Providence RI is known for its outstanding seafood restaurants – and we’ve identified seven of the best! Whether you’re looking to indulge in savory lobster rolls or satisfy your craving with an array of fresh fish dishes, these eateries are sure to deliver a top-tier dining experience.
Top 12 Places to Eat Seafood in Providence RI

Hemenway’s Restaurant
- Address: 121 S Main St, Providence, RI 02903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (1678)
- Phone: +1 401-351-8570
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PMSunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
The restaurant was upscale yet casual. We went there for lunch. The server was very tentative and was quick with the service. The oysters were fresh. The clams were great. The tuna tartar was a bit unique but still good. The lobster roll is probably one of the best I’ve ever had. The buttered roll was perfectly toasted and crisp at the bottom. The fries were perfectly done (and I don’t praise fries easily), crispy on the outside yet soft and steamy on the inside. The reason they lost a star is from the shrimp cocktail. It’s clearly been dead for at least two days and has just been in the fridge for a bit.By Edwin Yu (2 months ago)Pretty good overall. I thought the service was terrific overall; the food was pretty good, but not great given the price point. The oysters were incredibly fresh, they were amazing. The New England and Rhode Island clam chowder were both good, but on the bland side. I tried the steamed lobster and the lobster prepared fisherman’s style, the lobster was definitely fresh, not chewy at all, but was also a little bland. This place was packed and maybe the place to go in downtown Providence. I recommend that you check it out.By Oh Doyle (11 months ago)All in all a nice restaurant with beautiful views and excellent wait staff but the food could use some improvement.
Had a very nice atmosphere and in an excellent setting especially sitting outdoors with beautiful views. The food was good but not great especially for the price point. The New England clam chowder was a bit bland but still good, the calamari unfortunately was primarily peppers so it was difficult to actually find the calamari and we ended up with many peppers left. The mac and cheese was not as flavorful as expected nor was the whole fish which also lacked flavor. The lobster was nicely done though.
By Robert Mahar (2 months ago)High quality dining located near Brown University campus.We picked three course menu. Caesar salad, NY strip, King Mushroom, and Whole Baked Bass. Bass has a lot of bones but delicious. The pairing wine was PG Margherita.
Desserts were chocolate brownie and lemon cheesecake.
Sara Beth was very attentive and pleasant.
By enc travel (5 months ago)Great place. The hostesses were friendly and very helpful. We did not have reservations but they directed us at the bar. The cocktails that we ordered were made to perfection and the food did not disappoint at all.Desserts were a pleasant surprise as well.
I would definitely go visit this place again. Delicious food, great staff and atmosphere. They earned my 5 stars very easy!By Agneta Mico (a year ago)
The Capital Grille
- Address: 10 Memorial Blvd Ste 101, Providence, RI 02903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (1339)
- Phone: +1 401-521-5600
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 5:00 – 11:00 PMSunday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
In the center of Downtown Providence , stands a beautiful glass structure and with in , one of the best restaurants in Rhode Island . The Capital Grille is seconds off the highway , and offers valet parking so don’t stress about looking for parking. The exterior is stunning , and the interior is just as classy to match. The service is 5 star here , from the waiters all the way to the bar. You won’t find a cheap menu here , the food quality is on another level , so prepare for that expense prior . But the quality of food, service you receive, and the overall dining experience is far superior to most restaurants , so the cost is worth it. If you have never been here , this is a bucket list kind of restaurant, you need to come here at least once . Everything you sink your teeth into , just makes you close your eyes and say “ wow” to yourself . They are known for their steaks entrees , so I highly recommend trying one of those . You can’t go wrong with any selection though. Dinner to desert , just phenomenal. You could leave broke , but you have never eaten better lol. Oh and try the cheesecake , your welcome. 😉By Kyle Phillips (4 months ago)Amazing restaurant with a very good quality on food and service. We had the best experience at dinner time in a pleasant environment. Our table ordered meat and sea food. The seared tenderloin with butter poached lobster tail was delicious , water mouthering and cooked perfectly. We also ordered Lobster Mac N’ cheese and it was amazing. The price is really worth so when in Providence we would definitely go back to Capital Grille.By Ludovina Antonio (5 months ago)Simply amazing! while on a work trip a group of us ate here and we all had the best experience. Our waiter has worked there for 16 years and it showed. He recommended some wonderful dishes that everyone enjoyed. I had the filet mignon with Maine lobster and I was in heaven after I finished my meal. I would eat here again when in Providence again.By Scott Peterson (8 months ago)Very nice place the food was great. The experience was amazing and I was celebrating my birthday. We had calamari that was a very good appetizer option. I had the soup crab chowder New England and a wedge salad. Forgot to take the pictures. I had the veal with truffle fries which was amazing my friend had the sea bass with veggies. For my birthday I had the espresso dessert and cream brûlée cheese cake. Also I had a very good wine that is in the picture. Our waiter Aaron was amazing make sure you request him! Also, I love the bread in the beginning!By Barbara Oliveira (6 months ago)TLDR; not worth it
I typically go to Mastro’s back home but heard good things about CG from a couple of friends. It was a close walk from my hotel, so I ventured down. Kinda wish I made the nearly hour drive to Ocean Club or whatever in Boston.
