I95 DC - New Haven, CT- Providence, RI

I am headed on a road trip and wanted to enjoy the food along the way. Since it isn't too far, no real stops are planned until I reach New Haven. Once I reach NYC, I may be taking the Hutchinson River Parkway to the Merritt Parkway. If anyone knows any places along I95 or these 2 parkways that have parking, please share your suggestions.

For the rest of the trip: I have the pizza recommendations for New Haven. Any other ideas? How about up the CT coast to Westerly, RI and then on into Providence? OH, I am partial to Italian, Mexican, Asian, Indian, Seafood, and/or Veg. Thanks a bunch!

In Rhode Island, if you want Seafood, Italian or Portugese, then you've got it all.

For great seafood I recommend Duffy's Tavern in North Kingstown.

For good filling breakfasts it's the Modern Diner in Pawtucket. There is almost always a line on weekend mornings. However for great Jonnycakes (corn meal pancakes) it's Jiggers Diner in East Greenwich.

For good Italian and Pizza, I always go to Frank and Johns on Main Street in East Greenwich. Their pizza has been voted best on the west bay by RI Magazine. They've got an amazing Stuffed Chicken Parm which is stuffed with eggplant and ham.

Finally for great fish and chips I would suggest Greggs Restaurant which is a very small chain here in Rhode Island, also Ward's Publick House in Warwick. They serve it on Wednesday and Fridays. Wards' also has amazing stuffed clams (stuffies) and great burgers!

On Rt. 1 in Guilford, CT. is The Place, still known to some oldtimers as "Whitey's". They serve roasted clams, al fresco among other items, but the clams are what you want - and the roasted corn.

This joint was reviewed by the Sterns a while back, but they didn't mention the hours. I think they do not open 'till about 5pm on weekdays and are open 'till about 11 pm.

Highly recommended stop if you can fit it into your itinery.

No one from Rhode Island really knows anything about Westerly - it's part of Connecticut, as far as we're concerned. But for Providence and elsewhere...

I second the suggestion of the Modern Diner on East Ave. in Pawtucket, about a mile over the Providence line. While they always have good food, their weekend specials are phenomenal. I'm especially fond of the cranberry almond pancakes, but the polenta with sausage is also great. I believe the Modern Diner was the first diner to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Definitely a place to hit.

Apsara, just off Elmwood Ave., is great for Vietnamese and Cambodian. I like Thai Orchid, on Park Ave. in Cranston (just off Route 10 a minute south of Providence) for, well, Thai. It's a little hole-in-the-wall with only a couple of tables, the people are very friendly and the food is good. I'm especially fond of their soups. Nick's On Broadway in Providence has a lot of people yammering about it - they do breakfast and lunch, upscale food at downmarket prices. To tell the truth, I thought they were good but not great - I had a pork loin there that was a little tough, and walnut/blue cheese sauce I had in a duck wrap totally overpowered the duck. I'd stick with the Modern Diner.

Caserta's (Spruce St., near De Pasquale Sq. on Federal Hill) is the classic Providence pizza place. To tell the truth, I don't think their pizza is as good as it once was - about ten years ago, their crust changed and became a little lighter and crunchier, not to its benefit, in my opinion. Still, their sauce is great, really zesty, and the Pepper Pig (a pig in a blanket with italian sausage and green peppers) is fantastic. Cheap, too. They have a very limited selection of pizza toppings. Be forewarned: if you order a plain pizza, it will be plain - just crust and sauce, no cheese. Specify cheese if you want it (although a pizza with just anchovies and sauce is great.) Also a medium is basically what most would consider a large - a large pizza is actually two medium pizzas.

The nearby Angelo's Civita Farnese (Atwells Ave.) is another classic Italian eatery in Providence. Very basic Italian-American food, wonderfully prepared. Get the meatballs and french fries, the ravioli or the roasted chicken. Everything on the menu (listed on a post in the middle of the dining room) is a la carte, so be sure to order explicitly anything you might want.

There are a lot of Italian restaurants and shops on Atwells Ave. and it's a fun place to visit. Further up the avenue, away from the Italian district, is Mexico, one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. I've never had a bad dish here - the enchiladas are especially good. For more Americanized Mexican fare (and margheritas), Tortilla Flats on Hope St. is the local leader. Since it's summer, there probably won't be too many Brown students jamming up the place. For a great bar, Lili Marlene's on Atwell's is a good choice. It's virtually unmarked - just the name is stenciled on the door. Look for it near the Surgical Supply store (now going out of business) on Atwells - if you pass the church and start heading downhill, you've gone too far. A more boisterous local gin mill with suprisingly good food (though avoid the pasta) is the East Ave. Cafe, right next to the Modern Diner. They do pig roasts every week, I think on Saturday.

