The Rule of 3 Steeple Street
3 Steeple Street
(photography by: Dan Schwartz)
Every time I step into 3 Steeple Street in Providence, I get that feeling of deja vu, almost as if I had been there in some past life. I half expect old Ben Franklin to come around the corner with a pint of ale in hand. If only those walls could talk, imagine the stories they could tell. Located at the base of College Hill, the building that houses 3 Steeple Street was built in 1792 as a foundry for blacksmiths. Eventually, the site became a retail outlet for hardware, horse supplies and coach equipment. Today the building houses a city restaurant with a split personality. On the left is the quaint pub area where it's easy to pass a few hours chatting with friends, old and new. On the right is the romantic dining room where candles flicker on every table.
Our last visit to 3 Steeple Street was almost perfect, starting with the Hummus & Tabbouleh Platter ($7.95) that has enough Mediterranean goodies to feed a small crowd. The hummus is creamy and subtle, the tabbouleh fresh and zesty. The wonderful kalamata olives are big and meaty. On the other side of the table, the creamy Tomato Bisque ($3.95) arrived piping hot and soon disappeared.
Mac & Cheese ($11.95) is the ultimate American comfort food. If a restaurant gets it right, chances are the rest of your dinner will be most satisfying. The "mac" is large shell-shaped pasta, and the "cheese" is a blend of cheeses that offers a slightly nutty taste. The dish is baked just briefly in the oven, leaving the edges of the pasta golden brown. This is the kind of food you want to eat slowly so you can enjoy each and every bite.
