AS220 Food

AS220 Food and its bar might be on the smaller size and look unassuming from the outside but this little gem tucked away on Empire Street is a great place to get some tasty food and good craft beers. I’ve been a handful of times and have always been happy with both the dining and drink choices.
When it comes to food, the menu seems to change based on the season, as they like to cook with fresh ingredients. On thing that is a must try are their crispy chick peas and the roasted sweet potatoes (if they have them), both are addictingly delicious. They also have daily specials that are worth trying. And at the bar, they have a nice selection of craft beers on draft and in cans/​bottles as well. Can’t beat a combo of awesome, fresh food and a solid craft beer or two.
While some people say this place has a hipster vibe, I consider it to feel more artsy and unique if anything, which is pretty cool. It’s very laid back and the people working there are friendly. The prices are quite reasonable and the menu isn’t overwhelming but has plenty of options to choose from. Definitely a place to check out if you are in downtown Providence.

Cool concept, in theory. I had a pretty good soup. But the whole place, and most of the people in it, have a pretentious wanna-​be hipster vibe. Bartender little to no personality, lady taking orders and money on the food service side seemed like she didn’t want to be there. Chef was friendly though.
Music selection was pretty bad, trying to hard to be «non-​mainstream» I think. Some lady screaming to herself, uhh ok. Overpriced beer.

Why have I waited two years to try this place. Great food, drinks, and service. Really good vibes all the way around and very reasonable prices…

Crispy Chickpeas and Vegan Mac & Cheese are on the menu. My husband is trying their special tonight — Falafel Wrap!

This place has a creative menu that is redone each season. It is sometimes disappointing to show up and see that the amazing dish you had a couple of weeks ago and have been craving has been replaced, but it is also fun to be adventurous and try new things!
The Mac and cheese is a solid choice with creamy comforting deliciousness! Can’t go wrong with the chickpeas either!

Amazing food. Lots of vegetarian options but if you aren’t into that, that’s okay! Everything is delicious. They serve lots of people and are pretty quick considering they make most everything to order. I recommend it to anyone who goes to Providence!

It’s a great place. Bar, café, art gallery, music venue. Tonight 2÷10÷16 the staff was rude. Around 8pm the ladies serving were so unfriendly. Made my experience awkward and normally I love this place. Tried so hard to stay positive. But they had some dark clouds for sure. Sorry ladies, yal are beautiful don’t worry.

This is one of my go-​to lunch stops. There is always something hearty and healthy on their menu. This time I had their white bean and garlic soup and the veggie burger. Both hearty and delicious. The soup was a little bland, but they were out of the flavored butter that went with it so they drizzled some olive oil instead.
One suggestion: find some people to work the counter who actually like people! I always end up talking to the cooks because they actually have some personality! Maybe it’s just bad luck, but I get along with most people and this wait staff is a lot of work.
It wasn’t busy so there is no excuse.
I still highly recommend this place. It’s a great spot!

GREAT PLACE OR GREAT FOOD!
You will definitely need to spend more than 30 bucks per person if you want to get full on what they serve. But soooo worth it!!!
gluten free friendly

This was second time eating at AS220, but this time around we went there for dinner. We had lunch at AS220 right after moving to Providence over a year ago. We had wildly different experiences when comparing our 1^st visit to the 2^nd visit at this restaurant. I think this is a 4-to-4.5 stars restaurant, but ½ stars are not allowed by Unilocal I am giving it 4-​star rating.
After our 1^st visit I thought food was mediocre and service that sub-​par. I thought the place over hyped. However, we just went back to AS220 and I must say that had their «A» game on today. Their new chef Kyle is impressive! We had dumpling, grill cheese sandwich and chicken confit. All three dishes were excellent, but if I am choose between three dishes I would say chicken confit was the best, closely followed by these unique dumpling and then grill cheese sandwich. I thought severe was also much improved. I also thought the ambiance was much better at night than at day time. I will definitely go back to this place for dinner.

