The 8 Best Places for BIG Food in Rhode Island!
If you’ve got a big appetite, you’re in for a treat. Across Rhode Island, burger bars, hot dog joints, and creameries are challenging locals and tourists alike to take on some seriously monstrous portions. Think you can tackle a 15-egg omelet? How about a 24-ounce milkshake? Prepare your stomach for these 8 crazy places for BIG food in Rhode Island.
Olneyville New York System Restaurant, Providence, RI
Featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and the winner of a coveted James Beard award in 2014, this classic 1950s-style burger and dog joint features natural casing dogs, fresh buns, homemade hamburger, and wiener sauce. Home of the “biggest hot dog in America” and the Hot Weiner, you can try your hand at their ongoing hot dog eating contest for a chance at a free meal and your picture on their wall as champion.
The Hungry Monkey, Newport, RI
This casual and relaxed breakfast and lunch spot offers dishes with monkey-inspired names. Other than that is serves up your regular breakfast and lunch fare, except for one item on their menu unlike any other. "King Kong" is a 15-egg, five-pound monstrosity that is filled with meats and cheeses. Brave contestants are given one hour to devour as much as they can for a shot at the Wall of Fame and a “free lunch.”
Nacho Mamma’s, Bristol, RI
This non-flashy counter-serve restaurant prepares all of your south-of-the-border favorites, like tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and house-made guacamole. Everything is made fresh daily, including their famous “Five-Pound Burrito,” loaded with heaps of meats, cheese, veggies, and hot peppers. Requiring three tortillas to hold it together, this monster lurks on the menu waiting for a customer brave enough to finish it 30 minutes. Fame and free food awaits you, my friend.
Blackie’s, Smithfield, RI
With a menu featuring American eats, beer, wine, cocktails, and cordial, Blackie’s seems laid-back enough—that is until someone dares you to the “Blackie’s Bulldog Tavern Triple Dog Dare Ya Challenge.” This behemoth burger starts with 30 ounces of angus beef and ends with four eggs, four slices of bacon, four kinds of cheese, veg, and Blackie’s signature hot chili mayo. Served with three gherkin pickles and fries, you have to devour it all in under 30 minutes for bragging rights.
Portsmouth Publick House, Portsmouth, RI
Now here is a food challenge you don’t see every day, and probably for a good reason. The “Wholly Cow and Pig Burger” is as ugly as it is monstrous, and you only have 18 minutes to consume the dish. We are talking four slices of sourdough bread, four slices of provolone, four slices of Swiss cheese, a hamburger topped with a beer braised wild boar shoulder topped with chorizo, porketta, coleslaw, fries, and barbecue sauce. God bless the winner of this challenge.
Mew’s Tavern, Wakefield, RI
Initially opened in 1947, this is the home of the “Mount Everest Burger Challenge,” but put away your climbing gear on this one. You have one sitting to devour two pounds of angus ground beef served on thick, crusty Italian bread that is perched atop a mountain of curly fries and pickles. Should you beat the mountain, you will get a voucher for your next burger and earn the admiration of your colleagues.
Snookers, Providence, RI
Snookers is a popular sports bar offering pub grub, 20 pool tables, trivia nights, and large screen TVs. Featuring pool tournaments, sports parties, and more, it is always a good rocking time at Snookers. Or maybe we should say a racking good time—especially if you opt to “Run the Rack” and devour 10 angus beef sliders and one pound of fries in under an hour. Should you win, you will be greeted with great cheer and a snazzy t-shirt.
Newport Creamery, Middletown, RI
How fitting is it that we finish off our list with dessert? Offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Newport Creamery has root that date back to 1928, and, although it can be considered a local chain, its flagship store is in Middletown, which makes its story even richer—maybe too rich in fact if you opt into their “Awful Awful Milkshake Challenge.” But if you manage to down three 24 ounce milkshakes in one sitting, the four one is free.
