COASTAL CABIN
Linger brunch at the coastal hut. With bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys ($15) you could try the crab benedict, fried chicken and waffles, caramelized scallop rolls and seafood pancakes. Fruit hash browns and smoked gouda cheese accompany each dish.
Later in the day, pair a summer cocktail—perhaps a mango-lime margarita, cucumber, basil, or grapefruit martinis, old-fashioned blackberry citrus—with an application : roasted oysters, casserole–seared crab cake with avocado and tomato salsa or baked lobster ravioli. From 4-6 p.m. daily, you’ll find half-price apps, like fried capers or homemade meatballs with pineapple salsa. Summertime dinner includes fresh berry salad with parmesan cheese, grilled swordfish with garlic and rosemary, and caramelized scallops.
945 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett, 401-789-1725, coastcabinri.com.
AMIGOS TAQUERIA AND TEQUILA
Vamos aquí por comida muy deliciosa.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast burritos, after-work margaritas, or an authentic Mexican dinner in South County, visit Amigos Taqueria Y Tequila in Westerly.
Breakfast and brunch are served with cornbread and rice and Mexican beans – or house fries and toast, if you prefer. Think avocado huevos rancheros, toquilla smoked salmon with toasted house bread, lobster eggs benedict, stuffed avocado, topped with poached eggs, cheese and salsa. Build your own omelette or tortilla (maybe goat cheese, smoked salmon, avocado, chorizo, tofu, mozzarella); or French toast with plantain and cinnamon; cinnamon-rolled churro waffles with dulce de leche, almond canola French toast or pancakes: blueberries, pumpkin or chocolate chips.
For afternoon drinks, you’ll find tequila-based cocktails, sangrias, and Mexican beers. Tapas may include guacamole and chunk crab and chipotle fries, nacho casserole, “Matt’s nacho fries” – fries with nacho toppings and cheese sauce, mini chimichangas, mango buffalo wing habanera with avocado and gorgonzola sauce, fish and chips in Corona batter with guava Cole coleslaw. Linger over seared ahi tuna tostada, seared scallops sautéed with cactus, salmon wrapped in banana leaves over plantain risotto, grilled salmon tacos with papaya and cucumber salad. For summer parties, note: they supply.
2 Canal Street, Westerly, 401-315-5800, amigosri.com.
MATUNUCK OYSTER BAR
For sit-down dining with a waterfront vibe, Matuncuk Oyster Bar is a South County gem. Overlooking Potter Pond where their oysters are harvested, Matunuck is truly pond to plate – and farm to table too. Select vegetables and herbs – rosemary, sage, salad greens, carrots, kale, peas and more – are picked from their nearby bio vegetable farm.
Owner Perry Raso began digging small passes at Point Judith Pond when he was 12 years old and grew up harvesting shellfish, trapping eels, raking clams and diving for steamers. Before opening the Matunuck Oyster Bar, he was an oyster farmer. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Raso studied aquaculture and fishing technology. You can book a visit to the oyster farm, which includes a visit to the shellfish farm.
Raso founded Matunuck Oyster Farm and opened the restaurant in 2009. In 2011 he started growing organic vegetables and today there is a shellfish hatchery.
You could catch a summer sunset by the water while dining on the waterfront deck on little cols and cherry pits, or chilled lobster. Go with friends to “Pass the Tower” – an assortment of oysters, small necks, jumbo prawns, chilled whole lobster, Point Judith crab, poke, and seaweed salad.
Not a raw fan? Prepared shellfish include mussels in white wine, herb butter, and garlic crostini, small collars and chourico; pan-fried oysters with avocado cucumber, mint remoulade. Try lobster pizza on Naan, stuffed house, Point Judith calamari or crab salad with quinoa. Sandwiches include a lobster roll and an oyster po’ boy. Entries may include Potter Pond Poke Bowl (albacore, edamame, sticky rice, crispy wonton, sesame tamari); seared scallops with local vegetables; jambalaya with fried oysters, or linguine with Rhody littlenecks.