This is a nice laid-​back place to get a good lunch. The food is good, the service is friendly and the atmosphere is easygoing. The prices are not unreasonable for what you get. The block on which it is located is historic, The brick façade blends nicely and is quite attractive.
The format is walk-​up-​and-​order. When we visited, there were several specials. Both of us decided on the Chicken Confit. I was pretty happy with my choice as the quality was good and the portion was quite filling.
The prices are not unreasonable. With drinks, tax and tip, our final bill was $ 30 USD. This was $ 15 per person. For the quality and quantity of the fare, this was not a bad deal.

Dear hipster restaurants everywhere:
No matter how mainstream making your customers comfortable may seem, you still gotta do it. I know, you’re worried about your counterculture cred, whether ending your conversation with your friend because there’s someone at the counter will somehow make you seem TOO eager to serve. And whether without those counterculture points you’ll still be able to serve a bowl of salted chickpeas for $ 8 or a half a chicken breast on a pretzel roll for $ 12.
It’s okay, AS220. Starbucks charges $ 5 for milk and drip coffee. You can keep your prices. Just charge them with a smile and a thank you.

I was only in RI for 3 days, and I am SO glad I came here.
Service/​ambiance: The vibe wasn’t really my thing, and I didnt know what to expect. I was a little annoyed at first because I walked in and I didnt know it was self serve so my friend and i just kinda stood at the entrance and finally asked the bartender and he said we could sit anywhere. After waiting like 3 min I realized we had to get up to order on the other side of the restaurant, which the bartender failed to mention even though we sat next to him. This is the reason I docked a star.
Food: The food was SOOOO good. I had tomato basil soup and the chicken & polenta and that polenta was so creamy and delish and had the perfect slightly sweetened lemon-​y flavor. The chicken was cooked wonderfully and as was the kale and oyster mushrooms that came with it. Literally best polenta ever.
Price: for such healthy, fresh food, the pricing was really amazing. I think i paid about $ 21 for my meal which was a soup and an entrée and to me this is REALLY good.
Tips: you have to order when you come in, on the right hand side. Also you have to bus your own table. So if this isn’t your thing, don’t bother.

Everything felt so… hipster…as I was expecting when visiting Providence. Wood panels, dim lighting, strange Irish music band playing in a corner, vegan/​gluten free options… being so alternative, I was worried that the prices would be exorbiantly high but they’re actually pretty affordable for the portions. You serve and clean up after yourself, so I regret tipping so much ahead of time…
I ordered a special of the day– Brussels sprouts with bacon! Probably the best dish at the table – I also didn’t mind my chickpeas. My friend seemed very dissatisfied with her pasta dish though, and the mac and cheese my boyfriend and I shared was nothing special. Pretty uncomfortable chairs too, and the bar ran out of the cocktails I wanted to order
Overall, a strange experience, but the Brussels sprouts really did save the day!

I love AS220 Food. It’s casual cozy deliciousness, a great place to have a long conversation over lunch or dinner. They feature a lot of tapas-​style vegetarian-​friendly options, one of their best known dishes is their delicious chickpeas.
AS220 is casual in that you get your own food from the counter and drinks from the bar, but the folks running it are very chill and helpful. Their draft list is very local and very interesting — and their menu is fairly diverse. If you are expecting a conventional restaurant you may not be happy here, but for the adventurous and young this place is just about perfect. The opposite of pretentiousness.
Seating is first come first serve so if they’re busy it could be challenging, but I’ve never had a problem. This is one of our standard pre-​concert/​theater dinner options, right near many of the venues downtown.

Every once in a while I finally try a place I’ve never been and I get mad at myself for not trying it sooner! This was the case with AS220 Food.
It was prime time on a chilly Friday night but we lucked out and didn’t have to wait for a table. We ordered from the food counter first and then got drinks from the bar on the left. Prices were great, ambiance was fun and festive and the food was seriously impressive.
My husband had the Roasted Chicken and it was plated like a 5 star restaurant. And the flavor? All I can deduce from the «oh my god’s» and «holy shits» and the fact that he practically licked the plate clean, was that he was a major fan.
I had the Roasted Mushrooms with Root Vegetables and it was delicious. Not a single fault to be found and locally foraged mushrooms? Even better! The Roasted Chickpeas are a mega bargain and shouldn’t be skipped. Perfect for snacking on and packed with flavor.
While AS220 Food isn’t the fanciest place and you do have to bus your own tables, I still think it’s worth bringing a first time date or the parents when they’re in town because the food is *that* good.

