Deb L.

We tried to eat dinner last night and it was too busy. We tried for lunch today and it was wonderful. We arrived at the restaurant eight minutes after they opened up. We asked to sit outside and it was wonderful. Our waitress, Tabatha, was wonderful also. We started with oysters. And for lunch my son had the tuna wrap. My daughter and I shared a lobster roll and each one of us had a cup of chowder.

Karen T.

We had a nice view of the water. The food was good. The service was prompt.

Rose N.

This place is incredible. So worth the price. The atmosphere and ambiance is on point. The service is superior. I sat near the window and enjoyed the amazing view of the warf. The outdoor seating looked great as well. Try the spicy cucumber cocktail, very refreshing. The bag of doughnuts (basically little seafood fritters) is delicious. George's scallops for the main course we're done just right. I would definitely come back here again.

Marie D.

Here's the situation on a Saturday night: we didn't have a reservation. We were told we could try for the bar, or have a table in 2 + 2 1/2 hours. We went to the bar. Eventually got seats at the bar. Ordered the bag of doughnuts on Anna G"s recommendation. They were not too crispy and VERY dense and filling. Sauce very good. I had the scallops on a salad, which were perfectly prepared. Friend had Brussels sprouts which were also very good. Tea with Amaretto was a perfect dessert. Overall: B+. Noise detracts. Our bartender was excellent. Juggled everything and everyone in a good mood.

Valerie S.

Much to my disappointment I must say that I have found this place to be overrated. I suppose I will recap in chronological order: my experience here begins with waiting just outside the door for my table, not unexpected given this place's popularity, and I wouldn't have minded in the slightest, had it not been for the absolutely rancid and nauseating smell coming from the dumpster ever so conveniently placed right near the door. We are seated and the delicious drink I order is promptly spilled by the waitress down my right side, but that's alright, accidents happen....an apology would have been appreciated though in stead of just a dish towel handed to me with a "Here, this one wipes stuff up better." My story continues with my ordering this "Bag of Doughnuts", golden seafood fritters I had read so much about...only to be disappointed by the chewy balls of dough with rubbery lobster inside. I will say that the clam chowder was absolutely delicious, the baked stuffed lobster brought out scandalously presented was also quite good, the sea bass special was pleasant although the polenta was very dry, the tuna tartar was nothing ground breaking, and the lobster salad croissant was quite good. But something among these was enough to send a member of my group, a woman with a renowned cast-iron stomach, in to intense abdominal pain. I do not think I will make the trip to The Mooring again.

Christine T.

I really wanted to try this place for dinner, but no reservations available during Memorial Weekend. Decided to go for lunch instead to get the lobster croissant sandwich. It was good, but not the best lobster sandwich I've had. It also comes with fries.

Donna G.

We had a wonderful late night dining experience on July 4th. We love the many varied choices of Raw Clams and Oysters. Great bar drinks Lobster Donuts are my go to Starter! Yum! Chowdas a great hit as well. I had the fabulous Sole Francais dinner and the rest of our crowd couldn't resist the 2 pound Lobsters. All cooked to perfection. Not an easy task but The Mooring never misses. Try to save room for desert. You won't be disappointed. We shall be there frequently.

Alee G.

Believe the hype! Mooring Restaurant is perfection. I came here for a celebratory birthday lunch with my mom and BFF after reading the rave ratings & reviews on Yelp. I've given up grains for the most part, but there was no way I couldn't eat the bread that was delivered to my table piping hot in a perfect little brown paper bag. It was soooooo good! I ordered the surf & turf. Steak (medium) and lobster tail. It came with shallots and asparagus. Everything was on point. I seriously could not have been happier with my meal. The waitress was friendly and attentive and the view from the outside dining area is to die for. Try this place out and treat yo' self!

Foodie K.

Here for lunch today. Always a great dining experience. We three shared the "bag of doughnuts" appetizer. The fish & chips, grilled peach salad w/chicken, grilled flatbread w/chicken and the French press coffee...all great!!! (See pictures) the service, wait staff, ambiance all very good, very attentive and professional. Very comfortable. Meals were incredible. And nice expansive views off the pier here in Newport. One of my fave restaurants in the area for any meal. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!! TIP: My one major complaint has to do with the private parking lot in front of the restaurant. This lot is NOT related to the restaurant. They do NOT validate any parking tickets. We only parked 90 minutes at a cost of $9.50. Money is never an issue, but $3-3.50 every half hour is a rip off. There are parking lots in the area for $7.00 for the entire day/evening till 2:00am.

