I gave it one star because I can't give it zero! They were completely understaffed, the waiter was extremely short and unfriendly. I ordered one stuffie and fried ravioli for appetizer, we received it an hour later. The ravioli was good, but the stuffie was burnt/over cooked, half of it you couldn't get out of the shell. At this point I was not happy, so I told the waiter politely to cancel my burger and the next order of drinks. I was polite because I know he was overwhelmed with his tables. Well, his response was "they already cooked the burger, you have to pay." First off, I saw no burger, secondly I said, "I was trying to be nice, I have been here well over an hour just waiting for an appetizer." He then says, it has not been over an hour, I have the time you sat down right here. I could not believe he was arguing after I was being nice!!! I then said, "I don't care when I sat down, I'm not paying for a burger." He then gives me the check, with the burnt stuffie still on it mind you, he apologizes three times, I pay and leave. Left a $0.48 tip, wouldn't of left that, but I didn't have change! I have waited tables before, and I'm still in customer service to this day, so I was patient and understanding, until he argued. I'm sorry, I don't have all night to hang out waiting for burnt food!
(1)
Mike D.
Love this rummy bar. Good eclectic mix of people in the downcity area. Looks like it could have been used in a bar scene for an old 70's cop show like beretta. Service is good beer selection pretty good. Ate here once a few years ago. Good decent pub food. Go for the crowd!
(4)
Tiffany X.
Nice staff. Great location for people watching. The area was a little sketchy but no worse than any other city.
(4)
Charlie C.
I would go back if I was in the area, but probably not go out of my way to visit. Who knows? The staff were very friendly, but not super attentive. You could kind of tell it was a locals place. They took care of us: The food was really good though, the ribs especially. Servings were large and priced as such. Fries, delicious. Great place to watch the game. Just wish they had a larger tap selection.
(3)
James M.
I stopped here for lunch while in Providence and really liked it. Service was excellent, as was the food. I may never have a reason to go to Providence again but, if I do, I'll re-visit this place.
(5)
Julie A.
I've always managed to find myself at Blake's Tavern for one reason or another. It's pretty dive-y. The carpet is old and you can tell that it probably hasn't changed much since it'd opened. Still there is some charm to this. There is dining and a larger back area. I believe you can rent it out for events. I gave Blake's 3 stars because although I've been here a bajillion times, it's never truly WOW'd me. It's a place to go. And depending on the day you might get a bartender that can get your drink made right.
(3)
Melanie B.
It is impossible to outdo my dear Erin M's review of Blake Tavern, so I shall just tell you that I have enjoyed my handful of experiences here. And by handful, I mean two, possibly three - though all (both?) were memorable. I love the Blake Tavern because it is oh-so-New England. With it's vague Irishness, dark, yet washed out wood, patrons and bartenders with amazin' accents and simultaneous crustiness-friendliness, and $3 Narraganset tall boys, I'm not sure what more you really could ask for to epitomize Providence, Rhode Island. Well, stuffed quahogs, maybe (stuffers!). But at any rate, this really is a nice little family friendly dive bar (there was a family eating here today, and the children were ridiculously well behaved - kudos). The food is tres satisfying bar food - today I had the quesadillas with guacamole and two Sam Adams (I shoulda had the Narraganset, but I noticed too late... oh well). I tried the well-done fries (see Erin's review) and thought they were three stars/a-ok. Most of all, I enjoyed the decor, the affect, the bar, the bartender, and the old man drinking Budweiser who struck up a convo with me just as we were leaving. If I hadn't had a plane to catch, I can guarantee you I woulda spent some more time drinking tall boys and shooting the shit at Blakes. Perfect spot to knock back a beer or five on a freezing cold, snowy afternoon.
(4)
Damian B.
Bar food, great service. Even though there was serious jackhammer construction going on immediately outside the window, I would still recommend it. I had a Reuben and it was fantastic!
(4)
Jessica F.
Roaming the Providence Place Mall can really work up one's appetite, but the food court is rather small. So my friend and I braved the cold and walked a few blocks toward the theater where we happened upon Blake's. It looked pretty inviting from the outside (ie. warm!) with a nice, big bar and a few tables. The posted menu looked to have the usual pub fare with some decent entrees at reasonable prices so we ventured inside. I was a little surprised when the host asked if we had reservations because there were about 10 tables, but then we were ushered through a small dining area, another bar area, and into a third dining room (I think there is yet another room too). This warm, cozy, bar turned out to be a regular labyrinth! The tap selection was good but not huge. They do have the typical Sam and Sam seasonal and Guinness (among others), which is all I really wanted. We each had a beer and a wrap sandwich. I had the chicken fajita wrap which was packed with moist, tender chicken. Of course, I had the cole slaw which was very obviously homemade. It was good but could have spent another night in the fridge. The sweet potato fries were fresh cut and crisp. The service here is outstanding. Our waitress was great and we were greeted by every staff member we saw as we were making our way out. And it's a long, winding way to the front door! If you are planning to stop by, I do recommend making a reservation. We got there around 4:30 on a Saturday but fully 3/4 of the tables were reserved. Judging by overheard conversations, most of those reservations were for regulars. If I lived closer I'd be a regular here too!
(4)
Mike M.
me and my girlfriend went there on new years eve for a early dinner. they got Narragansett tall boys for $3 which is cool. it was pretty dark in there and the waitresses had the juke box are tied up with what they wanted to listen to..there were a few bums at the bar creeping around. we got a chips and salsa appetizer and it wasn't anything special. chips taken from a bag put into a basket with salsa. simple enough i guess. i got a hod dog basket which was good. the fries were good too. didn't give you too many but the plate was decent. it was only $5.99 my girlfriend wasn't happy with the salad. she said the veggies were all spoiled and rotten. it looked it too.. also the white wine she got was old too. prob been sitting in the bottle for a week or 2. during our a meal a big parade came threw the bar for new years eve and made loud noise. wasn't a fan of that. the other plates people got looked good, mainly the tips and wings... i prob would go back and get drinks and wings or something. the service was pretty good too
(2)
Erin M.
A lot of school has been skipped here. It's not a good idea to stop in for a quick dinner and drink with a friend after work before a 6:30 Human Resources class. This place is so laid back, cozy, friendly, and ridiculous on certain nights that you will not want to go learn anything. I used to eat well-done fries with a side of honey mustard and turkey wraps. Always delicious. I drink whatever the fuck strikes me from day to day so I don't recommend anything in particular, but the ever classy white zin on the rocks seems pretty darn popular in this bar full of an extremely diverse clientele. You'll have an off-duty cop on one end of the bar, and a drug addict on the other, and they will go make love in a playground after the bar closes. Yes, they will.
(4)
J K.
The burgers are awesome here, they're better than most places I've eaten at. Regular kind of people, good selection of beer, and they used to have a pee pee smelling carpet a while back but I think they cleaned it. This place is cool. :)
(4)
Paul W.
Pub Food through and through. all the usual suspects are here. burgers, wings, sandwiches. I've had some really good grub here and i've also have some bad. Bar staff is always friendly and efficient. the kitchen staff can be a little off at times. I'd say 80% of the time they are on the money but 20% of the time they miss the mark. Overcooked burgers calamari swimming in oil type gaffs. Take your time guys and send it out properly. Not a bad place let's just trim up the rough edges.
(3)
Ester C.
Random toothless regulars will start talking to you, bartender was new & still training but sweet, on tap beer was flat asked for bottle, 1/2 menu is pizza but were out of pizza dough & found out when we were ready to order
(1)
Raven F.
