Restaurant help - PLEASE!

I’ve been doing some research on restaurants to go to during my weekend stay in Newport (in September). I’m staying at Spring Street Inn and the 3 restaurants that I’m deciding on all appear to be walking distance, please correct me if I’m wrong. I%26#39;d like to go somewhere where we can walk, but if driving to a great place was necessary, it wouldn%26#39;t be out of the question.

The reason for my stay is surprising my husband for his 40th birthday. We are arriving on a Friday night so I would think I’d want that night to be special, possibly with a good water view (if possible), but definitely good food (we’re “foodies”).

I’ve been researching Fluke, Pronto %26amp; Tucker’s Bistro and I’m so confused – they all look great. All 3 are rated in the Top 10 on TA, actually Pronto %26amp; Tucker’s are rated #1 and #2.

As for our second %26amp; last night, Saturday, I don’t think I would need it to be as upscale, but it wouldn’t be out of the question if the place was highly recommended. I read that Tucker’s might be an “interesting” experience so I’m wondering if that might be a nice last night experience.

Would you recommend another place besides these 3?

Can anyone help me?!?!?! Thank You for any assistance you can provide, my head is spinning on trying to make this a special weekend for my husband.

Restaurant help - PLEASE!

Well, for your special night I%26#39;d say go to Castle Hill great water views and great food.

www.castlehillinn.com

It is not walking distance from your Inn...actually it%26#39;s not walking distance from anywhere downtown. but it%26#39;s a short drive, and if you drive the back way through Bellevue and Ocean Drive, the views will be spectacular.

Another option is the Spiced Pear at The Chanler,

www.spicedpear.com It has nice views (not as nice as Castle hill though IMO)

Pronto and Tucker%26#39;s are both nice restaurants, on the smaller romantic side. Pronto is closer to your Inn down on Thames. Tuckers is a little bit cozier feeling (darker inside, warmer colors etc...)on Broadway. Probably a bit too far to walk from your Inn unless you don%26#39;t mind longer walks. Broadway is more off the beaten tourist path (despite it%26#39;s name) and popular with the locals.

I%26#39;d only have a drink and maybe a tapa upstairs at Fluke. Have tried a couple times and just haven%26#39;t had a good meal there (many friends say the same thing)

Other places I%26#39;d recommend are:

Asterisk www.asterisknewport.com/

West Deck www.westdeck.com

The Mooring www.mooringrestaurant.com

Cooke House www.clarkecooke.com

22 Bowens www.22bowens.com

The White Horse Tavern is also verey nice, but for a September trip, i%26#39;d probably opt for more of a waterview place....IMO the White Horse Tavern is more of a quintisential New England fall/winter spot.

www.whitehorsetavern.com

For lots more info about Newport and links to more restaurants go to www.gonewport.com

Restaurant help - PLEASE!

Another place you might want to try, specifically on your second night is Pier 49, which is the restaurant at the Newport Harbor Hotel. Weather permitting you can actually eat outside in back of the hotel right by the water. Food is good and reasonably priced, and you can%26#39;t beat the atmosphere. Whenever my wife and I make a summer trip to Newport, we make it a point to have dinner there at least one night. Have a stellar trip!

You could take the little ferry from Newport over to Jamestown for dinner at the Trattoria Sympatico, dining outside, very romantic.

In Newport, Pronto%26#39;s is in the wharf area where all the action is- I%26#39;ve always liked the atmosphere at Pronto%26#39;s, fun but not overly touristy, more fun than the White Horse in terms of atmosphere. Castle Hill, great for a cocktail, and/or dinner, with stunning views of the bay. The West Deck and Clarke Cooke House for the fine dining, sailing crowd. Tucker%26#39;s, dark romantic French Bistro atmosphere, located in the local, hip Broadway section of town, near some other places like the Salvation Cafe and Norey%26#39;s, two popular, funky restaurants, though not fine dining. I hope this doesn%26#39;t confuse.

Most of the recommendations are good ones, and Spring St. allows you to walk to just about all of them. Castle Hill, as a poster said, is not, but just so out of the ordinary, with great views painted and photographed by tons of people. For food, we always liked Mama Luisa%26#39;s on Thames St., but there isn%26#39;t a good view, just great food and very quaint, with narrow old Colonial style staircase up to the second level. Just last week we went to a bare-bones, no atmosphere byob new place that just opened on Thames that all the locals were hitting like mad - forgot the whole name but it included the word ';Gourmet';. Very surprised at how good my fishermen%26#39;s stew was, and my husband%26#39;s pasta dish. We picked up an inexpensive wine at 5th Ward liquors down the road. NO atmosphere, not good for the b-day itself, but a good locals joint...We%26#39;ve always liked the Mooring as well, outside bar and inside dining. And for fun, stop in at the Black Pearl for a drink and clam chowder.

The Chowda at The Black Pearl is very good. No matter hot it gets, I always get one.

Is the outside hut still there?

Whether it’s this post or other posts, all I keep reading about is the “chowda” at The Black Pearl, I’ll definitely make this a pit stop during our day!

I think I don’t want to worry about driving out of town so we can just park it upon arrival and forget it. I made reservations at Pronto and I’ll be making reservations at Tucker’s. After I give him the gift, if he wants to pick different restaurants then I’ll change it up, but this is it for now.

Thanks for all of your help; you really give some great advice to a girl who doesn’t know the area!

a few totally romantic things to do in newport.

best to take in as much of the natural beauty as you can...sometimes late afternoon lunches, early evening dinners are better than late at night here...gets to crowded.

have a drink at the spiced pear...or castle hill,

walk the cliff walk...

drive over to jamestown...have brunch at the bay voyage or dinner or drinks at the trattorria..outside is nice.

while in jamestown, take a ride to the tip of beavertail.. you can hang out at the lighthouse there. very pretty....you are definitely in a different world.....

take a drive down ocean drive....

go to gooseberry beach..

rent bikes

there is a nice sail and motor boat rides that are very reasonable from bowens wharf...the rum runner is one but there are soem 12 meter yatchts you can take rides on too...

there is so much natural beauty and simple things to do.. dont get sucked into expensive restaurants, especially in peak season, most of them are overpriced, have lousy service and food is not consistent.