6 Best Restaurants in Block Island, Rhode Island

Open up your meal with oysters Thermidor, Japanese style with miso, or grilled and topped with Parmesan cheese. Sip a fine vintage, relax, and pause to appreciate the sublime garden setting—complete with hopping rabbits nibbling at the landscaping—before diving into sea scallops served over lemon risotto or grilled sticky Thai shrimp. On a warm summer evening, there's no better place on the island for a romantic dinner.

Creative cuisine emerges from the kitchen of this intimate bistro—the fare changes seasonally but may include pan-seared sea scallops, brined chicken, and the mouthwatering Eli's burger with seasoned fries. Arrive before opening and join the queue for a table; if they're all taken, dining at the bar, accompanied by excellent craft cocktails, is a small compromise.

The black 1961 Ford Galaxie parked out front is the landmark steering you to this fun indoor-outdoor restaurant, bar, and night spot in Old Harbor. Find a table on the porch or in the garden and dig into the house specialty, barbecued pulled pork mac & cheese, washed down with a margarita blended with a local blackberry and honey puree. Fun snacks include a lasagna dip and crispy fish sticks; healthier options include a "power lunch" salad packed with quinoa, sunflower seeds, figs and beets, topped with an apple cider vinaigrette dressing.

At the Atlantic Inn, the food and beverage experience is as elevated as the hilltop location. The menu includes both small and large plates with abundant enticements for vegetarians as well as dishes that feature local fish and game. Noshing on tapas on the lawn is a memorable experience, but it's first-come, first-served for the limited supply of Adirondack chairs.

The food—baked Atlantic cod, shrimp and pea pasta, lobster rolls—is consistently great, the price is right, and you won't feel like a tourist at this local favorite. Catch ocean breezes on the patio, or in stormy weather sit at the bar and watch breakers roll in 30 feet away.