This place is definitely… Different.
As soon as you walk in there’s a counter on the right and bar on the left with tables separating the spaces. You receive a playing card that will be called out when your food is ready.
The food. Omg the food. I’m talking like yummy crunchy perfectly seasoned chickpeas (add Schiracha, you’ll thank me later) and their sweet potato fries. Ugh so yummy!!! It’s so quirky and tasty and plated so eloquently. The cook/​chefs enjoy being watched while they prepare your dishes. The music is fun always whether it’s lunch or dinner and the vibe is totally «hip».
You do bus your own table (it’s the norm there), free water and rolled up silverware on a table in the back of the dining area.
Bathroom is always kept clean which I always look for in a restaurant.
I do enjoy going there. And when someone asks about a good place in Providence to chow down and listen to live music, I recommend here. Sharing plates is nice when on a date and don’t want to eat too much.

Crispy chickpeas! Wowie. It was packed and loud but what can take do?! Eat!
I had the roasted pumpkin grilled cheese. And my friend had the bluefish dinner. Mine was so buttery and good. I couldn’t stop eating the amazing chickpeas and they accomadated my garlic allergy by not using it.
Bartenders took a bit to get to us but again it was busy. Biggest downside was that I saw my grilled cheese just sitting there waiting for my friends dinner to be done so it wasn’t hot and gooey. Was lukewarm, but I brought the other half home and regrilled it. nom nom

I had my first dining experience at AS220 last night and I am very excited to go back, very soon. Chew Kyle Clayton unveiled his new menu last night, and I could hardly make up my mind! I ended up going with a few things to get a bunch of tastes. Boy am I glad.
My boyfriend and I started off with the sweet potato wedges. Wow! They were packed with flavor. But the best part was that they were tossed with toasted nuts which not only added to the flavor, but gave incredible texture. These are a must.
Next we had a bowl of the tomato bisque. Ugh. It was SO tasty. Rich and delicious. The perfect fall soup. But even better, we ordered the pumpkin grilled cheese for dipping. When I say this was unbelievable, I mean it. That flavor combo is out of this world.
Finally, we shared the roasted chicken. Another amazing dish. The chicken was cooked to perfection. Moist and tender with a crispy outside. It was served over creamy polenta (yum) garlic greens (yum) and mushrooms (xtra yum, I LOVE mushrooms)
Overall, this meal was a hit out of the park. Great casual atmosphere. We sat right at the counter and were able to watch our food be prepared. Chef Kyle puts effort into not only making the plates tasty, but also beautiful.
Five stars all around!

Been here a few times and had a wide variety of meals here to give an honest assessment.
As220 has a Modern Diner feel, jumbled together with a Dive Bar crowd and Atmosphere. It’s not quite classy, but it’s not quite grungy… it strikes a solid balance that makes for a comfortable experiance.
If you want fresh and knowing it’s fresh, this place has got you covered. All the food is cooked right in front of you/​within clear sight. During day shifts during the week, if you get there for lunch, you can often catch them cutting fresh veggies in front of the guests at the diner like seating.
They cover a wide spectrum for Meat lovers, Veg heads and Vegans which will appeal to all. The price is just right to also fit most budgets when eating out.
A few notable meals were as followed.
Mac & cheese: Creamy, hearty, filling and a large portion for the price.
Mussles: Flavorfull, extremely fresh, mouth watering and good to the last drop.
Spicy tomato soup: Rich, creamy and a flavor overload. Just the right amount of spice.
Goat sandwich: Bold, juciy, sweet and salty, a nice combo of flavors mashed together for one tight package.
I love eating here because the food is great, however, their is a big reason I can’t give this place 5 stars.
The nickname going around town for this place for those who don’t like it «Asshole2000» or «Ahole220». At first I didn’t get why, until I the third time there…
I know I am not the only one who has recognized how SUPER up tight and snoody the cashiers are here.
There was one girl in during mid week at lunch time who was flat out rude to everyone that came in. Sarcastic, bitchy, passive aggressive, dismissive, lazy. Overall just a fucking right displeasure to see and hear.
Now I have seen all the cashiers that work during the day (3 different girls) and there attitudes are pretty consistant with each other (this is not a good thing).
Now I get this place in many ways is a modern hipster joint and with a pretensious atmosphere being so art centered. I get its the «cool kid» spot. However, there is no award for being a bitch at the end of the day, so why be a bitch? It’s got to be some sort of hispter ironic statement to be that mean spirited.
What makes it worse? I have seen them be nice and friendly… but only to those they know and are friends with. Service industry 101: You don’t get to play favorites. Be respectful or get fired.
If there is one thing I have been taught in life, it’s to humble your neighbors becauee your neighbor could be a big deal. You never know who you might meet.
Edit: This places service has stepped up a little bit since I last reviewed. They have much more personal staff at the register, especially at night.

