Clam Chowder!

We are frequent visitors to Newport and often stop at the Black Pearl and have a chowder and drinks in the Tavern.

Last Saturday we made reservations for the Commodore's Room. It was a major disappointment.

first we were told we hade to come at 6:30, we had asked for 7pm reservations. At 7pm many tables were still empty and couples arriving after. We ended up in middle seat when a seat next to one of the partitions would have been much more pleasant.

Our waiter could not hover around us enough until we ordered, which was ok - he was neither rude nor engaging - just there. Except when the meal was served, when the bus boy cleared our table and noticed my wife had not eaten her chicken, nor when we told the busboy that the chicken was tough nor afterwards when he presented the desert menu's did he ask how the meal was.

I decided to order an espresso and to my surprise the very little cup was barely 1/3 full. I could not believe for the price that value offered.

The Tomato and Basil soup was tasty, the clams with red peppers were as well. The cheesecake was a nice end to what was, at best, an average meal - significantly over priced. We were very disappointed. Though you should know. I just checked my receipt to give you our detail (below) - I am surprised that I left 20% - habit surely, not what we got for service other than the busboy.


served by "Herb"
table 2/1
I origianlly emailed to the email addres on their site - mail was undeliverable and was returned - so should have been the food.

A friend and I ate here a few weeks ago while in town, I had heard great things about the restaurant.

We chose to eat in the dining room (the more formal side of the restaurant) - there is also an option of eating in the more casual side of the restaurant.

We did not have reservations, it was 7:45 on a Tuesday night - my friend and I both had nice slacks and dressy sweaters on. When we asked if there were any available tables, they literally looked us up and down and said (almost with disappointment) that there was one table left (turns out there were several). She then said to the two of us "this IS formal dining" and waited a moment for that to sink in before we were led back to the dining room. I almost had to look down at my legs to see if I was wearing jeans or hadn't brushed my hair. Yikes.

Our dinner was wonderful - we both had salads, and my companinon had the lobster/scallop/shrimp special and I had scallops. VERY good. We also splurged on dessert, which was spectacular.

I do want to add that our waiter also seemed a bit arrogant until we asked him what items he suggested - we followed his advice and then we were the best of friends.

I would come back next time I'm in town - but get ready for the enormous egos in this place - something I've never run into in any restaurant I've ever been in.

Worst dinner in Newport. Service was friendly enough...very perky waitresses. Atmosphere in actual tavern is ok-very New England-y, shipping village charm. Food is terribly boring.
We ordered the clam chowder which was a bit watery, but seasoned ok - nothing to write home about. Our entrees were the black sea bass & the halibut. Both dinners came out with sauteed string beans, barely seasoned - but thankfully still green. Along with that was a "rice pilaf", which was just tasted like a glorified Rice a Roni side dish. The fish - black sea bass & halibut- were both bland. They both did not taste fresh, but from frozen. There was no great seared crust on it. Rather that it had been slapped on a flat iron w/used cooking oil, & covered in watery, bland sauce. For around $22 -$23 an entree, it was most definately not worth the money!