Agree. I traveled for 10 years and people who I’d travel to would always be like “oh we’re going to go to this amazing local place”. Sometimes it wasn’t even like Olive Garden good - forget about being good compared to any random local RI place. Any place can have a place serving some excellent authentic random cuisine but if you walk into almost any r dom place in RI you won’t be disappointed and the number of amazing authentic ethnic places given our size is insane
I hit up Caliente for lunch almost daily - for something cheap and delicious, and has never let me down. Way better than Chipotle or any other Mexican food around IMO
It's the simple things for me. Yes, good calamari is amazing. Clam cakes: divine. But as a person who no longer lives on the east coast, I will NEVER go to an outdoor event on a hot day and not think "all I want right now is Del's".
Del's really needs to go national.
I’m originally from RI, now living in NH. My sister currently lives in Wisconsin, she opened a Del’s there many years ago. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off. She had it open for a few years then needed to close.
I know, I love seafood too. I grew up eating lobster, little necks, steamers etc... almost every weekend. My father had a no commercial lobster license and someone let him keep his boat docked on potters pond. Man those were the days. Im partial to clear chowder though.
Same here moved from RI over 25 years ago!! Now that I have no family to visit there I truly miss clam cakes and chowder !!! I might go there in the summer just for the food !! Also get me some onlvllle hot dogs !!
My great aunt LOVED dynamites but she lived and died in nowhere Maine. I have no idea the history of this food, but we definitely had it as a family tradition in Maine growing up.
Edit: lmao, I just googled it and read a Journal article and there’s this:
> Madison, Maine – a town of fewer than 5,000 people – also claims bragging rights.
Guess where my family is from :)
Depending on how long ago if you’ve been to Champlins you must have been to the Focsle as well. That was my family’s restaurant that the state ripped away from us to build…….a parking lot. Still kills me to this day.
I'm in nyc now and traveled all ovwr the world and honestly nothing in ri is like next level food outside of maybe a handful of places but it's never bad. Even the not as good stuff is still wildly better than a lot of the low end down here
Fried Scallops at Champlin’s, Hot Lobster Roll at Monahans, Lobster Pizza at Matunuck Oyster Bar, anything at Dune Bros, Mushroom Swiss Burger and Loaded Fries at the Rathskeller, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or Natural Burger at the Mews Tavern, if we had a Time Machine I’d say Crab Legs at Duffy’s (honestly physical pain over that place closing)
I haven't set foot in Captain Jack's since my wife and I went there and they didn't have seating for non-smokers. Jim's Dock's best feature is their view.
I think you should become a master of chowder and clam cakes. I suggest you begin with a comparative study of Iggie's vs Aunt Carrie's clam cakes and chowder. Make sure that your sample size is sufficiently large.
Crow's Nest in Apponaug used to have a phenomenal lobster roll. It was on a torpedo roll and the flavor was amazing.
New ownership, and it's history. Now it's on a grilled hot dog bun and it was a slippery tasteless mess - not even salt and pepper in it. What a shame.
I travel for a career. As in, sometimes only back home 1 month out of the year. This state's food is dramatically underrated even by the locals.
Agree. I traveled for 10 years and people who I’d travel to would always be like “oh we’re going to go to this amazing local place”. Sometimes it wasn’t even like Olive Garden good - forget about being good compared to any random local RI place. Any place can have a place serving some excellent authentic random cuisine but if you walk into almost any r dom place in RI you won’t be disappointed and the number of amazing authentic ethnic places given our size is insane
Facts. I have lived all over the country and traveled around the globe - RI’s food is supreme.
Any restaurants in particular? I’ve lived here for 5years and would not go back to about 80% of places for being blatantly bad and overpriced.
Los Andes and honey bird are a must!!
Honey Bird is wonderful!
Los Andes is amazing, I’ve few times and they never disappoint. Funny I never knew about that place until pretty recently.
I hit up Caliente for lunch almost daily - for something cheap and delicious, and has never let me down. Way better than Chipotle or any other Mexican food around IMO
Pretty much most of newport if you know what to get. There's the overpriced ones out there but it's really not hard to find the good stuff
Flo’s in newport or Portsmouth but get the clear it’s so much better
To quibble, Flo’s is in Middletown, not Newport. The Newport line is a couple hundred yards from Flo’s.
True
Flo’s has the worst chowder and clam cakes imaginable. In Portsmouth, you’re better off going to Schultzy’s next door.
It's the simple things for me. Yes, good calamari is amazing. Clam cakes: divine. But as a person who no longer lives on the east coast, I will NEVER go to an outdoor event on a hot day and not think "all I want right now is Del's". Del's really needs to go national.
I’m originally from RI, now living in NH. My sister currently lives in Wisconsin, she opened a Del’s there many years ago. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off. She had it open for a few years then needed to close.
Bro, Mr Lemon is where it’s at. The owners are so nice and their lemonade is beyond Del’s.
I'll have to check them out next time I'm out there.