Fun place! We wonder here every so often, but the last time was the best. We sat at the bar and ordered a ton of appetizers to snack on. Our food wasn't great... just your run of the mill greasy bar food. Maybe the sandwiches/entress are better? I'm not sure. But that didn't matter- the bartender that night was John and he was awesome. Treated us well, was a lot of fun, let us taste a beer on tap we'd never heard of. They have a decent selection of beer and it's not overpriced. It was a good night. We'll be back.
(4)
Mchudy C.
A lot of old Guys and a lot of older ladies but not a bad. fun nights are up right when they have karaoke. The food is not the best but the beer prices are decent. I do not frequent this bar as much.
(2)
Dan L.
I come to Blake's and I know I'm going to get drunk. It never fails, it happens every god damn time! I even fell asleep on the bar one time and I still didn't get kicked out!! There's always someone that you meet in this place and it is straight up and damn good time. Yes it gets crowded on the weekends but during the week it's a little more down key and you can actually have conversation with someone without having to shout. I love everything about this place. The decor, the ambiance, it's just great. Next trip to Providence, I'm making sure I stop here!!
(5)
David N.
Good place for beers.
(4)
Paul M.
A friend treated me to dinner at Blake's for my birthday and I have to say I was in no way disappointed. I do have to say the prices are not super cheap, but they are not terribly expensive either - running a nice middle of the road. After some appetizers and a large 16oz bourbon steak cooked perfectly to medium (aka not burnt like some other places would have it) which was successfully marinated alongside mushrooms and onions as well as a plethora of options for sides, Blake's is definitely a place to stop by for a nice dinner out.
(4)
David G.
Blake's is a decent neighborhood bar downtown.... if downtown is your neighborhood. The crowd is a mix, as someone else mentioned you get your J&W students, your Lupo's & Civic Center crowds, a handful of office workers, off duty cops (though not as many as before they moved the police station) etc. The food is basic greasy bar fare (burgers, wings, fries, etc) and they stock a full bar but I always get the 'Gansett. They play music that is alternatingly awesome and horrible, but it's not so loud that you can't have a conversation. I mostly wind up here when it's late and I've already been drinking at a bar that closes at midnight, or when it's late and I've been drinking at a bar that doesn't have a kitchen. I have no special affection for Blake's - I would probably never suggest it as a place to start an evening, but there are worse places to end up.
(3)
Betsy R.
It's a decent enough downtown pub--I'd recommend it for a quick beer and bite before heading to a game or a concert. None of the food has ever taken my breath away, but it offers the basics: reasonably priced beer (and a reasonable selection of said beer), a menu of predictable but tasty offerings, and a low-key, relaxed atmosphere. It's dive-tastic, but if you're looking to get a group of people together before a game or concert to mimic a tailgate, you can rent out the back rooms. Friends of mine have done it on numerous occasions, and while it ain't pretty, it works. They've offered specials a number of times--they've brought in reps from Narragansett or Newport Storm Breweries and had gimmicky games and such, which was fun and offered a chance for some free swag. While this place has never bowled me over, it's a solid pub.
(3)
Joseph D.
Where do I even begin with Blake's. Just a nondescript, semi run down looking Irish pub Down City, but it is somehow more than that. It is dark like an Irish pub should be, a couple TV's, some tables and a small bar. Decent selection of beers on tap, and the food is decent. Nothing i would return for but nothing I have ever been disappointed in. It's true beauty is that it is neutral territory, in that it doesn't have a set clientele. It gets a pretty even mix of hipsters, college kids, "street toughs", old neighborhood men, fancy people (the PPAC crowd", people waiting for a show at Lupo's, those either going to or leaving an event or hockey game at the dunk, office people... it is amazing solely for the people watching possibilities here. Other than that the staff is always friendly, the drinks fairly priced.. and the waitresses are usually cute. It is not chic or fancy, it is as unpretentious a place as I can imagine, and thats why I love stopping in. Check it out, accept it for what it is, and you'll have a good time.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
Great little place in the heart of providence. The food is good and affordable. Liquor prices are a tad high,but expected due to being in the city. No complaints with service. I would eat here again.
(4)
Mike M.
hit or miss. Nothing fancy, and sometimes below good. they have guiness.
(2)
Chris S.
I have been in Blake's a few times. We were on our way to a show at Lupo's and stopped in for a few quick beers. $3 'Gansett tall boys did the trick. No waiter service but the bar is small enough and dive-y enough it wasn't expected and probably quicker to just walk up to the bar. I went again the other day after seeing a show at the Perishable Theatre. The bar was fairly empty and pretty quiet (exactly what I was looking for). The bartender was chatty which helped the atmosphere. My wife ordered a Makers and the bartender poured it to the top of the glass.....very generous pour but not so unreasonable to think someone wouldn't drink it.....I complement the sentiment and he replies: 'I pour 'em like I like 'em'.....a man after my own heart. Drink prices are reasonable, the food looks good but I have never had anything to eat there. Not sure it is the place to go for good atmosphere but it is great for a drink or two or just to hang out at a quiet bar. Sitting outside provides for some great people watching.
(3)
Mary L.
I love that they play oldies, have dark wood, and guiness and sam adams on tap. The food here is pretty standard bar food. The sweet potato fries are pretty delicious! I've had the Reuben, and thought that there was way too much meat...but to each their own. Fun place to meet friends
(4)
Annamarie T.
Great little dive bar, located right down town making it a great place to stop for cheap beer while bar hopping! They even have karaoke on Thursday nights which can be pretty entertaining to watch and participate if you so choose.
(4)
Bill H.
The Thursday karaoke here is half-hearted. In the forty-five minutes that I visited, only two songs were sung. Lame. The drink prices are just a touch too high given the experience and the crowd. The tap selection is decent, to be fair.
(2)
Meredith a.
I found this place by accident. My friends had stopped in this place nearby which was just too crowded for my taste, so I said I'd wait for them accross the street. As long as I was sitting at their outdoor table, I ordered some coffee and some oreo ice cream pie. The pie was great! I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Then another friend came over and sat with me, so we ordered some mild chicken wings. OMG, they were the best wings I ever had! Big and juicy, perfectly fried, and with a great mix of seasonings. I live in Boston, but I am planning to take the train down to Providence one of these days to get some more of those wings!
(5)
Joanne L.
We attempted to eat dinner here last night, but after 1 1/2 hours waiting for our food, we gave up. We had tickets to a show at PPAC and needed to leave. While we were waiting one of us asked for rolls or bread because we were very hungry, and their response was we don't have any. We paid for our drinks (which we probably shouldn't have) and left. We grabbed a slice of pizza across the street from PPAC! So much for a nice sit down dinner!
(1)
Jennifer E.
Great place to people watch before last call. You can see some crazy stuff going down in Downcity at the end of a Friday or Saturday night. Draft list is ok and the food is pretty good for pub fare. Can't say it's my favorite bar in town but the staff are pretty friendly and they've got 3$ Gansett' tall boys. Kitchen is open late so sit back, munch on some wings, sip your beer and let the games begin.
(3)
Michael B.
