must get the escargot with garlic herb butter. A signature dish is the quenelles de halibut with lobster, braised Swiss chard, confit shallots and sauce americaine or the monkfish with mussels and seasonal vegetables. Fun Perks: The sidewalk patio is pure whimsy, with cobblestone and mosaic detailing and dog-friendly seating. Check out the charming side bar, Sarah’ s Bar, located between Audette and Thames Street Kitchen for a before-or after-dinner bevvy. 505 Thames St., Newport, 324- 5802, audettenewport. com |
Fun Perks: Dessert is worth savoring in the form of housemade gelatos and sorbets and creamy panna cottas in citrus and tropical fruit flavors. The portion sizes are also“ just right.” 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, 324-7400, giusto newport. com |
The Lobster Bar
The Backstory: Located at the end of historic Bowen’ s Wharf, The Lobster Bar opened in 2012, transforming the space that was once Aquidneck Lobster Company. The restaurant honors the previous owner, Ronnie Fatulli, with a statue installed
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on site in 2021. Now owned by the Kilroy family, the restaurant and event space is known for its 180-degree harbor views and for selling live shellfish directly from the tank. What to Order: Start off strong by ordering the Caesar salad bedecked with fried shrimp. For |
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Giusto
The Backstory: Chef-owner Kevin O’ Donnell was recently acknowledged as a semifinalist for Best Chef: Northeast in the 2026 James Beard Awards. The Rhode Island native got his start in hospitality at local pizza places, then went on to work at restaurants in Italy, New York and Paris before opening his first restaurant in Boston, SRV. He made his way back to Rhode Island and opened Giusto right in the middle of the pandemic. What to Order: Giusto means“ just right” in Italian, and the chefs here kick their creativity into high gear with a menu that changes often. Seasonal farm and seafood ingredients dictate what dishes make an appearance, but your best bet is the eight-course freestyle tasting menu for $ 55 per person. Guests experience a familystyle shared spread of Giusto’ s greatest hits, which might include the ricotta frittelle— bite-sized crispy-on the-outside and gooey-on-the-inside arancini— a salad, and a fresh pasta and seafood of the day, followed by dessert. The fish might include anything from swordfish and skate wing to sea bass or fluke accompanied by creative preparations of freshly harvested vegetables.
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FROM LEFT: Midtown Oyster Bar; escargots served with the Gentian Spark cocktail from Audette. |