meatball

My wife and I will be in Newport, R.I. this weekend for 3 lunches and 2 dinners. We are leaving the kids with their grandparents, so we are looking forward to some "big people" restaurants! Anyone have any suggestions for some places to eat that I don't have to wear a jacket to? A nice place for breakfast on Sunday would be great too! Thanks for any help.

cwojo99

I am traveling right now but will post where we stayed in Rhode Island. The area is GREAT!

Make sure you eat clam chowder...totally authentic...

If you haven't finalized plans...take a couple nights to stay on Block Island, part of the state, but on an ISLAND and far removed. We stayed and will be returning. It is a great escape...a ton of fun and beautiful views.

Kehsutton

Doubt you'll have time to do Block Island. Better to stay in Newport for the '3 lunches and 2 dinners'. We're frequent visitors and I would highly recommend the following:
Dinners: Peurini's, Asterix and Obelisk, Tucker's Bistro, and The Place. None require a jacket, all are excellent and local, authentic and none too touristy. Newport eateries, especially along Thames St. can be way over priced with only semi-decent food.
For Lunch: Roof deck at the Viking Inn, Yesterdays, La Boulangerie, The Casino (Newport's famed Tennis Hall of Fame-sit outside next to the historic grass courts) and/or picking up a sandwich at the Market Gourmet and heading over to Second beach for a picnic or a stroll down the Cliff Walk.

EmilyC

If you like clam chowder at all, try lunch in the casual room at the Black Pearl - award winning chowder. For one lunch, I would get something from Panera Bread on Thames and head out to Ocean Drive or specifically, to Fort Adams and enjoy my lunch there.
For nice but expensive dinners - Castle Hill Inn (reservations needed), 22 Bowen(also need reservations). Will you have a car?

OO

I 2nd Castle Hill, for either lunch or dinner. It is absolutely the best meal we've ever had in Newport.

I didn't really care for Black Pearl's clam chowder. It was too thick...ickily so (IMHO).

I've got the best chowder recipe, given to me by a friend who was born and raised in RI. It has spoiled my family for most other versions:

2 cans whole baby clams
2 cans minced clams
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 onion chopped
1 bay leaf
4 good sized potatoes, cubed
milk and or 1/2 & 1/2
1 Tbl cornstarch

Fry bacon in bottom of heavy soup pot. Add onion and cook til soft. Open and drain all cans of clams, reserving liquid in measuring cup. Rinse clams and add that liquid. Add potatoes to soup pot with clam liquids and cook until potatoes are done (abt 7 min from coming to a boil). Add 2 C milk or 1 C milk and 1 C 1/2 & 1/2. Turn off stove and let cure: let cool uncovered, then cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Warm up: add 1 more C milk, thicken with 1 T cornstarch. Bring to just below a simmer before serving.

I always do the first part with 1 C milk and ! C half and half. I've tried using another C 1/2 &12 in the last step just once. It made it too rich...not in a good way...which is sort of the way I felt about Black Pearl's recipe. This one is yummy--a highly requested family favorite.

wyatt92

For a great casual lunch or dinner, I recommend the Red Parrot on Thames St. Scales and Shells, also on Thames, is great seafood for dinner--but they take cash-only.

mrwunrfl

tagging along on this thread as I am going there soon and want to read this thread later

John_T_Cuttino

Lunches: La Forge (next to Tennis Hall of Fame); REd Parrot; Outside at Black Pearl; Brick Alley Pub
Dinner: (Elegant: Castle Hill Inn; White Horse Tavern; The Spiced Pear; Tuckers Bistro. More casual: Scales and Shells, Sardellas (Italian), The Clark Cooke Candy House; 22 Bowen.
For a great bar: Castle Hill Inn lawn (during daylight)
Sunday brunch: Castle Hill Inn

meatball

Thank you all so much for all of your input! We have gone and made reservations at 22 Bowen for Friday night, and are looking into Castle Hill Inn. We were hoping to hear some jazz while we are there, is The Red Parrot the best place for that? We are staying at the Jail House Inn, and although we will have a car, something within walking distance is preferred! Thanks again!

enjoylife

I highly recommend Scales and Shells. Good food, good drinks and good service.

Kehsutton

The original poster was looking for restaurants that don't require jackets. So, bearing that in mind, that eliminates Castle Hill and the Spice Pear for dinner. That said, I agree with previous posters that if one can, one must go to Castle Hill, for just a pre-dinner cocktail, a seat on the lawn, and a spectacular, quintessential Newport, Narragansett Bay view (complete with boat traffic, sea air, etc.). Also, depending on your palate and demands of cuisine, I really would highly recommend avoiding restaruants on upper Thames. They are touristy, they are crowded, and the food is not worth the cost.

My husband (grew up across the bay in Wickford, RI) and I go to Newport nearly every weekend-we're from Boston. Drop the kids off at the in-laws and head off for the 'big people' fun. This almost always includes a drink at Castle Hill to watch the sunset and then dinner at any of the previously mentioned spots. We've tried others, believe me, but have learned to avoid some due to the summer crowd and poor service that tends to exist in Newport. I think we've sort of found the inside scoop on better spots to go. IMHO.

John_T_Cuttino

Try the Newport Blues Cafe. I hear the best jazz/music. Right on Thames.

EmilyC

Just ate at Castle Hill a few weeks ago - inside. Hubby did not wear a jacket. I was quite surprised to see a few people in jeans and shorts as well.

Liz5959

You don't say if you want traditional Sunday brunch type breakfasts or not...I think the best breakfast in Newport is at Norey's on Broadway. More likely to see locals vs tourists there. I think that one of the best Sunday Brunches is at the Bay Voyage on Jamestown. Requires a trip over the Newport Bridge, $2.00 each way.

The nice thing about the Black Pearl is that they have a variety of restaurant options to fit all needs. There is the outside shack that only sells drinks, hot dogs and chowder, an outside very casual dining area, an inside casual dining(The Tavern) and inside upscale dining (Commodore's Room). The soft shell crabs I had last week in the Commodore's Room were excellent. And, although our party all had jackets on, there were men there without jackets, it was about 50-50. And, I think their chowder is by far the best in Newport with the distinctive addition of dill. And, just for a little Newport gossip, Norey is ex-wife of the owner of the Black Pearl....

And, to correct a comment by kehsutton, if you were to buy sandwiches from the Market to walk to a beach, it would be First Beach (aka Easton's Beach). Second Beach would not be walkable from the Market. Although, picking up sandwichs and driving to 2nd beach would be a great idea. Parking on weekends at 1st beach is $10 and I think I saw that 2nd beach was charging the outrageous fee of $20 to park...

One more suggestion would be the Atlantic Beach Club at the end of first beach, officially in Middletown. Outdoor patio overlooking the water, decent food, very casual, bands at night. Inside seemed more fussy, and at night probably did need a jacket. But, you should call and ask if it was required.

Have fun.

EmilyC

For additional info on Newport, www.gonewport.com.
Have a great weekend and be sure to post a report. Weather is supposed to be very hot this weekend!!

meatball

Thank you all again for all of your help. Just getting ready to pack the bags now, and am really looking forward to some time away. Will post again next week and let you know how it all turned out. Will also be able to comment on The Jail House Inn for those that might be interrested. Thanks again!