Moonshine Alley
Moonshine and Music.
Southern hospitality, and serious eats.
And an atmosphere that will take you straight to Nashville.
“Welcome to Moonshine Alley in Nashville, Rhode Island.”
It may be in Providence, but you can get a taste of Tennessee at Moonshine Alley.
Located on the corner of Pine and Peck streets in the downtown area of Providence, Moonshine Alley is a cozy spot adorned with rustic decor reminiscent of a Southern honky-tonk, with the lively atmosphere of Nashville, and a big stage for music at the center of it all. General Manager Jeff Shabo and his team set out to transport guests from the Ocean State to Music City the second they enter the space.
“When you step through that door and you listen to the sounds see the neons, the TVs, you definitely do not realize you are in Rhode Island. We've had many people from Nashville, come in.. and say, Wow, I feel like I'm just back at home. When this place is packed, the music's going, the food's coming out. It's what we aspire to be. We want to have that atmosphere, that southern hospitality and just the energy being electric throughout the building.”
And while the menu is a tribute to the diverse and soulful cuisine of Nashville, there are definitely influences from around the world, and from right here in New England all served with a side of that sweet Southern hospitality.
"Definitely a lot of southern hospitality here from the time you entered into the door, greeted by our hosts, to the time our staff comes up to your table even to the end of the night when the music's going, that's something that we absolutely try to provide."
There are many ways to kick off your meal. But before you get to the food, a flight of some real southern moonshine is in order.
16’28 “This hands down the best way to get to introduction to the moonshine...What's great about these is they're flavorful, they're not too strong. And I think for somebody that wanted to try something different, this is the perfect option.”
From there, there’s a selection of creative apps like this Southern spin on mozzarella sticks featuring lightly fried Wisconsin cheese curds served with tangy marinara. Or this Nashville take on Indian Naan topped with crispy hot chicken, mozzarella, and smoked bacon with a spicy honey drizzle.
“You get the creaminess from the mozzarella, nice smokiness from the bacon, and a little touch of that hot honey just complements the crispness of the chicken. Absolutely delicious.”
And the hush puppies are made with a New England twist using a clam cake batter with cornmeal, roasted corn, red peppers and a touch of honey with an Alabama White Sauce.
“Between the sweetness of the hush puppies. You got the corn, a little touch your red peppers with some some spice to it, but not much. The creaminess of the mayonnaise and a little heat on the horseradish just really blends everything together well."
The handheld section of the Moonshine menu is lined with big, satisfying sandwiches like the slow braised short rib grilled cheese made on buttery brioche with a three cheese blend. Or their wildly popular Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich. Made with buttermilk fried chicken thighs, apple cider slaw, pickles and spicy honey, this dish brings a perfect combination of taste and texture.
“You got the buttery goodness of that bread. You got the nice sweet heat of the Nashville Hot and then you got the crispiness of the breaded chicken thigh and then some sourness from the pickle and then some of that acidity and crunchiness as well from the apple cider slaw. If you're coming into Moonshine Alley for the first time you always gotta start the Nashville hot chicken sandwich.”
And if burgers are your thing, the Broadway burger is for you- topped with melted cheddar, crispy onion strings, honey slab bacon and Nashville hot sauce.
“You get Nashville hot sauce dripping down, you get that stack of honey skin with a stack of crispy onion strings. And when you bite into that burger, it's just a nice combination of flavors.”
The entree section of the Moonshine menu has a little something for everyone with southern plays on New England faves like the Bourbon Steak Tips. And for more booze infused meats, try the Jack Lacquered Ribs.
"If you take a shot of Jack Daniels and put into herb I guess it's along the same lines, but it's nice and meaty. It's tender fall off the bone. And he just got that nice classic BBQ taste to it."
And for dish where the south meets South Coast, try the Moonshine Shrimp- a spin on a Fall River favorite.
“Moonshine Shrimp is our take on a Mozambique style shrimp. So you're gonna have a spicy garlic sauce, which is going to have some beer, some saffron, tons of garlic, some nice sized shrimp and some white rice that really soaks in all the juices.”
At dessert, you could opt for a Sundae, playfully presented in that ubiquitous party staple the Red Solo Cup. Or share some Tableside S’mores with the entire table.
“People see it coming out. They smell it. They see it. You have your marshmallows. You have your Hershey candy bar and your graham crackers. And once people see somebody roasting one of those marshmallows, everybody wants to get one.”
And whether you’re reaching for a solo cup, a shot of moonshine, or a stick for your s'mores, you'll be glad you came to Moonshine Alley.
