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CAV
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
16 reviews for CAV
4.5 stars (the extra .5 stars goes to our bus boy who kept refilling our water glasses before it ever went empty! I love places where you do not have to constantly ask for a water refill!!! Amazing!)
My fiance and I was in town for a weekend and decided to check out CAV. Since I am not from the area locating it was a bit difficult but thank the lord for GPS!
Once we found the secret entrance we were impressed with the place. I was expecting the place to be a bit chi-chi but the staff was very warm and inviting.
The place is an antique shop as well as a restaurant. The majority of the merchandise, which served as the decor as well, were asian and african inspired. Although I was very impressed with the concept of CAV I felt there was really no consistency in the decor and it was just a mosh pit of stuff. The price tag on the pieces were very expensive and it made me wonder if people actually go in here to shop.
Now on to the good stuff, the food. The food was exceptionally good here. We started with a plate of mussels in a coconut curry sauce. Being southeast asian I've had better curry sauce but the starter was tasty nonetheless. I ordered a sole dish with capers and cucumbers and my fiance ordered a salmon dish with lychee (check out the pictures in the photo section). I prefered my dish as I felt the salmon was a little too sweet for my taste. The fish for both dishes were perfectly cooked. The only complaint I had about my dish was the extra garnishes. i do not care for extra "fluff" on my plate which I cannot eat.
Overall our experience at CAV was wonderful. Whether you are looking for a romantic night out, a place to get together with friends, or just simply a well prepared meal for the night I strongly suggest to make a visit. I sure will be back for seconds. mmmm
I've always loved CAV. The decor may be a bit overwhelming for some guests, but I find it charming. Its a restaurant full of antiques with a worldy flair. I've found the food to always be well put together and full of flavor. For less impact on your wallet, stop by for lunch and sit out in the courtyard with a glass of wine when the weather is warm.
This place is great! The decor is unique! My boyfriend and I felt like we were in africa/middle east, and the atmosphere was very nice. The staff was incredible! Our waitress was great, no complaints about the service! We had the bruschetta for an appetizer, and it was delicious. Tomatoes were very fresh! For being a nice a restaurant, the portions were actually a decent size! We had the tuna and the scallops, and they were very good. Everything tasted incredibly fresh! We also had two desserts, chocolate cake and creme brulee, which were very tasty, but it was a little too much food! (one is plenty to share)
While we were at the restaurant, there was a thunderstorm, and the taxi service never showed up. We waited at the bar about 20-30 minutes, and then the chef offered us a ride! So we were given a ride home by the staff!! We had a such friendly group of people taking care of us.
I hate judging a place after only one visit, but I can say with relatively high conviction that I won't be back and want to share my experience.
My group of 8 arrived at 11:30 AM, on time for our reservations, to what could have been a cute location. Only when we were seated did we fully understand that this is part restaurant, part Pier One/World Market. There are Buddas, crosses, African masks, Chinese mirrors, chandeliers, etc. everywhere in the restaurant. It seemed cute at first, but then it was pointed out that the all of the crap had price tags on them. There may have been a trombone and a street sign left over from the previous tenant, TGI Fridays...
Besides the decor, the service was horrible! The waiter was nearly a ghost who would only appear every 20 or so minutes to refill water glasses. After about 45 minutes of waiting, an argument broke out in the kitchen that caused us all to expect the chef to come out with a cleaver and start cursing everyone around him. Funny thing, the background muzak (either Sting, Enya, or those chanting monks) got noticeably louder, kinda like when a sibling would turn up the TV when parents argue...
After waiting for over an hour and fifteen minutes for our food, and the entertainment of the argument had worn off, we asked for the check and told the waiter we wanted to leave. Low and behold, food (luke warm) arrived with the check. The manager came to our table to apologize, offered a round of drinks and to discount the check, and presented us with pocket angels (if you don't know what they are, consider yourself lucky). She was very nice, but we were late for our game. My thought is that if someone asks for the check after waiting an obscenely long time with no word about food preparation, DO NOT BRING THE FOOD! YOU HAVE LOST THAT CHANCE!!! DOING SO IS MORE INSULTING THAN NOT.
Food was completely uninspiring and sounded far better on the menu, bloody marys were bland. Oh well, I got a pocket angel out of it...
CAV is an upscale contemporary restaurant that won't completely render you broke. It is a more expensive restaurant, but the value is undeniable. Items such as Poulet aux Poires (pan-seared chicken breast with red pears poached in a red wine and ginger pear sauce, served with sauteed Asian chive dumplings) and Walnut encrusted Brie with brandied apricots are just a few of the many creative appetizers and entrees offered. The desserts are phenomenal, though mostly standards with a twist (creme brulee, chocolate souffle).
The atmosphere is probably the most unique in Providence. The restaurant looks more like an imports store than a dining establishment. African sculptures and oriental rugs fill the large space, creating a cozy and intimate environment.
CAV also has a lunch and Sunday Brunch menu, which offer the same caliber cuisine as their dinner menu, at almost half the price.
