Brian Nagele
Are you looking to vacation in Providence, Rhode Island this summer? Or do you live close to this city and want to roam around or visit a museum? If so, you’ll find there’s plenty to do in Providence, otherwise known as The Renaissance City.
The Roger Williams Park Zoo is one of the best places to visit in Providence and you can also check out a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center.
You can also visit the John Brown House Museum as well as the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.
Once you’ve spent a day visiting all the attractions in Providence, you’re likely to get hungry and look for a place to eat.
Here, I will detail the top seafood restaurants in Providence where you can enjoy a nice salmon filet, a shrimp dish, or even a lobster dinner.
Best Seafood Restaurants in Providence
- Hemenway’s Restaurant
- Providence Oyster Bar
- Matunuck Oyster Bar
- Bluefin Grille
- Waterman Grille
- Oberlin
- Stadium Fish & Chip
- Mill’s Tavern
- Ten Prime Steak & Sushi
- The Mooring
- Midtown Oyster Bar
- Shaking Crab
- Dune Brothers Seafood
- The Capital Grille
- Capri Seafood
Using this list, you can enjoy a meal at a casual restaurant or an upscale fine-dining eatery. Check out my list of the best seafood restaurants in Providence!
Hemenway’s Restaurant
121 S Main St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-351-8570
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The seafood at Hemenway’s Restaurant includes a raw bar, lobsters, yellowfin tuna, salmon, and grilled swordfish. This restaurant sits in an urban neighborhood near a park and various museums.
This is an upscale eatery where I enjoyed a real fine dining experience. Hemenway’s Restaurant has also received the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2012. I loved the taste of their wine.
I ordered tuna tartare as an appetizer and the pan-roasted salmon for my main course. The perfect flavors of this seafood exploded in my mouth. I really loved finishing off my meal with some sweet and tasty key lime pie.
Providence Oyster Bar
283 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-272-8866
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The Providence Oyster Bar sits in a perfect neighborhood for foodies, as many restaurants are located in this region.
This place is known for its raw bar of oysters and clams but also provides plenty of other seafood dishes.
The food here is fresh and patrons rave about their oysters and fish. When I visited this casual and laidback restaurant, I tried the baked stuffed shrimp dish and split the clams casino starter with my friends.
The clams casino course had bacon and crumb stuffing and tasted exquisite. The chefs stuffed the shrimp dish with Ritz crackers and crab and served it with delicious garlic mashed potatoes.
Matunuck Oyster Bar
629 Succotash Rd, Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-783-4202
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The Matanuck Oyster Bar is a wonderful restaurant located right on the marina with gorgeous oceanside views right outside its windows.
The oysters served at this restaurant are extremely fresh, as they come from a commercial dock on Potter Pond. This pond is literally minutes away from the restaurant.
The owner Perry Raso opened Matanuck Oyster Bar in 2009 and was originally an oyster farmer.
When I came to this restaurant, I ordered mini tuna tartare tacos as an appetizer and the jambalaya dish as my main course.
The jambalaya included tasty fried oysters, huge shrimp, spicy sausage, and bits of chicken with a Cajun tomato sauce. I really recommend this place for its quality food.
Bluefin Grille
1 Orms St, Providence, RI 02904
Phone: 401-272-2400
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You can find the Bluefin Grille in an urban and residential neighborhood. The patrons rave about the seafood here, especially the scallops and clam chowder. When I came here for dinner, I found the staff to be very friendly and accommodating.
I ordered the delicious shrimp cocktail as an appetizer and then the flavorful seafood scampi for my main meal.
The seafood scampi came with lobster, squid, shrimp, and crab in a plate of linguini, cherry tomatoes, basil, and garlic butter.
Since I was quite hungry that night, I really enjoyed the large portions as well. I recommend anyone visiting Providence to check out this restaurant.
Waterman Grille
4 Richmond Square, Providence, RI 02906
Phone: 401-521-9229
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The Waterman Grille sits in front of the Seekonk River with beautiful views of the water showing right outside.
You can also enjoy a stroll through the parks nearby. This restaurant is very upscale and provides a great fine dining experience.
The white tablecloth service was absolutely perfect when I visited. I picked the waterman salad as an appetizer and the linguini and clams as my main meal. I loved the crunchy sunflower seeds in my salad along with the tart lemon vinaigrette.
The perfectly cooked linguini and clams had a great garlicky sauce that I couldn’t get enough of.
Oberlin
186 Union St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-588-8755
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Oberlin is an exquisite restaurant located in an urban area with the Providence Performing Arts Center right down the street. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this restaurant has a mask policy and requires proof of vaccination.
Oberlin has had good reviews from publications such as Bon Appetit, EATER, Vogue, and the Providence Journal.
When I came to this restaurant, I ordered their rosé wine, a starter of a rock crab and pea green salad, and a main course of the Lumache pasta.
The rock crab from my salad just melted in my mouth. It was absolutely delicious! The pasta was tasty as well. Best of all, I loved my sweet dessert of a slice of cheesecake with fresh fruit.
Stadium Fish & Chip
1079 Park Ave, Cranston, RI 02910
Phone: 401-944-0971
The Stadium Fish & Chip restaurant is located in a suburban area with a football stadium right nearby. This casual restaurant is very laidback and serves various fried seafood options, such as fish cakes and fish and chips.