Our party of four ate her on Saturday evening during the film festival. We actually arrived for a late dinner - probably around 8pm. The four of us just ordered a bunch of appetizers for the table - a couple of Pots of Gold, some wings, and onion rings (along with some drinks). The service was good, although just a tad disorganized when we first arrived as they were changing shifts (or at least switching areas/zones). But once they got settled - after about 8-10 minutes - the service was good. Quite attentive and accommodating. The food was good. It was typical pub grub, but good quality. We liked that the Pot of Gold came on a bed of fries, as it provided a lot more food. We did find it kind of odd that the Pot of Gold was advertised as perfect for two people, which it kind of was except for the fact that there was three of everything. Three wings, three fingers, three mozza sticks, and three mini quesadillas. Not exactly built to be divided easily be two people!!! But beyond that mathematical quandary, a good meal with good service.
(4)
Susan D.
A nice small bar/tavern. Very intimate, not made for large groups. Great presentation on the food, our burgers were great, although one was a bit overcooked from what we requested. Love the sides choices, we did the steamed veggies, they were perfect I was dying to try the French fries though because of the tangy ketchup.
(4)
Evan V.
Unpretentious and nearby. That's enough for me. Add a veggie burger with an option for rye toast along with the comfort of good company afforded by a few friends and there you have it. In a recent visit the service was quite outstanding. Low pressure - despite our taking forever to look at the menu - along with frequent check ins, water refills without asking, you know, what a server should just do and with a smile. Was that condescending? It was meant as a compliment. Blake's is not quite a regular's dive, nor is it one of those worth-going-out-of-your-way-for destinations. It's the type of place where you want to put vinegar on your fries, even if you don't usually take them that way. It's the kind of watering hole where you may run into the reigning queen of Providence drag queens, Miss Kitty Litter. It's the sort of spot where an Advanced Public Speaking professor reserves the back room for a night, so he can have his students give their final presentation - a 5 minute long comedic speech - "in a public setting". It may also be the very location where one strikingly handsome and charismatic 19 year-old stud recounted his many failed sexual escapades for more than three times longer than what was allotted to him and still managed to walk away from the class with an A. I'll keep that A, but have to give Blake's an honorable, much-deserved B++.
(4)
Joe C.
Disappointed I have been a customer of Blake's for 20 years and for some reason it has really gone downhill. There's a whole slew of issues going on here. The menu is a mess, the mainstay corned beef sandwich is on the bottom of the last page on the menu. I ordered a corned beef sandwich on a Friday night and I have to be honest it was one of the worst cb sandwiches I have ever had. The corned beef tasted old like it was cut the day before. Awful Lastly is the prices, Blake's used to be a divey tavern with a cool atmosphere and cheap drinks. None of this is the case anymore. 2 awful sandwiches, 4 draft beers, and an awful patron to deal with 60 bucks. Terrible, I give this place 2 stars instead of 1 for the good decade that I experienced. Those days are long gone. Go to Murphy's Thanks
(2)
Ryan K.
I went to Blake's before a show at lupos and was less than impressed. The food was very much overpriced. I ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich that had a small sized piece of chicken and a boring roll. The fries were standard. For the drinks, they had a very old school selection on draft. Not to mention, I received the beer in a plastic cup. The beer was also expensive. I think they are trying to prepare you for lupos by charging lupos prices, lol. Anyway, the music was cool, they played the band that was playing at the show. That was neat. All in all, this place was very unimpressive, and I probably won't go again.
(2)
Joie S.
I went to Blake's with some friends before a show at Lupo's and we had a great time. We all ate and the food was great, I had pizza, my friends had burgers, sandwiches, and the mac and cheese and everyone loved their food. The waitress was great, although once it got a little busy, it was a little slow. They also play the music of whoever is playing at Lupo's that night so that was fun. I would definitely go back to Blake's, especially before a show at Lupo's!
(4)
Eric M.
The staff is very friendly and the food is delicious... I think they could do some renovations or redecorate but all in all it is a great bar/restaurant
(4)
Shawna D.
Came here on a night of a show at Lupos so it was crowded, but npt packed. Keep that in mind. Food was pretty damn good - we got the chili and Bourbon wings. The wings had that sticky sauce...delish! The service on the other hand was pretty freakin bad. I felt horrible for the female bartender...she was handling all the male bartenders problems 'Billy'. Billy is a joke A total douche bag. Yelling be sarcastic to all the customers except these two women whom he knows. This tool bag was purposely ignoring people...expecting other customers (whom he was being a dick to) to hand his friends drinks by saying 'be a gentleman'. The female bartender like I said looked like she was dragged down by her obnoxious idiot, tool bag coworker. I would be too dealing with this idiot.
(1)
Dan P.
The only reason this place is getting a 2star review is because the cocktail server Jessica was awesome! First of all there is no heat here, which makes no sense because their martini's are $14... Do NOT waste your money here! This bar is cold dirty and smells like a dive bar... Oh wait... It is a dive, then why are the prices so steep?
(2)
Ed M.
Bait and Switch Sign out front advertises fish and chips but when one goes inside they say they ran out. Saturday night at 7:00 PM seems a bit early to be sold out. At very least they could change the chalkboard sign. Particularly infuriating when you have paid for parking based on that advertisement.
(1)
Jody A.
The waitress was pleasant but that's the best thing I can say about Blake's. It took close to 45 minutes for us to get our food. When it arrived The burgers were over cooked & the fries were ice cold. After complaining we received warm fries but asked for tomato and lettuce for a chicken sandwich and we were charged an extra 50 cents. Then when we went to the bathroom there was no toilet paper. With so many other options for good food in providence, it is ridiculous that Blake's doesn't up their game.
(1)
Kym M.
I've been to this restaurant twice. The first time (several months ago), the food and service were ok. We went again this past Sunday and had the most horrible experiences. The bathroom (which we didn't use the first time) was DISGUSTING. I had to hold one of the stalls closed so my daughters could have privacy. No paper towels, and no one replaced them (after we were there for almost an hour and a half, and we told them as soon as we arrived). The food: on a Sunday at 5 pm, they were out of many things. It took 50 minutes from the time we sat down until our food arrived. Once we found items they had (hamburgers, salad) - the burgers were not done as ordered (a lot more well done than medium) and the fries were cold. I will often give a restaurant a second chance, but we were so skeeved by the environment, annoyed at the length of time it took to get our food, and that the food was sub-par, we won't be coming back here. But if you're looking for a great price on parking during shows at the PPAC, the garage on the same block only charges $10 on event nights!
(1)
Jessica L.
Came here before a show at Lupos and the place was dead. Probably 8-10 people scattered about and 2 of them appeared to be waitstaff finished with their shift and grabbing dinner. No problem, we just came for drinks anyway. Sat at the bar, made eye contact with the bartender and waited. When he decided he was done talking to the guys at the other end of the bar, he strolled down our end, threw coasters in front of us and says "You ready?" Like we were the ones who kept him waiting. Had a couple drinks and left for the show. Good location especially if you're going to see a show but the bartender acted like we were an inconvenience when we asked for more drinks so I'm kind of glad we didn't decide to get food here too.
(3)
Shawn H.
We decided to go here before a Providence Bruins game. The game started at 7pm. Figuring this, we decided 5:30 for dinner would give us plenty of time to eat and walk to the game. When we arrived were seated promptly. However the waitress did not come over for at least 15 minutes. We finally put a drink order in before another 15 minutes of waiting to put a food order in. The drinks were not that cold. As if they were sitting on the counter for a period of time. As time went on we did not get a chance to order anymore drinks before we had to leave. It was 6:40 when we left with no food and one mediocre beverage. The waitress tried to tell us the food had only been ordered 35 minutes ago. That might have been true but it wasn't our fault she had waited so long to put the order in with the kitchen. She offered no apology and we walked out unsatisfied. This place is basically a bar. Nothing more.
