New American Restaurants near Hopkinton, RI

“I have been dining at Wood River Golf for over 10 years maybe even closer to 20 they have had their ups and downs especially during "C". Dinner this past Saturday night was fabulous. Their chicken parmesan is still the best around. I can say with confidence I have never had a bad meal there. Prime rib Saturday was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend! I know everyone has been struggling to find good help but thank the Lord they have a strong family support system and a wonderful bartender who has always been loyal.“

“We chose Owl and Dove by its location and menu. We were not disappointed. We sat at a table overlooking the river. The food was very good and the server was pleasant and effiecient. At lunch the restaurant filled up completely but the whole scene was calm and pleasant. We loved that their were no TVs in the dining room.“

“📅 01.04.25 ✍🏾 BIG AL’S WRITTEN REVIEW EP. CANCELLED Ella’s Food & Drink 👎🏾 📍 Westerly, Rhode Island I pulled up to Ella’s to do what I’ve done over 197 times before. I filmed a quick intro outside, walked in, got a quick vid of the interior and before I got to sit down for a food review it went downhill fast. Almost immediately, the energy felt off. As I started my usual walkthrough (phone in hand), the interaction with the owner turned uncomfortable. Instead of being welcoming or neutral, the tone came off as condescending, rude and dismissive. There was no effort to de-escalate the situation, and I quickly felt unwelcome in the space. At that point, I made the right decision to leave. I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t make a scene. I simply chose not to stay where I didn’t feel respected or welcomed. I’m always courteous, polite, and respectful when I walk into any establishment, and my money is just as good as anyone else’s. I would have easily dropped $250 on that visit including a generous tip for my server. When the vibe is off, I listen to that instinct. Based on this experience, I do not recommend this spot. ☝🏾❤️ - Big Al Mayo “Always keeping it Real to Reel”“

“Stumbled upon this awesome place on a “Sunday Drive” from CT. The food was excellent, the Staff, beyond friendly!! In the most positive way. Had the burger and onion rings. Cooked exactly like I would have on my grill at home! Excellent! Wife had fish and chips and there was nothing left for me to pick at after my burger! She said it was light, fluffy and the outside just crispy enough. Great beer selection too! Tried a local RI beer. Lawn Boy. Very good!

If I am ever up this way again I am making time to come back. So worth the side quest!

And no, I am not in anyway related or paid for my opinion. 😉😉“

“📅 11.13.25 *WRITTEN REVIEW Big Al’s Reel Reviews - EP.180 Whitecrest Eatery 💎 (Velvet Mill - Stonington Borough, CT) Tonight I headed back inside the historic Velvet Mill for my next food adventure and Whitecrest Eatery did not disappoint. Founded in 2019 by husband & wife team Johan Jensen, a Danish born, British-trained chef, and Abby Hamann, a Connecticut native, Whitecrest focuses on fresh, high-quality ingredients and dishes that are handmade with care. You can seriously feel that philosophy the moment the plates hit the table/bar. I grabbed a seat at the bar, and the place was packed. The atmosphere was low-lit, warm, bustling, with high ceilings and beautiful décor that makes the Velvet Mill such a standout setting. Service was handled by a small three-person team: Liz (manager)- friendly, welcoming, and a supporter of Big Al’s Reel Reviews Amber (my bartender/server)- attentive and on point Jocy- helping run the floor Even with a full house, they kept everything moving smoothly. Service was bomb.💣 Now let's talk about the Food: 1️⃣ Steamed Wild Maine Mussels- $16 💣 BOMB The sauce- cream fraîche, herbs, Weissling, and lemon was addictive. Mussels cooked perfectly, full of flavor, and the sourdough they make in house and served with it was the perfect pairing. A strong bomb right out the gate. 2️⃣ Béarnaise Burger- $22 💣 BOMB Burger came out perfectly cooked bright pink inside, juicy, seasoned right. Alone, it’s a thumbs-up… But then the tallow fries hit. These fries are soft, hot, insanely flavorful, and some of the best fries I’ve had anywhere. The fries elevated the entire plate into a straight bomb. 3️⃣ Roasted Duck Breast- $36 💣 BOMB This dish was incredible. Duck breast cooked perfectly, tender, rich, and beautifully plated. The potatoes were absolutely amazing, and every bite delivered. I was full, but I wanted more. Another full bomb. ⭐ FINAL VERDICT: WHITECREST EATERY IS AN OFFICIAL BIG AL’S 💎 GEM SPOT 💎🔥 Every dish: bomb Service: bomb Atmosphere: bomb Experience: bomb That makes two Gem Spots inside the Velvet Mill 💎 Dock 9 and 💎 Whitecrest Eatery. If you’re in or near Stonington Borough, this place is absolutely worth checking out so get your a** down there right away, and make sure you tell ’em Big Al sent you! To the Whitecrest Eatery Team: Thank you, I had an amazingly Dope dining experience ❤️ ☝🏾❤️ - Big Al Mayo “See you on the Rebound, Peace✌🏾out”“

