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When it comes to dining, Rhode Island’s Olivia Culpo is known to have taste. The reality star’s family has opened five restaurants in the state – The Back 40 Union + Main Lake Taco Evie’s and Black Oak Kitchen & Drink – since 2017, which she has a hand in. She’s always shared her love for Rhode Island food on social media.
Recently, during an Ask Me Anything on her Instagram stories, someone asked her for her Rhode Island restaurant recommendations, and she delivered.
She listed no fewer than 13 spots to try.
Here’s a look at her list.
Taco Tuesdays at Lake Taco in Coventry, R.I.
Lake Taco in Coventry, Rhode Island, comes back to Studio 10 for Taco Tuesday!
Studio10’s Mario Hilario was off from work the day that Lake Taco came in for the first time, so, we just had to have our friends back so Mario could experience some of the amazing parts of Lake Taco’s Menu! At Lake Taco, they infuse all of their tequila in-house.
If Tuesdays weren’t special enough, Lake Taco has Trivia Nights on Tuesdays at 7pm!
Video Source WJAR 10 News turnto10.com
Restaurants to delis, bars to bakeries: Here’s what opened in RI this year
Lake Taco, newly opened, just this week, is the lakeside restaurant that brings barbecue to Coventry at 446 Tiogue Ave. Think ribs, brisket and pulled pork, by the pound. Plus, you’ll find tacos, chili, wings and grilled cornbread. It comes from the owners of the Back 40 in North Kingstown, Black Oak in Coventry, Union & Main in East Greenwich and Evie’s in Westerly. Justin Dalton-Ameen and partners Josh and Peter Culpo started with Lulu’s in Allston, Massachusetts, but all their recent expansion has been in Rhode Island. Chef Travis French is at the helm. laketacori.com
We have to taco about this place! Lake Taco has opened on Tiogue Lake in Coventry — from the same folks who have brought us Black Oak Kitchen which is also on Tiogue Avenue, Back 40, and more — at the address that many still probably associate with Nino’s, an in-demand banquet hall style event space for weddings, anniversary parties, and such that closed back in 2014-ish.
Well, this cheery and charming restaurant for casual, Mexican-inspired lunch or dinner at 446 Tiogue is a lively addition to the area where locals and visitors alike can make NEW memories.
The hubs and I were there the other day. First off, I absolutely love the aesthetic: The gigantic Tiogue Lake mural that greeted us in the entry way is delightful and fun, and I for one think it adds a certain something to the whole entire experience. The interior is full of other whimsical little nods and winks to tacos and the like. I mean, it’s just so darn cute.
And the outside? The sweet views of the lake are only going to get prettier as we head into spring and summer 2024. Yes, I am anticipating that their outdoor area is most definitely going to be a hot spot in the new year as the weather turns mild.
But wait, I can’t write this and not mention the food and sips. I had a fizzy mocktail (which is kinda what I’ve been gravitating towards more oft than not these days), but their drink menu is quite extensive with options like a house marg, cucumber mojito (sounds pretty great), draft beer (including RI’s own Whalers, Grey Sail, and Shaidzon), and vino (including pinot from Gooseneck…can’t wait for their new location ovder in Saunderstown btw)… /p>
COMING SOON AND JUST OPENED:
7 NEW RESTAURANTS TO CHECK OUT IN R.I.
The owners behind the popular Union & Main restaurant in East Greenwich are opening another new restaurant.
Justin Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo are planning to open Lake Taco on the shores of Tiogue Lake in Coventry this fall. The property at 446 Tiogue Ave., has housed a carousel of concepts over the years — Nino’s, Doherty’s Lakeside Ale House, Tiogue Tavern, and Morse Tavern, which closed in the summer of 2022 due to financial struggles.
The duo partnered with Josh Culpo’s cousin, former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, to open Union and Main last summer and Back 40 in North Kingstown in 2017. The pair also own Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks in Coventry. Each restaurant serves various iterations of American comfort food, but Lake Taco will have more of a taco-and-tequila-bar concept, and all meats will be smoked in-house.
Here are more new spots opening in Rhode Island…
Baja’s Fresh Grill, Lake Taco coming soon to Coventry
COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) —
Lake Taco, prepares to open up down the road where Morse Tavern used to be. Lake Taco is set to open sometime this fall.
The owners of Lake Taco also operate other popular restaurants across the state, including Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks, Back40 Food & Drink, Union & Main and Evie’s Cocktails & Comforts.
New eatery coming to former Morse Tavern site
COVENTRY — From the owners of another Coventry restaurant, plans are currently in the works to introduce to the town a place where diners can enjoy tacos lakeside.
“A neighborhood spot, that’s our core,” Justin Dalton-Ameen said during this week’s Coventry Town Council meeting as he shared his vision for the restaurant he and his business partner intend to open at the former site of Morse Tavern.
With plans to open Lake Taco later this year — likely in September — Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo had come before councilors Tuesday seeking liquor, victualing and live show entertainment licenses.
On Town Solicitor Stephen Angell’s recommendation, the council ultimately voted to hold off on issuing the licenses until a Certificate of Occupancy has been obtained.
Situated on the shores of Tiogue Lake, Lake Taco is the latest venture by the owners of Black Oak Kitchen & Drinks and four other restaurants — Dalton-Ameen and Culpo also teamed up with former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and others to open Back 40, located in North Kingstown, in 2017 and Union & Main, in East Greenwich, last year.
When they learned from a friend who works in real estate that the building at 446 Tiogue Avenue would be going up for sale, Dalton-Ameen and Culpo “jumped on it,” Dalton-Ameen said.
The building has housed several establishments over the years. Home to Nino’s on Lake Tiogue until 2014, it became the site of Doherty’s Lakeside Ale House, later re-branded as Tiogue Tavern, two years later.
The building was sold to the owner of Morse Tavern in 2018, over a year after Tiogue Tavern shuttered amid financial struggles. Morse Tavern closed its doors last summer, and the building has sat empty since.
The plan for the space is to create an establishment that won’t affect the owners’ other business in town, Dalton-Ameen told councilors Tuesday.
Opened at 760 Tiogue Avenue in 2019, Black Oak mainly serves up American comfort foods; its menu features a variety of classic dishes, from meatloaf and mashed potatoes to hearty salads to various burgers and sandwiches.
In fact, each restaurant owned by Dalton-Ameen and Culpo boasts a similar menu. But their newest restaurant will be different, Dalton-Ameen said.
“Here we’re going more [with a] taco and tequila bar concept,” he said, adding that all meats will be smoked in house. “Not offering what Black Oak offers is what we’re trying to do — it’s something a little out of our comfort zone, but we’re excited.”
The vision is still coming together, but Dalton-Ameen said the plan for the space includes a renovation that will open up the interior to “let the beauty of the place shine through.”
“It’s just a really beautiful spot,” he added. “We’re excited.” And based on their comments Tuesday, councilors share that feeling. “The community is very excited,” Hillary Lima, council president, told the restaurateurs. “We’ve all seen the buzz.” “You’d better have taco Tuesdays,” council vice president James LeBlanc chimed in.
With months of work ahead of them before they anticipate being ready to open, Dalton-Ameen and Culpo seem eager for what their restaurant will offer.
“[We are] just making a comfortable place in the community where people can get together,” Dalton-Ameen said. “That’s what it’s all about for us.”
LakeTacoRI Open Daily 11am-11pm