71 Best Restaurants in Rhode Island, USA

One of the area's most popular gathering spots, the Coffee Exchange is the place to come for pastries, a coffee (hot or cold), and a chat. Family-run, the coffee shop has been an East Side landmark for more than 40 years, adopting socially conscious sourcing long before that was common or trendy. If you don't have time to sit a spell, stop by the to-go window on the deck. 

Now located in the Perry Mill building after years on Bannister's Wharf, this tiny espresso bar has views of Newport's vibrant harbor and downtown. Pair a flavored latte and a pastry on a fog-bound early morning, and you'll feel the essence of the city as it awakens around you. Stop back for in-between-meal snacks or a pick-me-up after a night out.

Not only are johnnycakes a unique Rhode Island food, but there are also regional variations within this small state on how to make these white corn pancakes. Located right on the Little Compton Commons, of course, the Commons is a leading purveyor of the thin and crispy East Bay variety, along with family-friendly meal-time options, and fried local seafood. 

Vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores flock to this funky café not far from Narragansett Town Beach for smoothies, creative juice blends, and breakfast served until 4 pm daily (3 pm on Sunday). Signature burgers are categorized as "hoof, fin, and claw," but there are vegan options, too. White Christmas lights and colorful lanterns are part of the indoor and covered patio decor, as is a red phone booth behind the counter that houses condiments (like the house-made ketchup).

From Russell Morin, one of Newport's most exclusive caterers, comes this chalkboard-menu café where beautifully crafted light fare is served at surprisingly down-to-earth prices. Breakfast—try the egg- and tomato-topped avocado toast—is served all day (including weekend brunch) and creative salads and sandwiches are the makings of a perfect picnic to tote down the street and enjoy on an oceanview mansion lawn. 

An 1818 rum distillery houses this distinctive waterfront restaurant—look for the timber ceilings, African granite from slave ship ballast in the walls, and framed sections of early-19th-century graffiti-covered plaster. Chef Sai Viswanath reinvents traditional New England fare by combining it with Indian preparations to create dishes like seafood sandwiches on naan bread and lobster sauteed in curry-tinged coconut milk.

Tacos, sharable Mexican snacks, and spicy margaritas are among the go-tos at this casual and—by local standards—affordable restaurant right in the corazon of Newport's lively Bowen's Wharf. Indoor and outdoor dining, including on a roof deck, make Diego's a magnet for visitors on a summer afternoon or evening, and it's worth getting up early on the weekend for a brunch spread that includes a menu of $8 specials like tortas, huevos rancheros, and hash when you buy a tequila-twisted Bloody Mary or other breakfast eye-opening cocktail.

Rhode Island isn't top-of-mind when you think of great barbecue joints—this ain't Texas, Memphis, or the Carolinas, to be sure—but it's hard to find fault with Durk's succulent brisket, moist pulled pork, and smoky ribs. Savory sides like skillet cornbread and mac and cheese provide the right flavor balance on the plate, and drinks draw heavily from the collected "whiskey wall" behind the bar—you can't go wrong with the barrel-aged Old Fashioned on draft.

Creative cuisine emerges from the kitchen of this intimate bistro—the fare changes seasonally but may include pan-seared halibut, vegetable and rice sofrito, and the mouthwatering Eli's burger with seasoned fries. Arrive before opening and join the queue for a table; if they're all taken, dining at the bar, accompanied by excellent craft cocktails, is a small compromise.

This family-run roadside seafood shack draws summer visitors like moths to a streetlight. Lobster chow mein is an unusual specialty of the house, but the menu also includes more familiar fried seafood favorites along with burgers and other quick bites. There is a small dining room, but most people just order at the takeout window and eat at one of the picnic tables out back, cooled by breezes off of Nanaquatucket Pond.

This restaurant defies its strip mall location with a bright interior design soaked in natural light and a high-fenced courtyard for warm-weather dining. Coast-inspired comfort food like fish-and-chips occupies the menu alongside fish tacos, mac and cheese, and a savory chicken grilled gyro; lobster Benedict is a brunch staple.

With Bruce the shark out front and a weathered, kitschy vibe, this local institution across from Easton's Beach in Middletown is as casual as they come. Lobster rolls, fried seafood, baked fish, clam cakes, cold beer, and a great raw bar make for long lines in summer. A smaller second location is at Island Park Beach in Portsmouth.

In a city where culinary newcomers tend to garner all the attention, Hemenway's continues to be one of the state's best seafood restaurants. The high-ceiling dining room's huge windows look out on Providence's World War II Memorial; in warm weather, dine outside on the front patio. The raw bar here is superlative.

Folks have been coming here since 1929 for lobster: as a salad roll, on pizza, or whole—but wait, there's also grilled swordfish, pan-seared cod, broiled scallops, bouillabaise, and steak or chicken, too. At lunch or dinner, start with a craft brew or cocktail, then build your own plate from the raw bar: jumbo shrimp, oysters, littleneck and cherrystone clams, or cold lobster cocktail.

