Location: Exeter
Top Restaurants in Exeter
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Rhode Island, United States Food Guide: 10 Seafood food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Exeter
Find out what Seafood restaurants to try in Exeter. Exeter is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. Exeter extends east from the Connecticut border to the town of North Kingstown. It is bordered to the north by West Greenwich and East Greenwich, and to the south by Hopkinton, Richmond, and South Kingstown. Exeter's postal code is 02822, although small parts of the town have the mailing address West Kingston (02892) or Saunderstown (02874). The population was 6,425 at the 2010 census.
Things to do in Exeter
10. Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 139 reviews
Reviewed By Darrell C
Literally, I just returned from having a late lunch. I drive over 90 minutes from north Central Massachusetts just to eat here. That should be enough to tell you its really really good.I'll break my review down into a couple of categories.Atmosphere: Fantastic quaint little restaurant perfectly located in historic East Greenwich. Small place and you may have to wait, but dont let the deter you. You WANT to wait! Food:Raw bar was great, entrees even better. Tuna steak and Frutti di Mare. Look, there are plenty of seafood restaurants in RI, but none are better than Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar. Take a drive from wherever you are an eat here. It's well worth the trip. Dont want to wait to be seated? Try going for a late lunch / early dinner say around 3:30 and you should get a seat pretty quickly!
9. Trio
Overall Ratings
4 based on 443 reviews
Beach, Friends, & Coastal Classics; this is the essence of who we are. Located in the sandy shoreline community of Narragansett, Trio is where relaxed, sociable gatherings effortlessly come together. Our cuisine is inspired by local and regional flavors c
Reviewed By michelemG1370WX
My husband and I came here twice while we were staying at Aqua Blue. The first night we just went to the bar which was really nice. Bartender was very personable. I had the peach sangria. I was excited to be sweet but it wasnât. It was very strong. We decided to make a reservation for the next night.y husband got the salmon and I got the steak. The food was good but nothing to write home about. We got dessert but I can tell it was not made in house. The service was very slow. I would recommend for drinks and food if youâre looking for convenience. Thank you for joining us Michele. We are glad that you enjoyed your time here and we appreciate you coming back for dinner. I do wish our food had made a better impression on you - we have built our reputation on serving exceptional food. We hope if you are ever back in Narragansett we can deliver a more memorable meal to your both. Gratefully, Joe Parker General Manager
8. The Nordic
Overall Ratings
4 based on 345 reviews
Unlimited high end buffet featuring lobster, Alaskan King crab, prime rib, filet mignon, scallops, shrimp, oysters, clams, fresh fruits, seafood and many other salads, gourmet dessert bar including chocolate covered strawberries and cherries, carrot cake,
Reviewed By BeantownFlyer
I live in the Boston area and visiting The Nordic has been on my bucket list for some time, but unless you are at the beach in Narragansett or Misquamicut, RI itâs one of those âyou canât get there from here kind of places.â We finally made the 45 minute each way drive from Foxwoods on a recent trip and while I was happy to be able to check this off my bucket list, and I thought it was very good (with exceptional employees), I wonât be rushing back. I will go into full detail below, but overall this is a buffet focused on seafood and dessert with a fairly wide variety. There is no attempt to make things look fancy or pretty - this is not an upscale hotel brunch buffet set up; rather the focus is on some higher cost items such as the lobster and crab legs and everything is just piled into chafing dishes and piled high on plates. Everyone has a comment about the cost which is currently $103 including tax and tip. Interestingly they do not break out what is going to tax and tip so itâs not clear what the employees are getting, but it you figure the cost is $82 + 7% tax + 18% tip on pre-tax amount the math about works out. Do you get $82 in food value? My reaction is that yes, I did, but looking around I would say only about 20% of the guests were. I met a regular in the bathroom and he said his strategy is to focus on the lobster and crab legs. I mentioned I saw people going for the large baked potatoes and the fresh bread and he said âwe call them rookies!