This establishment is by far the most contemporary & Rhode Island representative gathering location one can find. I have been frequenting the Hot Club for a quarter century now, and each visit is both a return home, as well as a unique experience. Whether you are enjoying a cigar and cool drink under the warm Summer eve’s stars, or a coffee drink by the gas stove inside on a snowy Winter’s afternoon, the atmosphere is comfortable & welcoming.
The patronage is as unique as the ambiance. At any given time you can find Blue Collar workers to University Professors, Biker’s to sport car aficionados, singles to couples to groups, and everyone in between. But what I find most intriguing is that the Hot Club fosters a climate that is not only conduce to, but readily supports dialog across this demographic strata. Sometime I find myself just sitting and enjoying a cocktail and listening to the debates and opposing points of views. The Hot Club is much more than just a bar or restaurant, it is more of a Mecca for those wishing to engage, and be engaged. In this unique environment, it is as if the Staff & the setting itself conform to your intentions, be them romantic, that of comradary, or business in nature; or any mixture of the three . . . .
The food offered ranges from simple, fresh popped popcorn, a perennial favorite, to burgers and sandwiches. The menu is simple and limited, but the portions are more than ample. The wood grill fills the inside bar area with a tantalizing aroma that only the strongest can escape. I don’t go there specifically to eat, but I often find myself indulging in the simple fare, as nothing beats a wood grilled burger or hot dog with a cold beer.
The location is also unique, right on the water & adjacent to the Hurricane Barrier, in the shadow of the new Providence River Bridge. Parking is usually a challenge, depending on the day of the week, and time of day; get used to it, it has been for the twenty-five years I have been going there, and I expect it will be for the next twenty-five years. It is conveniently located affording easy on & off highway access, or a short trip to any of Providence’s “hot spots”.
The factory across the river has three smoke stacks rising above the sky line, each stack has aircraft avoidance lights on them. I have won a number of rounds waging patrons that the series of blinking lights would eventually reach a state of “harmonic convergence” . . . they always, ultimately do. If nothing else it’s a nice conversation piece.
And finally, perhaps the highest praise I can pay the Hot Club is the following. I am often called upon to host out-of-state co-workers. I typically take them to the Hill, or down-town, or the East Greenwich area. Those that I really like, or really want to impress ultimately end up at the Hot Club. And one or two of you, you know who you are, have been repeat Customers with me ! The Hot Club can be described, explained, and endorsed, however to truly appreciate it, it is one of the rare places that one must experience.
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