(1)
P. E.
I sat at the outdoor seating on a beautiful September afternoon and patiently waited for service. I was greeted by a man who shouted "these tables are for customers only! (I guess they discriminate against white, middle aged females that tip 30%). Anyway my server was great. I ordered steak and wild rice. The rice was obviously from a box but I didn't care because the Steak was one of the best I ever had! Melted in my mouth! Will I return for the steak and forget about the horrible greeting? I'll check other restaurants out to see if they offer a combo of hospitality and great food.
(3)
Robert S.
We had a coupon for Blake's so we decided to try it last night.... Three of us had dinner and the food was not bad. The Fish sandwich was crispy and flaky, although too much batter, not so much fish. The Angus burger was moist and well seasoned. The half rack of ribs with grilled chicken was OK, the ribs were better than the chicken, but overall not bad... The waitress was not very good, she never refilled the water glasses until I asked for it...towards the end of the meal... Overall an OK place to get a quick, inexpensive meal in downtown....regular PUB food.
(3)
Paul F.
went to blakes with the family before the providence bruins game. We we're promptly shown to our table by a friendly hostess. The tables were not full of people though the bar was. It took our server over 10 minutes to get to our table. Once there she was friendly though. When asked about kids menu (which isn't on the regular menu) She read it off to us. We ordered a round of drinks, milks for the kids and a beer for me. when serving the milks our waitress spilled the overflowing cups on the table. not a huge problem that napkins can't take care of and she was very apoligetic. ordered an app and dinners, then waitress disappeared seriously when she dropped off dinner she basically walked away without asking if we wanted anything else. no refills on drinks and easily 20 minutes without checking in. That was enough for me. To top it off I ordered the fried clams (which sad to say we're good) but for $18 i would expect to get more than 8 fried clams and 2 pounds of french fries!! I acutally felt ripped off when I saw my meal. I will also say that the patrons at the bar, which is only 8-10' away from most of the tables were dropping F bombs and worse. Most of the time quietly, other times when they missed at keno not so quietly. Blakes will be wiped off the list of estableshments we will ever go to again! 2 stars only because the fried clams were cooked well despite the rip off of a price
(2)
Cade R.
We had the chili and the southwestern egg rolls. Both were delicious. I thought the chili was really very good. The corn bread was good, too. I'm only in Providence for a couple of nights, but I kind of want to stop by again to try some of the other food ... and have more chili.
(4)
Greg E.
decided to go out last night. and was searching around for a good bar to grab a drink and some food. i picked Blake's because i am an irish fan and irish bars are the best. the service was excellent a very nice bartender. the beers on tap were a great variety from angry orchard, dogfish, and a blue moon. and the food was just excellent. a perfect portion for a bar scene. they also had a good selection of music. all and all a very excellent bar and i will for sure be returning to wet my lip on a nice cold beer.
(4)
Grace R.
Solid bar and extremely friendly staff at Blake's. Casual prime location in downtown Providence to catch a sports game! We ordered the Texas Burger and it was de-li-cious! The beef was cooked perfectly and coated with a slice of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and wait for it... 5 strips of bacon with BBQ sauce. OMG. Paired with their seasoned fries this dish really kicked it out of the park! Hubby had their buffalo chicken sandwich and the chicken was so tender, jumbo portion and we were both happy at the end of the meal. Our server was OUTSTANDING. You know how you can tell when people just enjoy their job or take their job seriously so it totally shows on their face? That's our server. She kept our drinks full, checked up on us on a non-creepy way and was prompt with our requests. It totally made our experience so much better, pushed it over to a 4 star bar. Thank you for all you do!
(4)
Mandy D.
I needed a quick bite before the Prov. Pride parade, and I just happened to stumble in to Blake's. It was exactly what I was looking for at the moment: relatively cheap bar food. I ordered a basic burger and my boyfriend got a garden salad. The bus boy that brought out the food automatically assumed that the MAN ordered the burger. Tisk, tisk, bro. The burger was decent and the cheese was nice and melty. My boyfriend's salad was big and leafy and the veggies looked pretty fresh. Overall, the food was much better than I expected it would be. At first the service was great, and I was surprised at how our waitress managed to keep on top of things, even amongst a giant party in the city. However, we ended up waiting quite awhile for the bill, which was unexpected. Also, as we were leaving, we overheard another waitress reciting the specials to a table near the door. Before our meal, we had asked our server if there were any specials. She said there were none. Hmm. I was also pretty disappointed in the beer selection. You would think that a rustic-looking bar smack dab in the middle of downcity would have something out of the ordinary on tap. The best beer on tap was probably Sam Summer. I'm sure I'll return. Just like the rating states, it was A-OK.
(3)
Lizz W.
Fairly priced. Karaoke Thursday nights. That is all I know about this place.. or all I can remember ....the drinks were strong lol
(3)
Jarod G.
The first time I visited Blake's Tavern was about 10 years ago after the Rhode Island Beerfest and needless to say the only thing I remember were the pitchers of beer. Fast forward to February 20 and my wife and I found ourselves at Blake's after a show at the PPAC. We opted to go here because it was within walking distance and my wife had never been. We were seated right away and started with a Dogfish Head and a Sam Light. For food we took advantage of their combo deals. Blake's has various pizza and wing combos you can purchase that includes large or small pizza's and various orders of wings. We ordered the large 1 topping pizza ( pepperoni) and 16 buffalo wings for $20.00. The place was pretty busy as it seemed that our waitress was handling the entire restaurant except the bar. Took almost an hour to get our food after we ordered it. Pizza had a crunch flakes crust and very cheesy. The wings were full of meat and had a good kick. We ordered another round of beers and ended up taking 3 slices and a half the wings to go. When we got the bill we were surprised too see the total over $60.00 After reviewing the bill we saw that we had been charged for 8 beers instead of 4. Beers we didn't even order ( Bud light, MGD). It took us 5 minuets to find our waitress and explain the bill was not right. She returned 10 min later and still the bill was not correct. 2 beers were removed and we still had 6 on the tap. Again, 5 min to find her and another 10 to get it fixed. She returned the bill a 3rd time and low and behold 5 beers. At this point it was after 1AM and we were tired. We paid for the extra beer and took it out of her tip. Had this billing mishap not happened or been corrected the first time I would have given this a better review. I gave it 2 stars because the food was really good but service was slow and billing was train wreck. Next time I visit the PPAC we will be seeking out another place to eat.
(2)
Ashley P.
Blake's Tavern leaves much to be desired. A group of friends and I decided to stop in for a quick drink on our way from one location in Providence to another. The first, most uncomfortable experience about walking in here was the bar going absolutely silent as we found a place to settle down. Very. . . awkward. . . silence. . . The waitress came over and ordered our drinks with relative speed. I ordered an Amaretto Sour (of which the waitress was unsure they'd have the ingredients for. . . ) For a bar that boasts "mixed drinks are a specialty at Blake's, we have a complete line of liquors to match any taste" this is very surprising in hindsight. Regardless of this, the drink was mixed decently. About what I expected. After placing our initial orders, service was painfully slow. What should have been an in and out trip turned into a 30 - 40 minute ordeal. We waited forever to get the actual drinks. . . then again for the bill and an eternity to pay. Really not worth the time spent here. In addition, the woman's bathroom is a trek and a half to locate and get to. You must travel through the crowded front bar, maze through the back bar, then finally arrive around another corner. Finding my way back was another story. A somewhat generic beer list matched with their slow turn around will make it easy to walk past this establishment in the future.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
David M.
