Bistro 22

Lovely time while meeting a family friend in Cranston. We were the first in the restaurant and the service was good. My meal was a bit smaller than I expected, but it was great! I don’t find myself in Cranston often, but I would recommend.

We were hitting up the REI in cranston when we happened upon this restaurant. Our first interaction was a bit off-​putting; the server minding the front did not seem pleased that we were walk-​ins and was about to seat is at a terrible table when the hostess intervened. Bistro 22 is located in a large shopping center so having walk-​ins shouldn’t be out of the norm. Really, if it wasn’t for the utterly charming hostess we would have walked back out. She seated us at one of the far nicer (and empty) tables. Turns out that there was a reservation for that table in a little over an hour. I understand reservations but restaurants don’t usually let tables sit empty for an hour. That’s a loss of money for the house and the server.
The fellow who didn’t want to seat us made one more bullsh*t comment to the hostess, which she brushed off with good humor, before he disappeared. Seriously, if it wasn’t for her charm we would have found somewhere else to dine.
We stayed because, thankfully, the level of service from the rest of the staff was amazing. Our waiter was knowledgeable, helpful, and incredibly prompt. The food was outstanding. My wife had the linguine with clams and it was divine. I have never tasted such a succulent steamed clam. Absolutely wonderful. I had a scallop dish that was seared to perfection. The tiniest bit of crisp on the outside with a perfect buttery center. The chefs are amazing!
Aside from the one surly waiter, this is a wonderful place and we will be returning. If it was just a bit closer we’d be regulars.

I am a Food Service Professional, 15 years. This is the best Salmon burger I have every had. Service and staff were great. Patio is perfect, give lunch on the patio a try for sure.

Our first time here and amazed! Food was impeccable, flavor outstanding, service attentive and very friendly! Our waiter Corey was knowledgeable, super attentive, and has a good sense of humor. Thank you! We will definitely be back over and over.

Love this place! I always end up getting the same thing — fettuccine jambalaya. I’ve heard the salmon is excellent, too. If I had to say anything negative, it’s just that it can get a bit loud sometimes.

My boyfriend and I took my parents here last night for their anniversary dinner. I definitely recommend making a reservation on Friday or Saturday nights, as it was quite busy. We love the atmosphere at Bistro: warm and bustling, but never rushed. I was coming from work and was stuck in some pretty epic 195 traffic. They seated the party without me there, which I definitely appreciated when I ran in 20 minutes late and had a delicious red sangria waiting for me. My mood improved immediately!
We started with the calamari, which my dad loves. It was great as always. Apps were the tomato bisque soup and the spinach salad with berries. Both were great. I got the pork tenderloin, cooked medium, and it was just at the edge of medium-​medium well. I liked it though! It was a huge portion and I could only eat half of it. I am looking forward to a pork sandwich for lunch. My father got the hanger steak and he loved it. Boyfriend got the burger and was very impressed. My mother got the scallops and liked them, but she has recently developed a serious sensitivity to pepper and she realized that she couldn’t eat the risotto with the scallops. We did notice that all of the dishes were well seasoned with salt and pepper (which is a good thing!) but in the future mom is going to have to remember to ask for no seasoning on her food when we go there.
Overall, a great experience. We love Bistro and will be back.

Headed up to this area on a business trip I trusted in old faithful (aka Unilocal) to hook me up with some local gems and was totally let down. Based on the reviews I had high expectations that I just knew were built on hype of a new eatery than actual execution the moment I walked in.
I ordered up some sort of blueberry — black tea cocktail and a burger with fries. The cocktail was just fine and got me over the –missing my family blues– but the burger fell flat of any sort of creativity and the fries were dry with no dipping sauce accompaniment.
Service was awkward, a group of guys gossiping in the corner of the bar, not engaging with anyone. I got a thumbs up from the kitchen at one point, not sure what that was about, but it was more interaction that I had with the waitstaff so I guess it was something.
Overall it was okay, doubt I would go back if I found my way back to this area, but I get the über trendy appeal in a high end shopping plaza.

Second time here. First time was incredible. This time not so good. I had the scallops and risotto and the scallops were small and the risotto had no flavor. After this meal I don’t think we will be going back.

I visited this restaurant today with my wife, a first for me, but she has been here on a couple of previous occasions. Our server was Thomas, and he took great care of us from beginning to end.
We had predetermined that we would get something light. We started with a cocktail, and we each had soup for an appetizer (tomato bisque for my wife, and a chicken/​bean soup for me). We both liked the soups very much. We then ordered salads that were very delicious. Overall we had a great experience, and we will return here again.

