Rhode Island: Where to Eat

It seems like now more than ever people crave the simple quick and easy dinner options. The problem with that is we are all guilty of not trying something new. Over the past year or so I have been experiencing different types of cuisines at non-chain restaurants. The outcome is a fabulous dinner where the wait staff actually takes the time to serve like you are important. Whether you are visiting Rhode Island and looking for some of our hometown cuisine or if you live here and need something to spice up your palette, this article will give you a direction with ideas to start on!

We all know that Rhode Island being a coastal state has great seafood, but not all restaurants serve seafood worthy of talking about afterwards. I have two top choices for a fabulous seafood meal. First, take a drive down to Point Judith. There are all kinds of seafood places there or you can buy fresh off the dock! My favorite place in Point Judith is Champlin's Seafood Restaurant. They are a more casual sort of place. You order whatever from a window and pick it up from the same window. You have a choice of sitting outside overlooking the ocean or inside for those chilly nights. The lobster dinner there usually runs about $13, which includes the lobster, Cole slaw, and a potato of some sort. Champlin's is more of a fun family atmosphere with a casual appeal. I personally have always loved Champlin's. My second choice for Seafood goes to Legal Seafood. They are located on Post Road in Warwick. Choose Legal Seafood for a more upscale evening. The menu is pricier than Champlin's but you get the service here. My favorite at Legal Seafood is a Caesar salad topped with lobster meat. This dish runs approximately $12 for the salad then it's extra for the lobster or shrimp or salmon, depending on your tastes.

Now, in Rhode Island, we have a place called Federal Hill, which is located in Providence. Federal Hill used to be RI's own "little Italy," a tradition since 1924. Since then, other cuisines have made their way to the fine dining on "the hill." My favorites are two of the more upscale restaurants there. First there is Mediterraneo. They feature traditional Italian cuisine in a pure Italian atmosphere. The restaurant is small in size but large in taste. Again, this is a more expensive night out, but well worth it! The other place I really liked is Zooma. The restaurant is primarily purple inside, dedicated to the younger generation. They feature Italian cuisine primarily but have other options on the menu as well. This one is really very interesting because it is a restaurant open for dinner every night but after 10 becomes more of a club including a live DJ. On Sundays at Zooma, there is a large brunch buffet. All that you eat here is sure to awaken your senses!

There is another Italian restaurant that is a fabulous eat. Spain, which is located on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston and also on Ocean Road in Narragansett, is another high-priced dinner choice. The secret of Spain is in their Sangria mixture, which no matter how hard you try - they will never give to anyone. I have eaten at Spain a number of times and never once had anything I didn't like. The atmosphere is pleasant and the wait staff courteous. I would recommend a steak or veal dish here among all others. I also haven't heard a bad thing about their seafood dishes.

Let's move on to Mexican. If you are craving a little "south-of-the-border" night then Tortilla Flats is the place to be! They are located in Providence on Hope Street. The atmosphere is fun, definitely geared to a younger crowd. The food is fabulous and they have the best margaritas around! The prices on the menu are pretty fair, not too expensive but not cheap either. On the other hand if you are craving Indian cuisine, try India located on Main Street in Warren. There is an inside restaurant complimented by an outside terrace set up for dining as well complete with the small white lights strung above your head. And upstairs at India is a bar. India is decorated with colorful fabrics and drapes. The bar upstairs has couches all along the walls and a few tables with chairs in the middle. The atmosphere and food are totally 100 percent Indian. This is a more upscale eatery, so look for higher prices.

No restaurant list is complete without pizzerias! I have two good picks for pizza in the Ocean state. The first of which is Caserta Pizzeria, located on Spruce Street in Providence and also part of Federal Hill. On any given Friday or Saturday night, you have to call an hour ahead of time to order a pizza here! All fresh ingredients mixed with true Italian secrets make this the best pizza in all of Rhode Island! My second choice for pizza would have to be Tomaselli Brothers located on Oaklawn Ave in Cranston. At Tomaselli's you can virtually have anything you want on your pizza and it's fresh! They make a very good eggplant pizza!
Finally we come to Chinese food. It's hard to try new Chinese food restaurants because you never know what you will get. Well, here are two suggestions. First Eastern Star, which is located on Post Road in Warwick, is pretty reliable for being good food, fast. The Islander, which is located on Warwick Avenue in Warwick, is a more upscale restaurant. The Islander has the best Chinese food in RI, I'm sure of it. They are also a little on the pricey side of things. Another Chinese food restaurant to try is Chen's. They have two locations, one in Westerly and one in Wakefield. They are reliable for good food too. If you are on the other end of the spectrum in reference to Asian foods try Haruki Japanese Restaurant. They are located on Oaklawn Avenue in Cranston. They have very good sushi, if you like sushi.

When all else fails, take a drive down Bald Hill Road in Warwick. You will find Chili's, Friday's, Outback Steakhouse, Carraba's, Olive Garden, Smoky Bones, and many more chain style restaurants. And if it's pure Rhode Island you want to taste, try Chelo's! There are numerous locations throughout the state of Rhode Island. Chelo's Restaurants are well known for their chowder and desserts as RI's best. The biggest thing when planning a night out is to plan something nice and different, to change things up a bit. Good luck and happy eating!!