â Quite simply if you fill up on lower priced items they will be making a lot of money on you. Here is the full detail:Lobsters: the lobsters were small chicken lobsters - about 1 pound, with soft shells - the tails had a decent amount of meat while the claws were quite small. If you eat lobster regularly the lobsters will be a disappointment - while you can have as many as you want, they suffer from not going immediately from pot to plate. The buffet lobsters just canât compare to a steaming hot, freshly cooked lobster. Nonetheless I had 2, and enjoyed them, but they were certainly no better than the twin lobster plate you can get anywhere. King crab legs: the crab legs on the other hand were the high point. Several reviewers noted that while the restaurant furnishes nutcrackers, they do not provide cocktail forks. We brought our own cocktail forks and I urge you to do the same - it will make all the difference and I ended up having 5 large legs and getting to enjoy the meat easily. If you look at what these legs cost at retail (let alone in a restaurant) this made my meal a great value. Oysters and shrimp: I had a 1/2 dozen of their oysters from nearby Watch Hill. They were large and plump but had little flavor and while I love oysters I didnât get a second serving. They were fine doused in cocktail sauce and horseradish and comparable to the typical $1 oyster special at a bar. They also had peel your own shrimp which were of a larger size. I had a few but it wasnât worth the effort. Rookie items: I stayed away from the corn on the cob, bread, soup, baked potatoes and other low cost items designed to fill you up. I didnât want my friend from the bathroom to label me a rookie. Steaks: there is a separate room labeled the âgrill roomâ. The steak is sort of cooked to order. I say sort of because the person in front of me asked for well done and the server took a partially cooked steak out of a chafing dish and threw it back on the grill. I asked for a filet medium and it came right from the chafing dish. This may be more about timing - we were there at a quieter time and when itâs very busy I suspect steaks are coming right off the grill. In any event the cuts were not steakhouse quality and this was certainly not prime beef. My filet was edible but I have had better steaks on first class airplane flights. I enjoyed my small filet but did not go back for more. The rib eyes I saw going on the grill similarly looked liked lower cost cuts (and I think - but am not positive - started frozen). If you frequent quality steakhouses or buy your meat at Costco or a high quality butcher this is going to be a disappointment. The grill room also had a bunch of fried food such as fried shrimp, fish, chicken fingers and lobster fritters. I decided those were quasi rookie items and I didnât try any of them but my wife enjoyed the lobster fritter after she picked it apart. Other items: in terms of other food, after I finished the above I tasted small samples of many other items - being sure to save room for dessert which looked amazing. Everything was good (not great) including scallops wrapped in bacon, sautéed shrimp, lobster salad, stuffed mushrooms, stuffed shrimp, sautéed fish etc. There is lots of variety here but in my view if you donât eat the lobster and crab and instead just go crazy on everything else it will still be hard to get full value for your money. Dessert: As for dessert - it was great. There are two stations, one with ice cream and an amazing selection of accompaniments (create your own banana split or brownie sundae or just load it up with toppings galore). Root beer floats and creamsicles are also available. The second station has a great selection of pastries some of which you help yourself to and others are served. The servers happily gave me small tastes of several cakes and I thought everything was great. Rules: at this point I was happily full but not painfully stuffed and decided that was a good place to end. It took us about 90 minutes and this was at a quiet time with no lines at any of the food stations, so I can easily see folks spending much more time. The restaurant says there is a two hour limit, although it did not appear that there was any system designed to track or enforce this (there was a slip generated when we were seated but I donât think anyone was watching the times and our waiter didnât seem like he was going to rush us along). So my suspicion is that the two hour rule is in place to be used if someone is being abusive and they are not regularly warning/telling people that their time is up. In fact there was a nice lack of any ârulesâ at The Nordic. If I ran the place I wouldnât be able to help myself and would have signs up âplease help us keep our prices down and only take what you can eat!â There was nothing of the sort at The Nordic. I asked if it was ok if I took two plates at the same time and they looked at me like I was crazy and said âof course!â âCan I have some more crab legsâ I said to the server that had put two on my plate âof courseâ was the reply. The woman at the next table asked her server how to eat the lobster legs and he said âI can show you but thereâs not that much meat so why donât you just get another lobster.