New restaurants on the menu in Bristol and Westerly, along with dinner and rebrands

Two new restaurants have opened up in recent weeks, one in Bristol and a second in Westerly. Another new Providence breakfast and lunch spot has just added dinner hours while a second Providence restaurant and club has changed their name in a rebranding.

Folklore Provisions

Octopus Salad, Clam Chowder, Chourico & Chips Egg Sandwich and specials like Peaches and Cream Pancakes are on the menu at the newly opened Folklore Provisions.

The new Portuguese inspired cafe is serving breakfast and lunch at 301 Hope St. in Bristol. Sandwiches and salads are on the menu, including a lot with Portuguese flair. Think tinned tuna in a Folklore Tuna Melt.

It's the newest project from chef Eli Dunn, who has partnered with his wife, Rachel, to run the restaurant. Her family is from Sao Miguel, Azores.

They also serve locally roasted espresso and craft spirits. They are open Wednesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

River Bar opens in Westerly

The River Bar has opened at 37 Main St. in Westerly. The owners are James Wayman and Aaron Laipply. It's a lovely setting over the Pawcatuck River that most recently housed the Bridge restaurant. Their menu is full of local ingredients from nearby farmers and producers.

"It's such an incredible location, we are thrilled to be there" said Wayman. They bought the building and did a full renovation. That included creating what they call their "Island Patio." It has 100 seats with an outdoor bar. The river runs by on either side.

The menu is curated for summer starting with raw bar selections and starters that include smoked bluefish, clam chowder and calamari. There are sandwiches, such as burgers and fried fish burritos, plus lobster rolls. Entree choices feature fish and chips, Grilled Prime Hangar Steak, Baked Stonington Scallops, Exotic Mushroom Poke Bowl, Classic Linguini & Clams, Baked Haddock and Sweet Potato Red Curry.

Wayman and Laipply own the excellent Nana's Westerly, serving pizza and baked goods at 82 High St., Westerly, an organic bakery and pizza shop. It's an outpost of Nana’s Mystic, a Connecticut restaurant that was among Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in 2021. Nana's baked goods are on the menu at River Bar.

Irregardless adds dinner

Back in March, Irregardless, a southern biscuit restaurant, opened for breakfast and lunch three days a week at 94 Carpenter St. on the city's West Side. The lines have eased as service has become ultra-efficient, but they are still selling out Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

This week, they introduced dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. The Irregardless team – owners James Dean and Joe Hafner, and pastry chef Erin Richer – will soon expand to five nights a week.

Hafner shared the menu, which is all about tacos. They offer chicken, turkey, chorizo and potato, shrimp, sweet potato, mushroom and pork belly. Sides include fennel salad, chips and pico, and chips with queso, chorizo and peppers.

"We do a grilled flour tortilla," he said. They have corn available for gluten-free tacos. Of course, they make all their own sauces. You can also add a Cat's Farm Egg on anything.

The restaurant is at 84 Carpenter St. Follow the restaurant on Instagram or their website at Irregardlesspvd.com.

Provys in Providence

Seoul Providence opened last year as an Asian fusion restaurant by day and a place to dance by night. It's in Davol Square and from first-time owner Joseph Champavannarath.

It's been rebranded with a new name, Provys. It's at 3 Davol St. Provys occupies a huge space that had been empty for nearly four years after the closing of Point Street Dueling Pianos and the Hi-Hat before that.

Why the rebrand? "Our goals are to align ourselves with the neighborhood and the direction it's growing in to add value to the space and the direction we think the neighborhood is moving in," said the owner.

They are now an American-Asian fusion restaurant. "We still have some classics from Seoul that the people enjoyed, but they’re now alongside some American street food classics," he said. It includes their excellent chicken wings, vegetarian options and rice dishes.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI food news at Folklore Provisions, River Bar, Irregardless and Provys