Track 15: Everything you need to know about Providence’s new food hall

Show Caption

• Track 15, the Providence food hall in the former Union Station, opens Tuesday after four years of planning and construction.
• All but one restaurant are sister restaurants of established, notable hospitality businesses in Providence, Newport, and Cranston.
• Guests at Track 15 will order by credit card or Apple Pay at the restaurant or restaurants of their choice.

Track 15, the Providence food hall in the former Union Station, opens today after four years of planning and construction. Marsella Development Corporation has renovated 16,000 square feet of space that houses restaurants, a bar, lots of seating and a media wall. They’ve estimated the project at $25 million.

It’s a stunning homage to the past with original features from the venue’s former life as a train station, including barrel-vault brick ceilings and granite walls. Communal tables feature wood tops created from old railroad car floors. Above the restaurant counters are Solari-style menu boards that flash the available food items just as departure boards do at train stations. They even have the signature flapping sound indicating a menu change.

The food also stars here with seven restaurants offering a variety of cuisines in a fast, casual service style.

They include seafood and raw bar from Dune Brothers; burgers and fries from There, There; Mexican food from Dolores; Italian dishes from Giusto; pizza from Mother Pizzeria; Indian cuisine from Little Chaska; and specialties inspired by the ancient region of Anatolia and Turkish food at Tolia.

All but Tolia are sister restaurants of established, notable hospitality businesses in Providence, Newport, and Cranston. Tolia is the first restaurant from the husband-and-wife team Alp Gumuscu and Tarci-Lee Galarza.

“We couldn’t ask to open in a better situation,” said Gumuscu. “We are excited to be surrounded by so many amazing people,” said Galaraza.

That is a much-repeated sentiment from the restaurant owners. Though each has its own kitchens and counters, they like the community aspect of being among their peers, especially such an impressive group of chefs.

Dolores co-owner Joaquin Meza said it was a new way to grow their business.

There, There operates by counter service at their other Providence eatery. Dune Brothers operates a seasonal clam shack as well as full full-service restaurant, both in Providence. But it is a new model for Dolores, Giusto, Little Chaska and Mother Pizzeria.

Sanjiv Dhar, who owns four other Indian restaurants with wife Vandana Dhar – Kabob & Curry, Rasa, Rasoi and Chaska – noted Little Chaska is his first “fast-paced” restaurant. He likes the innovative nature of it.

Their owners said they welcome the challenge of mastering food and service at Track 15.

Quick serve is also new for Kyle Stamp, chef and co-owner of Mother Pizzeria. His Newport restaurant is big on service, but he and the team are ready. “This will be fast,” he said.

How dining at Track 15 works

Guests at Track 15 will order by credit card or Apple Pay at the restaurant or restaurants of their choice. They will share their mobile phone number to get an alert when their food is ready. They pick up their food, which is plated on china and served with stainless silverware and bring it to the table of their choice for dining.

In addition to large communal tables, there are smaller tables along the front of the restaurant and nestled by the windows. There will be bar seats as well.

Staff at the food hall will remove the dishes once diners are done.

Cash is not accepted at the kitchens or bar. Instead, guests can purchase a Track 15 gift card at the bar to use for food and drink. Takeout is not currently offered.

Guests go up to the bar to order their drinks, both non-alcoholic and wine, beer or cocktails.

The food

There is special equipment for several of the restaurants to allow them to make their specialties. There’s a tortilla station in place at Dolores. They also offer four varieties of tacos. A Marra Forni oven from Italy cooks the pizza at Mother Pizzeria. The charcoal grill at Tolia is where they cook Shish Tavuk, chicken thighs on skewers, and their Lamb Shish. They also offer mezze plates.

A full raw bar will be offered at Dune Brothers. They also have their fish and chips, a lobster roll, squid salad and white or clear chowder as well as mussels.

In addition to their burgers, There, There offers both chicken and fish sandwiches. They also have a vegetarian Kale sandwich.

Street food from Calcutta is on the menu at Little Chaska including their Kathi Roll. Chicken Tikka Masala and Biryani are also on the menu.

Dessert options are offered at three restaurants. Mother Pizzeria sells their Mother Sundae with coffee gelato, Narragansett ricotta, candied lemon, pizzelle and chocolate. Giusto sells Tiramisu. Dolores offers Churros.

Drinks and seating

There is a full bar with a starting lineup of seven cocktails and four zero-proof cocktails. On tap are Rhode Island-brewed beers from Proclamation Ale, Narragansett Beer, Grey Sail, Long Live Beerworks, Pivotal Brewing, Moniker Brewery, Whalers and Shaidzon. They have sparkling wine as well as selections of white, red and rose wines.

They also have zero-alcohol beer, Yacht Club sodas and Granny Squibb’s Iced Tea.

There’s a lounge area and a space with an 88-inch TV monitor. Outdoor space is is still under construction.

Details: Hours, parking

Track 15, 1 Union Station, is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

There are 500 parking spots in the lot adjacent to the food hall. Discounted parking is offered. Guests bring their tickets inside for discounted, self-validated payment. Two hours cost $8. For more information, visit track15RI.com.

About the name

Track 15 was chosen as the food hall’s name as another homage. Built in 1898, the original Union Station had 14 intercity rail lines. The station operated until 1986 when the smaller Amtrak station was built.