Garde De La Mer
86 Dorrance St, Providence, RI, 02903
Garde De La Mer Menu
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Address :
86 Dorrance St
Providence, RI, 02903 - Phone (401) 632-4799
- Website https://www.gardedelamer.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Megan S.
My boyfriend and I had a fantastic dinner here while visiting from Brooklyn. Super fresh seafood // thoughtful menu in a bright & stylish atmosphere. Friendly service, too, which always makes the experience. We tried their oysters, olive oil poached halibut, pan roasted striped bass, and the meyer lemon semifreddo and everything was delicious. I also quickly became obsessed with the Aqueduc Deux cocktail that my boyfriend ordered and haven't stopped trying to replicate it at home since. Unfortunately, that isn't going as well as I'd hoped. Highly recommend!
(5)Nate W.
Went to this restaurant on a Thursday at 6pm. They had a live jazz band, with a singer who delivered an unbelievable performance. Oysters were clean and fresh. My girlfriend had the Delmonico steak, which was fantastic. I had salmon and kale. The kale was cooked perfectly, and the fish was fresh. Service was outstanding. This is our new favorite restaurant in PVD. However, make sure you bring your checkbook. (But it's worth it)
(5)Ryan D.
This is a top notch restaurant to put among Providence's best. Wonderfully decorated, live music, genuine not in your face service, just feels like the decadence that all 5 star restaurants should have. We came here on restaurant week (I swear I didn't even know!) and wow Garde did not disappoint. My GF had Pan Fried Squid and Scallops for a main dish. I had a green salad and Trout. Everything was done extremely well. Squid was well done and added a nice salt with squid ink. Scallops were done just right with a nice sear. My salad was one of the best I have had thanks to an interesting lemony salad dressing and the trout was the first trout I have ever eaten. I think I might be spoiled now since that fish was wonderful, had a nice smokey taste to it. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Torte and a Buttermilk Panna Cotta. They were both great but the thing that really put us over was the brown butter ice cream with the torte. Wow it was like having a caramel in your mouth. It is a wide open restaurant so I don't see an issue getting reservations. Just a great place to have a special dinner.
(5)Robert S.
Went there for Restaurant Week and we enjoyed ourselves. Service was not great. The waitress did not check on our water glasses and we had to ask her to refill three different times.... Not very attentive. I had the pan fried squid for an app and it was very nicely done...a bit salty for my taste, but not bad. Then I had the Diver Scallops with the sauce on the side...They were good just like that...pan fried. I never tried the sauce. I believe good sweet moist scallops are just perfect pan fried. The Panna cotta was very tasty and good. Overall a decent choice for dining. Both of my savory choices were salty for my taste buds, but not a bad place for a nice meal.
(3)Christine O.
I came here on Friday 9/4 with a group of 5 to celebrate my sister's birthday and could not have been happier with the experience. Our server, Benjamin, was exceptional and made sure we had everything we needed for the entire meal. A glass was never left empty and special requests like a side of lobster croquettes were granted without any question. The food was some of the best I have ever had. For appetizers, we had some oysters, the steamed mussels, and the pan fried squid. All had good sized portions and were plated to perfection. For entrees, one had the seared diver scallops, two the arctic char oscar, and two the roasted prawns. Everything was delicious, well seasoned, and appropriate portion sizes. Overall incredible food, dining experience, and service from Benjamin. It was a little expensive but perfect for a special occasion. Our only complaint was that the peanut butter napoleon dessert was very, very hard making it difficult to eat.
(5)Dennis U.
I went here with a number of colleague. What could be better French and seafood? Nice setting king very bistro-like. Very pleasant service and all of the French high end touches from a buche amuse to madelaines served at the end. The wine list has a nice selection and is reasonably priced. My only problem was the bouillabaisse. Not the classic but a modern interpretation and, for me it was a bust. The fish seemed a bit over cooked and while the grapes were interesting did they belong here. Oh well. The selection was mine so next time, and there will be a next time, I'll pick something else. While I was disappointed my colleagues were not so its worth another visit.
