Noshing in Newport

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Overview

View from our room Photo - Newport, Rhode Island

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One of the benefits of staying in a timeshare is that you will at least have a partial kitchen so that some meals can be prepared in. This is one benefit that I decided not to profit from. I wanted to relax and let someone wait on me for a change. There are two things to consider in Newport when doing this: cost and location. The closer you are to the harbor, the higher the price. What this can mean is breakfasts for two and dinners. I took my cue from Rachael Ray and picked up the local newspaper and looked for coupons. I also asked locals for their favorite suggestions.I have some favorites in Newport, and I returned to two of them: Annie's for breakfast and Brickyard Pub for dinner. T...Read More

One of the benefits of staying in a timeshare is that you will at least have a partial kitchen so that some meals can be prepared in. This is one benefit that I decided not to profit from. I wanted to relax and let someone wait on me for a change. There are two things to consider in Newport when doing this: cost and location. The closer you are to the harbor, the higher the price. What this can mean is breakfasts for two and dinners. I took my cue from Rachael Ray and picked up the local newspaper and looked for coupons. I also asked locals for their favorite suggestions.

I have some favorites in Newport, and I returned to two of them: Annie's for breakfast and Brickyard Pub for dinner. To read about them, check out my previous Newport journal.

We began our 4-day visit with a buy one get one free deal at the Marriott Hotel Restaurant. This was because we were staying at a Fairfield timeshare resort. We could have had dinner two-for-one every night if we had chosen to; the only catch was that we needed the desk clerk to make the reservation for us.

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Our first morning, I did exactly what I knew I shouldn’t: I ate at Ocean Breeze Café on Thames Street. There were really a couple of fairly good reasons for this. One, it was on Thames Street, and second, it has its own parking lot. I know that doesn’t sound like a very good reason, but after you have visited Newport, you will realize what a very good reason it is.

We ate twice more on Thames, once for lunch and once for dinner. We lucked out on parking both other times, but that is something you can’t count on. Learn where the parking lots are and park there. Tickets can get expensive, and there is very limited, and I mean really limited, metered street parking. One of the restaurants we choose on Thames was Salas, which is a small restaurant on the second floor, and this was a local suggestion. The other was the Red Parrot, which I would call a tourist trap, except that the food was terrific and the service was friendly and efficient.

My favorite restaurant in Newport was the Rhumbline. We found it on our last morning there and had a fantastic brunch. It was located within walking distance of the resort, and had we found it sooner, I’m sure we would have had more meals there. Another favorite was the Coddington Brewing Company. That was also a suggestion we got from the owner of KC’s restaurant where we had lunch one day and breakfast another. Here was a real lesson: prices went down about 30% when you got into the town of Newport, away from the tourist area.

Best Way To Get Around:

Newport has an extensive bus system not only in the tourist areas, but, since it is a college town, to other parts as well. You can pick up both a map of the city and bus route maps at the visitor center on Thames. In order to park at the visitor center, you need to part in a parking garage. This is only free for 30 minutes; after that you have to pay. If you plan to drive, you will need to locate the parking lots. All of the mansions have lots, some of them are across the streets from the houses and involve a bit of a hike.
There are lots of one-way streets in Newport. Thames, for example, is one-way. It is a great eating and shopping street, but a parking nightmare. It is narrow and crowded and only really enjoyable if you are walking.
T.F. Green Airport in Providence is the closest airport to Newport. It is an east 25-mile drive. Logan Airport, in Boston, is 75 miles away. Amtrak runs into Kingston, RI, and Providence. From the visitor center you can catch an interstate bus to New York City or to Boston.
For a parking map of Newport, go to Newport Maps .

