Newport’s Best-Kept Restaurant Secrets
Thursday, June 28, 2012
This is one of the busiest summers that Newport has seen in a long time. The list of big events happening there this summer is staggering. This week starts things off with the America’s Cup World Series races and continues with the Tall Ships and the Black Ships festival. All of these events signal a crowded Newport. So where do you go for tasty food when the Waterfront is elbow to elbow tourists? Eat off the beaten path at one of these 5 spots for good food and, hopefully, smaller crowds…
The Spiced Pear at the Chanler
A short stroll down Memorial Boulevard towards the Cliff Walk will lead you off the beaten path to the Chanler. A beautiful, boutique hotel, the Chanler touts incredible amenities, views and cuisine. The restaurant at the Chanler is named the Spiced Pear and they have been producing inspired, seasonal food there for close to a decade. Chef Thomas Duffy use fresh, local meats, seafood and vegetables to create food that really lets the ingredients shine. A visit this spring found an incredible duet of beef on the menu. A 36-hour Coulotte steak and a grilled flank steak with bone marrow, Bordelaise sauce and wild mushrooms was a tour de force. It was beefy and tender and well prepared. We also loved a George’s Bank scallop dish that featured perfectly seared scallops and gulf shrimp with Asian flavors and a sinful Carrot/ginger puree. 117 Memorial Blvd. 847-1300, www.thechanler.com
Pour Judgement
One of the cool things about the hidden parts of Newport is finding a place like Pour Judgement. This is a townie bar with a twist. As you walk in you are hit by the sounds of local residents eating and drinking, the artwork on the walls from local artists, and the scents coming from the kitchen. The first time we wandered in we sat down and ordered one of the many delicious craft beers and almost fell off our barstools when we saw lobster nori on the special menu. Further examination found fresh, well prepared food all over the menu. The thing that keeps us coming back is the beer and burger special that starts at $8. Good luck finding the beer OR the burger for $8 in Newport. The burger is fresh-never frozen-and the fries are hand cut and perfectly cooked. We have also fallen in love with a chicken blt wrap with chipotle aioli. If you’re on the run, Pour Judgement has recently opened Pour Judgement 2 Go a little further up Broadway where you can grab the same well prepared food to take home. Make sure you check out the chocolate chip cookies. 32 Broadway, 619-2115, www.pourjudgement.com
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPasta Beach
Although Pasta Beach sounds like an Italian version of Baywatch, don’t let the name fool you. This is really good Italian food. Pasta Beach is short on ambiance but long on Italian flavors. If you are craving pasta this is one of the best options in Newport. We started with the bruchetta which was really enough for one to eat as a meal. The bread was crisp and rubbed with garlic cloves before the marinated tomatoes are layered over the top. We followed with a margarita pizza and a pasta Carbonara. The fairer member of our duo has been to the restaurant in Rome where Carbonara was created, so it seemed like a good test. This version was really close to the original with bacon providing a slightly smoky flavor to the cream sauce. The pizza was one of the best we’ve ever had in Newport. It was crisp and smoky and the tomatoes were incredibly flavorful. Definitely worth the trip! 7 Memorial Blvd. 847-2222
Perro Salado
Fans of fresh Mex know Perro’s reputation for tasty ingredients and authentic preparations of traditional south of the border cuisine. This local favorite will take you just off the beaten path enough to get away from the crowds without removing you from the city’s festive summertime vibe. Chef/owner Dan Hall works closely with local farmers and fishermen to source Rhode Island’s best ingredients for his menu. Favorites include taqueria selections such as chicken tinga enchiladas and ropa vieja quesadillas, fabulous fish tacos, tender grilled skirt steak, and a salad made with chili-dusted scallops. Locals come for the freshly-made margaritas (the cilantro-jalapeno is like nothing you have ever had) and the legendary sticky pork ribs. The feeling here is laid-back and festive, but the food is nothing short of precisely prepared. 19 Charles St, 619-4777, www.perrosalado.com
Canfield House
It doesn’t get much more classic Newport than this 19th century gem that was once a casino for the city’s wealthiest residents. Tucked in behind the Tennis Hall of Fame, Canfield is a find for folks who want fresh, expertly-prepared, classic American cuisine. Menu selections include herb-crusted rack of lamb, grilled filet mignon with béarnaise sauce (add a lobster tail for a delicious surf and turf), pan-seared scallops, baked haddock, seafood alfredo and prime rib. The food is a complement to the formal dining room, with its original mahogany paneling and 25-foot ceilings. Downstairs, the pub offers a more casual menu. 5 Memorial Blvd, 847-0516, www.canfieldhousenewport.com
