By Tara Stanzione | M
anaging Editor
Walking toward The Pier restaurant in the late afternoon glow, I was struck by the beauty of the Newport waterfront. The restaurant overlooked the harbor, and a sunset was beginning to take place behind the yachts docked outside.
The windows reflected the wharf and the warmth of the inside was incredibly inviting. The scenery in the dining area was just as beautiful, since every seat in the restaurant looked out on the magnificence of the waterfront.
Bob Marley and The Whalers played in the background as my eyes explored the interior. To the left was a lounge area that boasted three massive TVs and a bar. To the right was an extravagant dining section with elegant tables and chairs.
The bubbly hostess brought my friend and me into the dining area, letting us choose where we’d like to sit. She joked about giving us the V.I.P. treatment because at the time we were the only people being served in this section.
I noticed that green sea shells decorated the chair seats that were pulled out for us while the hostess lit a candle underneath a classy silver black-beaded lamp, leaving us in a dim, relaxed atmosphere.
The menu showed The Pier Restaurant’s options during restaurant week – a starter, entrée, and dessert for only $16. This deal takes place twice a year, and cuts the normal price of what I ate almost in half. This fall restaurant week took place from November 7th – 16th.
The starters offered for restaurant week included two quite different types of fresh salad. The Pier salad was served with diced tomatoes bursting with flavor, raw carrots, and rubbery red peppers. A delightfully tangy balsamic house dressing was served on the side.
The roasted pear salad included crisp candied walnuts and thin red onions that went perfectly with the champagne vinaigrette dressing. The pear was served warm and baked with cinnamon, similar to how apples are prepared for an apple pie. This was a particularly pleasant addition and was only offered during this special time in November.
While many restaurants offer a small selection of dishes during restaurant week, The Pier restaurant made many entrees available, including lobster bisque, a blackened Mahi sandwich, New England clam chowder, and the two courses I enjoyed – chicken Caesar salad and The Pier Burger. Warm tender grilled chicken was served over the Caesar salad with shredded parmesan cheese, croutons, and small pieces of bacon. The milky-white meat fell apart on the fork as well as in my mouth while the croutons became delightfully chewy from the dressing.
I had The Pier Burger cooked medium and topped with bacon and sautéed onions. When I was taking a bite, the sizzling, savory meat seemed to dissolve slowly. The beef was juicy and thicker than the bun that it was served on. The contrasting flavors of crunchy bacon and mouthwatering grilled onions came together perfectly. The heavenly side of crispy shoestring fries was served hot with pepper seasoning.
For dessert, my friend and I had two exquisite offerings – a New York style cheesecake and cinnamon donut holes. Both are only offered during restaurant week. The thick classic cheesecake was smooth, creamy and cut like butter. It had a thin layer of graham cracker crust so as not to take away from what was important, and was topped with a swirl of whipped cream. A drizzle of raspberry sauce zigzagged on the plate underneath the fluffy cake that looked light while tasting rich.
As for the equally delicious dessert, a heavy layer of crunchy cinnamon and brown sugar glaze coated three soft spongey donuts. Beside them sat a large scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel sauce which added an extra flavor of sweetness.
All food was extremely pleasing to the eye and overall incredibly satisfying. Our waiter was extremely observant, refilling our water before the glasses became even half full, and treated both of us college students as he did the older couple who came in 20 minutes after we arrived.
Later in the evening when I asked the hostess where the restroom was she had me almost convinced that the restaurant didn’t have one before she pointed it out to me. Her sense of humor really added to the experience.
The Pier Restaurant is an amazing place for everyone to dine and is located at 10 Howard Wharf Newport, RI. Their dining area is open daily from 11a.m. to 9p.m., while the lounge is open from 11.a.m. to 1a.m.
Reservations aren’t necessary, but if you want, you can book them online. The Pier’s website states that they also make arrangements for many private parties, including but not limited to wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthdays, and baby showers.
In the summer there is outdoor dockside seating as well, and in 2013 the Harbor View Bar opened. With live entertainment weekends, a kid’s menu, and parking available, The Pier restaurant is hard to beat.