I gave it one star because I can't give it zero! They were completely understaffed, the waiter was extremely short and unfriendly. I ordered one stuffie and fried ravioli for appetizer, we received it an hour later. The ravioli was good, but the stuffie was burnt/over cooked, half of it you couldn't get out of the shell. At this point I was not happy, so I told the waiter politely to cancel my burger and the next order of drinks. I was polite because I know he was overwhelmed with his tables. Well, his response was "they already cooked the burger, you have to pay." First off, I saw no burger, secondly I said, "I was trying to be nice, I have been here well over an hour just waiting for an appetizer." He then says, it has not been over an hour, I have the time you sat down right here. I could not believe he was arguing after I was being nice!!! I then said, "I don't care when I sat down, I'm not paying for a burger." He then gives me the check, with the burnt stuffie still on it mind you, he apologizes three times, I pay and leave. Left a $0.48 tip, wouldn't of left that, but I didn't have change! I have waited tables before, and I'm still in customer service to this day, so I was patient and understanding, until he argued. I'm sorry, I don't have all night to hang out waiting for burnt food!
(1)Mike D.
Love this rummy bar. Good eclectic mix of people in the downcity area. Looks like it could have been used in a bar scene for an old 70's cop show like beretta. Service is good beer selection pretty good. Ate here once a few years ago. Good decent pub food. Go for the crowd!
(4)Tiffany X.
Nice staff. Great location for people watching. The area was a little sketchy but no worse than any other city.
(4)Charlie C.
I would go back if I was in the area, but probably not go out of my way to visit. Who knows? The staff were very friendly, but not super attentive. You could kind of tell it was a locals place. They took care of us: The food was really good though, the ribs especially. Servings were large and priced as such. Fries, delicious. Great place to watch the game. Just wish they had a larger tap selection.
(3)James M.
I stopped here for lunch while in Providence and really liked it. Service was excellent, as was the food. I may never have a reason to go to Providence again but, if I do, I'll re-visit this place.
(5)Julie A.
I've always managed to find myself at Blake's Tavern for one reason or another. It's pretty dive-y. The carpet is old and you can tell that it probably hasn't changed much since it'd opened. Still there is some charm to this. There is dining and a larger back area. I believe you can rent it out for events. I gave Blake's 3 stars because although I've been here a bajillion times, it's never truly WOW'd me. It's a place to go. And depending on the day you might get a bartender that can get your drink made right.
(3)Melanie B.
It is impossible to outdo my dear Erin M's review of Blake Tavern, so I shall just tell you that I have enjoyed my handful of experiences here. And by handful, I mean two, possibly three - though all (both?) were memorable. I love the Blake Tavern because it is oh-so-New England. With it's vague Irishness, dark, yet washed out wood, patrons and bartenders with amazin' accents and simultaneous crustiness-friendliness, and $3 Narraganset tall boys, I'm not sure what more you really could ask for to epitomize Providence, Rhode Island. Well, stuffed quahogs, maybe (stuffers!). But at any rate, this really is a nice little family friendly dive bar (there was a family eating here today, and the children were ridiculously well behaved - kudos). The food is tres satisfying bar food - today I had the quesadillas with guacamole and two Sam Adams (I shoulda had the Narraganset, but I noticed too late... oh well). I tried the well-done fries (see Erin's review) and thought they were three stars/a-ok. Most of all, I enjoyed the decor, the affect, the bar, the bartender, and the old man drinking Budweiser who struck up a convo with me just as we were leaving. If I hadn't had a plane to catch, I can guarantee you I woulda spent some more time drinking tall boys and shooting the shit at Blakes. Perfect spot to knock back a beer or five on a freezing cold, snowy afternoon.
(4)Damian B.
Bar food, great service. Even though there was serious jackhammer construction going on immediately outside the window, I would still recommend it. I had a Reuben and it was fantastic!
(4)Jessica F.
Roaming the Providence Place Mall can really work up one's appetite, but the food court is rather small. So my friend and I braved the cold and walked a few blocks toward the theater where we happened upon Blake's. It looked pretty inviting from the outside (ie. warm!) with a nice, big bar and a few tables. The posted menu looked to have the usual pub fare with some decent entrees at reasonable prices so we ventured inside. I was a little surprised when the host asked if we had reservations because there were about 10 tables, but then we were ushered through a small dining area, another bar area, and into a third dining room (I think there is yet another room too). This warm, cozy, bar turned out to be a regular labyrinth! The tap selection was good but not huge. They do have the typical Sam and Sam seasonal and Guinness (among others), which is all I really wanted. We each had a beer and a wrap sandwich. I had the chicken fajita wrap which was packed with moist, tender chicken. Of course, I had the cole slaw which was very obviously homemade. It was good but could have spent another night in the fridge. The sweet potato fries were fresh cut and crisp. The service here is outstanding. Our waitress was great and we were greeted by every staff member we saw as we were making our way out. And it's a long, winding way to the front door! If you are planning to stop by, I do recommend making a reservation. We got there around 4:30 on a Saturday but fully 3/4 of the tables were reserved. Judging by overheard conversations, most of those reservations were for regulars. If I lived closer I'd be a regular here too!
(4)Mike M.
me and my girlfriend went there on new years eve for a early dinner. they got Narragansett tall boys for $3 which is cool. it was pretty dark in there and the waitresses had the juke box are tied up with what they wanted to listen to..there were a few bums at the bar creeping around. we got a chips and salsa appetizer and it wasn't anything special. chips taken from a bag put into a basket with salsa. simple enough i guess. i got a hod dog basket which was good. the fries were good too. didn't give you too many but the plate was decent. it was only $5.99 my girlfriend wasn't happy with the salad. she said the veggies were all spoiled and rotten. it looked it too.. also the white wine she got was old too. prob been sitting in the bottle for a week or 2. during our a meal a big parade came threw the bar for new years eve and made loud noise. wasn't a fan of that. the other plates people got looked good, mainly the tips and wings... i prob would go back and get drinks and wings or something. the service was pretty good too
(2)Erin M.
A lot of school has been skipped here. It's not a good idea to stop in for a quick dinner and drink with a friend after work before a 6:30 Human Resources class. This place is so laid back, cozy, friendly, and ridiculous on certain nights that you will not want to go learn anything. I used to eat well-done fries with a side of honey mustard and turkey wraps. Always delicious. I drink whatever the fuck strikes me from day to day so I don't recommend anything in particular, but the ever classy white zin on the rocks seems pretty darn popular in this bar full of an extremely diverse clientele. You'll have an off-duty cop on one end of the bar, and a drug addict on the other, and they will go make love in a playground after the bar closes. Yes, they will.
(4)J K.
The burgers are awesome here, they're better than most places I've eaten at. Regular kind of people, good selection of beer, and they used to have a pee pee smelling carpet a while back but I think they cleaned it. This place is cool. :)
(4)Paul W.
Pub Food through and through. all the usual suspects are here. burgers, wings, sandwiches. I've had some really good grub here and i've also have some bad. Bar staff is always friendly and efficient. the kitchen staff can be a little off at times. I'd say 80% of the time they are on the money but 20% of the time they miss the mark. Overcooked burgers calamari swimming in oil type gaffs. Take your time guys and send it out properly. Not a bad place let's just trim up the rough edges.
(3)Ester C.
Random toothless regulars will start talking to you, bartender was new & still training but sweet, on tap beer was flat asked for bottle, 1/2 menu is pizza but were out of pizza dough & found out when we were ready to order
(1)Raven F.
