Foodie pit stops for your next East Bay Bike Path adventure

From India Point to Bristol, the East Bay Bike Path attracts a score of cyclists and trekkers for the scenic sights and exercise gains, especially as the fall weather sets in. But whether you’re a fitness junkie or get your rush from tasty eats, the popular trail veers into its fair share of foodie destinations along the way. Broken down by town, here’s a handful of pit stops offering energizing fare that are just off the beaten path.

RIVERSIDE

Borealis Coffee

In the historic Riverside Square, Borealis is ideal for cyclists just hopping on the path in need of a cuppa to get the gears going. While known for their small batch roasts and iced coffee, a new menu also includes breakfast sandwiches and specialty toasts. 250 Bullocks Point Avenue, BorealisCoffee.com

Dari-Bee Ice Cream

The giant swirled scoop and glowing “OPEN” sign stand as a beacon for frozen treats. Park in the bike rack out front and snag a picnic table in the shade to enjoy a well-deserved sundae, soft serve, or slushie – all calories are freebies after the miles you’ll walk or pedal! 240 Bullocks Point Avenue

Union Burrito

Handheld snacks like burritos, quesadillas, and bowls from this fast-casual Mexican restaurant are a great choice for lunch on the go. Chef Wendy Henriques developed these recipes from her childhood in the Domican Republic, which can be enjoyed in a spacious outdoor patio. 326 Bullocks Point Avenue, UnionBurrito.com

PARK: Riverside Square | PICNIC: Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Scenic Overlook

BARRINGTON

Bagel’s Etc.

A lunch detour along County Road offers plenty of options to refuel, but the “Etc.” in Bagels Etc. should cover just about any craving, from paninis and wraps to coffee and tea. Island Oasis or V8 Fusion smoothies come packed with fresh fruit. 259 County Road, BagelsEtcBarrington.com

Spaghetti Lane

A narrow paved path not far from the County Road intersection takes you to Wood Avenue, where you’ll find Spaghetti Lane. This neighborhood Italian joint is great for carbo-loading, and on a chilly fall day, nothing beats soup specials or a warm sandwich. 8 Anoka Avenue, SpaghettiLane.com

The Daily Scoop

With over a dozen flavors on the board, along Map out your snack breaks before hitting the East Bay Bike Path

with frozen yogurt and Rhode Island-staple “cabinets” or coffee sundaes, this ice cream stop has something for everyone, from carrot cake to pumpkin pie flavors. 230 County Road, Facebook: The Daily Scoop

PARK: County Road PICNIC: Haines Memorial State Park or Veterans Memorial Park

A burger from Hunky Dory is the perfect cycling pick-me-up

WARREN

Del’s Lemonade

“Stop at the sign of the lemon,” as they say, and grab a green and yellow paper cup of refreshing Del’s, available in watermelon, blueberry, peach melon, and other fruity flavors – or your classic frozen lemonade. 65 Child Street, Dels.com

Hunky Dory

Make a reservation for a garden patio table, or put in a takeout order of pimiento cheese and other snacks from this diner slinging farm-totable Southern cuisine. A new brunch menu includes zucchini bread, peach parfaits, and chicken biscuits for the morning cruiser. 40 Market Street, HunkyDoryRI.com

The Taco Box

Pico de gallo, adobo sauce, protein, and veg top wood-fired crust instead of a tortilla – this is the taco-pizza fusion you can find at Taco Box, a renovated horse trailer conveniently hitched up along the path. Brake for their fall special, street corn! 75 Child Street, TacoBoxTrailer.com

Sowams Cider Works

Though not your typical on-the-go fare, Sowams Cider Works offers a chance to sit back and savor locally made hard cider outside or at their vintage Victorian bar. Stay for a tasting or try a pour of Orchard Blend No. 77, a light variety with a smooth fruit character and pleasant sparkle. 98 Child Street, SowamsCiderWorks.com

PARK: Railroad Avenue or Franklin Street PICNIC: Warren Town Beach or Burr’s Hill Park

BRISTOL

The Beach House

At the very end of the bike path for folks traveling south, The Beach House is a great way to round out the day with a cold beer and a little indulgence, whether that means Fish & Chips or a Surf & Turf Burger with buttered lobster meat, from a waterfront outdoor bar while the sun sets. 805 Hope Street, TheBeachHouseRI.com

