Providence is known for having a very large Italian population and is also known for having a large amount of Italian restaurants that serve some of the best Italian for that you can find outside of Italy. As someone who is not Italian that is living in Providence, I can tell you that those statements are true. You can go to any Italian restaurant in Providence and order anything off of the menu and you will not be disappointed. The food will be so good that you will not know what to do with yourself. Just make sure that you put some time away for your Italian restaurant experience as these restaurants want you to take you time as that is the style of dining that is expected. But the on thing that most people do not expect when they are going out to eat in Providence is the amount of Providence Irish Pubs and how good they are. There is a large number of Providence Irish Pubs located in and around Providence that create an atmosphere that will make you think you are in Dublin, not Providence.
Every one knows that Irish Pubs are a great place to go and relax and meet new people that you did not already know. You can sit down, order a beer and have some amazing Irish pub food. But if you are looking for a more traditional dining experience in a place that is more formal, maybe you are bringing out a girl, then there are also a lot of Irish restaurants in Rhode Island. An Irish restaurants can differ from an Irish Pub and that is the main difference. That one is more formal than the other. It is still a guarantee that if you visit an Irish restaurant in Rhode Island or an Irish Pub in Providence, that you are going to have a great time.