love the improvements and updates they have brought to the Arcade and I would like to see a place like this succeed and do well. It might not be one of my go to places, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to stopping by again in the future for a beer or two.
(2)
Mark B.
Great beers. Good service. Didn't have the food, but it looked good. Love this place.
(5)
Xiao Z.
Catering review: If you needed a restaurant that screamed out its love for RI, then Rogue Island is your place to visit. Tucked in the iconic Arcade, Rogue Island is a nice bar/restaurant, chock full of food and drinks indigenous to our beloved Ocean State. We came here for a conference, in which we were served fish with crabmeat, chicken with bacon, asparagus and brussel sprouts. Nothing really jumped out at me, but they did not make me shirk away either. The dessert was an apple cobbler with icecream, which was quite delicious, and tasted kinda like bread pudding, and that's always a great thing! I had a couple of misfires with the drink selections: the RI based scotch/whiskey...I'd skip it, and the hazelnut beer tasted too sweet for my liking. I did like the clownshoes IPA and overall was very satisfied with the services. I would recommend this establishment if you need a private place for a party/journal club. Food; 3 stars Service: 3.5 stars Drinks: 3 stars Price: n/a Ambiance: 3-4 stars; very RI-dy
(4)
Justin B.
Another gem has opened downtown. I've been poking my head into the arcade for months, just to see if Rogue Island had opened. They are working a soft opening for now and a grand opening is not far away. I grabbed a bar stool and ordered their HOUSE ground burger. Accompanied by steak fries to end all other steak fries. Perfectly seasoned and crispy, and they don't skimp either. The burger was cover with a warm blanket of brie and topped with radishes and arugula. It would be a sin to use ketchup or mustard on this masterpiece. Wood Rules... making the industrial age decor warm and inviting. Lit by the throw back Edison light bulbs, the larger than life wood bar and tables were made from trees, downed by a recent hurricane. (overhead the bartender explaining the wood to another person at the bar) I'm really looking forward to a dinner here soon and will update my review as soon as I do.
(5)
Vimala P.
One of favorite gems in Rhode Island! Would recommend to anyone who loves locally inspired food and booze. Great atmosphere and great staff!
(5)
Laura B.
After eyeing Rouge Island every time I've walked through the Arcade, I finally got the opportunity to drop in there for dinner last night. 7:30 on a Friday seemed like more than enough time to have a meal and stroll over to Lupo's for a 9:00 show but Rogue Island could not get us a full meal in that time. The husband and I were sat in a lovely corner seat where we really got to take in the decor and ambiance of the restaurant but I was not wowed by the food or the service. Our waitress was nice enough but she started our interaction by telling us that "the kitchen is really overwhelmed right now so let's just start with drinks first, okay?" Oh boy. Not that we *weren't* going to start with drinks, we just really wanted a meal with our drinks too considering we were in a full service restaurant at dinner time and all. It took half an hour to get the full drink list (beer and cocktails), order them, and receive them. Hubby had a great Triple IPA and I drank a delicious "Bourbon Brulee" cocktail, but half an hour for two drinks is a little much. We ordered two appetizers so we could eat enough to be full during the show and I was extremely disappointed in their take on poutine. Instead of shoestring fries (that do a great job absorbing the gooey gravy/cheese deliciousness of Canada's best fast food treat) they used wedge potatoes that were cooked fine, but just didn't work in the dish. Chartreuse plate was good, although it felt a little overpriced for what it was and they didn't give enough bread with it to eat everything. Judging by the other reviews, I have to assume Rogue Island was having a rough night and hopefully they'll be back on their game during their next dinner rush. Hoping to come back someday to eat a *meal* and see if things improve.
(3)
David R.
When they first opened, I didn't like the menu at all, but recently I went back and they had totally redone things - I loved it and have returned several times. Ingot an excellent salad with grilled chicken, and my wife enjoyed their burger. Great beers too.
(5)
Paul W.
Charcuterie was very good. Then things went terribly wrong! Chicken sandwich was as dry as the Sahara, even after asking for extra aioli. I ordered a cheeseburger medium rare. I'm not sure how they made it so dry but it was definitely not a juicy burger. Fries were very good however. But the reason I am giving it only one star is the fact that both the bartender and the waitress saw a baby being changed at a booth!!!! Neither said anything to the family while dirty nappies, Kleenex and rags were being loaded on another napkin on the bench!!!!!!! I stopped eating, paid the bill and left!..... Seriously! GROSS!!!! Add to this the fact that the bartender never asked us how our meal was. Organic and local is great idea, but diaper changing while touching table, walls and seats is is disgusting!!!!!!! I could NEVER eat here again! Hygiene is tops on my review list.
(1)
Amahl H.
This place should be a solid 4 stars and I want to see it do well but, let me just get it out there at the top, they need to re-think their prices. I'm not one to quibble over prices normally (see my other reviews), I'm happy to pay more for better quality. But my group and I were all genuinely surprised to see our bill. Manhattans and martinis were over $16 each, a beer was $10--these were not special drinks, nor were the Manhattans extraordinary or over-sized, just average in all aspects. So, that's just not what you expect from what is otherwise a very nice neighborhood-style bar. Now let me say some nice things. The decor is very nice, though the lighting was a little too bright. The staff were fine. I had some kind of salad with chicken and while the serving size was quite modest it was really quite good. Moreover, I want to see nice businesses like this succeed--especially in our very cool but under-utilized Arcade. So, come on guys, get in line with your competitors on pricing and I'll definitely be back and will re-review.
(3)
Wendy W.
Impressed! There must've been some growing pains when this place opened based on prior reviews, but I will be back- this place is comfortable w/excellent draft beer selection & interesting drinks Decor: this place is comfy. The wood touches, the attention to lighting. It's warm, clean, cozy. The place makes me wanna drink here... So I did Drinks: draft selection was great- hard to decide on one to try. I want to go back to try the cocktails, they sound so creative & delish! Food: crab cake was so yummy, fresh crab meat, little filler, very flavorful w/every bite. Too bad there was only one cake. The ribeye steak sandwich had fresh crunchy ciabatta w/really good truffle oil & I love the cheese that's on the sandwiches. They skimped on the steak though. House steak fries were huge slices of potato that was a bit too soggy, not crunchy. fries=meh. Dessert was "the small": new harvest marshmallow w/graham crumbs & marshmallow ice cream. Too sweet for me. The locally sourced ingredients make me want to go back to try the rest of the menu. Service: great. Attentive, no probs Will be back. rogue island, hang in there!
(4)
Katie S.
Is there a way to post negative stars? This was the worst restaurant experience that I've had in years. We arrived early afternoon after watching the providence marathon. We were told upon arrival that we'd need to wait 15 minutes due to the "small kitchen". There were about 10 free tables in the restaurant. After about 35 minutes, our drink orders were taken and water was brought to the table. We finally ordered our food, which arrived almost an hour later. When I asked the waitress/manager about the timing of our food, she told me that it had only been "35 minutes". Isn't that long enough to justify a question? Our food finally arrived...actually 5 of our 6 dishes finally arrived. Several of the dishes were served lukewarm. We all ate our entire meal before the 6th dish arrived. We were pleased that the last meal was comped. When we asked to speak to the manager about our experience, the waitress told us that she was the manager. She did not once apologize for the poor experience or service. Later, when the bill was brought to the table and paid, we discovered an 18% large-group gratuity had automatically been added to the bill by the waitress/manager. The service and professionalism of the waitress/manager was laughable. I recommend that you stay far away.
(1)
Ryan D.
Rogue Island is sitting in the very gorgeously redone Arcade in downtown. The restaurant itself is very nice on the inside with an almost weathered pub look that would fit in by the sea but still modern to fit in downtown. Ok let's preface a lot of the "time" issues with previous reviewers. This restaurant is a scratch kitchen using local ingredients. Thus it is going to take a lot longer than your normal restaurant, but what you get out of it is a very tasty meal. To start go for the wings. This is not a suggestion, more of a no-brainer decision. They are in duck fat, they are delicious, you will enjoy them. I went straight for the steak sandwich. After going to Vermont, it is really hard to avoid reading "Vermont cheddar" on a menu. This thing was pretty delicious. Can't go wrong with house pickles either. I really can't wait to go back, just a good bar with a little more on the menu that might surprise you.
(4)
Karen P.
Good was delicious and the service was awesome. I would definitely come back and try their dinner menu. Bottomless mimosas are awesome !
(4)
Colleen T.
Poor food and poor service made this trip to Rogue Island a less than savory experience. A definite skip! My large group of 30-something friends stopped at Rogue Island for an early dinner and drinks. While our female waitress was lovely, the food was less than adequate. All our dishes were either too salty, no flavor, or not cooked correctly. (Fries that were uncooked, too salty burgers, and soup that had whole peppercorns sprinkled on top---why would I want whole peppercorns in each bite?!) For the price point and taste, I would never come back here to eat. The worst part of the meal was being insulted by a man who appeared to be a manager: he tried to hustle us to leave the restaurant after we broke out in loud laughter?! And mind you, we are all female professionals at a semi-empty restaurant ordering drinks and food on a Thursday evening. I have never seen anything like this! So rude. Immediately after the man suggested we move to the private room, we, in fact, told him we're leaving.
(1)
Robert S.
Got there at 5PM for early dinner with friends. When I sat down, the waitress gave me the lunch menu. I looked at it...and ?!?! I thought !?!? WHAT ?!?!? Outside the door...... It says Dinner from 5PM on.. I asked here to come over and when I asked about lunch vs dinner...she said....Oh..well...... We serve lunch until 7 PM....or maybe 6 PM. I asked her to please double check. She asked someone else and she came back with dinner menus. We ordered 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine... It took close to 10 minutes to get these drinks..and there were not that many tables around..... Way too Slow...... After reading the menu, I decided to try the cod and to try a bite of the burger (from my BF). The cod was ok, but small. When we asked how it was prepared...the waitress said...maybe grilled, maybe fried, don't know....................We asked her to check since it would make a difference in our decision. She came back a bit later saying that it was grilled. It came with asparagus (4 little tiny ones) and like 7 small pieces of a purple looking potato. $22 for a dish that was gone in 6 bites !! I ordered a beer...when she brought it...she asked me if I wanted a glass. I said yes. The glass was never delivered to me. :-( The burger was good...nothing spectacular, but at $13 it was also steep. Pluses....location is great inside the Arcade, decor is nice with lots of wood and cozy feel.. Lots of locally sourced ingredients and products. Overall I felt it was good food, not great, but the service and the overpriced menu makes me not to want to come back.
(2)
Lauren M.
I'm dropping another star for Rogue Island's lunch menu. Now that I work in Down City, I am always looking for places to get away from it all and get a good meal. I would love to eat more frequently at Rogue Island, but their lunch menu is lacking and overly priced for lunch. I'm not paying for $16 burger at lunch... It's just ridiculous. I'd love to see Rogue Island rework their lunch menu and include smaller, more affordable options. With so many places to go for a reasonable lunch and dinner in PVD, it's been hard to justify going to Rogue Island lately, even though they still have one of the best beer lists and best interiors around.
(3)
Jonathan P.
Went here for Sunday Brunch with my roommate and her out of town friend. Arrived around 1:30 pm so it was pretty dead. Sat at the bar and our waitress was just OK. I got the bottomless mimosas for $18. For that price I expect my glass to be always filled, I had to keep flagging the waitress down which I didn't like.The food wasn't that bad, honestly don't remember it which means it wasn't that good either. Will be visiting again on June 27th for brunch with my out of town friends. Hopefully my next review will be 4 stars.
(3)
Bob C.
Oysters were good but a little small. Next time we try the mussels. Nice atmosphere, a bunch of local beers to choose from and great selection of local sprits.
(4)
Shannon W.
What a hidden gem this place is. I love the food, I love the rustic ambiance, but what sticks out most to me is the impeccable service. I've been here on three occasions (usually sitting at the bar) and the bartenders are always knowledgeable both about the beer/liquor and the food menu. In a city with a lot of amazing food, great service can be the biggest variable, and it is what will create loyal customers. I appreciate that they source so much of their food/drink menu from Rhode Island and are one of few places to have such a large selection of local whiskeys/bourbons. I've had some of the apps and tried a few of the sandwiches, all of which were good (My only very very minor criticism would be that on the mozz/heirloom tomato sandwich, the bread to fixin's ratio is off. HUGE roll- but still great flavor!). Go to Rogue Island on a rainy Sunday afternoon, get the pretzel bites and the ranch dressing (which my friend explained as a "life changing" experience). Get a beer flight and test out some local brews. This is how I dipped my toes in the water, and I can only imagine you'll enjoy it as much. Keep doing what your doing Rogue Island, but please don't take that ranch dressing off your menu.
(5)
Lor S.
Farm to table fresh! Amazing local beers, great service with a smile and duck fat fried wings.... Sad the past reviews haven't been so hot but they're updated a lot. It's a great place for a flight of beers, games are always on and the steak fries with truffle aioli :) go get yourself some!!
(5)
Alexandra O.
Stopped in to rogue island today for a Saturday afternoon lunch and was pleasantly surprised. They have a great selection of local beer, many were in for their brunch menu which looked amazing. I had ordered oysters, charcuterie, and wings which were all fresh and phenomenal. I couldn't make up my mind on which beer to try so I ordered a flight, another great option to have. Service was great. Atmosphere amazing. Live music. Place was actually packed for the dreary afternoon it was. Definitely will be back !
(5)
Shannon F.
This is one of those restaurants that I won't be rushing back to, but I am not disappointed that we ate here either. I found that the drink prices were waaaaay out of my price range (mine was the cheapest at $11) and even with the free appetizer that they gave us for being yelpers, the bill was still a bit high. We got chicken wings for our free app, and paid for pretzel bites. Being a vegetarian, I didn't try the wings, but I heard they were good. The pretzel bites were very tasty, and the right amount of fried mushiness (that sounds bad, but it really wasn't) , and I really don't like pretzels. As for the drinks. We all ordered off of the holiday drink board posted on the wall. I don't remember what the other people at my table got, but I got the Rogue Island maple taffy drink. If you love whimsical drinks, this one is for you! It comes with maple taffy on the side of the glass!!! Heads up for vegetarians, I noticed a veggie burger on the specials board. Our waiter was great, there at the right times, and we never had to search for him for anything. All in all, a pleasant experience, and a place I would keep in the back of my head for future reference when in the area.
(4)
Abby B.
Such a cool bar, a friend was in town and we decided to pop in for a drink and stayed for 2. The bartenders were very nice and informative when we were trying to choose a local beer that we would like.
(5)
Rebecca B.
I've been to Rogue Island twice. The first time I really enjoyed myself. I like the cool look and fee of the restaurant and bar. The food was approachable, modern pub food made with locally sourced ingredients. Pizza and salad were tasty and the cauliflower sandwich was so flavorful that I didn't even miss the protein. On my second visit, I couldn't help but wonder if on a Tuesday night, their head chef might not be working the kitchen. The waitress seemed distracted and food and drink took awhile to arrive. I ordered my burger medium and it was delivered well, well done and with little signs of the truffle mayo. My husband's fried chicken sandwich was dry and unseasoned, also with no signs of the sauce the menu had promised. There was a tasting going on in Rogue's front room and we couldn't help but feel left out when the table to the left and the bar seats to the right of us were offered a sample but we were not. I pointed out to one of the waitresses that it was cold in the dining room on this October evening with the a/c blasting and the windows and door all open to which she replied there are other guests complaining that it's warm. Seriously?! Overall disappointing service and food on this visit may make it my last.
(2)
Dan B.
Decided to check this place out because I heard they had a good brunch menu and I like places that source from local farms. I ordered the chicken and waffles, which were spectacular. Seriously. My girlfriend had a veggie burger off the lunch menu which was equally amazing and obviously very freshly prepared. It was pretty much just straight up fresh veggies - mushrooms, squash, black beans, kale, etc with just a touch of bread crumbs on the outside. Potato salad was good too... Oh and all you can drink mimosas/ bloody Mary's was definitely a plus. Can't wait to come back here to try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Hilary H.
I love the idea of locally-grown and raised food making its way into a kitchen like this, where hearty and tasty meals abound. The thought behind Rogue Island is great, and they have the stuff to make it happen, too. A very talented chef, great bar menu and a beautiful space. Every morsel of food I had was totally delicious and perfectly prepared -- beet gnocchi with beautifully plump and moist chicken sausage (which can be tricky!), gorgeous farm egg alongside pork belly and Brussels sprouts, a plate of pickled vegetables (I think there was even turnip in there) and local halibut on a bed of veg. I would eat it all over again in a heartbeat. Where Rogue Island fell slightly short for me was the actual bar where I ordered my drinks and food. Service was really, really slow to acknowledge us, totally unfriendly and at one point even walked away from us as my husband was asking about the beers on draught. My (pricey) cocktail was watery (I think it was the ice chips -- yuck), and I was left generally unimpressed. Next time, I'll make sure to try a table rather than sit at the bar, which in all honestly is usually my favorite place to sit in a place like this. Bottom line, definitely worth checking out. Be adventurous with your food, and grab a table rather than sitting at the bar.
(4)
Charlotte S.
The hyperlocal worship needs to end. I had family come in from out of town and I figured a restaurant where its whole gimmick is 'all RI everything' would be a great bet. Wrong. I called in advance to make sure there wouldn't be a heinous wait (it was Waterfire, after all) and I was told there was no wait which should have been a strong indicator that we should pass but we trudged on. When we got there, it took a while for anyone to acknowledge us. The woman who did misspoke about something then made an off comment about being tired/wanting to go home. Um ok. We were told we could "squeeze into a small table in the corner" (there was 4 of us. That was a table for 2 - 3 people tops) or sit at the huge "Harvest table" (communal table). No one was at it, so we chose the Harvest table. About 5 minutes later, the same waitress/hostess asked if we'd be OK to share the table. Knowing we had no choice, we said OK but the people next to us were rude, reeked of B.O., and drunk which really put a damper on our experience as they constantly dropped dishes and silverware, spilled things, and carried on uncomfortable/ignorant banter with the waitstaff regarding 'don't mention at a dinner party' issues. The 'Harvest Table' is also inconveniently located in front of a window, which we thought was a good idea given how nice a night it was, but actually what happened was two dude-bros sat at the table directly in front of the window outside and smoked cigarettes all night, billowing into the restaurant and our faces. Periodically throughout the night, the smell of sewage/human waste wafted through the restaurant too which, at one point, made us gag. So I guess the dude-bros were trying to do us a favor. It took us a while to take in the entire menu, which isn't even that large. For a place that wasn't even crowded, it was very loud and incredibly dark, to the point that we had to use our phone flashlights to read the menu. Our waitress was pretty rude and, at first, I thought she was just trying to be funny and didn't know how but near the end of our visit, we realized she was just rude. She had, what appeared to be, a new employee shadowing her but there was no mention of it, introduction or anything, which I really like as a restaurant-goer, but I don't think our waitress would've even given us a chance to ask. She spoke at twice the speed of a normal person, interrupted everyone, forgot things then interrupted to share them, and was very quick to bolt from the table. One thing that drove me nuts is she would stop to rearrange things on our table. Baskets. Water carafes. I almost spilled my water at one point because she moved the glass while we were talking (for no reason, she cleared the plate THEN moved my water glass) and my elbow hit it, as I expected it to be further away. It was so weird. Our waitress upsold us on a beer flight, billing it as economical, but when I did the math in my head, it wasn't really that economical in comparison to what we had originally ordered. The Newport Storm Summer Hefe was lackluster but the Ginger Libation was pretty good. Sweet but good. Frankly, i was disappointed with their beer list and was hoping to see Foolproof on there, as they're a Pawtucket brewery, but I digress. As an appetizer, we ordered the pretzel bites. The bites themselves were pretty good but the mustard sauce accompanying them was disgusting, like dipping into the core of a mustard seed. Pungent and jarring. No bueno. I ordered the Spinach Strawberry Salad which was mediocre. Nothing to write home about. In fact, the only thing I'd write home is, "Don't ever order this salad because it comes with these coated nuts or seeds or something that taste like yogurt covered pellets of dirt. Maybe it's local dirt, though. Straight from the banks of the Providence River." Since mine was kind of gross, I split it and got to share the House Pappardelle & Clams which was pretty good. A little on the heavy side (I wouldn't want this as my entire entree but it was good to share). It came with complimentary focaccia bread, which I guess was a new feature, and the bread was good but it felt like overkill to place two huge chunks of hearty bread in an already hearty meal. The guys of our party ordered the Corned Beef & the Fried Chicken sandwiches and neither looked incredibly enthusiastic about their choices. It's a shame that a business which such a clear and positive mission misses the mark so terribly in all areas of its execution, especially to be the only restaurant in the Arcade. I would come back here for drinks, as a lot of the cocktails sounded interesting, but I would never suggest it to anyone. A few weeks ago, I saw LivingSocial had a coupon so, if you're dying to go, keep checking to see if they reinstate it because to pay full price for this hyperlocal trash heap of mediocre food and unwarranted political banter is a crime on your wallet and good senses.
(2)
Kate W.
Definitely five stars go out to Rogue Island Restaurant! What a great find! Not only is this food local and fresh, but it is so delicious and flavorful. I really enjoyed my fresh salad with the most delicious grilled chicken I have ever had in my life! The pairing of local brews/wines is such a welcome touch. They really have a wide selection of options. You are bound to feel right at home in this rustic-feel restaurant with all the RI decals and details. So much to look at around every corner of this place. A little tip, valet was offered at the beginning of the night, but the valet came to our table during dinner and said they were heading out for the night and put our keys on the table. The car was parked right out front, but we weren't expecting this. It was interesting to say the least ;) This restaurant is in such a great, central location that it makes for a nice walk around to other nearby establishments (like Circe right across the street) on a nice night. Enjoy your visit to Rogue Island. Try the local flavors, enjoy the welcoming feel, and savor the restaurant experience that takes pride in our little state.
(5)
William H.
I like this addition to the DownCity scene. The space is really great and we found ourselves a nice perch at the bar. The food & drink: I had myself a very tasty Old Fashioned. I tried their pickled veggies for a starter - the wife got an eggy dish and we shared bites. For an entree I had their fish of the day which was really good and nicely seasoned. I'd go back anytime for the food and it wasn't too pricey, especially for that 'hood. The service, however, wasn't great which always surprises me when I sit at the bar. It wasn't busy but we weren't checked in on and had to ask each time we needed water, wanted to order, get a glass of wine, and get the bill, et. No one was rude in the least, just not very welcoming or helpful. Will definitely try it again.
(4)
Caroline M.
Meh. Underwhelmed. Great potential to be a solid 4-stars, but my first experience was only a 3. Finding the way in? Tried 4 doors until we finally found our way in. First beer I ordered? They didn't actually have it. Market price for flatbread? Are you kidding? It was ok, but $15 for... well... what was basically 1/4 of a thin crust pizza felt steep. Yes yes yes..... I understand that these are the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients. But the same thing at AS220, Local 121, Farmstead, or Nick's would have been at least $5 less. The Pork Concoction was more impressive with its veggie glaze than the pork itself. And the Harvest Salad and service were both generically good. I expected more all around. Especially for the prices. The space is definitely more bar-like than $25-a-plate restaurant-like (boo to the uncomfy, small chairs!). There weren't that many people there, and it was noisy - tables are small and close together. Lots of wood and warm lighting - makes it feel tavern-y. Loved the Edison-style light fixtures. Not sure if they have wifi, but there were lots of outlets across the bar - a major perk for anyone traveling and needing a recharge. I also love the name. Very clever. I would definitely consider throwing an event here because there's so much room to move around the bar - if they'd consider a big discount for appetizers. I will happily return again with friends for a drink or 2 and some shared appetizers. This is not a place I will return soon for an intimate date night.
(3)
Jessica S.
Yet again I wanted to love you Rogue Island, but it is just not meant to be. Our waitress was super nice so that was good. My friend and I shared the pork belly banh mi with potato salad and a dish that was supposed to be buffalo chicken mac and cheese. The potato salad was good but I like extra salt on mine. None on the table. I know chefs like to think their food is seasoned perfectly but that is usually not the case, so leave the salt and pepper on the table k. The sandwich was ok but small and we weren't blown away by the flavors. Not bad but very average. And the pasta was just not good. It did not taste like cheese, buffalo, or chicken. No joke. It tasted like sausage somehow and the sauce did not resemble a cheese sauce. We did not love it but it was edible I guess. My friend did really like her drink so that was good. The indian pudding was ok. It is something I have not had in a long time so I don't know how it compares to other indian puddings. I do know that it sounded better than it tasted. Again, not terrible but not great. Also, if you are going to give a customer a scalding hot mini cast iron pan, give it to to them with the handle pointing away from them and not towards them. I burned my hand on that pretty quickly. This might be an ok place to sit at the bar and get a drink but it does not live up to its potential. I will stick with GPUB or Circe in this part of downtown.
(3)
Margo K.
Disclaimer: I'm a very reasonable person who has worked in restaurants and gets that mistakes happen, some days are better than others, etc. Experience: Knocking around The Arcade on a quiet Saturday morning we decided to have lunch at Rogue Island. Though we noticed that the listed ingredients for the BLT said in part, "tomato, bacon aioli..." we assumed they simply forgot the comma between the bacon and the aoli. Wrong! All four sandwiches came with a few bits of bacon in the aioli but no slices of bacon. Not wanting to embarrass my 13 year old daughter more than I do simply by existing, I took the waitress aside and told her that they shouldn't call it a BLT without the B. She apologized, said they forgot the bacon and this was a new menu. She went back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later she came out with four slices of bacon, each cut in half = one slice of bacon per sandwich. At that point, we wrote the experience and Rogue Island off. Though the waitress initially apologized, their attempt to make the situation right was a fail. We won't be back.
(1)
Vilay S.
Rogue Island, you were so promising with your industrial slick decor and homegrown menu. There just seems to be something a little bit off about their plan. I think that if they trained their staff better, their reviews would improve a ton. At dinner, our waiter wasn't knowledgeable about their food, or food in general. I heard the next table asking him questions and wondering what some of the things were, and I had to fight my urge to jump in and help him out. They try to have a curated local beer menu, but again, it seemed like their staff did not know anything about it. If someone asked "what type of beer is --" or "what would pair with --" it was obvious they were clueless. I still think the food is great but the execution needs some polishing.
(3)
Chris T.
Walkin' downtown, unassuming entrance 10 in our group; not a hindrance Plenty of space, seating all around Dim-light, chill place; look what we found! Nice wooden tables, quaint little place Restaurant and decent bar -- no complaints! Thanks to SouthEast Asia, I'm cracked out on Lychee Saw it listed in a cocktail, I was sold instantly $12 drink, good size; pretty decent overall! Good place for groups, although kind of small Not too loud for conversations; good volume, I thought I'll probably be back to check out this hole in the wall
(4)
Matt O.
