Seven Must-Try New Restaurants around New England
Dig into a summer-camp-themed seafood spot, a luxe tasting menu in Providence, and so much Portuguese food.
Douro. / Courtesy photo
Spring has sprung the clocks forward, those first crocuses are opening to the sun, and that thermometer is slowly creeping up in the right direction. Nature is basically telling you to get out of the house and explore, and after a winter hibernation, you must be absolutely starving for some new bites. From near (marvelous mezze in Dedham) to farther away (fish-forward fare in Mystic, Connecticut), these 2025-2026 restaurant openings around New England feature dishes that are as much of a pick-me-up as daisies popping out of the snow.
Café Alma (East Providence, RI)
On the weekends, come early to this new beauty with its azulejo tile-inspired outside mural so you can beat the lines that trail to the front door. This Portuguese café and restaurant opened in early 2026 and is a bright, buzzy, and (thankfully) nata-filled addition to the “Portuguese corridor” on East Providence’s Warren Avenue. Mornings are for breakfast sandwiches of spicy sausage on crispy papo seco rolls and other Portuguese and Portuguese-American bites. And it’s never too early to gander at the sweets case: egg tarts, of course, plus sweet rice, eclairs, and heavenly, buttery-yellow dessert-meets-bread called massa sovada. You also won’t find a specialty coffee program like Alma’s anywhere else. Sip nata and bolacha Maria (a simple Portuguese tea biscuit) iced lattes—perfect for coffee fiends who ran around their avó’s (or, grandmother’s) house as kids. At night, come for small plates (salt cod, grilled octopus, chicken wings), spicy pizzas with a Portuguese twist, and cocktails that feature specialty spirits like Beirão, an herby-forward liquor with an anise kick. “Alma” means “soul” in Portuguese, and you can sense the spirit of the place, owned by Kevin Matos, whose family also owns Matos Bakery in Pawtucket.
227 Warren Ave., East Providence, Rhode Island, instagram.com/cafealmaep.
See also: Where to Find Excellent Portuguese Food in Boston and Beyond
Bacon-wrapped pork loin at Claudine. / Photo by Maurisa Arieta
Claudine (Providence, RI)
Need another reason to visit Little Rhody’s big-swinging food scene? You’re in luck. Claudine, a swanky tasting-menu spot with just 26 seats, opened in Providence in 2025. The eight-course meals are flights of fancy and indulgence: squab with Parmesan froth and roasted chanterelles; West Island oyster graced by Maine sea urchin and champagne mousseline; a divine take on the state’s beloved coffee milk that sees tiger stripe figs, brown butter genoise, and pavé niçoise morphed into a sculptural dessert. Chefs Josh Finger and Maggie McConnell—who met working at the acclaimed Per Se in New York—showcase their French training with oft-changing (sometimes nightly) riffs that lean into seafood and New England classics. They’re already catching national attention, landing a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist nod in the Best New Restaurant category.
225 Weybosset St., Providence, Rhode Island, claudinepvd.com.
See also: Must-Visit Restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island
Douro. / Courtesy photo
Douro (Portland, ME)
We are firmly in a culinary boom-time for Portuguese cuisine. See: Café Alma (above), Baleia, George Mendes’s two forthcoming Boston restaurants. That’s why when high-end Portuguese seafood spot Douro opened in Portland in fall 2025—next to sibling spot Twelve—the moment was almost a head-scratcher. Just how did the fishing city of Portland not already have a Portuguese restaurant? More of a mystery, though, is what goes into the parsley and green olive-topped crispy calamari to make it so singularly addictive. Another must-try: salt cod croquetas—fluffy, salty delights that are served with tartar sauce, in a fun nod to New England. The 100-seat restaurant—its ocean blues and decor evoking the ornate tilework of the Iberian nation—focuses on seafood, naturally. But grilled pork collar piri-piri chicken thrill landlubbers, too. With an all-star kitchen team, it’s no surprise that this spot sails into refined waters. (Executive chef Colin Wyatt is an alum of prestigious New York destinations Eleven Madison Park and Daniel; chef de cuisine Jim Stein worked at the two Michelin-starred Somni in Los Angeles and the AAA Five-Diamond McCrady’s in Charleston.) By the way, there’s brunch, too: Don’t leave without trying the almond-spotted French toast. It soaks in a bath of silky crème anglaise, and after one bite, you might want to as well.
