You’ll need to eat while spending your vacation in South County, and, as luck would have it, the area has a fantastic dining scene to suit nearly any taste.
Naturally, you’ll have all kinds of seafood options because of the region’s location on the Rhode Island shoreline. Other cuisine types are available, too, if you’d prefer some variety in your diet.
Of course, you can always head to a local fish or farmers’ market to buy some groceries since this allows you to take full advantage of your vacation rental’s amenities.
Here’s a look at some restaurants and markets you can frequent on your South County vacation.
Seafood Shacks
You’ll regret it if you don’t hit up at least one seafood shack while vacationing in South County, and, fortunately, these restaurants are everywhere, so you’ll have all kinds of selection.
Two of the area’s most famous seafood shacks, Monahan’s Clam Shack and Champlin’s Seafood, sit in the town of Narragansett. Monahan’s is a simple walk-up window with an outdoor patio overlooking Narragansett Bay. Champlin’s is a counter-service spot with indoor and outdoor seating in Galilee that dates back to the 1930s.
That’s not all, though, as NO Bar Clam Shack is conveniently located near Charlestown Town Beach on the shores of Ninigret Pond. It’s a relatively new eatery, but its location ensures it’ll get busy in the summer. There’s also Two Little Fish, a trendy venue beside Misquamicut State Beach’s extensive parking lot and across the street from the ever-popular Windjammer Surf Bar.
You can’t go wrong with any of these seafood shacks, and there are countless other options near the 100 miles of coastline and 20 public beaches that make up South County, Rhode Island.
Fine Dining
Seafood shacks are great because they usually offer fresh seafood in an unpretentious setting, albeit without the service and amenities of a fine dining establishment.
Fortunately, South County has those, too, so if you’re in the mood for an evening of culinary delights and a nice bottle of wine, you’ll have options.
Watch Hill is South County’s most desirable neighborhood, and it has the dining scene to match at the Olympia Tea Room and the Ocean House Bistro.
The Olympia Tea Room opened its doors in 1916 and has been a favorite in the heart of Watch Hill ever since. The restaurant uses local ingredients whenever possible and features a wine list with over 100 award-winning varieties. It’s worth noting that the menu frequently changes at the Olympia Tea Room, but you’ll usually find seafood, chicken, steak, pasta, and other favorites.
The Ocean House is Westerly’s pre-eminent private club and event venue, and its fine-dining restaurant, The Bistro, is open to the public with a reservation. The menu features classic American favorites such as steak, chicken, and burgers, although you’ll also find traditional New England fares like oysters, clam chowder, bass, and crab.
There are fine-dining options outside of Watch Hill, too, so you can eat well no matter where you’re staying. Narragansett, for example, is home to Spain of Narragansett and The Coast Guard House Restaurant.
Spain of Narragansett is known for its old-world, Mediterranean flavors, including dishes like calamari, paella marinara, rack of lamb, and veal Madrid. It also features an extensive wine and cocktail list.
The Coast Guard House enjoys a prime location overlooking the water near Narragansett Town Beach and is a local favorite dating back to 1945. This restaurant sits in a building used by the United States Life Saving Service, now the US Coast Guard, in the late 1800s and features some first-class seafood dishes on its menu.
There are fine dining establishments in the Wakefield-Peacedale area, as well, headlined by Trattoria Romana Wakefield. This spot offers Roman-style dishes, so you can expect large servings of pasta, pollo, vitello, and pesce once you walk through its doors.
Pubs and Breweries
If you aren’t in the mood for fine dining and would rather have a quick meal with a beer, South County has a lively pub scene that has just what you need.
In South Kingstown, The Salt Marsh Pub & Raw Bar overlooks Succotash Marsh and is just up the road from East Matunuck State Beach. The bar has a patio near the water and a diverse menu you won’t find at most pubs, making it well worth a visit.
Downtown Wakefield is home to the Mews Tavern, an establishment with 69 beers on tap that has been in business since 1947. The tavern feels like a dive bar when you first enter, but its extensive menu featuring local seafood and pub-style favorites gives it a little more appeal on a night out.
The Malted Barley is a popular spot with locals in downtown Westerly thanks to its selection of craft beer and live music nights, while the Clydesdale Tavern, just up the street, is a great place to catch the game.
Or, if you’re searching for local craft breweries, West Passage Brewing Co., Tilted Barn Brewery, Shaidzon Beer Co., Whalers Brewing Company, and Grey Sail Brewing are worthwhile options.
Cook at Your Vacation Rental
You’ve booked a vacation rental, so you might as well take advantage of the kitchen facilities you have available to you. However, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on sampling fresh seafood right when it comes off the boat.
Places like Gardner’s Wharf Seafood in downtown Wickford, The Fishery in Westerly, and Ferry Wharf Fish Market and Narragansett Bay Lobsters in Galilee allow you to grab lobster, crab, cod, haddock, tuna, salmon, and shellfish minutes after crews unload them on the docks. You won’t find this experience in many other places around the country, as it’s one of the things that makes the small towns of South County so appealing.
You can pick up some fresh produce to go with your meal at various markets in the region, too. The South Kingstown Farmers’ Market is the oldest in the state, and the Coastal Growers Market, Casey Farm, the Fisherman’s Memorial Farmers’ Market, West Beach Farm, and the Whaley Farm Market are other options worth discussing.
In short, you’ll never go hungry while vacationing in South County, but you will find yourself with plenty of choices to make when deciding where to eat on any given day.