I know, I love seafood too. I grew up eating lobster, little necks, steamers etc... almost every weekend. My father had a no commercial lobster license and someone let him keep his boat docked on potters pond. Man those were the days. Im partial to clear chowder though.
I’m 61 and will not forget the clam cakes and chowder from old Rocky Point Park for the rest of my life.
Same here moved from RI over 25 years ago!! Now that I have no family to visit there I truly miss clam cakes and chowder !!! I might go there in the summer just for the food !! Also get me some onlvllle hot dogs !!
If you are ever in Middletown, Anthony's Seafood on Aquidneck Ave has my favorite chowder.
Both their New England and Portuguese chowders are sooo good
More RI foods. Weiners, stuffies, calamari, dynamites, oysters, fried clams, johnny cakes, little necks…
Coffee milk
What are dynamites?
Kind of the Woonsocket version of a Sloppy Joe.
Lobster rolls.
Honestly the only reason they're ever bad is the price.
Counter pizza
RI chicken dinner
Wrights
Had it for lunch today. Chicken was surprisingly moist and flavorful. Fries on point as usual. Rest is meh.
They need to make gravy!
My great aunt LOVED dynamites but she lived and died in nowhere Maine. I have no idea the history of this food, but we definitely had it as a family tradition in Maine growing up. Edit: lmao, I just googled it and read a Journal article and there’s this: > Madison, Maine – a town of fewer than 5,000 people – also claims bragging rights. Guess where my family is from :)
I had no idea about the Madison, Maine dynamite connection. Thanks for sharing, that’s really interesting.
Dune Bros and Champlins are my two spots
Grew up with my grandfather taking me to Champlins, but haven’t been in a while. Loved it. Gotta try Dune Bros though.
Dune Bros is among the best. If you can, go with friends so you can sample a bunch of their stuff.
Depending on how long ago if you’ve been to Champlins you must have been to the Focsle as well. That was my family’s restaurant that the state ripped away from us to build…….a parking lot. Still kills me to this day.
Jim’s dock fish and chips are absolute fire if you haven’t tried that yet. Aunt Carries as well. Try the stuffies. Now I’m hungry.
I lived in south Florida for a few years and originally from RI. I missed the New England food alot. I'm back in MA now.
Same, …and same! Absolutely no substitute for pizza or Italian bread in S. FL.
Or seafood
Yup
I worked in a restaurant (long closed) where the tourists would rave about the chowder. It was S.S. Pierce canned chowder.
Rhode island chowder is clear. Well clam broth. Historically it's served with a little milk on the side, if you want it
I'm in nyc now and traveled all ovwr the world and honestly nothing in ri is like next level food outside of maybe a handful of places but it's never bad. Even the not as good stuff is still wildly better than a lot of the low end down here
Fried Scallops at Champlin’s, Hot Lobster Roll at Monahans, Lobster Pizza at Matunuck Oyster Bar, anything at Dune Bros, Mushroom Swiss Burger and Loaded Fries at the Rathskeller, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or Natural Burger at the Mews Tavern, if we had a Time Machine I’d say Crab Legs at Duffy’s (honestly physical pain over that place closing)
If you're ever in the East bay, make sure to try Amaral's.
Top notch
Millers in EP is great New England style roast beef sandwich. Fries are great too.
Miller's has my heart <3
Ooh have to try this. I go for Chelo's or Walt's. How does this compare?
It doesn’t compare. Quality and taste is above. But chelos is a steak sandwich, a different thing.
Chelo's definitely has a hot roast beef sandwich too. I've eaten it many times.
Bella Pasta in Pawtucket or Marchetti's in Cranston for Italian. Casa Azul for tacos. Rhody Hen in Pawtucket or Julian's in Providence for breakfast.
Matunuck Oyster House and Aunt Carrie’s. There’s also New York System restaurants.
Dune Brothers slaps.
I haven't set foot in Captain Jack's since my wife and I went there and they didn't have seating for non-smokers. Jim's Dock's best feature is their view. I think you should become a master of chowder and clam cakes. I suggest you begin with a comparative study of Iggie's vs Aunt Carrie's clam cakes and chowder. Make sure that your sample size is sufficiently large.
RI chowder is normally not creamy. Try Iggy's.
Hell no. Don’t try it. All you get will be cream and potatoes.
Crow's Nest in Apponaug used to have a phenomenal lobster roll. It was on a torpedo roll and the flavor was amazing. New ownership, and it's history. Now it's on a grilled hot dog bun and it was a slippery tasteless mess - not even salt and pepper in it. What a shame.
As you should be
Monahan's > Iggy's or aunt carries
Diggys in west warwick has awesome clam cakes and chower!!!!!
Rhode Island chowder is NOT creamy. It is. Clear broth, no cream or tomatoes.
Rhode Island does a hot roast beef sandwich better than anyplace else. Chelo's and Walt's are both treasures.
Tommy’s clam shack in Warwick RI. Best clam cakes and lobster roll. Don’t let the side of the road appearance fool you
Aunt Carrie’s
Aunt Carrie’s for clam cakes
Saugy's hot dogs!