FOOD NEWS: Westerly surf cafe coastal comfort in ‘Gansett, and a

Cozy cabin dining comes to Gansett with restaurateur’s latest project

Magical co ee truck sets up permanent digs in Warwick

The former Catarina’s Italian Village is now home to The Coastal Cabin Restaurant, but chef and owner Christian D’Agostino is hardly a new face to the South County dining scene. You’re likely familiar with his other establishments, Tavern on Main in both Wakefield and East Greenwich, and the owner of Catarina’s, Anthony Mollo, was also one of D’Agostino’s mentors. Set in a genuine log cabin, the feel of this new project is both rustic and breezy, from the decor to the menu. Looking for New England coastal fare like lobster rolls? You’ll find it here, but D’Agostino’s approach to seafood favors creativity over cliches, with comfort food like Pistachio Crusted Shrimp Skewers, Bouillabaisse (a hearty fish stew popular in French cuisine), and even a Miniature Seafood Pot Pie. Curating a warm yet sophisticated atmosphere, guests are invited to kick back with craft cocktails and half-price appetizers for happy hour every day from 4-6pm and 9pm to close or for weekend brunch with Crabcake Benedict, seafood crepes, and house-made breakfast sausage sandwiches. Narragansett, CoastalCabinRI.com

Take a menu of decadent iced lattes, specialty sammies, and a wall painted in greenery, and presto! You’ve got a co ee shop – but not just any co ee shop. When Jessica and Jason Case trundled onto the scene with the Presto Strange O Co ee Truck in 2010, food trucks were scarce in Rhode Island compared to the caravan of eateries on wheels you’ll find today. Looking for a change of pace after years working in the film business, they forged ahead: “We started small, with a trailer and as business grew, we grew,” says Jessica. “Now we operate two co ee trucks and just opened our shop in Warwick.”

Along with creamy co ee bevvies made popular by the trucks, new specials pop up at the cafe, like an Iced Vanilla Taro Latte, plus lemonades and co ee drinks by the jug. Breakfast and lunch menus include apple fritters, BLTs, wraps, and desserts. To complement their colorful and creative drinks, the decor is distinctly whimsical and organic, with winding vines and botanical accents at every turn. Warwick, PrestoStrangeO.com to Exploring Rhode Island

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