“📅 01.10.26 ✍🏾 BIG AL’S WRITTEN REVIEW ✨Big Al’s Reel Reviews - EP.200 🍾🎉 🍽️ Tin Peddler 👍🏾🫳🏾 📍 North Stonington, CT Visited on 01.10.26 ✨ Episode 200 was very special for me. I’ve now walked into 200 small businesses, spent my own money, recorded, edited, and put together 200 full episodes shining a light on local spots and by bringing real eyes, real viewership, and real attention to places that deserve it. That doesn’t even count all the other videos I’ve done along the way supporting even more businesses. This moment means a lot to me because this entire journey has been 100% done by me and 100% supported by you. I truly appreciate every like, share, comment, message, and conversations along the way. Thank you for riding with me and being part of this from the beginning. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Now… let’s talk about how this night went. Walking inside, the place immediately looked beautiful. Warm, clean, and inviting. As the night went on, the room kept filling up naturally. I counted 14 tables total, and while we were sitting there, 10 of them were occupied. The vibe was lively, people were enjoying themselves, and the energy in the room felt right. Service was solid from the jump. Big shout-out to Tayla, our server, who was attentive, and kept everything moving smoothly throughout the visit. Most importantly, she was very friendly and I absolutely love her personality 😎 Now let’s talk about the food. Here’s what I lined up: 1️⃣ BBQ Dry-Rub Chicken Wings - $14 👍🏾👎🏾 Yo, these wings were good. Cooked well, seasoned nicely, and enjoyable to eat. No complaints there. But value matters. You’re getting six wings for $14, which breaks down to about $2.33 per wing, and that’s definitely on the high end for some wings. Taste gets a 👍🏾 Value gets a 👎🏾 They serve good wings… but the price stings a little. They should consider increasing the order from 6 to 8 wings. 🤷🏾‍♂️ 2️⃣ Mussels Marinara - $17 👍🏾 Solid mussels. Great portion size, served in a flavorful broth, and that warm grilled ciabatta bread was perfect for dipping. The Swiss chard mixed in with the onions was a really nice touch. No complaints here because it was delish.😎 3️⃣ Davis Farm Cornbread - $10 👍🏾 It was soft, moist, a little loose in texture, but still enjoyable. Nothing crazy, nothing that blew me away but a decent, respectable starter. 4️⃣ Peddler Burger & Hand-Cut Fries - $22 💣 Yo… let me talk about this burger for a second. This right here was an amazing burger. Cooked perfectly, juicy, flavorful, and balanced exactly how it should be. The special sauce with the onions was hitting, the bun was right, and I enjoyed every bite. 😋 This burger was a home run. Straight up. If this burger didn’t come through the way it did, this review would’ve been a lot more iffy. But it did. 😁 Easy bomb 💣 5️⃣ Beer-Battered Haddock & Fries - $26 👎🏾🤮 And now… the huge miss. This dish was horrible. The haddock was mushy, translucent, and the batter was separating from the fish. I love Haddock, it should be firm and flaky but this wasn’t even close. One bite and it ended up in a napkin. I don’t know if it was frozen, over-battered, or overcooked, but the texture was completely wrong and it did not taste good. I couldn’t eat it. I tried the coleslaw, hoping it might help save the plate. No way. It wasn’t good either. I just gave up. This earned a clear thumbs down 👎🏾. Note: Before wrapping up, I met Julian, the owner, on our way out the door and we took a photo together. I always respect when an owner shows face and engages with guests. My Final Thoughts: So here’s the thing with Tin Peddler. There’s a lot to like here. The space (I remember when it used to be a Subway Restaurant) has been remodeled beautifully, the vibe was right, and the place was clearly buzzing while we were there. Some dishes absolutely hit, especially that burger. But I’ve gotta keep it real. That burger saved the review. The fish & chips were an insult.🤷🏾‍♂️😄 When a dish comes out mushy, translucent, and inedible, that’s not something I can overlook. The wings were good but p“