(3)Laura B.
Maybe you have heard of Providence's new French fine dining experience, the Garde De La Mer and wondered if you should bother. With so many wonderful (and somewhat pricey) restaurants already inhabiting Providence it might seem burdensome to venture out somewhere new with the intent of dropping big bucks on a nice meal you're not certain about. I know I wasn't, so me and my dining companions booked a reservation during the January 2015 Providence Restaurant Week and we don't regret it a bit. The food, service, and overall ambiance of the Garde De La Mer is exceptional. The restaurant is stunning inside. According to our lovely waitress, the building it's situated in was gutted and the interior was totally redone and it shows. The architects who redid the space crafted a sophisticated, gorgeous place to eat some beautiful food. The nautical theme running through the decorations and architecture is lovely and far from tacky. We ordered a variety of food but the stand out for me was the lobster bisque, which was served out of a teapot onto a bowl of seafood chunks and assorted herbs. The entire meal was great but that bisque stuck with me from both taste and presentation. The entrees were excellent and my three sea scallops had a perfect crust on them. A word of caution about desert though: the Meyer lemon semifreddo is extremely tart. My husband and I enjoyed it because he ordered the flourless chocolate torte and we were able to rotate between the two dishes to keep the lemon from becoming overpowering. Will definitely return to Garde De La Mer for a full price meal in the future, it's absolutely worth it.
(5)Shar A.
We visited gpub's third gem this last week to celebrate. Upon entering, you are dining in a large busy city. White and black tiles, a bar in the back. It's still quiet inside, but it won't be for long. Garde De La Mer has a classy design, attentive and knowledgeable staff, innovative dishes designed with the perfect blend of flavor and texture. We started with oysters, they have many to choose from. The octopus appetizer is a must if you want an alternative to a fresh salad. I loved the flavor and plating--the squid ink was painted in a large stroke next to a tart grilled chopped octopus. So beautiful! I also had the Sea Bass. Dessert was unique--pinenuts! Wine menu has a large range and they have fun specialty drinks. Affordable champagne, go for it! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Cheese B.
Fantastic place. Seriously great. Fancy but comfortable- thoughtful- inspired - delicious! Have you ever had that experience were you are watching some fancy chef on television make some gorgeous dish where every element is cooked perfectly and then arranged delicately and intentionally on a plate with tweezers- and you think to yourself "some day i'd like to try food like that."? This is the place where you try food like that. Your entire parties meal arrives at the table, delivered by a team of quiet servers in near-unison, and you look at it and think- "dagnab that is gorgeous!"- and then you taste it- and you are like "gruoumphhhhh" We started off with some bomb cocktails (mine was a "tomato water" and vodka thing with a salt and pepper rim and a fresh oyster floating in it) and moved on to appetizers (try the squid in ink!!!) and then entrees- mmmm everything was absolutely lovely- I had olive oil poached halibut- but I also tasted the duck (eff yes) and the pork and clams (sooooo great) all were top notch. The desserts were light and creative and delicious- the perfect ending to a perfect meal. The lemon semi-fredo and cheesecake with oatmeal coffee ice cream were fantastic. I had a bite of the coconut cake and found that a bit dry and heavy- but one of my dining companions couldn't stop eating it and said it was her favorite of the three we ordered - so I guess that's just... Like... My opinion, man. The service was great- our server, a former chef, was knowledgeable and polite, but still casual and friendly enough to joke around with a little. He gave great recommendations and never had to write anything down. (That always amazes me) The little complimentary teeny Madeleines with the check are a nice touch- but are cuter than they are tasty. I think they could lose that little detail. Anyway- I would highly recommend this place and I would love to come back again soon.
(5)O'Relie B.
Excellent food. Excellent cocktails. Wine list very well done with lot of choices local and international. Fine taste of the seafood, excellent fresh oysters. Polite and elegant service
(4)Jessica S.
