Great Seafood Restaurants in Rhode Island

Great seafood is easy to find in Rhode Island. Rhode Island might be the smallest state with over 400 miles of coastline as is stated by Netstate . Nicknamed "The Ocean State", the state of Rhode Island has an abundance of great seafood from lobsters, mussels, clams, swordfish, tuna and the list goes on and on.

The best seafood in Rhode Island is at restaurants that are not chains. In fact, Rhode Island is not home to most chain restaurants like Red Lobster or Long John Silver's. There have been a few feeble attempts to have a chain restaurant here including Red Lobster, which did not last very long. The only successful chain restaurant in Rhode Island are McCormick and Schmick's and Legal Seafood located at the Biltmore hotel, and near the airport respectively. That and they are high quality chain seafood restaurants.

It is hard for the purpose of listing just a few to select the best seafood restaurants in Rhode Island but this article will attempt to do just that. Here are few favorite seafood restaurants that you must try if you are in Rhode Island.

Hemenway's Restaurant | Providence, RI

Hemenway's is an upscale seafood restaurant with upscale prices. Hemenway's has long been a staple in Rhode Island and although the prices are steep, you get what you pay for when it comes to seafood. With a large selection and each dish prepared perfectly from lobster that is removed from the shell for you to swordfish grilled just perfectly, Hemenway's is a great choice for a business dinner or a date night with your significant other.

The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar - Newport, RI

The Mooring is owned by the same group as Hemenway's. It is quite different however. With a unique boathouse look and a large copper fish at the bar, The Mooring offers a slightly more relaxed atmosphere. The food is very reasonably priced for seafood.

Whether you are looking for a raw bar or some mussels zuppa there are plenty of selections to choose from. If you are going with someone who does not like seafood there are plenty of options for them as well.

DeWolf Tavern - Bristol, RI

DeWolf is truly a local favorite. Located in the extremely old but very cool town of Bristol, RI, DeWolf is true to the area situated in a building that dates back to 1818. With a style of cooking called the "tandoor" oven, DeWolf's shellfish carries a unique and delicious flavor. Be sure to check out the seafood stew for a great dish or the lobster, shrimp and scallop sandwich for a great lunch.

DeWolf is located right on Bristol Harbor and in the summer they offer outdoor seating (limited). Indoor, there are plenty of seats near windows that overlook the water but also plenty that do not. Some of the seats that do not are just as interesting to take a look at the building and its true historic value.

Aunt Carrie's Seafood Restaurant - Narragansett, RI

Specializing in fried clams and clamcakes and chowder, Aunt Carrie's is not a fancy restaurant but definitely a local favorite. Once you have had Aunt Carrie's clamcakes and chowder, no other will taste nearly as good.

Another staple at Aunt Carries are steamers. Steamed clams are a local favorite in RI Aunt Carries serves up heaping portions to satisfy your appetite. They do also serve lobster dinners but their fried seafood is top notch.

There are so many great choices in Rhode Island for great seafood it is hard to narrow it down. Some others to check out for something on the nicer side include: Waterplace in Providence, Lobster Pot in Bristol and the Red Parrot in Newport to name a few. On the more casual side be sure to check out Barking Crab in Newport (also located in Boston) or Hortons Seafood in East Providence.

Whatever your selection it is almost impossible to have bad seafood in Rhode Island.