Come for the coast. Stay for the calamari.
From quaint fishing villages to bustling seaside restaurants, calamari is part of life in South County. Fresh from our local waters and celebrated across the Ocean State, Rhode Island calamari is world‑famous for its flavor, quality, and abundance.
Rhode Island is the leading squid‑landing state in the Northeast. Annually, tens of millions of pounds of longfin and shortfin squid are brought ashore at local South County ports like Point Judith, making calamari the most valuable fishery in the state.
The cold, clean Atlantic waters off Rhode Island’s coast produce tender, sweet squid prized by chefs and seafood lovers nationwide. In 2014, Rhode Island made history by naming calamari its official state appetizer—the first state in the U.S. to do so.
“Rhode Island–style calamari” is unlike any other:
- Lightly fried squid rings
- Tossed with garlic
- Finished with hot banana or cherry peppers
- Often served with a drizzle of olive oil
This iconic dish was born in the state’s Italian‑American communities and is now a must‑try for visitors and a staple for locals.
From Boat to Plate
Many Rhode Island restaurants serve calamari landed just miles away. Dining dockside, at a classic Italian trattoria, or at a beachside clam shack your’e certain to find calamari on menus across the state.
The town of Narragansett celebrates it’s fisheries, restaurants, and the state appetizer annually with the RI Calamari Festival. Featuring freshly prepared Rhode Island–style calamari, live music, and family‑friendly activities, locals and visitors get to taste the Ocean State’s signature dish and meet the people behind it. Attendees of the festival are part of the friendly but fierce calamari competition. Local restaurants bring their signature dishes using their own blend of peppers, seasoning, frying techniques, and finishing touches. Festivalgoers get to sample and vote for their favorite. The competition is evidence of South County’s extraordinary culinary creativity.
The cornerstone of Rhode Island’s calamari industry is the Town Dock operating from the Port of Galilee in Narragansett. Here local fishermen unload longfin and shortfin squid at its waterfront facility. Founded in 1980 and still family run, it has grown into one of the nation’s most respected calamari suppliers. Its docks offer a look at a working fishing port, with boats off‑loading, forklifts moving iced seafood, and processors handling squid just steps from the harbor.
The Town Dock is recognized for its commitment to sustainability, sourcing from two of the world’s only certified‑sustainable squid fisheries and maintaining strict quality standards from boat to processor. Its influence reaches far beyond wholesale operations—calamari dishes in Narragansett, Galilee, and surrounding coastal towns begin their journey here.
The Ocean State has built a reputation around one iconic dish. Cold Atlantic waters, generations of fishing families, and deep cultural roots have combined to make Rhode Island calamari famous far beyond New England.
