Gaetano “Iggy” Gravino started frying clam cakes at Oakland Beach in 1989, working alongside his wife Sally as she perfected her signature Rhode Island red chowder recipe.
Decades of beachside popularity prompted the family to expand their footprint in 2015, opening Iggy’s Boardwalk Lobster & Clam Bar at 885 Oakland Beach Avenue right next to their original walk-up windows.
The sit-down waterfront dining room gives diners an open-air view of Greenwich Bay paired with traditional Ocean State seafood recipes.
Quick Bite – Iggy’s Boardwalk, Warwick, RI 🦞
Fry cooks drop clam fritter batter directly into hot oil until the spheres turn deep golden brown with tender, clam-packed centers.
The stockpots simmer three distinct regional chowders continuously: traditional creamy New England white, tomato-based Manhattan red, and clear-broth Rhode Island style.
That strict attention to coastal seafood traditions earned the kitchen national recognition on CBS’s The Early Show, where their chowder won top honors in the “Taste of America” contest, backing up recurring accolades across Kent County dining circles.
The Local Atmosphere – Iggy’s Boardwalk, Warwick, RI 🌊
Nautical woodwork, open bay-facing windows, and outdoor patio picnic tables shape a relaxed maritime setting steps away from the water.
Summer afternoons draw boaters, beachgoers, and multi-generational families arriving from surrounding towns like Apponaug, Conimicut, Buttonwoods, East Greenwich, and Cranston.
Guests move easily between the dedicated indoor raw bar and full-service dining tables overlooking the shoreline.
Signature Bites – Iggy’s Boardwalk, Warwick, RI 😋
-
Golden Clam Cakes: Deep-fried fritters packed with chopped ocean clams and served piping hot by the half-dozen or dozen.
-
Rhode Island Clam Chowder: Classic clear clam nectar broth simmered with quahogs, potatoes, celery, and served with oyster crackers.
-
Hot Buttered Lobster Roll: Sweet claw and knuckle lobster meat warm in drawn butter, served inside a grilled split-top roll.
-
Sugar & Cinnamon Doughboys: Fresh-fried dough tossed in powdered sugar or cinnamon, served hot in a paper bag.
-
Narragansett Bay Seafood Platter: Generous combination plate of whole-belly clams, sea scallops, shrimp, and fried cod with fries and tartar sauce.
-
Fresh Shucked Local Oysters: Native Rhode Island oysters served raw on the half shell with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.
Takeaway Bite – Iggy’s Boardwalk, Warwick, RI 😎
Dining at 885 Oakland Beach Ave captures over three decades of authentic Narragansett Bay food heritage.
The Gravino family’s preservation of scratch clam batters, multi-style chowder kettles, and beachfront hospitality keeps the boardwalk anchored in local tradition.
That long-standing coastal consistency is why this mom and pops and hole in the wall origin spot remains a staple for Warwick and visitors across New England.
📍: 885 Oakland Beach Ave, Warwick, RI 02889
🕒: Sun-Thu: 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM; Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM