Cook & Dagger: New American Cuisine in a Classic American Setting Carl DeLuca, October 25, 2026October 25, 2026 After three locations and more than a decade of exceptional cooking, chef-owners Chris Kattawar and Taylor Krickl have finally found a setting that feels like home. Some restaurants win you over immediately. Others become favorites over time, drawing you back again and again. Cook & Dagger has been one of our favorites for more than a decade. Through three locations, Chris Kattawar and Taylor Krickl have consistently delivered exceptional cooking, creativity, and hospitality. But as much as we enjoyed the earlier locations, something always seemed to be missing. Neither quite felt like the restaurant's permanent home. Now, at its new location in North Providence, everything seems to have fallen into place. And for those of us who have followed Cook & Dagger from its earliest days, it's particularly gratifying to see. From Winks and Finks to Cook & Dagger The new location at 2025 Smith Street comes with an interesting history of its own. Many Rhode Islanders will immediately recognize the property as the former home of The Centredale Revival Company, the popular neighborhood restaurant and bar that opened in 2020. But the location's commercial history stretches much further back. Before Revival, the property was associated with Winkleman & Finkelstein, affectionately remembered as "Winks and Finks." The longtime Centredale business was part of the neighborhood's commercial life for generations. Historical records place its stores on Smith Street as far back as the 1940s. For those interested in the building's past, The Valley Breeze explored the Winks and Finks connection when Centredale Revival was preparing to open. More recently, Centredale Revival transformed the location into a lively gathering place. Its convivial atmosphere, cocktails, live entertainment, and comfort food earned it a loyal neighborhood following. In 2021, Rhode Island Monthly memorably compared it to "Cheers." Now Cook & Dagger begins the next chapter. Inside, beautiful woodwork, inviting lighting, comfortable seating, and an impressive bar create an atmosphere that feels both polished and welcoming. The space has character without being fussy. It's the sort of place where you want to settle in, order another drink, and enjoy a leisurely evening. Perhaps most importantly, it feels like Cook & Dagger belongs here. The People Behind the Plates Husband-and-wife team Chris Kattawar and Taylor Krickl opened Cook & Dagger in October 2015 with the goal of bringing creative comfort food to northern Rhode Island. Chris, formerly the opening chef at D. Carlo Trattoria in Smithfield, brought an accomplished culinary background and an approach to cooking that refuses to be confined to a single cuisine. Taylor is a remarkably talented pastry chef whose desserts have long been among the restaurant's highlights. Together, they've built a restaurant around thoughtfully prepared food from a scratch kitchen, with seasonal ingredients and an ever-changing menu. You'll find Italian favorites, elevated comfort food, and imaginative dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world. It's a restaurant where a beautiful pasta dish and an Asian-inspired duck preparation can comfortably share the same menu. And both can be exceptional. A Flatbread Worth Remembering Our recent dinner began with one of Cook & Dagger's rotating flatbread specials. This particular version featured truffle cream, lomo, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella. It was extraordinary. The combination of savory, earthy flavors, rich creaminess, and beautifully melted cheese made it one of the best flatbreads we've tasted. The specials change, which is part of the appeal. There's always the possibility that your next visit will bring something entirely different. But if this one returns, don't hesitate. Tuna Tartare, with a Twist Another standout was the tuna tartare, combining ahi tuna, a tangerine glaze, crispy sushi rice, and sriracha mayo. The freshness of the tuna, sweetness of the glaze, gentle heat of the mayo, and crunch of the rice came together beautifully. It's the sort of combination that illustrates Chris's versatility. Creative, certainly, but never merely for the sake of novelty. The contrasting flavors and textures genuinely work. Duck, Reimagined The duck was another wonderful example of the kitchen's range. Featuring duck breast and confit with soba noodles, mushrooms, bok choy, daikon, and a jammy egg, the dish brought together flavors and techniques that aren't necessarily what you'd expect from a neighborhood restaurant in North Providence. But that's one of the pleasures of Cook & Dagger. The kitchen moves easily between familiar favorites and more adventurous creations without losing its distinctive character. Our dinner also included beautifully prepared salmon, another reminder that the restaurant's strengths extend well beyond any particular cooking style. Save Room for Dessert And then there's Taylor. If you've followed Cook & Dagger over the years, you already know that dessert deserves serious consideration. Our cheesecake was a wonderful conclusion to the evening, beautifully presented and every bit as memorable as the courses that preceded it. At some restaurants, dessert is an afterthought. Here, it's one more reason to visit. Finally, the Complete Experience There's something particularly satisfying about seeing a restaurant evolve without losing what made it special in the first place. We've known Chris and Taylor for years and have followed Cook & Dagger through all three locations. Each location represented another chapter in their journey, but neither of the first two ever seemed quite like the final destination. The new location feels different. The dining room, the bar, the atmosphere, and the food all come together in a way that feels natural and complete. And through it all, Cook & Dagger has retained the creativity, warmth, and personality that made us fans in the first place. For us, it has long been one of Rhode Island's best restaurants. Now it's also one of the places we're most excited to spend an evening. After more than a decade of exceptional cooking, Cook & Dagger has finally found its home. Plan Your Visit Cook & Dagger 2025 Smith Street North Providence, Rhode Island Website: cookanddagger.com Our recommendation: Come hungry, try something unexpected, and save room for one of Taylor's desserts. Menu items and rotating specials are subject to change. Check directly with the restaurant for current offerings and hours. 