A favorite among locals and beachgoers alike, The Cooked Goose (92 Watch Hill Rd., 401/348-9888, www.thecookedgoose.com, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. daily, $6–13) serves prepared gourmet lunches and creative sandwiches to go. Breakfast includes such unusual fare as baked eggs with fontina cheese and truffle oil.

The menu at Olympia Tea Room (74 Bay St., 401/348-8211, www.olympiatearoom.com, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. daily Jun.–Sept.; limited hours Apr.–May and early–mid-Oct., $12–26) is standard New England (baked scrod, bacon-wrapped scallops), but the setting of the 100-year-old eatery is alone worth a visit. The decor evokes the Victorian era with black-and-white tiled floors and high-backed wooden booths, while outdoor tables fronting the beach make a perfect setting for cocktails and people-watching.

Serving excellent food without the pretense, Up River Cafe (37 Main St., 401/348-9700, www.theuprivercafe.net, 5–9 p.m. Tue.–Thu.; 5–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., lounge open 4 p.m.–late, $11–26) wows with its location in a refurbished mill overlooking the Pawcatuck River. Similarly, the San Francisco–trained owners provide updated riffs on old classics, such as a Parisian-style Delmonico steak with potatoes au gratin, and seared local scallops with lobster home fries. Save room for dessert, which includes nostalgia-heavy items such as root beer floats, ice cream sundaes, and a butterscotch pudding to die for.