1. Great service from Rob (he was a one man show tonight)
2. Ambiance was great. Super «datey» especially with all the slow jams in the background.
3. I went with my best friend and God daughter. We had a great time.
We shared the roasted beet salad (²⁄₅ stars), fettuccine with anchovies (³⁄₅ stars), bruschetta with goat cheese (⁴⁄₅ stars, brussel sprouts (³⁄₅ stars), tomato bisque (⁵⁄₅), & crème brûlée (⁵⁄₅ stars!!!). As you can see, some things they did exceptionally well and some things they did just okay on. The wine, also, could be aerated. Service is so good though, I’ll be returning time and time again! Can’t wait to dine outside when it gets warmer.

Great addition to Garden City! Small little bistro with a great menu. I enjoy their clam zuppa, the salads are delish and burgers are to die for! Reasonably priced meals, great cocktail and wine list and the bartenders are friendly and accommodating. Lunch menu is great as well. I’m a lover of the grilled cheese (with ham) and tomato soup! YUM! This place is definitely my first pick of all restaurants in Garden City!

Stopped here on Valentine’s Day and they sat us right away without a reservation. They were kind enough to let us know there was a reservation in two hours for our table. We had surf and turf, salad, and a burger. Everything was great!

I stopped in here with a friend for a late lunch. While the inside is small, it definitely has a warm, welcoming feel.
Service was very attentive and our server was quite knowledgeable. There is a really good cocktail list as well as wine and beer.
We started with the spinach and artichoke dip. It wasn’t as cheesy as most and this was a pleasant surprise. I had the 22 Burger. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was cooked as I requested and was very juicy and flavorful. I’d definitely recommend it. My friend had the pulled pork sandwich and enjoyed it.
With salads, pizzas, soups and sandwiches this is a great lunch option in Garden City.

Winter Providence Restaurant Week 2016:
So many amazing restaurants to choose from and I’m always torn between trying a new place or seeing what one of my favorite places has to offer. I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to sample a trio of courses from one of my favorites, Bistro 22.
My mom and I shared so we could taste a bit of everything. We started with the Mixed Green Salad which had tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers & a red wine vinaigrette which did seem creamy. We also had my favorite — Crispy Calamari w/​banana peppers, shallots, & roasted red peppers all drizzled with balsamic glaze. Both were delicious and it was the right balance!
For entrees, the Rigatoni Bolognese was topped with whipped ricotta and basil. The pasta had the right texture, the Bolognese sauce was the right consistency (hate runny sauces) and the dollop of whipped ricotta added to the creaminess of the dish. The second entrée ordered was the
Herb-​crusted Codfish served with artichoke hearts, oven-​dried tomatoes, spinach with a light broth. The fish was cooked just right, not dry and the broth was delicious.
Dessert was warm mini donuts tossed with cinnamon and sugar and a apple cider glaze for dipping. And when I say tossed, they are literally tossed in a bag table side. Perfect cold weather dessert! The strawberry shortcake with macerated strawberries was good too, but it was essentially a sense vanillas pound cake with some whipped cream and the strawberries — I do tend to gravitate towards more airy/​less dense desserts but the flavors were there.
Overall, this is a great place to eat and I hear their ham and cheese sandwich on their lunch menu is amazing!

I can’t say enough good things about this place.
We started frequenting Bistro 22 when we moved to a nearby neighborhood. We didn’t know it when we moved in, but it turned out our house had all sorts of issues in the kitchen — which led to lots of dining out. Being close by, having a decent selection of drinks and consistently delivering great food, this place became and still is one of our favorite spots for a quick lunch or full dinner.
Those months of struggling through kitchen repairs, the staff at Bistro 22 demonstrated pleasant, professional service, so much so that most all of them feel like friends now. The kitchen delivers plate after plate of delicious food. The seasonal menus provide both variety and comfort to the palette.
Given all of these factors, a recent anniversary prompted us to ask if Chef Danielle might accommodate us with a special menu, to celebrate the occasion. She was more than happy to accept the challenge, listened through our ideas and dietary restrictions and a few days later updated us with what we might expect. Our dinner, quite simply, was stunning. The menu was seasonal, combined ingredients in ways I had never considered and overwhelmed us with both quality and flavor. It was a great meal and evening.
I could go on, as I really can’t stop thinking of how much I enjoy the people or the food at Bistro 22. Highly recommended…
Also, Chef Danielle welcomes private dinner parties, she loves what she does and loves to make people happy with her delicious food.

