Cielito Mexican Kitchen Opens Aug. 20

Cielito Mexican Kitchen: interior shot of the restaurant

The dining room at Cielito (Photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)

Get ready to clink some (very full) margarita glasses! We have an opening date for the newest restaurant in Providence, RI.

It’s with great excitement that we share that Cielito Mexican Kitchen is open to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 5 p.m! For this first week of service—running from Tuesday through Saturday—expect dinner hours only. Lunch hours will be added the week of Aug. 27; the restaurant will then be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, closing for one hour before opening for dinner at 4 p.m.

This long anticipated spot is located at 186 Union Street in downtown Providence (you might remember this as previously home to Oberlin).

Cielito is the second restaurant opened by chef and owner Diego Alcantar. He previously opened the popular taco spot Tuxpan Taqueria in Central Falls, RI, in 2022. (Curious? Read more about Diego, Tuxpan, and Cielito, in Diego’s own words!) And, after both devouring some delicious tacos and congratulating Alcantar on this year’s James Beard Award nomination, we personally cannot wait to dive into the dishes at Cielito.

Cielito’s menu features a stunning array of colorful Mexican dishes, many inspired by Alcantar’s hometown of Tuxpan, Mexico. With so many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options there’s something for everyone to get excited about. (And just wait until you see the cocktail menu!)

Cielito Mexican Kitchen: chocolat tres leches

Chocolate tres leches at Cielito (Photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)

On Saturday, Aug. 17, we were fortunate to attend a soft opening for a sampling of the menu. Everything we tasted left us craving more (lots more), but maybe nothing as much as this Tres Leche cake with Abuelita chocolate milk! It was the perfect ending to our meal. Don’t sleep on dessert! Trust us.

Tips for your visit: There are no reservations, as Cielito will be first come, first served. Outdoor dining is available while the weather permits. Takeout can also be ordered via phone at (401)563-7026. For general restaurant updates, follow @cielitomexicankitchen on Instagram.


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