Latest News

Liberty Elm in bloom

Category: Latest

Published Date

It took far too long, but someone has successfully combined the coffee shop with the diner. Carol "Kip" DeFeciani opened the Liberty Elm in Providence, Rhode Island last summer, and despite many obstacles, has created a cozy and refreshing update to the little neighborhood diner. We stopped in just in time for lunch, and found a rejuvenated diner that, though still a work in restoration progress, served up fresh sandwiches, homemade soups and desserts with Wi-Fi and very cool music. Hearing the Talking Heads while sitting at the classic marble counter simply took me to diner nirvana. Sorry, but to me a visit to the diner definitely does [i]not[/i] evoke nostalgia for doo-wop or Elvis or anything "fifties." I wasn't even born yet. Carol follows in the footsteps of too-few owners who see the diner as a readily adaptable contemporary concept that goes beyond mere cheeseburgers and pancakes. Serving as it once did as the neighborhood coffee shop hangout, the small diner begged for a makeover that included espresso drinks and a lounge area. Say what you want about Starbucks, but they do create comfortable and inviting environments for people to feel justified spending three bucks for a shot of coffee and a pile of milk foam. Why not bring a little of this into the diner? We tried the fresh Mediterranean tuna sandwich, a slice of veggie pizza, pea soup, grilled cheese on fresh baked bread (for the little one) and a can't-say-no-to brownie. If you go now, you can also pick up your Christmas tree. Besides being a fine diner, Carol has also added a garden center to the mix. Bring a group of friends down and tell her Roadside sent you. The Liberty Elm is located on 777 Elmwood Avenue in Providence. For more information, visit the [url=http://www.roadsideonline.com/df/df-search.php?pkey=1771&diner=&city=&state=RI&builder=]DinerFinderOnline.[/url] Also, visit the diner's site at [url=http://www.farmfresh.org/food/member.php?fn=59]Farm Fresh Rhode Island.[/url]