Phantom Gourmet: Blackie's Bull Dog Tavern
SMITHFIELD, R.I. (CBS) -- When a restaurant has a name like Blackie's Bull Dog Tavern, you might have some preconcieved notions about the kind of food coming out of the kitchen.
But this fun, comfortable, Smithfield, Rhode Island spot proves you should never judge book by its cover, or a restaurant by its name.
"We try to say expect the unexpected, and not be misled by the name, because it certainly does not represent what our ambiance is like, or what our food is like," says Jeanine Iannucci.
Partners Iannucci and Angie Armenise are the dynamic duo behind Blackie's. Jeanine oversees the high energy dining room and friendly bar...
While Angie makes magic back in the kitchen...
"Ordering an Apple Pie Burger medium well, and a Mac A' Weenie."
"Ordering a Spinach Salad."
"Ordering a BBQ Chop and a medium Breakfast Burger."
And to simply call Chef Angie's food creative, would be a serious understatement.
"She is positively amazing. Every single dish has her passion and her creativity and her heart in it," Iannucci says.
"Food really is my life. Because the experience of watching somebody eat something that you've made really is one of the coolest experiences ever," Armenise says.
And boy do they eat at Blackie's because Angie serves up big portions of upscale tavern food, like burgers layered with gourmet ingredients... Flatbreads loaded with toppings like pears and proscuitto... And fresh takes on comfort food classics like Mac and Cheese and Meatloaf.
"It's like a throwback dish," Armenise says. "Just an awesome experience for your tastebuds."
Even something as standard as Nachos are taken to the next level here... with freshly fried chips... house smoked pulled pork... sharp white cheddar cheese sauce... homemade guacamole... and roasted corn salsa.
"You have so many different awesome layers of flavor," Armenise says.
And it's all served in an atmosphere where everyone is welcome to sit back, relax, and enjoy.
"It's about finding a place that is so cool and unique that you feel at home from the first time that you come in, and you can't wait to get back. And that's what we do here," Iannucci says.
Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.