Dining Out

Cozy Fireplaces

A sure-fire way to heat things up

So Rhode Island Magazine ·

Siena Cucina-Enoteca’s warm lighting and soothing earth tones set a most romantic scene, which multiplies exponentially if you are lucky enough to be near the handsome fireplace. A spacious restaurant, Siena is still cozy and very welcoming. The Tuscan soul food on the authentic Italian menu, whether it’s the signature antipasti tasting board or an earthy grilled pizza, is extraordinary, much like the incredible food found in the kitchens and wine bars all over Italy. Impeccable service simply adds to the overall experience – a very special place for a candle-lit dinner for two.

The big brick fireplace with its dark wooden mantle draws you into Bistro 9, a neighborhood restaurant with a sexy contemporary vibe at the East Greenwich Golf Club. Seated within sight of the roaring fire, you’ll soon forget about snow and ice, even on the coldest winter night. The service is equally warm, and the refined Italian food is memorable as evidenced in the Tagliatelle Bolognese and Veal Milanese. The small plates menu, ideal for sharing, offers whimsical dishes such as lobster sliders – perfect for a playful night out with Bistro 9 signature cocktails or a glass of wine.

An open-hearth fireplace invites you into the main dining room at Jamestown Fish, where you can have a cocktail at the petite four-seat hardwood bar and then move on to your perfectly set table for two. The smoky blue walls with alabaster white trim match the blue water glasses and crisp white linens. Scanning the menu, you realize this is a special restaurant. Where else can you dine – in the dead of winter – on an appetizer of Prosciutto, Melon & Figs followed by pan-roasted Dover Sole? And then head upstairs to the cozy Bridge Bar for an after-dinner cocktail to cap off a perfect evening.

The fieldstone fireplace in the Old Dining Room at the Shelter Harbor Inn is where everyone wants to be on cold winter nights. What used to be a farmhouse in the 1880s is now a successful New England restaurant, and the inn offers 24 private rooms if you wish to turn your quiet dinner for two into a romantic getaway. Just as the inn has evolved over the years, so has the menu, now a blend of creative American cuisine (Filet Mignon with Brandy Peppercorn Cream) and classic New England fare (Finnan Haddie – that’s smoked haddock with cream and apple-smoked bacon).

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