Five Things: One Bellevue at the Hotel Viking, Newport
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
In the off-season, Newport's strongest establishments hold down the culinary fort. Sean DeBobes headed to Aquidneck to check in on the Viking Hotel's touted restaurant, One Bellevue. Here are the five things he wants you to know.
One. Ginger Drinks.
Two great drinks, one potent seasoning. In the Gingerita, tequila and Cointreau meet fresh lime and ginger-infused simple syrup. It was an easy spin on the margarita and without the sour mix a good way to avoid that sugary headache. Next in line was the Viking Green Tea. A blend of Hangar One vodka and Buddha’s Hand Citron (awesome ingredient shout-out) mixed with lemon juice, green tea liqueur, simple syrup and of course the coveted candied ginger. Credit to that final ingredient for a balanced and mildly spicy addition to this Arnold Palmer look-a-like.
Two. Who needs dinner when…
You have a bread spread like this. An olive loaf with a soft/chewy inside and a crispy crust was escorted by three flavorsome accompaniments. It all began with a classic sea-salted local butter. The sundried tomato pesto was an aromatic addition to the plate while the Blue Fish pate was the star. The smoky spread was a pleasant surprise to start my meal.
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Yesterday’s snow (and solstice) made me ready for a winter menu, but the last light of fall was still on the menu. Pumpkin Tortelloni, a bigger brother to the classic tortellini, was served with a savory sage butter and the sweet addition of walnuts and dried cranberries. This beautiful plate was a little short on flavor and I was hoping for more of a pronounced sage presence, but time for the season to change anyway.
Four. Mac & Cheese.
This side ate far more like a meal. A large portion of penne baked with a white cheddar sauce and plenty of chorizo could make for a great pop-through lunch. The smoky flavor of the sausage was subtle and never overpowered the delicious creamy cheddar sauce.
Five. Naughty Monkey.
The name of this dessert caught my attention too. This one should not be missed. Warm crepes are iced with Nutella before being folded into decadent triangles, then topped off with caramelized bananas and house-made chocolate sauce. Need a little more intemperance? Wait until the Viking crowns this house favorite with a scoop of walnut chocolate ice cream. This extreme dessert had a super-ripe banana flavor and will have me craving it for weeks.
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Would I go back? Yes. Newport lives in the winter, I swear. Drive in and check out some great discounts including delicious deals at One Bellevue.
Hit “Save”: One Bellevue @ The Hotel Viking. One Bellevue Ave, Newport, 847-3300, hotelviking.com. Reservations encouraged.
Breakfast: Daily, 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Lunch: Daily, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Afternoon Tea: Daily, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Dinner: Daily, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Bar/Lounge Daily, 12.00 PM until 12:30 AM (Serving food until 11.00 PM)
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