The Dorrance

Great imaginative cocktails, gourmet food and live music. Especially Travis Colby. Don't miss his Fat Tuesday show on February 13, 2018! I hear some famous horn players will be joining him.

Great place for drinks and a bite. Drinks are well-crafted and very tasty. There's also live music on Saturday. Worth a visit.

Fantastic drinks and food. Best cocktails for the price in providence! Awesome bartenders, great servers and killer decor and location.

Wedding reception here. Was absolutely awesome. The atmosphere is picture perfect, food was great, and bartenders were really good. It was a bit warm (I think because the building is older) other than that I highly suggest it. Great service.

Unbelievable service. Delightful cocktails (especially those classics off menu) ... Such delicious butter and break kicks off the meal in this palacial converted bank. I was thrilled to try several dishes.. each built on the previous. I felt instantly at home and this is a fair approximation of what New England hospitality is all about. Simple, elegant, and welcoming. Can't wait to come back!

This place was nice. Looked cool and had decent prices. Made me feel fancy. Only had a hi life though. I was super stoned on edibles and a weed pen plus hungover from two days of drinking in New York with the babe. I fell in love so much more with the babe.

Dined in the bar/lounge area last night, our server was great - very attentive even though she was super busy. Everything was delicious. Don’t skip dessert, the “blue velvet” was incredible.

Awesome vibe! This is a very classy place to get crafted cocktails. There is a lower level where you can get food and an upper lounge area where you can have a little bit more privacy to relax and enjoy your cocktail.

Incredible cocktails and not-even-kidding perfect desserts. Bartenders were sweet and wonderfully knowledgable. And plus that building is gorgeous. Take your date, your friend, your colleague. And go in jeans, it's all just fine. Go.

Great cocktail menu that rotates pretty often except for a few popular staples. The nights with live music are always fun. Bar staff is fast and knowledgeable.

Great spot with so much history, the building is amazing. Citrus Risotto was the best I've had. Lots of contemporary cocktails as well. We will definitely go back.

I've heard very nice things about this place but have never visited. We went there on a Wednesday thinking it would be a slow night. When we entered, the hostess asked if we had a reservation. Of course, I said no and she advised she was able to have us seated as the last walk-ins. To my surprise, the place ended up being very busy that night and we were lucky we were able to be seated! The restaurant is gorgeous, elegant and ornate! This is an historic bank but I felt like I was eating at one of the Newport mansions due to the decor and beautiful high ceilings. Our waiter, Jim was friendly and knowledgeable! We ordered the wings (Ginger, Hoisin Sauce, Jalapeño, Pickled Daikon Radish, Scallion) - part of the lord of the wings competition which were good. My husband ordered the burrata which also had squash, prosciutto, tomatoes and basil oil and he thought it was pretty good. I had the soup of the day which was a potato based soup which was fantastic! It was very light and the pieces of bacon in it melted in your mouth. Drinks here are outstanding!! We had the Salted Rye was very strong but delicious and Pursuit of Hoppiness (Diplomatico Venezuelan Rum, IPA Syrup, Lime, Hopped Grapefruit Bitters) was fabulous! I had the I KEEL GOOD! (KEEL Light Vodka, Lemon, Lemongrass Basil Syrup, Boston Bittahs) which was amazing as well! In between, we had little strawberry meringue cake treats from the Chef which were great! For dessert, I had the Baked Alaska "Rhody Style" dessert which had coffee milk sorbet, Irish cream ice cream, chocolate cake, candied hazelnuts, chocolate sauce, chocolate shortbread, plantation rum, meringue which was excellent! It wasn't as sweet as I thought it might be and the flavors worked well together. The presentation of this dessert was great as well as they light it on fire! This is definitely a very nice restaurant to visit but portion sizes are small. I'd recommend this for a place to go out for a special occasion or romantic evening. All in all, we did not experience a full dinner here either - just appetizers. However, if you only want delicious cocktails - then visit anytime! I would recommend reservations if you choose to dine here based on my experience, even if it is a weekday! One thing to note is that the restaurant and the bar have different food menus. As we sat down in the restaurant, we were unable to locate the wings on the menu. Jim mentioned to us that they are on the bar menu but that we could still order and eat the wings where we were. It didn't seem like an issue at all. The servers are exceptional and everyone was very friendly. The atmosphere is wonderful and we will certainly be back for more drinks! Cheers!