The best fish and chips to be had in RI is available about 20 minutes north of Providence in downtown Woonsocket at a place called Ye Olde English Fish and Chips (S. Main St., Market Sq.) It's a hokey name, but the fish is superb. It's not a clam shack but an English-style chip shop (the founder was a Yorkshireman.) Try the fishcakes: a piece of fish wrapped between slices of potato, the whole thing battered and fried together - like fish and chips in one. Really fantastic. They're closed Sundays and Mondays and have limited evening hours, so call before making the trek, if you are thinking about it.

I'm not wild about Gregg's food, but no one could disagree with their desserts. The cakes are terrific, available for takeout or to eat in, by the slice or whole. For other sweets, I like Brickley's Ice Cream on Route 1A in Narragansett. A bit out of your way, but really amazing. The lemon ice cream has the most intense, pure lemon flavor possible and all of their ice cream is extremely smooth and creamy.

Ooh, I should also mention LJ's BBQ, on Douglas Ave. in Providence. Yeah, this isn't barbeque country, but it's a nice joint, the people are great and the pulled pork is very good. They also carry great local sodas from Joe Wold - try the Cream Soda.

Whew! You get the idea. Providence - all of RI, really - is a great place for food, so you shouldn't have any problems. Hope this helps, though.

JL

The Hutch/Merritt route is surely a nicer ride, but convenient food stops along this route are rare. I-95, however, is blessed with a plethora of classic diners and hot dog joints close by most exits from Greenwich to New Haven, several of which are reviewed on this site. Rte. 106 through Darien is a good cross-over to I-95 that will put you on the path to Swanky Franks, Rawleys, etc.


Assuming that your New Haven pizza stop is Sally's or Pepe's, an Italian ice at Libby's, also on Wooster Street, should be part of the package.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I forgot to query whether anyone has suggestions into Newport also. And I have been persuaded to take the Hutchinson/Merritt Route, so any ideas there? Thanks!

In Newport I would recommend Salas Restaurant. A venerable Italian/Seafood eatery in the heart of town. They even offer the "Rhode Island Shore Dinner" on their menu. Since most of the shore dinner halls have been gobbled up by chains this is a unique and interesting dining experience!

There's a lot of great, expensive food in Newport and a lot of cheaper, decent stuff as well. Salas is definitely an institution. For a quick, cheap bite, Poor Richard's (like Salas, on Thames St.) is also an option. Nothing fancy, but convienent and cheap. There may still be a Newport Creamery in the shopping center across from the Tennis Hall of Fame, if you want an Awful Awful (their food is pretty mediocre, though a cheeseburger served on buttered toast can be fun.)

The Salvation Cafe on Broadway is good and not too expensive - it's a bit on the funky/somewhat upscale side of things. Broadway is a good street to be on if Thames St. is driving you crazy.

Hmmm...guess I don't get to Newport too often. Flo's Clam Shack across from Easton's Beach (First Beach) always gets a lot of attention. I went there once, years ago, but don't recall too much. I'm sure they have all the standards. Becky's Real BBQ in Middletown (just north of Newport) has gotten good notices in the papers, but I have yet to go.

I should mention that, of the recommendations given previously for Providence, the Modern Diner closes in the early afternoon (2 or 3, depending on the day) and LJ's BBQ is cash-only.

Sorry for the irrelevant note, but Wanderingjew's mention of shore dinners makes me really miss the Shore Dinner Hall at Rocky Point. A photo (well before my time):



That place was a treat: after riding the rides, what could be better than to sit down to chowder and clamcakes in a dining hall with air full of salt from the bay - and then to hit the rides again?

Taking the Merrit wouldnt make too much sense. Its a nicer ride, but there are no stops off the road, and at times it would be slower because of traffic. Also, you would have to switch over from i95 then switch back to 95, because the Merrit goes upstate.

As for food in CT, If youre not stopping before New Haven (Missing alot of good hot dogs) then Lenny and Joes is the best for seafood.It reviewed on the site(often very busy). Theres also some nice restaurants in Guilford down by the water with good food. In New Haven, Sally's is in my opinion better than pepe's,( i think roseland is the best personally) Libbys is also a mandatory stop, right down the street, for a canoli and some italian ice.

