No matter where we’re from, we all crave our regional recipes from time to time. These dishes become some of our most important comfort foods and most intense cravings when we go without them in our lives for too long. Lucky for Rhode Islanders, there are dozens of amazing state specific meals that are almost too delicious for words. Since knowing where to find them is just as important, here’s a list of 10 great traditional Rhody restaurants to find the classic food items of our Ocean State dreams. These old fashioned style restaurants in Rhode Island will have you drooling.
- Awful Awfuls: Newport Creamery, Multiple Locations
Facebook/Newport Creamery
Facebook/Newport Creamery Awful Awfuls, which is really just an extra amazing cabinet (or milkshake for you non Rhode Islanders) is always a smart decision. You can also enjoy delicious food and ice cream sundaes that are out of this world at this old fashioned style creamery.
Facebook/Newport Creamery Bonus: This picture of the Big Blue Bug enjoying an Awful Awful might be the most Rhode Island thing to have ever happened.
- Johnny cakes: Jigger’s Diner, East Greenwich
Facebook/Jigger’s
Facebook/Jigger’s These cornmeal style pancakes aren’t always easy to find and Jigger’s in East Greenwich makes them perfectly!
- Hot wieners: Olneyville N.Y. System, Providence and Cranston
Facebook/Olneyville N.Y. System
Facebook/Olneyville N.Y. System Rhode Island’s very own take on hot dogs are way more delicious than you can imagine and Olneyville N.Y. System has been around for decades! Just make sure you ask for your hot wieners “all the way” if you want to fit in.
- Iggy’s Doughboys and Chowder House, Narragansett and Warwick
Facebook/Iggy’s
Facebook/Iggy’s Sugary deep fried balls of dough; need I say more?
- Clam cakes and chowder: Aunt Carries, Narragansett
Facebook/Aunt Carrie’s
Facebook/Aunt Carrie’s Aunt Carrie’s has been around since the 1920s and is credited for inventing the clam cake. Rhode Island wouldn’t be Rhode Island without them and they’ve managed to keep their traditional mom and pop shop feel.
- Gregg’s pickles and deserts: Gregg’s Restaurant, Multiple Locations
Facebook/Gregg’s
Facebook/Gregg’s You might be asking yourself, what’s so special about pickles? You’ll simply have to visit Gregg’s as soon as possible to find out for yourself.
Facebook/Gregg’s Their Death By Chocolate Cake and other amazing deserts have also become a Rhody tradition.
- Pizza Strips and Zeppoles: Crugnale Bakery, Multiple Locations
Facebook/Crugnale Bakery
Facebook/Crugnale Bakery Cold bakery pizza is so important to Rhode Islanders.
Facebook/Crugnale Bakery Their zeppoles, an Italian creme filled donut sized piece of joy, might only be available on special occasions, or by order, but they are simply out of this world.
- Coffee Milk: Wright’s Dairy Farm, North Smithfield
Facebook/Wright’s Dairy Farm
Facebook/Wright’s Dairy Farm What’s more Rhode Island than locally made coffee milk, you ask? Nothing… except maybe the previously discussed picture of the Big Blue Bug drinking an Awful Awful.
- Classic diner food: West Side Diner, Providence
Facebook/West Side Diner
Facebook/West Side Diner Did you know that Rhode Island was home to the first ever diner? The state basically single handedly forever ensured access to greasy comfort food for the rest of the nation and should be awarded a metal. While there are tons of fantastic diners to be found all over, the West Side Diner is a favorite local spot and serves all the classic diner food you could ever ask for.
- Chowder, calamari and more: Chelo’s, Multiple Locations
Yelp/Ashely P.
Facebook/Chelo’s Chelo’s has become a Rhode Island tradition and serves too many classic Rhode Island foods to list.
Facebook/Chelo’s Some of the most important to mention are clam chowder, calamari, and tons of fried seafood dinner options.
Can you think of any other old fashioned style restaurants in Rhode Island? Where do you go to get classic Little Rhody cuisine?
Facebook/Newport Creamery
Awful Awfuls, which is really just an extra amazing cabinet (or milkshake for you non Rhode Islanders) is always a smart decision. You can also enjoy delicious food and ice cream sundaes that are out of this world at this old fashioned style creamery.
Bonus: This picture of the Big Blue Bug enjoying an Awful Awful might be the most Rhode Island thing to have ever happened.
Facebook/Jigger’s
These cornmeal style pancakes aren’t always easy to find and Jigger’s in East Greenwich makes them perfectly!
Facebook/Olneyville N.Y. System
Rhode Island’s very own take on hot dogs are way more delicious than you can imagine and Olneyville N.Y. System has been around for decades! Just make sure you ask for your hot wieners “all the way” if you want to fit in.
Facebook/Iggy’s
Sugary deep fried balls of dough; need I say more?
Facebook/Aunt Carrie’s
Aunt Carrie’s has been around since the 1920s and is credited for inventing the clam cake. Rhode Island wouldn’t be Rhode Island without them and they’ve managed to keep their traditional mom and pop shop feel.
Facebook/Gregg’s
You might be asking yourself, what’s so special about pickles? You’ll simply have to visit Gregg’s as soon as possible to find out for yourself.
Facebook/Gregg’s
Their Death By Chocolate Cake and other amazing deserts have also become a Rhody tradition.
Facebook/Crugnale Bakery
Facebook/Crugnale Bakery
Cold bakery pizza is so important to Rhode Islanders.
Their zeppoles, an Italian creme filled donut sized piece of joy, might only be available on special occasions, or by order, but they are simply out of this world.
Facebook/Wright’s Dairy Farm
What’s more Rhode Island than locally made coffee milk, you ask? Nothing… except maybe the previously discussed picture of the Big Blue Bug drinking an Awful Awful.
Facebook/West Side Diner
Did you know that Rhode Island was home to the first ever diner? The state basically single handedly forever ensured access to greasy comfort food for the rest of the nation and should be awarded a metal. While there are tons of fantastic diners to be found all over, the West Side Diner is a favorite local spot and serves all the classic diner food you could ever ask for.
Yelp/Ashely P.
Facebook/Chelo’s
Chelo’s has become a Rhode Island tradition and serves too many classic Rhode Island foods to list.
Facebook/Chelo’s
Some of the most important to mention are clam chowder, calamari, and tons of fried seafood dinner options.
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