LINCOLN – After years out in sunny Florida, Donald and Lisa Deslauriers returned home to New England, buying a home in North Smithfield, and bringing with them a bit of that laid-back, sunshine vibe.
Now, at their new bar/restaurant in Lincoln, they say guests can find a touch of paradise close to home.
“The Florida vibe is a little of everything – relaxed atmosphere, food flavor and colors in our decor,” explained Donald this week of Cool Pickle Restaurant & Bar.
The business at 48 School St. in the former Miller Tavern offers a menu of burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, seafood, flat bread pizza and traditional dinner options, with popular items including baked haddock and fish & chips.
“I’m biased but we have the best half pound burger around,” Donald said.
Donald was born and raised in Woonsocket, later joining the military as a culinary specialist. He left active duty after Desert Storm in 1991 and bought the Cool Pickle Deli in Cumberland, running that business for 11 years.
Wife Lisa was raised in Northboro, Mass. and lived in nearby Connecticut for several years. The couple opened a few other food service establishments in the area, including Stadium Coffee House by the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket and Cool Pickle II on Main Street.
They also ran Louisquisset Country Club for several years before Donald deployed with the Rhode Island National Guard in 2004.
A job relocated the couple to Florida in 2019 and there, they bought a pool hall as well as a restaurant, which they turned into the Blu Grotto Italinan Ristorante.
“Lisa used her family recipes to create a great menu,” said Donald. “We soon found many New Englanders who missed New England Italian cooking.”
That restaurant maintained 4.8 stars on Google reviews and soon after, the Deslauriers bought a Maryland crab house and revamped the menu and atmosphere, dubbing it “Cool Pickle in Paradise.”
Donald notes that business was, “a laid back, fun place to meet and enjoy some good food and drinks.”
But after a visit back to Rhode Island in summer of 2022, they decided it was time to come home. The couple sold their little slice of paradise in 2023 and moved to North Smithfield.
Last month, they opened Cool Pickle Restaurant & Bar still under the influence of that fun, Key West vibe.
In addition to fresh foods and unique cocktails, the business offers events and entertainment, with live music, karaoke, trivia, pool tournaments, musical bingo, and football game days. The restaurant has a room to host parties with seating for up to 50, and Donald says the Mongolian stir fry with marinated beef and fresh vegetables over rice or pasta is a, “must try.”
“Business has been good so far,” Donald said.
Visit Cool Pickle Restaurant and Bar Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. or Saturday and Sunday from noon to 1 a.m. To see their ongoing line up of activities, specials and entertainment follow the business on Facebook.
Sounds nice but I’ll stick to the real deal here in Florida. Left RI four years ago and never looked back.
If you’ve never looked back, why are you still reading news stories about what’s going on back in Rhode Island four years later?
They seem stressed! Wink wink
I gave them a fair shot. My analysis is: the decor is the very same as Millers, very comfortable. The food was mostly tasty. I was asked how I was enjoying the food. I stated the taste was fine, but my burger bun bottom was completely saturated with grease, as to make it impossible to pick up. The owner, then asked if I was given fork and knife. I felt that was an inapproiate response, as I usually eat a burger like any other sandwich.
Prices were average. Establishment was clean. Plenty of parking.
You apparently ate European cuisine…..lol. Eating burgers and pizza with a knife and fork! Had you had them!
Was it perhaps hamburger and tomato juices or was it indeed grease?
Was there nowhere you could put your business in North Smithfield?