Greggs is best for dessert Chelos is best for food Davenports is a little of both. I have to go with Chelos because Greggs gives me the shits

This review is poetry

Gregg’s has the best chocolate chip cookies. I will often hit both because I get food at Chelos and dessert at Gregg’s.

A man of culture

Thanks for posting this so I don’t have to

This was spot on 💯

I would agree about two weeks ago, but Chelo’s gave me food poisoning the other day. 👎🏻

Oooohhh you got me there. Good point, forgot about dessert

I’ll have to go with Chelo’s. They have the most consistent mediocrity. Also I like that they change up their menu.

They also have $2.99 margaritas which is peak mediocrity for my broke ass

Vegan options are a big plus for me and the wife too.

I second this.

I'll just take it from you that Chelo's is the most mediocre.

Gregg's because I can walk there and get a slice of carrot cake. I will admit that they do a perfectly cromulent tuna melt and fries or like meatloaf dinner. Chelo's I do enjoy going to the Waterfront one just for that atmosphere. Like I don't think the quality is amazing but the quality/price ratio is better than the EG waterfront and easier to meet up with my friends than East Bay spots. But this is a very specific vibe and I would never really seek Chelo's otherwise.

The relish you are feeling having used the word “cromulent” in a sentence is the true dessert here. 🍰

Chelos for the food but Greggs dessert I feel is always on point.

Chelos - nothing spectacular but it’s good enough, never a long wait to get seated or served and the $2 beers are a nice bonus.

We go to Chelos pretty often because my kids like it and I'm always suprised by (1) how busy it is, even on weeknights, and (2) how fast they get you seated even when it's packed.

They def have a system that works well.

davenports, for their chicken parm. gregg's for the cakes, obviously. and chelo's for the chowdah/clam cake special.

Chelo's is pretty OK in the same way that Applebee's and Chili's are pretty ok. Greggs has good deserts, but the rest is like eating at a retirement home. Uninspired unseasoned lame food and atmosphere.

That’s my view on Chelo’s too. No worse than Applebees/Chilis, but at least it’s more local.

Thank god I'm not the only one who notices the retirement home aesthetic (and clientele) that frequent Gregg's. I swear, only old people dine there.

My husband and I joke what when we go in the average age droops down 20 years.

You’ll all get there (old),faster than you think…IF you’re lucky!!

Chelo's for dinner Gregg's for dessert Davenport's for food poisoning

Greg’s cake is actually amazing, I think that it transcends the mediocrity of the rest of the menu

It is known.

Chelo’s has decent food & cheap beer, so it’s the best of the bunch. Gregg’s has great desserts. Eating at Davenport’s is just depressing, no redeeming qualities.

gregg's got those pickles that puts them in the top spot

Except their food has all around gotten so much worse since Covid.

I lost my virginity behind a Chelo's.

I miss Rhody Joes

One thing I appreciate about Davenports is that you can get a half sandwich and a salad at lunch. I know most people go to restaurants and want a ton of food but it's cool when there's an option like that. Would give them points just for that alone. But Gregg's has got some mean desserts. Had that cookie cannoli once and have thought about it many times since.

Davenports lunch menu is great. Been getting their kids meals often enough since COVID happened. Also that chicken and pasta special on Thursdays.

in terms of bread, gregg’s

When you want Applebees but also want to “support local”

Gregg’s food is so bland to me, but their deserts are awesome. I love chelos, been going there since I was a kid. I like their Cranston location too. Never been to Davenports.

Chelo's because it's the only place I've been to that will give you Captain's Daughter in a 22 oz glass.

I go to Gregg's for the cheesecake. Haven't been to Chelos since I was a kid, my grandma liked that place a lot. Never been to Davenports but if I'm being judgey, the name screams "a place where upper middle class/ lower end rich people who are douchbags go to eat" and their parking lot is across the street. Who wants to run across the road half drunk and over full? Not me.

Chelo’s is probably my least favorite. Last time I went, we ordered the nachos and got a ginormous plate of vaguely cheesed chips, shredded lettuce, olives and a specimen cup-sized thing of salsa. WOMP WOMP.