Fantastic bar. The variety and quality of beverages is excellent. The building itself is beautiful. The staff was very friendly. Did not eat so I cannot rate the food.

Once classy place The cocktails are top notch and the bottle/tap selection are quite good. The house band is crankin jazz and the whole space is swanky as (it's an old federal reserve bank).

Decent prices overall. Generous table samples and breads. Steak was perfect. Atmosphere was great. Server Adam was top notch.

The Dorrance is one of the most breathtaking places in Rhode Island. There really isn't anywhere like it. The beauty of the interior is matched by the amazing cocktails, the delicious meals, and the overly friendly and helpful staff. If you have the chance to go there, definitely take it!!!

I've been here several times for various occasions. I absolutely adore the ambiance of the bank-turned-bar. The ceilings, stained glass windows, and bank vault lounge in the back are always so much fun. Their drinks are delightful, and they often have live music without a cover. Great place!

Celebrated my anniversary here. It was a quiet weekday and our server was so attentive without smothering us. He made some wonderful recommendations. The ambiance was just what we were looking for for our special occasion. The food was phenomenal

I've been here a couple of time for drinks but tonight we had dinner as well. The drinks are fun and very tasty. There was live music without a cover and the ambiance is great. The building itself is absolutely gorgeous, the bank-turned-restsurant is great. Original ceilings, stained glass windows, and bank vault lounge in the back are super cool. The chef is excellent and the staff are amazing!!!! 100% recommend for drinks or dinner or both.

one of the best bartenders i've ever had serve me a cocktail. safe to say two of the best cocktails i've had the pleasure of savoring. mmmmm....mm. good stuff. slick & sleek! drive on driver...

Gorgeous atmosphere, we loved it! The a/c vents were right next to our table and cranking out on arctic blast on a cold and rainy night in May.

Love stopping here for my annual after party after my company Christmas party. I enjoy the drink menu and the atmosphere. The drinks are a bit pricey but not out of the ordinary for Providence. I enjoy the second floor balcony as it provides a great opportunity for people watching. They have a decent amount of seating around the perimeter and upstairs. The restroom can be an issue as it is a single room so you can end up waiting quite a while on a busy night. Sometimes they do charge a cover, sometimes they don't. Not sure what dictates that but its hit or miss so make sure you have $10 on hand just in case. It's worth stopping in at least once on a busy night if you enjoy people watching from above - otherwise it's a lot like any other bar in the area.

Beautiful interior and spacious. The specialty cocktails are interesting and reasonable compared to other large cities. I recommend the Kentucky Campfire for the experience alone. Smells like it sounds, with a citrus taste to it. If you prefer a drink with more bite Serious business is a great choice, though fair warning it's strong. I was there on an Saturday night and the crowd is definitely more mature, yet still fun and lively. A jazz band played which added to the charm.

We stopped here for drinks on NYE after dinner at Pot au Feu. We loved the elegant and relaxed atmosphere. Wonderful space with great antique architectural detail. There were 4 bartenders and they were very attentive as we were served by all 4. This looked like the place to be for NYE. We had a last call for drinks at 8:15 since we had to clear out of the bar by 8:45. 9:00 was the beginning of the festivities and even the seats at the bar were part of the ticketed event. We didn't have a problem with this and we were happy to oblige. The bartender was a bit more surly about the switch over than was necessary. We can't wait to come back for dinner and/or attend next year's NYE celebration!

Beautiful architecture and a lot of history in this place. I was there for a private function, so the food, while good was mass produced and a little underwhelming. The beers on tap were great and the staff was amazing. Great place for some cocktails and a taste of history.