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Coddington Brewing Company

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Restaurant

shepherd pie Photo - Coddington Brewing Company, Newport, Rhode Island

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Located in Middletown Rhode Island, this is a great place to grab a bite to eat and drink a locally produced brew. The atmosphere is very typically brew pub, with the big shiny vats visible through the glass walls. We had a booth facing the fireplace, and it was a warm and welcoming atmosphere.The most popular of their brews is the blueberry. I am not a fan of fruit beers from my experience with strawberry beer in Belgium, so I decided to try the sampler. You have your choice of six from among their seven choices, and of these, three are seasonal brews that change. I did take the blueberry as one of my choices, and son of a gun, it was by far the best. It was light but full of flavor an...Read More

Located in Middletown Rhode Island, this is a great place to grab a bite to eat and drink a locally produced brew. The atmosphere is very typically brew pub, with the big shiny vats visible through the glass walls. We had a booth facing the fireplace, and it was a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The most popular of their brews is the blueberry. I am not a fan of fruit beers from my experience with strawberry beer in Belgium, so I decided to try the sampler. You have your choice of six from among their seven choices, and of these, three are seasonal brews that change. I did take the blueberry as one of my choices, and son of a gun, it was by far the best. It was light but full of flavor and had a small scoop of blueberries in the glass. Sounds a bit weird, but tastes great. I do have to warn that 6 7-ounce beers is a whole lot of beer. I was very grateful that I wasn’t driving, because I had a serious buzz, even though I didn’t finish them all.

This being New England among the usual pub fare, you will find an appetizer of little neck clams, New England Clam Chowder, and a full array of Italian dishes. It you are starving, try their Brewmasters feast: grilled chicken breast, half rack of ribs, 5-ounce grilled tenderloin, and fries.

I was in the mood for something a little different, so I started with salsa and chips. The chips were served warm and the salsa was very warm (spicy); it set my mouth on fire. Thank goodness for that 42 ounces of beer. For my main course I had the shepherd’s pie. I know this was carb central, but it was a cold, rainy day, and this certainly is comfort food. It was served with a nice romaine salad, grape tomatoes, red peppers, and onions, with what looked and tasted like homemade croutons. I had it topped with a very good honey Dijon dressing.

My serving of shepherd's pie was huge and much more than I could eat in one sitting. The hamburger was served with a tasty gravy, creamy potatoes, and, of course, corn. Al ordered The William Coddington Turkey Platter. It had all the fixings: stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed red bliss potatoes.

We shared a piece of key lime pie for dessert. It is baked on-site. They claim it is the best around, and I am hard-pressed to disagree; it was tart and creamy, just the way anyone would like their key lime pie.

Service was better than just good--it was great. I knew I would love this place when I read their menu. “Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.” Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

Coddington Brewing Company
210 Coddington Highway
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
(401) 847-6690

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Fathoms Restaurant

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Restaurant | "Fathom Restaurant-Marriott Hotel"

Bellini martini in a funky glass Photo - Fathoms Restaurant, Newport, Rhode Island

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As I was checking into the Inn on the Wharf, I asked Rachelle, the desk clerk, if there was a restaurant at our location. No, she told me, but Fathom at the Marriott offered guests at our resort a two-for-one special. Seemed like a perfect answer for dinner. The Inn at Long Wharf is at the end of Long Wharf Road. The Marriott on Americas Cup has an entrance on Long Wharf, and this entrance is located right outside Fathom Restaurant. Rachelle called in a reservation for us, and we parked the car and walked in.Even if you aren’t a guest Monday to Wednesday, you can choose from a limited list of two-for-one specials, and guests can choose any entree on the menu. An 18% gratuity ...Read More

As I was checking into the Inn on the Wharf, I asked Rachelle, the desk clerk, if there was a restaurant at our location. No, she told me, but Fathom at the Marriott offered guests at our resort a two-for-one special. Seemed like a perfect answer for dinner. The Inn at Long Wharf is at the end of Long Wharf Road. The Marriott on Americas Cup has an entrance on Long Wharf, and this entrance is located right outside Fathom Restaurant. Rachelle called in a reservation for us, and we parked the car and walked in.