â So itâs all about you really having as much as you want. The buffet was consistently stocked and there was no attempt to do anything but assure you really had everything that you wanted. Servers and staff: itâs a great team. Your waiter will get your set up with bibs and silverware and half a package of napkins. He brings your drinks (soft drinks and coffee and tea are included) and consistently clears your plates and dumps the bowl they leave for your lobster shells and other discards. We never returned to the table with our old plates still sitting there (which is one of my buffet pet peeves). In fact everyone that we interacted with had a great attitude and was friendly and service oriented. Wait: we arrived a little before the official 5pm restaurant opening time and they had already begun to seat people. We had a short wait to be seated- they were trying to stagger things a little. Friday nights are typically quieter - check the website for specifics for your dates. For our visit the restaurant never seemed more than 1/2 full. It made for a very calm evening with no one rushing around. However we saw all the seating set up for people outside who are waiting and were glad we didnât experience that. Nonetheless the grounds are beautiful and you can get a cocktail if you need to wait (donât get a beer - rookie mistake since it will fill you up!). Seating: we were offered our choice of where to sit since the restaurant was not full - the grill room, the main dining room where the buffet is or the room off the bar/seating line which has windows. The seater said he would pick a nice seat near the windows and away from the buffet for a nicer meal and we were glad we did that. It was a short stroll to the food but we didnât have people passing our table or crowded around. The grill room seemed like a really undesirable place to sit - you have smoke from the grill and lots of people close to your table as they wait for their food. I would insist not to sit there. Summary: if you figure the pre-tax and tip price is $82 and divide that as $20 for appetizers, $15 for dessert, $5 for soda and coffee or tea and $42 for entrees you will see that without lobster and crab legs you will be hard pressed to get a deal for your money. If you focus on the higher priced items (and of course those are items that you enjoy - donât eat them just because they are expensive!) the cost is a great value. Overall food is good (not great) and suffers from the quantity it is produced in and sitting on a buffet (except the dessert which is great and not impacted). The location/property is stunning and the staff exceptional. Definitely worth a visit if you know what to expect and have a strategy.
7. Coast Guard House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1061 reviews
Spectacular waterfront dining overlooking Narragansett Bay. Offering an array of creative cuisine; supporting all aspects of sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. We use local farms when possible and source produce for quality and sustainability. Our s
Reviewed By flehrer
I went with 5 friends for a 6 pm reservation.We waited about 5 or 10 minutes for our table to be ready. It was a round corner table with a beautiful view of the ocean.Our waitress was very young and cared more about standing near the cute guy at a high top table than doing more than a cursory check with us.I would call her our drive by waitress.This is a pricey restaurant.Entrees do not come with anything- so sides are extra.Everyone ordered something different including one friend who is gluten free.Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal.Portions were adequate - but not abundant.The house dressing for the salads is especially good as was the bread in the bread basket.I am rating it a 5 because the ( expensive) dinner deserves that.flehrer Thank you for joining us for dinner. We are sorry that your server did not exemplify the service we expect from our team. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your dinner and hope you will join us again.
6. Mariner Grille
Overall Ratings
4 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By Barry N
I like the area of Mariner Sq. as there are a few nice places to choose from here. This restaurant has one of the largest menu selections in the area and so something for everyone. I really like the steaks and they are always done to perfection. Now the prices are a bit higher than some of the others in the area however with the great quality it is well worth the extra dollar or two. The service was a bit on the slow side but we were not in a rush and the waitstaff itself was very nice and polite. I think the kitchen may have been backed up a bit.not enough to make it a problem. My wife had a fish dish (she always does) and she said it was perfect. Everything was very fresh,came out hot, and was plated to perfection. We go here at least once every summer and always are well treated and like it very much. A good place to stop.