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There is a great breakfast and lunch place called the Lakeside Diner, Exit 34, Long Ridge Rd. (one block north) on the Merrit Parkway in Stamford. Wonderful homemade donuts. Also, Exit 35, High Ridge Road has a good Mexican takeout - Ole Mole, a steak and burger place - Brock's, and a couple of decent Italian restaurants - Mario's and Luigi's.







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A couple recommendations along your route:

* In downtown New London, CT, the Dutch Tavern is an old hole in the wall with lots of character. Its primarily a bar but on Thursday and Saturday they serve excellent chili.

* On Route 1 in Mystic, CT, Sea Swirl is a roadside stand that has fried seafood and soft serve ice cream. Best fried clams anywhere, I think.

* If you go through Westerly during the week, head down the road to Watch Hill. It's where the rich people had their "cottages" on the beach and is worth the detour. On Bay Street, the Olympia Tearoom has been around since at least the '20s and hasn't changed much since. Try the clams with peppers and Italian sausage and the fancy ice cream sundaes. The area is best avoided on weekends this time of the year as it can get painfully crowded.

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There is a great breakfast and lunch place called the Lakeside Diner, Exit 34, Long Ridge Rd. (one block north) on the Merrit Parkway in Stamford. Wonderful homemade donuts.

 
 
OK, so it was over six years later until I finally visited this place but inspired by last week's Boston Globe article Moseying on the Merritt Parkway and where this Stamford diner (1050 Long Ridge Road, 203 / 322-2252) was touted as a place "overlooking the ducks on Holts Ponds" and serving it own made doughnuts, we finally patronized the Lakeside Diner yesterday morning for breakfast and what a treat it was!
 

 
 
Located literally right off of the Merritt Parkway (Exit 34, if traveling southward, right at the bottom of the exit then an IMMEDIATE left into the diner's parking lot), eggs, egg sandwiches, pancakes, toasted bialys and the aforementioned homemade old fashioned, sugar and cinnamon doughnuts were the order of the morning amongst our party and each was delicious. In addition, the place -- featured in the Martin Lawrence/Raven-Symone Disney movie "College Road Trip" -- provided great service.
 

 
 
I'd highly recommend and you sure the heck couldn't find a more convenient on/off location. Although heads-up: They only take cash, FYI.
 
 

I'd stop for a lobster roll at Abbott's .

David John's in Niantic has great breakfasts, as does The Shack in Flanders. While you have to drive a few miles (south) off I-95 to get to David John's, The Shack is just a couple of hundred yards (north) from the same exit. Just up the street from The Shack is Flanders Fish Market where, among other wonderful things, you can get a fantastic fried haddock sandwich.

I second Modern Diner as #1 for breakfast - primarily weekends when they have a gamut of specials.  I've found Ye Old Fish & Chip to be very good, but often times greasy.  We much prefer Buttonwoods Fish & Chips in Warwick for all fried seafood, fresh cut fries & outstanding inion rings, but they have limited hours.  Flos is quite excellent, but I would not recommend Beckies for BBQ - perhaps OK by New England standards, but they'd be out of business real quick if located south of DC.   For BBQ, Wilsons in Fairfiled CT is about as good as it gets in New England

Nyantic Diner (across from the Book Barn) has excellent lobster rolls (hot with butter or cold with mayo) & outstanding onion rings.  Lenny & Joes usually serve excellent seafood (especially fried).

I also second Brickley's on Rt 1A in South Kingstown for outstanding ice cream.  

Two little fish on Rt 1 in Westerly is a small seafood shack that serves an excellent hot lobster roll (and fresh cut fries, if I recall correctly).  We've found Greg's has very good desserts, but their meals are like eating at Denny's.

Tonight, we are headed for Mohegan Sun for the Bowzer Rock & roll show here we intend to eat at the "legendary" Frank Pepe's (hope it's as good as so many claim).

Coffee Break on Rt 1 in Clinton, CT serves an excellent, but rather standard fare breakfast in a coffee shop setting, but skip the potatoes & take the fresh fruit substitute.

I agree that Lenny & Joe's on Rt. 1 in Westbrook, CT is the BEST for seafood, either fried or broiled. If bluefish is in season, their broiled bluefish is a great meal, along with their boiled red potatoes (they make a good drink, too).
In Providence, on Federal Hill (Atwell's Ave.), The Old Canteen is a great Italian restaurant, reasonably priced, and good for steaks, etc. too.
I agree also on Caserta's. Best Pizza in the Northeast, IMHO.

Johnny Ad's at 910 Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook CT.  Maybe my favorite fried clams place.  Foot long chili dogs too.