Landed in Providence on business. Attempted to go to another place but it was too packed. Lucky me....Asked a stranger for fine dining with a nice atmosphere and they sent me to the Dorrance. Do not regret it! Very nice experience. A young man waited on me at the bar, did not get his name yet he was fabulous. Architecture of the building is old world & impressive.

Gorgeous restaurant. Fun and delicious cocktails - but the only problem was service. we waited 10-15 min for the first order of drinks then the second order I had my drink within 10 min then my second... and then waited another few minutes for them to bring my guest's drink after a re

Truly beautiful interior, and worth a visit for that alone. The cocktails are good – for Providence standards. In terms of food, some dishes were much better than others. The service was excellent.

Amazing drinks and atmosphere! Minus one star as the bussers are snobs about the upstairs mezzanine. Around 9pm on a Friday, we were told we could not be upstairs as there was an event tomorrow. This seemed like an excuse to heard us back to the crowded bar.

The building is beautiful and they have create cocktails. That being said, service can get overwhelmed on the weekends and the food is just okay.

Only called in for some cocktails and ale. Server was really nice. Grand interior. Was pretty quiet on a Tuesday eve.

Went there for some beers. It was around 9:30 pm and the place was rather crowded. Getting our order took more time than expected. The ambience is nice, quite like a club during the 20's. Live music was okay on the performance but too loud up to the point that talking was difficult.

Let me start by complaining how small the portions were. A 3 course meal and still left home hungry! And I am not a big eater!! Food tastes OK, dessert was good, service was good and the atmosphere is certainly unique. Worth trying but won't be a returning customer.

A group of friends and I came here during restaurant week. We made a reservation. It was not very busy and we were waiting on a few friends to show up so we asked if our table could be held, which they polity agreed to. I wish they offered valet during the week but that is not always a luxury offered, except on the weekends. We ordered some drinks at the bar which took a bit of time. It seemed like our bartender was helping multiple people rather than just finishing one set of drinks at at time. When we moved to our table our waitress and waiter were very friendly. I had the lobster bisque which was more like a thin salty soup with little to no lobster. Not the lobster bisque that I am used to. I had the tortellini as my entree. I understand that these types of restaurants prefer quality over quantity so you expect the most for your money. What I received was 4 on the larger side, tortellini. My husband and I typically share but I felt robbed giving him one of mine. He ordered the steak and potatoes which came with like four fingerling potatoes cut in two. Both dishes were tasty but I wouldn't warrant coming here if it wasn't restaurant week, and probably will not patronise again. While at the table it took a lengthy amount of time to get our drinks, not to our waitresses persistence but the slowness of the bar that night.

Hello, i recently visited the Dorance for the first time during Restaurant Week. When i explained to the waiter I had Celiac and need a gluten free menu he sort of scoffed at me and said we do not have a gluten free menu. So then feeling very embarrassed and uncomfortable in front of my coworkers i asked if he could advise me what was safe for me to eat. He then seemed annoyed and asked me what i was thinking about getting and I advise I hadn't really had an idea because I wanted to know what was safe. He then asked me to review the menu and tell me what I may want and he can advise the chef gluten free. I didn't get sick or anything but I felt very uncomfortable and like I was a bother asking him. It almost seemed like the place was so high class that they could not be bothered to alter their creations for people with allergies. This is not a "lifestyle" or "choice" for me I have an allergy and I get very sick if I consume gluten. I will definitely not go back unless just for drinks and if you or someone you plan on dining with is gluten free I would not recommend this place.

Ok so I love the dorrance. Beautiful venu, great drinks, and they used to have an amazing menu. I have no idea what happened recently with the menu change. But they cut it down and the food was uninspired and the dish I had was just plain awful. I hope they get their old menu back! One of the most beautiful venues in providence though.

Horrible staff. Bartenders think they are gods gift to mixology. I didn't receive any verbal communication whatsoever, or my receipt or my change when i paid for my drink. $20 for one non top shelf drink, yeah ok.

