‘This won't be a cool place': Providence chef trades fine dining for unpretentious hot dog joint
'This won't make it on some 'best new restaurant' list, or win a
In his next act, one of Providence's most talented chefs just wanted to make hot dogs.
In early May, Davis plans to open Debbie's, named for his mom, on Washington Street in downtown Providence. Next to Frisky Fries and across from The Strand theatre, he'll be serving hot dogs (not hot wieners, the classic
It's a step away from the style of work he did with chef Ben Sukle at
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But those were all buzzy restaurants that made it onto national 'best' lists, and attracted food writers from around the country. Debbie's will not be like that, Davis said. 'I don't have anything more to prove,' said Davis.
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Davis's dream of a casual spot goes against the trend of restaurateurs who are placing
But like many chefs I speak to regularly, Davis could do without social media, or influencers trying to grab a
'You're not going to come here for a [expletive] photoshoot,' said Davis, who also runs
He and his wife, Jen Davis – who runs the beverage programs at
They'll be open Wednesdays through Saturdays, and will serve Kayem
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They'll sell vegetable plates and salads, like kale with shaved button mushrooms, pickled shallots, and parmesan tossed with a dijon vinaigrette. And pimento cheese with celery sticks.
He's still ironing out the final details of the menu, just like most restaurants and counters do in the weeks before opening. In a draft version he sent me, he wrote 'idk' – as in 'I don't know' – six times.
Davis's tone is refreshing to many: Debbie's won't try to be something it's not, it's ideal for picky eaters, and it'll be a kid-friendly destination in a section of downtown where it's hard to find a children's menu.
'I'm good with just making hot dogs,' said Davis. 'All of the moves I've made are lateral. Only difference is how you put food on a plate.' Just don't try to call it cool.
Debbie's will be located at 100 Washington St. in Providence, R.I. Stay updated on the restaurant's
.
MORE FOOD NEWS AROUND NEW ENGLAND
👨🍳 Around Massachusetts:
In Scituate, the famed chef
Douglas Rodrigues
is opening a second restaurant,
The Salt Marsh
. Rodrigues previously worked for some of the top restaurants in Boston – including
Ken Oringer's Clio
and
Liquid Art House
. For the last few years, he's been operating
Ernie Campbell
is the friendly face behind
Jamaica Mi Hungry
, which started as a food truck and now has two outposts – one in Jamaica Plain and the other in Downtown Crossing in Boston. Read my colleague
Kara Baskin's
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🌊 Around Maine:
Maine Seaweed Week is starting April 25 and will run until May 4. It's the seventh annual food and drink festival that celebrates Maine's seaweed harvest.
Nikhil Naiker
, who runs the
NIMKI
pop-up in Providence, is
Bar Futo
in Portland on April 28.
🍷 Around Vermont:
In Burlington,
Dedalus Wine Shop
, the famous market and bar that closed last year, is being replaced with
Ari Sadri
. Sadri is the former general manager of Dedalus, and he's planning to mimic the retail operations and bar mix of the former business.
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