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Phantom Gourmet
Siena is a gorgeous little town in Tuscany, and now it's a gorgeous little restaurant in Providence, too. Free valet parking and solid service are big boons to this Federal Hill newcomer, but it's the authentic Italian cuisine that will keep customers pouring through the door.
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| The moment you enter Siena, the social energy is electrifying. Up front it’s dimly lit with snug seating and a bar lined in cheetah print seats. The back room is more relaxed, with the same dark, handsome colors that paint the Italian landscape. |
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| Phantom started with Pasta e Fagioli, a hearty cannellini bean soup stewed with garlic and short ditalini pasta tubes, with the occasional flavor burst of basil and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The stuffed pan-fried eggplant formed three soggy logs, but each one housed a generous amount of herbed ricotta cheese with tomato sauce on top. |
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| For entrees, the olive brined chicken resulted in plump, moist poultry with a lovely acidic wine sauce, capers, and Sicilian green olives. The Black Angus sirloin strip steak was a thick, juicy cut enriched with olive oil and sea salt, served with a whole head of sweet roasted garlic and warm Gorgonzola cream for spreading. |
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| To finish, the scrumptious almond bread pudding was made from a rich cake full of raisins (panettone), and the soft, springy dessert absorbed a pool of orange-flavored bourbon syrup. |
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| Portions are impressive, and all side orders are available in two sizes, for up to four people. |
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| Phantom’s server knew the menu from cover to cover, offering excellent suggestions along the way. |
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| Cleanliness proved another high point; Siena is brand new, and the fresh look proves it. |
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| Appetizers average $8, and entrees have an accommodating range from $13 to $29. |
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| The Providence newcomer is in the heart of historic Federal Hill with free valet parking. |
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Review Date: 3/4/2006 |
