So it's July 4th and the holiday snuck up on a lot of folks, restaurant folks that is.

Traditionally, it's a day many restaurants are closed either for the day or for a short vacation. But this year, the Fourth is on Saturday, the biggest night of the week at restaurants. In Providence, it's a WaterFire night.

So lots of local restaurants, and a market, alerted me that they were open and here's the scoop.

CAV, 14 Imperial Place, Providence, (401) 751-9164, offers a Fourth of July cookout served outside in the courtyard (or inside if it rains) that includes pasta and vegetable salad, a half-pound Angus beef hamburger with all the fixings, a romaine and wild greens side salad, French fries and ice cream for $15. The regular menu, including brunch, lunch and dinner, is also available from 10 a.m. The Fourth of July fare is available from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the regular menu, from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

Gregg's Restaurants & Pubs are featuring a 4th of July Cake today. The dessert is made up of four layers of red velvet cake filled with cream-cheese frosting and fresh blueberries. Gregg's pubs are at 1303 North Main St., Providence, (401) 831-5700; 1359 Post Rd., Warwick, (401) 467-5700; 1940 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, (401) 438-5700; and 4120 Quaker Lane (Route 2), North Kingstown, (401) 294-5700. Visit greggsusa.com.

The Capital Grille, 1 Union Station, Providence, (401) 521-5600, will be open for dinner on Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5.

Venda Ravioli, 275 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 421-9105, vendaravioli.com, will be open =from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3 Steeple Street, 125 Canal St., Providence, (401) 272-3620, is open all WaterFire nights serving the full menu.

Antonio's Trattoria, 1710 Cranston St., Cranston, (401) 943-1932, antoniotrattoria.com, open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. with specials.

Basta Restaurant, 2195 Broad St., Cranston, (401) 461-0330, is open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. with specials.

Mill's Tavern, 101 N Main St., Providence, (401) 272-3331, millstavernrestaurant.com, serves dinner on the Fourth.

Pinelli's Deli by Day and Café at Night, 701 Quaker Lane, West Warwick, (401) 821-8828, serves holiday favorites, including salads, pizzas, calzones, sandwiches and other selections from Pinelli's menu from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the Café will be open on the night of the Fourth.

T's Restaurant, 1059 Park Ave., Cranston, (401) 946-5900, and 5600 Post Rd., East Greenwich, (401) 398-7877, tsrestaurantri.com, celebrates the Fourth of July by serving its Patriot Pancakes for the holiday weekend. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parkside Rotisserie & Bar, 76 South Main St., Providence, (401) 331-0003, is open on from 5-11 p.m. for dinner with outdoor seating (weather permitting) for the scheduled WaterFire.

Z Bar & Grille, 244 Wickenden St., Providence, celebrates the George M. Cohan Festival July 4th weekend on Wickenden Street and accepts dinner reservations, including for al fresco dining on the garden patio.

Happy Independence Day to all!