We stopped in for a drink and dessert at the bar. The service was great, very friendly. They have the dessert wine I like, and the chocolate cake was amazing. We would definitely return
(4)Paula T.
The atmosphere/decor is very nice. It's comfortable and contemporary. Unfortunately the quality of the food leaves a lot to be desired. My swordfish was extremely salty and overlooked. The actual dish was not as the menu described it. Portions were small yet pricey. The red snapper was not cooked properly either. Overall I was very disappointed. A recent review in the local paper was spot on. (Projo dated 7-29-15). There are so many delicious restaurants in Providence; this place will not survive unless major changes are made in service, food quality and price.
(1)Annie D.
Downstairs restaurant is great. Smooth sophistication, perfect service. Upstairs g spot? Save it for an off peak time. Not worth it if mobbed.
(5)Brian M.
Forget Hemenway's, Garde del mar is better in everyway! Service was unbelievable, I sat at the bar and the staff was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is like nothing else in Providence, nothing better than dining while jazz plays softly in the background. Now lets get to what really matters, the food. In one word...Fabulous!!! Beautiful presentation, appropriate portions and the seafood was cooked to perfection. I had the squid salad to start, grilled and served with coucous, artichokes and cherry tomatoes. For the entree I enjoyed the Fruits de mar, not a typo. Loaded with seafood and pasta al dente. My advice go here while you can still get a table!!! Don't be fooled by the fact there aren't many customers inside, they just opened last week.
(5)Daniel S.
Beautiful restaurant. Great service. I just feel the presentation outperformed the flavor. Will try again.
(3)Yana R.
This place was great. Came here for Valentine's and they had a nice Valentine's prix-fix menu. The food was excellent. The portions were sizable for such a fancy restaurant. The decor was gorgeous....I have only good things to say. Curious to try their regular menu as well.
(5)Allison D.
I wanted to give GDLM 5 stars. 5 stars for ambiance and overall look. Love the simple and chic decor. 5 stars for the food. My crab gazpacho was the best I've ever had. The rest of our food was also delicious. Our waiter was pleasant and friendly. I might be being picky here so feel free to comment, but when my fiancé asked the waiter what gin they carry, he literally had zero idea. I think he could name Bombay and that was it. He had to go ask the bar tender. To me, when you're at a nice restaurant and spending a considerable amount of money, you should know the gin you carry. I've been a waitress in places that weren't as nice as GDLM and. I always knew the liquor we carried. If we had asked something a bit more obscure that would have been different- but gin?? I think of GDLM wants to continue to get customers who are willing to spend a good amount of money, they should make sure their staff is properly trained.
(4)Diana G.
Beautiful decor and fabulous food! Spacious bar and friendly service. I consider myself a tough food critic. That said, I loved Garde De La Mer and will certainly be returning soon. A great addition to Providence.
(5)Jill G.
We had dinner on New Years Eve, excellent service from the moment we walked in. Our server was pleasant and they sent over a really nice amuse. More than one of the staff checked on us a number of times. Gorgeous restaurant, a decent wine list and the food was great. This place is new so there was no problem getting a table. I'd be interested to see how they do in the next few months. There were no specials but the menu offers great options. I had the bass and my husband had the trout, both were great and perfectly cooked.
(5)Judie D.
My cousin and I decided to try it during restaurant week and it was amazing. One of the best meals I have had in a long time. It is definitely a great addition to the Providence Restaurant Scene.
(5)Katie J.
What's not to love about 6 oysters and "bubbles" at the bar from 5-7? Love the ambience and food is delicious, too. I ate here for restaurant week in January and am STILL thinking about the brown butter ice cream. To die for.
(4)Brian R.
I was really excited to try this restaurant as I love the work that has been done in developing the Providence G. The atmosphere was great and we sat upstairs overlooking the street below. The menu was small but had a good variety although a little on the pricey side. The service was slow and the time between courses was long. When the food arrived the portions were good just enough not to big and not to small. My only complaint was the service it was just ok. If they are trying to be an upscale restaurant they will need to work on this. Overall my experience was a little disappointing and I'm not sure I will run back.
