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    The Congress Tavern

    4.0 (264 reviews)
    ModerateGastropubs
    Open 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    The Congress Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    THE CONGRESS TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Congress Tavern

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    Menu
    Kamal B.

    Absolutely wonderful service with drinks and food that were YUM!!! (GET THE MOSCOW MULE!!) [[HIGHLIGHT]]Did not expect to be staying here for three hours, but with the combination of good food good company and just overall good vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a place where you lose track of time but it's definitely worth it![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] (THEM FRIES THOUGH!!!)

    Lobster nachos
    Nova L.

    Food - yummy!! I had the lobster nachos they were really good 8.5/10 I wish they had jalapeño or some other veggies on top it was only lobster cheese and tomatoes. The lobster was cooked really well and it came together nicely I would go back just for this! My buddy had the steak and cheese it was average The drink was great!! Service - 10/10 super friendly, happy to help. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance - we sat inside it's nice and roomy I love the small outdoors seating that's offered as well[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's a cool place I'll be back for sure

    The drinks were great but the food was just okay. Although food was nothing special [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant had outdoor seating and a dim interior[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Service was great!

    Lobster pasta
    Jamie M.

    This was a great stop for our first dinner in Providence. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is quiet, warm and friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We did make a reservation, but ended up not needing it. The crispy shrimp was delicious. We ate it before I could snap a picture. I had the lobster pasta with amazing! My husband loved his bison burger too!

    Great bourbon selection.
    Justin Z.

    If you are looking for a great spot near the financial district in downtown Providence look here. Great service and food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Pub atmosphere on a Friday night for dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Best beer and bourbon selection I have seen in downtown as we visit for NCAA games. If you are a bourbon drinker this is your spot. Great bourbon options, generous pours, and unbeatable prices. Highly recommend.

    Fabulous family dinner before seeing Wicked at PPAC! Perfect experience! Ty!!!

    Absolutley amazing surprise! Been dining in RI my entire life and never heard of this hidden gem. Group of 6 went last night before attending PPAC event and [[HIGHLIGHT]]everyone was extremely happy with the vibe, the coziness, the service and the food![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great variety- something for everyone and each dish was perfect! Drinks also excellent. Will definitely be back!

    Calamari and Lobster Nachos
    Amber M.

    We were in town for a sporting event and were looking for a place to eat between sessions. We got in very quickly, Food came out in a timely manner. Burgers were delicious. Calamari was probably the best we've ever had!

    Half of the bar. . .
    Jen W.

    Walking around downtown between appointments on a cold day we needed a spot to thaw out. Congress, down a small side street, close to the Arcade, was an excellent refuge. Being an 'odd' hour of the day, between lunch and when work lets out, we were the first of a couple other parties to come in. Seating ourselves at the bar, the barkeep asked if we'd like to eat. We didn't have time for a meal, but did look over the menu and we plan to come back for food another time. The atmosphere is very comfortable. Reminiscent of a pub in the UK or Ireland. Chalk board menus of available spirits, above the windows, include scotch, bourbon, whiskey, rye, beer on tap and bottled. You 'should' be able to find something here to tempt you. There are two single bathrooms. Parking is on-street metered, paid lot or garage. In warm weather they offer outdoor seating. The staff we met were very personable. Prices are reasonable. We are definitely happy we stopped in.

    Blood Orange Margarita, Chicken parmigiana and buffalo wings!

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    Review Insights

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    7 days ago

    Food and service were both amazing!! The onion dip with homemade chips and burger were top notch!! It's a little loud but great atmosphere!

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The cool lobster nachos. The prickly pear margarita was delicious and so was the house-made iced tea. These were good things to mention

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Lobster roll taste good. As well as the pasta. Very attractive pricing. Nice guy introducing the Manu.

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    2 years ago

    Friendly staff, great drinks, and the food is better than anticipated! Great little bar in the heart of Providence.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    10/10 every time. Service and apps were amazing and they accommodated my same day reservation.

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    The Black Sheep Providence

    The Black Sheep Providence

    3.7
    (176 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    What an amazing find this place is. Been here on a few different occasions now…read more Food: Bang Bang Brussels: is a heaping portion and flavorful. They are crispy on the outside and not over cooked on the inside. The sauce they are served with compliments the spice of the Brussels. Sweet potato fries: here are among the best I've found in my year in Providence. They are always crispy and never excessive with the oil. Veg out burger: I highly recommend this. Delicious as is but bartender there suggested and I fell in love with the veg patty itself with the preparation the Fire In The Hole burger instead. So flavorful. Veggie patty is crispy and filled with fresh veggies that still keep a crunch. Drinks: wide variety of beers on tap as well including a favorite of mine Kona Big Wave. keep being awesome yall are killing it. Atmosphere: Monday they also have karaoke which is friendly low pressure and just a good time. Venue offers open windows letting in fresh air during good weather. Service: Friendly attentive bar staff who are personable and efficient. They definitely make you feel welcome and the quality of their pours definitely do not disappoint.

    My flight attendant friends and I stumbled into The Black Sheep in Providence after a long, rainy…read moredrive. It's a total hole-in-the-wall kind of spot, but in the best way. There's plenty of seating, the lights are low and cozy, and the vibe is super chill. The music was really good and we pretty much sang the entire time we were there LOL. The guys behind the bar were great, super attentive and helpful without hovering. We all ordered burgers with fries, and honestly, they were exactly what we needed. Fresh, juicy, and perfectly done. We each got a beer too, and while the first round came out a little flat, the bartender immediately replaced them without hesitation and made sure our water glasses stayed full all night. For three people, the total came out to about $60, which was not bad at all for solid food, good service, and a laid-back spot to unwind after a long day. Definitely worth checking out if you want an unpretentious bar with good energy and even better burgers.