I really can't say anything bad about CAV. GO THERE. Take a date, go with a large group of friends, or just treat yourself.
So much hype around this place! I've been a few times and the the service has been bad every time. That really overpowers the food, no matter how good.
Ok, especially given the other reviews, I am ashamed, as a Parisian, to say that CAV is my favorite restaurant in the world. Maybe I should say "one of..."? It's a question of combinations - the decor, the food, the music, the memories... CAV is quite something.
It is simply stunning. A huge Ali Baba tavern with stuff collected from all over the planet lit by light garlands here and there, a different rose on each table, and live jazz in the background.
Every dish was special, whether it was plain old steak, or shaved lamb over god knows what with truffle oil, or even lobster, which I had and enjoyed for the first time in my life. The wine, ok, was not perfect, but it's partly my fault - the way they present the wines (with the name of the Chateau or estate) makes it hard for Miss French to know what they are talking about.
I am not going to go into why I found the place or how, nor why it was awkward going back with my boyfriend-at-the-time with every waiter greeting me warmly and every other person say "oh my god, if I were to take anyone on a date, it would be here" .
I am not, either, going to tell you how much money I have spent there on certain occasions. It's just wrong. But you don't have to go overboard. I just do, sometimes, and I try to rationalize it later, as I discover I couldn't actually afford it.
It _is_ the right place for a date though, accidental or not, whether you sit in the main room, the back room, or on the terrace for a cheaper yet just as stunning brunch on a Sunday morning.
No wonder they won more awards I ever thought possible.
What is a wonder is that it remains largely unpopulated by Brown students. But that's obviously also part of its charm.
on february 13th, my boyfriend realized the place we were going to go to for valentine's day was closed for the winter. i was visiting and became bummed when i didnt think i would be going out. i called a bunch of places, many of which we have at home (in VA, such as the capital grille, etc) and they told us they had reservations around 4 p.m. and around 10 p.m., i called CAV and the host asked what time i was looking for. when i replied 8 p.m. i thought he was going to laugh in my face ... instead, he asked me to hold on a moment to talk to his manager. THEY FIT MY BOYFRIEND AND I IN AT 8 P.M. LESS THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE VALENTINES DAY. talk about service!
when we got there, the waitress was a little slow but i think it has to do with taking your time to eat and everything. i would absolutely go back again, not only because of the decor (which was FABULOUS) but because the food and experience was enjoyable. we sat at a little table with a candle and a rose in these uber-comfy cushioned, couch-like, living-room-like chairs with runners on them. gorgeous. the live music added a romantic touch.
although we were alone i noticed many groups out, which makes me think i would go again with friends.
we ordered the lobster appetizer, and the bread was warm and delicious to dip in the extra lobster sauce.
my boyfriend ordered the seafood pasta dish which was amazing, and i had their signature chicken with bosc pears. i can see why there are tons of awards on the small but quaint wall when you walk in
(ladies, watch how tall your heels are, the entrance is a VERY steep ramp, i thought i was going to fall in my 5-inchers).
we didnt order dessert, for once i didnt feel like it and was stuffed. so ben & jerry's did us well.
for both of us, our appetizer, dinner and non-alcoholic drinks was around $85, INCLUDING tip ... sort of in between $$ and $$$.
will go again. hope you have similar experiences
CAV is one of my two favorite restaurants in Providence. I went there several times while I still lived in the area, week nights, weekend nights, and for brunch. I am in love with the decor- it's like you stumbled into a treasure trove of art, furniture and more from Asia, Africa and Europe. All the tables are covered with kilims and all the chairs are hand-carved. The food is definitely European-influenced and rich, but not lacking in experimentation and whimsy. The wine list is large, and there were several visits during which the bartender sent over a free drink or two to the table. I would recommend trying the brunch at least once- you get the same amazing type of food at about half the price of dinner. If you're a jazz fan, be sure to have a late dinner on one of their performance nights in the main room- there is a slight cover charge for being present during the music. Perhaps the only negative to the CAV experience is its strange, semi-remote location. Then again, maybe it's fitting that this cave of treasures is hidden away in its own little area.
This place is WEAK! I mean, the decor is great, and the wait staff was super friendly and helpful, and the location was quaint in that "I like to eat in a recently gentrified-previously economically depressed area" type of way, but it was way too pricey for the value.
If I were a lawyer, I would create the following case against this place:
Exhibit A--The calimari--Squid alone is flavorless. Every chef worth his salt and pepper knows that a calimari appetizer wins hearts and minds in either its breading or its dipping sauce. Neither were present in any delicious quantity. Grade? C
Exhibit B--The Striped Bass Special--While not a regular contender on the menu, this was disappointing as well. It cost about $23, which is fine, except it included a mere 3 oz. of fish. On the botttom was a tiny bit of flavorless spinach and what can only be described as Mac & Cheese. I guess I have heard it described as kugel at passover, but I will continue to call it Mac and Cheese until they prove me otherwise. Grade? B-
Exhibit C--The Bruschetta--WOAH, this bruschetta has been acquainted with vinegar. I mean, WOAH! WOWWY WOW WOW. The bread was tasty, but it was doused in balsamic. Bruschetta should be fresh, toasted, and bursting with herbs. This was old, droopy, and not that good. Grade? D
Exhibit D--The Salmon--Not bad, actually. A good cut of fish. Was asked for slightly rare, and was not rare at all. It came with a beurre blanc that just flat out missed its assignment. Was more like drenched in popcorn butter. Ok, that's meaner than it needs to be, but honestly, this summed up the night for me. Food that tried to be high class, but came off second (or third) rate. Grade? B.