Wei Wei H.

A harbor restaurant with nice views, slightly over priced, the food was pretty good, the oysters were delish but you could pay less for something better elsewhere. We stopped by here on a road trip and grabbed a drink (shhh), the mussels were so good, to top that they served with grilled bread that works perfectly with the spicy sauce. One down side is that you pay for parking despite having a meal there. There're meters around the area but they are slightly costly since it's a tourist town.

Tom O.

The food gets a 4 but the service gets a 5. The service deserves 5 stars. Seriously, who ever is running this place knows how to motivate people. They truly were on top of their game. Though I haven't read many of the reviews, i am certain my experience was similar to most in the most pleasing of ways. I went to the mooring because it was the most reviewed place on yelp, and it had overwhelmingly positive reviews. As per usual, the crowd sourcing of opinions offered by yelp, did not disappoint. The swordfish was incredible. Truly one of the best meals I've had. Everything tastes so remarkably fresh, and my dining companion loved their salmon on an equal level. So why was the food a 4 star showing? I ordered a lot because I wanted to try it all. The bag of donuts that appears in many reviews is simply overrated. A bready fried ball filled with the least amount of shrimp and lobster possible. The sides we had - quinoa suquatash- awesome. Brussel sprouts, just ok. Swiss chard - awesome. So, had we only had what we loved, it would have been a 5 star food review, but since it was luck of the draw - I have to say 4, but since I enjoyed eating here more than any other place in downtown Newport, this needs to be a 5 star review. Also, the swordfish, which was a special, remains my most memorable and delicious meal as of late.

Jonathan V.

I didn't realize that clam chowders and lobsters were so prevalent in the East Coast. But of course I was naive and it was my first time in the continental US. My family and I had one or the other in every single meal during our vacation stay in Rhode Island. We decided to visit Newport and had showed up at The Mooring for dinner with a party of a little over 20 people with no prior reservation. LOL. The wait was long but it was expected for our situation. I had one of the salmon sandwiches and it was good. The food was satisfying, the place looked pristine, but the 5 stars of this review really goes out to the people who served our party. They were very courteous and understandable and well worth the price. They even replaced a whole lobster meal that they were supposed to bag for us after throwing away the leftovers!

Eftihia B.

Seafood with swagger, and hands down the best service. The manager was kind enough to service us because the restaurant was packed due to the overwhelming positive response. That response from this many people is beyond coincidental. Do yourself a favor and go to The Mooring when in Newport.

Rick K.

Stopped in for a quick lunch for 2 while in Newport for the day. Was fortunate to get a great table outside with just an awesome view. We both had lobster rolls which came with generous portions of lobster served on a very light and airy croissant (nice touch). It was very good and I thought pretty reasonable at $19. Service was very good - quick and attentive (we did clearly hit it at a good time in between lunch and dinner rushes). Good stop, would like to go back for dinner next time through.

Marcela D.

Absolutely wonderful lunch experience! Started with a decadent mix of fresh local Oysters, so smooth, clean and delicious. Enjoyed expertly prepared sandwiches (definitely not your average lunch spot). I loved the lobster croissant...buttery, flakey & stuffed with sweet lobster. Hubby raved about the Ahi Tuna wrap which was full of mouthwatering Asian fusion flavors. The service was great! Our waitress was kind, friendly & professional. The food, ambiance and perfect location made it an overall outstanding experience! Can't wait to come back & have dinner here next time we come back to Newport.

Jackie B.

What a great find!! We got an amazing seat (front row right next to the dock), there was no wait to be seated, the area was surprisingly not as loud as we thought. The bag of donuts was a great recommendations by all the others who made it! We orders the salmon and scallops, both were amazing!! My only issue with it was it did take a little longer than we would have liked to get drinks. Don't let that dissuade you this place was an amazing find on our final night in Rhode Island

Kimberly T.

