For the first time ever, I was officially tasked with reviewing a restaurant — which doesn’t mean it was my first time pretending. I often act like a reviewer (I critique everything in life, exhaustingly so, according to my friends and family). I think I’ve wanted to be a food critic ever since I first saw Ratatouille and met Anton Ego. I always had an affinity for the “bad” characters, especially when they’re not truly bad — just misunderstood. And now, my dream of being a pseudo–food reviewer has come true, as I present to you my very first food review: the club/lounge Medici and its new kitchen, Davina Cucina.
It was 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday when I arrived at Medici. Graciously, I was allowed a plus-one and brought along my good friend Jeff Pichie. Sharing food with an old friend (and soon, new friends too) made the experience even better. We walked a short distance and found ourselves in front of Medici, next to Free Play Bar and Arcade—a great place in its own right. We joined a few other tasters before being welcomed inside by one of the owners, Susan.
When we stepped in, we found ourselves in a large walk-in area before being guided up to the main lounge. Medici is a unique place; it’s hard to categorize it at first glance. The entrance feels like an old-style casino (minus the table games), mixed with a cigar lounge and a bar. On the far wall sat a stage with large closed doors, concealing whatever was behind them. Their website attempts to sum it all up: an immersive nightclub with high-energy DJs and state-of-the-art sound; a more intimate lounge for craft cocktails, live performances, and late-night bites; and a transformable event space for everything from corporate gatherings to cultural showcases.
As we walked toward the set table where others were waiting, Susan explained that she and her partners named the place after the Italian banking dynasty—the Medicis—who had immense power but constant internal conflict. It was a tongue-in-cheek homage to the owners’ own exaggerated “squabbles” behind the scenes.
At the table, Jeff and I quickly realized this was technically an “influencer dinner,” which made me laugh—I never considered myself an influencer, but that night I certainly met a few. Meeting everyone turned out to be one of the best parts of the night. I met Hilary and Kyle from the “Rhodydates” account, who showcase local spots for couples and singles. I met David Rivoli, a chef and RI-based foodservice/hospitality influencer with 55,000 followers. I met hairstylist Becky Hutton, and several members of the HeyRhody media team, including podcast host Chris Revill.
Before I knew it, the main event arrived: the food. They brought out garlic butter with candle wicks in it—designed to melt into a pool for dipping bread. That’s when I realized that both Medici and Davina Cucina put tremendous effort into presentation. Everything was “post-worthy,” and everyone around us was recording videos and snapping pictures. Meanwhile, Jeff and I sat stunned and entranced, never ones to use technology or try to capture the moment. More than once, in our small-town way, we started eating before the proper photo could be taken. Thankfully, our new friends let us off the hook.
Then came more dishes, passed up and down the table so everyone could try some. We had burrata salad with balsamic reduction and prosciutto; chickpea and beet salad with feta; Caesar salad; oysters; rigatoni alla vodka; asparagus; shrimp and ravioli; veal parm; massive meatballs; and finally, biscotti.
And of course, the drinks. The only similar experience I’d had to this one was sampling the new drink menu at Capri Seafood’s Night Owl—a fantastic spot on Federal Hill (one of my all-time favorite restaurants; check it out if you haven’t). Back then, having only just turned 21, every drink tasted “too strong” to me. I definitely wouldn’t be complaining about that now.
This time, a few years older, I appreciated everything much more. We had champagne with raspberry purée, carried out on a tower; lemon drop shots; chocolate-and-cream shots with coconut shavings; and a scorpion bowl that was gleefully passed around the table. The best drink by far was the “Fall Old Fashioned.” Jeff and I were given two presented inside a small treasure-chest-like box that, when opened, released a cloud of smoke—dramatic, magical, mysterious. One of our new friends even got a Cosmo.
I felt like I had wandered into an episode of Sex and the City, myself playing Carrie Bradshaw, of course—bringing a friend to a chic new restaurant to eat, mingle, and write a piece that gives the place some publicity. The only difference was that there was no sex and the city wasn’t New York.
By the end of the night, one of the owners gave us a tour of the establishment. At last, we saw what lay behind those giant doors: a nightclub with a long bar, a stage in the center of the room, VIP-style booths reminiscent of the now-defunct Foxwoods nightclub Shrine (rest in peace), and a second-floor balcony. The front stage connects to this back one, and the owner explained that the doors can be opened to turn the entire venue into one large space. She also showed us a potential outdoor bar area for warmer months.
As she walked us around, describing her vision for the place, her passion was contagious. It made Jeff and me want her business to succeed. On one wall was a sign advertising “Little Mania Wrestling,” which we joked about wanting to attend—and to our surprise, Susan handed us free tickets on the spot. That enthusiasm and hospitality is exactly the kind of energy Medici radiates, and it made me want to support them all the more.
Cucina Davina had its grand opening on Friday, November 21st. But Jeff and I—and I’m sure many of our friends—will be back at Medici on Tuesday, December 2nd for Little Mania Wrestling. Though I’m sure we’ll be there for many other future events too.