Best Spots for Outdoor Dining

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Ann & Michael Martini, GoLocalProv Food Editors

Why is it that we Rhode Islanders love to eat outside? Even on the busiest urban sidewalks, our fair cities are filled with tables and chairs. We’ve also got a plethora of tables with fair and pretty views, so we set out to find some fun and delicious spots to enjoy the warm weather. We came back tanned and full with this list in hand.

The Top of Newport at the Hotel Viking, Newport

One of the state’s hidden secrets is about to be told to you…imagine a place in Newport that is secluded, has tasty food and entertainment, and has one of the best views in all of New England. The Top of Newport is the al fresco bar atop the venerable Hotel Viking. Four stories above the din of Bellevue Avenue, and literally at the highest point in the City by the Sea, this is one cool place. With Chef Kevin Thiele’s creative American food, the impeccable service you expect from Federico Luzzi’s front of the house staff and a view that includes all the bridges and the bay, you definitely have a winner. We discovered this place last year and found ourselves going back again and again. It’s so nice to be above it all – literally! 1 Bellevue Ave, 847-3300, www.hotelviking.com

Boat House Restaurant, Tiverton

Newport Restaurant Group made this a must-visit spot several years ago and now the expected accolades have followed. Last year the Boat House was voted one of the top 50 waterfront dining spots in the country by opentable.com and we couldn’t agree more. The views of Mount Hope Bay are unparalleled. We love to sip some wine with a snack or three while the sun sets. The second big story last year at the Boat House was Chef Jonathan Cambra being voted the signature chef of the year by the March of Dimes. Chef is known for a well-balanced menu of seasonal treats that uses locally-sourced seafood in creative ways. We had a nice bottle of Rose with some lobster fritters that had sweet corn and a chipotle mayo and followed that with pan-roasted George’s Bank scallops with a delightful spring pea risotto, pea greens from Allen Farm and a citrus emulsion. It was a perfect night! 227 Schooner Dr, 624-6300, www.boathousetiverton.com

The Ocean House, Watch Hill

How do we love thee? Let us count the ways! Oh, the Ocean House…how you lure us with your siren song of top-notch dining, exquisite cocktails and a breathtaking view of Long Island Sound. This is a place that you can visit several times a summer and have a different experience every time. Eat at Seasons and have a world-class dining experience. You can sit on the Verandah and enjoy freshly shucked seafood. You can enjoy a more casual dining experience in the Bistro. Or you can walk just a few feet from your blanket to the Dune Cottage and enjoy the incredible snacks without getting out of that new bathing suit. We chose the last option and were treated to the best alfresco dining has to offer. After a swim and some tan-time, we ventured over and got a refreshing summer cocktail and a sandwich that will make you forget all those pull-cart beach meals you’ve bought in the past. This would be good even if we had shoes on! 1 Bluff Ave, 315-0579, www.oceanhouseri.com

The Spring House Hotel, Block Island

Attention Rhode Islanders! Time to get your passport out and go to Block Island. Sitting on the deck of the Spring House and sipping a cocktail is one of the treats of the summer in Rhode Island, and you really should make the trek. The hotel itself celebrates its 160th season this year and the dining room opens for the season in June. The Spring House always hits the right notes with fresh seafood and inventively-prepared meats and poultry. We are here for the view though, and this one can’t be beat. There is something relaxing about looking out at the ocean while the sun sets behind you and thinking that the next stop is Portugal. 52 Spring St. 466-5844, www.springhousehotel.com

George’s of Galilee, Narragansett

There are certain restaurants in Rhode Island that conjure up a particular idea. George’s is one of those places. Always a restaurant with an incredible view overlooking Block Island sound, George’s was a clam shack – you know, a fish and chips joint. And it was just okay. Imagine our surprise last year when George’s started working with a local group called Trace and Trust. If you haven’t heard of them, they are a local group of fishermen and chefs that have worked together to use technology to get fish to restaurant diners faster and fresher than ever before. The best chefs in the best restaurants use Trace and Trust and George’s joining in was a signal that things had changed. Recently we had excellent fish and fresh sides that were well prepared. If you’re one of those people who has a certain impression of George’s, get back there soon and make new memories. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd. 783-2306, www.georgesofgalilee.com

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Comments:

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