Despite the fact that its name may lend itself to images of a local watering hole, Uncle Ronnie’s Red Tavern isn’t a bar or pub. “Even though it’s called Uncle Ronnie’s Red Tavern, it’s not a bar,” explains coowner Paula Dumas, who owns and manages the restaurant with her husband, Ron. “It’s more of a family restaurant and that’s what we want people to know.” Situated in the building that formerly housed Gus’ Red Tavern, Uncle Ronnie’s has been up and running for over a
year now and has tried to encompass the qualities that the business possessed in the past.

“We kind of brought it back [to being like Gus’] because a lot of people tried to run it with big plates and very little food for fine dining,” explains Dumas. “That didn’t work, so we tried to bring it back to the Gus’ way with the lobsters, steak and seafood.” Also on the menu are items such as marshmallow and brown sugar sweet potatoes and even an award-winning
soup.  “We did win an award for our white chowder at the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce event two or three years ago,” Dumas says. Dumas explains that despite winning an award, Uncle Ronnie’s is a down-to-earth establishment aiming to keep prices low, food portions large and families comfortable. “We offer a lot of food for a reasonable price,” says Dumas. “It’s a very relaxed atmosphere with relaxed family dining. We cater to kids, we have a kids menu, we do giveaways during the summertime and we have beach balls.” The barn-red building on Victory Highway that houses the restaurant holds a lounge, a dining area and a private function room that can accommodate up to sixty guests. “We do funeral coalitions, bridal showers, birthday parties and business meetings,” Dumas says.

While Uncle Ronnie’s prides themselves on being a family-friendly establishment, they do offer some entertainment for the older crowd once the restaurant closes, including live musical performances from local bands such as Jackson Schoolhouse and karaoke night every other Thursday. “The lounge stays open later than the restaurant and from time to time, we do offer live bands,” Dumas says. Open every day but Christmas, Uncle Ronnie’s offers their full menu to patrons at regular pricing during holidays and Dumas indicates that despite their backwoods locale, Uncle Ronnie’s has become a dining and
entertainment destination for many. “In the quiet of the woods on a road that seems to go nowhere, there is a place where good friends meet and drinks are bountiful,” Dumas says, reciting a line she spoke for the restaurant’s commercial. “Uncle Ronnie’s,” Uncle Ronnie’s Red Tavern is located at 2692 Victory Highway and is open Monday- Thursday at 4 p.m. and
Friday-Sunday at 11 a.m.

Thanks to a loan program from the city’s Planning and Redevelopment Agency that  some building code improvements, a new West African restaurant will be opening up downtown by the early fall. At last month’s meeting, the PRA voted to authorize a $35,000, five-year loan to a Providence woman who plans to operate a restaurant at 200 Main Street, the site of the former Extreme Donuts. The PRA offers a commercial loan program to business owners for loans of up to $100,000 for any type of code improvement.

PRA Director Michael Cassidy said that restaurant owner, Oluwatoyin Wilcox, currently runs a successful catering operation on Douglas Avenue in Providence. He said that she plans to keep the catering operation and wants to expand her culinary skills with a restaurant here in the city. Cassidy said that Wilcox, who plans on signing a five year lease with the building owners, was told by the Fire Marshall that she is in need of approximately $35,000 worth of duct work and other improvements to meet the necessary building codes.

Wilcox, originally from Nigeria, said the restaurant will feature a menu of both West African native dishes and American cuisine. Called the Toyin Restaurant, after her name, she said the eatery will be able to seat about 50 people and will also have an area for take-out. Some parking is available behind the building, and she is also planning on attracting downtown foot traffic. Wilcox said she plans on being open for lunch and dinner, and might add a breakfast menu at a later date. She said she is looking forward to her new business venture in Pawtucket and plans to open as soon as the code improvements have been completed, which she estimates will be by late September or early October.