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Phantom Gourmet: G Pub In Providence

PROVIDENCE, RI - What exactly does the 'G' stand for at the G Pub in Providence? Is it the GARGANTUAN SPACE it's set in? Or is it for the GASTRONMIC GREATNESS coming from the kitchen? Could it be all of the GAMES and GOOD TIMES happening out back?

Located in downtown Providence, the G Pub is a big, fun restaurant where you can dine, drink and dabble in everything from shuffleboard to karaoke, according to Director of Operations Jeffrey Manchino.

"The minute people walk down the stairs they're extremely amazed, and they're in awe of the space. It's 10,000 square feet. We have shuffleboard games, pool tables, 17 LED TVs. We have private spaces available where we have your own taps in the room. It's just a great environment."

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When it comes to food they definitely deliver, because Corporate Executive Chef, Robert Sisca has designed a menu that takes all of his fine dining expertise and infused it with Executive Chef and South Carolina native Kevin Robinson's southern style. Kevin's cuisine was originally inspired by his grandmother.

"My grandmother's one of my biggest cooking influences still to this day, God bless her soul. Just the soul and the love that she put into her food makes it taste that much better."

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Chicken and Waffles at G Pub (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

An amped up take on something she used to make, is Kevin's Farmhouse Chicken and Waffles. To make this version, Kevin fries his chicken in grandma's top secret breading, but it's the waffle where Kevin does his own spin.

"This waffle is not your typical waffle. It's a Belgian Waffle batter," he said. "But I also added pink peppercorns along with tarragon, because tarragon just goes good with chicken. It takes like heaven."

The flavors just keep coming, because once it's done the waffle gets coated liberally with jalapeno butter, drizzled with bourbon maple syrup and plated over a strawberry rhubarb jam.

Another one of the G Pub's over the top dishes comes by way of New Jersey.

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Jersey Ripper at G Pub (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

"The Jersey Ripper is a play on a hot dog from New Jersey," Kevin said. "There's an 8-ounce all beef hotdog. They fry their hot dogs until the casing rips, but we take it a step further. We wrap it in bacon then deep fry it. It's going to be hard to see the actual rip because it's wrapped in bacon, but it's wrapped in bacon, so I get a pass."

Since there are tons of games to play out back, you're going to want to come to G Pub with some friends, which is good because there are a plenty of appetizers perfect for sharing. There's housemade beef jerky and ultra-soft baked pretzels with a whole grain mustard butter. The wings are slathered in a sticky, sweet hoisin sauce, and the Rhode Island style calamari comes with pickled cherry peppers and a zippy chipotle mayo. But for a starter the whole table will want to attack, order the Short Rib Nachos, served in a paella pan which serves double duty.

"I did it for presentation purposes. On top of that also, the heat from the metal pan keeps the Nachos nice and hot," Kevin explained. "If you walk away and decide to play a game of shuffleboard and forget you have your Nachos over there, it's still hot for you."

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Short Rib Nachos at G Pub (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

You can opt for entrees like the Cider Brined Pork Chop served in a white peach barbecue sauce, or French bistro favorites like Steak Frites, or the indulgent Croque Madam.

"It's just a glorified grilled cheese if you will, with a fried egg on top," Chef Robert described. "You have a great béchamel and mornay sauce in the inside, some smoked ham, gruyere cheese, and then with a fried egg on top. How could you go wrong?"

You certainly won't go wrong when you bite into the Short Rib Melt.

"It's just layers and layers of flavor," Chef Kevin promised. "You have your meltiness from the cheese. You have your salty, savory from the Short Rib, and then you have an extra crunch from the fried mushrooms, and sweetness from the caramelized onions. Our truffle aioli is a little touch we put on there to keep it gastro."

The burgers at G Pub always come double stacked, whether you opt for one topped with bacon and fried onions and served between two grilled cheese sandwiches, or one known as The Eiffel Tower, topped with mushrooms, caramelized onions, truffle mayo, gruyere cheese and most importantly, a fried egg.

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Eiffel Tower Burger at G Pub (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

"When you bite into it, that fried egg, the yolk just bursts so it creates a whole other sauce and another dynamic to the whole burger experience," Kevin explained. "It's truly awesome."

So after all that cooking, at the end of the day, maybe the G in G Pub really stands for gratification.

"If a person is having a bad day and they're eating some of my food, and they start smiling, that's enough gratification for me right there," said Chef Kevin.

You can find G Pub at 61 Orange Street in Providence, and online at providencegpub.com.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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