Is Federal Hill Dead?

Not really, but let's talk about the Hill and dining al fresco...

As some of my dear readers may know, I am from the great, little state of Rhode Island. I haven't lived there for a decade since I've been living in Connecticut since 2015. Suffice to say, a lot has changed from my old stomping grounds so I am not as up to date with restaurants and where the go-to spots are currently. One of the places that I spent quite a bit of time on (and it is very popular and for good reason) is Federal Hill. I went to dinner on the Hill with friends Friday night and I have not had dinner on the Hill in a few years (maybe pre-pandemic, I can't remember) and one of the restaurants that has always been solid and great for a last minute reservation has been Venda Bar. I've never had a bad meal or service there so my friends and I snagged a last minute reservation. First, the traffic on the Hill is atrocious. It is very popular and I am aware on the weekend it's going to be more people and more traffic. It has gotten worse! Finding street parking is an act of God and I ended up paying $12 in a lot. Dreadful. Strike one!

I am the first to arrive at Venda Bar and my friend got us outdoor seating. More thoughts on outdoor dining in a second. The table the hostess wanted to give us was the one directly at the entrance of the courtyard and I said absolutely not. So, she seats us in front of the entertainer and their loud speakers. Strike two. Is this my karma for not wanting the first table? Strike three was getting cold appetizers and an ice cold pizza I had to send back and we cancelled our entree orders and left for Providence Oyster Bar. Why did Venda Bar have to be this way? For one, they expanded the outdoor seating SO MUCH (I definitely think the last time I went to Venda Bar was pre-pandemic because they did not have this much outdoor seating) and they were PACKED. I believe there were some graduations that weekend so the city seemed busier. I get that but maybe you don't need that many tables if your kitchen can't handle it. Hint hint.

Anyway, this is not why I am writing this. Federal Hill is fine, I won't be going back to Venda Bar, at least when it's super busy because the pasta is always good. However, don't ever ask me to dine al fresco. I do not want to be outside with my food. There are bugs, there is cigarette smoke, there are people on the street. I have eaten dinner outside in Europe in both Portugal and Italy but that is the vibe and I did it once each time. (Note that I said dinner and not lunch because I ate lunch outside plenty but again it's not the same and don't ask me to explain why). Maybe twice. This girl needs to eat INSIDE! Eating and having a drink (or honestly, even lunch because the sun is out!) is fine but I do not want to be eating in the street for strangers to watch me slurp down oysters. I am allergic to bees. There are bees everywhere. I'm not trying to have to use my epipen eating pasta! You are probably thinking, "Karina, you just said there are bees everywhere, why are you even having lunch outside?" and I can assure you that when the bees appear, I run inside and have done so. Let me bitch about being outside eating!

If you are inviting me to eat, al fresco is not it. I am telling you I am not built for it. I am not even built for the Oregon Trail. She is going to get cholera. She is going to get typhoid. She is going to get bitten by a rattlesnake. She is not making it to the Willamette Valley. She probably got cholera at the Platt River. But she is definitely dead.

What have we learned this week? The Hill is busy, the parking stinks but I enjoyed hanging with my friends and having excellent oysters at Providence Oyster Bar. Definitely would recommend. Don't go on a Friday night and someone tell Venda Bar to have less tables and to get better entertainment. That was painful to listen to. Also, maybe don't have tables directly in front of the speakers?

I am now going to embark on the Oregon Trail. Wish me luck.