Stopped in for a few drinks while I was downtown with my girlfriend celebrating the end of a long day of apartment hunting. Considering I will soon be within walking distance of this place, I will be back. The space is really great too. I didn't try the food, but it looked good on my neighbor's plate. As for the drinks, great local beers on tap and in bottles/cans. I had the Arcade Club cocktail, which was very well made, maybe a bit too sweet for my taste, but that's just me. The bartender was great, even making a list of other places to check out when I move to town in the fall.
(5)
Becky M.
I've been following the creation of Rouge Island on Twitter and Facebook. I found myself at the Arcade last weekend and we popped in for lunch. First, welcome to the Providence food scene, Rouge. I will undoubtedly be back. And am happy to share with Yelpers out there. This is a solid spot. Second, I love the decor -- every last detail of the rustic, modern goodness. I think I love the bar the most -- rough sawed plank that follows the shape of the tree it was cut from. Then polished and coated smooth. I appreciate a barstool that has a back to lean on. I love the Rhode Island Red Rooster painted outside the door into the kitchen. The flatware was even well thought with a nice rustic heft. Lunch was sharing 2 apps. First, the chicken wings baked in duck fat. I promise you will never look at another wing the same way again. They were MORE THAN PERFECTLY cooked -- yes, roll that one around in the ol' brain. The homemade ranch sauce...I won't tell you about to let you enjoy its deliciousness yourself. We also had the flatbread of the day -- which was ground beef, picked onions, and a green herb-based sauce. Yum, yum, yum. Not greasy, perfectly seasoned, full of flavor. We each enjoy a drink from the bar -- wine for me and beer for him. All local. All delicious. So happy to try this spot. Love the atmosphere. Will be back. And I hope to bring friends.
(4)
Bob B.
Great space. Hidden in the back streets near the Arcade. Just had beers. They have a great selection.
(4)
Rachael M.
I love this place. This is the only restaurant that I am able to go to without any advance notice of my incredibly long list of food allergies. They use local, high quality foods and I've never felt sick from eating there. The service is amazing and the chefs are so accommodating to my needs. The prices are very good for farm to table food and I've never left hungry like what seems to happen at most high quality restaurants. They do not have the most creative dishes, but I'm just looking for a perfectly grilled grass-fed steak and they do it perfectly!
(5)
Marie L.
I am absolutely thrilled to see places like this not only coming on the scene in pvd, but doing it oh so right by encouraging pedestrian traffic and helping to realize the great potential of downcity. If you live in or around Providence (or anywhere in RI for that matter) and have yet to visit the reopened arcade, you're in for a treat. While there, definitely check out Rogue Island. Great beer selection and thoughtful menu featuring many local selections. Don't miss the poutine. Update: since this review draft has been pending in my yelp app, I've actually returned for a second visit to Rogue Island. The experience was absolutely consistent with the first visit. Little quirk about me: I consider ordering the same dish during a second visit to a new restaurant a near mortal sin, but guess what I did? The cauliflower sandwich was so ridiculously....er...ridiculous that I actually ordered it again during my second trip. I regret that I may never try another item on the menu but I've resigned to the fact that my love for this sandwich outweighs my desire to try new things. While I hope to never be confronted with the opportunity to order a "last meal" (would rather go a bit more suddenly), should I ever have the need, at this point, the rogue island cauliflower sandwich would be on the menu for me.
(5)
Taylor K.
Three entrances, one from the stairs, one from inside the Arcade, and one from the side by Tommy's. Phenomenal lunch menu!!!! Try the Chicken Sandwich, ask for the Mustard Aioli to dip the steak fries in. Veal Sliders are great as well, both very filling/reasonably portioned for the cost. Lots of decent beers on draft. Try the Newport Storm, Zeppelin, or Whales Tale. Couldn't be happier with the service, as a server, I'm very picky. My water glass was never empty which is my pet peeve. Can't wait to try their dinner menu! Critique soon to come!
(5)
Pamela S.
Overpriced. I'm almost concerned they won't make it in Providence. While the bartender was nice, the service was terrible. We watched two couples sitting at tables walk out. It took ten minutes before someone acknowledged us and asked what we wanted to drink. It was also so warm in there we were sweating. The decor is great and very quant. The concept of local beers, liquors and wines is great but, it comes with a hefty price tag.
(2)
M F.
This place may be the slowest service of all time. I ordered a simple sandwich 37 minutes minutes ago and am still waiting. Not one table has their food yet.
(1)
Robert H.
My wife and I took our young daughter here on a Saturday afternoon. First of all if you haven't been to the refurbished Arcade it is a great spot. We came down from the RISD museum, and parking on Benefit St. makes for a lovely walk. This looks like it would make a nice spot for happy hour, with a long bar, a great cocktail menu, and good beer selection. Rogue Island features local ingredients and local foods, and that extends beyond the mains to the beer and iced tea. I ordered the burger which had Brie, arugula, and bacon - delicious. My wife had a grilled cauliflower sandwich on rustic bread that she loved, we also shared a beet salad with our little one.
(4)
James M.
Place is cute...but service was deplorable, food very disappointing. Went for brunch today...longest wait for an omelet, home-fries and bagel breakfast sandwich I have ever had in a restaurant...there were only 3 other tables (2 in 1 out) when we arrived, 2 other tables were seated well after we were...it wasn't busy...the table closest to us that ordered more than 15 minutes after we did...their food came out the at came out at the same time ours did...The omelet came out to $14,50 w/corned beef (not that good), onion, red & green pepper and cheddar cheese and it had to be the SMALLEST omelet I have ever seen served in a restaurant. Home-fries & toast (if we had had the toast) were all extra...seriously, an omelet w/no toast & home-fries or a side of fruit optional? The ONLY redeemable item was the bacon on the breakfast bagel. No coffee/water refills, our server appeared to be in a daze most of the time floating around but not engaging the few tables she had. It's been a long time...YEARS, since I've left less than 15%...and that's for bad service...I left just 8%...the minimum that the fed expects servers to claim on their sales.To top it off, I had an Amazon Local voucher that expired 4/25...they said the 180 days had passed, I was upset enough that I didn't think about till I got home...I called and after an argument about the dates and a refund...I called back, got someone else who offered to take care o the issue over the phone, deleting the first charge & putting it through for the correct amount...back to Classic Cafe...
(1)
Adam M.
We've been to Rouge Island a few times, and I'm not sure we'll be back for a little while. We went a few times when it was still in it's soft open stage and enjoyed it, and we understood the hiccups any new restaurant may have with service, getting food to the table, etc. Service was always good every time we went, maybe a bit slow at times, but again, new place figuring out their system so they get a pass. The food though... It's tipping the scales to the expensive side of things, for what ends up being elevated bar food. Most everything we've had was good, but not worthy of the prices. Every time we've been the food has also been a little slow to come out. I get that it's a "scratch" kitchen and they're not just pulling out canned tomatoes and green beans, but this is Providence, there are a lot of really good restaurants here doing the same thing and charging less. It's not like this is some podunk town where that aspect of things stands out at all. All that up there could have probably been ignored if not for the last time we visited though. My wife ordered the Cod entree, and the fish came out stone cold. She mentioned this to the server and she took it back right away. This kind of thing happens so no worries right? Well when it came back the fish was still cold, but on top of that they had just reheated the plate, so the asparagus was cooked beyond done, so that part of the dish was ruined as well. The server to her credit was not very happy with this, she took it back and took it off our bill. We'll probably be back at Rouge one day, but that last experience will probably keep us away for a bit.
(2)
Don W.
Big improvement. I went here when it first opened and didn't like the food at all. It took me a while to come back, but there's a different chef and you can see it in the menu and the food. I'm a meat eater generally, but the RI mushroom arancini lunch special appealed to me. It was delicious. Beautifully crisp and soft arancini; fresh, light tomato sauce; lots of nicely diced mushrooms, carrots and zucchini. It was the only thing I had, but it rekindled my interest in this restaurant. I love its hyper-local model and really want in to succeed. I'll be back to try more things.
(4)
Sophie R.
Buck a shuck oysters, and a true reverence for our local farmers and such. I really was pleased to see a shout out to all their growers and providers in the corner of their menu! Now, down to the nitty gritty. Their bar is stocked with the most local wines and spirits possible. I found that a very cool concept, as we don't often see it taken beyond the kitchen to the bar. I always ask for particular liqueurs and spirits when I order my drinks and I was initially disappointed when they didn't seem to stock anything I was asking for. While they didn't for example carry Domaine de Canton, they had something called Giffard Ginger of the Indies. The bartender also said they didn't have Goslings but had a different aged dark rum and that I probably wouldn't recognize a lot of the brands carried. And she was right. Although to have such an ambitious mission for their bar, the cocktails should be equally impressive, and my dark and stormy seemed to have missed the mark. The bar while beautiful, simultaneously modern and rustic, did have one design flaw. The counter slopes perilously downward, and is highly varnished and slippery. I asked the waitress if peoples' drinks often end up in their laps, to which she replied yes. So my sister and I had a laugh envisioning all the hapless drinkers who have walked out of the bar with wet crotches. Make sure you keep your drink well away from the slope! Also the rough-hewn wooden bar stools put a run in my brand new pair of stockings. I was a little miffed about that. The oysters were so so. Small cup, and a little too briny for my taste. They were served with some spicy cocktail sauce and a flavorful mignonette. We also ordered the Shishido peppers, a simply prepared plate of grilled peppers served with a sesame oil sauce and a pepper mayo. I have never really had peppers prepared this way and the fresh simple approach was a success. I think I would go back if I happened to be in that part of town, but I don't know if I'd make a special trip for it.
(3)
Neal L.
I went to this super local new restaurant in the Arcade, and found it to be just that- a new restaurant still finding its way. First impressions were really good. The decor is sort of rustic with lots of pleasant wood tables and a very inviting well stocked bar. Then the trouble started... the server spent a solid 10 minutes searching down my date's glass of wine to no avail. It's no problem to be out of something- but just let me know so that I can decide on something else! Our food also seemed to take an unduly long period of time to make it over. When it arrived, the flavors were nicely done and well balanced. However, we each ended up with a lukewarm entree and steak fries that were face meltingly hot. If it were a busy night, I'd be ok with a little mistimed cooking from the kitchen, but this was a random weekday evening and there were less than 10 people in the place. Prices are also at a premium here because of the super local food suppliers. I'd consider it again, but only after they have a chance to develop as a restaurant and iron out the kinks.
(3)
Tyler W.
Great lunch experience. Craft beer menu is fantastic, and better enjoyed with live music. The build your own burger was good, though a little dry - that would have given this place a 5th star. I stumbled in by chance and overall did not disappoint. Give it a try if you're in the area.
(4)
Erin J.
Wow -- UNDERwhelming! I couldn't wait to try the new über-local Rogue Island. The Arcade revival really interests me, and although the Arcade has a ways to go to improve its flow and vibe, it's an architecturally neat space. I want the Arcade to become awesome again and that's what drew me to Rogue. Regardless, here's my run-down of Rogue Island: Price: Go big or go home! There's no way to sugar coat this -- the prices are outrageous. The price point sets the bar very high for the quality of food and drinks, and sadly, they fall short. Food: Small portions, big price. If you order their wings as an appetizer, you will get 3 wings. Maybe technically 6 since the upper and lower wing remains intact. So let's say 6 wings. They will be served with approximately half a tablespoon of blue cheese foam and about 4 shreds of pickled celery. If you're food photographer, these are to die for. If you are interested in eating them, however, try to stifle your laughter. Drinks: They market their drink menu as "Prohibition-era." I imagine drinks of that era being much stronger than Rogue's. Probably more inspired, too. Adjusting for inflation, you could probably buy a bathtub of booze in 1924 for the price of one cocktail at Rogue now. Ambiance: Very cool inside. A total hipster dream. Bring your Ray-Bans. This is where Rogue is going to lose some point: They play Pandora. THE FREE PANDORA. So you're sitting there, paying $15 for an Old Fashioned with your 3, I mean 6, wings and listening to Pandora ads. You're kidding, right? I pay the $3.99/month to have ad-free Pandora. Maybe I should start charging guests in my home $15/drink. Good plan. Overall: If you're someone who thinks the price of a wine dictates how good it tastes, you'll love Rogue Island. If you're someone who wants delivery when the prices promise excellence, you will be disappointed. Perhaps even annoyed. The moral of the story is this: Providence is TINY. Go to Cook & Brown.
(2)
Cara I.
Fantastic craft beer and whisky menu and great service. The entree menu however may need some revamping. Or at least the pricing.... My husband ordered the steak and I ordered the fish. They weren't terrible but definitely not worth the money. Plus the dining room atmosphere was a little cold. Probably a great lunch spot but not great for dinner.
(3)
Timmy J.
Have been here a couple of times for breakfast and lunch and I must say rogue has some great food with some awesome local beers.The staff is very friendly and attentive.I haven't had food I did not like yet ! My favorite for breakfast would be the rancheros and lunch would probably be the pulled pork sandwich, the fries are great! Will be coming back in the future for sure!
(5)
Rob S.
Started coming to RI in RI when consulting for a local beer festival. This is one of those places that gets better the more familiar it becomes. Here's what I mean. . . We sourced a lunch location via ratebeer.com and yelp. RI have excellent reviews on both. I immediately worried that it would suffer from overhype. Well it did NOT. First visit (lunch for 4 people) we sat at the bar. I had a phenomenal burger and great local beer - Grey Sail I believe. Second visit - table (lunch for 2) chatted up the bartender and staff who remembered us from a month prior. Had a Chixand & a few beer tastings. Excellent. 3rd visit - We brought our BrewFest Crew - 13 people. We let them know in advance. They were ready for us. Had a nice large table. In short, they were 13 for 13 that night. Their commitment to FTT (Farm to Table) is bravisimo and they make it very approachable. Everything gets a 5 star rating. Ambiance - New England Trendy Country - Nostalgic incandescent light bulbs, natural woods. Service/Staff - Friendly, fun timely & very polished. They anticipate your needs. Selection - It's all fresh and local. There are a variety of offerings for everyone from the diehard carnivore to the full or part time vegan. Beers, when you're serving the best local craft, you've nailed the selection. Food - Perfect. Not a lentil out of place. Value - If you define value the way I do, it's right on point. You're getting the best of the best in dining experiences. You're going to pay. I think this place is a bargain compared to other highly touted restaurants. That said, if you're on a tight budget, I would wait for a special occasion. Overall - this place is excellent and you should rush to get here.
(5)
Lyndsy C.
Wow, the "new" Arcade is strange..Kind of a good strange, but definitely not tailored for the working class at all, as it was in the past. Went there to not only check out the Arcade, but we also wanted to see what Rogue Island was all about (love the name, and the history). First impression: Nicely decorated in a trendy way, with a small nod to Colonial decor. There's a large raw oak communal table that was pretty cool to look at, might be uncomfortable to sit there on a busy Sat. night though. Yet, this was lunch. There was an older crowd there(40's-50's), almost half full on a Sat. afternoon. Service was just ok. Seemed like there were more than a few people working, not sure why we waited over 10 minutes to get our drinks..I asked for a beer that, while printed on the menu, was not available. O well, there goes another 5 minutes.. We decided against lunch for budgetary reasons, and I have to say I thought the prices were a little bold. $14 for a cheeseburger with fries that comes in a basket (add $2.50 for bacon!). I didn't understand why a flat bread appetizer with seasonal veg. would be "market price". Veering closer to a 3.5 rating on this one.
(3)
Meghan D.
Delicious. A girlfriend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island on a Sunday afternoon after touring the Arcade. Their locally sourced menu made it hard to choose. I opted for a corned beef and cabbage sandwich and my pal went for a BLT with pork belly. The fries were great, beer selection was spot on and our sandwiches were delicious. Great find.
(4)
Linda R.
Great place to grab a beer. They have the best tap list downtown. So happy that I can take a walk downtown and grab an afternoon beer on the weekends now! I haven't eaten here but the menu looks great. The wait staff is really friendly as well.
(5)
tammy k.
Really nice atmosphere in a fabulous historic building. For an appetizer do not miss out on the pretzel bites. I am not a pretzel fan but I am telling you, these are an absolute must!!! Love the farm to table concept. High quality food. We have enjoyed the Buffoni farm chicken sandwich, wings, RI cod, pulled pork. The french fries that come with sandwiches are real fries..hand cut. So far everything we have tried has been outstanding. Love the lemon tart with raspberry sorbet. Two of my fave things combined. yum!!!
(5)
Greg F.
The food was good. The drinks were good. The service reminded me of going to Friendly's... Chaotic and slow.
(2)
Evan M.
Really good food although it took a little longer than expected. Way too loud - they had live music and his amp was up all the way.
(3)
Shane H.
Awesome new breakfast menu, very unique and uses local ingredients! Tried the pumpkin spiced rum French toast and it was delicious! Will be back
(5)
Erica C.
This place was on my to do list for the last year. I was really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately we had a pretty lackluster experience. The prices were understandably higher than most bar menu places are considering it's Farm to table. We came for a full meal. The small menu only had very heavy items on the menu that night and we finally decided on just an app with drinks. The buffalo wings fried in duck fat seemed to be a no brainer. We were underwhelmed. very un flavorful, surprisingly un crispy, and the blue cheese foam that came with it... It just struck me that the dish would've been better served with a well made traditional blue cheeses dressing instead of the bland condiment it was served with. The pickled celery was a fun add on but it overwhelmed everything else since the wings were so devoid of vinegar in their dressing. Liked the decor. The drinks were again super pricey and didn't impress anyone. Sad to give two stars to a place we wanted to like.
(2)
Elle S.
Great beer on draught. The first time I went with my sister and the waiter was quite friendly and suggested a few apps including wings. The wings priced at $10 sounded good so we gave them a try. FOUR WINGS. And they were tiny too. That's a joke. Super small portions, of tasty food. But can I say worth it? No way. Not in providence. There are a million better places that also stand for farm to table cuisine. The second time I went with a few girlfriends for a drink. As I glanced at the bar to see if there was room the waitress rudely told me it was full(I have eye too) and we could have a drink at a table. Condescending and short, I cannot say I felt welcomed. Strange, because both times I've been, no one seems to dine in, just an older crowd at the bar. I will not be back!
(2)
Lisa C.
We ate at the bar and the bartender was very knowledgeable and fun...he suggested a beer flight which we let him choose based on our likes....he chose well...now we have some new beers we are going to have to look for. Food was great....charcuterie board was great especially accompanied by the house made tomato jam ....pickled veggies were good but not great...my cauliflower sandwich was very tasty with a whole bunch of tastes going on...nice alternative for the vegetarian people out there...which I AM NOT!! My husbands Reuben was delicious even for me because I'm not a fan of that sandwich, but he devoured it fast. Desserts were very very good especially the homemade sorbets. All in all I loved the place and will be back, probably at night to see what the dinner vibe is as well.
(5)
Jonathan B.
FOOD POISONING!!! Not to mention that my poisoned meal didn't arrive until after they gotten my order wrong, and everyone else in my party had long since finished eating. Spent the next day laying on the floor and going to the bathroom at least once every hour. Save yourself the horrible discomfort. AVOID!
(1)
Courtney M.
My friend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island while whiling away the time before our restaurant week reservations just down the road. We came in only to get a drink or two, and would up being blown away by the atmosphere right off the bat. It was a bit early on in the evening, so equally quiet to match, but the decor was so welcoming, and the waitstaff extremely warm and helpful. I wound up ordering the Bee's Knees cocktail, with my friend opting for the 5th Ward. Both were delectable, and I cannot wait to return to try out some more of the pre-Prohibition era cocktails, and some of the food as well!
(5)
Linda C.
I just had the best corned beef sandwich I ever had and I have had a lot of them. The bread was so tasty as was the corned beef. The service was great the place has great atmosphere in the historic Arcade in Providence. The waitress suggested a great beer when I told her basically what I like. Definitely will be back!!!!!!!!
(5)
Eliza M.
Keep in mind, 3 stars is "A-OK" - We will definitely come back and try some more menu items... My partner and I have been here twice - on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Granted, these are not hustle-bustle date/times, but considering how few customers were there, our service was SUPER slow and frustrating. My partner had finished his first beer before my cocktail arrived. Same problem both visits. The food was really great. We've had several things so far, I really liked the steak sandwich, but the amount of meat was rather stingy. My partner loved the oyster mushroom arancini. We love the prohibition-era vibe, cocktail list, farm-to-table/bar menu. I just wish they put more effort into providing a better experience through great customer service.
(3)
Jon H.
The beer was good, the service very good but the sandwiches that we ordered were underwhelming. The steak sandwich which I ordered used good ingredients but based on the taste and amount of meat, it tasted like a pepper and cheese . The other corned beef was only slightly better due to the fact you could almost taste some corned beef in the sandwich.
What a fantastic meal at Rogue! Wonderful drinks--cucumber vodka and soda (the vodka was amazing!)--and mussels and fried chicken sandwich are a must! Whatever the special dessert is, you must get it! So looking forward to visiting this establishment again! Bravo to the waitstaff and chef--you have done well!!!
(5)
Will J.
As some of the reviews suggest, this place is still working it out. But all (4) times I have been here they were cordial, helpful, maybe a bit harried (never a good sign when the owner/manager is discussing his business at the bar) and the food and drink very good. My bartender made me a custom cocktail based on tastes I enjoy and came up with the most delicious concoction I have ever had. The cod was good, burgers were good, all-veggie plate requested by one in our party was entirely OK. Each time I go in to Rogue Island it seems like they have tweaked the formula and improved things; for the concept alone they deserve more attention and business.
(3)
J R.
There IS such a thing as taking a concept too far. Their stated aim: "Our highly seasonal menu is chef-driven and sourced exclusively from nearby farms..." What this apparently means to them is no fish. NO fish! In the Ocean State? Pulled pork they have, but no fish. Sure, we don't "farm" fish locally (they do farm oysters and they have them on the menu) but they sure do catch them locally. Not only do we in Rhode Island actually like fish, tourists are often looking for local swordfish, flounder, bluefish ... enough said. Please add a fish dish to your lunch menu. When you do I'll increase the rating to 3 stars.
(3)
Susan J.
Great place!!! We walked around town trying to find a cozy place and we stumbled upon rogue island. A hidden culinary treasure!!!!! local and sustainable. We ended up going back again, truly a talented chef , everything is house made down to the condiments. All of the staff is friendly and knowledgeable on the vast array of local spirits and beer they offer. They even changed the music on their sound system when we asked.... Katie was our server and she was awesome!!!!!!!!!! They even have outlets with USB all along the bar.
(5)
Jeff G.
I give this three stars because I really like the space and the beer selection. Although the food sounded good, it ended up being very under seasoned and just poorly constructed, especially at the 12-14 bucks for a sandwich. The cocktails, though tasty, were small and way overpriced at 10 bucks and up! Overall, great local beer on tap, nice space at the bar, (avoid the back room), and very friendly staff, make it a good place for a drink before heading somewhere else for dinner.
(3)
James R.
My wife and I dined at the new Rogue Island for lunch on a Saturday to experience the new place in the arcade. I ordered the mushroom soup and my wife ordered the Brussels sprout salad. The soup was good but the amount for $11.00 was ridiculous, the cold salad had no dressing on it and was very bland. I was very disappointed due to the quality of food and the amount the bill was, everything is overpriced. I doubt if this place will make a run of it in the arcade as new customers will figure this place out quickly and will not return.
(1)
Rita S.
Perfection. I can't wait to go back-I don't think you can go wrong with a single thing on the menu. Only one side note to the restaurant-bigger chairs at the tables may be a good investment. Great aesthetic overall though!
(5)
Elaine C.
Went today for an early-ish lunch (noon). Ordered salads and drinks, and waited about 25 minutes for them to arrive. Meals were fine, but the long wait made me question a return trip.
(2)
Suzanne S.
omg, went for lunch. ordered a fried chicken sandwich. after FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, the poor bartender just gave me my money back in exasperation. i left hungry. no explanation. do not try to eat here!
(1)
Christine W.
I had the pork belly and absolutely loved it! Expertly cooked, full of flavor. There are a lot of great restaurants in Providence and Rogue Island is cooking with the best of them. I really appreciate the emphasis and great selection of local beer, wine, and food. Definitely worth seeking out!
(5)
Michelle K.
The biggest disappointment was that the "House made pappardelle" is not pappardelle at all. It's fettucine. Not especially good fettucine. I was so disappointed with my experience at Rogue Island. This place is not what it pretends to be. We went on a Saturday night at 6:30, and it was empty. So empty that the waitresses and hostess were just hanging out at the front, chatting. The waitress came to our table and pretended to be a huge foodie, describing the specials in terms she clearly did not understand. It was when she said that, "oooh, and the flavors are all in your mouth," (as opposed to where?) that I really caught on that she had no idea what she was talking about. We put in our drink orders and chatted a bit, then looked up and saw the bartender just standing against the wall, looking out into space, and the waitresses and hostess just chatting away. In another few minutes, the waitress noticed that the bartender hadn't made our drinks, and notified him that he had a ticket waiting. The drinks were excellent, strong and delicious. My husband got the wings, which he said were good, but not spectacular. He had the same feeling about the Steak Sandwich. As I said, I had the "house made pappardelle." Except it wasn't. It was fettuccine. Pappardelle, my absolute favorite noodle, is a wide, flat noodle. These were not. They seemed home made because of the irregular texture, but were not that great. It really irritates me when the description of the food is totally different from what you get. I KNOW that any chef knows the difference between pappardelle and fettucine. Call it what it is. I had the pesto sauce and cream sauce mixed, which was tasty. I paid $4 for "farm fresh vegetables" with it, which turned out to be a handful of tiny diced zucchini and a few sliced cherry tomatoes. Big disappointment all around. We definitely won't be going back.
(2)
Drew A.
I was excited to try it out last Friday, as it is in a great location downtown in the renovated Arcade, and features a lot of great local Rhode Island food (Baffoni Farms, Aquidneck Honey etc.) and beer options - but it was without a doubt the most bizarrely poor dinner service I've ever had. Having worked in the service industry I am a very patient and understanding patron - but this was an unequivocal disaster. The service is well intentioned and polite, so I really hope that they are just getting their feet under them because the place does have potential - but some notes. * Hostess was sitting down when we walked in * Beers took 10 minutes to table after order, and was told to get up from table and see the draft list on a chalkboard near the bar * Ordered appetizer but was not ready for entree order, appetizer came and went before waitress offered to take our entree order 30 minutes later * Entrees (steak sandwich and chicken paperdelle).... 30 minutes waitress apologizes for delay, kitchen backed up... 45 minutes, another apology... hour and 10, we unfortunately had to leave so I politely asked to just have our meals to go, not a problem... hour and 45 minutes... meals finally come out in to go boxes. We waited 1:45 for a steak sandwich and a chicken dish to go. * Meals were justifiably comped but I will say we sat with empty water glasses and paid $40+ for drinks, should have been 100% comped * Hope my attitude doesn't cloud the review of the food, but it was mediocre at best Again, I really do wish this place well and have NO IDEA what could have possibly taken 1:45 to deliver two easy entrees, but Rogue Island unfortunately has some serious work to do before I'd consider eating there again.