“Had a good experience here. Ordered parm truffle fries with a bacon cheeseburger and also wanted to get a chicken sandwich for later so decided on the buffalo chicken sandwich

Fries were amazing. Lots of flavor on every fry. The bacon cheese burger was good but I wasn't blown away. Expected it to be a little bigger honestly. Had the chicken sandwich later and I will say it was probably one of the best buffalo chicken sandwiches I've had. Will definitely return ♥️“

“My wife and I discovered the Hungry Haven a few weeks ago. We’ve been back four times and haven’t been disappointed yet. The food is great service is great good portions quaint atmosphere, if your hungry and in the area, Hungry Haven is the place.“

“Once again Dock 9 made me smile, Bloody Mary, hangover burger 🍔 and peach 🍑 fried bread. Staff was and always is outstanding, very nice blend of favor in the food, thank you to the chefs. And thank you to the bartender for very nice drinks.“

“We are from Connecticut, and headed to East beach yesterday, on one of the hotter days. Wanted to try something different for dinner and found this place. I highly highly recommended. Love the building, the location and especially the food. Very, very creative, but approachable and delicious. We tryed acouple of the different tacos, and also the green curry on grits, which made my mouth very, very happy. You've got to try this place.“

“I can't find the words to express how pleased I am with Alley Katz. I posted on Facebook looking for a local Alley that offered cosmic bowling for my son's birthday and AK delivered. They couldn't offer a standard party but their flexibility and accommodations were phenomenal. The staff was attentive to everyone's lanes, bartender made great drinks, the food was exceptional, and the establishment was cozy, welcoming, and clean. This was my family’s first time here and we had an absolute blast! We're already planning our next trip. Support small & local. ❤️“

“Great local club. It’s been in great shape the last 2 years! Very good staff and lots of local members.“