Two words-- Well done. Atmosphere is lovely- clean, classic and perfect for a dressy-casual dinner. Started with the Bag of Doughnuts, a paper bad filled with seafood fritters and chipotle mayo. Delish. So glad I got them even if they filled me up before dinner. My main course was the scallops. Perfectly cooked. The corn pudding wasn't as good as it is down south, but it paired nicely. I also added the brussel sprouts with bacon, which were good. My husbands fish and chips were plentiful and he said it melted in his mouth. There was no room for dessert. Our server, David, was awesome. In fact, all of the staff I encountered was friendly. In a location like this, they could be pretentious and snobby and still make bank; but instead they are accommodating and hospitable. This will be my Newport staple from now on.

Ree S.

Went last night, and it was a wonderful way to end our trip to Newport. My boyfriend and I had a reservation for 8:30 and we didn't have to wait. We'd requested outdoor seating and they accommodated us, which I appreciated. We both got the whole steamed lobster and were very happy. The waitress was kind enough to show us how to eat a lobster as we weren't too sure... it was a lot of fun cracking them open! And the view of the boats and the bridge was fantastic.

Dan K.

Went to the Mooring for lunch during a day trip to Newport (definitely will be back). Being from NYC, I'll admit to being spoiled when it comes to dining. Good: - Excellent atmosphere - right by the docks and it feels so in line with all the fancy yachts and ships - Location - is definitely right near all the action by the water - Service was great - from our waitress to the busboys, very prompt and helpful service (we over-ordered apps and asked for a doggie-bag to save the rest - no problem or attitude). And when we told them our kids would share the seafood pasta, the waitress offered to bring them separate half-plates (win!) - again not a problem - Drinks - very tasty and they had great mocktails that made our kids feel all adult-y Bad: - It was a very hot day and we asked to sit outside so I guess we can't complain about the temperature. The outdoor seating had ceiling fans, but our section didn't have one overhead so we had to rely on the circulation from the other ones. So, a little warm for my taste. - As another reviewer pointed out elsewhere, no free parking. For a restaurant this expensive, you would think they could swing the parking. Fortunately, I knew that in advance, but if you're coming to the area just to eat here, be aware! Last but not least, the food was more on the ok side. Doughnuts were really good. Chowder was ok (kids said the ones from SanFran were better - snobs). Tuna was a bit overcooked (should have ordered rare and not medium). And seafood pasta had lots of seafood but was a bit dry. Overall, it was a great dining experience. I'm not sure I'd come back again since there are so many other options to try there. But definitely worth going at least once.

Sophia L.

Over an hour wait on a Thursday night so I opted for the bar. At the hostess, hit a right and you'll find a spacious bar with great natural light. Found a seat within a few minutes. Ordered the raw oysters which were fresh but underwhelming. I asked the bartender to order me his favorites but he neglected to tell me which ones he ordered, so I can't share with you. When in New England... Order the lobster. 1.25 lbs, steamed with drawn butter. Sweet, decent size, and would order again. Had to get a small side of fries because they looked too good to pass up. Nice spot, good food, and sit at the bar only if you don't care about service

Gillian H.

I recently spent five weeks in Newport (Newport winter = blech!) and The Mooring was our restaurant of choice for this visit. Three times for dinner; excellent, well-rounded experiences each time. The Mooring is one of the few nice restaurants in Newport that can accommodate large party reservations. Not only do they accommodate them well, but they also manage to handle splitting the check in less than 30 minutes (we found 30+ minutes to be the norm at every other restaurant we dined in). The menu doesn't change much; same things were there when we visited for several months in 2013. We did enjoy the fixed price menu and made it in for Restaurant Week. Okay, let me get to the point: there is one thing that brought us back three times. Okay, maybe not one thing, but mostly one thing: the service. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in Newport knows that an establishment known for excellent service is nearly impossible to find. Well, we found it this go round, and his name was Schuyler - or Sky for short. Sky, thanks for being so awesome - we compared you to many a server over the course of those five weeks and none held a candle to ya. Bravo!

A H.

Once we sat down we had a great time but the wait was Forever and it was not the most kid friendly place.

Constantine H.

Our favorite dinner in Newport. The clam chowder was the best we had during our vacation. The oysters and shrimp were great and so were the main courses. Extensive wine list as well. Looking forward to returning.