This place is seriously awesome. Not only is the beer selection amazing and reasonably priced, the food is top notch. The bartender, Tom, really knows his stuff. Being an out-​of-​towner, I didn’t recognize a lot of the beer on the menu and he was able to describe all of the beers in detail and there is definitely something on the menu for everyone.
In regards to the food, it’s amazing that the small kitchen can churn out such delicious food. The polenta fries were sooooo good. I had the Mac and cheese with broccoli and it totally didn’t disappoint. The Cassoulet was also really awesome and a pretty big portion.
Tip: $ 10 minimum on credit cards and there are 2 separate POS systems– 1 for the bar and 1 for the food side so you have to pay separately for food and drinks.
Overall, awesome space, knowledgeable staff, delicious food and a great beer selection. If I ever move back to providence, this would be a place that I go to often!

Cool scene. So many hipsters; thank God those are secretly my thing. A friend and I visited the bar after class, and next time I go, I am definitely eating… the food looked and smelled amazing, and the patrons were raving.
RE: the bar, it’s a bit small, searing is tight, beer selection is awesome (as are the bar staff). Moderate pricing, excellent, hassle-​free service. Delightfully motley mix of casual visitors and regulars.

Coconut curry — watery, not flavorful. The tofu pieces are so miniature similar in size to miso soup. There were a few pieces of broccoli and those didn’t soak up the coconut curry.
Crispy chickpeas — not even crispy, it was just panfried and there’s not much flavor to it either.
Mac and cheese — where is the cheese?! It’s so dry. Too dry. The breadcrumbs on top didn’t help.
House made seitan French dip — it’s a sandwich that falls apart easily and is also very dry. I thought it was a dip. it’s very bland and dry.
Roasted portabella — served on a grilled pita bread with melted cheese on top. Nothing could go wrong with grilled portabella and cheese. This was probably the best choice I made from here.
I wanted to try Shepard’s pie but they said it can only be served dining in do that sucked.

I had heard some reallly wonderful things about AS220. I heard the mostly vegetarian food on the menu is really delicious and that it’s a wonderful non-​profit organization to support. Although I won’t argue about supporting a non-​profit, based on a couple different dishes I recently tried, I must say, I’m not impressed with the food.
I tried both the macaroni and cheese (made with broccoli) and the sweet potato purée. The mac and cheese combines mostly elbow macaroni and some wagon wheels, along with broccoli and some bread crumbs on top. It was alright. I’d give it about 3 ½ stars in terms of macaroni and cheese. Definitely not the best, but it does fit the bill.
The sweet potato purée, on the other hand, reminded me of baby food. Both in texture and flavor. It was soooooo loose and soft. Most potato purée has a bit more thickness and substance to it. This one did not. It also had no flavor. The sweetness of the marshmallows on top was its only saving grace. Otherwise it was really bland and boring. I wouldn’t order it again.
I’m sure there is more to try on the menu (more popular menu items), but based on a small sampling, I’m really not blown away. I probably wouldn’t see any reason to return. I’m sorry to say that, because I do love supporting small businesses and especially those doing good in the community, but for the food, I’ll probably just pass.