By: Kristen Tomaiolo
Posted In: Entertainment
Photo credit: Kristen Tomaiolo
“The H20 way. Food is fun.. an experience for all senses, not just taste…open kitchen, open air, and open minds…a balance from earth, sky and most importantly, sea” -H20 website.
The appropriately named restaurant H20 is becoming Newport’s newest hotspot for dining, drinking, and dancing with a spectacular view of Newport Harbor. H2O is located at the end of the Ann Street Wharf rested between the Harborside Inn and tied yachts. If one enters by wharf side, an outdoor sitting area welcomes you to the restaurant’s soothing atmosphere. Ocean blue table clothes and walls, flowing sheer white drapes and water glasses with an ever so slight curve in them give customers the feeling of not only being by the ocean, but being a part of it. Adding to the serene environment is live music. Afternoons are mellow with acoustic sounds while Friday and Saturday night’s host local bands and college night’s (Tuesday and Thursday) offer a DJ. Bands and singers performing include: Ravers, Mac and Jamie, Pat Cottrell and Chad LaMarsh. For college students, H20 will be a new place to socialize and dance after 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There’s a cover charge of $5 and $2 for students who present their Salve ID. Students must be 21 to get into H20’s bar named the Water bar lounge. “The atmosphere is fun,” says Ashlee Irons, junior at Salve Regina. “I think it’ll be another decent place for the 21 and over crowd…and the menu was ‘different.'” This “different” menu is Asian meets American. The restaurant offers everything from familiar entrees such as New York Sirloin and oysters to more foreign dishes like mahi-mahi all topped off with Asian touches making for a sophisticated taste. Some dishes include: the sesame crusted tuna block with braised baby bok choy and green tea foam; filet mignon with broccolini, a crispy potato square, and foraged mushroom marmalade and a Cantonese style whole fish of the day. However, this restaurant saw a recent make over. According to manager Kate Turner, the owner’s Jody and Tom Whittington bought the pub Sabina Doyle’s in summer 2005. This past winter, the owners decided to change the restaurant and name to where it was located and to reflect more upon their tastes. They brought in chef Todd Whiner, who helped developed a menu in the summer. Whiner left, and now Jim Roddy is head chef. H20’s grand opening was this past Memorial Day weekend. “Its something new to Newport,” says Turner. “It’s more upscale and unique.” According to Turner, a diverse mix of people dine at the restaurant. Everyone from families, young couples to old couples take a seat to enjoy the food and atmosphere. My friend and I decided to try H2O for its lunch. She ordered the chicken sandwich ($9) and I settled on the mac tenderloin ($12). Being overly indecisive, we thought it was best if we shared meals so we could taste two completely different items off the menu. The sandwiches arrived in three wedges on a toasted sub rolls and we became excited knowing how easy it would now be to share meals. Her chicken sandwich was layered with alfalfa sprouts, avocado, green apple, cashews, and sweet chili sauce. The cashews and apple gave the sandwich and unexpected crunch. Each bite was filled with a combinations of different textures and a non-guilty feeling knowing this sandwich was a healthy choice. The mac tenderloin sandwich came with a few pieces of tenderloin topped with caramelized onion, roasted mushroom, horseradish aioli, and swiss cheese. At first, I was antsy wondering if the horseradish aoili would overpower the rest of the sandwich, but it was such a subtle thin sauce it added just enough spice to each bite of the tender beef. Each dish came with a hand-full of the crispy french fries in a little bowl similar to the tea cups seen at in Asian restaurants. They were the type of crispy fries that one could see the crisp on them, and no ketchup is needed at all. We decided that since our sandwiches were filled with at least six different vegetables, it was okay to balance the meals out with something fried. Turner added that she loves the menu herself, especially the salmon. The sesame chicken wantons are a popular choice by customers according to Turner. “It’s a fun place to come and hang out and work at,” said Turner. For more details on a list of live entertainment and to fully view prices the restaurant offers an informative interactive website at http://www.h2onewport.com H20 is located on 359 Thames St., Newport. For questions or reservations their number is (401)-849-4466. Bar Menu is Tuesday-Thursday from 5 p.m.to11 p.m.Lunch Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Dinner Monday to Thursday 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday to Sunday 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
