Provaré

How much does Provaré want you to have a good time?

• You’ll get complimentary Nyquil-size cups of one of their house cocktails as soon as you sit down. 

• The staff, jokes, laughs, and occasionally dances to a playlist that honors the greatness of ‘90s Usher and ‘00s Nelly.

• There’s a speakeasy hidden behind some very convincing shelves. 

Unless you’re dead inside or a robot not programmed to understand joy, something from the list above should sound fun. And while restaurants that focus so much on a vibe don’t always nail the food, Provaré's Italian and Creole menu is yet another reason you’ll have a blast at this West Town spot. 

photo credit: Jack Li

photo credit: Provaré

photo credit: Provaré

photo credit: Jack Li

photo credit: Provaré

The menu is full of dishes that will make you demand silence from the table so you can have a private moment with your pasta. There are standouts like fried lobster tails, a chicken parmesan bucatini that only gets better as it sits in its sauce, and juicy lamb chops having a torrid affair with spicy charred corn. Handmade pastas are al dente, and the shellfish is so fresh it might have teleported from the ocean to your plate.  Everything is swimming in a sauce whose recipe should be in someone’s will, or covered in seasoning that reminds you you’re alive—not, in fact, a robot whose programmer forgot to code for joy. Nothing here is restrained, and you won’t be either as you raise a glass of their boozy “Magnificent Mile” while “You Make Me Wanna” plays in the background.

photo credit: Jack Li

photo credit: Jack Li

photo credit: Jack Li

photo credit: Jack Li

photo credit: Jack Li

Provaré is busy (expect to see at least one giant mylar birthday balloon) but never chaotic. That 12-person party isn’t going to monopolize the entire staff, those complimentary shots don’t turn this place into a shitshow, and there’s a good chance the chef will take a moment to drop off plates and make sure you’re having a good time. The answer, of course, will be yes.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Jack Li

Spinach And Artichoke Dip

Cheese and seafood have no business being this good together. The cream cheese spread is topped with shrimp, crawfish, and paired with thick slices of garlic bread.

photo credit: Jack Li

Fried Lobster Tails

Ordering fried lobster is a gamble—it can be rubbery and the thick batter can obliterate its delicate flavor. But Provaré’s breading is airy, and the meat stays tender. Spicy aioli on the side is a great counterbalance to the sweetness of the shellfish.

photo credit: Jack Li

Seafood Trio

The seafood trio in question is lobster, crab, and shrimp. It’s all tossed in a spicy cream sauce that clings oh-so-nicely to the rotini. The only thing we’d change about this dish is that the shrimp tails are attached, and we’d rather just dig in than do crustacean surgery.

photo credit: Jack Li

Lamb Chops

Four juicy chops are heavily seasoned with warming spices, like cinnamon. The slightly sweet flavor goes perfectly with the spicy charred corn on the side. This dish is a bit pricey ($52) but it’s also enough to share between two people.

photo credit: Jack Li

Creamy Chicken Parmesan

We’re currently campaigning to have Provaré’s chicken parmesan replace ice cream as the nation’s breakup comfort food. It’s a big bowl of bucatini in a creamy marinara sauce cooked with shallots, garlic, and topped with chicken under a thick blanket of cheese. It’s the opposite of light and we wouldn’t have it any other way.