    Photos
    The Black Sheep Providence
    The Black Sheep Providence
    The Black Sheep Providence

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    Amaryllis

    Amaryllis

    4.5
    (38 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    This is the third time I have visited Amaryllis and I keep going back for the same reason- the food…read moreis spectacular. The menu rotates with a few constants, and the food is always flavorful and delicious. Today we had the spreads plate, which was a great starter, followed by the grilled octopus and the chicken thighs; all the food is so unique and nothing like anything else I have had in Providence. We finished the night off with the olive oil cake and vanilla gelato, a menu staple and my favorite! Besides the food, the ambiance is great and depending on where you sit you can watch your food being cooked which is cool! The service is great, and the restaurant is BYOB or you can purchase wine from the store next door. Overall, if you haven't tried Amaryllis yet you should go immediately because you'll regret not going sooner!

    We had a lovely dinner at Amaryllis. They are BYOB and I appreciate that they tell you this when…read moreyou DM them on IG to make a reservation. They partner with the wineshop next door so you can grab a chilled bottle ahead of your dinner. The bistro tables are so cute and love the bistro lights over Westminster. The seating does feel very weather dependent as the interior looked very small without the patio. The menu is small, but highlights some great seasonal options. Plenty of vegetarian dishes with some meat thrown in. The highlight for me was the cheeseboard. I'm not usually the type to order a cheeseboard, but this one did not disappoint. It had a great variety of cheese and the dark chocolate with honey was some of the best chocolate I've ever had. We got the pea pasta for a main and the pasta was perfectly done, the sauce wasn't super flavorful for me. So I'd probably stick to other dishes off their Summer menu. For dessert I'm a sucker for an olive oil cake and couldn't let this one pass me by. It was excellent! If you are into olive oil cake I highly recommend it. We also got the peach galette which was quite tasty as well. Overall a lovely spot where you can tell people care about the artistry of every plate that heads out the door.

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    Amaryllis
    Lamb Chops - to die for
    Lamb Chops - to die for
    Scallop entree - special

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    Scallop entree - special
    The Vig

    The Vig

    3.6
    (114 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Two hour break on Sunday morning volleyball tournament? Breakfast please. I scored some on street…read moreparking early morning to get to a hella early volleyball game at the Providence convention center. So let me be clear. I know there are some great breakfast spots nearby. Like legit brunch go to spots. But - I was not willing to give up my free parking to get there. Ha! Also did not want the tired ole breakfast sammy at the venue. So Yelp steered me here. Was thinking I'd an omelette off menu was where I'd end up but got there and found out there's a buffet with a an omelette station...was it more expensive? Not sure but for $25 there was plenty of fruit, breakfast sides, waffles, and so much more. Abraham whipped up an amazing veggie egg white omelette for me. Service was attentive and prompt. The vibe is your standard hotel dining area - forgot to mention it is the Hilton restaurant. Entrance is through the hotel lobby. It was a great sit down breakfast.

    After a PC Basketball game this place is a good call. Part of the hotel, but food was decent…read more Pricing was fair too. Nice bathrooms, easy 100' walk from AMP Center. Service was good. Drink prices fine. Not exactly a foodie place, but comfortable and easy to get in after a game. Menu was pretty diverse. Kids, families, sporty feel to it. TV's.

    Photos
    Grilled Chicken Shroom Melt
    Grilled Chicken Shroom Melt
    Not Your Mom's Banana Bread.  A delicious seasonal cocktail mixed by our staff @ The Vig
    Not Your Mom's Banana Bread. A delicious seasonal cocktail mixed by our staff @ The Vig
    Avocado Toast anyone?

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    Avocado Toast anyone?
    The Malted Barley

    The Malted Barley

    4.1
    (606 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    the pretzels here are to die for! absolutely delicious, well seasoned and creative options. if i…read morelived nearby id be coming here for a beer and snack all the time. i got their elote special and it had a small bit of spice and plenty of flavor. the pretzel was warm with a perfect pillowy soft texture. honestly it was the best pretzel i've ever had. they also have beer flights and a wide range of local, national and international beers, so plenty to mix and match. it's always a nice touch to have a flight when offering a large selection, so huge plus for me. service here was fast and kind, we were able to order and get everything within 12 minutes. ambiance in here is nice, plenty of seating at the bar and around the restaurant. it's pretty cozy and warm in here but also has a few tvs for those wanting to catch a game.

    I hate to give less than 4 stars. But I feel it is necessary here…read more Experience started off positive. Came in while it was slow on a Sunday afternoon and sat ourselves. Server came over to give us waters, came back quickly twice to take drinks then food orders. We were told our appetizers would come out shortly. Then we waited. Our food was finally brought out (all together). After we got everything we wanted more drinks. No one came back to check on the food or refill our drinks. Food was good, not great. The dipping sauces we ordered for the pretzel were really subpar. Beer cheese that was split and congealed, and guac that was dark and slimy. Everything else was decent. The standout part of the meal was actually the soup of the day, clam chowder. Cashing out with a gift card was a pain. We were also not provided an itemized receipt. The amount seemed way higher than expected. Either way, payment required two different transactions so we could tip on a credit card. Not their fault, but also our original server must have left, and the one that took over apparently was the only one on the floor even as the dining room started to fill up. Had we ordered more drinks like we wanted, it would have brought us over our gift card amount so we could have paid the remained with a credit card. I don't think we would go back.

    Photos
    The bar area
    The bar area
    Jalapeno stuffed pretzel with beer cheese
    Jalapeno stuffed pretzel with beer cheese
    Bar area

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    Bar area

    The Congress Tavern - gastropubs - Updated July 2026

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