Anonymous J.

The restaurant is not bad. I think it is slightly overpriced and over hyped. I had the lobster and I felt they put a little too much butter. Don't get me wrong, it was good but just a little too much butter for my taste. The parking here is not free but the price isn't outrageously expensive.

Kati B.

Great oysters, great atmosphere if you're seated on the patio. Clam chowder and the Cod was really fresh. I Would definitely come again.

Alan Z.

I came here today after reading all the positive reviews but I was really disappointed with the food. Waited 45 minutes for lousy expensive food is unacceptable. Bag of doughnuts was all flour and deep fried in oil. It should be called grease flour balls.You can hardly taste anything other than the grease. The fried oysters was plate of 5 oysters drenched in grease with breaded zucchini sides. Dripping wet with oil. Yuck! The lobster roll was on a dry, untoasted croissant and lacked any flavor. At $20 for the roll, it was really disappointing. The seasonal salad was okay but the tuna was cooked half rare. If you're into raw fish in your salad, then it's fine. My wife and I are not so we sent it back. 10 minutes later, a charred tuna came out of the kitchen. It's almost inedible it was so burnt. The only good dish was their clam chowder, which was creamy with bits of fresh clams. My server David D was awesome. If it wasn't for him, I probably would've given this place 1 star. Expect to pay $40-$50 per person if you come here. In my opinion, this place is not worth the price and the wait.

Victoria D.

Great restaurant with excellent fresh seafood and nice atmosphere. Service is on the slow side, but the wait staff is friendly. Mixed drinks are just ok.

K L.

Food was positively fabulous and staff were very nice. We ordered, chilled lobster, fish and chips, swordfish tacos and the bag of (seafood) doughnuts. Portions are very large and good was delicious. Swordfish was cooked to perfection and paired beautifully with mango sass. Perfect summer dish!

Haiku D.

We have gone there every summer and I just felt this year it was quite as good. The service is ok, I got oyster plate with lobster and the butter had been spilled all over the oysters so they had this congealed layer of butter on them. Finally I waved someone down to get me new ones. Other than that, the oysters were tasty. We always get the bag of doghnuts which each year has less and less of seafood in it, all I saw was bits of shrimp. It used to be so good! Fried oysters were awesome, loved the pickled veggies that came with, chorizo was totally unnecessary on that plate, it had so much flavor on its own. Chicken was awesome, the swordfish special was very disappointing. Overall, a mixed bag of doughnuts. :)

Allie S.

Excellent dinner at the Mooring. My husband and I have been coming to Newport for years but we had yet to try this restaurant. Seating is available both inside and out which is great as it was a hot night and the air conditioning was welcome. There were a lot of families with young children, so definitely family friendly. I enjoyed the burger which was perfectly cooked and my husband had the pulled pork sandwich which did not disappoint. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly. Will definitely be back.

Brian S.

My wife and I went to The Moorings this past Friday for lunch and it was and excellent experience. We were able to get a seat on the deck directly over looking the water. The waitress was great. The cocktails we're perfect. We both had their tuna which which was exceptional. Highly recommend. The view is worth the trip alone.

JoAnna D.

If you want to have a really great meal in Newport, go to Mooring Restaurant. And if you really want to eat there, make a reservation. Right now, through Yelp. Like ... now. No, seriously. It's worth it. I was Yelping a nice dinner for our weekend getaway while my man was driving. I saw Mooring, skimmed the menu, & we decided that this would be the one! "Should I make a reservation?" I asked. "Sure, why not?" he said. So at about 4pm, we OpenTabled ourselves for 8:30pm that evening. We walked right in for our reservation -- which turned out to be a lifesaver because there was a TWO HOUR WAIT! See what I mean about making that reservation? I couldn't imagine waiting two hours for dinner! Reservations are a MUST. The ambiance was just lovely. I really enjoyed the view of the water, & the room was so warm & comfortable! Once we were seated, we were handed an ipad with the wine list. Fancy schmancy, amirite? We quickly chose two glasses of Riesling, then got down to business with the menu. For appetizers, my fiance ordered a cup of the Clam Chowder, which he loved. I listened to Yelp & also ordered the Bag of Doughnuts. Obviously. And they absolutely, definitely, really lived up to the hype. I had no idea seafood fritters could be so delicious! Crunchy & fluffy, with chunks of seafood. YUM. The dipping sauce had a kick to it, but I was able to handle the spice. It may have been a little heavy for an appetizer, buuuut I still finished it, so. For our dinner, I ordered the Grilled Swordfish (bacon, fingerling potatoes, balsamic grapes) & my guy had the Sole Francaise (rice, tomato puree, capers). In hindsight, we should have switched our entrees -- or better yet, we should have switched our fishes. I loved everything about my meal except the swordfish! It was so heavy & way too much for me to eat. My fiance, on the other hand, loves swordfish but didn't really care for the filet of sole. I feel like if we could have mixed & matched our meals, they would've been perfect. But all in all, everything was prepared very well & we were happy with the food & the service. If we come back to Newport, I'll probably try another dish ... maybe scallops?