Los Andes is perennially at or near the top of every Rhode Island "best of" restaurant list. Credit the state's Latin American diaspora, Rhode Island's melting pot status, but mostly chef Cesin Curi for his masterful Latin fusion cuisine that draws upon the rich culinary traditions of Bolivia and Peru. You can't go wrong with the ceviche or any of the seafood dishes, including the Jalea, a classic fried fisherman's plate from Peru, but the churrasco steaks are amazing, too.

This family-owned restaurant at the Hotel Maria serves Mediterranean cuisine, from casual (pizza, raw bar) and familiar (veal Parmesan) to fancy (filet mignon tagliatelle). It's right across the street from the beach and a standout on a strip of ice cream stands, takeout shacks, and motels that have seen better days.

This cheery tavern has three bars and 69 beers on tap, but hungry folks flock here for burgers and tasty pizzas—like the Pink Panther, which is topped with chicken, prosciutto, and pasta in a house-made pink vodka sauce. Also on the menu are Mexican dishes, mac and cheese with local Whalers beer in the sauce, and other comfort foods.

Handsome brick walls and vaulted casement ceilings lend a cozy New England vibe to this contemporary, French-influenced American restaurant. The menu includes selections from both land and sea, mostly cooked in the open kitchen's wood-fired oven, as well as an extensive wine list.

This casual eatery within walking distance of Easton Beach in Middletown has a simple "mission"—deliver great burgers, fries, and hot dogs to the hungry and thirsty shore crowds. A thick and juicy cheeseburger can be had for about $10; toppings are extra and include options like jalapenos or a fried egg. For noncarnivores, there are a couple of falafel options, too.

This 1941 Sterling Streamliner diner is a beauty to behold. In addition to the extensive breakfast and lunch menu, you'll often find 30 or more specials posted on the wall.

The “mother” at this Long Wharf eatery refers to the naturally fermented sourdough that underpins the pizzas sliding out of the Neapolitan-style oven, dished to guests alongside selections from an extensive wine list and Rhode Island draft beers. White and red-sauce pizzas are topped with cheese, figs, pineapple, carnitas pork, summer vegetables, and other creative accoutrements.

Fun and kitschy Ogie's bar and restaurant fuses trailer-park chic and colorful (maybe even garish) 1950s-style decor. The "Granny Boo's Kitchen" menu emphasizes "gourmet comfort food," which translates into the likes of tater tots with white truffle oil, grilled peanut butter and jelly, and mac and cheese croquettes. The restaurant's backyard is one of Providence's best outdoor dining and drinking spots.

Portions are big in the Rhode Island comfort-food tradition at this southern Italian ristorante on Federal Hill; count on fresh ingredients presented in a simple, straightforward way. Share a pasta if you dare, but keep in mind that the veal chop could probably topple Fred Flintstone's footmobile; gluten-free dishes are also available.

In a state that takes its doughnuts seriously, some of the best doughy orbs require an island jaunt. Served from a humble food truck, Payne's "killer" doughnuts have been a summer morning tradition for generations. Stick with the sugar or cinnamon flavors to truly appreciate how warm and crisp these homemade doughnuts are on the outside and how tender and simply delicious they are on the inside.

Even omnivores can get behind this chic vegan food hall, positioned near the waterfront and the city's new Providence River Pedestrian Bridge. On two floors and cascading outdoors, you'll find three restaurants, a bakery, a coffee bar, and a market offering familiar fare like tacos, pizza, lasagna---even burgers---all made exclusively from plants. Arrive early to snag one of the limited seats in the 345 speakeasy, tucked away next door.

The black 1961 Ford Galaxie parked out front is the landmark steering you to this fun indoor-outdoor restaurant, bar, and night spot in Old Harbor. Find a table on the porch or in the garden and dig into the house specialty, barbecued pulled-pork mac and cheese, washed down with a margarita blended with a local blackberry and honey puree. Fun snacks include a lasagna dip and crispy fish sticks; healthier options include a "power lunch" salad packed with quinoa, sunflower seeds, figs, and beets, topped with an apple cider vinaigrette dressing.

In a neighborhood where Italian food dominates, this spirited seafood restaurant offers a refreshing alternative. Oysters—and clams, lobster, and shrimp—are the main attraction, of course, but landlubbers will enjoy a steak or rotisserie chicken.

Just as sneakerheads line up for hot releases, doughnutheads stake their places on the sidewalk outside this one-of-a-kind shop to try limited-edition flavors like S’mores or Chocolate Churro. There are filled and old-fashioned-style donuts to sample, but the stars of the monthly changing lineup are the light and fluffy, oversized brioche dough orbs. Go early because sellouts are a regularity.

Taking its name from the Hindi word for kitchen, this restaurant near the Providence city line serves cuisine from 27 regions of India. The menu includes numerous spicy, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan selections.

A giant fork hangs outside this neighborhood brasserie in Wayland Square, and the chefs do things big here—from the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink chopped salad to supersize sangrias. The menu is eclectic, but you'll find plenty of Italian- and French-inspired bistro items, including French onion soup, steak frites, rigatoni Bolognese, and mussels prepared six ways and served with hand-cut frites.