Stadium Fish & Chip offers various specials throughout each week, including fish and clam combos, clam strips with chips, and shrimp with chips.
When I visited this restaurant to grab some lunch, I tried their fish sandwich with a pile of chips and a pickle on the side. For my beverage, I chose their iced tea.
The food was tasty and the staff was friendly, so I had no complaints.
Mill’s Tavern
101 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-272-3331
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Mill’s Tavern sits in an artistic and urban neighborhood on the corner of Thomas Street and N. Main Street.
This restaurant offers a white tablecloth service. I absolutely loved the fine dining experience in this upscale eatery.
The food is exquisite and the wine list includes plenty of variety. Here, Chef Edward Bolus cooks using quality seasonal ingredients, fruits and vegetables from local farms, and fresh seafood.
When I came to this tavern, I chose chilled poached shrimp for my starter and the Cajun North Atlantic Swordfish as my main course. The swordfish came with a delicious ratatouille.
Ten Prime Steak & Sushi
55 Pine St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-453-2333
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You can find the Ten Prime Steak & Sushi restaurant a few blocks away from the Providence River and the Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial statue.
This is a lively and fun restaurant found downtown by the arts and culture of Providence. Here, you can get tasty and unique sushi as well as mouthwatering steak dinners. The food is always fresh and seasonal.
When I came to this restaurant, I ordered the spicy ahi tuna sushi roll to split with my significant other and the filet mignon for my main course.
The sushi tasted amazing and the flavors really popped once the sushi hit my tastebuds. The filet mignon was also mouthwatering and delicious.
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
1 Sayers Wharf, Newport, RI 02840
Phone: 401-846-2260
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The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar sits right by Newport Harbor and you can see the gorgeous water views outside its windows.
You won’t regret visiting this beautiful restaurant. This trendy restaurant has a roaring fireplace and wooden tables and chairs with boats seen through its windows. It has a sailboat displayed on a mantle to give the restaurant a sea-based theme.
When I came here, I picked the lobster claw from the raw bar as a starter and the Georges Bank Cod for my main meal.
I also ordered whipped garlic potatoes on the side. This was a perfect meal to round out my stay in the Providence area.
Midtown Oyster Bar
345 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
Phone: 401-619-4100
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The Midtown Oyster Bar sits right by a beautiful bay and you can stroll to the bay in only a few minutes.
You’ll love the water views after enjoying a delicious dinner from the Midtown Oyster Bar. This is an upscale restaurant providing some fine dining cuisine for couples, groups of friends, and families.
When I visited the Midtown Oyster Bar for dinner one weekend, I ordered the shrimp and sausage gumbo to start my meal.
Then, I picked the grilled Norwegian salmon as my main course with a glass of prosecco. Everything tasted exquisite.
Shaking Crab
284 Thayer St, Providence, RI 02912
Phone: 401-274-0620
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You’ll see that the Shaking Crab restaurant is a perfect place to go after you’ve worked up an appetite.
This eatery is located right by a sports field, a gymnasium, and an athletic center. After getting a good workout, grab some seafood from the Shaking Crab restaurant.
This is a casual and laidback restaurant where you can order all types of fried seafood platters.
When I visited this eatery, I chose the fried lobster tail basket to split with my friends as a starter and a snow crab and shrimp combo as my main course.
It was a perfectly simple lunch and I enjoyed every bite.
Dune Brothers Seafood
239 Dyer St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-480-1269
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The Dune Brothers Seafood restaurant sits right by the Providence River. You can take a walk or a bike ride by the river and then grab some dinner at this restaurant. This is a very casual restaurant that will make you feel like you’re out on a picnic.
In fact, you’ll find picnic benches right outside the seafood shack. I definitely enjoyed their fried food.
When I looked over the menu, I chose the pollock fish and chips with a side of pickles. The order came with tartar and lemon. It was the perfect lunch after a day by the river.
The Capital Grille
10 Memorial Blvd Ste 101, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-521-5600
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The Capital Grille is located in a fun and lively neighborhood featuring the Waterplace Park, which hosts festivals.
The restaurant serves excellent aged steaks and fresh seafood while providing patio seating during the warmer seasons. This is a trendy and upscale restaurant with white tablecloth service.
I loved the fine dining provided at The Capital Grille. When I came here, I ordered the lobster and crab cakes for my starter and the dry-aged New York strip steak for my main course.
I chose a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to drink with my steak and a slice of cheesecake for dessert. It was an absolutely perfect meal.
Capri Seafood
58 De Pasquale Ave, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-996-2223
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The Capri Seafood place is located in the heart of the restaurant district. Foodies adore this neighborhood since they can choose any meal they’re craving.
When you’re hanging out in this neighborhood craving fish, lobster, or shrimp, check out the Capri Seafood restaurant.
This is a laidback restaurant that serves delicious cuisine. Patrons rave about the crab boil and tasty seafood.
At this restaurant, I picked the Cajun fried shrimp as a starter along with half a pound of the snow crab leg with a side of fries.
Final Thoughts
After reading this list, you should have a great idea about the best seafood restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island.
If you’re looking for more than just seafood during your time in Providence, check out this list of other great places to eat.
Is there a different seafood place in Providence you love that I never mentioned? Leave me a comment below and I’ll be sure to check it out!