“It is a great place to dine and enjoy yourselves!🤗🌼🌼🤗“

“Sunday Fundays are the best!!!!!“

“📅 11.15.25 *WRITTEN REVIEW Big Al’s Reel Reviews - EP.181 Noah’s Restaurant 👎🏾 Stonington Borough, CT Tonight I headed into the historic and absolutely beautiful Stonington Borough for Episode 181, and I started my evening with a quick stop at the nationally known Lobster Trap Tree. They just finished putting it up on Friday. You will see a ton of dope custom painted buoys, the whole display looks incredible. It’s only two blocks from Noah’s, so after checking that out, I took the short walk through the Borough and made my way over for dinner. I arrived early, around 4:30pm which was before the full dinner rush, but people were already flowing in. By 5:35 PM, in the dining section alone (10 tables total), 7 were filled and more guests were coming in minute by minute. Inside, Noah’s gives you that classic New England charm. It's beautiful. Warm lighting, rustic décor, and dope local prints of New London, Stonington, and shoreline scenes all across the walls. It genuinely felt like stepping straight into a Hallmark movie. My server tonight was Ryan, friendly, attentive, and had water waiting at my table right from the start. He also brought out bread with a plate of butter, which was a good touch. Service was friendly, but overall super slow. I waited 40 minutes for my main dish even though the restaurant wasn’t fully packed yet. Alright, let’s talk about the food... 🍽️ THE FOOD 1️⃣ Steamed Mussels- $14 Garlic, butter, white wine, parsley I really wanted to like these and I love garlic, but these mussels were overpowered. The garlic was extremely strong, to the point where it drowned out everything else. Worse, the mussels had a slightly sour taste, and the broth wasn’t enjoyable. I literally choked down 2 mussels on bread and I was done! I couldn’t finish them. 👎🏾 Thumbs Down 2️⃣ Oven-Roasted Chicken Wings- $13 (I chose BuffaBlue) The wings were a no-go for me. Dry, bland, over-baked - just not it. And the “Buffalo Blue” sauce? Yo Listen… I spent $13 for seven unseasoned chicken wings that were dry, over-baked, and came with a little tin of Frank's Red Hot sauce with a dollop of blue cheese dressing mixed in. That wasn’t going to cut it. No way. That was an insult 🤷🏾‍♂️ and that’s why these wings earned a 👎🏾 Thumbs Down 3️⃣ Fettuccine (Arugula/Walnut/Pesto)- $16+ Stonington Bay Scallops- $20 This dish saved the entire night. The pesto was fresh and flavorful, the pasta looked and tasted incredible, and the Stonington Bay scallops that are caught right off the boats here were sweet, tender, and absolutely delicious. This was the one plate that delivered. 💣 BOMB 4️⃣ Apple Crisp- $8 A rare move for me, I actually ordered dessert tonight. It was to cheer me up from the disappointing dinner. It didn't cheer me up but it was good. 💬 FINAL THOUGHTS Noah’s is a landmark here in Stonington, it’s been part of the Borough since 1979, and the atmosphere inside is truly beautiful. The town is charming, the décor is gorgeous, and the vibes were perfect. But the food tonight with one hit (💣), two major misses (👎🏾👎🏾), and slow service didn’t help. The mussels and wings were a disappointment, but the fettuccine with scallops was excellent. Based on tonights visit, Noah's Restaurant did not pass the Big Al's Reel Reviews 👎🏾 And as always, these are my honest opinions based on what I experienced. You know that I always keep it Real to Reel, and you can always go try it yourself and decide but for me, it's a no-go 👎🏾 "See you on the rebound, Peace✌🏾Out!" ☝🏾❤️ - Big Al Mayo “Always keeping it Real to Reel”“

“Food was delicious. 10/10. Would highly recommend and come back when I’m in the area. Service was friendly even tho I did take out. Everything was packed neatly and included utensils.“

“Standard sports bar with pub fare, decent craft beer selection and my mom's favorite wine. It's been up and down here with food and service speed but on my last visit (5/4/23), the food came quickly and looked really solid. I didn't eat but had a few craft beers. Bartender isn't the most knowledgeable on the craft offerings but the selection is good! Came for trivia on a Thursday evening.“

“Wanted to give you a well deserved compliment! Ordered a couple pizzas tonight and they were absolutely delicious. Thanks for delivering hot pizza on a cold night!“

“Great place to listen to a band, play some corn hole, have a few drinks and have the best lobster roll in RI!“

“Catering plans for my daughter's birthday party fell apart the DAY BEFORE the party. Tony and the Pizza Lady bailed us out and provided great food (at a great price) with less than 24 hours to deliver. Amazing. I am impressed, grateful, and fully endorsing Pizza Lady as your next caterer (or movie-night Pizza Party).“

“I went there for lunch to celebrate a birthday and the food was excellent, Terri was an excellent waitress and the atmosphere was really nice. I am anxious to go back.“