9 Top Restaurants in Bristol RI | New England With Love

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Bristol is a beautiful place in Rhode Island to visit, no matter the time of year. There are historic sites, outdoor viewpoints, and even museums where you could easily spend hours getting lost. However, many people overlook the incredible restaurants in Bristol RI!

This article will cover some of the best Bristol restaurants, including a mix of those that are more popular and some that are hidden gems, more popular among locals. With an eclectic selection of restaurants to choose from, you’re truly in for a treat.

Keep reading to learn all about the best restaurants in Bristol RI!

The Lobster Pot

Location: 119 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809

First on this list of the top restaurants in Bristol RI, is none other than The Lobster Pot. This is easily one of the most popular places to eat in Bristol, and that’s because New England is known for its excellent seafood. This is one of the best places to try it!

The restaurant has a huge patio outdoors that overlooks the ocean. What better way to enjoy your incredible seafood? However, one thing to note is that this is a higher-priced restaurant. However, the prices are very much worth it for the quality of food you receive.

Some popular dishes on the menu at The Lobster Pot include lobster bisque, fried oysters, jumbo lump crab cakes, and of course, Quahog chowder. There are also many non-seafood dishes, like salads or even baked french onion soup. Be sure to choose from the lengthy wine list to find a drink that pairs well with it.

Sakuratani Ramen & Izakaya

Location: 531 Wood St, Bristol, RI 02809

One of the top Bristol restaurants is none other than Sakuratani Ramen & Izakaya! This fantastic ramen restaurant may not look like much from the outside, but its food is incredible. Plus, they’re known for their friendly staff and special pricing.

The inside of the restaurant has a darker vibe, but the atmosphere overall is very calming. There are many wood and brick accents throughout, with great decor like cherry blossom trees and art on the walls. There’s also tons of seating with unique lighting on the ceiling, adding to the overall ambiance.

The ramen dishes tend to cost around $16, but you can add more on top if you want to make the dish your own. Some of the ramen options include vegetable shoyu, tonkatsu, miso, tan tan, chicken, and seafood. Toppings that cost extra include mushrooms, corn, pork, eggs, and of course, extra noodles of your choice!

Van’s Spa

Location: 359 Wood St, Bristol, RI 02809

If classic diner food is what you’re in the mood for, look no further than Van’s Spa. This diner has super affordable pricing and is a traditional diner restaurant opening as early as 5:30 a.m. for those early risers looking for breakfast! What’s not to love?

The inside of the restaurant is crazy eclectic. The walls are covered with memorabilia posted on top of each other, making it have a very hometown vibe. The atmosphere is very casual and welcoming; precisely what you’d want from a small, local diner!

The menu is relatively short, but all of the food is to die for. There are eggs, sandwiches, omelets, and french toast at breakfast. Later on, the menu includes burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. Truthfully, everything on the menu costs under $10! This is a great place to eat in Bristol on a budget.

Portside Tavern

Location: 444 Thames St, Bristol, RI 02809

For some classic pub food, head to Portside Tavern! Everyone loves Portside Tavern because of its tasty food, many drink options, and excellent service. It’s busiest at night (it usually closes around midnight), but it’s relatively easy to get a seat during the day.

When you go inside Portside Tavern, you’ll love the friendly vibe. When you go there, it almost feels like you’re going home! There are fun cobblestone wall accents, hardwood flooring, and tons of seating. There’s also a huge bar that serves as the main attraction inside, especially at night once the sun goes down.

This restaurant features mid-range pricing for almost everything on the menu. Most dishes cost around $15 to $25. Some great dishes on the menu include cajun mahi-mahi tacos, grilled tuna steak, prime flat iron steak frites, and even fried chicken bahn mi. They also have quite a few gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Green Eggs

Location: 576 Metacom Ave, Bristol, RI 02809

Is breakfast on your mind? Then you’ll want to head to Green Eggs, one of the top breakfast restaurants in Bristol RI. This local restaurant has everything you’d wish to first thing in the morning and even opens at 6 am for early risers.