Even if you aren’t a guest Monday to Wednesday, you can choose from a limited list of two-for-one specials, and guests can choose any entree on the menu. An 18% gratuity will be added to the full price check.

On a Wednesday evening it was relatively quiet in the restaurant. We were seated immediately and were perusing the menus. The non-guest choices for the two-for-one were lobster, both stuffed and lazy man; baked scrod; honey glazed chicken breast; and prime rib.

We settled on 12-ounce black Angus rib eye steaks served with a compound butter made with caramelized onions, maple pepper bacon, and Stilton cheese. They were served with carrots and asparagus and a choice of starch. I choose the risotto and Al took a baked potato. While we waited for our steaks to cook, Al had a Mic Ultra and I talked the bartender into making me Bellini Martini. It was served in a short glass, which Evan suggested had a story behind it. I have to say that no bread was offered. I asked for it when we got our meal, and I am so glad I did. It was great, half of it rosemary-infused and both types with the best crust, really good, and served warm.

I was a little surprised when I saw the steak; I had expected to see bacon and onions. You really don’t see the bacon. Having said that, the flavors are fabulous and the steaks cooked to perfection. Rib eye is my favorite for flavor and tenderness, and these were, in Al’s words, excellent, excellent. Evan was attentive but didn’t hover.

The atmosphere is subdued nautical. The upholstery was in blues and greens, and there were fish sculptures on the wall. There were blond-wood tables and chairs, and some tables had niches in the wall with upholstered benches. Soft music was playing and the lighting was low.

It was evening, so it was hard to judge the view, but our table had a perfect view of the marina, and I expect that, say, at sunset, it would be lovely.

The full meal, with tax and tip, was $55. Not a bad deal when you figure in two drinks and two steak dinners. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

Fathoms Restaurant
25 Americas Cup Avenue
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-1000

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KC Café

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Restaurant

KC Cafe Photo - KC Café, Newport, Rhode Island

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We decided to have lunch somewhere outside of the downtown tourist area. We headed out Broadway, and as we passed Newport Hospital, we saw KC’s Café. It looked interesting, so we went in search of that always-illusive parking. It is much easier on Broadway, as there is on-street parking.This is a small local restaurant that serves lunch and breakfast, and you can order breakfast all day. The breakfast portion of the menu actually was larger than the lunch. There were several specials, including bean soup, grilled vegetable wrap, roast beef grinder, and a cheddar bacon burger. Unfortunately, it was Friday and Lent, so we couldn’t eat meat. I ordered a Caesar salad with a scoop o...Read More

We decided to have lunch somewhere outside of the downtown tourist area. We headed out Broadway, and as we passed Newport Hospital, we saw KC’s Café. It looked interesting, so we went in search of that always-illusive parking. It is much easier on Broadway, as there is on-street parking.

This is a small local restaurant that serves lunch and breakfast, and you can order breakfast all day. The breakfast portion of the menu actually was larger than the lunch. There were several specials, including bean soup, grilled vegetable wrap, roast beef grinder, and a cheddar bacon burger. Unfortunately, it was Friday and Lent, so we couldn’t eat meat. I ordered a Caesar salad with a scoop of tuna salad, and Al ordered a tuna melt on rye. I had an ice tea, which was very good and tasted like it was fresh brewed, though I am not sure that it was.

My salad was a very good size, and they use Newman’s Own Caesar dressing, which is good. I have to admit that I prefer all-white tuna, but this was the darker version, which Al assures me has better taste and is moister. Anyway, it was a very satisfying lunch. So much so, in fact, that we decided to go back for breakfast on Saturday. While talking with the owner, she told me that what this restaurant is known for is their stuffed French toast. It was a recipe that she inherited from the previous owners and is a real customer favorite. How could I resist?

I also asked her for a suggestion for a good place where locals might go for dinner. She gave me two suggestions, Salas on Thames and Coddington Brewing Company in Middletown, RI. Actually, we ate at both of them, and she was right: they were both excellent.