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After three locations and more than a decade of exceptional cooking, chef-owners Chris Kattawar and Taylor Krickl have finally found a setting that feels like home. Some restaurants win you over immediately. Others become favorites over time, drawing you back again and again. Cook & Dagger has been one of our favorites for more than a decade. Through three locations, Chris Kattawar and Taylor Krickl have consistently delivered exceptional cooking, creativity, and hospitality. But as much as we enjoyed the earlier locations, something always seemed to be missing. Neither quite felt like the restaurant's permanent home. Now, at its new location in North Providence, everything seems to have fallen into place. And for those of us who have followed Cook & Dagger from its earliest days, it's particularly gratifying to see. From Winks and Finks to Cook & Dagger The new location at 2025 Smith Street comes with an interesting history of its own. Many Rhode Islanders will immediately recognize the property as the former home of The Centredale Revival Company, the popular neighborhood restaurant and bar that opened in 2020. But the location's commercial history stretches much further back. Before Revival, the property was associated with Winkleman & Finkelstein, affectionately remembered as "Winks and Finks." The longtime Centredale business was part of the neighborhood's commercial life for generations. Historical records place its stores on Smith Street as far back as the 1940s. For those interested in the building's past, The Valley Breeze explored the Winks and Finks connection when Centredale Revival was preparing to open. More recently, Centredale Revival transformed the location into a lively gathering place. Its convivial atmosphere, cocktails, live entertainment, and comfort food earned it a loyal neighborhood following. In 2021, Rhode Island Monthly memorably compared it to "Cheers." Now Cook & Dagger begins the next chapter. Inside, beautiful woodwork, inviting lighting, comfortable seating, and an impressive bar create an atmosphere that feels both polished and welcoming. The space has character without being fussy. It's the sort of place where you want to settle in, order another drink, and enjoy a leisurely evening. Perhaps most importantly, it feels like Cook & Dagger belongs here. The People Behind the Plates Husband-and-wife team Chris Kattawar and Taylor Krickl opened Cook & Dagger in October 2015 with the goal of bringing creative comfort food to northern Rhode Island. Chris, formerly the opening chef at D. Carlo Trattoria in Smithfield, brought an accomplished culinary background and an approach to cooking that refuses to be confined to a single cuisine. Taylor is a remarkably talented pastry chef whose desserts have long been among the restaurant's highlights. Together, they've built a restaurant around thoughtfully prepared food from a scratch kitchen, with seasonal ingredients and an ever-changing menu. You'll find Italian favorites, elevated comfort food, and imaginative dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world. It's a restaurant where a beautiful pasta dish and an Asian-inspired duck preparation can comfortably share the same menu. And both can be exceptional. A Flatbread Worth Remembering Our recent dinner began with one of Cook & Dagger's rotating flatbread specials. This particular version featured truffle cream, lomo, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella. It was extraordinary. The combination of savory, earthy flavors, rich creaminess, and beautifully melted cheese made it one of the best flatbreads we've tasted. The specials change, which is part of the appeal. There's always the possibility that your next visit will bring something entirely different. But if this one returns, don't hesitate. Tuna Tartare, with a Twist Another standout was the tuna tartare, combining ahi tuna, a tangerine glaze, crispy sushi rice, and sriracha mayo. The freshness of the tuna, sweetness of the glaze, gentle heat of the mayo, and crunch of the rice came together beautifully. It's the sort of combination that illustrates Chris's versatility. Creative, certainly, but never merely for the sake of novelty. The contrasting flavors and textures genuinely work. Duck, Reimagined The duck was another wonderful example of the kitchen's range. Featuring duck breast and confit with soba noodles, mushrooms, bok choy, daikon, and a jammy egg, the dish brought together flavors and techniques that aren't necessarily what you'd expect from a neighborhood restaurant in North Providence. But that's one of the pleasures of Cook & Dagger. The kitchen moves easily between familiar favorites and more adventurous creations without losing its distinctive character. Our dinner also included beautifully prepared salmon, another reminder that the restaurant's strengths extend well beyond any particular cooking style. Save Room for Dessert And then there's Taylor. If you've followed Cook & Dagger over the years, you already know that dessert deserves serious consideration. Our cheesecake was a wonderful conclusion to the evening, beautifully presented and every bit as memorable as the courses that preceded it. At some restaurants, dessert is an afterthought. Here, it's one more reason to visit. Finally, the Complete Experience There's something particularly satisfying about seeing a restaurant evolve without losing what made it special in the first place. We've known Chris and Taylor for years and have followed Cook & Dagger through all three locations. Each location represented another chapter in their journey, but neither of the first two ever seemed quite like the final destination. The new location feels different. The dining room, the bar, the atmosphere, and the food all come together in a way that feels natural and complete. And through it all, Cook & Dagger has retained the creativity, warmth, and personality that made us fans in the first place. For us, it has long been one of Rhode Island's best restaurants. Now it's also one of the places we're most excited to spend an evening. After more than a decade of exceptional cooking, Cook & Dagger has finally found its home. Plan Your Visit Cook & Dagger 2025 Smith Street North Providence, Rhode Island Website: cookanddagger.com Our recommendation: Come hungry, try something unexpected, and save room for one of Taylor's desserts. Menu items and rotating specials are subject to change. Check directly with the restaurant for current offerings and hours.