Hello all,
My husband and I will be traveling to Newport, RI at the end of October for a week.
We are looking for some good places to eat, where the locals would go to. Looking for some good chowder and mussels.

Also, I'd love to find some local pottery shops in the area if you know of any, and is there anything we "need not miss" while we are there?
Thanks so much

Hi...Not exactly an answer to your question but wanted you to know that a short ferry ride or car to the very small island of Jamestown.eat at Simpatico or the Bay Voyage Inn overlooking the water and Newport Bridge.. would be a fun thing to do.. or a visit to the village of Wickford, lots of shops, boats, very quaint. Need a car though about 15min from Newport for both areas. Have fun!

audinflorida

We've lived in MA for 6yrs and have only been to Newport once - so I am by no means an expert, I think that happens when you live locally, there is always the chance to visit next weekend

We ate at the Red Parrot - food with a caribbean twist http://www.redparrotrestaurant.com/P...52404_menu.pdf

Have fun

Here's a second vote for a short trip over to Jamestown and the very special Bay Voyage Inn with it's wonderful mix of great food, views and history.

Also, in Jamestown a local favorite is Chopmist Charlies..not posh but very good.

One of the best spots for fresh fish and shellfish is "Scales and Shells" on Thames Street. Some entrees are mesquite grilled, and the grilled Toro Tuna is one of their best dishes. An appetizer of sicilian clams is terrific. The downside of this restaurant is that it can be noisy and you must pay by cash or check. No reservations, either.
The chowder at the Black Pearl is terrific but many local restaurants have great chowder...
If you will have a car, there is great seafood at Chopmist Charlie's in Jamestown. As a local, one of the best spots for fish is Duffy's Tavern in North Kingstown - about 30 minutes from Newport. You can get loys of info at "gonewport.com" Have a great trip!

I'll add the Rhumbline to the list of restaurants. Also Salas is a good "locals" spot for seafood and italian.
As far as "don't miss" things, EmilyC gave you the best place to start in gonewport.com. Obviously a mansion or two and the Cliffwalk are almost a given, as well as a drive around Ocean Drive. Not sure where you are from (you screen name implies Florida but you may have grown up somewhere else) but if you have never done it at that time of year I bet somebody up in Middletown or Portsmouth (about 10-20 minutes outside Newport) will be offering a "Haunted Hayride"; if you have been living in subtropical weather for years now, bundling up with your husband onto a haywagon in the chilly October night and being towed by tractor around the grounds of a farm while being scared by "ghouls and goblins" might be something you just can't get in Florida!

Fort Adams has a Halloween display that should be fun.
For seafood in Newport, Scales and Shell up Thames is the best. Clam chowder at Black Pearl (they have an outside window that sell chowder and hot dogs if you don't want to go in to restaurant.
Flo's (on the beach) has great fried clams.

Not to be missed;
-A mansion or 2
-The forty steps and the cliff walk
-Second beach in the summer if you are a beach person
-Ocean Drive
-Toro Tuna at Scales and Shells
- Fort Adams
-a walk around Castle Hill Inn and dinner "by the window" in their restaurant
- an afternoon sail on one of the sailing charters if the weather permits
- take a look at J.H. Breakell for beautiful ocean inspired jewelry
- a picnic lunch or at least a coffee while sitting behind the Eisenhower House at Fort Adams

This is my very biased list as a native Newporter!

I had the best lobster bisque at the Red Parrott in Newport when visiting a couple of years ago!

here is a thread with a lot of good suggestions

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34934166

you may also consider typing into the search this forum box at the top "newport, rhode island" or "newport restaurants", etc, and you will see many threads on all the newport topics pop up on the left - there were many long threads full of good info this summer.

We travel to newport very frequently and almost never make the trip without having chowder at the Black Pearl. If it's a sunny day and nice out, try to have lunch there outside right on the docks.

The Mooring was recently renovated and is really beautiful and the food is good as well. You can't beat the location or the view, especially since you might want to (or have to) eat in- doors.

If you get tired of seafood during your week there, we had a wonderful italian meal at mama Luisa's which is on Thames but a little off the beaten path. IMO, the best dinner on the island is the West deck though. Yummy.

Our favorite thing to do in Newport is to simply walk up and down Thames and check out the cute shops. The cliffwalk is also fun if it's not too cold or windy. Have a great time!