I have been to The Nordic Lodge in Rhode Island, an all you can eat restaurant, several times. It’s arguably the best all you can eat seafood buffet restaurant in New England. The first was my 21st birthday, and the second time was when I graduated college. Both times, the cost was covered by my parents (you’ll understand why I say this later). This most recent trip to the Nordic Lodge was a different experience for me. Allow me a latitude of explanation.
One day, while heading to the file room at my job. My co-worker (we’ll call her Cathy) had mentioned that she wanted to go to the Nordic Lodge. Me being me, I said, “Well, why don’t you go?” She stated she didn’t have anyone to go with. So, I said pick a date, and I’ll go with you. It is highly unusual for me to be willing to do things with work people on non-work time. I’m the type that needs a clear distinction between home and work life to have some semblance of balance, but I like Cathy so I thought, “Hey, why not?” Cathy excitedly looked at the calendar and said what about the Saturday after next? I was down with it, and the date was set for 9/2.
The Morning Of
I awoke at 10 a.m. and lollygagged around the house until about 11 a.m. before getting dressed. I couldn’t quite figure out what to wear that would be comfortable enough for me to feel cute and allow me room for my clothes to stretch as I devoured plates and plates of food. It was quite the conundrum.
Tip
- Opt for sweatpants with a loose band and loose- fitting underwear like granny panties. Wear the most flexible shirt you have that you don’t mind getting dirty as food is bound to drop.
The next dilemma I faced was coming up with an eating plan. You only get two hours to stuff your face, so you need a plan. I mulled over various strategies for consuming as much food as possible. I finally settled on the following:
- No bread
- No liquid
- No meat
- All the seafood I can stand
- Eat dessert till I puke
Sounded like a feasible plan, so I hopped in my little blue Jeep Patriot and headed down the highway on the 50-minute trip to Charlestown, RI.
The Drive to The Nordic Lodge
Since reservations are not required, we wanted to ensure we could meet quickly, so we decided to meet at the restaurant as soon as they opened at 1 p.m. I left my house at noon, okay; shortly after noon, I headed down Interstate 95 and rode down RI-2. The view is absolutely majestic. There is a stark difference between city air and non-city air. You could smell nature, and it smelled delectable! Everything smelled of sweet, fragrant flowers; the grass was a vibrant green, and towering trees were lined everywhere! Part of me wanted to take up residence with the cows! To say that the scenery made the time fly by is an understatement.
Arriving to the Restaurant
As I stated earlier, I have been to the Nordic Lodge, but somehow, I missed what I happened to see this time. Immaculate gardening, fire pits, hammocks, rocking chairs, lush grass, picnic tables, corn-hole equipment, and a luscious lake! For an all-you-can-eat restaurant, Nordic Lodge might be one of the best waterfront restaurants in RI.
Tip
- Arrive early, preferably when they open, to avoid long wait times.
- Schedule enough time to enjoy the scenic view on your way to the Nordic Lodge.
After taking in the rich scenery, it was time to connect with Cathy. I texted her to let her know I had arrived, and we met at the restaurant entrance. She introduced me to her friend (We’ll call him Jay), and we headed inside the restaurant.
Let’s Eat
The Nordic Lodge buffet cost, hold on to your hats, a whopping $135 per person with tip included in the pricing (as of September 2023). Yes, you read that right! There’s no way to sugarcoat that price, but the menu is out of this world! Nordic Lodge is different from your ordinary run-of-the-mill buffet. This restaurant is a gourmet buffet at its finest. You have two hours to consume some of the most delicious food you will ever taste. Imagine feasting on lobster, Alaskan crab, and prime rib until you drop into a food-comatose state. Are you having a hard time imagining it? Yeah, I know. Can you imagine food going on for miles? Neither can I, but I thought it did!
Nordic Lodge has something for everyone: steak, seafood, chicken, vegetables, fruit, salad, fried food, baked food, grilled food, and all of it is fresh food, and I dare not mention the vast array of desserts. My mouth is watering as I recall my experience. Two hours of a pallet paradise may be too much for a person to handle.
I started my meal with four large shrimp cocktails, three oysters, two stuffed mushrooms, and a lobster. After delightful table talk, I progressed to lobster mac and cheese, mussel salad, calamari salad, clams, stuffed mushrooms (I love some mushrooms), and honey chicken wings. I stayed clear of the red meat but had to indulge in fried shrimp, scallops, and lobster fritters. Talk about yummy yummy yummy to your tummy tummy tummy! To conclude my meal, I went to town on a white chocolate macadamia cookie topped with butter pecan ice cream and chocolate-covered strawberries. Ah! Dessert is my heaven on earth!
The Best Part
The best part of this experience was taking the time to enjoy great food with great people. I rarely engage with people who are not my close friends. However, this experience has shown me a beautiful world full of vibrant people willing to share in dialogue if given the opportunity. I’m glad Cathy just happened to be speaking out loud that day about desiring to go to Nordic Lodge, and I am so happy that she brought Jay with her. Without their presence, my experience this time wouldn’t have been nearly as remarkable.
Update
I often preach about the need to save money over yolo (you only live once), but there are times when you need to stop and enjoy life and this was definitely one of those occasions.
Tip
- Go with an open heart to have a wonderful dining experience with your company and the people around you.
Wrapping It Up
If you are ever in Rhode Island craving delicious gourmet food, look no further than Nordic Lodge to enjoy fantastic scenery, food, and conversation. After eating your fill, head over to the hammocks, like I did, and rest your feet while you take in the beautiful sights. You’ll be glad you did.
I went to the Nordic Lodge in Nov 2023 The food was great There was so much to choose from I have eaten lobster in awhile I had lobster and corn mac in cheese bone less chicken Then i had desert I got sick Z I shouldnt of eaten lobster
There is an abundance to choose from at The Nordic Lodge! So sorry to read that you became ill. I was ill as well on my last trip, but I think it was because I ate too much!