The Best Squid Dishes in Rhode Island
Here are some of our favorite squid dishes, not just Rhode Island-style calamari, but served in many creative ways.
Eastern Calamari
Try Celestial Cafe’s exotic variation: fried Point Judith calamari with RI Mushroom Company ’shrooms, peapods, root vegetables, scallions and a ginger soy glaze. 567 South County Trl., Exeter, 295-5559, celestialcaferi.com
Kung Pao Calamari
If you like your calamari with a little extra “pow,” Anthony’s Seafood’s recipe’s got kick: fried squid with hot peppers, plum chili sauce, peanuts and scallions. 963 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, 846-9620, anthonysseafood.net
Black Spaghetti
Persimmon’s squid ink spaghetti is tender and chewy pasta made with squid ink and served with bottarga di muggine (salted, cured fish roe), chili flakes, breadcrumbs and almond oil. It is a pescatarian dish that can also be made nut-free. 99 Hope St., Providence, 432-7422, persimmonri.com
Calamari Grilled Pizza
When the restaurant is able to serve it again, Al Forno uses Rhode Island’s official state appetizer of crisp and tender fried squid rings and delicate tentacles as the main topping on a base of spicy tomato and red chili arrabiata covered with melted pecorino Romano and fontina cheeses. 577 South Water St., Providence, 273-9760, alforno.com
Dan Dan Noodles with Squid
At James Mark’s north restaurant in the Dean Hotel, taste Point Judith squid for takeout on top of north’s dan dan noodles and mutton. 122 Fountain St., Providence, foodbynorth.com
Sweet Thai Chili Calamari
Troop is serving some sweet and sour squid with Thai basil aioli, chilies and palm sugar gastrique. 60 Valley St., Providence, 473-2900, trooppvd.com
Italian-style Squid Grinder
For a special, Dune Brothers occasionally marinates Rhode Island-landed squid and nestles it inside an Italian grinder with salami, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and banana peppers, drizzled with oil and vinegar. Sometimes squid salad’s on the menu too. 239 Dyer St., Providence, 480-1269, dunebrothers.com
Seafood Curry
At Westerly’s newly reopened Bridge restaurant, calamari is served in a hot hearty bowl of curry with shrimp, salmon, broccoli, carrots, peppers and onions with jasmine rice. 37 Main St., Westerly, 348-9700, bridgeri.com
George’s Sauteed Calamari
George’s version of fried calamari is flash-fried and tossed with roasted red peppers, mushrooms, hot peppers, garlic, red onion, fresh lemon and white wine. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd., Narragansett, 783-2306, georgesofgalilee.com
Calamari Grilled Pizza
Grilled pizza at Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar is layered with fontina, garlic, black olives, banana peppers and calamari. You can also order calamari in frutti di mare, paella or the traditional fried calamari app. 240 Main St., East Greenwich, 398-2462, greenwichbayoysterbar.com
Paella
The Boat House almost always has crispy Point Judith calamari as an app, and occasionally, paella is a special on the menu with butter-poached lobster, Point Judith squid, PEI mussels, shrimp, chorizo and saffron rice. 227 Schooner Dr., Tiverton, 624-6300, boathousetiverton.com
Point Judith Bouillabaisse
Matunuck Oyster Bar is known for more than just bivalves. The star in the Point Judith bouillabaisse special is locally landed squid and lobster, as well as mussels, sea scallops and monkfish in a rich saffron broth. 629 Succotash Rd., South Kingstown, 783-4202, rhodyoysters.com
Prawn and Calamari Cookpot
The Cafe at the Chanler creates a cookpot full of two giant prawns, calamari rings and roasted garlic in a spicy chili broth served with savory toast for dipping. 117 Memorial Blvd., Newport, 847-1300, thechanler.com/dining/the-cafe
Calamare Al K’allu
Calamari rings at Los Andes are floured, fried and tossed with queso blanco, choclo, mint, cherry tomatoes, banana and cherry peppers and garlic butter, and finished with an aged balsamic reduction. 903 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, 649-4911, losandesri.com