(3)Robert K.
Everything we ordered was terrific. The poached salmon special was the best I've ever had. We also loved short rib ravioli- suggested wine by our waiter was spot on. First time in Providence and we hit it out of the park. Even the dessert was fantastic and we rarely say that.
(5)Heidi T.
Had a delicious meal where everything was cooked to perfection. Our server Ben was exceptional, and made us feel right at home. The atmosphere is beautiful, wine selection excellent. If you're looking for an elegant dining experience you will not be disappointed.
(5)j c.
Food is decent and service is really good. Way way way overpriced. Food needs to be much much better to justify the cost. It wasn't bad or anything but nothing wowed me and I see no need to go back.
(3)Ann K.
Just OK, we probably won't return in light of all of the other options in town. Service was uninspired (we weren't given the cocktail menu) and the food ... It just seemed like the chef was trying too hard. Things sounded delicious on paper, but too disparate on the plate. We started with apps -- steamed mussels, and fried oysters. The oysters were delicious. The mussels threw me a bit with the paprika-infused sauce; it was a bit too strong. And the bread slices were too toasted. But the mussels were huge and this dish would have been perfect as an entree. Entrees were swordfish in puff pastry, and roasted prawns. The puff pastry was soggy and the dish was not great. The sauce with the prawns was too similar to the mussels, and while the pea ravioli was delicious, the dish did not seem unified. The Madeleines at the end, as others have mentioned, were cute but not delicious. Overall, for the amount of our check, I think we can do better elsewhere.
(3)Judy G.
Went for happy hour raw bar yesterday. I am HUGE raw bar fan. Garde's raw bar and small bites offerings were so great. No crowds at the bar like other places in PVD, nice and quite, and super fresh mollusks (oysters, little necks, and cherrystones). Also ordered the corn and lobster croquets, so delicious. Garde is my favorite place in Providence. I hope it sticks around for a long long time.
(5)Sohini R.
Note: 3 stars for me means a place I would return to, but I'm not chomping at the bit to eat there again. Garde de la Mer is a welcome addition to the PVD dining scene; for cocktails I would say this is a go-to place. Don't miss out on the Ginger-Lime Fumé - it is unbelievable, and one of my three dining companions agreed it was the high point of our evening. I do love seafood, especially now that I am a New Englander, but the night we ended up at GdlM, I wasn't so thrilled with the raw bar and my Dover sole. They just didn't taste special. The ambience is also four-star. I look forward to trying Garde de la Mer again in the future and updating my review, but for now I'll be sticking to my old haunts.
(3)Elena M.
I am seriously impressed by this restaurant. I passed by three weeks ago on their "soft opening" and stopped in to check out the atmosphere and the menu. Needless to say, I returned to try a drink and an appetizer at the bar the next week. This new place reminds me a lot of many New York City hot spots - whoever decorated is a genius. Be sure to check out the gold sink in the bathroom! The mezzanine upstairs is just as gorgeous as the dining room downstairs and has a great view of the bar. The cocktail I had tasted great and definitely had a hidden kick to it... One drink and I was feeling good! Our bartender, Jessie, was highly attentive. I decided to try the squid appetizer and I really enjoyed it (although I'd recommend asking for some extra aioli on the side!). I'm looking forward to returning for dinner and experiencing the rest of what Garde de la Mer has to offer.
(5)Chris K.
This place is the BEE'S KNEES! Seriously, my new fav restaurant in Providence. Everything from the appetizer to dessert was fabulous. And, come on. It's gorgeous in there. I've never seen a nicer bathroom. Yes, it's pricey. But this quality of meal in Boston would cost at least 50% more. We liked it so much that we tried to eat there again the very next night (they were booked, sadly). Definitely a great place to take visitors to show off the quality of PVD food, or a nice place for a special occasion. Or just a good place to go on Friday after a particularly good (or hellish!) week.
(5)Ed H.
