Food & Drink

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Living The Deli Dream

New neighbors in East Greenwich serve up modern brunch bites and sandwiches

“On Facebook, I asked the East Greenwich Moms group what they thought the downtown area needed, and with a unanimous vote – a deli was desired,” says Grace Bramhall, an entrepreneurial new resident of the town. A pastime of Zillow house-hunting brought Bramhall and Ty Cosgrove to Tillinghast Road from Massachusetts two years ago, where they fell in love with their now home – and soon set the wheels in motion to curate a space for tasty sandwiches and brunch.

Living out Cosgrove’s dream of owning a restaurant, the couple opened Downtown Tilly as a family-friendly spot with something for everyone. “We are very community oriented and want our menu to showcase that,” says Bramhall, listing o the nearby farms they source from, including Pat’s Pastured in East Greenwich and Exeter-based EMMA Acres and Our Kids Farm. “Our chef, Carlos Farrell, is extremely talented and strives to win a James Beard award one day; he makes almost everything in house, including our fan-favorite house-made seasoned chips.”

Favorite brunch eats include New Day, New “Mi” (an egg sandwich with pastrami and sriracha cabbage), Huevos Ranchero, and the Toast Board, featuring a slice each of their many fancifully topped breads. For lunch, there’s plenty of creative sandwiches, including local homage Goddard Steak Park, with thinly shaved sirloin, pepper jack cheese, mushrooms, red and green peppers, and caramelized onion on a ciabatta roll. Having recently been approved for a liquor license, Farrell keeps things interesting with their Deli After Dark dinner options that rotate monthly.

On the side, Bramhall hopes to one day convert the circa-1825 barn at The Tilly House (the name a ectionately bestowed upon their home) into a small-scale event venue. She relays, “We moved without planned jobs, or idea of what we would do when we arrived, but knew this is where we wanted to call home.” And now they get to delight their neighbors with wholesome bites, too. DowntownTilly.com | By Abbie Lahmers

By Rose Kenyon

Irish Pub Meets Beach Bar

A beachy watering hole delights regulars and summer people with seaside fare served late

We rushed into The Pub for our 5pm reservation in classic Matunuck fashion, sweatshirts and wet bathing suits, just off a boat ride on the Salt Pond. While admittedly I’d been to The Pub hundreds (thousands?) of times, this trip was a unique opportunity to distill the coastal mainstay’s lure into words – a task I was eager to take on.

My girlfriends and I were seated on the middeck, where we basked in the sounds of music and waves crashing on shore. The aesthetic is what you’d expect from a beach dive: umbrellas and an eclectic mix of retired road signs backdropped by miles of ocean views.

WEEKNIGHT SUMMER SPECIALS

Feel like a townie taking up the mic for a karaoke night, or inquire about hosting a private event on their rooftop deck.

Sunday: Pub-e-Okee

Monday: Street Tacos

Tuesday: Game Night + Burger & Brew Special

Wednesday: Trivia Night + Wings

Thursday: Sunset Music Series

Beverage director Kevin MacIntyre walked us through the drink menu, a pleasant divergence from the overly sugary, frozen beach beverages you might expect; The Pub o ers an expansive selection of refreshing, unprocessed cocktails. First up was the Pub Punch, with the zing of dark rum floating on top, followed by a soothing journey of tropical fruit juices and an unexpected hit of nutmeg. The Blicky was a super fun and sippable take on the Ocean Mist’s Watermelon Red Bull Ricky, combining Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka with Blueberry Red Bull. While clubby by nature, the crowd-favorite Blicky was surprisingly well balanced. My personal favorite, the Watermelon Spritz, was mixed with cold-pressed lime juice, agave, and a hint of basil.

Mug Club Exclusive

The Pub’s famous Mug Club, with members enjoying discount beers and personal tankards hung at the bar, has been in operation “since the beginning of time.” With just under 100 mugs – many passed down over generations – getting in the club is a difficult feat. Once a year, eager regulars stand in line hoping a spot may open up.

Must-Try Items

Salmon BLT Wrap ($17)

Seared salmon filet, jalapeño bacon, leaf lettuce, vine ripe tomatoes and tangy dill remoulade

Mason Jar Meatballs ($14)

Mini meatballs in a jerk mango-habanero glaze topped with tropical pico

Since The Pub has been around a long time – both as Joyce’s Family Pub and Tara’s Tipperary Tavern (in my lifetime) –MacIntyre explained that the restaurant holds the spirit of its Irish pub roots by keeping things like Bangers and Mashed on the menu, along with adding a few modern takes like the Irish Nachos and Reuben Eggrolls. With new chef Alvie McClasky recently joining the team, the restaurant has leveled up their menu and expanded their kitchen hours to midnight daily.

In full staycation mode, we enjoyed the sunshine and bevvies long enough to work up a big appetite. We opened the meal with a half pound of Chilled Peel and Eat Shrimp, Mason Jar Meatballs, and a basket of Frickles. The shrimp were hardy and well-seasoned, way tastier than your average vehicle-for-cocktail-sauce appetizer. The sweet and spicy mini meatballs had a kick of habanero, plus pineapple chunks and pico de gallo topping. The fried pickles had just the right amount of fry – indulgent but endlessly snackable.

When it came time for entrees, my friend went for the Chicken and Wa es, the latter o ering an exquisite crunch of caramelized syrup complemented by savory, crispy fried chicken and a drizzle of spicy honey glaze. In search of a healthy option that wasn’t a Caesar salad, I chose the Roast Veggie Quinoa Bowl, which was packed with carrots, peppers, roasted broccoli, and greens. My sister, joining us late, didn’t think twice about her selection, the Salmon BLT Wrap, which she’s had a few times since they started serving it two months ago. Between the jalapeño bacon and a tangy dill remoulade, who can blame her?

CUISINE: Irish-inspired pub fare

ATMOSPHERE: Casual beachside dive

A huge part of The Pub experience is the camaraderie of going on a weeknight for one of their many regular events, including my sister’s favorites, trivia night and karaoke – AKA Pub-e-Okee – that attract enthusiastic regulars. You’d be hard-pressed to find a livelier bunch when Sea Shanty Night (which happened earlier this summer) takes over the indoor bar.

Laughing and full, we closed the meal out watching the sun begin to set over the Atlantic. The way I see it, if you’re not a local, The Pub is worth the drive, and if you are a local, it’s worth the walk.