Fun place! We wonder here every so often, but the last time was the best. We sat at the bar and ordered a ton of appetizers to snack on. Our food wasn't great... just your run of the mill greasy bar food. Maybe the sandwiches/entress are better? I'm not sure. But that didn't matter- the bartender that night was John and he was awesome. Treated us well, was a lot of fun, let us taste a beer on tap we'd never heard of. They have a decent selection of beer and it's not overpriced. It was a good night. We'll be back.
(4)Mchudy C.
A lot of old Guys and a lot of older ladies but not a bad. fun nights are up right when they have karaoke. The food is not the best but the beer prices are decent. I do not frequent this bar as much.
(2)Dan L.
I come to Blake's and I know I'm going to get drunk. It never fails, it happens every god damn time! I even fell asleep on the bar one time and I still didn't get kicked out!! There's always someone that you meet in this place and it is straight up and damn good time. Yes it gets crowded on the weekends but during the week it's a little more down key and you can actually have conversation with someone without having to shout. I love everything about this place. The decor, the ambiance, it's just great. Next trip to Providence, I'm making sure I stop here!!
(5)David N.
Good place for beers.
(4)Paul M.
A friend treated me to dinner at Blake's for my birthday and I have to say I was in no way disappointed. I do have to say the prices are not super cheap, but they are not terribly expensive either - running a nice middle of the road. After some appetizers and a large 16oz bourbon steak cooked perfectly to medium (aka not burnt like some other places would have it) which was successfully marinated alongside mushrooms and onions as well as a plethora of options for sides, Blake's is definitely a place to stop by for a nice dinner out.
(4)David G.
Blake's is a decent neighborhood bar downtown.... if downtown is your neighborhood. The crowd is a mix, as someone else mentioned you get your J&W students, your Lupo's & Civic Center crowds, a handful of office workers, off duty cops (though not as many as before they moved the police station) etc. The food is basic greasy bar fare (burgers, wings, fries, etc) and they stock a full bar but I always get the 'Gansett. They play music that is alternatingly awesome and horrible, but it's not so loud that you can't have a conversation. I mostly wind up here when it's late and I've already been drinking at a bar that closes at midnight, or when it's late and I've been drinking at a bar that doesn't have a kitchen. I have no special affection for Blake's - I would probably never suggest it as a place to start an evening, but there are worse places to end up.
(3)Betsy R.
It's a decent enough downtown pub--I'd recommend it for a quick beer and bite before heading to a game or a concert. None of the food has ever taken my breath away, but it offers the basics: reasonably priced beer (and a reasonable selection of said beer), a menu of predictable but tasty offerings, and a low-key, relaxed atmosphere. It's dive-tastic, but if you're looking to get a group of people together before a game or concert to mimic a tailgate, you can rent out the back rooms. Friends of mine have done it on numerous occasions, and while it ain't pretty, it works. They've offered specials a number of times--they've brought in reps from Narragansett or Newport Storm Breweries and had gimmicky games and such, which was fun and offered a chance for some free swag. While this place has never bowled me over, it's a solid pub.
(3)Joseph D.
Where do I even begin with Blake's. Just a nondescript, semi run down looking Irish pub Down City, but it is somehow more than that. It is dark like an Irish pub should be, a couple TV's, some tables and a small bar. Decent selection of beers on tap, and the food is decent. Nothing i would return for but nothing I have ever been disappointed in. It's true beauty is that it is neutral territory, in that it doesn't have a set clientele. It gets a pretty even mix of hipsters, college kids, "street toughs", old neighborhood men, fancy people (the PPAC crowd", people waiting for a show at Lupo's, those either going to or leaving an event or hockey game at the dunk, office people... it is amazing solely for the people watching possibilities here. Other than that the staff is always friendly, the drinks fairly priced.. and the waitresses are usually cute. It is not chic or fancy, it is as unpretentious a place as I can imagine, and thats why I love stopping in. Check it out, accept it for what it is, and you'll have a good time.
(4)Jeffrey B.
Great little place in the heart of providence. The food is good and affordable. Liquor prices are a tad high,but expected due to being in the city. No complaints with service. I would eat here again.
(4)Mike M.
hit or miss. Nothing fancy, and sometimes below good. they have guiness.
(2)Chris S.
I have been in Blake's a few times. We were on our way to a show at Lupo's and stopped in for a few quick beers. $3 'Gansett tall boys did the trick. No waiter service but the bar is small enough and dive-y enough it wasn't expected and probably quicker to just walk up to the bar. I went again the other day after seeing a show at the Perishable Theatre. The bar was fairly empty and pretty quiet (exactly what I was looking for). The bartender was chatty which helped the atmosphere. My wife ordered a Makers and the bartender poured it to the top of the glass.....very generous pour but not so unreasonable to think someone wouldn't drink it.....I complement the sentiment and he replies: 'I pour 'em like I like 'em'.....a man after my own heart. Drink prices are reasonable, the food looks good but I have never had anything to eat there. Not sure it is the place to go for good atmosphere but it is great for a drink or two or just to hang out at a quiet bar. Sitting outside provides for some great people watching.
(3)Mary L.
I love that they play oldies, have dark wood, and guiness and sam adams on tap. The food here is pretty standard bar food. The sweet potato fries are pretty delicious! I've had the Reuben, and thought that there was way too much meat...but to each their own. Fun place to meet friends
(4)Annamarie T.
Great little dive bar, located right down town making it a great place to stop for cheap beer while bar hopping! They even have karaoke on Thursday nights which can be pretty entertaining to watch and participate if you so choose.
(4)Bill H.
The Thursday karaoke here is half-hearted. In the forty-five minutes that I visited, only two songs were sung. Lame. The drink prices are just a touch too high given the experience and the crowd. The tap selection is decent, to be fair.
(2)Meredith a.
I found this place by accident. My friends had stopped in this place nearby which was just too crowded for my taste, so I said I'd wait for them accross the street. As long as I was sitting at their outdoor table, I ordered some coffee and some oreo ice cream pie. The pie was great! I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Then another friend came over and sat with me, so we ordered some mild chicken wings. OMG, they were the best wings I ever had! Big and juicy, perfectly fried, and with a great mix of seasonings. I live in Boston, but I am planning to take the train down to Providence one of these days to get some more of those wings!
(5)Joanne L.
We attempted to eat dinner here last night, but after 1 1/2 hours waiting for our food, we gave up. We had tickets to a show at PPAC and needed to leave. While we were waiting one of us asked for rolls or bread because we were very hungry, and their response was we don't have any. We paid for our drinks (which we probably shouldn't have) and left. We grabbed a slice of pizza across the street from PPAC! So much for a nice sit down dinner!
(1)Jennifer E.
Great place to people watch before last call. You can see some crazy stuff going down in Downcity at the end of a Friday or Saturday night. Draft list is ok and the food is pretty good for pub fare. Can't say it's my favorite bar in town but the staff are pretty friendly and they've got 3$ Gansett' tall boys. Kitchen is open late so sit back, munch on some wings, sip your beer and let the games begin.
(3)Michael B.