Once again, lovely spot for a date, nice people, good wine, but the food is very unimpressive.
Booo on Cav.
Okay, so the combination antique shop/restaurant gimmick seems pretty great in theory. In practice, you end up feeling as if you are dining in your grandmother's attic--that is, if your grandmother owned approximately 17,000 crystal chandeliers and had a weird fetish for Persian rugs and African art. It only makes sense, then, that the crowd consisted largely of elderly folks and people hideously out of touch with contemporary culture. As I ate my meal, I listened to a family discuss "how simple people in the Midwest are" (I'm from the Northwest, but I still bristled on behalf of my mother and her Minnesotan heritage). Later, they acknowledged that they didn't know what ciabatta bread was (okay, fine) and expressed shock and delight at the idea of a dessert menu. An entire menu dedicated to desserts! I have no idea how this concept managed to slip past them. Shortly thereafter, an older gent walked in and remarked that the word "gateau" was spelled incorrectly on a sign. It was spelled correctly.
But hey, maybe this is just the kind of crowd that one has to expect on a Tuesday night. Plus, the food is decent enough that it's worth putting up with a few jerks. The menu is fairly large, but most of the entrees are pretty expensive (over twenty dollars). By picking and choosing carefully, though, I managed to eat like a king on a graduate student's budget. I had a lovely glass of chardonnay (a slightly more expensive one substituted for the unavailable house chardonnay at no extra charge), a pathetically small serving of bread with a disproportionately large serving of butter, and a very good plate of lemon dill pasta with three kinds of mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh tomatoes (the pasta was made fresh but served somewhere in between al dente and just plain undercooked). A fine cup of coffee and a delicious berry tart with a vanilla crust (only a few of the desserts are made at the restaurant, but they are contracting some fine bakers to round out that craaaazy dessert menu) finished the meal. I walked away stuffed, slightly tipsy, and, if this review is any indication, more than a little smug. And all without emptying my wallet.
Cav is a lovely spot for a date dinner or gathering with friends. Unique atmosphere, excellent menu and wine selection.
I've tried this place several times over the years, and it's never disappointed me! I remember many years ago going there for the first time for dessert only. I had pineapple sorbet that has stayed etched in my memory till this day. I believe it was flown in from Italy. Since then I've been there a few times for dinner, including a couple times for their jazz night performances. If you sit in the room where they perform you have to pay a small cover charge, but even if you sit in the back room you can hear the live music. Most recently I had an amazing scallop dish that just melted in my mouth (I've posted the picture) as well as a delicious prickly pear martini. On previous visits I've had salmon, seared ahi, and a pasta dish. Although the menu changes, some items never do, like the chicken with pears which is a specialty, and so incredible! And don't forget the amazing decor with great artifacts from all over the world, which are all for sale! You can buy the African statues or chairs on display... all kinds of great finds that have already been found and are just sitting there waiting to be discovered by diners and shoppers alike. Although this place is a bit pricey, I definitely recommend it, especially if you're celebrating something special. It's worth the splurge, regardless of the occasion. Sometimes you just need to treat yourself! So why not do it with an unforgettable meal!
CAV's is the greatest restaurant in Providence. The ambiance is unique and serves a sophisticated contemporary menu with international influences. After dinner browse art objects from around the world. You will find an interesting gift to bring home! Great romantic first date place!
First of all, CAV stands for cocktails, antiques and victuals. If the word "antiques" makes you uncomfortable, don't worry! All of the furniture and linens are beautiful items that are actually for sale, but the atmosphere of CAV couldn't be any cooler. CAV is located in a cobblestoned garden surrounded by beautiful red-brick buildings in Providence's Jewelry District. The bar area is gorgeous, as is the rest of the restaurant, and when the upright bass jazz band gets started on Friday nights you'll begin to feel like a million bucks. The food is delish (standard decadent stuff) and the place is perfect for romancing or just for coming in from the cold.
My sister booked my bridal shower at CAV this summer for a Sunday Brunch- I have to say- they did a phenomenal job, from the decor and setup of the private dining "hideaway" - to the individualized, friendly and fun service... they really made us feel special. The brunch was absolutely delicious! and the set up of our "pre brunch" appetizer station was tastefully done- both aesthetically beautiful and packed with high quality assortment of light fare . .. I would highly recommend this as a brunch "must do" - ( although I have to caution, I have been disappointed in their dinners )