Andrew B.

Another great meal with my family at the Mooring. Food was excellent I had the chilled lobster, Caesar with salmon and a bread less salmon BLT all were excellent. My wife and son have celiac and the choices on the gluten free menu were adequate. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her seafood risotto. The service was as usual on point and the seating on the covered patio was fantastic. Upon departure the gentleman at the hostess stand thanked me for coming by name, nice touch and good attention to detail. As an owner of restaurants I understand the difficulties with staff training but the steps of service are enforced well here and it shows.

Dipanjan D.

My wife and I stopped here on our way from Cape Cod to the NY area for lunch, and were not disappointed. We had an assortment of oysters for appetizer, steamed lobster and fish and chips for our meal. All of these were fresh and delicious.

Brent F.

Everything here was perfect. Great wine selections. Scallop chowder was different and delicious. Waitress was very present and did not rush us in spite of the line of people waiting for tables. Perfectly cooked steak.

Jon G.

Favorite place in Newport for a romantic dinner or lunch! Food is always great, "bag of doughnuts" is a must!!! Wasn't thrilled with the Bloody Mary but I haven't found many I like that I do not make.

Kevin L.

4.5 stars - very conflicted about rounding up or down but I just didn't feel that this was a full 5 star experience. We made a reservation for 8 at 7:30 pm, but moved it up to 6:15 the day of with no hassle. Service was outstanding on all fronts, our waiter was extremely attentive and thorough when going over the different dishes, recommendations, and specials. The kitchen left out one plate (of 4) of scallops and our waiter went out of his way to speak with his manager, comped the scallops, AND comped a dessert of our choice. The total delay between my on-time plate of scallops and my friend's "late" plate was about 5 minutes. If this is not outstanding service, I don't know what is. I'd gladly delay my food for 5 minutes to get it comped and a free dessert any day....haha...definitely 5/5 on the service piece. Prices are actually very reasonable (even more so by NYC standards), coming out to ~$55pp after tax and tip (excluding drinks though). The food was good/great all around, deserving of a solid 4/5. Highlights: Bag of Doughnuts: Great appetizer to start off with and comes 6 in a bag. My buddy very accurately named this "American takoyaki" and it is very similar but definitely more donut-like (think cake-y, or Dunkin' Donuts munchkin). Raw Bar Platter: 3 lobster claws, 3 shrimp, 3 clams, 3 oysters. All the seafood was very fresh and the shrimp was outstandingly sweet. Definitely worth it. The red vinegar + shallot sauce for the oyster was so good and I haven't found a place that served it with oysters in a long time. Georges Bank Scallops: Scallops are perfection. They weren't as big as the scallops I had in Maine but they were cooked perfectly and I savored every bite. The corn cake(?) on the side was okay though; it reminded me of polenta (which I don't like) but with corn kernels in it. Seafood Pasta: Generously portioned with a plethora of seafood. Seafood - as expected - was great, but the pasta was a bit too buttery/oily. Uptown Salad: Also a generous portion of seafood atop a bed of greens. The salmon was a bit overcooked but it was seasoned well. Ahi Tuna: My buddy ordered this rare (the way it should be eaten), but he thought it was cooked a bit closer to medium rare. Tuna was very fresh but I thought it could have been seasoned a bit better - still good though. Maple Creme Brulee: This was the cherry on top. The contrast between the smooth and creamy custard and the crisp, brittle caramelized sugar on top was excellently balanced. Some places slightly burn the sugar on top (which some people like) but this was done just right. It wasn't overly sweet and definitely ended the meal on a high note. Tldr; amazing service, decent prices, cozy atmosphere, fresh seafood

Anthony I.