Our party of four ate her on Saturday evening during the film festival. We actually arrived for a late dinner - probably around 8pm. The four of us just ordered a bunch of appetizers for the table - a couple of Pots of Gold, some wings, and onion rings (along with some drinks). The service was good, although just a tad disorganized when we first arrived as they were changing shifts (or at least switching areas/zones). But once they got settled - after about 8-10 minutes - the service was good. Quite attentive and accommodating. The food was good. It was typical pub grub, but good quality. We liked that the Pot of Gold came on a bed of fries, as it provided a lot more food. We did find it kind of odd that the Pot of Gold was advertised as perfect for two people, which it kind of was except for the fact that there was three of everything. Three wings, three fingers, three mozza sticks, and three mini quesadillas. Not exactly built to be divided easily be two people!!! But beyond that mathematical quandary, a good meal with good service.
(4)Susan D.
A nice small bar/tavern. Very intimate, not made for large groups. Great presentation on the food, our burgers were great, although one was a bit overcooked from what we requested. Love the sides choices, we did the steamed veggies, they were perfect I was dying to try the French fries though because of the tangy ketchup.
(4)Evan V.
Unpretentious and nearby. That's enough for me. Add a veggie burger with an option for rye toast along with the comfort of good company afforded by a few friends and there you have it. In a recent visit the service was quite outstanding. Low pressure - despite our taking forever to look at the menu - along with frequent check ins, water refills without asking, you know, what a server should just do and with a smile. Was that condescending? It was meant as a compliment. Blake's is not quite a regular's dive, nor is it one of those worth-going-out-of-your-way-for destinations. It's the type of place where you want to put vinegar on your fries, even if you don't usually take them that way. It's the kind of watering hole where you may run into the reigning queen of Providence drag queens, Miss Kitty Litter. It's the sort of spot where an Advanced Public Speaking professor reserves the back room for a night, so he can have his students give their final presentation - a 5 minute long comedic speech - "in a public setting". It may also be the very location where one strikingly handsome and charismatic 19 year-old stud recounted his many failed sexual escapades for more than three times longer than what was allotted to him and still managed to walk away from the class with an A. I'll keep that A, but have to give Blake's an honorable, much-deserved B++.
(4)Joe C.
Disappointed I have been a customer of Blake's for 20 years and for some reason it has really gone downhill. There's a whole slew of issues going on here. The menu is a mess, the mainstay corned beef sandwich is on the bottom of the last page on the menu. I ordered a corned beef sandwich on a Friday night and I have to be honest it was one of the worst cb sandwiches I have ever had. The corned beef tasted old like it was cut the day before. Awful Lastly is the prices, Blake's used to be a divey tavern with a cool atmosphere and cheap drinks. None of this is the case anymore. 2 awful sandwiches, 4 draft beers, and an awful patron to deal with 60 bucks. Terrible, I give this place 2 stars instead of 1 for the good decade that I experienced. Those days are long gone. Go to Murphy's Thanks
(2)Ryan K.
I went to Blake's before a show at lupos and was less than impressed. The food was very much overpriced. I ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich that had a small sized piece of chicken and a boring roll. The fries were standard. For the drinks, they had a very old school selection on draft. Not to mention, I received the beer in a plastic cup. The beer was also expensive. I think they are trying to prepare you for lupos by charging lupos prices, lol. Anyway, the music was cool, they played the band that was playing at the show. That was neat. All in all, this place was very unimpressive, and I probably won't go again.
(2)Joie S.
I went to Blake's with some friends before a show at Lupo's and we had a great time. We all ate and the food was great, I had pizza, my friends had burgers, sandwiches, and the mac and cheese and everyone loved their food. The waitress was great, although once it got a little busy, it was a little slow. They also play the music of whoever is playing at Lupo's that night so that was fun. I would definitely go back to Blake's, especially before a show at Lupo's!
(4)Eric M.
The staff is very friendly and the food is delicious... I think they could do some renovations or redecorate but all in all it is a great bar/restaurant
(4)Shawna D.
Came here on a night of a show at Lupos so it was crowded, but npt packed. Keep that in mind. Food was pretty damn good - we got the chili and Bourbon wings. The wings had that sticky sauce...delish! The service on the other hand was pretty freakin bad. I felt horrible for the female bartender...she was handling all the male bartenders problems 'Billy'. Billy is a joke A total douche bag. Yelling be sarcastic to all the customers except these two women whom he knows. This tool bag was purposely ignoring people...expecting other customers (whom he was being a dick to) to hand his friends drinks by saying 'be a gentleman'. The female bartender like I said looked like she was dragged down by her obnoxious idiot, tool bag coworker. I would be too dealing with this idiot.
(1)Dan P.
The only reason this place is getting a 2star review is because the cocktail server Jessica was awesome! First of all there is no heat here, which makes no sense because their martini's are $14... Do NOT waste your money here! This bar is cold dirty and smells like a dive bar... Oh wait... It is a dive, then why are the prices so steep?
(2)Ed M.
Bait and Switch Sign out front advertises fish and chips but when one goes inside they say they ran out. Saturday night at 7:00 PM seems a bit early to be sold out. At very least they could change the chalkboard sign. Particularly infuriating when you have paid for parking based on that advertisement.
(1)Jody A.
The waitress was pleasant but that's the best thing I can say about Blake's. It took close to 45 minutes for us to get our food. When it arrived The burgers were over cooked & the fries were ice cold. After complaining we received warm fries but asked for tomato and lettuce for a chicken sandwich and we were charged an extra 50 cents. Then when we went to the bathroom there was no toilet paper. With so many other options for good food in providence, it is ridiculous that Blake's doesn't up their game.
(1)Kym M.
I've been to this restaurant twice. The first time (several months ago), the food and service were ok. We went again this past Sunday and had the most horrible experiences. The bathroom (which we didn't use the first time) was DISGUSTING. I had to hold one of the stalls closed so my daughters could have privacy. No paper towels, and no one replaced them (after we were there for almost an hour and a half, and we told them as soon as we arrived). The food: on a Sunday at 5 pm, they were out of many things. It took 50 minutes from the time we sat down until our food arrived. Once we found items they had (hamburgers, salad) - the burgers were not done as ordered (a lot more well done than medium) and the fries were cold. I will often give a restaurant a second chance, but we were so skeeved by the environment, annoyed at the length of time it took to get our food, and that the food was sub-par, we won't be coming back here. But if you're looking for a great price on parking during shows at the PPAC, the garage on the same block only charges $10 on event nights!
(1)Jessica L.
Came here before a show at Lupos and the place was dead. Probably 8-10 people scattered about and 2 of them appeared to be waitstaff finished with their shift and grabbing dinner. No problem, we just came for drinks anyway. Sat at the bar, made eye contact with the bartender and waited. When he decided he was done talking to the guys at the other end of the bar, he strolled down our end, threw coasters in front of us and says "You ready?" Like we were the ones who kept him waiting. Had a couple drinks and left for the show. Good location especially if you're going to see a show but the bartender acted like we were an inconvenience when we asked for more drinks so I'm kind of glad we didn't decide to get food here too.
(3)Shawn H.
We decided to go here before a Providence Bruins game. The game started at 7pm. Figuring this, we decided 5:30 for dinner would give us plenty of time to eat and walk to the game. When we arrived were seated promptly. However the waitress did not come over for at least 15 minutes. We finally put a drink order in before another 15 minutes of waiting to put a food order in. The drinks were not that cold. As if they were sitting on the counter for a period of time. As time went on we did not get a chance to order anymore drinks before we had to leave. It was 6:40 when we left with no food and one mediocre beverage. The waitress tried to tell us the food had only been ordered 35 minutes ago. That might have been true but it wasn't our fault she had waited so long to put the order in with the kitchen. She offered no apology and we walked out unsatisfied. This place is basically a bar. Nothing more.
