Part of the original Howard Johnson’s floor tile remains at the newly renovated and re-imagined location of the Brass Monkey at the 800 Allens Ave. building in Providence, situated just before the …
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Part of the original Howard Johnson’s floor tile remains at the newly renovated and re-imagined location of the Brass Monkey at the 800 Allens Ave. building in Providence, situated just before the Cranston line. It has seen a variety of reincarnations over the years, the most recent having been Café Ole.
Three young entrepreneurs from Edgewood have opened the Brass Monkey, an attractive, customer-friendly restaurant that appears to be the right fit for the area.
Financial adviser John Lane has studied the area well, and knows his potential customers.
“First, all three of us have close ties with the Edgewood/Pawtuxet area,” he said. “Plus, we have all worked in the business for years and are bringing many of our loyal customers with us.”
Lane studied the area and discovered that there are 1,100 nurses at nearby Rhode Island Hospital, thousands of Johnson & Wales University students, hundreds of high-tech, manufacturing and health care workers, plus the multitude of commuters who exit Route 95 at Allens Avenue and drive by the restaurant on their way home to Cranston and Warwick.
Partners Kim Cota and Oscar Worthington have joined with Lane to insure that the Brass Monkey “is going to be here for a long time.”
Judging from our experience last week during their “soft opening,” Lane could be right. The trio has created a friendly environment that includes a large bar area with two LED TVs, plus nine others strategically placed throughout the restaurant, plus a function room with a 75-inch TV that includes an NFL package that broadcasts any game being played that day.
The dining room has a nice quiet area, and there’s a patio for outside dining.
The menu is varied and subject to adjustments based on the popularity of the items. Prices are most reasonable, with entrees running from $11 for Pasta Pomodora to $14 for Pan Seared Salmon or Beef Tenderloin Kabob.
Sandwiches, including Lane’s favorite, the Turkey Club, are $9 to $11.
We started with a large bowl of steamed mussels ($10), freshly steamed in a saffron and tomato clam broth with chorizo. We soaked up the delicious broth with the accompanying Ciabatta bread.
At John’s suggestion, we tried something new and different – Steamed Edamame, a bowl of lightly salted and steamed beans tossed with garlic butter ($5). He said that the dish is a favorite with beer drinkers who want a healthy alternative to chips. I’m hooked on them.
Joyce ordered the most expensive item on the menu, Lobster Ravioli, steamed in a pink vodka sauce. At $14, it was as good as, and half the price of, the dish you would find in an expensive downtown restaurant.
My judgment of a quality restaurant centers around how they make and prepare their meatloaf. I rate the chef an A-plus on his homemade meatloaf, a combination of pork, veal, and Angus beef, wrapped in bacon, and accompanied by mash potatoes and fresh veggies. The four generous slices provided me with dinner the following day ($12).
Lane emphasized that all ingredients are fresh, with nothing processed.
Brass Monkey is open seven days a week, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., and until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
The grand opening will be held this Saturday, Sept. 13.
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