Rhode Island Food
OK this is a list of my favorite Unique Rhode Island (southern New england) specialities. Please add yours or comment on mine. I would also appreciate any posts from unique foods in or around Hartford. The list is in no particular order. Post any interesting stuff your town or area is known for. Basically, I am looking for a reason to visit your town and try your best unique specialty.
1. Dell's Lemonade
2. Rhode Island Clam Chowder
3. Coffee Milk
4. NY System Weiners
5. Cold Pizza Strips (Bakery Style)
6. Casertas Pizza
7. clam boils w/chourico, hot dogs, buckwurst, potatoes and onions
8. saugy's
9. clam cakes (My favorite is Aunt Carrie's)
10. chourico and Peppers sandwiches
Chris in Hartford
Apr 14, 2006 04:18PM
Where is the best place to go for NY system hot dogs?
You left off Sciola Bros. Bakery on Atwells Ave....Yum.
Agree with you on Aunt Carries.
I could give you a good list for Chicago but it is out of the New England area.
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I've only tried three, which means I should probably get out more:
Olneyville NY System (18 Harford Avenue, Olneyville section of Providence)
Sam's New York System (1301 Mineral Spring Ave, North Providence)
WienORama (1009 Oaklawn, Cranston)
I've listed them in order. Olneyville is best for flavor, service, atmosphere, and "banter," to say nothing of a great, great neon sign.
Sam's NY is a kinder, gentler place. Bright an airy. To me, the weiners are on par with Olneyville NY Systems'.
I've tried WienORama only once. Any restarant with "ORama" in the name wins points for attitude in my book. They back it up with a fine street-side neon sign, as well. The Weiners had a bit too much mustard for me, but they will fine-tune that on my next visit, I am sure.
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I always liked Nick's New York System
280 Cowesett Ave, West Warwick, RI
(401) 823-5220.
The only place I did not like them was in Olneyville at the famous place. I convinced my wife to try one and I figured I would bring her to the place that made them famous. The meat was obnoxiously flavored (maybe just that day).
PS I would appreciate the list from Chicago. You never know where life will take you.
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Our go-to weiner joint has always been the NY System on Smith St just past the State House. Neighborhood is sketchy during prime weiner eating hours (i.e. late night) but the weiners and atmosphere are top-notch. Last time we were there there was a guy with rivets in his ears. This being Mrs. W.'s first NY System weiner experience, I thought that was a fine added bonus.
Being a Pawtucket boy I don't have much experience with the weiner joints to the south of Providence but I serendipitously found Wein-o-Rama on Oaklawn Ave in Cvaaanston last year and it is a chowhound place for sure.
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Grilled pizza has become synonimous with RI since a; forno popularized it.
RI style calamari
Olga's cup n saucer, especially the pizza
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Has anyone been to the Italian place in RI ( I think cranston) that is in a VFW Hall. Mike's or something like that??? I have read about it many times but don't know if it is worth the drive. If you have been let us know where, what is good or if it is not good. Also is it bYOB????TIA
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Mike's Kitchen in Cranston..that's correct. Most excellent. Last time I was there, you could buy alcohol from the VFW people and bring it back over to the Mike's side. Great fun (don't miss out on the polenta smothered with marinara sauce). Check out the hours first before making the trip.
Link: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overv...
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YES YES YES! Worth the drive! Mike's Kitchen. Food's excellent, mostly old school red sauce Italian but perfectly done.
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Yes...great...but remember, take cash, they dont take credit cards
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Most people have already mentioned the biggies, so I'll add:
- The Creperie off Thayer at 1 AM...
- Haven Brothers at any time later...
- Garris
Providence, RI
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The most obvious omission to me so far is the humble but uniquely RI johnny cake. Although not one of my favorites, stuffed clams "stuffies" are pretty RI or at least southern NE. RI has a unique way of making baked stuffed shrimp, simple cracker stuffing, that is ubiquitous state-wide. And I'm embarrassed to say that one of my favorite "must haves" when I'm back in RI is to stop in at a D'Angelos for what I think are the best steak & cheese grinders anywhere.
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I've been a D'Angelos fan for -- shudder -- 30 years. As soon as I got my driver's license one of my first outings was to a D'Angelos in Seekonk for the only thing I've ever ordered there: A Number 9 Pokket (steak with peppers, mushrooms, onions, and cheese).
