Tavern on the Water

743 Putnam Pike, Smithfield | 401-349-3888
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 12pm-9:30pm; Thursday 12pm-10pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 12pm-9pm | Meals Served: Lunch, dinner | Cuisine: Contemporary American | Price Range: $9-$33 | Bar: Full bar, full menu | Kid Menu: Yes | Parking: Private lot | Reservations: Yes | Delivery: No | Take Out: Yes | Outdoor Seating: Yes | Ambiance: Casual, waterfront | Catering: On-site private events

Tavern on the Water is a hidden gem in Smithfield. From the front, it’s an unassuming-looking tavern. But once you step inside, you’re inside another world: soaring cathedral ceilings frame huge windows overlooking Waterman Lake. There are two outdoor dining spaces, one of which goes right out into the water.

Owner Linda Marchioni and Chef Jeffrey Paquette opened Tavern on the Water in December, from Linda’s dream of turning her lifelong work in the hospitality industry into owning her own restaurant. “I couldn’t believe what I saw when I walked in for the first time,” Linda says. “It was everything I was envisioning my restaurant would look like. I always said I wanted ‘just a little restaurant right on the water.’”

Linda and Chef Jeff designed the restaurant around his cooking, which combines Portuguese and French flavors and ideas into upscale American comfort  food. “I wanted Tavern on the Water to be a place where everyone felt comfortable  going,” Linda says, “whether it’s a family with kids, or a couple on their first  date, or a girls’ night out. There’s a little something here for everyone.”

Tavern on the Water has live music on weekends, and hosts private events in  their beautiful space. “We try to put great detail into everything we do,” Linda  says. “That’s where Chef Jeff and I really complement each other. We feel that  even the little details are very important.”