110 Thames St. Suite A, Portland, Maine, douroportland.com.
See also: Must-Visit Restaurants in Portland, Maine
Ladyfish (Portland, ME)
While this one technically hasn’t opened yet (as of April 2026), consider us hooked. We were gutted when co-owners chef Jordan Rubin and Marisa Lewiecki announced last fall that they were closing Bar Futo, their beloved Portland restaurant famed for its interpretation of Japanese izakaya fare. Thankfully, the team is opening a new pop-up, Ladyfish, in the same spot from May to October 2026. Details are a bit scant, but expect all the oysters, whole-fried fish, and inspirations from the shores of China and Italy. Chef Rubin is quite the catch: Last year he earned a semifinalist slot in the Best Chef: Northeast category of the James Beard Awards and joined the 2025 class of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs. Ladyfish lures NYC-famed chef Christine Lau to join the team, too. In the meantime, swim on over to Rubin and Lewiecki’s other spots: Mr. Tuna for sustainable sushi and Crispy Gai (with another location soon headed to Providence) for Thai-inspired fried chicken.
Opening in May 2026. 425 Fore St., Portland, Maine, instagram.com/ladyfish_maine.
Mémère’s (Providence, RI)
“Mémère” means “grandmother” in French. And emphasis on the “grand,” indeed, within this petit bistro where moody lighting glows on the baby grand piano and guests tuck in for French martinis. Fine dining aficionados will recognize the name Michael Lester, who co-owned the Dorrance, a lauded and glitzy upscale restaurant that was among Providence’s most heart-wrenching COVID closures. Lester is back with this ode to his French-Canadian grandmother; the restaurant opened in early 2026 within the newly rechristened Neptune (formerly the Dean Hotel). Say oui to cheese plates, foie gras, coq au vin, and French onion soup. Plus, for that Québécois twist, get the foie gras poutine. Our heart goes on and on.
122 Fountain St., Providence, Rhode Island, ash.world/hotels/neptune/bars-restaurants/memeres.
Mezō Mediterranean. / Photo by Jacquelina Paiva
Mezō Mediterranean (Dedham, MA)
A blue-and-white exterior of this new 25-seat restaurant hides a flower-draped and bright-dining room that whisks diners from Dedham Square to Greece. The service is billed as “fast-fine,” but the menu here features marinated meats and slow-cooked flavors that taste anything but rushed. (And owner George Panagopoulos has recently taken over the neighboring Dedham House of Pizza, which has been in his family for almost 50 years, so while Mezō itself is new, its roots are not.) Find plates that mix Panagopoulos family recipes with street food staples, from traditional moussaka (a layered eggplant dish with ground beef and a creamy sauce) to peppers stuffed with ground beef, herbs, and rice and, of course, all the marinated souvlaki you can scarf. Yes, you can order rotisserie gyro meat wrapped in a fresh pita as an easy handheld to-go lunch. Better yet, tuck in for a while with some pals and make a meal of mezze, small plates meant to be shared. The feta dip packs the right zip, while the stuffed grape leaves are lifted by lemon. The mini cheese pies are so good it’s tempting to just hoard them for yourself.
551 High St., Dedham, Massachusetts, mezodedham.com.
Mystic Fish Camp (Mystic, CT)
Camped out right next to Mystic’s charming and historic bascule bridge, if this counter-service seafood restaurant were any closer to the water, it would be floating in the Mystic River. Mystic Fish Camp opened in summer 2025 and brings the warm-weather vibes all year long. David Standridge—who won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast thanks to neighboring The Shipwright’s Daughter and is an Outstanding Chef nominee in 2026—is a partner at the family-friendly spot, which exudes seafood-shack-meets-camp vibes, from the décor, to the bites, to the merch. Chow down on classic fried fish sandwiches, burgers (beef or tuna patties), and fish and chips. The mermaid fries (doused with sugar kelp salsa verde powder) and the salt-and-vinegar onion rings are a huge lure. Plus, sustainability is a tent-pole of the concept. The poor man’s lobster roll is made with totally sustainable local monkfish, and the green crab bisque turns the invasive crustacean into a tasty meal that also tosses some cash to an environmental nonprofit.
4 E Main St., Mystic, Connecticut, mysticfishcamp.com.
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