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Clam cakes

What: These clam fritters are as dear to Rhode Islanders’ hearts as, well, stuffed clams and clam chowder. Notice a theme here? Misshapen balls of fried dough, golden-crispy on the outside and steamy-soft on the inside, they are more akin to beignets with the addition of ground clams than other seafood “cakes,” like crab cakes. Definitely a guilty pleasure, and lots of fun to eat come summertime.

Where: Clam shack Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowderhouse (two locations including 889 Oakland Beach Ave., Warwick, map) are fried-food specialists, making it the perfect place to get your clam cake on.

When: Sun-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm (only the Iggy's in Warwick is open year-round)

Order: Get your clam cakes ($4.29/$7.99 for 6/12)—they’re nice and crispy and meaty here—and pair it with a clear chowder (and a local soda, like cream or sarsaparilla, by Yacht Club Soda). Follow that up with some hot, sugary doughboys. Now do yourself a favor and take a walk.

Alternatively: Aunt Carrie’s Seafood Restaurant (1240 Ocean Rd., Point Judith, map), family-owned since 1920 in Narangansett, is a great spot for clam cakes, serving a chunky specimen a stone’s throw from the beach.