(1)
Sheila T.
Husband and I discovered this restaurant while walking around Providence yesterday. The menu looked intriguing when we saw it displayed inside The Arcade. So we did a little more walking and headed back for an early dinner. We were pleased with the interior of the place - cool and funky. The staff were very friendly and our waitress - sorry, forgot her name! - was attentive and sweet. The problem I had was the "chintziness" of some items in my two dishes I ordered. The pickled veggie ( basically thin sliced veggies soaked in white vinegar) plate was nice looking and I liked the crispness of the veggies but the amount of cauliflower was dismal. I would like to get into the head of whomever plated the dish. Two small florets and then a bunch of the very tiny pieces that come off when breaking off the florets from the head. Why not just four decent florets? And the tiny bit of mayo dressing was sad, too. My other dish was the beet and goat cheese salad. The amount of goat cheese was laughable. This type of salad is bland unless there is enough of the tangy goat cheese to add some 'zip'. I asked for more and assumed I was going to be charged extra, and was ($1.00)- but this was the amount that should have been in the dish to begin with! A little More beets would have been nice, too. My husband's turkey sandwich was fine, but the homemade pickles were forgotten! We were looking forward to trying them. I noticed most of the other complaints of the new restaurant were about the lack of food on some of the plates. A little more attention to those complaints would add a star or two to the reviews. The little extra amount of food added to some of the dishes will not cut into the profits- it will get more repeat diners.
The interior is nice. Seating is not the greatest, stools are small and hard. Mostly tables for 2 and one large community table. The menu is limited and what we ordered was very over-priced. Ordered the chicken wings fried in duck fat for $9.00. Was shocked when the plate arrived with 3 whole wings on it. They looked nice but were terribly spicy....not for me. Ordered both soups on the menu, for $9 and $11. One was pretty, had apple chutney and cauliflower, was not impressed with the flavor although it was edible. The other soup was Mushroom and looked disgusting. It was slate gray in color and was mostly creamy but had long stands of cabbage (I think). It was way salty. My daughter ordered a fried chicken sandwich, $9. The batter they use on the chicken is different not bad. Her bun was toasted a little too much around the edges (black and crispy) and the top piece looked like there might have been a large air pocket when it was sliced. So it was especially thin on one side. The fries were very good but I didn't care for their home made catsup at all. Have to give them props though for trying. My husband ordered the Brother's Burger, $14 plus $2.50 for bacon which they did not skimp on. The burger was cooked perfectly and hubby enjoyed it. Beverages we consumed: water and 2 local sodas. Total check - $66, not worth half that much in my opinion. We won't be back but daughter who lives in PVD will try again in a couple of months.
(2)
Wayne P.
stopped into the arcade to check it out yesterday. it was near lunch time so we decided to try this place. kinda small as in not alot of tables but still roomy to get around in. nice atmosphere/decor. first the is a great beer selection here, nearly every RI brewery represented here. i started with a Newport Storm IPA mmmm. my wife had a Downeast cranberry cider, quite refreshing. the food menu is small but seem to be just what you would need. my wife and i started out with the cauliflower and potato soup very tasty and it seems to have some heat in it that builds at the end, which i liked a lot. the wife had a salad with tuna fish. the waitress asked how do you want that cooked. we were??? so my wife said medium. well us old timers were a we bit surprised when it came out but my wife ate it all anyway. my son would have know exactly what to expect being a sushi guy and all. i had the carved turkey sandwich. the fresh thin sliced turkey was great add in the cranberry relish and some brown/turkey gravy and it was great. i had a side of the house potato salad. the flavors were interesting and yes i ate all of it. there appeared to be only one waitress and she was a joy to work with. i heartily recommend this place for a saturday afternoon meal.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Drew A.
I was excited to try it out last Friday, as it is in a great location downtown in the renovated Arcade, and features a lot of great local Rhode Island food (Baffoni Farms, Aquidneck Honey etc.) and beer options - but it was without a doubt the most bizarrely poor dinner service I've ever had. Having worked in the service industry I am a very patient and understanding patron - but this was an unequivocal disaster. The service is well intentioned and polite, so I really hope that they are just getting their feet under them because the place does have potential - but some notes. * Hostess was sitting down when we walked in * Beers took 10 minutes to table after order, and was told to get up from table and see the draft list on a chalkboard near the bar * Ordered appetizer but was not ready for entree order, appetizer came and went before waitress offered to take our entree order 30 minutes later * Entrees (steak sandwich and chicken paperdelle).... 30 minutes waitress apologizes for delay, kitchen backed up... 45 minutes, another apology... hour and 10, we unfortunately had to leave so I politely asked to just have our meals to go, not a problem... hour and 45 minutes... meals finally come out in to go boxes. We waited 1:45 for a steak sandwich and a chicken dish to go. * Meals were justifiably comped but I will say we sat with empty water glasses and paid $40+ for drinks, should have been 100% comped * Hope my attitude doesn't cloud the review of the food, but it was mediocre at best Again, I really do wish this place well and have NO IDEA what could have possibly taken 1:45 to deliver two easy entrees, but Rogue Island unfortunately has some serious work to do before I'd consider eating there again.
(1)Christine W.
I had the pork belly and absolutely loved it! Expertly cooked, full of flavor. There are a lot of great restaurants in Providence and Rogue Island is cooking with the best of them. I really appreciate the emphasis and great selection of local beer, wine, and food. Definitely worth seeking out!
(5)Nikki K.
Ugh! Not a fan. Went here on a slow Tuesday night with a co worker. Bartender took FOREVER to make drinks with 6 people at the bar then told us she couldn't make one after 6ish minutes. Ordered the arugula salad with chicken to go, I was drawn to the goat cheese that was supposed to come with it as well as walnuts. I should've checked my order before I left but no cheese and no walnuts were on it and for 16 dollars the salad was a joke. It was basically a few oz of dry chicken, onions, arugula, and a few beets. I will not be returning. If you only have 3 salads on the menu and forget 2 highlighting ingredients on one that is NOT a good look ESP at 16 dollars! Stay away!
(1)Stacey C.
Had dinner here. Had their mac n' cheese, cauliflower melt, and fried chicken sandwich. Had fries and salads and those were great, although "large" salad looked more like a small salad to me. The potato salad was a little bland but all the other food was flavorful, good, and different. Service was great and loved the ambience. Prices were $$. This is a farm to table restaurant so everything was super fresh and organic. They close at 9 on a Tuesday so we didn't get to try dessert :(.
(4)Liz M.
Fellow craft beer lovers are often tagged here so I had to try it. It's a very small Place but big on charm. We happened to go on a quiet night so we sat down quickly and were greeted and served quickly. This is where you go for craft beers. That is apparent when you get a gander of the draft beers. They had three Maine beer company beers! They had all kinds of tough to find beers and were reasonably priced. Our bartender was great he knew a lot about the beers and was able to help me pick some out. We decided to have some dinner too. A warning if your super fussy you may not find something you like. Everything is made in house using whatever local ingredients are available so you have to be open minded and try something new. I am one of those fussy people but they had a build Your burger option that was perfect for me. It was delicious but a little on the pricy side charging extra for fancy ketchup and lettuce and tomato. I did enjoy my fresh burger and fries and will go there again for sure. I've heard they have a excellent brunch so I will have to go back and try it one day. It's worth going there just for the beers.
(4)Richard P.
I want local businesses like this to succeed. I really do. However, I think the service is going to continue to be their biggest downfall. We recently had four friends visiting us from Washington, DC, and I recommended Rouge Island a great local business, perfect RI ambiance, and delicious food as an option. They looked at the menu and were beyond excited! Our party was seated in the dining room facing the inside of the Arcade. Throughout the meal, we had to get it up twice to ask the waitress for more water and coffee. The second time that we got up to ask for more water, it took over 10 minutes to get her back into our room to refill the glasses (the restaurant wasn't even half full at this point). The food took more than 40 minutes from the time ordered, until the time it came to the table (which is more understandable with a larger party, but still quite a wait with the lack of our server's attention.) Upon leaving Rouge Island, we agreed that we are not going to return for a couple of weeks. As I mentioned in my original email, we absolutely want this place to succeed. You have all the components to be a great spot, but the front-line of customer service seems still to be limping along. If I may, some unsolicited suggestions - Locals: There are not many brunch places open in downtown Providence on Sunday's, or the weekends for that matter. The residents that live here, will come. It's the service that will drive them away. I've asked other people who live in Providence about this, and many have had similar experiences as well on the weekends with the service. Tourists: I've seen many people in there on the weekends with cameras (who I assume are visiting from out of state). Your restaurant is so unique, given its location in the oldest indoor shopping mall in America. The wait staff should be enthusiastic asking the guests if they are visiting, and if they are tell them about some of the history, about the owners, how the food is locally sourced, encourage them to look at the art (especially in the bathroom of Westminster Street to see what Providence was like in the 1930's), etc. If this was The Cheesecake Factory, I wouldn't have even bothered wasting my time to write this review. You are a local business that we (the residents of Providence) truly believe in and want to support.
(3)Shannon B.
I've been here twice, once for drinks and the second time, hoping to have dinner. The ambience is great, decor is rustic and charming without being too twee, and the location in the renovated Arcade is perfect. Above all, their local brew selection kicks major behind. Beyond the set dressing, though, I have to admit I'm not impressed. Both times I've visited, I've had to hunt down someone to seat our party, and have been dismissed casually by wait staff that seem more interested in socializing than making patrons feel welcome. My second visit was very short: my friend and I entered through the Arcade and waited to be seated. Two members of the staff looked up, and then returned to their conversation until we wandered to the bar, along with two other groups that were similarly confused. One of the staff members addressed the entire group of us with orders to sit at the "big table over there". My friend and I thought we should check with a server, who then waived us back to the communal table, where we waited in awkward, dimly-lit silence until she finally came back, slid a couple of menus at us without a word, and hurried off. We waited a bit longer, hoping to put in drink order, before finally giving up and heading to the Congress Tavern, which had a similarly impressive selection of local brews, plus a staff that actually looked up when we walked in the door. For me, at least, the third time won't be the charm at Rogue Island. It doesn't matter how fresh your food is or how well you represent local vendors. If the staff is unable to appropriately treat guests and represent the business in a professional manner, another visit is just a waste of my time.
(2)cynthia r.
Very disappointing. The atmosphere was great. I am a big fan of the Arcade building an all the history in it. I was happy to see some of the interesting items on the menu for brunch. But the service was terrible. With only 4 tables the waitress could not keep up. She very obviously preferred to be at the bar engaged with the people sitting there than tending the people in her section. More than 20 to get my 1st cup of coffee (at brunch) and was never offered a refill. My fiance wasn't given the opportunity to order a drink in the first place. After about an hour we finally got our food and mine was served cold. I ate it because I was starving at this point but for what we paid, it wasn't anything special. We won't be back.
(2)Kristen M.
I genuinely like Rogue Island. The service is decent, the food is good, they have a great beer selection, bottomless mimosas and bloody marys during brunch and they're in a fantastic downtown location. The reason why it's a 3 star for me is that while I always leave satisfied, I'm not really blown away by the menu and have noticed that regardless of the meal the portions are a little skimpy. None of that keeps me from coming back I'm just not a regular. Between buck-a-shuck on weekdays, brunch deals on the weekend, and other specials they run consistently throughout each week, if you're downtown Rogue Island is a solid choice.
(3)Mary E.
Unlimited mimosa, beer or bloody Mary's are key. This place never seems to have much of a crowd for such a great deal in the area. The menu changed since last time I was there and along with the prices. During brunch the portions are on the smaller size than when I was last there a few months ago. No entree comes with a salad or fries which makes the presentation of each dish look empty and dull without. Otherwise beer and drink selection is great. 50+ variety of beers to be exact!
(3)taylor d.
Today my boyfriend and I went to check this place out for a late lunch. When we walked into the Arcade... It didn't look open but it was and I'm glad we went inside! The decor is really rustic and cute. We sat at the bar and we're pleasantly surprised that they locally source all of their ingredients no further than 40 miles away from PVD. The food was good we got poutine and wings. We will definitely be coming Back for more. One thing I loved is they don't serve any Coke or Pepsi products.... they get all of their soda from a local soda company called Yacht Club Soda, all alcohol and beer is local too. It's a great place to take out of towners but it also stands up to PVD locals standards.
(4)Alexander V.
Came here for brunch for two. Had to wait five minutes or so for a table to be cleared. Sat down and was given water right away. Had to wait another ten minutes before the waitress came back to take our order as she was busy playing bartender behind the bar. The front side was dead and we were the only new group that had walked in. Placed our order and took 30 minutes to be served. In the meantime waitress doesn't inform us of the progress or checked in on us. We had ordered eggs Benedict and the special - peach waffles and fried chicken". The eggs Benedict were fine but the special was underwhelming. There were bits and pieces of poorly attempted chopped peaches on the plate and very little if none in the waffles. The chicken pieces were small and poor battered. If I wanted to wait this long for my food I'd go to nicks on Broadway where the wait is actually worth the food quality.
(2)Lisa O.
I recently went here for brunch with a friend after finding out that they have $18 all you can drink mimosas or bloody mary's until 3pm. It was fortunately a gorgeous day and we sat at one of the tables outside. The brunch menu had a good assortment of items. I selected the huevos rancheros, and my friend had the eggs benedict. We also had some of those mimosas. The huevos rancheros was quite good and filling. The only complaint with any of the food was my friend's potatoes/home fries were overcooked. But then again, we arrived at 2pm which may have been a part of the problem. I would definitely give them another shot and will be returning soon to try more of their food. The service was friendly and relatively quick. They were nice enough to fix our bill when we confused our waitress.
(4)Molly O.
I'm giving this place a 3 because I didn't really get a chance to try their food but everything else was AWESOME! Walk into the oldest mall/first indoor mall in America. AKA the Providence Arcade. Head into Rogue Island. You'll find a woodsy-earthy-urban-funky cool Rhode Island fun spot. The vibe is great. You'll feel at home. You'll feel relaxed. It's fresh flowers, it's wood and iron. It's great. We had some wings that were seasoned and had delicious dill-ish dipping sauce. They had a pretty cool variety of cocktails, wines and beers. It was quite early evening during the week. I found a new wine I really like. Service was good. I'll go back and try the food!
(3)Margaret D.
I don't even know where to begin. Have visited several times during their posted open hours to find a vacant dark restaurant that is not, in fact, open. Have visited several times when they are actually open to find a restaurant that looks dark and closed - what is up with that room you can see from inside the Arcade hallway? At least turn the lights on in there when you ARE open, because I sincerely believed you had gone out of business. Came here for breakfast with visiting friends when they bought a Groupon (good only for breakfast on certain days) to find that the place is NOT EVEN OPEN on those days. Have not received a response to a phone message I left asking how to use this coupon. Drinks take forever, even when the place is slow. Blonde bartender sits at the bar and texts, rather than helping her coworkers when things are busy, though things are never TRULY busy here. When she does help you, she is as rude as can be, almost like if you ask your teenage children to help with chores at home. I can get nicely made cocktails more quickly at Circe on a weekend night than I can get here during weekday lunch. Drink prices fluctuate on a whim - is that martini $12, or $14, or the $16 that I paid last time I was in? Why did I pay $8 for a Gansett? Do the owners know that this is what the bar staff is charging for these drinks? And who is that insane frazzled guy that works there but HAS NO IDEA what is happening ever and does not help staff out when they are in a pinch? Is everyone who works here drinking on the job? Service is deplorable and slow, even when there are NO other tables waiting. Seats are tiny tiny and hard as a rock. The bar is not level, so if you don't watch your glass, it will start sliding. Food comes out wrong, or cold, or is misrepresented from what the menu said. Portions are miniature and way expensive for what they are. If I want to spend 3 hours at brunch, I will go to Julian's, where the food is better and the staff will bring drinks and coffee for the duration of the meal. I come here because I want to see local businesses do well, but I don't have 90 mins for weekday lunch. There are so many reviews like this, I don't know why the staff does not read them and take action. As Providence improves, more restaurants will come into downtown. Would hate to see the place close, but am too frustrated to give them any more of my money or time. What a disappointment.
(1)Laurie B.
We came here for lunch but just got some apps. It was 2pm, no one else was in the restaurant. The decor is nice. The seats look a little tiny, luckily I had the booth side. The water comes out in mason jars, which really adds to the rustic rhode island theme. We ordered the poutine fries and the pretzel bites with beer cheese. The fries are steak fries which kinda makes it hard to eat. The cheese curds were flavorless. The pretzels bites were delicious though. They were definitely fresh and the cheese was perfect. The menu is different. They have a lot of items from Rhode Island.
(3)Laurie S.
Here for a night out. Fantastic. First. The bartender, Bill(?) was awesome, knowledgable, friendly and helpful. Big fan! Had a great G&T with a little elderflower. Good stuff. Helped my friend decide between some yummy wines. Great local choices-in beer and wine. Food was great too. Started with the warm pretzel bites. So. Damn. Good. Get them. Yes. Got the Berkshire Bourbon Pulled Pork Sandwich. Equally good. Friend burger was also really good and chocolate cake. Good stuff. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive, The decor is great and love the well curated bar, lots of great gins (my fave). Love the renovations in the Arcade and this place is well worth the trip! A fan already.
(5)Holly K.
I would definitely head back here again! We went in for their newly started Sunday brunch and it went pretty well. I will say I think out waitress was a bit flustered with the table of 12. Everyone loved their food! My eggs benedict came out a bit cold, but it tasted awesome. I think they just need to work on what brunch food gets fired off first for a big table. My friend asked for an orange juice that never came and coffee remained unfilled. But, as soon as we flagged our waitress down for more coffee or more water she was quick to refill everything. My little cousin got a carton of chocolate milk, she took a sip and said it tasted funny, well it had expired over a week ago and had gone sour! She was very apologetic about it and then ended up making a chocolate milk instead of giving her another carton. I like that they are farm to table, and loved all the local decor! The mural in the bathroom is really cool. I would definetely like to see what their dinner is like.
(3)Kris W.
Are the Yelpers in PVD so jaded that Rogue Island only has an average rating of 3 stars? This place is awesome. I love the location in the Arcade & love the decor. It's very similar to another of my favorite restaurants (Engine Room in Mystic CT) in ambiance & mission. If you like upsacle farm to table pub food & are passionate about the hyperlocal craftbeer scene then you'll love this place. Their tap list is kinda small but well curated. They are one of the few places in RI to carry Proclamation Ale & Ravenous beers. They have enough selection to appease craftbeer snobs & those who don't have discerning taste. There were plenty of interesting choices on the menu but I was there for a quick lunch & not feeling adventurous. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich with steak fries & was impressed. I loved the bun they used & the combination of the pulled pork with the cole slaw worked well together. The steak fries were cooked perfectly & tasted so fresh definitely not frozen! The only drawback/complaint is that Rogue Island is not that kid friendly. It is a farm to table & they specialize in local craft beer so I wasn't expecting chicken fingers &/or Chuck E. Cheese. Our server did manage to give my son some paper & sharpie markers to draw with. The kitchen did make him a flatbread pizza that he wasn't too thrilled with but he loved my fries! Again, prices aren't that cheap but when I'm in the city of Providence I don't mind spending a little more for quality.
(4)Karen S.
Rogue Island has been on my "to try" list for a bit so it was nice to pop in for a drink and a bite while at a recent Yelp event at the Arcade. I really liked the look and feel of the interior. We were quickly greeted and seated and told that they were running an unofficial special for Yelpers that if you checked in and ordered an alcoholic beverage then you get a free appetizer. He was a bit vague with the details of this. When he came back to take our drink order and three out of the four of us had checked in he mentioned that it was only good for one free appetizer for the table. That's cool, three free appetizers would have been a bit much. I ordered the Bourbon Brulee. While pricey at $13, it was one of the best drinks I have ever had. When he brought our drinks, we ordered the wings and the pretzel bites. He came back a while later to clarify that only one would be free. While I understand his concern that we could possibly complain when we got the bill, this came off as a bit condescending. The wings were hot, spicy and tasty. The blue cheese foam that was on the plate with it though was pointless as it had no flavor and was just a white puddle. The pretzel bites were delicious. Service was very slow with our waiter disappearing for long stretches of time. While there was a Yelp event going on, it was fairly empty inside Rogue Island while we were there. There were only a few table occupied and a few at the bar. I saw a bartender and two waiters and they all appeared very frazzled. There were some delicious looking sandwiches coming out of the kitchen. While the service could have just been having an off night, I think I'll give them a little time to work things out before I go back.
(3)Sarah E.
I love this place. It doesn't matter the time of day, the occasion or the season, this place should definitely be on your must-visit list. The staff is wonderful - their recommendations on food and drink are spot-on. I have never been disappointed. Whether it's their twist on a dark 'n' stormy, a local whiskey brew or a draft beer, you cannot go wrong with their opinion. The food is delicious as well. It's not your typical pub food. Their menu is seasonal incorporating local produce and hand-picked selections. And, it's located in the Arcade! Just a fantastic spot in downtown Providence.
(4)Peter D.
Upon walking into Rogue Island, I immediately assumed I was going to fall in love. The space is gorgeous, the menu is mouthwatering, the Mets spring training was on the TV, and the bathroom smelled exactly like Johnson baby powder and Cool Water cologne.* What I'm trying to say is that Rogue Island is fresh, dressed, like a million bucks. Unfortunately, they seem to have sacrificed substance in the pursuit of such style. Every plate we ordered was gorgeous, but the flavor and technique was a bit lacking. For instance, a blue cheese foam accompaniment to your wings is impressive, but I'd vastly prefer that the effort was actually spent properly seasoning and searing the burger. There was no juice, no meaty flavor, and even the bacon was rock hard and virtually tasteless. And after all, we eat burgers and bacon for the juice and the flavor, not for our health. On the flip side, the steak fries were actually well seasoned, but essentially raw in the center. With a few tweaks in the kitchen, I imagine that Rogue Island could be great, but for now I'd settle for a beer at the beautiful bar. ____________ *And by Cool Water cologne, I mean 8th grade.
(3)Kelsey D.
My luck for finding good restaurants on a complete whim continues. We were starving last Friday and didn't want to deal with the horrors of Black Friday, so myself and my room mate opted to check Rogue Island out during lunch. It was completely empty inside, but the siren call of weird beers on tap sang to me from afar and we ended up grabbing some barstools and going through a couple flights of excellent local beer, one of which was from a new brewery to RI I had never heard of before -- and as someone who drinks a wee bit too much (read: A Lot), I was pleasantly surprised. What was even more surprising was the food. We split some pretzel bites that were okay, but the entrees were killer. I ate a ridiculously delicious angus steak sandwich with wedge fries that I would like to keep in my pocket and pull out whenever I want. My room mate had chicken wings with a glaze that was out of this world. To top it all off, we grabbed some ice cream and sorbet that I highly suggest trying, if only for their weirder flavors. The cinnamon sorbet made my lactose-sad room mate especially happy. Overall, a pretty cool joint with local food at a reasonable price. Definitely worth a visit and I certainly plan on doing it again.
(4)Christine B.
Amazing! We went for the Proclamation ale night. They had a bbq night with the beer co. The food was so delicious! It is very hard to find delicious bbq in new england. Either they try to make it fancy with liquid smoke, douse it in bbq sauce or over cook it so it is a dry flavorless mess. The bbq I had tonight was none of those things. I had the ribs and mac and cheese and my boyfriend had the bbq platter with ribs, pullled pork, brisket, baked beans, collard greens, cold slaw, and corn bread. Everything, even the bread, was fresh and delicious. The flavor was perfect. The ribs were tender and juicy without being over powered by other flavors. Proclamation Ale was serving two draft beers tonight the Derivative mosaic and the Dark Sprout. They were not cheap though, $7 a glass but at least they and the food was good enough to justify the price. I will definitely come back here and try the Proclamation Ale again.
(5)Lizz W.
I forgot to tell the world how much I LOVE Rogue Island's food. OMG I love when this happens, when you can't complain about food after dining out. I tried the wings, the cauliflower sandwich, the ribeye entree and lots of cocktails! The cauliflower sandwich was sooo good. Like I was expecting to devour the ribeye and couldn't stop eating the sandwich. Everything was amazing, you could tell the ingredients were fresh, the cocktails were creative and tasty.
(4)Amelia S.
Cute place! Love the selection of LOCAL beers-- buying local is important to us and we're happy to do so.The salad was amazing, my only regret was not getting chicken on it which I will do next time. Everyone really liked their lunches. Service was a bit slow for lunch but not horrendous-- and I would have liked a water refill. Prices were reasonable for farm to table! Will be back!
(4)Kyle S.
I've been to Rogue Island a few different times and really want to like this place more but unfortunately between poor service and average food, I have been let down by this establishment. I honestly really like the space itself, I think the design and ambiance is very cool. And for the beer selection alone I would give them 5 stars. I appreciate the fact that they showcase and carry so many different local beers from RI. I've tried a couple of different dishes here and the flavor has been average at best, which is disappointing because I like the fact that they source local ingredients for their dishes. The other area where they also seem to drop the ball is on service. While sitting at the bar is fine, table service has been slow and torturous at times. I don't know if it is because they are understaffed or overwhelmed by how busy it can be, but I really hope this is one area where they will be able to improve. I really love the improvements and updates they have brought to the Arcade and I would like to see a place like this succeed and do well. It might not be one of my go to places, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to stopping by again in the future for a beer or two.
(2)Mark B.
Great beers. Good service. Didn't have the food, but it looked good. Love this place.
(5)Xiao Z.
Catering review: If you needed a restaurant that screamed out its love for RI, then Rogue Island is your place to visit. Tucked in the iconic Arcade, Rogue Island is a nice bar/restaurant, chock full of food and drinks indigenous to our beloved Ocean State. We came here for a conference, in which we were served fish with crabmeat, chicken with bacon, asparagus and brussel sprouts. Nothing really jumped out at me, but they did not make me shirk away either. The dessert was an apple cobbler with icecream, which was quite delicious, and tasted kinda like bread pudding, and that's always a great thing! I had a couple of misfires with the drink selections: the RI based scotch/whiskey...I'd skip it, and the hazelnut beer tasted too sweet for my liking. I did like the clownshoes IPA and overall was very satisfied with the services. I would recommend this establishment if you need a private place for a party/journal club. Food; 3 stars Service: 3.5 stars Drinks: 3 stars Price: n/a Ambiance: 3-4 stars; very RI-dy
(4)Justin B.
Another gem has opened downtown. I've been poking my head into the arcade for months, just to see if Rogue Island had opened. They are working a soft opening for now and a grand opening is not far away. I grabbed a bar stool and ordered their HOUSE ground burger. Accompanied by steak fries to end all other steak fries. Perfectly seasoned and crispy, and they don't skimp either. The burger was cover with a warm blanket of brie and topped with radishes and arugula. It would be a sin to use ketchup or mustard on this masterpiece. Wood Rules... making the industrial age decor warm and inviting. Lit by the throw back Edison light bulbs, the larger than life wood bar and tables were made from trees, downed by a recent hurricane. (overhead the bartender explaining the wood to another person at the bar) I'm really looking forward to a dinner here soon and will update my review as soon as I do.
