Gail Ciampa

1 week ago | providencejournal.com | Gail Ciampa

NicoBellas Downtown Providence is closing after 10 years. A thank you party for patrons will be held on April 27. NicoBellas Downtown Providence, a restaurant at 10 Dorrance St., is officially closing at the end of April after a 10-year run, said owner Daniel Crenca. The restaurant offered breakfast, and lunch with Italian touches. "Your support in these last days is needed and much appreciated by the Crenca family and staff," he wrote in a press release.

1 week ago | providencejournal.com | Gail Ciampa

Food Truck Friday returns to Roger Williams Park Carousel Village on April 18 and continues weekly through September. Warwick Food Truck Nights at Crowne Plaza start monthly on April 17 and run through October. Food Truck Concert Nights at Diamond Hill Park, Cumberland, begin monthly on April 24. Additional food truck events are scheduled throughout the summer in Richmond, Fall River, Lincoln, Johnston, Portsmouth, Attleboro, and Burrillville. It's almost food truck season in Rhode Island.

1 week ago | providencejournal.com | Gail Ciampa

Dining out can be affordable by exploring new locations, leveraging happy hour deals, and dining during off-peak times. Central Falls offers a variety of budget-friendly dining options, from classic American diners to authentic ethnic cuisine. Several restaurants in Rhode Island offer "buck-a-shuck" oyster deals and other happy hour specials. Consumers can find affordable meals at both casual and upscale establishments by considering these tips. Cheap eats, affordable meals or dining deals?

1 week ago | newportri.com | Gail Ciampa

Rhode Island casino workers are pushing for a smoking ban, similar to the 2005 ban in restaurants and bars. Concerns about the ban's impact on business are reminiscent of arguments made against the restaurant smoking ban. Post-ban experiences in restaurants showed no negative impact on business and improved worker safety. Health risks of secondhand smoke, supported by studies, reinforce the need for a casino smoking ban.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Gail Ciampa

A Providence restaurateur is among the victims of a nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic. Fray Luis Rasario, owner of Terra Luna Cafe and Terra Negra Cantina, both on Federal Hill, died at the Jet Set nightclub Tuesday morning in Santo Domingo. A native of the Dominican Republic, he also owned a restaurant there in Punta Canta, said Rick Simone, president of the Federal Hill Commerce Association. He also had a Terra Lune Cafe in Lawrence, Massachusetts.