While the service was good and there was a decent crowd, the food left a lot to be desired. I don’t even have a remotely good thing to say about the shrimp cocktail. The taste was horrible and the accoutrement didn’t fix it. Further, the horseradish – I assume that’s what it was because it had no kick and looked horseradishy – was anemic. Even slathering cocktail sauce on the shrimp didn’t make it palatable, ignoring the fact that I hate throwing cocktail sauce on seafood.
The bread came and…meh. One piece of it was good. It seemed like one was some weird kind of raisin bread, which I think I stopped eating at 4.
The steak (bone-in filet) was acceptable, but not great, and certainly not worth the cost. Again, coming from someone who dines at Mastro’s quite a bit, I expect a hot plate and a hot steak. It was warm-ish, the plate was not.
That said, I’ve included a picture of the one good thing, which is pretty impossible to screw up because it’s in a bottle. And much to her credit, the waitress brought another as the first dwindled down – the two only redeeming elements of this visit.
By Nathan Smith (2 months ago)
Providence Oyster Bar
- Address: 283 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI 02903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (1105)
- Phone: +1 401-272-8866
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 3:00 – 10:00 PMTuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PMWednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PMThursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PMFriday: 12:00 – 11:00 PMSaturday: 12:00 – 11:00 PMSunday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
My husband and I are visiting RI for the first time, so everything was very new to us. We decided to try Providence Oyster Bar because it was near our hotel and the reviews looked great. We made a reservation for 20:00 and upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and seated right away. We went on a Monday evening yet the restaurant was beautifully busy and bustling. As a former hospitality staff member, I love seeing restaurants hustle with such swiftness and finesse. The ambience was great, and the food was better. The best part of our experience, was our server, Mackenzie. She gently guided us through the menu and sufficiently answered all my questions (because I’ve never had raw oysters before!). She even went above and beyond and gave me her recommendations for other Rhode Island touristy stuff. We left more than satisfied. Restaurants like this are hard to come by. I felt like I haven’t had a dining experience like this in a while. From the delicious food to the excellent service, I can definitely say I left in a euphoric state.By Emma (5 months ago)Had the best experience here today for lunch. First time here my dining companion is a regular here. We had the 2 for 25 special mine was salmon and clam chowder. The drinks were top notch and martinis were amazing. Shout out to the bartender Zach he was phenomenal. Service and food was great. I’m sure dinner is different but lunch here was just excellent. Will most definitely be back.By William Brant (3 months ago)I always wanted to come to PVD Oyster Bar but I never had the chance until recently. Really wished I came earlier on because the food is absolutely delicious and you’ll definitely be leaving full. The lobster was cooked perfectly and was paired well with some great sides. As an appetizer, we shared some oysters which were fresh. Try to make a reservation before because this place fills up quick. Looking forward to my next visit!By Andrew Dabydeen (10 months ago)This is a go to spot for fresh oyster with a decent selection and changing. We had late dinner service was slow from the kitchen due to time but our waitress was amazing although she had way too many tables. The cioppino had good taste but fish was overcooked. The lobster roll hot and buttered for an add on of $5 was good but was sitting little too long to come out. But all in all food was ok..!!By newton ng (7 months ago)The place was extremely busy the day before Thanksgiving. But the staff was very nice and on top of things. The food was excellent.
Had a second visit. Very happy again.