5. Duffy's Tavern
Overall Ratings
3 based on 164 reviews
Reviewed By magicmagic1
Went for dinner whilst in area with extended family. Friendly welcome attentive service, food was good and well priced. No problem local eating establishment.
4. TwoTen Oyster Bar & Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 352 reviews
At TwoTen Oyster Bar & Grill, we serve quality you can taste in the fresh, hand-shucked locally farmed oysters. Whether served ice cold on the half shell, or chargrilled and sizzling in garlic butter, TwoTen oysters are some of the best you'll ever have.
Reviewed By Frank H
South County is fortunate to have a number of good seafood joints. This is good for the customers, good for the customers, and good for the community. When you think "Oyster Bar,' your first thought is the Matunuck Oyster Bar, then maybe George's. The 210 is in that league, but maybe suffers a little bit to the competition. Matunuck is probably number one, because of its close connection with the oyster farms operated by the owner. The Ninigrets--OMG. They're tiny but the taste is sinful. George's has the history and atmosphere, and other than parking issues during the summer, is fine. The 210 has changed hands several times, but things now seem to have pretty much settled down. It is right in back of a marina, so you can see all the boats that the owners take out maybe once a month. The sanitary standards gave me confidence to order raw stuff, and I've never had a backlash. If you're in the area, worth a sidetrip. Hi Frank,Thank you for taking the time to write a review regarding your experiences at TwoTen. We look forward to continuing to provide you with quality food and service that meets your expectations. Thank you also for your continued support and patronage.
3. Wickford on the Water
Overall Ratings
4 based on 27 reviews
Wickford On The Water is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Wickford on the Water is known for its creative specials, quality ingredients, and beautiful views.
Reviewed By bob2bkk
This restaurant is actually located in the town of Wickford, R. I. which is right next to North Kingstown, so not to get confused with the above description. As you enter the quaint town of Wickford, it is on your left. Parking is right after it. There is a deck for outside eating and it is right on the water. A great dining experience. Inside there is a large bar and plenty of seating. We had to have the clam cakes and clam chowder as it is not available where we live, however we are knowledgeable about it having lived in RI years ago. The Rhode Island version of clam chowder, that is clear broth, rather than cream or tomato was very good. The clam cakes were plump and tasty, but too salty. There is a large menu of seafood and other items and a full bar and good selection of all kinds of beverages. There is a ramp up to the door so it is wheelchair accessible. The service was good, prompt and efficient. The restaurant was very clean and orderly. Prices were ok considereing the area and atmosphere. Try for outside seating if good weather.
2. Tavern by the Sea
Overall Ratings
3 based on 212 reviews
Reviewed By michelewave04
First of all, the view is so pleasant as you can see the river and or the harbor as well as the many village shops if you are seated outside. My friends and I enjoyed just sitting there and unwinding after a morning of visiting the many little shops close by. The server was attentive and pleasant. There are lots of choices on the menu. We all ordered burgers and fries. They were well prepared and delicious. This is my favorite restaurant to visit whenever I am in Wickford and my friends liked it too as they were visiting and had never been there before!
Most Popular Steakhouse food in Exeter, Rhode Island, United States
1. Mariner Grille
Overall Ratings
4 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By Barry N
I like the area of Mariner Sq. as there are a few nice places to choose from here. This restaurant has one of the largest menu selections in the area and so something for everyone. I really like the steaks and they are always done to perfection. Now the prices are a bit higher than some of the others in the area however with the great quality it is well worth the extra dollar or two. The service was a bit on the slow side but we were not in a rush and the waitstaff itself was very nice and polite. I think the kitchen may have been backed up a bit.not enough to make it a problem. My wife had a fish dish (she always does) and she said it was perfect. Everything was very fresh,came out hot, and was plated to perfection. We go here at least once every summer and always are well treated and like it very much. A good place to stop.
Where to eat Bar food in Exeter: The Best Restaurants and Bars