We came back for breakfast the next morning and I ordered the banana-stuffed French toast. I ordered the half order. It covered my plate. I could barely eat half, and believe me, it was so good, filled with sweetened cream cheese and fresh slices of banana, that I wanted to eat it all. What a full size would look like I can only guess, but I would suggest that you not eat dinner the night before. Al had a cheese omelet, and it was well cooked and even better priced.

There was a pretty full house, even early, on Saturday morning, so it is a good idea to not wait too late. During the season, lines are not uncommon. Food this good at this good of a price is not a secret from the locals, even if the tourists don’t often get out this far. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

KC Café
283 Broadway
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-2902

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Ocean Breeze

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Restaurant | "Ocean Breeze Café"

The interior Photo - Ocean Breeze, Newport, Rhode Island

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This is that rare café in Newport that has its own parking lot. That alone makes it a very desirable choice for breakfast. Another is the fact that it was voted the best breakfast in Newport County by Rhode Island Monthly. With two such strong incentives, how could we resist.We arrived quite late, about 10:30am, for breakfast, but luckily, it is served all day. You need to walk though the bakery to get to the dining room, and I could barely drag myself away from the cases of fabulous-looking muffins. Up to 24 varieties daily, oh my. I was drawn like a magnet to the raspberry chocolate chip, but no, I had other plans for breakfast.They have an amazing list of gou...Read More

This is that rare café in Newport that has its own parking lot. That alone makes it a very desirable choice for breakfast. Another is the fact that it was voted the best breakfast in Newport County by Rhode Island Monthly. With two such strong incentives, how could we resist.

We arrived quite late, about 10:30am, for breakfast, but luckily, it is served all day. You need to walk though the bakery to get to the dining room, and I could barely drag myself away from the cases of fabulous-looking muffins. Up to 24 varieties daily, oh my. I was drawn like a magnet to the raspberry chocolate chip, but no, I had other plans for breakfast.

They have an amazing list of gourmet omelets: Azorean (chorizo, onion, pepper, and tomatoes), cheese lovers (cheddar, American, Havarti, Swiss, and feta), and Greek (feta, spinach, olives, and tomatoes), and a whole lot more. They have Belgian waffles, pancakes (buttermilk, chocolate chip, and blueberry) and, my choice, cinnamon French toast.

Al decided on the Scramble Mix, two scrambled eggs mixed with chorizo and topped with cheddar cheese. Kimberly, our waitress, set us up at a window seat with our cups of coffee while we chatted with some of the other patrons.

My French toast was served with home fries and a slice of melon. I tried to swap it for bacon, but because I didn’t have toast, I wasn’t able to. Al, on the other hand, was able to. The home fries are listed as award-winning, so I was curious to see what they would be like. I wouldn’t give them an award; they were greasy and pretty tasteless. The French toast, however, was very good. The pieces were made from their fresh-baked bread, sliced thick but not thick like Texas toast. There was plenty of good cinnamon flavor, and they were soft but cooked all the way through, I really hate soggy centers, and these were just right. No real maple syrup, though, just the bottle of syrup on the table.

Al’s scramble mix was wonderful. Since there are a lot of Portuguese people in this part of New England, it was not really surprising to see chorizo on the menu, but still, it isn’t something we can ever order at home. Chorizo is spicier than the linguica we usually eat, but the eggs and cheese kept it from being more than he could handle.

Would I rate this the best breakfast in Newport? I think Annie's certainly has to be considered a contender and KC’s Café certainly warrants another visit. This was not a cheap meal at $24 for breakfast--Rachael Ray would blow her $40 in no time at all at these prices.

