When was the last time you went to a Native American restaurant? You’ve probably had Italian food, Chinese food, perhaps even Ethiopian food. But I bet you’ve never had Native American food. In a small, diner-like building in Charlestown, you’ll find one of the finest examples of this cuisine in the United States. Chef Sherry Pocknett, the first Native James Beard award-winner, has put Sly Fox Den Too on the map, and if you’re in southern New England, it is a must-stop.
Understanding Native American Cuisine
Before you eat here, I want to make sure you know a little something about Native foods. Native cuisine is not a monolith. The food at Sly Fox Den Too is representative of the foods of southern New England’s nations, like the Wampanoags, Narragansetts, and Pequots. Nausamp, bluefish, and cranberries are featured on this menu, but these are only typical of this region. In a Navajo restaurant you might find pine nuts, in an Ojibwe restaurant wild rice, and in a Lakota establishment, chokecherries and Wojapi.
In short, each nation and region has different traditional dishes and ingredients.
What We Ordered at Sly Fox Den Too
I enjoyed the bluefish hash special on the day I visited Sly Fox Den Too. Bluefish is a special ingredient to me because my great grandfather and grandfather used to fish for them off the rocky shoreline of Watch Hill. Although you don’t find it often on restaurant menus, they definitely enjoyed eating bluefish.
The hash came with an egg, some potatoes, and of course the bluefish. The picture above does not do the dish justice. The photo may not be the best, but the hash was so good that I didn’t get a picture before it was already getting torn into. My other dining companions ordered the create your own omelet and the granola bowl. There were no complaints by them, and everything was pretty tasty. Take a look at the menu here to see what else they have to offer.
Some Criticisms
Much to my dismay, when I was at Sly Fox Den Too, I was told that they were out of frybread. Given that this is such a staple across Native cuisine, and we arrived pretty early, I was surprised this was the case.
Additionally, the corn cakes weren’t really my cup of tea. Despite missing the frybread, and the corn cakes not being my favorite, my meal was still quite enjoyable.
The Final Verdict
Sly Fox Den Too is one of the best Native American restaurants in the United States. If you’re around southern Rhode Island, you should certainly consider coming here. This place is a must-stop.
To see more about the region the restaurant is in, look no further than my article on Watch Hill and Southwestern Rhode Island.
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