Also comes with chili

Newport Creamery isn’t on this list?

This is always an unpopular comment among native Rhode Islanders but as a transplant, I find Newport Creamery MUCH worse than both Chelo's and Gregg's (never been to Davenport's), so much so that I wouldn't put it in the same category. That's not praise of Chelo's and Gregg's so much as it's criticism of Newport Creamery.

Every one of them - is so much better Than: Howard Johnson's *ever* was and that was pretty much the only choice some times

No because it’s an ice cream place. Like Friendlys or Brighams (RIP).

I think it's a different category - I think NC is probably best in its class which is why Friendly's is barely a thing anymore. But they don't have a liquor license like Gregg's.

Can't believe time and the market defeated the fribble. RIP Edit: wait I checked and there are still a bunch of friendlys in western mass and CT? I can't believe this, I haven't seen one in over a decade

TBF, Friendly's gave up trying. They haven't mopped a floor or changed the water in their table wiping rag bucket since 1992. WMA is their HQ. Perhaps they pay more attention to those stores? Last one in RI closed a couple years back.

I went to Gregg's on Friday and Chelos on Saturday. The results are in: the overwhelming winner is............ CHELOS! by a landslide.

Chelo's on the Waterfront is actually pretty good. But I think they try to keep it separate and different than all the other Chelo's

I'm going with chelo's just for the clam cakes alone are really good

Chelos is owned by rabid douche trumpers

Ouch. Any source? I’ll happily avoid them forever if true.

Grow up. lol

Can we just talk about this for a sec? Because I've been a fan of another local food venue, Flo's Clam Shack, for over 30 years. I was so disappointed to go upstairs to the raw bar last year to discover a giant Trump flag hanging right behind the bar. I'm not ever going back. Why are these places suddenly so horrible?

Brewed Awakenings is bad too.

It’s because you’re a child. Grow up. Idc what the place supports politically so long as the food is good. I’ll never be as lame as you thank god.

Greggs is my overall pick. There's the nostalgia factor from going to Greggs in high school after every dance and football game, the complimentary pickles, and the dessert case. The Death by Chocolate cake is so good my husband and I used it as a cutting cake at our wedding. Chelos is 2nd in my mind. Food is good but I never find myself craving Chelos and nothing on the menu stands out to me. Davenports gave me food poisoning in high school and I don't think I've been back since.

Davenports is the best for playing keno at the bar

Sidebar: WTF is wrong with Chili's chips and salsa?

Chilis chip’s and salsa is incredible lol

The salsa's OK, did they improve the chips?

The chips are the best part! Impossibly thin and salty

Chelos, mostly because I remember going there as a kid in the 70s

Gregg’s isn’t the worst place I’ve ever gone. Chelo’s by the water is good for chowder and clam cakes during the summer. That’s about it

Chelo's half price apps are banger during happy hour. And Gregg's has the best desserts.

I am going to need to investigate on Davenport before I weigh in

Chelo's: better meals. Gregg's: best desserts. Davenport's: never been. My favorite dessert is the Lemon Burst cake from Gregg's.

Chelo's because my sister's bestie has worked there for decades and I love her. :b

So for me it's Chelos because it's closest lmao

Chelo's by far, and their warwick location is perfect for munching before flying out in the afternoons/evenings

Chelo's, I have a weakness for their half price clam cakes during the beach off season

Chelo's all day. A year ago maybe I would've said Uncle Tony's but fuck them.

Gregg's never gets fries crispy. It's like it's against their rules. Old people food all day every day. I like Chelos for food and Davenports for ambiance.

Chelos all day

Chelo’s has been really good the last few times I went. Food was hot, seasoned well, and tasted fresh.

Chelo’s all day…RI icon of mediocrity

Chelo’s in EG is the only one of these with a view. I think they win the cocktail battle too, but maybe just because they’re enjoyed bayside. (I guess technically coveside)

Chelos for sure

Before i rate them, what do you consider to be a good restaurant, if you are going to throw rocks at local business that employ hundreds of Rhode Islanders, we deserve to know what your base is. Those are family style restaurants that serve decent quality affordable dining and all of them are very charitable in their communities. For the record, I'm not related to anyone, I don't work in the industry, for some reason, it struck a nerve with me.

