This French Bakery & Restaurant In PVD Is Reopening For Takeout & It Sounds Fantastic

This year I have found myself ordering clear plastic face shields (which are still in transit and that I’ll probably give to my sister once she goes back to work) and eyeing bright yellow stickers with Smiling Under My Mask written on them.

Last year on this date, however, I was marveling at the newly relocated and revamped Ellie’s Bakery on Washington Street, across from PPAC, in the heart of Downtown Providence. It just had this fantastic French-inspired, casually elegant atmosphere and menu that you really couldn’t find anywhere else in the city, in the whole entire state for that matter.

It was, in my opinion, a cross between Almondine in NYC and perhaps a 21st century Rhody version of the famous Cafe de Flore in Paris. If it were a person, it would be Cate Blanchett. An item of clothing? A navy Celine blazer, only worn back to blue jeans and les baskets (what sneakers are called in France).

There were speciality coffees and teas, fresh flowers, delectable sandwiches for breakfast (or brunch, lunch, etc.), a few people on laptops (a given), thick slices of iced lemon poppy seed pound cake, and their brightly colored signature French macarons.

And it wasn’t long before the Rhody and Boston based bloggers were on the scene, mobile uploading and Insta Storying all about the eats and the aesthetic at the new location from tables situated in front of one of the ginormous plate glass windows. (Lighting, after all, is everything.)

Last time I was there, much to my surprise and delight, they were passing out free macarons.

Then came the pandemic and Ellie’s and sister restaurant Gracie’s, a few blocks up the street, were two of the first dine-in establishments to shutdown, for the safety of both employees and customers in response.

The wonderful news is that as of last night, Ellie’s has announced that they will be reopening for takeaway food and more, starting tomorrow (Wednesday, May 13th).

And it is exactly what you’d expect — and what you miss — from them.

They’re calling it Ellie’s At Home and it includes a three course dinner as well as add-on options like a cheese plate, flowers, Fr. macarons, and champagne.

For more details, you’ll want to check out their most recent Instagram post @ElliesProv.

Photo Credits: Photos Courtesy Of @PattyJDotCom