Must-see restaurants in Rhode Island

  • birch

    Providence

    With a background at Noma in Copenhagen and the Dorrance at the Biltmore, chef Benjamin Sukle and his wife, Heidi, now have their own place: the…

  • Anthony's Seafood

    Newport

    Lauded by locals and featured on TV's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, this wholesale, takeout and dine-in seafood joint tucked away from the main drag in…

  • Fluke Wine Bar

    Newport

    Fluke's Scandinavian-inspired dining room, with blond wood and picture windows, offers an accomplished seafood menu featuring roasted monkfish, seasonal…

  • Loie Fullers

    Providence

    This wonderfully original, atmospheric little bistro on the outskirts of the Federal Hill neighborhood is an oasis of fun and deliciousness on an…

  • Boat House

    East Bay

    If you're looking for a good all-rounder, it's hard to fault the Boat House for its fresh, locally sourced and inventively prepared seafood and produce,…

  • Mooring

    Newport

    A harborfront setting and a menu brimming with fresh seafood make Mooring unbeatable for dining by the water in true Newport style. If it's packed, and…

  • Scales & Shells

    Newport

    Only opening for dinner and exclusively serving seafood has allowed this casual, often packed eatery to hone its skills. This is one of the best places in…

  • Commons Lunch

    East Bay

    Serving local old-world classics such as New England corned beef and cabbage alongside quahog stuffies (stuffed clams), New Englanders come from far and…

  • Eli's

    Rhode Island

    The locally caught sea-bass special (tender fillets over scallions, grapes and beans) tastes so fresh and mildly salty and sweet that its memory will…

  • Matunuck Oyster Bar

    Rhode Island

    This small, indoor-outdoor seafood-centric restaurant sits on a spit of land opposite Galilee on Point Judith Pond. Considering that the parking lot is…

  • Simpatico Jamestown

    Rhode Island

    Sample the likes of shrimp paella, comfort chicken and citrus-barbecued pork tenderloin from a menu that includes seafood, but is refreshingly not limited…

  • Champlin's Seafood

    Rhode Island

    At Champlin’s Seafood, order a lobster roll, stuffed clams, scallops or one of many sea critters breaded and fried, and hang out on its 2nd-floor deck,…

  • Beef Barn

    Rhode Island

    Folks flock from far and wide to get gristly at the iconic Beef Barn on the outskirts of Woonsocket, where slow-cooked roast-beef sandwiches go out the…

  • Wright's Dairy Farm & Bakery

    Rhode Island

    If you can stand the smell of cow manure, make a beeline to this working dairy farm in a pretty location in the hills just outside Woonsocket. Why? For…

  • White Horse Tavern

    Newport

    If you'd like to eat at a 17th-century tavern that once served as an annual meeting place for the Colonial Rhode Island General Assembly, try this…

  • Al Forno

    Providence

    Our most recent visit featured scallops with blackened bacon so perfect that they were celestial. Also enjoy wood-grilled leg of lamb, handmade cavatelli…

  • Chez Pascal

    Providence

    This friendly French bistro welcomes diners with inspiring homemade pâtés and charcuterie, escargots à la bourguignonne, and slow-roasted duck. They…

  • Rosemary & Thyme Cafe

    Newport

    The counter at Rosemary & Thyme is piled high with buttery croissants, apple and cherry tarts, and plump muffins. At lunchtime gourmet sandwiches feature…

  • Finn's Seafood

    Rhode Island

    Finn's is an island institution, its bunting-draped deck the first cheerful sight that greets arrivals at the ferry dock. Come here for New England–style…

  • Corner Cafe

    Newport

    This cheery cafe has good coffee and some of the best-value breakfasts in Newport, including a memorable eggs Benedict and some good vegetarian options.

  • Haven Brothers Diner

    Providence

    Parked next to City Hall, this Providence institution is basically a diner on the back of a truck that has rolled into the same spot every evening for…

  • The Cooked Goose

    Rhode Island

    With its appealing selection of Benedicts, omelets, baked goods (pain au chocolat, house-made doughnuts) and exotic sandwiches (consider the Nirvana, with…

  • Beehive

    East Bay

    There's a real buzz in Bristol about this beehive whose busy bees buy local wherever possible, bake their own breads and make everything (but the ketchup)…

  • Brick Alley Pub

    Newport

    With its wood-paneled booths, exposed-brick wall and vintage memorabilia, the Brick Alley Pub is fun and friendly. Lounge on the large patio and order a…

  • Bristol Oyster Bar

    East Bay

    This is a real chef's restaurant content with perfecting its tidy menu of fresh seafood, duck and beef tenderloin, and sourcing the best local oysters and…

  • Condesa Restaurante Mexicano

    Rhode Island

    Smithfield's best Mexican joint has a strong following of vegetarian diners and those with food intolerances who appreciate the care with which meals are…

  • Bravo

    Providence

    This bistro in the heart of downtown boasts a bustling street-side patio for alfresco dining in the warmer months. When the weather's not so fine, a dark…

  • Allie's Donuts

    Rhode Island

    Allie has been turning out hot-to-trot homemade doughnuts from her roadside shack on RI 2 for over 40 years and Rhode Islanders travel from across the…

  • Salvation Café

    Newport

    With its outdoor tiki lounge, corduroy-velvet couches, stylish Formica tables and wood-paneled walls, this bar-cum-restaurant (mains $18 to $24) is indeed…

  • New Rivers

    Providence

    Every bit as good as they say, this New American bistro has a seasonal menu featuring dishes like rabbit loin with sweet-pea sauce, roasted sole, and beef…

  • Julian's

    Providence

    A messy combination of neon, exposed brick and ductwork in Federal Hill; come here for tattooed cooks preparing a stellar brunch (served until 5pm) with…

  • Meg's Aussie Milk Bar

    Newport

    American Meg and her Aussie hubby have created this Australiana-themed cafe where you can sample Vegemite on toast, tuck into a freshly baked meat pie, or…

  • Evelyn's Nanaquaket Drive-In

    East Bay

    On the north stretch of Rte 77, you'll find this gray-shingled drive-in, a traditional roadside eatery from another era, perched alongside marshy…

  • Laura's Pleasant View Diner

    Rhode Island

    This old-school diner on a leafy but otherwise nondescript street doesn't have much of a view… but it does have a solid following of regular locals who…

  • Franklin Spa

    Newport

    This strangely named, spotlessly-clean old-school diner slings hash, eggs and grease for cheap. It's locally loved and opens early. Enjoy freshly squeezed…

  • Olympia Tea Room

    Rhode Island

    The most atmospheric restaurant in Watch Hill, the Olympia is an authentic 1916 soda-fountain-turned-bistro with varnished wooden booths, pink walls and…

  • Mamma Luisa

    Newport

    This low-key, loved-by-locals pasta house is as cozy and romantic as it is authentic, and it's also a great place to escape the Newport crowds. There are…

  • Chopmist Charlies

    Rhode Island

    Chopmist Charlies is a refreshing alternative to dining in Newport, where restaurants of its ilk can feel too pricey, too crowded or too stuffy. Charlies…

  • Ye Olde English Fish & Chips

    Rhode Island

    What's not to love about an old-school wood-panelled diner that's been frying fish and chips in a British batter made to a family recipe since 1922?…

  • Mohegan Cafe & Brewery

    Rhode Island

    Besides brewing its own beer, this atmospheric pub with large picture windows offers a select menu of local fish specials alongside more standard pub fare…

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