629 Succotash Road, South Kingstown, 401-783-4202, rhodyoysters.com.
GEORGE OF GALILEE
With views of Block Island Sound, George’s has a long history in Rhode Island, opening in the first half of the 20th century.
Whether you are looking for sushi and eye-catching cocktails their tiki beach bar, craving for clam cakes On the bridgeor intrigued by sustainable seafoodGeorge’s menu – largely from boat to plate – is extensive.
You could start with applewood bacon mussels with whole grain mustard, baked brie with a apricot and cranberry jam, fried calamari or fried oysters with orange marmalade and cucumbers. Homemade clam cakes associate with one or the other classic Rhode Island clam chowder in a clear broth or a creamy New England clam chowder (to satisfy all sides of the chowder debate). sun-dried tomatoes, pulled chicken sandwich with agave barbecue or a “Nine Napkin Burger” topped with bourbon glaze, bacon, cheddar and fried onions.
250 Sand Hill Cove Road, Port of Galilee, 401-783-2306, georgesofgalilee.com.
COAST GUARD HOUSE
Nestled by the ocean on a granite perch dating back to the 1800s, Coast Guard House is a longtime Rhody notable who has also won Wine Spectator awards for his long pages wine list.
The restaurant dates back to the 1940s, known for its views over Narragansett Bay. Take in the view of the lobster bisque, fried gnocchi, lobster corn tamale or octopus salad. They are known for their seafood dishes, such as the swordfish with fregola, lounge with rice noodles, lobster ravioli and steamed lobster dinner
40 Ocean Road, Narragansett, 401-789-0700, thecoastguardhouse.com.
OLYMPIA TEA ROOM
At Watch Hill – yes, where Taylor Swift has a mansion – Olympia tea room cast the style of floor at ceiling. Founded in 1916, this nugget and former soda shop offers sidewalk seating so you can people-watch over tuna sashimi, Venetian tagliolini or ribs with Korean barbecue sauce. For starters, not for the course: grilled sausage bruno, Portuguese baked haddock with spiced crushed tomatoes, lime chipotle shrimp. Oh, and they serve over 100 wines, depending on their menu.
74 Bay Street, West, 401-348-8211, roomolympiatearoom.com.
MONAHAN’S CLAMS Shack
For classic Rhode Island beach vibes — think lobster rolls, clam strips and clear oceanside chowder — head to Monahan’s Clam Shack in Narragansett. Here’s your Ocean State postcard menu: clam-cakes and chowder, fries, onion rings, frozen lobster roll with mayonnaise or hot lobster roll sautéed in melted butter; clam rolls, fried fish tacos, fish and chips, clam dinner.
Originally opened by Joseph Monahan in the 1940s, the seaside location previously served as a gas station and dairy bar. Today, at the seasonal restaurant, you can enjoy a basket of coconut shrimp by a foyer.
190 Ocean Road, Narragansett, 401-782-2524, monahansri.com.
Jayd Bun
JAYD BUN
For authentic Chinese in South County, two words: Jayd Bun. The husband and wife owned and operated restaurant serves a menu based on the culinary chef Annie Parisi grew up with in Tianjin, China. Everything is handmade, from the pan-fried pork buns with chives, ginger, scallions and sesame oil to “Jayd fusion” – a traditional Chinese scallion pancake with “secret Jayd rub “. For entrees, think spicy pork stuffed ravioli, peanut butter noodles with chicken, maybe jin jin dumplings or their chinese beef patty.
1202 Kingstown Road, Kingstown South, 401-515-7900, jaydbun.us.
TWIN WILLOW
A favorite spot for live music, summer fare, water views and cocktails on deck. Think Point Judith calamari, clams, chorizo stuffed, smoked haddock tacos with Tomato and Cucumber Salsa, Shrimp BLT, Cranberry Blue Cheese Blackened Turkey Burger, Vermont Buttered Shrimp Scampi, Native Collard Paella, and Blue Mussels.
865 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett, 401-789-8153, twinwillowsri.com.
Lauren Daley can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.
Comments are closed.