Lobster bisque and then shrimp and watermelon salad.By Anita Maguire (a month ago)
Waterman Grille
- Address: 4 Richmond Square, Providence, RI 02906, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1056)
- Phone: +1 401-521-9229
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 4:00 – 9:00 PMTuesday: 4:00 – 9:00 PMWednesday: 4:00 – 9:00 PMThursday: 4:00 – 9:00 PMFriday: 4:00 – 9:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 9:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 3:00 – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
Beautiful place to host a party! I had my baby shower here and it was beautiful. They had brunch and dinners options and we choose the brunch buffet, and the food and drinks were great. Everyone loved the options, and the view of the water from the windows. There was a lot of natural light in the room which made it a wonderful experience during winter. Staff was professional, and Miranda the event planner was a pleasure to work with. She went above and beyond to work out the details. Highly recommend!By Safia Jamil (in the last week)Went out for dinner tonight with my husband. The food was fantastic! We had the octopus, the pita plate, the roasted cauliflower, and the carrot cake. Everything was top notch. The place was very busy for an early evening on a Monday night. Luckily we had reservations. Our server looked a bit overwhelmed but that seemed understandable. She had a lot of work cut out for herself. Would love to go back. It’s definitely a place for good food and people watching.By Grace Fitzgerald (8 months ago)Nice dinner experience here. The location is great, and we greatly enjoyed sitting out on the patio overlooking the river.
The service was very friendly, in a genuine way, which really stood out.
The food overall was good, though with a few fairly mediocre dishes across our company. Highlights were the spare rib appetizer and the steak, but the duck breast was a bit of a let down.
Overall a fun experience with value for money.
By Daniël (7 months ago)Had a wonderful time dining with friends. Service was friendly and efficient and the food was excellent . We all chose something different from the menu and every entree was excellent. Pricing is higher than average, but the quality and service make up for it. Ample off-street parking.By Michael Fischer (2 months ago)Waterman Grille is a high quality restaurant with a great location along the water. The food is top notch and is a great intimate dinner spot. The menu has a good variety to choose from.By JMT Photography & Media (9 months ago)
nicks on broadway
- Address: 500 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (855)
- Phone: +1 401-421-0286
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: ClosedTuesday: ClosedWednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Reviews:
This is a must try in Providence, RI in my opinion! The food was phenomenal and the waiter was one of the most service minded waiters I’ve had in a very, very long time! Bobby was the waiters name, make sure you ask for him!
Below are pictures of the RI Mushroom, Cherry Tomato and Pesto Pasta with a half dozen roasted oysters.
I highly recommend whether you are local or not!
By Astrolord GN-X (4 months ago)Nicks had a lively brunch with fantastic food. Counter seats were fascinating, the kitchen crew was very talented. Best espresso martini I have tried. Veggie and egg dish was very fresh, a little heavy on the oil but still super tasty.By Audrey Jane (7 months ago)Friendly staff, great food (especially the strawberry pancakes), and they were able to accommodate us quickly even on a holiday! The only complaint I have is that there was lipstick on my coffee mug. Overall good experience other than thatBy Lamiah Munns (7 months ago)Dined on a Thursday afternoon around 12:15 PM and sat on the back patio. I loved that the patio was enclosed but still very much felt like you were outdoors. Our table ordered a bottle of sparkling rose, it was perfect.I ordered the chicken bacon sandwich with a side of the chowder for an extra $3.00. 9/10 I would order this again for lunch.
My friends ordered the bolognese, meatballs and polenta, veggies and polenta with the RI sausage. The table also ordered a side of bread.
One person in our party had a gluten allergy and they were very accommodating regarding the allergy. She ate the veggies and polenta with the RI sausage.
By Michaela Ruffino (7 months ago)A local favorite for date night. Classy but not stuffy. Impeccable food. Modest yet interesting cuisine. Excellent service. Very reasonably priced and I rarely say that anywhere.By Christopher Brunelle (a month ago)
El Ninja Providence
- Address: 1007 Broad St, Providence, RI 02905, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (629)
Capri Seafood
- Address: 58 De Pasquale Ave, Providence, RI 02903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (523)
Shaking Crab (Providence)
- Address: 284 Thayer St, Providence, RI 02912, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 3.7 (469)
Pacific Seafood Market
- Address: 247 Reservoir Ave, Providence, RI 02907, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (426)
Mills Tavern
- Address: 101 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (406)
Oberlin
- Address: 186 Union St, Providence, RI 02903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (345)
Al’s Waterfront Restaurant & Marina
- Address: 28 Water St, East Providence, RI 02914, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4 (287)

Thank you for reading! We hope this list helps you find the best seafood restaurants in Providence RI. If you have any additional information, please leave a comment below!
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