The Mooring has great, great seafood. Quality, at it's finest. It's known throughout the area for it's quality. For apps we had their amazing Mussels and "Bag of Donuts" (delicious, crispy seafood fritters). For Dinner, I had the Georges Bank Scallops, that were seared to perfection, and so tender. We also tried the "Uptown Salad" (shellfish salad) and the extremely well made Salmon. Prepare to dress up, and look good, before being seated. It's the kind of place that has nice food, and nice people, if you catch my drift. When in Newport, The Mooring is a great visit.

Tim L.

Seafood on the waterfront, how much better can it get? We ate here after I graduated from Naval officer school - so the town was busy but thankfully we had a reservation. We were seated right away and got to sit on the outside deck right next to the water. If you have a chance to eat outside in the summer, I highly recommend this! The prices are a bit high, but the quality of food and experience is worth it. I ordered the swordfish and my wife got her usual favorite, a seafood pasta dish. My in-laws both ordered salmon. We all loved our meals! It was all cooked perfectly - not too done, just right. This was the first time I had had swordfish but I can now say I love it. The staff was all very courteous and swift with getting our order in and making sure everything was going fine. They have a pay to park lot at the restaurant but we parked on a side street downtown and walked here (free!). All in all everything went very well and we would come back if we are in the area again.

Rose Q.

Excellent food. Very attentive and friendly service. Picturesque atmosphere. Birthday dessert on the house. Will definitely go back!

Hana A.

Make sure to get reservations or you will wait! Even with reservations we waited ten more minutes. Bowl of clam chowder- too thick and lumpy. And where were the clams??? Bag of doughnuts- I only tasted the dough. What happened to the seafood taste? Lobster croissant- bland bland bland. It was just lobster with croissant, no spices or butter, nothing. Service- bleh. The worst part of the dining experience was the service. Skip this restaurant. It's overpriced and food is not good anyways. Tourist trap!

Tammy G.

love coming here the bartenders are amazing and so are the fish and chips. sitting outside on the deck is a great view

Kathryn H.

Delicious...but crowded, fast paced and busy. Make a reservation, especially for larger parties. Good is very good...

Liz B.

The food is ok, the service is ok, but it's not worth the hour long wait to get a table. The doughnuts are mostly dough with a hint of seafood. Serving lobster on a croissant sounds delicious, but in actuality it falls flat. I would not recommend ordering it. If you are going to go, make a reservation a couple days in advance. Ask to sit outside, and start with the raw clams and oysters; you can't go wrong there. The chopped salad was lovely and they have a refreshing take on fried squid. However, with so many great seafood restaurants in Newport, I won't be returning to this one.

Sara V.

Best meal of the trip. Tried 3 different oysters - delicious! Should have had more, but had to save space for the actual meal. Had the vegetable succotash - tasty! Best part was the special: scallops wrapped in phyllo dough over a corn, mushroom, spinach medley - mouthwatering! Walked in during lunch and was seated right away even with a stroller. Would definitely come back and recommend.

Steve V.

Our first visit to The Moorings. We enjoyed a quick lunch outdoors on the patio. Our entire meal was great and the calamari was awesome - only topped by our waitress Allie - be sure to ask for her when you visit.

Tracy G.

It was a toss up between our group of four and The Mooring won and not a soul in the group had any regrets! FRESH seafood, solid drink list and excellent service - this restaurant is not to be missed while visiting Newport! Try: Fabulous oysters, fresh lobster, salmon and fun drinks!

Laurie K.

We had a lovely early dinner at the Mooring. The views are terrific. The atmosphere was casual and open; service acceptable and friendly but not exceptional. We started out with a few pleasant cocktails. Though they were a bit too sweet. We both had entree salads with lots of fresh vegetables, tasty seafood and fish, and pleasant dressing. The seafood, and especially the salmon, were nicely cooked generous portions. It's a great unstuffy option in this touristy town.

