Newport is known for some of the best restaurants on the East Coast. With Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts less than 30 miles away, it's no wonder Newport gets more than it's fair share of top-notch chefs! The biggest problem with dining out in Newport, is trying to decide where to go and what you have a craving for!
One Saturday morning, we ended up at the cutest little breakfast/lunch cafe called Annie's on Bellevue Ave right near the International Tennis Hall Of Fame. It was off-season, but the place was packed with locals and tourists. The restaurant is small and quaint with lace curtains in the floor-to-ceiling windows and a good amount of hanging plants to make you think you were in a European cafe. Very cute! Most of the wait staff looked like girls from Salve Regina University dressed just right with white blouses and black bow ties and aprons. We started off with fresh squeezed orange juice for both of us and a few rounds of decaf coffee. John had Eggs Florentine with the most delicious homemade hollandaise sauce. I had Banana Pancakes with just the right amount of smashed bananas in the batter and sliced bananas decorating the top. A little pricey ~ we walked out of there with $35.00 less in our pockets, but satisfied none-the-less! 
We went to Annie's once more before we left Newport looking for the same fuzzy feeling again. It was a weekday, so the crowds weren't there and we had our pick of cozy seats. The only drawback was we sat too close to the door and were chilled each time someone came in. I started with a glass of freshly made carrot juice ~ what restaurant makes fresh carrot juice? That was a nice surprise! John had fresh squeezed OJ again. I decided on Blueberry French Toast made with whole wheat bread and a big dollop of real butter. VERY yummy! John had a basic breakfast of eggs over easy, home fried potato wedges and toast. We finished it off with decaf coffee. Damage ~ $24.00 including the tip. I'd go back again, but with so many restaurants calling our name, we really need to try them all ~ just to be fair!
ooh, it looks so cute!!!
Posted by: Kerri | February 20, 2008 at 01:05 PM
My SIL was raised in Newport, and it's also where she and my brother were married. I haven't been there since (Aug. '85), though I remember how much we enjoyed our stay. I was pregnant with my first child, passed out due to the stifling humidity during the LONG wedding and whacked my forehead on the platform behind the minister (my SIL's dad). Of course the egg on my forehead was nothing compared to what happened to my brother's friend who'd accompanied me down the aisle (though only one way! lol) -- he passed out not long after I did and smacked his chin on the piano...needing to go to the ER and be stitched up. He ended up looking like a chipmunk because of the large bandage wrapped around his chin. Poor guy. (Lucky for me, I wore bangs so my egg wasn't noticeable to everyone else. lol) Beautiful area (aside from the horrid humidity...being born and raised in So. Cal, humidity is something I'm very unaccustomed to...thankfully!) Though we didn't have the luxury of trying out all the wonderful eateries (next time!), we enjoyed all the other tourist-y spots in the area. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. ;)
Posted by: stampmonkey | April 30, 2008 at 12:32 PM