(1)P. E.
I sat at the outdoor seating on a beautiful September afternoon and patiently waited for service. I was greeted by a man who shouted "these tables are for customers only! (I guess they discriminate against white, middle aged females that tip 30%). Anyway my server was great. I ordered steak and wild rice. The rice was obviously from a box but I didn't care because the Steak was one of the best I ever had! Melted in my mouth! Will I return for the steak and forget about the horrible greeting? I'll check other restaurants out to see if they offer a combo of hospitality and great food.
(3)Robert S.
We had a coupon for Blake's so we decided to try it last night.... Three of us had dinner and the food was not bad. The Fish sandwich was crispy and flaky, although too much batter, not so much fish. The Angus burger was moist and well seasoned. The half rack of ribs with grilled chicken was OK, the ribs were better than the chicken, but overall not bad... The waitress was not very good, she never refilled the water glasses until I asked for it...towards the end of the meal... Overall an OK place to get a quick, inexpensive meal in downtown....regular PUB food.
(3)Paul F.
went to blakes with the family before the providence bruins game. We we're promptly shown to our table by a friendly hostess. The tables were not full of people though the bar was. It took our server over 10 minutes to get to our table. Once there she was friendly though. When asked about kids menu (which isn't on the regular menu) She read it off to us. We ordered a round of drinks, milks for the kids and a beer for me. when serving the milks our waitress spilled the overflowing cups on the table. not a huge problem that napkins can't take care of and she was very apoligetic. ordered an app and dinners, then waitress disappeared seriously when she dropped off dinner she basically walked away without asking if we wanted anything else. no refills on drinks and easily 20 minutes without checking in. That was enough for me. To top it off I ordered the fried clams (which sad to say we're good) but for $18 i would expect to get more than 8 fried clams and 2 pounds of french fries!! I acutally felt ripped off when I saw my meal. I will also say that the patrons at the bar, which is only 8-10' away from most of the tables were dropping F bombs and worse. Most of the time quietly, other times when they missed at keno not so quietly. Blakes will be wiped off the list of estableshments we will ever go to again! 2 stars only because the fried clams were cooked well despite the rip off of a price
(2)Cade R.
We had the chili and the southwestern egg rolls. Both were delicious. I thought the chili was really very good. The corn bread was good, too. I'm only in Providence for a couple of nights, but I kind of want to stop by again to try some of the other food ... and have more chili.
(4)Greg E.
decided to go out last night. and was searching around for a good bar to grab a drink and some food. i picked Blake's because i am an irish fan and irish bars are the best. the service was excellent a very nice bartender. the beers on tap were a great variety from angry orchard, dogfish, and a blue moon. and the food was just excellent. a perfect portion for a bar scene. they also had a good selection of music. all and all a very excellent bar and i will for sure be returning to wet my lip on a nice cold beer.
(4)Grace R.
Solid bar and extremely friendly staff at Blake's. Casual prime location in downtown Providence to catch a sports game! We ordered the Texas Burger and it was de-li-cious! The beef was cooked perfectly and coated with a slice of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and wait for it... 5 strips of bacon with BBQ sauce. OMG. Paired with their seasoned fries this dish really kicked it out of the park! Hubby had their buffalo chicken sandwich and the chicken was so tender, jumbo portion and we were both happy at the end of the meal. Our server was OUTSTANDING. You know how you can tell when people just enjoy their job or take their job seriously so it totally shows on their face? That's our server. She kept our drinks full, checked up on us on a non-creepy way and was prompt with our requests. It totally made our experience so much better, pushed it over to a 4 star bar. Thank you for all you do!
(4)Mandy D.
I needed a quick bite before the Prov. Pride parade, and I just happened to stumble in to Blake's. It was exactly what I was looking for at the moment: relatively cheap bar food. I ordered a basic burger and my boyfriend got a garden salad. The bus boy that brought out the food automatically assumed that the MAN ordered the burger. Tisk, tisk, bro. The burger was decent and the cheese was nice and melty. My boyfriend's salad was big and leafy and the veggies looked pretty fresh. Overall, the food was much better than I expected it would be. At first the service was great, and I was surprised at how our waitress managed to keep on top of things, even amongst a giant party in the city. However, we ended up waiting quite awhile for the bill, which was unexpected. Also, as we were leaving, we overheard another waitress reciting the specials to a table near the door. Before our meal, we had asked our server if there were any specials. She said there were none. Hmm. I was also pretty disappointed in the beer selection. You would think that a rustic-looking bar smack dab in the middle of downcity would have something out of the ordinary on tap. The best beer on tap was probably Sam Summer. I'm sure I'll return. Just like the rating states, it was A-OK.
(3)Lizz W.
Fairly priced. Karaoke Thursday nights. That is all I know about this place.. or all I can remember ....the drinks were strong lol
(3)Jarod G.
The first time I visited Blake's Tavern was about 10 years ago after the Rhode Island Beerfest and needless to say the only thing I remember were the pitchers of beer. Fast forward to February 20 and my wife and I found ourselves at Blake's after a show at the PPAC. We opted to go here because it was within walking distance and my wife had never been. We were seated right away and started with a Dogfish Head and a Sam Light. For food we took advantage of their combo deals. Blake's has various pizza and wing combos you can purchase that includes large or small pizza's and various orders of wings. We ordered the large 1 topping pizza ( pepperoni) and 16 buffalo wings for $20.00. The place was pretty busy as it seemed that our waitress was handling the entire restaurant except the bar. Took almost an hour to get our food after we ordered it. Pizza had a crunch flakes crust and very cheesy. The wings were full of meat and had a good kick. We ordered another round of beers and ended up taking 3 slices and a half the wings to go. When we got the bill we were surprised too see the total over $60.00 After reviewing the bill we saw that we had been charged for 8 beers instead of 4. Beers we didn't even order ( Bud light, MGD). It took us 5 minuets to find our waitress and explain the bill was not right. She returned 10 min later and still the bill was not correct. 2 beers were removed and we still had 6 on the tap. Again, 5 min to find her and another 10 to get it fixed. She returned the bill a 3rd time and low and behold 5 beers. At this point it was after 1AM and we were tired. We paid for the extra beer and took it out of her tip. Had this billing mishap not happened or been corrected the first time I would have given this a better review. I gave it 2 stars because the food was really good but service was slow and billing was train wreck. Next time I visit the PPAC we will be seeking out another place to eat.
(2)Ashley P.
Blake's Tavern leaves much to be desired. A group of friends and I decided to stop in for a quick drink on our way from one location in Providence to another. The first, most uncomfortable experience about walking in here was the bar going absolutely silent as we found a place to settle down. Very. . . awkward. . . silence. . . The waitress came over and ordered our drinks with relative speed. I ordered an Amaretto Sour (of which the waitress was unsure they'd have the ingredients for. . . ) For a bar that boasts "mixed drinks are a specialty at Blake's, we have a complete line of liquors to match any taste" this is very surprising in hindsight. Regardless of this, the drink was mixed decently. About what I expected. After placing our initial orders, service was painfully slow. What should have been an in and out trip turned into a 30 - 40 minute ordeal. We waited forever to get the actual drinks. . . then again for the bill and an eternity to pay. Really not worth the time spent here. In addition, the woman's bathroom is a trek and a half to locate and get to. You must travel through the crowded front bar, maze through the back bar, then finally arrive around another corner. Finding my way back was another story. A somewhat generic beer list matched with their slow turn around will make it easy to walk past this establishment in the future.
(2)