Great drinks. Poorly executed, uninspired food... Overcooked burgers, which I would never have planned on ordering, but the entrees were very uninteresting. Two at the table ordered shrimp risotto, which was terrible in all ways. $300 for 4 guests, which is acceptable for a good meal, but this was definitely not even mediocre. Space was empty, so most must know the deal.

I do not attend this type of restaurant very often. I have different levels of criticism when dining out. It depends on the type of restaurant, their pricing etc...This type of restaurant, The Dorrance falls in the category of where I would be the harshest and not capable of overlooking things that I might at say Twin Oaks or The Grist Mill, for example. We were a party of 11 with a reservation. For some reason, we stood in the entry for far longer than we should have. Where do we put our coats? We were told we could just throw them right on the radiator where the windows were. We had the somewhat isolated room. More than 5 minutes after everyone's settled we see our waiter. We were seated over a half hour before cocktails actually were delivered to our table. This is not something that is acceptable at 8 pm on a Saturday night. One member of my party ordered green tea. She was brought mint tea and when questioning the waiter, who was very pleasant indeed, he informed her that it was mint green tea and the closest he could come. I'm sorry, as much as I liked the waiter, this is ridiculous. You don't serve someone mint tea without asking first if that is OK or letting them know that it's the only green tea that you have. The description of short ribs as "falling apart" was hysterical as I watched one of my friends struggle with a knife to cut through hers. This was the prevailing joke for the rest of the evening as half of the party had ordered this dish which we'd been told was the house specialty. Lobster bisque was brought to the table for about six of us. Lukewarm is being generous. How on earth does that happen? A bus boy initially tried to deliver the bisque but left because he didn't know who was actually getting it. Another inexcusable thing for this type of restaurant. I ordered a glass of wine. It was empty for nearly a half hour before my waiter even acknowledged it. He didn't ask me if I wanted more though. I heard him as he passed by me say that he'd return with some more, and I had to flag him down that I was all set. It's irrelevant that I didn't want more, what if I did? Is a half hour reasonable? How come even after saying I didn't want more, I had to continue looking at the empty glass in front of me? A pecan cake was described as tender. I've had better day old muffins than this dessert. Who on earth is fooled by this? I think my favorite though is the middle-aged woman with blonde hair and her attitude. It seemed she had some sort of authority. As I left I saw her sitting at the bar. I hope she's the owner because if I were the owner and she worked for me, last night would have been her last shift for sure. My scallops were cooked perfectly. Good on you! Is that enough though? The waiter's disposition was perfectly fine. I hesitate to criticize him because I did like him. However, this is supposed to be a very high end restaurant experience and I've had better at a local diner if I'm being honest. No way in hell would I or anyone else in our party of eleven go back there. Only one of us had been there before years ago. She was the one who was most horrified in comparing the difference between her two visits. Had it been a five star experience, you'd likely gotten future visits from some of us. I know later this year I'll be celebrating my 25th anniversary and usually go out to a very nice place. Had we been impressed, there's a good chance we'd have come back this summer to celebrate at your facility. I will not be surprised in the coming years to hear of the demise of this place. I've listed not even half of the deficiencies of our experience last night. Summary. Slow service, adequate food in most cases. Ridiculous micro-portions and overpriced for what you actually are getting.

Visiting my family in Providence for the first time. They were very excited to bring me to the Dorrance for a great evening of drinks and dining. When we opened the door we were greeted with the aroma of stinking, rotting fish. I have eaten at plenty of seafood restaurants and been on and around fishing boats, and NOTHING compares to what I smelled at the Dorrance. It was eye wateringly terrible. I know that fish is always going to have a bit of a smell, but this was so strong and malodorous that I knew on the spot I would not trust the food coming out of the kitchen. We figured we would try to just deal with it, have a couple drinks and then go elsewhere to eat. By the time a spot was cleared for us at the bar the smell was so nauseating we couldn't be inside any more and left without trying anything. My parents were absolutely MORTIFIED that this was my first dining experience in Providence. The Dorrance might have the best food on Earth but that is completely irrelevant when people can't even stand to be in the building. I only wonder what the fish cooler must look like...😷