Great meal last Saturday night with my wife, though I'd say 4 stars is maybe just a tad too generous. Would give it 3.75 if I could. For Appetizers, we had the pork belly confit and a special that was raw salmon on crispy salmon skins (that looked almost like blue corn tortillas). It was quite delicious with a citrus-y taste. The pork belly was good too. For entrees, I had the scallops with risotto and spring vegetables. It was a special, a taste of the new spring menu according to the waiter. It was delicious. Wifey had the striped bass and crispy artichokes. She said it was good, especially the artichoke, but the bass was a tad over cooked. What else? The wine list was good, lots of French and Italian wines. The decor was nice. The prices were what you'd expect, about $150-160 for 2 apps, 2 entrees, a desert and 4 glasses of wine. Would we come again? Yes. But since we get out so little with two kids, there are plenty of other places that we'd try first. Our waiter even recommended Bacarro's (sp?) for good non federal hill style Italian, ie not a chicken parm.
(4)Matt M.
My wife and I went to Garde de la Mer for our Valentine's Day supper last night and tried the Prix Fixe menu...along with a couple dozen oysters and a lovely bottle of brut rose Veuve Clicquot. Full disclosure here...we both really, really wanted to love this place and I think that, once the place addresses some of its rather notable challenges, it may well become a place we'd both love...but, honestly, not yet. Given that the place has only been open about two months we both expected what one of the other reviewers of Garde de la Mare quite correctly called "rough edges". They got some things quite right...some other things not so much. The space itself is lovely; the owners clearly employed some professional and well-visioned architects and designers to make a quite functional and quite open space...not quite French bistro(t), not quite seafood bar...but quite nice. They deserve four stars for that. Our server was equally fabulous; he was friendly without being overly so, he offered advice without being overly solicitous, and was obviously concerned that his customers had a good experience. For his sake alone, I hope the place smooths out the rough edges and that he doesn't find himself having to apologize so frequently for mistakes from the back of the house...and, honestly, there were more than I would have like to have experienced, even with a restaurant that's been open for this short a time. The restaurant deserves a solid three stars for their service; good service that was worth of a better rating, but was marred by what felt like a fairly disorganized kitchen. So...that leaves the food, which was a bit of a mixed bag for us. We recognize that the prix fixe menu might not be indicative of the "standard menu", but it was simply inconsistent. The oysters were superb; fresh and briny and everything we'd hoped for when they first arrived. The first course was quite good, as well (we just wished it hadn't arrived about 5 minutes after the oysters....that was the first thing our server apologized for...but there were more to come...) and my wife was particularly pleased with her seafood bisque. For both of us, the entrée course was a disappointment...and we ended up trying three of the five options because my wife's tuna selection showed up as a salmon selection and was quickly replaced with the correct selection. Her tuna was "okay", but not terribly flavorful. My Delmonico steak was the biggest disappointment I had with the food all evening. The steak was small, not terribly high quality, overcooked (was supposed to be rare and showed up medium well...by this time, the server had to fix so many things we just didn't have the heart to tell him...and, quite honestly, we'd already sent one entrée back and knew it was going to get thrown out; decades of Catholic school guilt would have haunted me for days if we'd had a second entrée discarded), and just not very interesting. The root vegetable pavé was also just not terribly interesting. The best thing on the plate was the potato puree...which doesn't speak well to the dish. Overall, the preparations would have benefitted from being a bit less fussily-prepared and a bit more flavorful once plated. By the time our desserts were to arrive, we realized we'd overdone on the oysters (I guess two dozen between two people was a bit more than was needed)...and the champagne...and that we were just exhausted from the week, so we took the desserts to go. Honestly, we haven't tried them yet.... Overall, I'd give the food a head-scratching 2.5 stars...some items (the bisque) deserved four while some items (my entrée) would struggle to get and should be really pleased to get a generous two stars. I'd love to give this place four stars and I think that, when we go back in a few months, it may actually deserve that rating...just not yet. Give these folks a while to straighten out the wonky bits if you want to experience what it's likely capable of...go there sooner if you, like us, also want to support a local business that's poised to do some good things.
