25 Best Restaurants in Rhode Island, USA

A summertime pilgrimage for people from every corner of the state, Gray's has been around since 1923 and sells more than 30 flavors of ice cream, all made on the premises. Coffee is the go-to flavor for many Rhode Islanders, but specialties such as Indian pudding and apple caramel spice have their adherents.

This aptly named two-story café is abuzz with college students and foodies who appreciate the freshly baked bread, especially when it's used to make inventive sandwiches like roasted butternut squash with caramelized onions, Vermont cheddar, and tangy-sweet pesto. The extensive breakfast menu (served 12 hours a day) includes thick-cut French toast, cornbread hash, and granola made on-site.

A brewery tucked into an industrial park near the railroad tracks doesn't seem super inviting, but the tasting room here is warm and friendly, and the beers have creativity by the barrel (IPAs, yes, but also wild ales, barleywines, and a revival of a historical varietal called Kentucky Common). If the adults need a drink after a day at the zoo, Buttonwoods is right in the neighborhood, and hungry kids can be placated with comfort food and pizza from the brewery's pop-up kitchen and a rotation list of visiting food trucks.

Rhode Island's pizza universe has expanded in recent years—you can get a decent slice of New York, New Haven, or Detroit style—but the more things change the more they stay the same at Caserta, the landmark pizzeria on Federal Hill. Homemade sauce, fresh mozzarella, quality toppings, and a thick but crispy crust combine to create a unique Rhode Island-by-way-of-Sicily pie. A pizza pilgrimage site since 1953, Caserta still draws crowds despite its limited menu and no-frills dining room; walk it off with a stroll around Federal Hill and Atwells Ave. afterward.

A tiny Warren restaurant known for offbeat beers, hot chicken sandwiches, and a burger stacked 10 inches tall has blossomed into this second location with more expansive indoor-outdoor seating and an equally enticing menu of decidedly adult, made-from-scratch comfort grub. Pair zesty Mozambique chicken tenders that are definitely not your kids' chicken nuggets with frozen sangria on a summer's day.

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 nearly 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 Perry Mill, 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.

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. 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, and creative salads and sandwiches are the makings of a perfect picnic to tote down the street and enjoy on an oceanview mansion lawn.

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.

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 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.

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 under $10; toppings are extra and include options like jalapenos or a fried egg. For non-carnivores, 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.

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 'n' cheese croquettes. The restaurant's backyard is one of Providence's best outdoor dining and drinking spots.

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 & 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.

Get your Italian cookie or cannoli fix at this landmark bakery, which has been in business since 1916. The place almost closed for good due to retirement and COVID-19, but young new owners have puffed new energy into the place.

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. 

This superb grocery offers a family-friendly atmosphere in which to peruse the finest of Italian meats and cheeses; imported vinegars and olive oils; and candies and pastries—all at reasonable prices. In addition, Tony's deli stocks freshly prepared foods to eat on the premises or take with you; try the Italian grinder, a Rhode Island lunchtime staple.

All-you-can-eat roast chicken, bread, salad, pasta with red sauce, and fries is a northern Rhode Island tradition that grew out of the need to feed many people efficiently. The 1,000-seat wonder known as Wright's Farm has served pretty much the same family-style menu since the 1950s. With 75 ovens, six dining rooms, and four bars, the mammoth banquet facility dishes up nearly 1 million pounds of chicken a year. Fans of kitschy local lore will enjoy a visit to this certifiable tourist attraction, where the gift shop sells chicken-themed doodads, toys, collectables, and candy by the pound.

Folks come from all over to savor the affordable, fresh, lightly battered, gently fried fish and hand-cut, English-style "chips" at this local institution in Market Square. The family-owned restaurant, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, serves up a casual and relaxed feast in a wood-paneled dining room.