(5)Vimala P.
One of favorite gems in Rhode Island! Would recommend to anyone who loves locally inspired food and booze. Great atmosphere and great staff!
(5)Laura B.
After eyeing Rouge Island every time I've walked through the Arcade, I finally got the opportunity to drop in there for dinner last night. 7:30 on a Friday seemed like more than enough time to have a meal and stroll over to Lupo's for a 9:00 show but Rogue Island could not get us a full meal in that time. The husband and I were sat in a lovely corner seat where we really got to take in the decor and ambiance of the restaurant but I was not wowed by the food or the service. Our waitress was nice enough but she started our interaction by telling us that "the kitchen is really overwhelmed right now so let's just start with drinks first, okay?" Oh boy. Not that we *weren't* going to start with drinks, we just really wanted a meal with our drinks too considering we were in a full service restaurant at dinner time and all. It took half an hour to get the full drink list (beer and cocktails), order them, and receive them. Hubby had a great Triple IPA and I drank a delicious "Bourbon Brulee" cocktail, but half an hour for two drinks is a little much. We ordered two appetizers so we could eat enough to be full during the show and I was extremely disappointed in their take on poutine. Instead of shoestring fries (that do a great job absorbing the gooey gravy/cheese deliciousness of Canada's best fast food treat) they used wedge potatoes that were cooked fine, but just didn't work in the dish. Chartreuse plate was good, although it felt a little overpriced for what it was and they didn't give enough bread with it to eat everything. Judging by the other reviews, I have to assume Rogue Island was having a rough night and hopefully they'll be back on their game during their next dinner rush. Hoping to come back someday to eat a *meal* and see if things improve.
(3)David R.
When they first opened, I didn't like the menu at all, but recently I went back and they had totally redone things - I loved it and have returned several times. Ingot an excellent salad with grilled chicken, and my wife enjoyed their burger. Great beers too.
(5)Paul W.
Charcuterie was very good. Then things went terribly wrong! Chicken sandwich was as dry as the Sahara, even after asking for extra aioli. I ordered a cheeseburger medium rare. I'm not sure how they made it so dry but it was definitely not a juicy burger. Fries were very good however. But the reason I am giving it only one star is the fact that both the bartender and the waitress saw a baby being changed at a booth!!!! Neither said anything to the family while dirty nappies, Kleenex and rags were being loaded on another napkin on the bench!!!!!!! I stopped eating, paid the bill and left!..... Seriously! GROSS!!!! Add to this the fact that the bartender never asked us how our meal was. Organic and local is great idea, but diaper changing while touching table, walls and seats is is disgusting!!!!!!! I could NEVER eat here again! Hygiene is tops on my review list.
(1)Amahl H.
This place should be a solid 4 stars and I want to see it do well but, let me just get it out there at the top, they need to re-think their prices. I'm not one to quibble over prices normally (see my other reviews), I'm happy to pay more for better quality. But my group and I were all genuinely surprised to see our bill. Manhattans and martinis were over $16 each, a beer was $10--these were not special drinks, nor were the Manhattans extraordinary or over-sized, just average in all aspects. So, that's just not what you expect from what is otherwise a very nice neighborhood-style bar. Now let me say some nice things. The decor is very nice, though the lighting was a little too bright. The staff were fine. I had some kind of salad with chicken and while the serving size was quite modest it was really quite good. Moreover, I want to see nice businesses like this succeed--especially in our very cool but under-utilized Arcade. So, come on guys, get in line with your competitors on pricing and I'll definitely be back and will re-review.
(3)Wendy W.
Impressed! There must've been some growing pains when this place opened based on prior reviews, but I will be back- this place is comfortable w/excellent draft beer selection & interesting drinks Decor: this place is comfy. The wood touches, the attention to lighting. It's warm, clean, cozy. The place makes me wanna drink here... So I did Drinks: draft selection was great- hard to decide on one to try. I want to go back to try the cocktails, they sound so creative & delish! Food: crab cake was so yummy, fresh crab meat, little filler, very flavorful w/every bite. Too bad there was only one cake. The ribeye steak sandwich had fresh crunchy ciabatta w/really good truffle oil & I love the cheese that's on the sandwiches. They skimped on the steak though. House steak fries were huge slices of potato that was a bit too soggy, not crunchy. fries=meh. Dessert was "the small": new harvest marshmallow w/graham crumbs & marshmallow ice cream. Too sweet for me. The locally sourced ingredients make me want to go back to try the rest of the menu. Service: great. Attentive, no probs Will be back. rogue island, hang in there!
(4)Katie S.
Is there a way to post negative stars? This was the worst restaurant experience that I've had in years. We arrived early afternoon after watching the providence marathon. We were told upon arrival that we'd need to wait 15 minutes due to the "small kitchen". There were about 10 free tables in the restaurant. After about 35 minutes, our drink orders were taken and water was brought to the table. We finally ordered our food, which arrived almost an hour later. When I asked the waitress/manager about the timing of our food, she told me that it had only been "35 minutes". Isn't that long enough to justify a question? Our food finally arrived...actually 5 of our 6 dishes finally arrived. Several of the dishes were served lukewarm. We all ate our entire meal before the 6th dish arrived. We were pleased that the last meal was comped. When we asked to speak to the manager about our experience, the waitress told us that she was the manager. She did not once apologize for the poor experience or service. Later, when the bill was brought to the table and paid, we discovered an 18% large-group gratuity had automatically been added to the bill by the waitress/manager. The service and professionalism of the waitress/manager was laughable. I recommend that you stay far away.
(1)Ryan D.
Rogue Island is sitting in the very gorgeously redone Arcade in downtown. The restaurant itself is very nice on the inside with an almost weathered pub look that would fit in by the sea but still modern to fit in downtown. Ok let's preface a lot of the "time" issues with previous reviewers. This restaurant is a scratch kitchen using local ingredients. Thus it is going to take a lot longer than your normal restaurant, but what you get out of it is a very tasty meal. To start go for the wings. This is not a suggestion, more of a no-brainer decision. They are in duck fat, they are delicious, you will enjoy them. I went straight for the steak sandwich. After going to Vermont, it is really hard to avoid reading "Vermont cheddar" on a menu. This thing was pretty delicious. Can't go wrong with house pickles either. I really can't wait to go back, just a good bar with a little more on the menu that might surprise you.
(4)Karen P.
Good was delicious and the service was awesome. I would definitely come back and try their dinner menu. Bottomless mimosas are awesome !
(4)Colleen T.
Poor food and poor service made this trip to Rogue Island a less than savory experience. A definite skip! My large group of 30-something friends stopped at Rogue Island for an early dinner and drinks. While our female waitress was lovely, the food was less than adequate. All our dishes were either too salty, no flavor, or not cooked correctly. (Fries that were uncooked, too salty burgers, and soup that had whole peppercorns sprinkled on top---why would I want whole peppercorns in each bite?!) For the price point and taste, I would never come back here to eat. The worst part of the meal was being insulted by a man who appeared to be a manager: he tried to hustle us to leave the restaurant after we broke out in loud laughter?! And mind you, we are all female professionals at a semi-empty restaurant ordering drinks and food on a Thursday evening. I have never seen anything like this! So rude. Immediately after the man suggested we move to the private room, we, in fact, told him we're leaving.
(1)Chris T.
Walkin' downtown, unassuming entrance 10 in our group; not a hindrance Plenty of space, seating all around Dim-light, chill place; look what we found! Nice wooden tables, quaint little place Restaurant and decent bar -- no complaints! Thanks to SouthEast Asia, I'm cracked out on Lychee Saw it listed in a cocktail, I was sold instantly $12 drink, good size; pretty decent overall! Good place for groups, although kind of small Not too loud for conversations; good volume, I thought I'll probably be back to check out this hole in the wall
(4)Matt O.
Stopped in for a few drinks while I was downtown with my girlfriend celebrating the end of a long day of apartment hunting. Considering I will soon be within walking distance of this place, I will be back. The space is really great too. I didn't try the food, but it looked good on my neighbor's plate. As for the drinks, great local beers on tap and in bottles/cans. I had the Arcade Club cocktail, which was very well made, maybe a bit too sweet for my taste, but that's just me. The bartender was great, even making a list of other places to check out when I move to town in the fall.
(5)Robert S.
Got there at 5PM for early dinner with friends. When I sat down, the waitress gave me the lunch menu. I looked at it...and ?!?! I thought !?!? WHAT ?!?!? Outside the door...... It says Dinner from 5PM on.. I asked here to come over and when I asked about lunch vs dinner...she said....Oh..well...... We serve lunch until 7 PM....or maybe 6 PM. I asked her to please double check. She asked someone else and she came back with dinner menus. We ordered 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine... It took close to 10 minutes to get these drinks..and there were not that many tables around..... Way too Slow...... After reading the menu, I decided to try the cod and to try a bite of the burger (from my BF). The cod was ok, but small. When we asked how it was prepared...the waitress said...maybe grilled, maybe fried, don't know....................We asked her to check since it would make a difference in our decision. She came back a bit later saying that it was grilled. It came with asparagus (4 little tiny ones) and like 7 small pieces of a purple looking potato. $22 for a dish that was gone in 6 bites !! I ordered a beer...when she brought it...she asked me if I wanted a glass. I said yes. The glass was never delivered to me. :-( The burger was good...nothing spectacular, but at $13 it was also steep. Pluses....location is great inside the Arcade, decor is nice with lots of wood and cozy feel.. Lots of locally sourced ingredients and products. Overall I felt it was good food, not great, but the service and the overpriced menu makes me not to want to come back.
(2)Lauren M.
I'm dropping another star for Rogue Island's lunch menu. Now that I work in Down City, I am always looking for places to get away from it all and get a good meal. I would love to eat more frequently at Rogue Island, but their lunch menu is lacking and overly priced for lunch. I'm not paying for $16 burger at lunch... It's just ridiculous. I'd love to see Rogue Island rework their lunch menu and include smaller, more affordable options. With so many places to go for a reasonable lunch and dinner in PVD, it's been hard to justify going to Rogue Island lately, even though they still have one of the best beer lists and best interiors around.
(3)Jonathan P.
Went here for Sunday Brunch with my roommate and her out of town friend. Arrived around 1:30 pm so it was pretty dead. Sat at the bar and our waitress was just OK. I got the bottomless mimosas for $18. For that price I expect my glass to be always filled, I had to keep flagging the waitress down which I didn't like.The food wasn't that bad, honestly don't remember it which means it wasn't that good either. Will be visiting again on June 27th for brunch with my out of town friends. Hopefully my next review will be 4 stars.
(3)Bob C.
Oysters were good but a little small. Next time we try the mussels. Nice atmosphere, a bunch of local beers to choose from and great selection of local sprits.
(4)Shannon W.
What a hidden gem this place is. I love the food, I love the rustic ambiance, but what sticks out most to me is the impeccable service. I've been here on three occasions (usually sitting at the bar) and the bartenders are always knowledgeable both about the beer/liquor and the food menu. In a city with a lot of amazing food, great service can be the biggest variable, and it is what will create loyal customers. I appreciate that they source so much of their food/drink menu from Rhode Island and are one of few places to have such a large selection of local whiskeys/bourbons. I've had some of the apps and tried a few of the sandwiches, all of which were good (My only very very minor criticism would be that on the mozz/heirloom tomato sandwich, the bread to fixin's ratio is off. HUGE roll- but still great flavor!). Go to Rogue Island on a rainy Sunday afternoon, get the pretzel bites and the ranch dressing (which my friend explained as a "life changing" experience). Get a beer flight and test out some local brews. This is how I dipped my toes in the water, and I can only imagine you'll enjoy it as much. Keep doing what your doing Rogue Island, but please don't take that ranch dressing off your menu.
(5)Lor S.
Farm to table fresh! Amazing local beers, great service with a smile and duck fat fried wings.... Sad the past reviews haven't been so hot but they're updated a lot. It's a great place for a flight of beers, games are always on and the steak fries with truffle aioli :) go get yourself some!!
(5)Alexandra O.
Stopped in to rogue island today for a Saturday afternoon lunch and was pleasantly surprised. They have a great selection of local beer, many were in for their brunch menu which looked amazing. I had ordered oysters, charcuterie, and wings which were all fresh and phenomenal. I couldn't make up my mind on which beer to try so I ordered a flight, another great option to have. Service was great. Atmosphere amazing. Live music. Place was actually packed for the dreary afternoon it was. Definitely will be back !
(5)Shannon F.
This is one of those restaurants that I won't be rushing back to, but I am not disappointed that we ate here either. I found that the drink prices were waaaaay out of my price range (mine was the cheapest at $11) and even with the free appetizer that they gave us for being yelpers, the bill was still a bit high. We got chicken wings for our free app, and paid for pretzel bites. Being a vegetarian, I didn't try the wings, but I heard they were good. The pretzel bites were very tasty, and the right amount of fried mushiness (that sounds bad, but it really wasn't) , and I really don't like pretzels. As for the drinks. We all ordered off of the holiday drink board posted on the wall. I don't remember what the other people at my table got, but I got the Rogue Island maple taffy drink. If you love whimsical drinks, this one is for you! It comes with maple taffy on the side of the glass!!! Heads up for vegetarians, I noticed a veggie burger on the specials board. Our waiter was great, there at the right times, and we never had to search for him for anything. All in all, a pleasant experience, and a place I would keep in the back of my head for future reference when in the area.
(4)Abby B.
Such a cool bar, a friend was in town and we decided to pop in for a drink and stayed for 2. The bartenders were very nice and informative when we were trying to choose a local beer that we would like.
(5)Rebecca B.
I've been to Rogue Island twice. The first time I really enjoyed myself. I like the cool look and fee of the restaurant and bar. The food was approachable, modern pub food made with locally sourced ingredients. Pizza and salad were tasty and the cauliflower sandwich was so flavorful that I didn't even miss the protein. On my second visit, I couldn't help but wonder if on a Tuesday night, their head chef might not be working the kitchen. The waitress seemed distracted and food and drink took awhile to arrive. I ordered my burger medium and it was delivered well, well done and with little signs of the truffle mayo. My husband's fried chicken sandwich was dry and unseasoned, also with no signs of the sauce the menu had promised. There was a tasting going on in Rogue's front room and we couldn't help but feel left out when the table to the left and the bar seats to the right of us were offered a sample but we were not. I pointed out to one of the waitresses that it was cold in the dining room on this October evening with the a/c blasting and the windows and door all open to which she replied there are other guests complaining that it's warm. Seriously?! Overall disappointing service and food on this visit may make it my last.
(2)Dan B.
Decided to check this place out because I heard they had a good brunch menu and I like places that source from local farms. I ordered the chicken and waffles, which were spectacular. Seriously. My girlfriend had a veggie burger off the lunch menu which was equally amazing and obviously very freshly prepared. It was pretty much just straight up fresh veggies - mushrooms, squash, black beans, kale, etc with just a touch of bread crumbs on the outside. Potato salad was good too... Oh and all you can drink mimosas/ bloody Mary's was definitely a plus. Can't wait to come back here to try the rest of the menu!
(5)Hilary H.
I love the idea of locally-grown and raised food making its way into a kitchen like this, where hearty and tasty meals abound. The thought behind Rogue Island is great, and they have the stuff to make it happen, too. A very talented chef, great bar menu and a beautiful space. Every morsel of food I had was totally delicious and perfectly prepared -- beet gnocchi with beautifully plump and moist chicken sausage (which can be tricky!), gorgeous farm egg alongside pork belly and Brussels sprouts, a plate of pickled vegetables (I think there was even turnip in there) and local halibut on a bed of veg. I would eat it all over again in a heartbeat. Where Rogue Island fell slightly short for me was the actual bar where I ordered my drinks and food. Service was really, really slow to acknowledge us, totally unfriendly and at one point even walked away from us as my husband was asking about the beers on draught. My (pricey) cocktail was watery (I think it was the ice chips -- yuck), and I was left generally unimpressed. Next time, I'll make sure to try a table rather than sit at the bar, which in all honestly is usually my favorite place to sit in a place like this. Bottom line, definitely worth checking out. Be adventurous with your food, and grab a table rather than sitting at the bar.
(4)Charlotte S.
The hyperlocal worship needs to end. I had family come in from out of town and I figured a restaurant where its whole gimmick is 'all RI everything' would be a great bet. Wrong. I called in advance to make sure there wouldn't be a heinous wait (it was Waterfire, after all) and I was told there was no wait which should have been a strong indicator that we should pass but we trudged on. When we got there, it took a while for anyone to acknowledge us. The woman who did misspoke about something then made an off comment about being tired/wanting to go home. Um ok. We were told we could "squeeze into a small table in the corner" (there was 4 of us. That was a table for 2 - 3 people tops) or sit at the huge "Harvest table" (communal table). No one was at it, so we chose the Harvest table. About 5 minutes later, the same waitress/hostess asked if we'd be OK to share the table. Knowing we had no choice, we said OK but the people next to us were rude, reeked of B.O., and drunk which really put a damper on our experience as they constantly dropped dishes and silverware, spilled things, and carried on uncomfortable/ignorant banter with the waitstaff regarding 'don't mention at a dinner party' issues. The 'Harvest Table' is also inconveniently located in front of a window, which we thought was a good idea given how nice a night it was, but actually what happened was two dude-bros sat at the table directly in front of the window outside and smoked cigarettes all night, billowing into the restaurant and our faces. Periodically throughout the night, the smell of sewage/human waste wafted through the restaurant too which, at one point, made us gag. So I guess the dude-bros were trying to do us a favor. It took us a while to take in the entire menu, which isn't even that large. For a place that wasn't even crowded, it was very loud and incredibly dark, to the point that we had to use our phone flashlights to read the menu. Our waitress was pretty rude and, at first, I thought she was just trying to be funny and didn't know how but near the end of our visit, we realized she was just rude. She had, what appeared to be, a new employee shadowing her but there was no mention of it, introduction or anything, which I really like as a restaurant-goer, but I don't think our waitress would've even given us a chance to ask. She spoke at twice the speed of a normal person, interrupted everyone, forgot things then interrupted to share them, and was very quick to bolt from the table. One thing that drove me nuts is she would stop to rearrange things on our table. Baskets. Water carafes. I almost spilled my water at one point because she moved the glass while we were talking (for no reason, she cleared the plate THEN moved my water glass) and my elbow hit it, as I expected it to be further away. It was so weird. Our waitress upsold us on a beer flight, billing it as economical, but when I did the math in my head, it wasn't really that economical in comparison to what we had originally ordered. The Newport Storm Summer Hefe was lackluster but the Ginger Libation was pretty good. Sweet but good. Frankly, i was disappointed with their beer list and was hoping to see Foolproof on there, as they're a Pawtucket brewery, but I digress. As an appetizer, we ordered the pretzel bites. The bites themselves were pretty good but the mustard sauce accompanying them was disgusting, like dipping into the core of a mustard seed. Pungent and jarring. No bueno. I ordered the Spinach Strawberry Salad which was mediocre. Nothing to write home about. In fact, the only thing I'd write home is, "Don't ever order this salad because it comes with these coated nuts or seeds or something that taste like yogurt covered pellets of dirt. Maybe it's local dirt, though. Straight from the banks of the Providence River." Since mine was kind of gross, I split it and got to share the House Pappardelle & Clams which was pretty good. A little on the heavy side (I wouldn't want this as my entire entree but it was good to share). It came with complimentary focaccia bread, which I guess was a new feature, and the bread was good but it felt like overkill to place two huge chunks of hearty bread in an already hearty meal. The guys of our party ordered the Corned Beef & the Fried Chicken sandwiches and neither looked incredibly enthusiastic about their choices. It's a shame that a business which such a clear and positive mission misses the mark so terribly in all areas of its execution, especially to be the only restaurant in the Arcade. I would come back here for drinks, as a lot of the cocktails sounded interesting, but I would never suggest it to anyone. A few weeks ago, I saw LivingSocial had a coupon so, if you're dying to go, keep checking to see if they reinstate it because to pay full price for this hyperlocal trash heap of mediocre food and unwarranted political banter is a crime on your wallet and good senses.
(2)Kate W.
Definitely five stars go out to Rogue Island Restaurant! What a great find! Not only is this food local and fresh, but it is so delicious and flavorful. I really enjoyed my fresh salad with the most delicious grilled chicken I have ever had in my life! The pairing of local brews/wines is such a welcome touch. They really have a wide selection of options. You are bound to feel right at home in this rustic-feel restaurant with all the RI decals and details. So much to look at around every corner of this place. A little tip, valet was offered at the beginning of the night, but the valet came to our table during dinner and said they were heading out for the night and put our keys on the table. The car was parked right out front, but we weren't expecting this. It was interesting to say the least ;) This restaurant is in such a great, central location that it makes for a nice walk around to other nearby establishments (like Circe right across the street) on a nice night. Enjoy your visit to Rogue Island. Try the local flavors, enjoy the welcoming feel, and savor the restaurant experience that takes pride in our little state.
(5)William H.
I like this addition to the DownCity scene. The space is really great and we found ourselves a nice perch at the bar. The food & drink: I had myself a very tasty Old Fashioned. I tried their pickled veggies for a starter - the wife got an eggy dish and we shared bites. For an entree I had their fish of the day which was really good and nicely seasoned. I'd go back anytime for the food and it wasn't too pricey, especially for that 'hood. The service, however, wasn't great which always surprises me when I sit at the bar. It wasn't busy but we weren't checked in on and had to ask each time we needed water, wanted to order, get a glass of wine, and get the bill, et. No one was rude in the least, just not very welcoming or helpful. Will definitely try it again.
(4)Caroline M.
Meh. Underwhelmed. Great potential to be a solid 4-stars, but my first experience was only a 3. Finding the way in? Tried 4 doors until we finally found our way in. First beer I ordered? They didn't actually have it. Market price for flatbread? Are you kidding? It was ok, but $15 for... well... what was basically 1/4 of a thin crust pizza felt steep. Yes yes yes..... I understand that these are the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients. But the same thing at AS220, Local 121, Farmstead, or Nick's would have been at least $5 less. The Pork Concoction was more impressive with its veggie glaze than the pork itself. And the Harvest Salad and service were both generically good. I expected more all around. Especially for the prices. The space is definitely more bar-like than $25-a-plate restaurant-like (boo to the uncomfy, small chairs!). There weren't that many people there, and it was noisy - tables are small and close together. Lots of wood and warm lighting - makes it feel tavern-y. Loved the Edison-style light fixtures. Not sure if they have wifi, but there were lots of outlets across the bar - a major perk for anyone traveling and needing a recharge. I also love the name. Very clever. I would definitely consider throwing an event here because there's so much room to move around the bar - if they'd consider a big discount for appetizers. I will happily return again with friends for a drink or 2 and some shared appetizers. This is not a place I will return soon for an intimate date night.
(3)Jessica S.
Yet again I wanted to love you Rogue Island, but it is just not meant to be. Our waitress was super nice so that was good. My friend and I shared the pork belly banh mi with potato salad and a dish that was supposed to be buffalo chicken mac and cheese. The potato salad was good but I like extra salt on mine. None on the table. I know chefs like to think their food is seasoned perfectly but that is usually not the case, so leave the salt and pepper on the table k. The sandwich was ok but small and we weren't blown away by the flavors. Not bad but very average. And the pasta was just not good. It did not taste like cheese, buffalo, or chicken. No joke. It tasted like sausage somehow and the sauce did not resemble a cheese sauce. We did not love it but it was edible I guess. My friend did really like her drink so that was good. The indian pudding was ok. It is something I have not had in a long time so I don't know how it compares to other indian puddings. I do know that it sounded better than it tasted. Again, not terrible but not great. Also, if you are going to give a customer a scalding hot mini cast iron pan, give it to to them with the handle pointing away from them and not towards them. I burned my hand on that pretty quickly. This might be an ok place to sit at the bar and get a drink but it does not live up to its potential. I will stick with GPUB or Circe in this part of downtown.
(3)Margo K.
Disclaimer: I'm a very reasonable person who has worked in restaurants and gets that mistakes happen, some days are better than others, etc. Experience: Knocking around The Arcade on a quiet Saturday morning we decided to have lunch at Rogue Island. Though we noticed that the listed ingredients for the BLT said in part, "tomato, bacon aioli..." we assumed they simply forgot the comma between the bacon and the aoli. Wrong! All four sandwiches came with a few bits of bacon in the aioli but no slices of bacon. Not wanting to embarrass my 13 year old daughter more than I do simply by existing, I took the waitress aside and told her that they shouldn't call it a BLT without the B. She apologized, said they forgot the bacon and this was a new menu. She went back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later she came out with four slices of bacon, each cut in half = one slice of bacon per sandwich. At that point, we wrote the experience and Rogue Island off. Though the waitress initially apologized, their attempt to make the situation right was a fail. We won't be back.
(1)Vilay S.
Rogue Island, you were so promising with your industrial slick decor and homegrown menu. There just seems to be something a little bit off about their plan. I think that if they trained their staff better, their reviews would improve a ton. At dinner, our waiter wasn't knowledgeable about their food, or food in general. I heard the next table asking him questions and wondering what some of the things were, and I had to fight my urge to jump in and help him out. They try to have a curated local beer menu, but again, it seemed like their staff did not know anything about it. If someone asked "what type of beer is --" or "what would pair with --" it was obvious they were clueless. I still think the food is great but the execution needs some polishing.
(3)Becky M.
I've been following the creation of Rouge Island on Twitter and Facebook. I found myself at the Arcade last weekend and we popped in for lunch. First, welcome to the Providence food scene, Rouge. I will undoubtedly be back. And am happy to share with Yelpers out there. This is a solid spot. Second, I love the decor -- every last detail of the rustic, modern goodness. I think I love the bar the most -- rough sawed plank that follows the shape of the tree it was cut from. Then polished and coated smooth. I appreciate a barstool that has a back to lean on. I love the Rhode Island Red Rooster painted outside the door into the kitchen. The flatware was even well thought with a nice rustic heft. Lunch was sharing 2 apps. First, the chicken wings baked in duck fat. I promise you will never look at another wing the same way again. They were MORE THAN PERFECTLY cooked -- yes, roll that one around in the ol' brain. The homemade ranch sauce...I won't tell you about to let you enjoy its deliciousness yourself. We also had the flatbread of the day -- which was ground beef, picked onions, and a green herb-based sauce. Yum, yum, yum. Not greasy, perfectly seasoned, full of flavor. We each enjoy a drink from the bar -- wine for me and beer for him. All local. All delicious. So happy to try this spot. Love the atmosphere. Will be back. And I hope to bring friends.
(4)Bob B.
Great space. Hidden in the back streets near the Arcade. Just had beers. They have a great selection.
(4)Marie L.
