This outpost of North, the busy restaurant in Providence's Luongo Square, is known for great drinks and pastries for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Now it has a liquor license and dinner menu.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence dining scene just got even more fun with the news North Bakery is now serving dinner Thursday to Sunday nights from 5 to 11 p.m.

This outpost of North, the busy restaurant in Providence's Luongo Square, is a superb artisan bakery known for great drinks, breakfast pastries, elegant cakes and hand pies for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Now it has a liquor license and dinner menu. All that makes North Bakery at Nite worth a look.

"We want to do hyper-seasonal, constantly rotating food in the same way we do it at the restaurant," said owner and chef James Mark. "Just a little more simple, so we can keep the prices down."

On the menu is a pull-apart pretzel bread with green sauce, whipped ricotta and salt ($6), roasted asparagus with sunflower hummus, parsley and olive oil ($9), leafy greens with cumin cracker and feta ($8), Broadbent Country Ham ($13), Spicy Roasted Turkey sandwich with peanut curry ($10), and Hand Torn Pasta with asparagus, ricotta and pea greens ($12). Sweets include Frozen Lemon Curd ($7) and Ice Cream and Espresso ($5.50).

"Buying directly from farmers is a real thing for us," he added, saying 90 percent of what's on the menu is direct-bought, either at the market or through relationships established with growers.

"Everything is made on site -- bread, roasted meats, ice creams, etc.," he said.

There are five wines by the glass, four cocktails and a nicely curated craft-beer and cider list.

"We are also moving our frozen-drink machine from the restaurant down to the bakery," Mark said.

Last week was the first service, he said.

"Our whole crew is very excited about this project," he added.

North Bakery will continue to be open normal daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It stands at the cobblestone corner of Battey and West Fountain streets, with an address of 70 Battey St. Call (401) 421-4062 or go to northbakery.com.

gciampa@providencejournal.com

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