Came here for lunch and the moment I walked in, I felt like I was in a trendy NYC restaurant/​bar. While it was quite small, the décor was unique and had a modern vibe. It looks as though they used a lot of items for décor that were recycled from old buildings. Loved it. I also liked their beer glasses (such a minor thing, I know)… they certainly weren’t typical
I went to the bar and they had a rather decent beer and drink menu. I don’t believe they had anything on tap but the options for bottled beer were solid and some of the beer was unique and seasonal. The menu looked great and I asked the bartender what she would recommend for sandwiches. She highly recommended the BBQ pulled pork sandwich as they make their own sauce in-​house. The sandwich came with hand cut fries. I would say within 6 minutes of ordering, I had my food — super quick. I devoured the lunch entirely. It was delicious!
All-​in-​all, I think it’s not a bad place to visit as long as you’re not going to the Garden City Shopping Center at a crazy busy time as parking can be tough. I’d definitely come again.

Yum! I recently went here to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Even with all the commotion that a little birthday dinner creates, the staff kept their cool and served us adequately.
The food was delicious and all were served in a timely manner — except for the birthday boy, who had to actually wait a little bit after the rest of us had been served.
Cocktails? Perfection. You were never left with an empty glass. Each time I neared the end of my cosmo, the server OR the bartender would approach me and ask if I’d enjoy another.

So, it’s been nearly a year since I’ve Unilocaled about this marvelous addition to the Garden City Shopping Center.
I just want to reiterate that it is still off the chain fabulous. AAA+++ fabulous.
I have been dining here regularly since they opened and have never had anything that was not STELLAR in this stylish eatery. (But apparently have not dined here as often as my dear friend, Marilyn, with whom I had lunch here last week, because, like Cheers, everyone here knows her name!). :-). But I digress.
The interior is tasteful, stylish, lovely and immaculate. The wait staff, bartenders and owners are so friendly and hospitable, you would want to ask them to be your friend! The food is eclectic, fresh, current and seasonal, creative and absolutely delicious.
I have had nearly everything on their menu (see my original Unilocal). It’s ALL been great, but their hand cut French fries are still my favorites and I sometimes daydream about them. THE.BEST.FRIES.EVER. They also know how to make a great drink! The first sip takes the edge off any stress you might have encountered earlier in the day! And I love their scrumptious beignet-​like donuts. You absolutely CANNOT go wrong dining here. If you haven’t been here yet, or if you’re reading Unilocal to see if you want to try this place, I say GO to Bistro 22 for a superior gastronomic experience, great drinks, really yummy and decadent desserts, and very important: a friendly and hospitable staff and management.
Kudos to the owners, brothers Chris and Marco, restauranteurs who clearly know what they are doing.
And PS you can dine on their lovely patio when the weather is fair!

Went here with my girlfriends for lunch. First nice weekend in a while so the plaza was pretty busy but I was lucky enough to find a close parking. The place is near Banana Republic and Applebee’s.
We started with calamari for apps — had a nice taste to it but I prefer my calamari a little crispier. I ordered the chicken sandwich that came with fries. The fries were good but the chicken sandwich could’ve been better — the shaved ham tasted a little funny to me and my chicken was a little undercooked in some parts but I didn’t send it back. Both my friends orders the crab cake — the presentation was beautiful but for $ 12.95, I would think you could get at least two of them.
The only saving grace was the dessert my girlfriend ordered — the caramelized bananas/​Portuguese bread pudding with ice cream was very good. Our water glasses were never empty and dishes were cleared very quickly. The staff was very friendly including management.
I really wanted to like this place and may possibly give it another chance but not anytime soon unless I’m in the area.

Totally impressed with Bistro 22; when it comes to lunch spots in Garden City, the bar has definitely been raised!
The menu is full of great, comfort food fare — think open-​faced meatloaf sandwich, burgers, grilled cheese… Salads, too and a few pasta options, to boot. I went for the grilled ham & cheese with tomato soup and was absolutely delighted by the deliciousness — perfectly melty, delightfully salty, and wonderfully tangy soup. It all went together perfectly with flavor-​wise and texturally, it really was the perfect lunch on a chilly day.
The space is really nice — spare yet warm and very comfortable, with plenty of natural light and high ceilings. The thing keeping me from giving it a full five stars is the service — while friendly and sweet, they just weren’t on the ball and we had to wait a while to be seated, for our food and then again to even get the bill. We probably could have been there a significantly shorter amount of time than we were, but it seemed to be a tad understaffed and underprepared. Other than that, wonderful!