I am absolutely thrilled to see places like this not only coming on the scene in pvd, but doing it oh so right by encouraging pedestrian traffic and helping to realize the great potential of downcity. If you live in or around Providence (or anywhere in RI for that matter) and have yet to visit the reopened arcade, you're in for a treat. While there, definitely check out Rogue Island. Great beer selection and thoughtful menu featuring many local selections. Don't miss the poutine. Update: since this review draft has been pending in my yelp app, I've actually returned for a second visit to Rogue Island. The experience was absolutely consistent with the first visit. Little quirk about me: I consider ordering the same dish during a second visit to a new restaurant a near mortal sin, but guess what I did? The cauliflower sandwich was so ridiculously....er...ridiculous that I actually ordered it again during my second trip. I regret that I may never try another item on the menu but I've resigned to the fact that my love for this sandwich outweighs my desire to try new things. While I hope to never be confronted with the opportunity to order a "last meal" (would rather go a bit more suddenly), should I ever have the need, at this point, the rogue island cauliflower sandwich would be on the menu for me.
(5)Taylor K.
Three entrances, one from the stairs, one from inside the Arcade, and one from the side by Tommy's. Phenomenal lunch menu!!!! Try the Chicken Sandwich, ask for the Mustard Aioli to dip the steak fries in. Veal Sliders are great as well, both very filling/reasonably portioned for the cost. Lots of decent beers on draft. Try the Newport Storm, Zeppelin, or Whales Tale. Couldn't be happier with the service, as a server, I'm very picky. My water glass was never empty which is my pet peeve. Can't wait to try their dinner menu! Critique soon to come!
(5)Pamela S.
Overpriced. I'm almost concerned they won't make it in Providence. While the bartender was nice, the service was terrible. We watched two couples sitting at tables walk out. It took ten minutes before someone acknowledged us and asked what we wanted to drink. It was also so warm in there we were sweating. The decor is great and very quant. The concept of local beers, liquors and wines is great but, it comes with a hefty price tag.
(2)M F.
This place may be the slowest service of all time. I ordered a simple sandwich 37 minutes minutes ago and am still waiting. Not one table has their food yet.
(1)Robert H.
My wife and I took our young daughter here on a Saturday afternoon. First of all if you haven't been to the refurbished Arcade it is a great spot. We came down from the RISD museum, and parking on Benefit St. makes for a lovely walk. This looks like it would make a nice spot for happy hour, with a long bar, a great cocktail menu, and good beer selection. Rogue Island features local ingredients and local foods, and that extends beyond the mains to the beer and iced tea. I ordered the burger which had Brie, arugula, and bacon - delicious. My wife had a grilled cauliflower sandwich on rustic bread that she loved, we also shared a beet salad with our little one.
(4)Rachael M.
I love this place. This is the only restaurant that I am able to go to without any advance notice of my incredibly long list of food allergies. They use local, high quality foods and I've never felt sick from eating there. The service is amazing and the chefs are so accommodating to my needs. The prices are very good for farm to table food and I've never left hungry like what seems to happen at most high quality restaurants. They do not have the most creative dishes, but I'm just looking for a perfectly grilled grass-fed steak and they do it perfectly!
(5)James M.
Place is cute...but service was deplorable, food very disappointing. Went for brunch today...longest wait for an omelet, home-fries and bagel breakfast sandwich I have ever had in a restaurant...there were only 3 other tables (2 in 1 out) when we arrived, 2 other tables were seated well after we were...it wasn't busy...the table closest to us that ordered more than 15 minutes after we did...their food came out the at came out at the same time ours did...The omelet came out to $14,50 w/corned beef (not that good), onion, red & green pepper and cheddar cheese and it had to be the SMALLEST omelet I have ever seen served in a restaurant. Home-fries & toast (if we had had the toast) were all extra...seriously, an omelet w/no toast & home-fries or a side of fruit optional? The ONLY redeemable item was the bacon on the breakfast bagel. No coffee/water refills, our server appeared to be in a daze most of the time floating around but not engaging the few tables she had. It's been a long time...YEARS, since I've left less than 15%...and that's for bad service...I left just 8%...the minimum that the fed expects servers to claim on their sales.To top it off, I had an Amazon Local voucher that expired 4/25...they said the 180 days had passed, I was upset enough that I didn't think about till I got home...I called and after an argument about the dates and a refund...I called back, got someone else who offered to take care o the issue over the phone, deleting the first charge & putting it through for the correct amount...back to Classic Cafe...
(1)Adam M.
We've been to Rouge Island a few times, and I'm not sure we'll be back for a little while. We went a few times when it was still in it's soft open stage and enjoyed it, and we understood the hiccups any new restaurant may have with service, getting food to the table, etc. Service was always good every time we went, maybe a bit slow at times, but again, new place figuring out their system so they get a pass. The food though... It's tipping the scales to the expensive side of things, for what ends up being elevated bar food. Most everything we've had was good, but not worthy of the prices. Every time we've been the food has also been a little slow to come out. I get that it's a "scratch" kitchen and they're not just pulling out canned tomatoes and green beans, but this is Providence, there are a lot of really good restaurants here doing the same thing and charging less. It's not like this is some podunk town where that aspect of things stands out at all. All that up there could have probably been ignored if not for the last time we visited though. My wife ordered the Cod entree, and the fish came out stone cold. She mentioned this to the server and she took it back right away. This kind of thing happens so no worries right? Well when it came back the fish was still cold, but on top of that they had just reheated the plate, so the asparagus was cooked beyond done, so that part of the dish was ruined as well. The server to her credit was not very happy with this, she took it back and took it off our bill. We'll probably be back at Rouge one day, but that last experience will probably keep us away for a bit.
(2)Don W.
Big improvement. I went here when it first opened and didn't like the food at all. It took me a while to come back, but there's a different chef and you can see it in the menu and the food. I'm a meat eater generally, but the RI mushroom arancini lunch special appealed to me. It was delicious. Beautifully crisp and soft arancini; fresh, light tomato sauce; lots of nicely diced mushrooms, carrots and zucchini. It was the only thing I had, but it rekindled my interest in this restaurant. I love its hyper-local model and really want in to succeed. I'll be back to try more things.
(4)Evan M.
Really good food although it took a little longer than expected. Way too loud - they had live music and his amp was up all the way.
(3)Shane H.
Awesome new breakfast menu, very unique and uses local ingredients! Tried the pumpkin spiced rum French toast and it was delicious! Will be back
(5)Courtney M.
My friend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island while whiling away the time before our restaurant week reservations just down the road. We came in only to get a drink or two, and would up being blown away by the atmosphere right off the bat. It was a bit early on in the evening, so equally quiet to match, but the decor was so welcoming, and the waitstaff extremely warm and helpful. I wound up ordering the Bee's Knees cocktail, with my friend opting for the 5th Ward. Both were delectable, and I cannot wait to return to try out some more of the pre-Prohibition era cocktails, and some of the food as well!
(5)Sophie R.
Buck a shuck oysters, and a true reverence for our local farmers and such. I really was pleased to see a shout out to all their growers and providers in the corner of their menu! Now, down to the nitty gritty. Their bar is stocked with the most local wines and spirits possible. I found that a very cool concept, as we don't often see it taken beyond the kitchen to the bar. I always ask for particular liqueurs and spirits when I order my drinks and I was initially disappointed when they didn't seem to stock anything I was asking for. While they didn't for example carry Domaine de Canton, they had something called Giffard Ginger of the Indies. The bartender also said they didn't have Goslings but had a different aged dark rum and that I probably wouldn't recognize a lot of the brands carried. And she was right. Although to have such an ambitious mission for their bar, the cocktails should be equally impressive, and my dark and stormy seemed to have missed the mark. The bar while beautiful, simultaneously modern and rustic, did have one design flaw. The counter slopes perilously downward, and is highly varnished and slippery. I asked the waitress if peoples' drinks often end up in their laps, to which she replied yes. So my sister and I had a laugh envisioning all the hapless drinkers who have walked out of the bar with wet crotches. Make sure you keep your drink well away from the slope! Also the rough-hewn wooden bar stools put a run in my brand new pair of stockings. I was a little miffed about that. The oysters were so so. Small cup, and a little too briny for my taste. They were served with some spicy cocktail sauce and a flavorful mignonette. We also ordered the Shishido peppers, a simply prepared plate of grilled peppers served with a sesame oil sauce and a pepper mayo. I have never really had peppers prepared this way and the fresh simple approach was a success. I think I would go back if I happened to be in that part of town, but I don't know if I'd make a special trip for it.
(3)Neal L.
I went to this super local new restaurant in the Arcade, and found it to be just that- a new restaurant still finding its way. First impressions were really good. The decor is sort of rustic with lots of pleasant wood tables and a very inviting well stocked bar. Then the trouble started... the server spent a solid 10 minutes searching down my date's glass of wine to no avail. It's no problem to be out of something- but just let me know so that I can decide on something else! Our food also seemed to take an unduly long period of time to make it over. When it arrived, the flavors were nicely done and well balanced. However, we each ended up with a lukewarm entree and steak fries that were face meltingly hot. If it were a busy night, I'd be ok with a little mistimed cooking from the kitchen, but this was a random weekday evening and there were less than 10 people in the place. Prices are also at a premium here because of the super local food suppliers. I'd consider it again, but only after they have a chance to develop as a restaurant and iron out the kinks.
(3)Tyler W.
Great lunch experience. Craft beer menu is fantastic, and better enjoyed with live music. The build your own burger was good, though a little dry - that would have given this place a 5th star. I stumbled in by chance and overall did not disappoint. Give it a try if you're in the area.
(4)Erin J.
Wow -- UNDERwhelming! I couldn't wait to try the new über-local Rogue Island. The Arcade revival really interests me, and although the Arcade has a ways to go to improve its flow and vibe, it's an architecturally neat space. I want the Arcade to become awesome again and that's what drew me to Rogue. Regardless, here's my run-down of Rogue Island: Price: Go big or go home! There's no way to sugar coat this -- the prices are outrageous. The price point sets the bar very high for the quality of food and drinks, and sadly, they fall short. Food: Small portions, big price. If you order their wings as an appetizer, you will get 3 wings. Maybe technically 6 since the upper and lower wing remains intact. So let's say 6 wings. They will be served with approximately half a tablespoon of blue cheese foam and about 4 shreds of pickled celery. If you're food photographer, these are to die for. If you are interested in eating them, however, try to stifle your laughter. Drinks: They market their drink menu as "Prohibition-era." I imagine drinks of that era being much stronger than Rogue's. Probably more inspired, too. Adjusting for inflation, you could probably buy a bathtub of booze in 1924 for the price of one cocktail at Rogue now. Ambiance: Very cool inside. A total hipster dream. Bring your Ray-Bans. This is where Rogue is going to lose some point: They play Pandora. THE FREE PANDORA. So you're sitting there, paying $15 for an Old Fashioned with your 3, I mean 6, wings and listening to Pandora ads. You're kidding, right? I pay the $3.99/month to have ad-free Pandora. Maybe I should start charging guests in my home $15/drink. Good plan. Overall: If you're someone who thinks the price of a wine dictates how good it tastes, you'll love Rogue Island. If you're someone who wants delivery when the prices promise excellence, you will be disappointed. Perhaps even annoyed. The moral of the story is this: Providence is TINY. Go to Cook & Brown.
(2)Cara I.
Fantastic craft beer and whisky menu and great service. The entree menu however may need some revamping. Or at least the pricing.... My husband ordered the steak and I ordered the fish. They weren't terrible but definitely not worth the money. Plus the dining room atmosphere was a little cold. Probably a great lunch spot but not great for dinner.
(3)Timmy J.
Have been here a couple of times for breakfast and lunch and I must say rogue has some great food with some awesome local beers.The staff is very friendly and attentive.I haven't had food I did not like yet ! My favorite for breakfast would be the rancheros and lunch would probably be the pulled pork sandwich, the fries are great! Will be coming back in the future for sure!
(5)tammy k.
Really nice atmosphere in a fabulous historic building. For an appetizer do not miss out on the pretzel bites. I am not a pretzel fan but I am telling you, these are an absolute must!!! Love the farm to table concept. High quality food. We have enjoyed the Buffoni farm chicken sandwich, wings, RI cod, pulled pork. The french fries that come with sandwiches are real fries..hand cut. So far everything we have tried has been outstanding. Love the lemon tart with raspberry sorbet. Two of my fave things combined. yum!!!
(5)Greg F.
The food was good. The drinks were good. The service reminded me of going to Friendly's... Chaotic and slow.
(2)Rob S.
Started coming to RI in RI when consulting for a local beer festival. This is one of those places that gets better the more familiar it becomes. Here's what I mean. . . We sourced a lunch location via ratebeer.com and yelp. RI have excellent reviews on both. I immediately worried that it would suffer from overhype. Well it did NOT. First visit (lunch for 4 people) we sat at the bar. I had a phenomenal burger and great local beer - Grey Sail I believe. Second visit - table (lunch for 2) chatted up the bartender and staff who remembered us from a month prior. Had a Chixand & a few beer tastings. Excellent. 3rd visit - We brought our BrewFest Crew - 13 people. We let them know in advance. They were ready for us. Had a nice large table. In short, they were 13 for 13 that night. Their commitment to FTT (Farm to Table) is bravisimo and they make it very approachable. Everything gets a 5 star rating. Ambiance - New England Trendy Country - Nostalgic incandescent light bulbs, natural woods. Service/Staff - Friendly, fun timely & very polished. They anticipate your needs. Selection - It's all fresh and local. There are a variety of offerings for everyone from the diehard carnivore to the full or part time vegan. Beers, when you're serving the best local craft, you've nailed the selection. Food - Perfect. Not a lentil out of place. Value - If you define value the way I do, it's right on point. You're getting the best of the best in dining experiences. You're going to pay. I think this place is a bargain compared to other highly touted restaurants. That said, if you're on a tight budget, I would wait for a special occasion. Overall - this place is excellent and you should rush to get here.
(5)Lyndsy C.
Wow, the "new" Arcade is strange..Kind of a good strange, but definitely not tailored for the working class at all, as it was in the past. Went there to not only check out the Arcade, but we also wanted to see what Rogue Island was all about (love the name, and the history). First impression: Nicely decorated in a trendy way, with a small nod to Colonial decor. There's a large raw oak communal table that was pretty cool to look at, might be uncomfortable to sit there on a busy Sat. night though. Yet, this was lunch. There was an older crowd there(40's-50's), almost half full on a Sat. afternoon. Service was just ok. Seemed like there were more than a few people working, not sure why we waited over 10 minutes to get our drinks..I asked for a beer that, while printed on the menu, was not available. O well, there goes another 5 minutes.. We decided against lunch for budgetary reasons, and I have to say I thought the prices were a little bold. $14 for a cheeseburger with fries that comes in a basket (add $2.50 for bacon!). I didn't understand why a flat bread appetizer with seasonal veg. would be "market price". Veering closer to a 3.5 rating on this one.
(3)Meghan D.
Delicious. A girlfriend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island on a Sunday afternoon after touring the Arcade. Their locally sourced menu made it hard to choose. I opted for a corned beef and cabbage sandwich and my pal went for a BLT with pork belly. The fries were great, beer selection was spot on and our sandwiches were delicious. Great find.
(4)Linda R.
Great place to grab a beer. They have the best tap list downtown. So happy that I can take a walk downtown and grab an afternoon beer on the weekends now! I haven't eaten here but the menu looks great. The wait staff is really friendly as well.
(5)Erica C.
This place was on my to do list for the last year. I was really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately we had a pretty lackluster experience. The prices were understandably higher than most bar menu places are considering it's Farm to table. We came for a full meal. The small menu only had very heavy items on the menu that night and we finally decided on just an app with drinks. The buffalo wings fried in duck fat seemed to be a no brainer. We were underwhelmed. very un flavorful, surprisingly un crispy, and the blue cheese foam that came with it... It just struck me that the dish would've been better served with a well made traditional blue cheeses dressing instead of the bland condiment it was served with. The pickled celery was a fun add on but it overwhelmed everything else since the wings were so devoid of vinegar in their dressing. Liked the decor. The drinks were again super pricey and didn't impress anyone. Sad to give two stars to a place we wanted to like.
(2)Elle S.
Great beer on draught. The first time I went with my sister and the waiter was quite friendly and suggested a few apps including wings. The wings priced at $10 sounded good so we gave them a try. FOUR WINGS. And they were tiny too. That's a joke. Super small portions, of tasty food. But can I say worth it? No way. Not in providence. There are a million better places that also stand for farm to table cuisine. The second time I went with a few girlfriends for a drink. As I glanced at the bar to see if there was room the waitress rudely told me it was full(I have eye too) and we could have a drink at a table. Condescending and short, I cannot say I felt welcomed. Strange, because both times I've been, no one seems to dine in, just an older crowd at the bar. I will not be back!
(2)Lisa C.
We ate at the bar and the bartender was very knowledgeable and fun...he suggested a beer flight which we let him choose based on our likes....he chose well...now we have some new beers we are going to have to look for. Food was great....charcuterie board was great especially accompanied by the house made tomato jam ....pickled veggies were good but not great...my cauliflower sandwich was very tasty with a whole bunch of tastes going on...nice alternative for the vegetarian people out there...which I AM NOT!! My husbands Reuben was delicious even for me because I'm not a fan of that sandwich, but he devoured it fast. Desserts were very very good especially the homemade sorbets. All in all I loved the place and will be back, probably at night to see what the dinner vibe is as well.
(5)Jonathan B.
FOOD POISONING!!! Not to mention that my poisoned meal didn't arrive until after they gotten my order wrong, and everyone else in my party had long since finished eating. Spent the next day laying on the floor and going to the bathroom at least once every hour. Save yourself the horrible discomfort. AVOID!
(1)Linda C.
I just had the best corned beef sandwich I ever had and I have had a lot of them. The bread was so tasty as was the corned beef. The service was great the place has great atmosphere in the historic Arcade in Providence. The waitress suggested a great beer when I told her basically what I like. Definitely will be back!!!!!!!!
(5)Eliza M.
Keep in mind, 3 stars is "A-OK" - We will definitely come back and try some more menu items... My partner and I have been here twice - on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Granted, these are not hustle-bustle date/times, but considering how few customers were there, our service was SUPER slow and frustrating. My partner had finished his first beer before my cocktail arrived. Same problem both visits. The food was really great. We've had several things so far, I really liked the steak sandwich, but the amount of meat was rather stingy. My partner loved the oyster mushroom arancini. We love the prohibition-era vibe, cocktail list, farm-to-table/bar menu. I just wish they put more effort into providing a better experience through great customer service.
(3)Jon H.
The beer was good, the service very good but the sandwiches that we ordered were underwhelming. The steak sandwich which I ordered used good ingredients but based on the taste and amount of meat, it tasted like a pepper and cheese . The other corned beef was only slightly better due to the fact you could almost taste some corned beef in the sandwich.
(2)Elizabeth D.
Went with some work pals a few months ago and the food was good, but it was clear they were going through the typical new restaurant growing pains and acting a little too confident. Probably would have given 2-3 stars after that visit. It seems like most new restaurants in PVD go through this -- chefs are wicked passionate but it takes a while for them, the servers, and the bartenders to get used to each other and what this city likes and expects in terms of service and vibe. Fine by me as long as the food's decent. They usually figure it out eventually, and Rogue Island is heading in that direction. My fiancé loves to try local beers so I suggested we head to Rogue Island for dinner last night. We sat outside, and our server AnnMarie was very nice and attentive, and all the food was delicious. Michael couldn't stop talking about the homemade pretzel bites and he doesn't usually get that excited about food! For an app, 2 drinks each, 2 sandwiches and a split dessert, the bill came to $70. Steep, but not bad for locally sourcing a lot of their stuff. We will definitely be back.
(5)Cara B.
What a fantastic meal at Rogue! Wonderful drinks--cucumber vodka and soda (the vodka was amazing!)--and mussels and fried chicken sandwich are a must! Whatever the special dessert is, you must get it! So looking forward to visiting this establishment again! Bravo to the waitstaff and chef--you have done well!!!
(5)Will J.
As some of the reviews suggest, this place is still working it out. But all (4) times I have been here they were cordial, helpful, maybe a bit harried (never a good sign when the owner/manager is discussing his business at the bar) and the food and drink very good. My bartender made me a custom cocktail based on tastes I enjoy and came up with the most delicious concoction I have ever had. The cod was good, burgers were good, all-veggie plate requested by one in our party was entirely OK. Each time I go in to Rogue Island it seems like they have tweaked the formula and improved things; for the concept alone they deserve more attention and business.
(3)J R.
There IS such a thing as taking a concept too far. Their stated aim: "Our highly seasonal menu is chef-driven and sourced exclusively from nearby farms..." What this apparently means to them is no fish. NO fish! In the Ocean State? Pulled pork they have, but no fish. Sure, we don't "farm" fish locally (they do farm oysters and they have them on the menu) but they sure do catch them locally. Not only do we in Rhode Island actually like fish, tourists are often looking for local swordfish, flounder, bluefish ... enough said. Please add a fish dish to your lunch menu. When you do I'll increase the rating to 3 stars.
(3)Susan J.
Great place!!! We walked around town trying to find a cozy place and we stumbled upon rogue island. A hidden culinary treasure!!!!! local and sustainable. We ended up going back again, truly a talented chef , everything is house made down to the condiments. All of the staff is friendly and knowledgeable on the vast array of local spirits and beer they offer. They even changed the music on their sound system when we asked.... Katie was our server and she was awesome!!!!!!!!!! They even have outlets with USB all along the bar.
(5)Jeff G.
I give this three stars because I really like the space and the beer selection. Although the food sounded good, it ended up being very under seasoned and just poorly constructed, especially at the 12-14 bucks for a sandwich. The cocktails, though tasty, were small and way overpriced at 10 bucks and up! Overall, great local beer on tap, nice space at the bar, (avoid the back room), and very friendly staff, make it a good place for a drink before heading somewhere else for dinner.
(3)James R.
My wife and I dined at the new Rogue Island for lunch on a Saturday to experience the new place in the arcade. I ordered the mushroom soup and my wife ordered the Brussels sprout salad. The soup was good but the amount for $11.00 was ridiculous, the cold salad had no dressing on it and was very bland. I was very disappointed due to the quality of food and the amount the bill was, everything is overpriced. I doubt if this place will make a run of it in the arcade as new customers will figure this place out quickly and will not return.
(1)Rita S.
Perfection. I can't wait to go back-I don't think you can go wrong with a single thing on the menu. Only one side note to the restaurant-bigger chairs at the tables may be a good investment. Great aesthetic overall though!
(5)Elaine C.
Went today for an early-ish lunch (noon). Ordered salads and drinks, and waited about 25 minutes for them to arrive. Meals were fine, but the long wait made me question a return trip.
(2)Suzanne S.
omg, went for lunch. ordered a fried chicken sandwich. after FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, the poor bartender just gave me my money back in exasperation. i left hungry. no explanation. do not try to eat here!
(1)Michelle K.
The biggest disappointment was that the "House made pappardelle" is not pappardelle at all. It's fettucine. Not especially good fettucine. I was so disappointed with my experience at Rogue Island. This place is not what it pretends to be. We went on a Saturday night at 6:30, and it was empty. So empty that the waitresses and hostess were just hanging out at the front, chatting. The waitress came to our table and pretended to be a huge foodie, describing the specials in terms she clearly did not understand. It was when she said that, "oooh, and the flavors are all in your mouth," (as opposed to where?) that I really caught on that she had no idea what she was talking about. We put in our drink orders and chatted a bit, then looked up and saw the bartender just standing against the wall, looking out into space, and the waitresses and hostess just chatting away. In another few minutes, the waitress noticed that the bartender hadn't made our drinks, and notified him that he had a ticket waiting. The drinks were excellent, strong and delicious. My husband got the wings, which he said were good, but not spectacular. He had the same feeling about the Steak Sandwich. As I said, I had the "house made pappardelle." Except it wasn't. It was fettuccine. Pappardelle, my absolute favorite noodle, is a wide, flat noodle. These were not. They seemed home made because of the irregular texture, but were not that great. It really irritates me when the description of the food is totally different from what you get. I KNOW that any chef knows the difference between pappardelle and fettucine. Call it what it is. I had the pesto sauce and cream sauce mixed, which was tasty. I paid $4 for "farm fresh vegetables" with it, which turned out to be a handful of tiny diced zucchini and a few sliced cherry tomatoes. Big disappointment all around. We definitely won't be going back.
(2)Sheila T.
Husband and I discovered this restaurant while walking around Providence yesterday. The menu looked intriguing when we saw it displayed inside The Arcade. So we did a little more walking and headed back for an early dinner. We were pleased with the interior of the place - cool and funky. The staff were very friendly and our waitress - sorry, forgot her name! - was attentive and sweet. The problem I had was the "chintziness" of some items in my two dishes I ordered. The pickled veggie ( basically thin sliced veggies soaked in white vinegar) plate was nice looking and I liked the crispness of the veggies but the amount of cauliflower was dismal. I would like to get into the head of whomever plated the dish. Two small florets and then a bunch of the very tiny pieces that come off when breaking off the florets from the head. Why not just four decent florets? And the tiny bit of mayo dressing was sad, too. My other dish was the beet and goat cheese salad. The amount of goat cheese was laughable. This type of salad is bland unless there is enough of the tangy goat cheese to add some 'zip'. I asked for more and assumed I was going to be charged extra, and was ($1.00)- but this was the amount that should have been in the dish to begin with! A little More beets would have been nice, too. My husband's turkey sandwich was fine, but the homemade pickles were forgotten! We were looking forward to trying them. I noticed most of the other complaints of the new restaurant were about the lack of food on some of the plates. A little more attention to those complaints would add a star or two to the reviews. The little extra amount of food added to some of the dishes will not cut into the profits- it will get more repeat diners.
(3)John Z.
I've been here twice now, and just not impressed. Another restaurants take on Farm-Fresh had me at the title. The décor is nice, inviting, almost tavern-like. Service was friendly and the food was good. However, I found it to be a bit expensive. First time, I got a charcuterie plate which came without the cured meats. The waiter explained they were downstairs curing and that the plate is not ready, so why do I get a half plate? They charged me $19 for a full plate anyways. Second time, took my friend there and got the chicken wings and a chicken sandwich. Nice presentation with the blue cheese foam but chicken was under-seasoned and soft, least favorite chicken wing. My cornmeal-crusted chicken sandwich was also lacking seasoning and was smushed between an ungrilled brioche. Friend got the coffee vinaigrette salad with goat cheese which was amazing. I got a diet coke and he got a vodka drink. Total came out to $70 without tip. Local 121, Figidini, and Pizza Company to name a few, all offer better dining experiences at a lower cost than Rogue Island.
(2)Karen D.