The restaurant is very laidback with both classic table and chair style seating and booths. The interior itself is pretty casual, with white and blue walls and dark wood accents. The restaurant gets relatively busy in the morning, so try to get there right in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

No matter what you’re in the mood for when it comes to breakfast, you’ll be able to find it on the menu. There’s always french toast, eggs, fresh fruit, muffins, omelets, and more. Be sure to ask about the daily specials, too, to try something extra tasty.

Le Central

Location: 483 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809

One of the most unique restaurants in Bristol RI is none other than Le Central! It’s actually a French bistro that serves up dishes right from France; what more could you want? Plus, they have tons of wines that you can choose from to pair with your entree.

The restaurant itself will genuinely transport you to Paris. The outside of it will catch your eye with the bright color, but it gets a bit darker the second you’re inside. There’s classic black and white tiled French flooring with elegant seating and decor. This is a great spot to go for a romantic night out.

There really isn’t a lot on the menu, but that’s because the few things on the menu are delicious. There’s goat cheese & spinach salad, charcuterie boards, bistro burger frites, lobster mac and cheese, and more. Note that this is a more expensive restaurant, with most entrees costing closer to $30.

Leo’s Ristorante

Location: 365 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809

Leo’s Ristorante is a classic Italian restaurant that’s been blessing the local community since 1948! It’s truly become a staple in the community. Overall, the restaurant is known for its tasty food, prime location, and of course, the super friendly staff. You’ll feel like friends are serving you because of how nice they are!

From the outside, you’ll instantly be able to tell that the restaurant is Italian. There are striped awnings with tons of outdoor seating where people almost always eat. Plus, it’s right on the corner of the street, so it instantly commands attention with its dark green color.

Truthfully, no matter what Italian food you’re in the mood for, you’ll be able to find it on the menu at Leo’s Ristorante. There’s arancini, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, linguini, and more. Plus, there are quite a few seafood dishes on the menu because of its location!

DeWolf Tavern

Location: 259 Thames St, Bristol, RI 02809

DeWolf Tavern is the place to eat in Bristol RI, if you’re looking for an incredible night out with your romantic partner. This classic American restaurant is a bit pricier, but it’s located inside of a distillery and is truly unique compared to other places to eat, which is why it’s top-rated.

The restaurant’s interior will genuinely take your breath away because of how cleverly unique it is. There are tiled floors, exposed brick walls, and even wooden beams across the ceiling. However, the tables are made up to bring a touch of elegance to the place. Overall, this is one interior that you’ll never forget; it almost feels like you’re in the cellar of an Italian villa.

The menu is two pages long; there’s one page filled with food, and the other is dessert and drinks. Start with a fantastic appetizer like pakora vegetable fries, and then try one of the entrees like the sauteed lobster or even a blackened salmon sandwich. Be sure to try one of the desserts like the flourless chocolate cake or even the rustic seasonal tart!

Beehive Cafe

Location: 10 Franklin St, Bristol, RI 02809

Last but not least is the Beehive Cafe, a lovely local cafe if you’re looking for excellent coffee and a quick bite to eat while you’re in Bristol. This fun place is open for all meals of the day and usually opens bright and early at 7 a.m.

Beehive Cafe is very quaint but has a lovely entrance that will immediately beckon you inside. The interior has bright red walls with eclectic decor. There’s seating both inside and outside so you can enjoy the lovely Bristol weather if you’re visiting in the summer.

There’s every type of coffee you can think of (brewed, iced, latte, cappuccino, etc.), and of course, there are teas too. Their entrees include breakfast burritos, pot pies, and even bacon and brown sugar pancakes. However, the main star of the show is their fantastic baked goods.

Now you know all of the top restaurants in Bristol RI! As you can see, whether you’re on the hunt for a great place to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Bristol’s local restaurant scene has truly got you covered. Don’t forget to share and save this post for later!

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Amy Hartle

Amy Hartle is the owner and editor of New England With Love, a comprehensive resource for travel in the New England region. Amy lived in Vermont for 15 years, attended Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, and continues to travel regularly around the entire New England region. On this site, Amy aims to share her love of New England and help you to have the best possible adventures!

Amy has been a full time blogger since 2012, and is also the publisher of Two Drifters, where she writes about couples travel and relationships, as well as Let’s Adventure Baby, a family travel site. When not traveling the world or creating epic blog content, Amy can be found cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.