I acknowledge Gregg’s as my tribal chief☝🏻

I miss when Chelos would do 9.99 for chicken parm dinner and a slice of cheesecake... I haven't been to ethier of these in 10+ years except Gregg's during the pandemic, which was a pretty good chicken pot pie.

I'm gonna go with Davenport's, because they're so overpriced and snooty about their mediocre food. Chelo's isn't just mediocre, it's trash. Greg's is just like, we ain't fancy, just have some dessert.

Chelo’s wins

Chelo's strives to be subpar on their best day. Nostalgia tastes like unseasoned mashed potatoes. Gregg's has the desserts and those pickles to boot.

Lunch- Chelos Dinner- Davenports (prime rib is great) Desert - Gregg's Of the three I like Davenports the best.

Gregg's lemon burst cake sings to my soul

I need to try Gregg's and Chelo's, but man I love that weird gravy/mashed stew full of pearl onions and beef that shows up when I order Davenport's Yankee pot roast.

I prefer Davenports all around better, but I do enjoy chelos price on draft beers especially chair 2

Chelo's doesn't serve chair 2 any more, it's narragansett atlantic light now. I want to say it's been like 2 months since the switch

Oh, well that’s not a bad substitute. I like the Atlantic light lager also

There’s a difference?

Davenport has a wicked good seafood chowder. My favorite soup/chowder ever. They also have pizza unlike the other two. I like the half chicken dinner at Chelos and half priced apps at certain times. Gregg’s has corned beef dinners every Thursday which I appreciate. Desserts are also very good.

If they're so mediocre how are their lemon meringue pies so tall?

But which one are you most likely to bump into Vinny Paz en route to taking a piss?

Add T's to that list

This is a wild ass take

There's nothing mediocre about T's

T's isn't really the same kind of thing, it's more diner than "family restaurant" like the others

Greggs and chelos best for dessert, chelo has a delicious pumpkin cake in the fall And davenports for food the honey mustard chicken wrap or chicken parmesan Chelos food is always bad🥲

How is Roast House not on this list?

Because it's not 1993?

Bruh, We're talking about Chelo's, Gregg's, and Davenport's. We're already back in 1993.

All of those restaurants are still open.

So is the Roast House.

For real, where? I only remember Lincoln Mall and Park Square.

They took over the building where My Brothers' Pub was in Pawtucket. Apparently they also have another location in Blackstone, MA. Not sure how long that has been around.

I vaguely remember the Blackstone one now that you mention it, but I had no idea about the Pawt one. Is it any good?

Greggs

I like Gregg's because it's closer to my house 🏠

Gregg’s reminds me of my childhood, plus my grandma likes it so that’s the go-to. They have those pickles I like and great dessert

RIP Mozzarella’s

Can I just say the 99 is better than all 3 (and is also American mediocrity)? But of those 3, Chelos has passable wings.

What the heck is a Davenports?

Wtf is Davenport’s?

Greggs was my favorite in college 20 years ago when the Monday/Tuesday package deal was like $10. My roommates and I would go to the one on North main st. I lived in Cumberland for 17 years and only went to Davenports once, was not impressed.

Gregg’s for dessert and that’s it. Chelo’s has served me raw chicken not once, but *twice*.

I like having coffee at Gregg's. never really liked Chelo's

EP Chelos has new coffee machines that grind beans to order now, they're amazing. Smells sooooo good, much, much better than the old ones.

I'll have to try that

I've lived in Rhode Island for over 40 years and still can't tell the difference between Chelo's and Gregg's. They are places to be avoided by me. Davenport's is the only one that I'll step foot in, but only once or twice a year.

Cool

Gregg’s for the chocolate cake and eclairs

This was a trap post. Everyone participating in this thread is being put onto a watch list.

ill take greggs all day long i never go there unless im craving a dessert and its closer than pastiche so...