The interior is nice. Seating is not the greatest, stools are small and hard. Mostly tables for 2 and one large community table. The menu is limited and what we ordered was very over-priced. Ordered the chicken wings fried in duck fat for $9.00. Was shocked when the plate arrived with 3 whole wings on it. They looked nice but were terribly spicy....not for me. Ordered both soups on the menu, for $9 and $11. One was pretty, had apple chutney and cauliflower, was not impressed with the flavor although it was edible. The other soup was Mushroom and looked disgusting. It was slate gray in color and was mostly creamy but had long stands of cabbage (I think). It was way salty. My daughter ordered a fried chicken sandwich, $9. The batter they use on the chicken is different not bad. Her bun was toasted a little too much around the edges (black and crispy) and the top piece looked like there might have been a large air pocket when it was sliced. So it was especially thin on one side. The fries were very good but I didn't care for their home made catsup at all. Have to give them props though for trying. My husband ordered the Brother's Burger, $14 plus $2.50 for bacon which they did not skimp on. The burger was cooked perfectly and hubby enjoyed it. Beverages we consumed: water and 2 local sodas. Total check - $66, not worth half that much in my opinion. We won't be back but daughter who lives in PVD will try again in a couple of months.
(2)Wayne P.
stopped into the arcade to check it out yesterday. it was near lunch time so we decided to try this place. kinda small as in not alot of tables but still roomy to get around in. nice atmosphere/decor. first the is a great beer selection here, nearly every RI brewery represented here. i started with a Newport Storm IPA mmmm. my wife had a Downeast cranberry cider, quite refreshing. the food menu is small but seem to be just what you would need. my wife and i started out with the cauliflower and potato soup very tasty and it seems to have some heat in it that builds at the end, which i liked a lot. the wife had a salad with tuna fish. the waitress asked how do you want that cooked. we were??? so my wife said medium. well us old timers were a we bit surprised when it came out but my wife ate it all anyway. my son would have know exactly what to expect being a sushi guy and all. i had the carved turkey sandwich. the fresh thin sliced turkey was great add in the cranberry relish and some brown/turkey gravy and it was great. i had a side of the house potato salad. the flavors were interesting and yes i ate all of it. there appeared to be only one waitress and she was a joy to work with. i heartily recommend this place for a saturday afternoon meal.
(4)Liz M.
Fellow craft beer lovers are often tagged here so I had to try it. It's a very small Place but big on charm. We happened to go on a quiet night so we sat down quickly and were greeted and served quickly. This is where you go for craft beers. That is apparent when you get a gander of the draft beers. They had three Maine beer company beers! They had all kinds of tough to find beers and were reasonably priced. Our bartender was great he knew a lot about the beers and was able to help me pick some out. We decided to have some dinner too. A warning if your super fussy you may not find something you like. Everything is made in house using whatever local ingredients are available so you have to be open minded and try something new. I am one of those fussy people but they had a build Your burger option that was perfect for me. It was delicious but a little on the pricy side charging extra for fancy ketchup and lettuce and tomato. I did enjoy my fresh burger and fries and will go there again for sure. I've heard they have a excellent brunch so I will have to go back and try it one day. It's worth going there just for the beers.
(4)Richard P.
I want local businesses like this to succeed. I really do. However, I think the service is going to continue to be their biggest downfall. We recently had four friends visiting us from Washington, DC, and I recommended Rouge Island a great local business, perfect RI ambiance, and delicious food as an option. They looked at the menu and were beyond excited! Our party was seated in the dining room facing the inside of the Arcade. Throughout the meal, we had to get it up twice to ask the waitress for more water and coffee. The second time that we got up to ask for more water, it took over 10 minutes to get her back into our room to refill the glasses (the restaurant wasn't even half full at this point). The food took more than 40 minutes from the time ordered, until the time it came to the table (which is more understandable with a larger party, but still quite a wait with the lack of our server's attention.) Upon leaving Rouge Island, we agreed that we are not going to return for a couple of weeks. As I mentioned in my original email, we absolutely want this place to succeed. You have all the components to be a great spot, but the front-line of customer service seems still to be limping along. If I may, some unsolicited suggestions - Locals: There are not many brunch places open in downtown Providence on Sunday's, or the weekends for that matter. The residents that live here, will come. It's the service that will drive them away. I've asked other people who live in Providence about this, and many have had similar experiences as well on the weekends with the service. Tourists: I've seen many people in there on the weekends with cameras (who I assume are visiting from out of state). Your restaurant is so unique, given its location in the oldest indoor shopping mall in America. The wait staff should be enthusiastic asking the guests if they are visiting, and if they are tell them about some of the history, about the owners, how the food is locally sourced, encourage them to look at the art (especially in the bathroom of Westminster Street to see what Providence was like in the 1930's), etc. If this was The Cheesecake Factory, I wouldn't have even bothered wasting my time to write this review. You are a local business that we (the residents of Providence) truly believe in and want to support.
(3)Shannon B.
I've been here twice, once for drinks and the second time, hoping to have dinner. The ambience is great, decor is rustic and charming without being too twee, and the location in the renovated Arcade is perfect. Above all, their local brew selection kicks major behind. Beyond the set dressing, though, I have to admit I'm not impressed. Both times I've visited, I've had to hunt down someone to seat our party, and have been dismissed casually by wait staff that seem more interested in socializing than making patrons feel welcome. My second visit was very short: my friend and I entered through the Arcade and waited to be seated. Two members of the staff looked up, and then returned to their conversation until we wandered to the bar, along with two other groups that were similarly confused. One of the staff members addressed the entire group of us with orders to sit at the "big table over there". My friend and I thought we should check with a server, who then waived us back to the communal table, where we waited in awkward, dimly-lit silence until she finally came back, slid a couple of menus at us without a word, and hurried off. We waited a bit longer, hoping to put in drink order, before finally giving up and heading to the Congress Tavern, which had a similarly impressive selection of local brews, plus a staff that actually looked up when we walked in the door. For me, at least, the third time won't be the charm at Rogue Island. It doesn't matter how fresh your food is or how well you represent local vendors. If the staff is unable to appropriately treat guests and represent the business in a professional manner, another visit is just a waste of my time.
(2)cynthia r.
Very disappointing. The atmosphere was great. I am a big fan of the Arcade building an all the history in it. I was happy to see some of the interesting items on the menu for brunch. But the service was terrible. With only 4 tables the waitress could not keep up. She very obviously preferred to be at the bar engaged with the people sitting there than tending the people in her section. More than 20 to get my 1st cup of coffee (at brunch) and was never offered a refill. My fiance wasn't given the opportunity to order a drink in the first place. After about an hour we finally got our food and mine was served cold. I ate it because I was starving at this point but for what we paid, it wasn't anything special. We won't be back.
(2)Kristen M.
I genuinely like Rogue Island. The service is decent, the food is good, they have a great beer selection, bottomless mimosas and bloody marys during brunch and they're in a fantastic downtown location. The reason why it's a 3 star for me is that while I always leave satisfied, I'm not really blown away by the menu and have noticed that regardless of the meal the portions are a little skimpy. None of that keeps me from coming back I'm just not a regular. Between buck-a-shuck on weekdays, brunch deals on the weekend, and other specials they run consistently throughout each week, if you're downtown Rogue Island is a solid choice.
(3)Mary E.
Unlimited mimosa, beer or bloody Mary's are key. This place never seems to have much of a crowd for such a great deal in the area. The menu changed since last time I was there and along with the prices. During brunch the portions are on the smaller size than when I was last there a few months ago. No entree comes with a salad or fries which makes the presentation of each dish look empty and dull without. Otherwise beer and drink selection is great. 50+ variety of beers to be exact!
(3)taylor d.
Today my boyfriend and I went to check this place out for a late lunch. When we walked into the Arcade... It didn't look open but it was and I'm glad we went inside! The decor is really rustic and cute. We sat at the bar and we're pleasantly surprised that they locally source all of their ingredients no further than 40 miles away from PVD. The food was good we got poutine and wings. We will definitely be coming Back for more. One thing I loved is they don't serve any Coke or Pepsi products.... they get all of their soda from a local soda company called Yacht Club Soda, all alcohol and beer is local too. It's a great place to take out of towners but it also stands up to PVD locals standards.
(4)Alexander V.
Came here for brunch for two. Had to wait five minutes or so for a table to be cleared. Sat down and was given water right away. Had to wait another ten minutes before the waitress came back to take our order as she was busy playing bartender behind the bar. The front side was dead and we were the only new group that had walked in. Placed our order and took 30 minutes to be served. In the meantime waitress doesn't inform us of the progress or checked in on us. We had ordered eggs Benedict and the special - peach waffles and fried chicken". The eggs Benedict were fine but the special was underwhelming. There were bits and pieces of poorly attempted chopped peaches on the plate and very little if none in the waffles. The chicken pieces were small and poor battered. If I wanted to wait this long for my food I'd go to nicks on Broadway where the wait is actually worth the food quality.
(2)Lisa O.
I recently went here for brunch with a friend after finding out that they have $18 all you can drink mimosas or bloody mary's until 3pm. It was fortunately a gorgeous day and we sat at one of the tables outside. The brunch menu had a good assortment of items. I selected the huevos rancheros, and my friend had the eggs benedict. We also had some of those mimosas. The huevos rancheros was quite good and filling. The only complaint with any of the food was my friend's potatoes/home fries were overcooked. But then again, we arrived at 2pm which may have been a part of the problem. I would definitely give them another shot and will be returning soon to try more of their food. The service was friendly and relatively quick. They were nice enough to fix our bill when we confused our waitress.
(4)Molly O.
I'm giving this place a 3 because I didn't really get a chance to try their food but everything else was AWESOME! Walk into the oldest mall/first indoor mall in America. AKA the Providence Arcade. Head into Rogue Island. You'll find a woodsy-earthy-urban-funky cool Rhode Island fun spot. The vibe is great. You'll feel at home. You'll feel relaxed. It's fresh flowers, it's wood and iron. It's great. We had some wings that were seasoned and had delicious dill-ish dipping sauce. They had a pretty cool variety of cocktails, wines and beers. It was quite early evening during the week. I found a new wine I really like. Service was good. I'll go back and try the food!
(3)Margaret D.
I don't even know where to begin. Have visited several times during their posted open hours to find a vacant dark restaurant that is not, in fact, open. Have visited several times when they are actually open to find a restaurant that looks dark and closed - what is up with that room you can see from inside the Arcade hallway? At least turn the lights on in there when you ARE open, because I sincerely believed you had gone out of business. Came here for breakfast with visiting friends when they bought a Groupon (good only for breakfast on certain days) to find that the place is NOT EVEN OPEN on those days. Have not received a response to a phone message I left asking how to use this coupon. Drinks take forever, even when the place is slow. Blonde bartender sits at the bar and texts, rather than helping her coworkers when things are busy, though things are never TRULY busy here. When she does help you, she is as rude as can be, almost like if you ask your teenage children to help with chores at home. I can get nicely made cocktails more quickly at Circe on a weekend night than I can get here during weekday lunch. Drink prices fluctuate on a whim - is that martini $12, or $14, or the $16 that I paid last time I was in? Why did I pay $8 for a Gansett? Do the owners know that this is what the bar staff is charging for these drinks? And who is that insane frazzled guy that works there but HAS NO IDEA what is happening ever and does not help staff out when they are in a pinch? Is everyone who works here drinking on the job? Service is deplorable and slow, even when there are NO other tables waiting. Seats are tiny tiny and hard as a rock. The bar is not level, so if you don't watch your glass, it will start sliding. Food comes out wrong, or cold, or is misrepresented from what the menu said. Portions are miniature and way expensive for what they are. If I want to spend 3 hours at brunch, I will go to Julian's, where the food is better and the staff will bring drinks and coffee for the duration of the meal. I come here because I want to see local businesses do well, but I don't have 90 mins for weekday lunch. There are so many reviews like this, I don't know why the staff does not read them and take action. As Providence improves, more restaurants will come into downtown. Would hate to see the place close, but am too frustrated to give them any more of my money or time. What a disappointment.
(1)Laurie B.
We came here for lunch but just got some apps. It was 2pm, no one else was in the restaurant. The decor is nice. The seats look a little tiny, luckily I had the booth side. The water comes out in mason jars, which really adds to the rustic rhode island theme. We ordered the poutine fries and the pretzel bites with beer cheese. The fries are steak fries which kinda makes it hard to eat. The cheese curds were flavorless. The pretzels bites were delicious though. They were definitely fresh and the cheese was perfect. The menu is different. They have a lot of items from Rhode Island.
(3)Laurie S.
Here for a night out. Fantastic. First. The bartender, Bill(?) was awesome, knowledgable, friendly and helpful. Big fan! Had a great G&T with a little elderflower. Good stuff. Helped my friend decide between some yummy wines. Great local choices-in beer and wine. Food was great too. Started with the warm pretzel bites. So. Damn. Good. Get them. Yes. Got the Berkshire Bourbon Pulled Pork Sandwich. Equally good. Friend burger was also really good and chocolate cake. Good stuff. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive, The decor is great and love the well curated bar, lots of great gins (my fave). Love the renovations in the Arcade and this place is well worth the trip! A fan already.
(5)Holly K.
I would definitely head back here again! We went in for their newly started Sunday brunch and it went pretty well. I will say I think out waitress was a bit flustered with the table of 12. Everyone loved their food! My eggs benedict came out a bit cold, but it tasted awesome. I think they just need to work on what brunch food gets fired off first for a big table. My friend asked for an orange juice that never came and coffee remained unfilled. But, as soon as we flagged our waitress down for more coffee or more water she was quick to refill everything. My little cousin got a carton of chocolate milk, she took a sip and said it tasted funny, well it had expired over a week ago and had gone sour! She was very apologetic about it and then ended up making a chocolate milk instead of giving her another carton. I like that they are farm to table, and loved all the local decor! The mural in the bathroom is really cool. I would definetely like to see what their dinner is like.
(3)Kris W.
Are the Yelpers in PVD so jaded that Rogue Island only has an average rating of 3 stars? This place is awesome. I love the location in the Arcade & love the decor. It's very similar to another of my favorite restaurants (Engine Room in Mystic CT) in ambiance & mission. If you like upsacle farm to table pub food & are passionate about the hyperlocal craftbeer scene then you'll love this place. Their tap list is kinda small but well curated. They are one of the few places in RI to carry Proclamation Ale & Ravenous beers. They have enough selection to appease craftbeer snobs & those who don't have discerning taste. There were plenty of interesting choices on the menu but I was there for a quick lunch & not feeling adventurous. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich with steak fries & was impressed. I loved the bun they used & the combination of the pulled pork with the cole slaw worked well together. The steak fries were cooked perfectly & tasted so fresh definitely not frozen! The only drawback/complaint is that Rogue Island is not that kid friendly. It is a farm to table & they specialize in local craft beer so I wasn't expecting chicken fingers &/or Chuck E. Cheese. Our server did manage to give my son some paper & sharpie markers to draw with. The kitchen did make him a flatbread pizza that he wasn't too thrilled with but he loved my fries! Again, prices aren't that cheap but when I'm in the city of Providence I don't mind spending a little more for quality.
(4)Nikki K.
Ugh! Not a fan. Went here on a slow Tuesday night with a co worker. Bartender took FOREVER to make drinks with 6 people at the bar then told us she couldn't make one after 6ish minutes. Ordered the arugula salad with chicken to go, I was drawn to the goat cheese that was supposed to come with it as well as walnuts. I should've checked my order before I left but no cheese and no walnuts were on it and for 16 dollars the salad was a joke. It was basically a few oz of dry chicken, onions, arugula, and a few beets. I will not be returning. If you only have 3 salads on the menu and forget 2 highlighting ingredients on one that is NOT a good look ESP at 16 dollars! Stay away!
(1)Stacey C.
Had dinner here. Had their mac n' cheese, cauliflower melt, and fried chicken sandwich. Had fries and salads and those were great, although "large" salad looked more like a small salad to me. The potato salad was a little bland but all the other food was flavorful, good, and different. Service was great and loved the ambience. Prices were $$. This is a farm to table restaurant so everything was super fresh and organic. They close at 9 on a Tuesday so we didn't get to try dessert :(.
(4)Karen S.
Rogue Island has been on my "to try" list for a bit so it was nice to pop in for a drink and a bite while at a recent Yelp event at the Arcade. I really liked the look and feel of the interior. We were quickly greeted and seated and told that they were running an unofficial special for Yelpers that if you checked in and ordered an alcoholic beverage then you get a free appetizer. He was a bit vague with the details of this. When he came back to take our drink order and three out of the four of us had checked in he mentioned that it was only good for one free appetizer for the table. That's cool, three free appetizers would have been a bit much. I ordered the Bourbon Brulee. While pricey at $13, it was one of the best drinks I have ever had. When he brought our drinks, we ordered the wings and the pretzel bites. He came back a while later to clarify that only one would be free. While I understand his concern that we could possibly complain when we got the bill, this came off as a bit condescending. The wings were hot, spicy and tasty. The blue cheese foam that was on the plate with it though was pointless as it had no flavor and was just a white puddle. The pretzel bites were delicious. Service was very slow with our waiter disappearing for long stretches of time. While there was a Yelp event going on, it was fairly empty inside Rogue Island while we were there. There were only a few table occupied and a few at the bar. I saw a bartender and two waiters and they all appeared very frazzled. There were some delicious looking sandwiches coming out of the kitchen. While the service could have just been having an off night, I think I'll give them a little time to work things out before I go back.
(3)Sarah E.
I love this place. It doesn't matter the time of day, the occasion or the season, this place should definitely be on your must-visit list. The staff is wonderful - their recommendations on food and drink are spot-on. I have never been disappointed. Whether it's their twist on a dark 'n' stormy, a local whiskey brew or a draft beer, you cannot go wrong with their opinion. The food is delicious as well. It's not your typical pub food. Their menu is seasonal incorporating local produce and hand-picked selections. And, it's located in the Arcade! Just a fantastic spot in downtown Providence.
(4)Peter D.
Upon walking into Rogue Island, I immediately assumed I was going to fall in love. The space is gorgeous, the menu is mouthwatering, the Mets spring training was on the TV, and the bathroom smelled exactly like Johnson baby powder and Cool Water cologne.* What I'm trying to say is that Rogue Island is fresh, dressed, like a million bucks. Unfortunately, they seem to have sacrificed substance in the pursuit of such style. Every plate we ordered was gorgeous, but the flavor and technique was a bit lacking. For instance, a blue cheese foam accompaniment to your wings is impressive, but I'd vastly prefer that the effort was actually spent properly seasoning and searing the burger. There was no juice, no meaty flavor, and even the bacon was rock hard and virtually tasteless. And after all, we eat burgers and bacon for the juice and the flavor, not for our health. On the flip side, the steak fries were actually well seasoned, but essentially raw in the center. With a few tweaks in the kitchen, I imagine that Rogue Island could be great, but for now I'd settle for a beer at the beautiful bar. ____________ *And by Cool Water cologne, I mean 8th grade.
(3)Kelsey D.
My luck for finding good restaurants on a complete whim continues. We were starving last Friday and didn't want to deal with the horrors of Black Friday, so myself and my room mate opted to check Rogue Island out during lunch. It was completely empty inside, but the siren call of weird beers on tap sang to me from afar and we ended up grabbing some barstools and going through a couple flights of excellent local beer, one of which was from a new brewery to RI I had never heard of before -- and as someone who drinks a wee bit too much (read: A Lot), I was pleasantly surprised. What was even more surprising was the food. We split some pretzel bites that were okay, but the entrees were killer. I ate a ridiculously delicious angus steak sandwich with wedge fries that I would like to keep in my pocket and pull out whenever I want. My room mate had chicken wings with a glaze that was out of this world. To top it all off, we grabbed some ice cream and sorbet that I highly suggest trying, if only for their weirder flavors. The cinnamon sorbet made my lactose-sad room mate especially happy. Overall, a pretty cool joint with local food at a reasonable price. Definitely worth a visit and I certainly plan on doing it again.
(4)Christine B.
Amazing! We went for the Proclamation ale night. They had a bbq night with the beer co. The food was so delicious! It is very hard to find delicious bbq in new england. Either they try to make it fancy with liquid smoke, douse it in bbq sauce or over cook it so it is a dry flavorless mess. The bbq I had tonight was none of those things. I had the ribs and mac and cheese and my boyfriend had the bbq platter with ribs, pullled pork, brisket, baked beans, collard greens, cold slaw, and corn bread. Everything, even the bread, was fresh and delicious. The flavor was perfect. The ribs were tender and juicy without being over powered by other flavors. Proclamation Ale was serving two draft beers tonight the Derivative mosaic and the Dark Sprout. They were not cheap though, $7 a glass but at least they and the food was good enough to justify the price. I will definitely come back here and try the Proclamation Ale again.
(5)Lizz W.
I forgot to tell the world how much I LOVE Rogue Island's food. OMG I love when this happens, when you can't complain about food after dining out. I tried the wings, the cauliflower sandwich, the ribeye entree and lots of cocktails! The cauliflower sandwich was sooo good. Like I was expecting to devour the ribeye and couldn't stop eating the sandwich. Everything was amazing, you could tell the ingredients were fresh, the cocktails were creative and tasty.
(4)Amelia S.
Cute place! Love the selection of LOCAL beers-- buying local is important to us and we're happy to do so.The salad was amazing, my only regret was not getting chicken on it which I will do next time. Everyone really liked their lunches. Service was a bit slow for lunch but not horrendous-- and I would have liked a water refill. Prices were reasonable for farm to table! Will be back!
(4)Kyle S.
I've been to Rogue Island a few different times and really want to like this place more but unfortunately between poor service and average food, I have been let down by this establishment. I honestly really like the space itself, I think the design and ambiance is very cool. And for the beer selection alone I would give them 5 stars. I appreciate the fact that they showcase and carry so many different local beers from RI. I've tried a couple of different dishes here and the flavor has been average at best, which is disappointing because I like the fact that they source local ingredients for their dishes. The other area where they also seem to drop the ball is on service. While sitting at the bar is fine, table service has been slow and torturous at times. I don't know if it is because they are understaffed or overwhelmed by how busy it can be, but I really hope this is one area where they will be able to improve. I really love the improvements and updates they have brought to the Arcade and I would like to see a place like this succeed and do well. It might not be one of my go to places, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to stopping by again in the future for a beer or two.
(2)Mark B.
Great beers. Good service. Didn't have the food, but it looked good. Love this place.
(5)Xiao Z.
Catering review: If you needed a restaurant that screamed out its love for RI, then Rogue Island is your place to visit. Tucked in the iconic Arcade, Rogue Island is a nice bar/restaurant, chock full of food and drinks indigenous to our beloved Ocean State. We came here for a conference, in which we were served fish with crabmeat, chicken with bacon, asparagus and brussel sprouts. Nothing really jumped out at me, but they did not make me shirk away either. The dessert was an apple cobbler with icecream, which was quite delicious, and tasted kinda like bread pudding, and that's always a great thing! I had a couple of misfires with the drink selections: the RI based scotch/whiskey...I'd skip it, and the hazelnut beer tasted too sweet for my liking. I did like the clownshoes IPA and overall was very satisfied with the services. I would recommend this establishment if you need a private place for a party/journal club. Food; 3 stars Service: 3.5 stars Drinks: 3 stars Price: n/a Ambiance: 3-4 stars; very RI-dy
(4)Justin B.
Another gem has opened downtown. I've been poking my head into the arcade for months, just to see if Rogue Island had opened. They are working a soft opening for now and a grand opening is not far away. I grabbed a bar stool and ordered their HOUSE ground burger. Accompanied by steak fries to end all other steak fries. Perfectly seasoned and crispy, and they don't skimp either. The burger was cover with a warm blanket of brie and topped with radishes and arugula. It would be a sin to use ketchup or mustard on this masterpiece. Wood Rules... making the industrial age decor warm and inviting. Lit by the throw back Edison light bulbs, the larger than life wood bar and tables were made from trees, downed by a recent hurricane. (overhead the bartender explaining the wood to another person at the bar) I'm really looking forward to a dinner here soon and will update my review as soon as I do.
(5)Vimala P.
One of favorite gems in Rhode Island! Would recommend to anyone who loves locally inspired food and booze. Great atmosphere and great staff!
(5)Laura B.
After eyeing Rouge Island every time I've walked through the Arcade, I finally got the opportunity to drop in there for dinner last night. 7:30 on a Friday seemed like more than enough time to have a meal and stroll over to Lupo's for a 9:00 show but Rogue Island could not get us a full meal in that time. The husband and I were sat in a lovely corner seat where we really got to take in the decor and ambiance of the restaurant but I was not wowed by the food or the service. Our waitress was nice enough but she started our interaction by telling us that "the kitchen is really overwhelmed right now so let's just start with drinks first, okay?" Oh boy. Not that we *weren't* going to start with drinks, we just really wanted a meal with our drinks too considering we were in a full service restaurant at dinner time and all. It took half an hour to get the full drink list (beer and cocktails), order them, and receive them. Hubby had a great Triple IPA and I drank a delicious "Bourbon Brulee" cocktail, but half an hour for two drinks is a little much. We ordered two appetizers so we could eat enough to be full during the show and I was extremely disappointed in their take on poutine. Instead of shoestring fries (that do a great job absorbing the gooey gravy/cheese deliciousness of Canada's best fast food treat) they used wedge potatoes that were cooked fine, but just didn't work in the dish. Chartreuse plate was good, although it felt a little overpriced for what it was and they didn't give enough bread with it to eat everything. Judging by the other reviews, I have to assume Rogue Island was having a rough night and hopefully they'll be back on their game during their next dinner rush. Hoping to come back someday to eat a *meal* and see if things improve.
(3)David R.
When they first opened, I didn't like the menu at all, but recently I went back and they had totally redone things - I loved it and have returned several times. Ingot an excellent salad with grilled chicken, and my wife enjoyed their burger. Great beers too.
(5)Paul W.
Charcuterie was very good. Then things went terribly wrong! Chicken sandwich was as dry as the Sahara, even after asking for extra aioli. I ordered a cheeseburger medium rare. I'm not sure how they made it so dry but it was definitely not a juicy burger. Fries were very good however. But the reason I am giving it only one star is the fact that both the bartender and the waitress saw a baby being changed at a booth!!!! Neither said anything to the family while dirty nappies, Kleenex and rags were being loaded on another napkin on the bench!!!!!!! I stopped eating, paid the bill and left!..... Seriously! GROSS!!!! Add to this the fact that the bartender never asked us how our meal was. Organic and local is great idea, but diaper changing while touching table, walls and seats is is disgusting!!!!!!! I could NEVER eat here again! Hygiene is tops on my review list.
(1)Amahl H.
This place should be a solid 4 stars and I want to see it do well but, let me just get it out there at the top, they need to re-think their prices. I'm not one to quibble over prices normally (see my other reviews), I'm happy to pay more for better quality. But my group and I were all genuinely surprised to see our bill. Manhattans and martinis were over $16 each, a beer was $10--these were not special drinks, nor were the Manhattans extraordinary or over-sized, just average in all aspects. So, that's just not what you expect from what is otherwise a very nice neighborhood-style bar. Now let me say some nice things. The decor is very nice, though the lighting was a little too bright. The staff were fine. I had some kind of salad with chicken and while the serving size was quite modest it was really quite good. Moreover, I want to see nice businesses like this succeed--especially in our very cool but under-utilized Arcade. So, come on guys, get in line with your competitors on pricing and I'll definitely be back and will re-review.
