Ellena Sweet | Campus News Editor
Perform a quick Google search for “best restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island” and you’ll likely find mention of Rosemary and Thyme Artisan Café.
Owners and chefs Matt & Anna Tscheulin opened R&T in 2010. The cafe has since been awarded “Best of Newport,” “Best of the Mercury” and “Best Sandwich & Best Grilled Cheese” for Best of Rhode Island, 2014. Currently, the cafe holds the No. 1 spot on TripAdvisor’s list of Newport restaurants.
R&T is located on the first floor of a historic Spring Street building in downtown Newport, RI. The cafe’s assortment of European flags make it stand out amid other Spring Street structures; European-inspired touches also add to the interior’s charm, as eclectic furniture and art adorn the quaint, cozy space.
R&T boasts a selection of hand-made baked goods, artisan sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee. The cafe offers food that is high quality yet affordable, and served in generous portions, to boot. All items are made from local ingredients and, according to the restaurant’s website, “all pastries are made fresh daily” and all “menu items are scratch made in-house.”
Lunch offerings include a variety of salads, such as the grilled chicken salad, “the Mediterranean,” and the R&T take on a classic Cobb, with turkey, ham, swiss, hard-boiled egg, cucumbers, tomatoes, greens and parmesan peppercorn dressing. The lunch menu also features a section devoted entirely to vegetarian items, including the “Rosemary & Thyme,” with herbed goat cheese, kalamata olives, diced tomatoes, greens and house dressing on grilled naan and “the Tuscan,” with fresh mozzarella, vine-ripe tomatoes, basil, greens and balsamic dressing, all served on a fresh baguette.
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he friendly staff at R&T greet patrons with a smile, and they’re more than willing to offer feedback on their own favorite selections. During my visit, I chose to order one of R&T’s most popular items: “the European,” a colossal sandwich stacked with, ham, smoked turkey, aged gouda, mayo and greens, all of which is served on a light, flakey butter croissant. Frankly, this might be the best sandwich I have ever had. It’s the perfect combination of flavors and for just under $8, it offers major bang for the buck. Personally, I succumbed to a full stomach after eating only half of my meal (meaning I have delicious leftovers to look forward to).
To wash my sandwich down, I ordered “the Terminator,” a cold-brew coffee drink blended with Autocrat coffee syrup. I’m somewhat picky when it comes to iced coffee (especially cold-brew), but R&T did not disappoint. “The Terminator” was strong, smooth and refreshing, and the syrup added just the right amount of sweetness while packing an extra punch of coffee flavor.
Of course, I couldn’t perform an adequate review of R&T without grabbing one of their fresh baked goods. Per an employee’s suggestion, I opted for the chocolate brownie with Brandy soaked cherries and dark chocolate chips, and it was just as delectable as it sounds. The brownie was the perfect texture – not too dry, but not too fudgy. The chocolate chips enhanced the flavor while the liquored cherries made for a rich, fruity note that sets this brownie apart from more traditional recipes.
All in all, when it comes to dining at this tiny but popular spot, the early bird certainly does get the worm, as the cafe often sells out of its most popular offerings fairly early in the morning (including crostatas, cranberry-lemon scones and a cult-favorite: the stuffed croissants). Due to R&T’s limited space and its devoted fan-base, there’s a near constant flow of lunchtime traffic, which can sometimes back things up; however, make no mistake: a meal at Rosemary and Thyme is well worth your wait.
Rosemary and Thyme is open Tuesday-Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Cafe is also open on Sundays, from 7:30-11:00 p.m. You can view all of their offerings at their website: http://www.rosemaryandthymecafe.com/.