(3)Jeffrey A.
A great accidental find on a business trip. I arrived just after open, and got treated to one of the best meals of the year. The food was outstanding. Oysters were very fresh and clean tasting and the stuffed trout and vegetable medley were excellent and beautifully presented. You'll also find plenty of good wine selections to pair with the food as well. The sweet potato layer cake was so good that carrot cake just won't be good enough ever again. The staff was great too, but I was in it for the food!
(5)Robert R.
Garde de la Mer is a brand new entry into the Providence fine dining scene and a welcome seafood restaurant in a seafood desert (non sushi) and I popped in with a party of 6 for restaurant week 2015. Garde de la Mer has only been open for a few weeks and it has some rough edges to smooth out. The space is beautifully designed and decorated - although, the one restroom opens directly into the dining area. Odd. Service, for a restaurant that wants to compete with Dorrance, Gracies, etc al, needs refinement. A statement 'May I clear your plate?' Is a huge difference from 'You still workin'?' I don't drink, but my dining companions were thrilled with the wine list and martinis. Now the food. This is where it's a little rough and needs most work. All of us had the prix fixe 3 course menu. 4 of us had the sautéed squid. There were inconsistencies in the food. Two plates with peppers, two without. I wasn't thrilled with my appetizer. Beautifully plated and painted with a squid ink aioli, but tasted more like a cold seviche. It was missing something. ..salt, flavor? A friend loved his lobster bisque, an unexpected and fun version with blood orange. I was much more excited about the second course, the Arctic char. It was cooked well and had a nice crisp skin. The spoon bread was delicious but the squash component lacked seasoning. Another friend ordered the scallop entrée and one of her scallops was clearly burned and shouldn't have even left the kitchen....this would have been a deal breaker for me. Desert was fun, both chocolate torte and lemon semifreddo were tasty and light. I want to give Garde de la Mer some time to work out the kinks so that I can return and possibly upgrade my rating. There is huge potential here. I hope they reach it.
(3)Phil P.
Only two stars because for the price, the food should be substantially better than what they serve. There are many more restaurants within walking distance of this restaurant that serve far better food at much lower prices. The sautéed squid is completely unbalanced with too much acid. The bouillabaisse is candy-sweet and the shellfish are tiny and of poor quality. However, they serve one of the best crème brûlée is I have ever had. But I will not be going back because there are many better choices in the area.
(2)Elizabeth P.
Everything about our dinner here was excellent. We were a party of four. The waiter was very informative and helpful, the simple menu descriptions do not give the food justice. The Salmon dish is an example of something that could be read as an o.k. option and was an amazing dish bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. Every dish we had was excellent in different ways. The seasoning and flavor combinations are amazing. One person in our group is vegetarian and also stated that the seasoning, creativity and freshness of the food was outstanding. This person is often let down at high end restaurants (with bland vegetarian concoctions) because most meat/fish based restaurants cannot create flavorful vegetarian dishes. This place can. This is a very upscale restaurant in every way, from service, food to décor without the pretension. The restaurant has fabulous food and great ambiance. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Ann B.
Overpriced, mediocre food. I don't usually mind paying high prices for food if it's high quality, but this place was expensive and the food wasn't great. The setting is cool, and the cocktails were good. So I might go back to the bar. Definitely not coming back for food though considering all the other options in Providence where food is better and less expensive!
(2)Mai N.
I came here for Providence Restaurant Weeks. I sat at the bar and chatted with the friendly bartender Joe. I liked the atmosphere and design of the place. There's a long bar area. The food was amazing: I ordered squid, chicken, and lemon ice cream dessert. I highly recommend this restaurant: the food and service were great.
(5)Moe W.
This is a true 5 star restaurant. I was impressed in every way possible, food, service, atmosphere, drinks. The squid was amazing, oysters were perfect, and my wife had a seabass dish that was out of this world.
(5)