(3)Wendy W.
Impressed! There must've been some growing pains when this place opened based on prior reviews, but I will be back- this place is comfortable w/excellent draft beer selection & interesting drinks Decor: this place is comfy. The wood touches, the attention to lighting. It's warm, clean, cozy. The place makes me wanna drink here... So I did Drinks: draft selection was great- hard to decide on one to try. I want to go back to try the cocktails, they sound so creative & delish! Food: crab cake was so yummy, fresh crab meat, little filler, very flavorful w/every bite. Too bad there was only one cake. The ribeye steak sandwich had fresh crunchy ciabatta w/really good truffle oil & I love the cheese that's on the sandwiches. They skimped on the steak though. House steak fries were huge slices of potato that was a bit too soggy, not crunchy. fries=meh. Dessert was "the small": new harvest marshmallow w/graham crumbs & marshmallow ice cream. Too sweet for me. The locally sourced ingredients make me want to go back to try the rest of the menu. Service: great. Attentive, no probs Will be back. rogue island, hang in there!
(4)Katie S.
Is there a way to post negative stars? This was the worst restaurant experience that I've had in years. We arrived early afternoon after watching the providence marathon. We were told upon arrival that we'd need to wait 15 minutes due to the "small kitchen". There were about 10 free tables in the restaurant. After about 35 minutes, our drink orders were taken and water was brought to the table. We finally ordered our food, which arrived almost an hour later. When I asked the waitress/manager about the timing of our food, she told me that it had only been "35 minutes". Isn't that long enough to justify a question? Our food finally arrived...actually 5 of our 6 dishes finally arrived. Several of the dishes were served lukewarm. We all ate our entire meal before the 6th dish arrived. We were pleased that the last meal was comped. When we asked to speak to the manager about our experience, the waitress told us that she was the manager. She did not once apologize for the poor experience or service. Later, when the bill was brought to the table and paid, we discovered an 18% large-group gratuity had automatically been added to the bill by the waitress/manager. The service and professionalism of the waitress/manager was laughable. I recommend that you stay far away.
(1)Ryan D.
Rogue Island is sitting in the very gorgeously redone Arcade in downtown. The restaurant itself is very nice on the inside with an almost weathered pub look that would fit in by the sea but still modern to fit in downtown. Ok let's preface a lot of the "time" issues with previous reviewers. This restaurant is a scratch kitchen using local ingredients. Thus it is going to take a lot longer than your normal restaurant, but what you get out of it is a very tasty meal. To start go for the wings. This is not a suggestion, more of a no-brainer decision. They are in duck fat, they are delicious, you will enjoy them. I went straight for the steak sandwich. After going to Vermont, it is really hard to avoid reading "Vermont cheddar" on a menu. This thing was pretty delicious. Can't go wrong with house pickles either. I really can't wait to go back, just a good bar with a little more on the menu that might surprise you.
(4)Karen P.
Good was delicious and the service was awesome. I would definitely come back and try their dinner menu. Bottomless mimosas are awesome !
(4)Colleen T.
Poor food and poor service made this trip to Rogue Island a less than savory experience. A definite skip! My large group of 30-something friends stopped at Rogue Island for an early dinner and drinks. While our female waitress was lovely, the food was less than adequate. All our dishes were either too salty, no flavor, or not cooked correctly. (Fries that were uncooked, too salty burgers, and soup that had whole peppercorns sprinkled on top---why would I want whole peppercorns in each bite?!) For the price point and taste, I would never come back here to eat. The worst part of the meal was being insulted by a man who appeared to be a manager: he tried to hustle us to leave the restaurant after we broke out in loud laughter?! And mind you, we are all female professionals at a semi-empty restaurant ordering drinks and food on a Thursday evening. I have never seen anything like this! So rude. Immediately after the man suggested we move to the private room, we, in fact, told him we're leaving.
(1)Robert S.
Got there at 5PM for early dinner with friends. When I sat down, the waitress gave me the lunch menu. I looked at it...and ?!?! I thought !?!? WHAT ?!?!? Outside the door...... It says Dinner from 5PM on.. I asked here to come over and when I asked about lunch vs dinner...she said....Oh..well...... We serve lunch until 7 PM....or maybe 6 PM. I asked her to please double check. She asked someone else and she came back with dinner menus. We ordered 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine... It took close to 10 minutes to get these drinks..and there were not that many tables around..... Way too Slow...... After reading the menu, I decided to try the cod and to try a bite of the burger (from my BF). The cod was ok, but small. When we asked how it was prepared...the waitress said...maybe grilled, maybe fried, don't know....................We asked her to check since it would make a difference in our decision. She came back a bit later saying that it was grilled. It came with asparagus (4 little tiny ones) and like 7 small pieces of a purple looking potato. $22 for a dish that was gone in 6 bites !! I ordered a beer...when she brought it...she asked me if I wanted a glass. I said yes. The glass was never delivered to me. :-( The burger was good...nothing spectacular, but at $13 it was also steep. Pluses....location is great inside the Arcade, decor is nice with lots of wood and cozy feel.. Lots of locally sourced ingredients and products. Overall I felt it was good food, not great, but the service and the overpriced menu makes me not to want to come back.
(2)Lauren M.
I'm dropping another star for Rogue Island's lunch menu. Now that I work in Down City, I am always looking for places to get away from it all and get a good meal. I would love to eat more frequently at Rogue Island, but their lunch menu is lacking and overly priced for lunch. I'm not paying for $16 burger at lunch... It's just ridiculous. I'd love to see Rogue Island rework their lunch menu and include smaller, more affordable options. With so many places to go for a reasonable lunch and dinner in PVD, it's been hard to justify going to Rogue Island lately, even though they still have one of the best beer lists and best interiors around.
(3)Jonathan P.
Went here for Sunday Brunch with my roommate and her out of town friend. Arrived around 1:30 pm so it was pretty dead. Sat at the bar and our waitress was just OK. I got the bottomless mimosas for $18. For that price I expect my glass to be always filled, I had to keep flagging the waitress down which I didn't like.The food wasn't that bad, honestly don't remember it which means it wasn't that good either. Will be visiting again on June 27th for brunch with my out of town friends. Hopefully my next review will be 4 stars.
(3)Bob C.
Oysters were good but a little small. Next time we try the mussels. Nice atmosphere, a bunch of local beers to choose from and great selection of local sprits.
(4)Shannon W.
What a hidden gem this place is. I love the food, I love the rustic ambiance, but what sticks out most to me is the impeccable service. I've been here on three occasions (usually sitting at the bar) and the bartenders are always knowledgeable both about the beer/liquor and the food menu. In a city with a lot of amazing food, great service can be the biggest variable, and it is what will create loyal customers. I appreciate that they source so much of their food/drink menu from Rhode Island and are one of few places to have such a large selection of local whiskeys/bourbons. I've had some of the apps and tried a few of the sandwiches, all of which were good (My only very very minor criticism would be that on the mozz/heirloom tomato sandwich, the bread to fixin's ratio is off. HUGE roll- but still great flavor!). Go to Rogue Island on a rainy Sunday afternoon, get the pretzel bites and the ranch dressing (which my friend explained as a "life changing" experience). Get a beer flight and test out some local brews. This is how I dipped my toes in the water, and I can only imagine you'll enjoy it as much. Keep doing what your doing Rogue Island, but please don't take that ranch dressing off your menu.
(5)Lor S.
Farm to table fresh! Amazing local beers, great service with a smile and duck fat fried wings.... Sad the past reviews haven't been so hot but they're updated a lot. It's a great place for a flight of beers, games are always on and the steak fries with truffle aioli :) go get yourself some!!
(5)Alexandra O.
Stopped in to rogue island today for a Saturday afternoon lunch and was pleasantly surprised. They have a great selection of local beer, many were in for their brunch menu which looked amazing. I had ordered oysters, charcuterie, and wings which were all fresh and phenomenal. I couldn't make up my mind on which beer to try so I ordered a flight, another great option to have. Service was great. Atmosphere amazing. Live music. Place was actually packed for the dreary afternoon it was. Definitely will be back !
(5)Shannon F.
This is one of those restaurants that I won't be rushing back to, but I am not disappointed that we ate here either. I found that the drink prices were waaaaay out of my price range (mine was the cheapest at $11) and even with the free appetizer that they gave us for being yelpers, the bill was still a bit high. We got chicken wings for our free app, and paid for pretzel bites. Being a vegetarian, I didn't try the wings, but I heard they were good. The pretzel bites were very tasty, and the right amount of fried mushiness (that sounds bad, but it really wasn't) , and I really don't like pretzels. As for the drinks. We all ordered off of the holiday drink board posted on the wall. I don't remember what the other people at my table got, but I got the Rogue Island maple taffy drink. If you love whimsical drinks, this one is for you! It comes with maple taffy on the side of the glass!!! Heads up for vegetarians, I noticed a veggie burger on the specials board. Our waiter was great, there at the right times, and we never had to search for him for anything. All in all, a pleasant experience, and a place I would keep in the back of my head for future reference when in the area.
(4)Abby B.
Such a cool bar, a friend was in town and we decided to pop in for a drink and stayed for 2. The bartenders were very nice and informative when we were trying to choose a local beer that we would like.
(5)Rebecca B.
I've been to Rogue Island twice. The first time I really enjoyed myself. I like the cool look and fee of the restaurant and bar. The food was approachable, modern pub food made with locally sourced ingredients. Pizza and salad were tasty and the cauliflower sandwich was so flavorful that I didn't even miss the protein. On my second visit, I couldn't help but wonder if on a Tuesday night, their head chef might not be working the kitchen. The waitress seemed distracted and food and drink took awhile to arrive. I ordered my burger medium and it was delivered well, well done and with little signs of the truffle mayo. My husband's fried chicken sandwich was dry and unseasoned, also with no signs of the sauce the menu had promised. There was a tasting going on in Rogue's front room and we couldn't help but feel left out when the table to the left and the bar seats to the right of us were offered a sample but we were not. I pointed out to one of the waitresses that it was cold in the dining room on this October evening with the a/c blasting and the windows and door all open to which she replied there are other guests complaining that it's warm. Seriously?! Overall disappointing service and food on this visit may make it my last.
(2)Dan B.
Decided to check this place out because I heard they had a good brunch menu and I like places that source from local farms. I ordered the chicken and waffles, which were spectacular. Seriously. My girlfriend had a veggie burger off the lunch menu which was equally amazing and obviously very freshly prepared. It was pretty much just straight up fresh veggies - mushrooms, squash, black beans, kale, etc with just a touch of bread crumbs on the outside. Potato salad was good too... Oh and all you can drink mimosas/ bloody Mary's was definitely a plus. Can't wait to come back here to try the rest of the menu!
(5)Hilary H.
I love the idea of locally-grown and raised food making its way into a kitchen like this, where hearty and tasty meals abound. The thought behind Rogue Island is great, and they have the stuff to make it happen, too. A very talented chef, great bar menu and a beautiful space. Every morsel of food I had was totally delicious and perfectly prepared -- beet gnocchi with beautifully plump and moist chicken sausage (which can be tricky!), gorgeous farm egg alongside pork belly and Brussels sprouts, a plate of pickled vegetables (I think there was even turnip in there) and local halibut on a bed of veg. I would eat it all over again in a heartbeat. Where Rogue Island fell slightly short for me was the actual bar where I ordered my drinks and food. Service was really, really slow to acknowledge us, totally unfriendly and at one point even walked away from us as my husband was asking about the beers on draught. My (pricey) cocktail was watery (I think it was the ice chips -- yuck), and I was left generally unimpressed. Next time, I'll make sure to try a table rather than sit at the bar, which in all honestly is usually my favorite place to sit in a place like this. Bottom line, definitely worth checking out. Be adventurous with your food, and grab a table rather than sitting at the bar.
(4)Charlotte S.
The hyperlocal worship needs to end. I had family come in from out of town and I figured a restaurant where its whole gimmick is 'all RI everything' would be a great bet. Wrong. I called in advance to make sure there wouldn't be a heinous wait (it was Waterfire, after all) and I was told there was no wait which should have been a strong indicator that we should pass but we trudged on. When we got there, it took a while for anyone to acknowledge us. The woman who did misspoke about something then made an off comment about being tired/wanting to go home. Um ok. We were told we could "squeeze into a small table in the corner" (there was 4 of us. That was a table for 2 - 3 people tops) or sit at the huge "Harvest table" (communal table). No one was at it, so we chose the Harvest table. About 5 minutes later, the same waitress/hostess asked if we'd be OK to share the table. Knowing we had no choice, we said OK but the people next to us were rude, reeked of B.O., and drunk which really put a damper on our experience as they constantly dropped dishes and silverware, spilled things, and carried on uncomfortable/ignorant banter with the waitstaff regarding 'don't mention at a dinner party' issues. The 'Harvest Table' is also inconveniently located in front of a window, which we thought was a good idea given how nice a night it was, but actually what happened was two dude-bros sat at the table directly in front of the window outside and smoked cigarettes all night, billowing into the restaurant and our faces. Periodically throughout the night, the smell of sewage/human waste wafted through the restaurant too which, at one point, made us gag. So I guess the dude-bros were trying to do us a favor. It took us a while to take in the entire menu, which isn't even that large. For a place that wasn't even crowded, it was very loud and incredibly dark, to the point that we had to use our phone flashlights to read the menu. Our waitress was pretty rude and, at first, I thought she was just trying to be funny and didn't know how but near the end of our visit, we realized she was just rude. She had, what appeared to be, a new employee shadowing her but there was no mention of it, introduction or anything, which I really like as a restaurant-goer, but I don't think our waitress would've even given us a chance to ask. She spoke at twice the speed of a normal person, interrupted everyone, forgot things then interrupted to share them, and was very quick to bolt from the table. One thing that drove me nuts is she would stop to rearrange things on our table. Baskets. Water carafes. I almost spilled my water at one point because she moved the glass while we were talking (for no reason, she cleared the plate THEN moved my water glass) and my elbow hit it, as I expected it to be further away. It was so weird. Our waitress upsold us on a beer flight, billing it as economical, but when I did the math in my head, it wasn't really that economical in comparison to what we had originally ordered. The Newport Storm Summer Hefe was lackluster but the Ginger Libation was pretty good. Sweet but good. Frankly, i was disappointed with their beer list and was hoping to see Foolproof on there, as they're a Pawtucket brewery, but I digress. As an appetizer, we ordered the pretzel bites. The bites themselves were pretty good but the mustard sauce accompanying them was disgusting, like dipping into the core of a mustard seed. Pungent and jarring. No bueno. I ordered the Spinach Strawberry Salad which was mediocre. Nothing to write home about. In fact, the only thing I'd write home is, "Don't ever order this salad because it comes with these coated nuts or seeds or something that taste like yogurt covered pellets of dirt. Maybe it's local dirt, though. Straight from the banks of the Providence River." Since mine was kind of gross, I split it and got to share the House Pappardelle & Clams which was pretty good. A little on the heavy side (I wouldn't want this as my entire entree but it was good to share). It came with complimentary focaccia bread, which I guess was a new feature, and the bread was good but it felt like overkill to place two huge chunks of hearty bread in an already hearty meal. The guys of our party ordered the Corned Beef & the Fried Chicken sandwiches and neither looked incredibly enthusiastic about their choices. It's a shame that a business which such a clear and positive mission misses the mark so terribly in all areas of its execution, especially to be the only restaurant in the Arcade. I would come back here for drinks, as a lot of the cocktails sounded interesting, but I would never suggest it to anyone. A few weeks ago, I saw LivingSocial had a coupon so, if you're dying to go, keep checking to see if they reinstate it because to pay full price for this hyperlocal trash heap of mediocre food and unwarranted political banter is a crime on your wallet and good senses.
(2)Kate W.
Definitely five stars go out to Rogue Island Restaurant! What a great find! Not only is this food local and fresh, but it is so delicious and flavorful. I really enjoyed my fresh salad with the most delicious grilled chicken I have ever had in my life! The pairing of local brews/wines is such a welcome touch. They really have a wide selection of options. You are bound to feel right at home in this rustic-feel restaurant with all the RI decals and details. So much to look at around every corner of this place. A little tip, valet was offered at the beginning of the night, but the valet came to our table during dinner and said they were heading out for the night and put our keys on the table. The car was parked right out front, but we weren't expecting this. It was interesting to say the least ;) This restaurant is in such a great, central location that it makes for a nice walk around to other nearby establishments (like Circe right across the street) on a nice night. Enjoy your visit to Rogue Island. Try the local flavors, enjoy the welcoming feel, and savor the restaurant experience that takes pride in our little state.
(5)William H.
I like this addition to the DownCity scene. The space is really great and we found ourselves a nice perch at the bar. The food & drink: I had myself a very tasty Old Fashioned. I tried their pickled veggies for a starter - the wife got an eggy dish and we shared bites. For an entree I had their fish of the day which was really good and nicely seasoned. I'd go back anytime for the food and it wasn't too pricey, especially for that 'hood. The service, however, wasn't great which always surprises me when I sit at the bar. It wasn't busy but we weren't checked in on and had to ask each time we needed water, wanted to order, get a glass of wine, and get the bill, et. No one was rude in the least, just not very welcoming or helpful. Will definitely try it again.
(4)Caroline M.
Meh. Underwhelmed. Great potential to be a solid 4-stars, but my first experience was only a 3. Finding the way in? Tried 4 doors until we finally found our way in. First beer I ordered? They didn't actually have it. Market price for flatbread? Are you kidding? It was ok, but $15 for... well... what was basically 1/4 of a thin crust pizza felt steep. Yes yes yes..... I understand that these are the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients. But the same thing at AS220, Local 121, Farmstead, or Nick's would have been at least $5 less. The Pork Concoction was more impressive with its veggie glaze than the pork itself. And the Harvest Salad and service were both generically good. I expected more all around. Especially for the prices. The space is definitely more bar-like than $25-a-plate restaurant-like (boo to the uncomfy, small chairs!). There weren't that many people there, and it was noisy - tables are small and close together. Lots of wood and warm lighting - makes it feel tavern-y. Loved the Edison-style light fixtures. Not sure if they have wifi, but there were lots of outlets across the bar - a major perk for anyone traveling and needing a recharge. I also love the name. Very clever. I would definitely consider throwing an event here because there's so much room to move around the bar - if they'd consider a big discount for appetizers. I will happily return again with friends for a drink or 2 and some shared appetizers. This is not a place I will return soon for an intimate date night.
(3)Jessica S.
Yet again I wanted to love you Rogue Island, but it is just not meant to be. Our waitress was super nice so that was good. My friend and I shared the pork belly banh mi with potato salad and a dish that was supposed to be buffalo chicken mac and cheese. The potato salad was good but I like extra salt on mine. None on the table. I know chefs like to think their food is seasoned perfectly but that is usually not the case, so leave the salt and pepper on the table k. The sandwich was ok but small and we weren't blown away by the flavors. Not bad but very average. And the pasta was just not good. It did not taste like cheese, buffalo, or chicken. No joke. It tasted like sausage somehow and the sauce did not resemble a cheese sauce. We did not love it but it was edible I guess. My friend did really like her drink so that was good. The indian pudding was ok. It is something I have not had in a long time so I don't know how it compares to other indian puddings. I do know that it sounded better than it tasted. Again, not terrible but not great. Also, if you are going to give a customer a scalding hot mini cast iron pan, give it to to them with the handle pointing away from them and not towards them. I burned my hand on that pretty quickly. This might be an ok place to sit at the bar and get a drink but it does not live up to its potential. I will stick with GPUB or Circe in this part of downtown.
(3)Margo K.
Disclaimer: I'm a very reasonable person who has worked in restaurants and gets that mistakes happen, some days are better than others, etc. Experience: Knocking around The Arcade on a quiet Saturday morning we decided to have lunch at Rogue Island. Though we noticed that the listed ingredients for the BLT said in part, "tomato, bacon aioli..." we assumed they simply forgot the comma between the bacon and the aoli. Wrong! All four sandwiches came with a few bits of bacon in the aioli but no slices of bacon. Not wanting to embarrass my 13 year old daughter more than I do simply by existing, I took the waitress aside and told her that they shouldn't call it a BLT without the B. She apologized, said they forgot the bacon and this was a new menu. She went back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later she came out with four slices of bacon, each cut in half = one slice of bacon per sandwich. At that point, we wrote the experience and Rogue Island off. Though the waitress initially apologized, their attempt to make the situation right was a fail. We won't be back.
(1)Vilay S.
Rogue Island, you were so promising with your industrial slick decor and homegrown menu. There just seems to be something a little bit off about their plan. I think that if they trained their staff better, their reviews would improve a ton. At dinner, our waiter wasn't knowledgeable about their food, or food in general. I heard the next table asking him questions and wondering what some of the things were, and I had to fight my urge to jump in and help him out. They try to have a curated local beer menu, but again, it seemed like their staff did not know anything about it. If someone asked "what type of beer is --" or "what would pair with --" it was obvious they were clueless. I still think the food is great but the execution needs some polishing.
(3)Chris T.
Walkin' downtown, unassuming entrance 10 in our group; not a hindrance Plenty of space, seating all around Dim-light, chill place; look what we found! Nice wooden tables, quaint little place Restaurant and decent bar -- no complaints! Thanks to SouthEast Asia, I'm cracked out on Lychee Saw it listed in a cocktail, I was sold instantly $12 drink, good size; pretty decent overall! Good place for groups, although kind of small Not too loud for conversations; good volume, I thought I'll probably be back to check out this hole in the wall
(4)Matt O.
Stopped in for a few drinks while I was downtown with my girlfriend celebrating the end of a long day of apartment hunting. Considering I will soon be within walking distance of this place, I will be back. The space is really great too. I didn't try the food, but it looked good on my neighbor's plate. As for the drinks, great local beers on tap and in bottles/cans. I had the Arcade Club cocktail, which was very well made, maybe a bit too sweet for my taste, but that's just me. The bartender was great, even making a list of other places to check out when I move to town in the fall.
(5)Becky M.
I've been following the creation of Rouge Island on Twitter and Facebook. I found myself at the Arcade last weekend and we popped in for lunch. First, welcome to the Providence food scene, Rouge. I will undoubtedly be back. And am happy to share with Yelpers out there. This is a solid spot. Second, I love the decor -- every last detail of the rustic, modern goodness. I think I love the bar the most -- rough sawed plank that follows the shape of the tree it was cut from. Then polished and coated smooth. I appreciate a barstool that has a back to lean on. I love the Rhode Island Red Rooster painted outside the door into the kitchen. The flatware was even well thought with a nice rustic heft. Lunch was sharing 2 apps. First, the chicken wings baked in duck fat. I promise you will never look at another wing the same way again. They were MORE THAN PERFECTLY cooked -- yes, roll that one around in the ol' brain. The homemade ranch sauce...I won't tell you about to let you enjoy its deliciousness yourself. We also had the flatbread of the day -- which was ground beef, picked onions, and a green herb-based sauce. Yum, yum, yum. Not greasy, perfectly seasoned, full of flavor. We each enjoy a drink from the bar -- wine for me and beer for him. All local. All delicious. So happy to try this spot. Love the atmosphere. Will be back. And I hope to bring friends.
(4)Bob B.
Great space. Hidden in the back streets near the Arcade. Just had beers. They have a great selection.
(4)Rachael M.
I love this place. This is the only restaurant that I am able to go to without any advance notice of my incredibly long list of food allergies. They use local, high quality foods and I've never felt sick from eating there. The service is amazing and the chefs are so accommodating to my needs. The prices are very good for farm to table food and I've never left hungry like what seems to happen at most high quality restaurants. They do not have the most creative dishes, but I'm just looking for a perfectly grilled grass-fed steak and they do it perfectly!
(5)Marie L.
I am absolutely thrilled to see places like this not only coming on the scene in pvd, but doing it oh so right by encouraging pedestrian traffic and helping to realize the great potential of downcity. If you live in or around Providence (or anywhere in RI for that matter) and have yet to visit the reopened arcade, you're in for a treat. While there, definitely check out Rogue Island. Great beer selection and thoughtful menu featuring many local selections. Don't miss the poutine. Update: since this review draft has been pending in my yelp app, I've actually returned for a second visit to Rogue Island. The experience was absolutely consistent with the first visit. Little quirk about me: I consider ordering the same dish during a second visit to a new restaurant a near mortal sin, but guess what I did? The cauliflower sandwich was so ridiculously....er...ridiculous that I actually ordered it again during my second trip. I regret that I may never try another item on the menu but I've resigned to the fact that my love for this sandwich outweighs my desire to try new things. While I hope to never be confronted with the opportunity to order a "last meal" (would rather go a bit more suddenly), should I ever have the need, at this point, the rogue island cauliflower sandwich would be on the menu for me.
(5)Taylor K.
Three entrances, one from the stairs, one from inside the Arcade, and one from the side by Tommy's. Phenomenal lunch menu!!!! Try the Chicken Sandwich, ask for the Mustard Aioli to dip the steak fries in. Veal Sliders are great as well, both very filling/reasonably portioned for the cost. Lots of decent beers on draft. Try the Newport Storm, Zeppelin, or Whales Tale. Couldn't be happier with the service, as a server, I'm very picky. My water glass was never empty which is my pet peeve. Can't wait to try their dinner menu! Critique soon to come!
(5)Pamela S.
Overpriced. I'm almost concerned they won't make it in Providence. While the bartender was nice, the service was terrible. We watched two couples sitting at tables walk out. It took ten minutes before someone acknowledged us and asked what we wanted to drink. It was also so warm in there we were sweating. The decor is great and very quant. The concept of local beers, liquors and wines is great but, it comes with a hefty price tag.
(2)M F.
This place may be the slowest service of all time. I ordered a simple sandwich 37 minutes minutes ago and am still waiting. Not one table has their food yet.
(1)Robert H.
My wife and I took our young daughter here on a Saturday afternoon. First of all if you haven't been to the refurbished Arcade it is a great spot. We came down from the RISD museum, and parking on Benefit St. makes for a lovely walk. This looks like it would make a nice spot for happy hour, with a long bar, a great cocktail menu, and good beer selection. Rogue Island features local ingredients and local foods, and that extends beyond the mains to the beer and iced tea. I ordered the burger which had Brie, arugula, and bacon - delicious. My wife had a grilled cauliflower sandwich on rustic bread that she loved, we also shared a beet salad with our little one.
(4)James M.