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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

Ocean Breeze
580 Thames St
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-1750

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Salas'

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Restaurant | "Salas"

calamari Photo - Salas', Newport, Rhode Island

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Located almost directly across the street from the Red Parrot, you almost need to know where this restaurant is to find it. It is upstairs and has no parking. We illegally parked in Christie's parking lot, but it was April and still not too busy; I would imagine that, during the season, this would not be possible. Even if you have to walk, come, because this is that very rare Newport restaurant, one with large portions and reasonable prices. We know this because they have been voted "Best Dining Bargain in Newport County" by Rhode Island Monthly.As soon as you open the door at street level, wonderful smells assail you. There is no doubt that some good cooking is happening abov...Read More

Located almost directly across the street from the Red Parrot, you almost need to know where this restaurant is to find it. It is upstairs and has no parking. We illegally parked in Christie's parking lot, but it was April and still not too busy; I would imagine that, during the season, this would not be possible. Even if you have to walk, come, because this is that very rare Newport restaurant, one with large portions and reasonable prices. We know this because they have been voted "Best Dining Bargain in Newport County" by Rhode Island Monthly.

As soon as you open the door at street level, wonderful smells assail you. There is no doubt that some good cooking is happening above. We arrived at 6pm without a reservation, but again, not something you would want to do any time except very off season.

This is a warm and welcoming family restaurant: simple wooden tables and chairs, candles on the tables, and mature waitresses who actually seem to care that you enjoy your meal. We began by ordering fried calamari for a shared appetizer, and then we each ordered a cod dish. Al ordered the Italian-style cod with onions, peppers, and marinara. I chose the simpler baked cod with a white wine and butter sauce with crumbs on top. What we didn’t order will surprise you. They are known for their Oriental spaghetti. We saw it served all around us, and it comes with chicken, port, shrimp, or vegetables. I am assuming that it is lo mein, or at least similar, but it certainly was popular. Fried rice is also offered.

As we sipped our beers, our salads were delivered, as was the bread basket. There was nothing too interesting happening at this point: salad of iceberg, shredded carrots, and grape tomatoes, and the bread was very pedestrian rolls. Thank goodness much better was coming, because so far it was a major disappointment.

When the calamari was placed before us, we were speechless. I can’t imagine what someone alone would have done with this--it is certainly enough to give four people a good portion. It isn’t just big in size, but big on flavor. The marinara is excellent and the squid is tender, really tender, and what is even better is that it is all rings, no tentacles. We certainly had enough leftover to bring home a very generous portion.

Our fish dishes were served piping hot in ovenproof dishes. The portions were much more conservative, and we both managed to finish them. Al went with a baked potato and I had broccoli. We were much too full to even consider dessert. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

Salas'
345 Thames St.
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 846-8772

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Red Parrot Restaurant

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Restaurant | "The Red Parrot"

the interior Photo - Red Parrot Restaurant, Newport, Rhode Island

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It is hard to miss the Red Parrot. It has one of the premier locations in downtown Newport, on the corner of Memorial Drive and the Thames. The large Red Parrot on the side of the building is also a dead giveaway. We stopped in for a late lunch at about 3pm on a Thursday, and it was surprising how many people were there. Get ready to have a blast just reading the menu. It is full of information, not only about the building that houses the restaurant, but also about the history of Newport. When you get to the drink section, you will be astounded by the variety of both alcoholic and nonalcoholic choices. I was economizing, so I just had a Corona Light, but I certainly was intrigued by the Ch...Read More

It is hard to miss the Red Parrot. It has one of the premier locations in downtown Newport, on the corner of Memorial Drive and the Thames. The large Red Parrot on the side of the building is also a dead giveaway. We stopped in for a late lunch at about 3pm on a Thursday, and it was surprising how many people were there.

Get ready to have a blast just reading the menu. It is full of information, not only about the building that houses the restaurant, but also about the history of Newport. When you get to the drink section, you will be astounded by the variety of both alcoholic and nonalcoholic choices. I was economizing, so I just had a Corona Light, but I certainly was intrigued by the Chocolate Monkey: dark creme de cocoa liqueur, creme de banana, fresh banana, chocolate syrup, and vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream and banana. It is amazing on so many different levels. If you want to find out why the Lady Godiva’s Gigalo was nominated best hot drink in Newport in 1997, you will just have to go there and find out or check out their website at www.redparrot.com.

