Bites Nearby: Siena on Federal Hill

Those fortunate enough to live in within Seekonk town limits has all of their modern conveniences within their grasp, with choices to boot. Many of the major food serving chains have franchises along the Fall River Ave/ Highland Ave area.  There’s also choices that are much more regional, and several single site restaurants. With all these delicious choices right in the Seekonk area, why would one need to go anywhere else?

There are several answers to this. Diversity is the spice of life. Sometimes driving a few extra minutes to get to your food adds a little something to the restaurant experience. Most importantly, southeastern New England has a surprising concentration of culinary excellence from wiener carts to fine dining.

The subject of this week’s attention is Siena in Providence on Federal Hill. Siena is a mere 8 miles or 12 minutes from what Google maps uses as the center of Seekonk. Weekends are a busy and tables are tough to get without a reservation, and my fiancé and I decided it was the perfect mid-week special treat to boost spirits after a busy couple weeks. 

Siena is a fantastic embodiment of the overall theme for which Federal Hill is famous.  The décor was a balance of romantic darkness, classy upscale design, and sophisticated decoration.  The Italian menu was progressive and appealing. Our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu, and read from memory a great list of specials. We both ordered from the special selections. I think this may constitute a food critic faux pas, because readers will not be able to replicate or walk away with any firm recommendations, but I do feel it’s worth mentioning that the creative special combinations were irresistible. Pay close attention to the specials! 

Probably my favorite part of the meal was the fact that they brought a little bowl of various olives with our bread. My fiancé, Amy, doesn’t like olives which made this even better for me. Although it may be generous to call this my favorite part of the meal, it set a tone that shows me the restaurant management and chefs are focused on the little details that they hope will separate them from their competition and alternatives on Atwells Avenue. Or maybe I just like olives. 

Our steamed littlenecks appetizer was great, and the perfect size for two people. Amy’s steak and my baked lobster pasta dish were both great. Her cut of meat was sized and prepared right. My creamy pink pasta sauce was great, and there was actually enough lobster in it for some to make it into the leftovers! The bill was a little pricy, as should be expected for the experience, but it was well worth it. One appetizer, one soup, two entrees from the specials menu and a bottle of wine came in under $130. Their summertime outdoor seating is some of the best in Providence, with their front tables catching the sun well after most others have gotten chilly.