Blackie's Bull Dog Tavern Awards

Blackie's Bull Dog Tavern Restaurant Review:

Blackie's Bull Dog Tavern, located in a fairly rural area, is a pleasant surprise. The dining room has soft lighting and decorative prints on the walls and a granite-topped bar; an outdoor patio is shaded by an arbor. Blackie's chef/owner Angie Armenise, formerly of Waterplace in Providence, successfully bridges the gap between bar fare and "dining" with a menu of comfort food that puts some nice twists on old favorites. General Tso's crispy squid is an Asian rendition of fried calamari, for example, while the soft pretzel bites are accompanied by an apple and pear compote, the fruit sourced from Smithfield's local orchards. There are burgers and sandwiches on the menu, of course (including a "Breakfast Burger" topped with home fries, brown sugar maple mayo, and bacon). But if you're going to order a drink called a Smoked Caramel Apple --- one of several specialty cocktails on the menu --- wouldn't it go better with the short rib pappardelle or apple cider salmon than the usual fish ‘n’ chips? A carrot cake ice cream sandwich sounds just right for a sunny fall afternoon, and the seasonal cheesecakes are made in-house.