01:00 AM EST on Thursday, March 16, 2006

PUBS

Aidan's Pub & Grub, Bristol Harbor, Bristol. 254-1940; and 1 Broadway, Newport, 845-9311. These extremely popular restaurants feature a nice selection of good beers, most of them from Britain or Ireland; Irish comfort food, such as bangers and mash; excellent fish and chips (especially the chips); and a few fancy items. The architecture in the Newport pub is a more studied reproduction of a pub in Ireland. Casual. Reservations accepted depending on the time of day and size of party in Bristol, but only for 8 or more in Newport. Newport location is wheelchair accessible; Bristol is not. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Parking across the street. V, MC, AE. Highchairs and children's menu. $.

The Black Rose, 160 Station St., Boston. (617) 742-2286. Authentic Irish food, authentic Irish music, authentic Irish atmosphere. Casual. No reservations, but large parties are welcome to call ahead for seating. Not wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. On-street parking. V, MC, AE. Highchairs and children's menu. $.

Blake's Tavern, 122 Washington St., Providence. (401) 274-1230, www.blakestavern.com. Satisfying pub food and hand-cut meats. Casual. Street parking. Handicapped accessible. Highchairs and boosters. AE, DIS, MC, V. Open for lunch and dinner daily. $.

Buskers Irish Pub and Restaurant, 178 Thames St., Newport, 846-5856, www.buskerspub.com. Great beer, comforting food and a jovial atmosphere amid Thames Street's dining spots, coffee shops and boutiques. Casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. High chairs. Open for lunch and dinner daily. V, MC, DIS, AE and DC. Street parking. $.

Coddington Brewing Company, 210 Coddington Highway, Middletown. 847-6690. Hearty beer-friendly food, from nachos to steak to ribs, in an English pub setting. Gleaming tanks used for brewing the excellent ales can be seen from the dining room. Casual. Reservations accepted for 6 or more. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Ample parking. V, MC, AE, DIS. Highchairs and children's menu. $$.

Crowley's Casino Pub, inside La Forge Restaurant, 186 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 847-0418. Irish and American pub food located inside Newport's International Tennis Hall of Fame. Casual. No reservations taken in pub. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner with a Sunday buffet brunch. On-street parking. V, MC, AE. Highchairs and children's menu. $$$.

Game-On, 82 Landsdowne St., Boston, (617) 351-7001, www.gameonboston.com. Sports cafe. Handicapped accessible. Highchairs. A fun place to eat sandwiches, pizza and appetizers before, after or during a Red Sox game with lots of televisions to watch. Open daily, and late, for lunch and dinner. Reservations. On-street parking. V, MC, AE, DC. $$.

Kinsale Irish Pub & Restaurant, 2 Center Plaza, Boston. (617) 742-5577. Inventive twists on traditional Irish food in an elegantly authentic pub that was built in Ireland and shipped to Boston. Casual. Reservations accepted for 10 or more. Wheelchair accessible. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Parking in Center Plaza (free validated parking with purchase of $20 or more). V, MC, AE. Highchairs and children's menu. $$.

Ri-Ra, 50 Exchange Terrace, Providence. 272-1953. An Irish pub, with much of the decor brought over from various locations in Ireland. The scene is American, though, with lots of late-night revelers. Casual. Reservations accepted for six or more. (No reservations accepted on WaterFire nights.) Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. V, MC, AM DC. Discounted validated parking through the Courtyard by Marriott parking garage. Highchairs and children's menu. $$.

Trinity Brewhouse, 186 Fountain St., Providence. 453-2337. The menu is well-mated to the excellent house-brewed ales and there's live music on Wed and Sun nights. They're open late. Casual. Reservations accepted for 7 or more. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Garage or on-street parking. V, MC, AE, DIS. Highchairs and children's menu. $$.

Union Station Brewery, 36 Exchange Terrace, Providence. 274-2739. Now owned by Cambridge's John Harvard Brew House, this was the first brewpub to open in Rhode Island. It sports a casual, brew house atmosphere with well-made food that's fun with the sporty beers. Casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Parking at the Marriott Garage for $6. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC. Highchairs and children's menu. $$

SEAFOOD

Big Fish, 370 Richmond St., Providence. 751-3474. Big Fun. Casual yet classy, a seafood restaurant from the owners of XO Cafe and Ten Prime Steak & Sushi that's a little bit Disney and a little bit Dali. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open Mon-Fri for lunch; daily for dinner. V, MC, AE, DIS. Highchair, booster seats. Free valet daily. $$$.