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My favorite Rhode Island website:
Link: http://www.quahog.org/
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Dittos. I tried posting a link to Quahog.com a few weeks back but it was removed for reasons never explained.
Quahog has excellent lists of sources for weiners, pizza strips, clam chowder, etc. complete with reviews in many cases.
You can also read my Blizzard of '78 story on there.
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wright's dairy farm- no smithfield pastries/milk
venda ravioli! federal hill
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Perhaps I am not exactly in synch with your post but Mary's restaurant in Misquamicut right opposite the beach is a fine place to refresh at their bar before a look at the menu displaying fine and unique italian choices. We've dined there many times and never failed to find a truely flavorful and different preparation. The worst thing about it is that they close off season and twice we just managed to "sneek" in a last meal the night before season's end. More relaxed perhaps is Captain Jack's on the road to Snug Harbor. A number of really spicy and flavorful treatments for scungili usually catch my eye (and stomach) but the list runs the gamut. Wines are not the strong point but you may be able to find something light. And don't fail to try the RI clear chowder if you haven't already fallen for it.
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We've eaten at Mary's twice and found the clams with pasta to be right on. You pay, but the plate is enormous. ok wine list.
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I'm shocked no one has mentioned the wonderful elixir that is Narragansett Beer.
Also, I've always dealt with RI people saying how good Saugy's are, but when I finally sampled some, they tastes the same as one of Boston's own Kayem Old Timers
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I'll be in R.I. at the end of the month and would like to know where I can buy buckwurst. It is a favorite food from my childhood and I would like to bring some back to Florida with me. Haven't been "home" in almost twenty years so I'm no longer familiar with area stores. I've enjoyed a bit of nostalgia reading through the posts and am really looking forward to eating great seafood...quohogs, clam cakes, chowder, lobster..the list goes on. I plan to eat my way through my eight day visit.
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Love that fried calamari with garlic butter and hot peppers! I'll take it from Iggy's, on a picnic bench, chased with some fried doughboys.
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OK. Here is my list for the best of Rhode Island. I have lived here my entire life and have tried ALOT of wiener joints, diners, and seafood eateries.
Wieners - Sams on Mineral Spring Ave, North Providence
Clam cakes and chowder - Cap'n Jacks in East Matunuck.
Ice Cream - Inside Scoop on Ten Rod Rd., North Kingstown.
Cheeseburgers and fries - Iggy's
Summer time drink- DELS... duh.
Pizza - Tony's Pizza Palace on Kingstown Rd., South Kingstown
Diner - Modern Diner in Pawtucket.
Sandwiches- Jersey Mike's on Mineral Spring, North Providence.
Cheesecake - Felicia's, East Greenwhich.
Smoothies - Crazy Burger on Boon st., Narragansett
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Northern R.I. Family Style Chicken.. Wrights Farm
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What style of pizza is Tony's Pizza Palace?
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Someone needs to throw in a mention of the steak sandwiches at Chelo's....so I'll do it.
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What about Kay's? I don't eat steak sandwiches myself (the thought of lurking fat or gristle freaks me out) but most people in northern RI claim these are the best.
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I used to work in WoonsocKET, and I loved, loved Kay's. This was in the early 90s.
I think Wright's Farm is overrated. Kind of gross. I once had to have one of those Charlie Babbitt/Rain Man outbursts (think K-Mart) at my in-laws, about Wright's Farm not being All That.
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I agree that Crazy Burger has the best smoothies by far
Pizza - Junction Pizzeria in NK
Burgers and fries - The Galley in Narragansett
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I love Kay's too.. I was just naming one of many place's up in northern R.I. where they have family style chicken.. Village Haven, Bocce club, Christofers... on and on... lol
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Worked in Woony.....it wouldn't happen to have been at a certain behometh of a drugstore chain, would it?
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The best Weiners are at Rod's Grill on Washington Street, Warren, RI. As far as who makes the best Chourico and Peppers Sandwiches...That would be...Me. I make the best; the 'old world' style (with chourico and onions slowly cooked in olive oil, green peppers and sauce. It is the most delicious sandwich you have ever, or will ever have.
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Stanley Burgers!
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