Place is cute...but service was deplorable, food very disappointing. Went for brunch today...longest wait for an omelet, home-fries and bagel breakfast sandwich I have ever had in a restaurant...there were only 3 other tables (2 in 1 out) when we arrived, 2 other tables were seated well after we were...it wasn't busy...the table closest to us that ordered more than 15 minutes after we did...their food came out the at came out at the same time ours did...The omelet came out to $14,50 w/corned beef (not that good), onion, red & green pepper and cheddar cheese and it had to be the SMALLEST omelet I have ever seen served in a restaurant. Home-fries & toast (if we had had the toast) were all extra...seriously, an omelet w/no toast & home-fries or a side of fruit optional? The ONLY redeemable item was the bacon on the breakfast bagel. No coffee/water refills, our server appeared to be in a daze most of the time floating around but not engaging the few tables she had. It's been a long time...YEARS, since I've left less than 15%...and that's for bad service...I left just 8%...the minimum that the fed expects servers to claim on their sales.To top it off, I had an Amazon Local voucher that expired 4/25...they said the 180 days had passed, I was upset enough that I didn't think about till I got home...I called and after an argument about the dates and a refund...I called back, got someone else who offered to take care o the issue over the phone, deleting the first charge & putting it through for the correct amount...back to Classic Cafe...
(1)Adam M.
We've been to Rouge Island a few times, and I'm not sure we'll be back for a little while. We went a few times when it was still in it's soft open stage and enjoyed it, and we understood the hiccups any new restaurant may have with service, getting food to the table, etc. Service was always good every time we went, maybe a bit slow at times, but again, new place figuring out their system so they get a pass. The food though... It's tipping the scales to the expensive side of things, for what ends up being elevated bar food. Most everything we've had was good, but not worthy of the prices. Every time we've been the food has also been a little slow to come out. I get that it's a "scratch" kitchen and they're not just pulling out canned tomatoes and green beans, but this is Providence, there are a lot of really good restaurants here doing the same thing and charging less. It's not like this is some podunk town where that aspect of things stands out at all. All that up there could have probably been ignored if not for the last time we visited though. My wife ordered the Cod entree, and the fish came out stone cold. She mentioned this to the server and she took it back right away. This kind of thing happens so no worries right? Well when it came back the fish was still cold, but on top of that they had just reheated the plate, so the asparagus was cooked beyond done, so that part of the dish was ruined as well. The server to her credit was not very happy with this, she took it back and took it off our bill. We'll probably be back at Rouge one day, but that last experience will probably keep us away for a bit.
(2)Don W.
Big improvement. I went here when it first opened and didn't like the food at all. It took me a while to come back, but there's a different chef and you can see it in the menu and the food. I'm a meat eater generally, but the RI mushroom arancini lunch special appealed to me. It was delicious. Beautifully crisp and soft arancini; fresh, light tomato sauce; lots of nicely diced mushrooms, carrots and zucchini. It was the only thing I had, but it rekindled my interest in this restaurant. I love its hyper-local model and really want in to succeed. I'll be back to try more things.
(4)Sophie R.
Buck a shuck oysters, and a true reverence for our local farmers and such. I really was pleased to see a shout out to all their growers and providers in the corner of their menu! Now, down to the nitty gritty. Their bar is stocked with the most local wines and spirits possible. I found that a very cool concept, as we don't often see it taken beyond the kitchen to the bar. I always ask for particular liqueurs and spirits when I order my drinks and I was initially disappointed when they didn't seem to stock anything I was asking for. While they didn't for example carry Domaine de Canton, they had something called Giffard Ginger of the Indies. The bartender also said they didn't have Goslings but had a different aged dark rum and that I probably wouldn't recognize a lot of the brands carried. And she was right. Although to have such an ambitious mission for their bar, the cocktails should be equally impressive, and my dark and stormy seemed to have missed the mark. The bar while beautiful, simultaneously modern and rustic, did have one design flaw. The counter slopes perilously downward, and is highly varnished and slippery. I asked the waitress if peoples' drinks often end up in their laps, to which she replied yes. So my sister and I had a laugh envisioning all the hapless drinkers who have walked out of the bar with wet crotches. Make sure you keep your drink well away from the slope! Also the rough-hewn wooden bar stools put a run in my brand new pair of stockings. I was a little miffed about that. The oysters were so so. Small cup, and a little too briny for my taste. They were served with some spicy cocktail sauce and a flavorful mignonette. We also ordered the Shishido peppers, a simply prepared plate of grilled peppers served with a sesame oil sauce and a pepper mayo. I have never really had peppers prepared this way and the fresh simple approach was a success. I think I would go back if I happened to be in that part of town, but I don't know if I'd make a special trip for it.
(3)Neal L.
I went to this super local new restaurant in the Arcade, and found it to be just that- a new restaurant still finding its way. First impressions were really good. The decor is sort of rustic with lots of pleasant wood tables and a very inviting well stocked bar. Then the trouble started... the server spent a solid 10 minutes searching down my date's glass of wine to no avail. It's no problem to be out of something- but just let me know so that I can decide on something else! Our food also seemed to take an unduly long period of time to make it over. When it arrived, the flavors were nicely done and well balanced. However, we each ended up with a lukewarm entree and steak fries that were face meltingly hot. If it were a busy night, I'd be ok with a little mistimed cooking from the kitchen, but this was a random weekday evening and there were less than 10 people in the place. Prices are also at a premium here because of the super local food suppliers. I'd consider it again, but only after they have a chance to develop as a restaurant and iron out the kinks.
(3)Tyler W.
Great lunch experience. Craft beer menu is fantastic, and better enjoyed with live music. The build your own burger was good, though a little dry - that would have given this place a 5th star. I stumbled in by chance and overall did not disappoint. Give it a try if you're in the area.
(4)Erin J.
Wow -- UNDERwhelming! I couldn't wait to try the new über-local Rogue Island. The Arcade revival really interests me, and although the Arcade has a ways to go to improve its flow and vibe, it's an architecturally neat space. I want the Arcade to become awesome again and that's what drew me to Rogue. Regardless, here's my run-down of Rogue Island: Price: Go big or go home! There's no way to sugar coat this -- the prices are outrageous. The price point sets the bar very high for the quality of food and drinks, and sadly, they fall short. Food: Small portions, big price. If you order their wings as an appetizer, you will get 3 wings. Maybe technically 6 since the upper and lower wing remains intact. So let's say 6 wings. They will be served with approximately half a tablespoon of blue cheese foam and about 4 shreds of pickled celery. If you're food photographer, these are to die for. If you are interested in eating them, however, try to stifle your laughter. Drinks: They market their drink menu as "Prohibition-era." I imagine drinks of that era being much stronger than Rogue's. Probably more inspired, too. Adjusting for inflation, you could probably buy a bathtub of booze in 1924 for the price of one cocktail at Rogue now. Ambiance: Very cool inside. A total hipster dream. Bring your Ray-Bans. This is where Rogue is going to lose some point: They play Pandora. THE FREE PANDORA. So you're sitting there, paying $15 for an Old Fashioned with your 3, I mean 6, wings and listening to Pandora ads. You're kidding, right? I pay the $3.99/month to have ad-free Pandora. Maybe I should start charging guests in my home $15/drink. Good plan. Overall: If you're someone who thinks the price of a wine dictates how good it tastes, you'll love Rogue Island. If you're someone who wants delivery when the prices promise excellence, you will be disappointed. Perhaps even annoyed. The moral of the story is this: Providence is TINY. Go to Cook & Brown.
(2)Cara I.
Fantastic craft beer and whisky menu and great service. The entree menu however may need some revamping. Or at least the pricing.... My husband ordered the steak and I ordered the fish. They weren't terrible but definitely not worth the money. Plus the dining room atmosphere was a little cold. Probably a great lunch spot but not great for dinner.
(3)Timmy J.
Have been here a couple of times for breakfast and lunch and I must say rogue has some great food with some awesome local beers.The staff is very friendly and attentive.I haven't had food I did not like yet ! My favorite for breakfast would be the rancheros and lunch would probably be the pulled pork sandwich, the fries are great! Will be coming back in the future for sure!
(5)Rob S.
Started coming to RI in RI when consulting for a local beer festival. This is one of those places that gets better the more familiar it becomes. Here's what I mean. . . We sourced a lunch location via ratebeer.com and yelp. RI have excellent reviews on both. I immediately worried that it would suffer from overhype. Well it did NOT. First visit (lunch for 4 people) we sat at the bar. I had a phenomenal burger and great local beer - Grey Sail I believe. Second visit - table (lunch for 2) chatted up the bartender and staff who remembered us from a month prior. Had a Chixand & a few beer tastings. Excellent. 3rd visit - We brought our BrewFest Crew - 13 people. We let them know in advance. They were ready for us. Had a nice large table. In short, they were 13 for 13 that night. Their commitment to FTT (Farm to Table) is bravisimo and they make it very approachable. Everything gets a 5 star rating. Ambiance - New England Trendy Country - Nostalgic incandescent light bulbs, natural woods. Service/Staff - Friendly, fun timely & very polished. They anticipate your needs. Selection - It's all fresh and local. There are a variety of offerings for everyone from the diehard carnivore to the full or part time vegan. Beers, when you're serving the best local craft, you've nailed the selection. Food - Perfect. Not a lentil out of place. Value - If you define value the way I do, it's right on point. You're getting the best of the best in dining experiences. You're going to pay. I think this place is a bargain compared to other highly touted restaurants. That said, if you're on a tight budget, I would wait for a special occasion. Overall - this place is excellent and you should rush to get here.
(5)Lyndsy C.
Wow, the "new" Arcade is strange..Kind of a good strange, but definitely not tailored for the working class at all, as it was in the past. Went there to not only check out the Arcade, but we also wanted to see what Rogue Island was all about (love the name, and the history). First impression: Nicely decorated in a trendy way, with a small nod to Colonial decor. There's a large raw oak communal table that was pretty cool to look at, might be uncomfortable to sit there on a busy Sat. night though. Yet, this was lunch. There was an older crowd there(40's-50's), almost half full on a Sat. afternoon. Service was just ok. Seemed like there were more than a few people working, not sure why we waited over 10 minutes to get our drinks..I asked for a beer that, while printed on the menu, was not available. O well, there goes another 5 minutes.. We decided against lunch for budgetary reasons, and I have to say I thought the prices were a little bold. $14 for a cheeseburger with fries that comes in a basket (add $2.50 for bacon!). I didn't understand why a flat bread appetizer with seasonal veg. would be "market price". Veering closer to a 3.5 rating on this one.
(3)Meghan D.
Delicious. A girlfriend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island on a Sunday afternoon after touring the Arcade. Their locally sourced menu made it hard to choose. I opted for a corned beef and cabbage sandwich and my pal went for a BLT with pork belly. The fries were great, beer selection was spot on and our sandwiches were delicious. Great find.
(4)Linda R.
Great place to grab a beer. They have the best tap list downtown. So happy that I can take a walk downtown and grab an afternoon beer on the weekends now! I haven't eaten here but the menu looks great. The wait staff is really friendly as well.
(5)tammy k.
Really nice atmosphere in a fabulous historic building. For an appetizer do not miss out on the pretzel bites. I am not a pretzel fan but I am telling you, these are an absolute must!!! Love the farm to table concept. High quality food. We have enjoyed the Buffoni farm chicken sandwich, wings, RI cod, pulled pork. The french fries that come with sandwiches are real fries..hand cut. So far everything we have tried has been outstanding. Love the lemon tart with raspberry sorbet. Two of my fave things combined. yum!!!
(5)Greg F.
The food was good. The drinks were good. The service reminded me of going to Friendly's... Chaotic and slow.
(2)Evan M.
Really good food although it took a little longer than expected. Way too loud - they had live music and his amp was up all the way.
(3)Shane H.
Awesome new breakfast menu, very unique and uses local ingredients! Tried the pumpkin spiced rum French toast and it was delicious! Will be back
(5)Erica C.
This place was on my to do list for the last year. I was really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately we had a pretty lackluster experience. The prices were understandably higher than most bar menu places are considering it's Farm to table. We came for a full meal. The small menu only had very heavy items on the menu that night and we finally decided on just an app with drinks. The buffalo wings fried in duck fat seemed to be a no brainer. We were underwhelmed. very un flavorful, surprisingly un crispy, and the blue cheese foam that came with it... It just struck me that the dish would've been better served with a well made traditional blue cheeses dressing instead of the bland condiment it was served with. The pickled celery was a fun add on but it overwhelmed everything else since the wings were so devoid of vinegar in their dressing. Liked the decor. The drinks were again super pricey and didn't impress anyone. Sad to give two stars to a place we wanted to like.
(2)Elle S.
Great beer on draught. The first time I went with my sister and the waiter was quite friendly and suggested a few apps including wings. The wings priced at $10 sounded good so we gave them a try. FOUR WINGS. And they were tiny too. That's a joke. Super small portions, of tasty food. But can I say worth it? No way. Not in providence. There are a million better places that also stand for farm to table cuisine. The second time I went with a few girlfriends for a drink. As I glanced at the bar to see if there was room the waitress rudely told me it was full(I have eye too) and we could have a drink at a table. Condescending and short, I cannot say I felt welcomed. Strange, because both times I've been, no one seems to dine in, just an older crowd at the bar. I will not be back!
(2)Lisa C.
We ate at the bar and the bartender was very knowledgeable and fun...he suggested a beer flight which we let him choose based on our likes....he chose well...now we have some new beers we are going to have to look for. Food was great....charcuterie board was great especially accompanied by the house made tomato jam ....pickled veggies were good but not great...my cauliflower sandwich was very tasty with a whole bunch of tastes going on...nice alternative for the vegetarian people out there...which I AM NOT!! My husbands Reuben was delicious even for me because I'm not a fan of that sandwich, but he devoured it fast. Desserts were very very good especially the homemade sorbets. All in all I loved the place and will be back, probably at night to see what the dinner vibe is as well.
(5)Jonathan B.
FOOD POISONING!!! Not to mention that my poisoned meal didn't arrive until after they gotten my order wrong, and everyone else in my party had long since finished eating. Spent the next day laying on the floor and going to the bathroom at least once every hour. Save yourself the horrible discomfort. AVOID!
(1)Courtney M.
My friend and I stumbled upon Rogue Island while whiling away the time before our restaurant week reservations just down the road. We came in only to get a drink or two, and would up being blown away by the atmosphere right off the bat. It was a bit early on in the evening, so equally quiet to match, but the decor was so welcoming, and the waitstaff extremely warm and helpful. I wound up ordering the Bee's Knees cocktail, with my friend opting for the 5th Ward. Both were delectable, and I cannot wait to return to try out some more of the pre-Prohibition era cocktails, and some of the food as well!
(5)Linda C.
I just had the best corned beef sandwich I ever had and I have had a lot of them. The bread was so tasty as was the corned beef. The service was great the place has great atmosphere in the historic Arcade in Providence. The waitress suggested a great beer when I told her basically what I like. Definitely will be back!!!!!!!!
(5)Eliza M.
Keep in mind, 3 stars is "A-OK" - We will definitely come back and try some more menu items... My partner and I have been here twice - on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Granted, these are not hustle-bustle date/times, but considering how few customers were there, our service was SUPER slow and frustrating. My partner had finished his first beer before my cocktail arrived. Same problem both visits. The food was really great. We've had several things so far, I really liked the steak sandwich, but the amount of meat was rather stingy. My partner loved the oyster mushroom arancini. We love the prohibition-era vibe, cocktail list, farm-to-table/bar menu. I just wish they put more effort into providing a better experience through great customer service.
(3)Jon H.
The beer was good, the service very good but the sandwiches that we ordered were underwhelming. The steak sandwich which I ordered used good ingredients but based on the taste and amount of meat, it tasted like a pepper and cheese . The other corned beef was only slightly better due to the fact you could almost taste some corned beef in the sandwich.
(2)Elizabeth D.
Went with some work pals a few months ago and the food was good, but it was clear they were going through the typical new restaurant growing pains and acting a little too confident. Probably would have given 2-3 stars after that visit. It seems like most new restaurants in PVD go through this -- chefs are wicked passionate but it takes a while for them, the servers, and the bartenders to get used to each other and what this city likes and expects in terms of service and vibe. Fine by me as long as the food's decent. They usually figure it out eventually, and Rogue Island is heading in that direction. My fiancé loves to try local beers so I suggested we head to Rogue Island for dinner last night. We sat outside, and our server AnnMarie was very nice and attentive, and all the food was delicious. Michael couldn't stop talking about the homemade pretzel bites and he doesn't usually get that excited about food! For an app, 2 drinks each, 2 sandwiches and a split dessert, the bill came to $70. Steep, but not bad for locally sourcing a lot of their stuff. We will definitely be back.
(5)Cara B.
What a fantastic meal at Rogue! Wonderful drinks--cucumber vodka and soda (the vodka was amazing!)--and mussels and fried chicken sandwich are a must! Whatever the special dessert is, you must get it! So looking forward to visiting this establishment again! Bravo to the waitstaff and chef--you have done well!!!
(5)Will J.
As some of the reviews suggest, this place is still working it out. But all (4) times I have been here they were cordial, helpful, maybe a bit harried (never a good sign when the owner/manager is discussing his business at the bar) and the food and drink very good. My bartender made me a custom cocktail based on tastes I enjoy and came up with the most delicious concoction I have ever had. The cod was good, burgers were good, all-veggie plate requested by one in our party was entirely OK. Each time I go in to Rogue Island it seems like they have tweaked the formula and improved things; for the concept alone they deserve more attention and business.
(3)J R.
There IS such a thing as taking a concept too far. Their stated aim: "Our highly seasonal menu is chef-driven and sourced exclusively from nearby farms..." What this apparently means to them is no fish. NO fish! In the Ocean State? Pulled pork they have, but no fish. Sure, we don't "farm" fish locally (they do farm oysters and they have them on the menu) but they sure do catch them locally. Not only do we in Rhode Island actually like fish, tourists are often looking for local swordfish, flounder, bluefish ... enough said. Please add a fish dish to your lunch menu. When you do I'll increase the rating to 3 stars.
(3)Susan J.
Great place!!! We walked around town trying to find a cozy place and we stumbled upon rogue island. A hidden culinary treasure!!!!! local and sustainable. We ended up going back again, truly a talented chef , everything is house made down to the condiments. All of the staff is friendly and knowledgeable on the vast array of local spirits and beer they offer. They even changed the music on their sound system when we asked.... Katie was our server and she was awesome!!!!!!!!!! They even have outlets with USB all along the bar.
(5)Jeff G.
I give this three stars because I really like the space and the beer selection. Although the food sounded good, it ended up being very under seasoned and just poorly constructed, especially at the 12-14 bucks for a sandwich. The cocktails, though tasty, were small and way overpriced at 10 bucks and up! Overall, great local beer on tap, nice space at the bar, (avoid the back room), and very friendly staff, make it a good place for a drink before heading somewhere else for dinner.
(3)James R.
My wife and I dined at the new Rogue Island for lunch on a Saturday to experience the new place in the arcade. I ordered the mushroom soup and my wife ordered the Brussels sprout salad. The soup was good but the amount for $11.00 was ridiculous, the cold salad had no dressing on it and was very bland. I was very disappointed due to the quality of food and the amount the bill was, everything is overpriced. I doubt if this place will make a run of it in the arcade as new customers will figure this place out quickly and will not return.
(1)Rita S.
Perfection. I can't wait to go back-I don't think you can go wrong with a single thing on the menu. Only one side note to the restaurant-bigger chairs at the tables may be a good investment. Great aesthetic overall though!
(5)Elaine C.
Went today for an early-ish lunch (noon). Ordered salads and drinks, and waited about 25 minutes for them to arrive. Meals were fine, but the long wait made me question a return trip.
(2)Suzanne S.
omg, went for lunch. ordered a fried chicken sandwich. after FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, the poor bartender just gave me my money back in exasperation. i left hungry. no explanation. do not try to eat here!
(1)Christine W.
I had the pork belly and absolutely loved it! Expertly cooked, full of flavor. There are a lot of great restaurants in Providence and Rogue Island is cooking with the best of them. I really appreciate the emphasis and great selection of local beer, wine, and food. Definitely worth seeking out!
(5)Michelle K.
The biggest disappointment was that the "House made pappardelle" is not pappardelle at all. It's fettucine. Not especially good fettucine. I was so disappointed with my experience at Rogue Island. This place is not what it pretends to be. We went on a Saturday night at 6:30, and it was empty. So empty that the waitresses and hostess were just hanging out at the front, chatting. The waitress came to our table and pretended to be a huge foodie, describing the specials in terms she clearly did not understand. It was when she said that, "oooh, and the flavors are all in your mouth," (as opposed to where?) that I really caught on that she had no idea what she was talking about. We put in our drink orders and chatted a bit, then looked up and saw the bartender just standing against the wall, looking out into space, and the waitresses and hostess just chatting away. In another few minutes, the waitress noticed that the bartender hadn't made our drinks, and notified him that he had a ticket waiting. The drinks were excellent, strong and delicious. My husband got the wings, which he said were good, but not spectacular. He had the same feeling about the Steak Sandwich. As I said, I had the "house made pappardelle." Except it wasn't. It was fettuccine. Pappardelle, my absolute favorite noodle, is a wide, flat noodle. These were not. They seemed home made because of the irregular texture, but were not that great. It really irritates me when the description of the food is totally different from what you get. I KNOW that any chef knows the difference between pappardelle and fettucine. Call it what it is. I had the pesto sauce and cream sauce mixed, which was tasty. I paid $4 for "farm fresh vegetables" with it, which turned out to be a handful of tiny diced zucchini and a few sliced cherry tomatoes. Big disappointment all around. We definitely won't be going back.
(2)Drew A.
I was excited to try it out last Friday, as it is in a great location downtown in the renovated Arcade, and features a lot of great local Rhode Island food (Baffoni Farms, Aquidneck Honey etc.) and beer options - but it was without a doubt the most bizarrely poor dinner service I've ever had. Having worked in the service industry I am a very patient and understanding patron - but this was an unequivocal disaster. The service is well intentioned and polite, so I really hope that they are just getting their feet under them because the place does have potential - but some notes. * Hostess was sitting down when we walked in * Beers took 10 minutes to table after order, and was told to get up from table and see the draft list on a chalkboard near the bar * Ordered appetizer but was not ready for entree order, appetizer came and went before waitress offered to take our entree order 30 minutes later * Entrees (steak sandwich and chicken paperdelle).... 30 minutes waitress apologizes for delay, kitchen backed up... 45 minutes, another apology... hour and 10, we unfortunately had to leave so I politely asked to just have our meals to go, not a problem... hour and 45 minutes... meals finally come out in to go boxes. We waited 1:45 for a steak sandwich and a chicken dish to go. * Meals were justifiably comped but I will say we sat with empty water glasses and paid $40+ for drinks, should have been 100% comped * Hope my attitude doesn't cloud the review of the food, but it was mediocre at best Again, I really do wish this place well and have NO IDEA what could have possibly taken 1:45 to deliver two easy entrees, but Rogue Island unfortunately has some serious work to do before I'd consider eating there again.
(1)Sheila T.
Husband and I discovered this restaurant while walking around Providence yesterday. The menu looked intriguing when we saw it displayed inside The Arcade. So we did a little more walking and headed back for an early dinner. We were pleased with the interior of the place - cool and funky. The staff were very friendly and our waitress - sorry, forgot her name! - was attentive and sweet. The problem I had was the "chintziness" of some items in my two dishes I ordered. The pickled veggie ( basically thin sliced veggies soaked in white vinegar) plate was nice looking and I liked the crispness of the veggies but the amount of cauliflower was dismal. I would like to get into the head of whomever plated the dish. Two small florets and then a bunch of the very tiny pieces that come off when breaking off the florets from the head. Why not just four decent florets? And the tiny bit of mayo dressing was sad, too. My other dish was the beet and goat cheese salad. The amount of goat cheese was laughable. This type of salad is bland unless there is enough of the tangy goat cheese to add some 'zip'. I asked for more and assumed I was going to be charged extra, and was ($1.00)- but this was the amount that should have been in the dish to begin with! A little More beets would have been nice, too. My husband's turkey sandwich was fine, but the homemade pickles were forgotten! We were looking forward to trying them. I noticed most of the other complaints of the new restaurant were about the lack of food on some of the plates. A little more attention to those complaints would add a star or two to the reviews. The little extra amount of food added to some of the dishes will not cut into the profits- it will get more repeat diners.
(3)John Z.
I've been here twice now, and just not impressed. Another restaurants take on Farm-Fresh had me at the title. The décor is nice, inviting, almost tavern-like. Service was friendly and the food was good. However, I found it to be a bit expensive. First time, I got a charcuterie plate which came without the cured meats. The waiter explained they were downstairs curing and that the plate is not ready, so why do I get a half plate? They charged me $19 for a full plate anyways. Second time, took my friend there and got the chicken wings and a chicken sandwich. Nice presentation with the blue cheese foam but chicken was under-seasoned and soft, least favorite chicken wing. My cornmeal-crusted chicken sandwich was also lacking seasoning and was smushed between an ungrilled brioche. Friend got the coffee vinaigrette salad with goat cheese which was amazing. I got a diet coke and he got a vodka drink. Total came out to $70 without tip. Local 121, Figidini, and Pizza Company to name a few, all offer better dining experiences at a lower cost than Rogue Island.
(2)Karen D.
The interior is nice. Seating is not the greatest, stools are small and hard. Mostly tables for 2 and one large community table. The menu is limited and what we ordered was very over-priced. Ordered the chicken wings fried in duck fat for $9.00. Was shocked when the plate arrived with 3 whole wings on it. They looked nice but were terribly spicy....not for me. Ordered both soups on the menu, for $9 and $11. One was pretty, had apple chutney and cauliflower, was not impressed with the flavor although it was edible. The other soup was Mushroom and looked disgusting. It was slate gray in color and was mostly creamy but had long stands of cabbage (I think). It was way salty. My daughter ordered a fried chicken sandwich, $9. The batter they use on the chicken is different not bad. Her bun was toasted a little too much around the edges (black and crispy) and the top piece looked like there might have been a large air pocket when it was sliced. So it was especially thin on one side. The fries were very good but I didn't care for their home made catsup at all. Have to give them props though for trying. My husband ordered the Brother's Burger, $14 plus $2.50 for bacon which they did not skimp on. The burger was cooked perfectly and hubby enjoyed it. Beverages we consumed: water and 2 local sodas. Total check - $66, not worth half that much in my opinion. We won't be back but daughter who lives in PVD will try again in a couple of months.
(2)Wayne P.
stopped into the arcade to check it out yesterday. it was near lunch time so we decided to try this place. kinda small as in not alot of tables but still roomy to get around in. nice atmosphere/decor. first the is a great beer selection here, nearly every RI brewery represented here. i started with a Newport Storm IPA mmmm. my wife had a Downeast cranberry cider, quite refreshing. the food menu is small but seem to be just what you would need. my wife and i started out with the cauliflower and potato soup very tasty and it seems to have some heat in it that builds at the end, which i liked a lot. the wife had a salad with tuna fish. the waitress asked how do you want that cooked. we were??? so my wife said medium. well us old timers were a we bit surprised when it came out but my wife ate it all anyway. my son would have know exactly what to expect being a sushi guy and all. i had the carved turkey sandwich. the fresh thin sliced turkey was great add in the cranberry relish and some brown/turkey gravy and it was great. i had a side of the house potato salad. the flavors were interesting and yes i ate all of it. there appeared to be only one waitress and she was a joy to work with. i heartily recommend this place for a saturday afternoon meal.
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