2023 has been an up and down year for Rhode Island restaurants recovery from the pandemic.

Some have survived, and some have not. New ones have entered the market. Prices have risen. Jobs have gone unfilled. People are returning to one of life’s great pleasures-dining out-and they are demanding good rood at reasonable prices.

ALANIS MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO

Mediterranean, and in particular Greek food has gained in popularity recently with, a gyro becoming a popular luncheon item.

Alanis, at 74 Rolfe Square in Cranston has become a healthy alternative to all the fast-food places in the area.

All of their meat (chicken, beef, lamb) is halal (permissible for Muslims to eat), organically fed, with no hormones or antibiotics, making for an all-natural diet.

The place is brightly lit and spotlessly clean.

Alanis serves the tastiest beef gyro I’ve found in Rhode Island and beyond. The Greek pita is layered with a special tzatziki sauce, filled with lettuce, tomato, onion and three grilled to order spicy beef strips. ($10.99).

The wraps may also be ordered with Syrian bread or a tortilla.

Over a dozen Mediterranean appetizers include Baba Ghanoush, ((smoky roasted eggplant at $9.99) and a mezza platter (hummus, baba ganoush, grape leaves, falafel, and pita bread for $12.99).

Vegetarian bowls, kabob platters. And of course, baklava, are also on the menu.

For take-out, call 642-8000. Go on line at www.alanis-bistro.com.

THE SANDWICH HUT

Consistently one of the best places in R.I. for sandwiches, The sandwich Hut has expanded to two new places,

When we’re in the mood for a good Italian grinder, we head over to 1253 North Main St. in Providence where Joyce prefers the Allitalia (Prosciutto, capocollo, pepperoni and provolone. ($10.50 for a small which is all she can handle)

I prefer the Italian Deluxe (Salami, ham, pepperoni and provolone for $9.75.

Last time I tried a Cubano Italiano of focaccia bread and loved it. The hot-pressed panini was filled with Swiss cheese, ham, mortadella, and prosciutto ($9.75).

Call ahead at 272-2590.

OAKLAWN DINER

A reader suggested we review the Greek/Italian diner restaurant in Oaklawn, which we had trouble finding because there was no address or name on the building which was under renovation.

The menu said The Oaklawn Diner, and the food was displayed in warming trays on the counter. We got there after 6 p.m. and they close at 7 p.m. Much of the food had been taken away, but Joyce had a nice gyro and I had a sausage and pepper grinder. The people in line waiting for orders to go, including a Cranston cop, said the food is very good and inexpensive.

We’ll give it a month and try it again.

MAVENS

What can we say?

We’ve been waiting this long for a good Jewish delicatessen; I guess we can wait a bit longer.

Somehow our invitation to the press opening got “lost in the mail”, so we tried on our own on two occasions and found notes on the door that they decided to close and re-group.

Restaurants usually have “soft openings”, where the general public doesn’t know they are open and they have a smaller word-of-mouth crowd. Not so with Mavens, who were overwhelmed with the response to their announced openings.

We still want to taste their Ruben, so we’ll give it a couple of weeks and go off-hours.