The Beehive Cafe

A popular destination for walkers and cyclists, with bike racks right outside, The Beehive Cafe serves breakfast and lunch all day, with house-made breads and pastries. Covered outdoor dining is perfect for a rest, or grab a coffee and quick bite to hit the trail. 10 Franklin Street, TheBeehiveCafe.com

Hope Diner

Looking for a hearty breakfast before a day of coasting along the coast? Eggs, sausage, toast, and home fries or a stack of pancakes are among the classic diner fare you’ll find here, along with a cuppa joe to fuel your jaunt. 742 Hope Street, Facebook: Hope Diner

PARK: Asylum Road PICNIC: Independence Park or Colt State Park

Farm Fresh Fare in Stellar Surroundings

Exeter’s Celestial Café serves up five courses of locally sourced, elevated comfort food

By Jenny Currier

Each month for over a decade, Branden Read, chef and co-owner of Celestial Café in Exeter, has been hosting a local farm dinner series highlighting the seasonal bounty of Rhode Island’s farms, fisheries, and food purveyors like vineyards and creameries. Five courses and a craft cocktail are served in a spacious open dining room with wooden floors and nautically blue walls. When my friend and I visited, large picture windows doused the space with that perfect “magic hour” lighting.

Though the evening’s prix fixe farm dinner menu of a soup, salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert sounded like it would be plenty, our server provided us with an a la carte menu, too, just in case. After seeing Sweet Potato Wontons, we were sold on a bit of indulgence.

But first, drinks. Even these were local Rhode Island to the core, including an ale from Tilted Barn and a prosecco from Gooseneck Vineyards. The cocktail, called The First Must-Try Items (a la carte)

SWEET POTATO WONTONS

Steamed wontons, Schartner Farm sweet potato, Narragansett Creamery ricotta, roasted Cedar Valley Farm garlic sherry cream

GARLICKY SMOKED PORK NOODLES

Pulled Pat’s Pastured Pork, smoked Kielbasa, sweet red onions, Farmer Co-Op mixed greens, microgreens, sweet and spicy peppers, Narragansett Creamery sharp cheese, rice noodles (GF)

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

Served warm with a housemade gelato (GF)

To sample local fall harvests, the next Farm Dinners at Celestial Café are happening September 16-19 and October 14-17.

Encounter, was made with Sons of Liberty whiskey, mixed with honey liqueur, muddled mint, and a rhubarb-lime reduction. It tasted like a whiskey mojito. It was refreshing and perfect for day drinking, which is not usually how I think about whiskey.

The soup was an asparagus bisque, which was so outstandingly good, it deserves an ode: “This perfectly savory balance / of garlic and salt and fresh cream / extracts the essence of asparagus / better than I could have dreamed.” It takes a lot for asparagus to woo me into poetry. Chef Branden won me over at course one. Our second plate was a light and refreshing salad with feta, pickled beets, and a lemon and olive oil dressing that I would love to buy in bottled form.

The appetizer also featured asparagus, along with shiitake and portobello mushrooms, sauteed in chili oil and served with rice dumpling pasta. The spiciness of this course complemented our add-on Sweet Potato Wontons, which I highly recommend. Mark said it’s one of the most popular appetizers. “I’ll go to check on a table and the wontons will already be gone,” he explains. “People eat them like candy.”

The main dish – a smoked brisket, shredded and topped with pickled slaw, green garlic mayo, and housemade BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun – is served with a green onion, saffron, dill, and turmeric potato salad. Simply put, it’s the definition of “elevated comfort food.” I felt transported to my youth, eating Sloppy Joes in my backyard, except this was a refined adult experience. That brisket! I’d like to start a petition to make it a permanent menu item.

To end, we had Rhubarb Meringue Pie, which I could have sworn was topped with toasted marshmallows instead of meringue. Light and sweet, it was the kind of dessert you can trick yourself into eating even when you’re full because it’s not too heavy. It was the perfect way to conclude our meal.

If I had to rate this dinner on a scale, I would say Celestial Café earns its name: I’d give it all the stars.

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