Restaurant Review

Newport's Tavern on Broadway is something special

Don Fowler
Posted 1/22/15

It would take something special for me to drive from Cranston to Newport on a cold winter’s night. The Tavern on Broadway is that something special.

Located in the city’s historic Washington …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
Restaurant Review

Newport's Tavern on Broadway is something special

Posted

It would take something special for me to drive from Cranston to Newport on a cold winter’s night. The Tavern on Broadway is that something special.

Located in the city’s historic Washington Square district in a remodeled building circa 1815 that formerly housed the Colonial Tavern, the restaurant has all the charm of a local pub and all the elegance of a fine dining establishment.

Newport residents Jim Blumel and Jill Terita opened The Tavern on Broadway in July 2013, aiming to create an “unpretentious, scratch kitchen menu of delicious appetizers, salads, charcuterie, pizzas, steaks, chops and seafood entrees, along with noteworthy desserts,” according to Jill, a summa cum laude graduate of the culinary arts college at Johnson & Wales University. The couple hired Tim Sousa of Middletown as their Chef de Cuisine.

“Tim’s training at Johnson & Wales, plus his experience at the Salvation Café, comes with a philosophy about cooking with fresh, local ingredients that fits with our vision,” Jim said. “We lend him much freedom in developing the Tavern’s lunch and dinner offerings.”

We had a couple of opportunities to experience and enjoy Sousa’s creations recently, as the Tavern’s new winter menu was unveiled.

Joyce and I started our culinary adventure with carrot and lentil soup ($6), warming us up nicely for the spicy mussels/cappicola/garlic white wine broth/bread appetizer that followed ($11). The local mussels were sweet and tender and enhanced by the combination of different ingredients, a talent of Sousa’s that was made known in every dish.

On our first visit Joyce enjoyed the lobster mac n’ cheese/orichette pasta, Fontina cheese sauce/

Arugula fried fennel salad/truffle oil ($24), truly a masterpiece and generously filled with fresh lobster meat.

I loved the Broccoli rabe and sausage pasta/sweet sausage (homemade)/

parmesan/orichette ($17), a combination of tastes and textures beyond description.

On our second time around, I ordered the Quinoa salad/roasted tomato/corn/black beans/spinach/curry balsamic ($14), the perfect choice for a vegan or someone who must choose gluten free. The creative selections of ingredients make for a flavorful dinner, especially for those who must watch their diets.

Joyce had the grilled bistro filet/roasted fingerling potato/roasted Brussel sprouts/blue cheese gravy, also gluten free ($21). Yes, she loved it.

For dessert, Sousa has created a chocolate bacon bar that we reluctantly tried – and loved. The blend of vanilla and chocolate ice cream with the bacon bar was a pleasant surprise.

Bar manager Jenessa Johannis, a Narragansett native, paired us nicely with wines. We admit to not being wine connoisseurs, but she sure is, introducing us to a variety of reds and whites from their extensive wine cellar. They also have over 30 beers on tap and change the brands frequently.

While many Newport restaurants cater to tourists and are busiest in the summer months, The Tavern on Broadway has a faithful local clientele that fills their comfortable bar area and dining room year-round. The area has gentrified recently and is filled with restaurants, boutiques, art and antique stores. Saturday night brings a Reggae band, The Mintones, to entertain.

The Tavern on Broadway is located at 16 Broadway in Newport. Check them out at www.tavernonbroadway.

com.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here