The atmosphere here is very tropical. There are ferns and ceiling fans with wooden tables and chairs with leather studded seats. We had a window seat over looking Thames Street. The section we were seated in was down two stairs from the bar level and the entrance. There are lots of menu choices, running the gamut from nachos and sandwiches to seafood and steak with a Caribbean flare.
I ordered the jerk shrimp appetizer, three jumbo shrimp served on a skewer with pineapple and a small side of salsa. It was perfect; there was plenty of jerk seasoning on both the shrimp and the pineapple and the salsa was fresh with pieces of pineapple in it. The plate was garnished with a small salad. I ate every bite.

Al had the simple burger, and it was anything but simple. It was served on a beautiful roll with grilled onions and cheese. It should have had BBQ sauce, but he asked them to skip it. It was served with a side of seasoned fries and a pickle.

I hadn't ordered an appetizer, so I would have enough room to try the fondue. Warm chocolate served in an edible taco bowl with strawberries, bananas, and pineapples to dip. Oh, did I forget to mention the two pieces of brownie that decorated the plate. The chocolate had cinnamon sprinkled on the top, and the fruit was served on skewers. It certainly was more than enough for the two of us to share.

Service was prompt and friendly, and we never wanted for anything. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

Red Parrot Restaurant
348 Thames St
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
401-847-3800

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Rhumbline

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Restaurant | "The Rhumbline"

My french toast Photo - Rhumbline, Newport, Rhode Island

Quote:

In Newport, as in so many other cities, I enjoy seeing which restaurants Rachael Ray recommends on her TV show. One that she went to was the Rhumbline. Let me be the first (okay, maybe not the first) to say she was right on with this place.The only day that the Rhumbline serves brunch is on Sunday, but it is worth waiting all week just to eat there. Located in the historic section of Newport known as the point, this restaurant was just around the corner from our room. My one regret from our stay is that I didn’t try their dinner menu as well.The house looks like it has been standing on this spot for hundreds of years, but when you walk inside, it is open and bright. There are ...Read More

In Newport, as in so many other cities, I enjoy seeing which restaurants Rachael Ray recommends on her TV show. One that she went to was the Rhumbline. Let me be the first (okay, maybe not the first) to say she was right on with this place.

The only day that the Rhumbline serves brunch is on Sunday, but it is worth waiting all week just to eat there. Located in the historic section of Newport known as the point, this restaurant was just around the corner from our room. My one regret from our stay is that I didn’t try their dinner menu as well.

The house looks like it has been standing on this spot for hundreds of years, but when you walk inside, it is open and bright. There are lots of wooden tables and chairs, and a large bar is the rear of the room. The tables are covered with white cloths with glass over them, making it a child-friendly environment. It has a very welcoming atmosphere, and the service we received proves that this is not just a look but also a philosophy.

We had our menus and cups of steaming coffee immediately, and long before we even ordered, we had a basket of hot scones sitting in front of us. Not for long, however: they were delicious. We were even offered a refill of our basket.

The menu has a wide variety of breakfast choices, from omelets and pancakes to eggs Benedict and French toast.

I opted for French toast, which was made from a loaf of diagonally cut French bread and served with fresh bananas, raspberries, and strawberries. They were absolutely divine. I had them served with bacon, which was thick-cut and hickory-smoked--what more could you ask for?

Al had a Benny and added the hash brown potatoes, which were soooo good. Cooked solid in one piece with onions, they were crispy and delicious.

Many of the people around us were indulging in mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. They were large and looked excellent.

This has got to be one of my all-time favorite breakfast restaurants. The quality of the food is top-notch and service is wonderful. There is nothing I would change about this restaurant. Even the prices are surprising reasonable.

The only parking is along the street, so this can be problematic. Don’t let it stop you from visiting. I would walk a mile to eat here again. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on August 23, 2006

Rhumbline
62 Bridge St.
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-3999

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