Bluefin Grille, at the Providence Marriott, Charles and Orms Streets, Providence. 272-5852. An excellent and varied menu and tasteful decor. The emphasis is on fresh seafood, but they serve an array of other items. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted, but not on Sunday mornings. Wheelchair accessible. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days. Parking. V, MC, AE, DC, DIS, CB. EC, RID. Highchairs and children's menu. $$$.

Carrie's, 1035 Douglas Ave., Providence, 831-0066. Excellent seafood in a casual setting. Reservations accepted for parties of six or more. Wheelchair accessible. Open for dinner Tue-Sat, lunch Fri only. V, MC, AE, DIS. Ample parking. $$.

Fathoms, 25 America's Cup Ave., Newport. 849-7788. Good seafood with a million-dollar waterfront view in the Newport Marriott. Smart casual. Reservations suggested, especially if you want a window view. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Lunch and dinner daily, with a late-night menu to midnight in the lounge. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC. Free parking with validation in adjacent Gateway Center lot. $$$.

Hemenway's Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar, One Providence Washington Plaza, Providence. 351-8570. Popular seafood restaurant with the see-and-be-seen crowd. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible, except at the bar. Open for lunch Mon-Sat and dinner daily. Valet parking (free after 5 pm) at adjacent garage or on-street parking. V, MC, AE, DC, DIS. Highchairs. $$$.

Iggy's Doughboys & Chowder House, 889 Oakland Beach Ave., Warwick, 737-9459 (also 1157 Point Judith Rd., Narragansett, (401) 783-5608. Doughboys, fried seafood, chowder and stuffies in a clamshack overlooking Greenwich Bay. Casual. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Open daily for lunch and dinner. V, MC, AE. Free parking. No liquor license. $.

Legal Sea Foods, 2099 Post Rd., Warwick. 732-3663. This restaurant, the first of the famous Boston-based chain to open in Rhode Island, lives up to its reputation as a purveyor of fresh, delicious seafood. Casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Ample parking. V, MC, AE, DC, DIS, CB. Highchairs and children's menu. Braille and Japanese menus also available. $$.

LePage's Seafood & Grille, 439 Martine St. (Route 6), Fall River. (508) 677-2180. From fish and chips or fried clams to bouillabaisse, you'll find good, fresh seafood in this pleasant restaurant and lounge on the shore of Watuppa Pond. Casual. Reservations accepted. Bathrooms not wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Ample parking. MC, V, AE, DIS. Highchairs and children's menu. $$.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, in the Providence Biltmore, 11 Dorrance St., Providence. 351-4500. Fresh seafood, from local and international sources. Upscale chain. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. $$$.

Phoebe's, 663 Fall River Ave., Seekonk. (508) 336-6295. This homey, simple seafood restaurant near the Showcase Cinema complex has served a loyal clientele for almost three decades. Try the fish 'n' chips or fried clams, and the homemade fruit pies and desserts. Casual. No reservations, but call ahead to check on wait time. Wheelchair accessible. Open Tue-Wed for dinner only; Thu-Sat for lunch and dinner. On-street and lot parking. V, MC, DIS. Highchairs. No special children's menu, but they will accommodate. $$.

Providence Oyster Bar, 283 Atwells Ave., Providence. 272-8866. Exceptionally prepared seafood (with a raw bar) as well as other landlubbing favorites, in a high-energy, bistro atmosphere. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted Mon-Thu; Fri-Sat for parties of 8 or more only. Wheelchair accessible. Open Tue-Fri for lunch and dinner, Mon & Sat for dinner only. Valet and on-street parking. V, MC, AE. Highchairs. $$.

Scales & Shells, 527 Thames St., Newport. 846-3474, www.scalesandshells.com. Contemporary casual seafood. Open for dinner daily except Mon. No credit cards. Checks and cash only. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Parking on street or in adjacent Wellington Resort lot with validation. $$$.