Kimberly H.

I was expecting this restaurant to be a lot better after reading several raving reviews. But it just doesn't live up to its hype. It is, however, one of the busier and more expensive restaurants on Thames street. I arrived at 9:10pm even though I had open table reservations for 9:30pm. There was a large crowd just waiting at the doorway and others by the bar. The man at the desk would not check me in early, so we were seated at 9:30pm. But, I did request for a table with a water view and they did honor that. We were seated outdoors overlooking the boats. If it was sunset then the view would be gorgeous. Service was pretty good despite how a-ok the food was. I ordered the burrata special and added yellowtail tuna to have as an entree. I asked for medium rare but it was more medium well. I think it would have tasted better if I asked for rare and if it was more seasoned. The bf had the seafood pasta which had a lot of scallops. The portion was large enough for two people. We ordered the bag of donuts which was fried fritters of lobster, crab and shrimp. I think it was the dipping sauce that made these fried donuts so good. Overall, food was okay. Not worth the hype.

Jessi M.

I was hesitant to go here just because it's right on the strip and sometimes those restaurants are more touristy with just ok plates. This place was good! Went with our kids (10 & 13) and sat out on the back deck and watched all of the boats. We ordered the ahi tuna app which didn't have a lot of flavor, but was super fresh and well made. We also got the bag of doughnuts which you HAVE to get. axing flavor and clearly a fav here. I had the sole for my main and my hubs got the scallops. Both dishes were tastey and proportional. Kids got chowder and fish and chips (which was a huge portion) For dessert we had the boston Cream pie brûlée which wasn't bad (I just had a bite)

Katie C.

Great view of the marina. Always packed. The lobster croissant sandwich was delicious and the calamari appetizer was great too.

Thomas G.

I have been coming to the Mooring for lunch for many years when I am in Newport. I like the ambiance, the staff and last but not least, the food. There are tons of tourist trap restaurants in Newport which prey on visitors and provide heaping plates full of slop. However, the Mooring is not that kind of establishment. It is right on the water and has a tasteful dining room decorated with a variety of Newport nautical antiques. I always get the same meal whenever I go to the Mooring, clam chowder to start and a lobster roll. The chowder is tasty and fresh and has a very subtle bite. The lobster roll is not like the usual mayonnaise drenched slop that you get at a lot of places. It is primarily fresh lobster very lightly seasoned with just a touch of mayonnaise. It is simple and delicious. The Mooring prices out at a touch more than the other establishments around Bannister's Wharf but the ambiance, quality and overall experience are far superior. It is well worth a visit.

Jessica W.

FOOD For dinner, I ordered from the Newport Week 3-Course Meal option for $35. This was a great deal! I started dinner with delicious New England Clam Chowder. Then, for my entree I order the Glazed Salmon - it was tender and perfectly cooked with a nice crisp layer, topped with a sweet glaze. For dessert I had the Bread Pudding topped with ice cream and garnished with strawberries - one of the best bread puddings I've had! I wasn't a fan of the raisins in the dish but it was so delicious I could easily overlook them. I would recommend all of these dishes. SERVICE The service here was very attentive and unobtrusive. My water would be filled before I realized it was running low. My plates were cleared as soon as I no longer had a need for them. The check came promptly and everything came and went smoothly. LOCATION/SPACE Although it was rainy and foggy, I sat at a table that gave me a nice view of the harbor - I would imagine it to be an amazing view on a clear sunny day at sunset. Perfect for a date night. The space was warm, a bit dim but not so dark that I couldn't read the menu. The predominantly wood furnishings was beautiful, and really lent itself to a warm, intimate environment.

Yangy L.

We came here for a quick lunch. The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty awesome with the high ceiling, nautical theme throughout, and amazing water view. I was looking forward to the lobster croissant since it looked amazing from the photos I saw on yelp. Unfortunately it was a bit of a let down. Somehow the richness of the croissant just did not go well with the lobster at all. Also the lobster didn't taste super fresh to me. We also ordered a salmon dish that was a huge disappointment. The salmon was way overcooked, and did not taste pleasant at all. Overall it's a great place for the atmosphere, but not so much the food.

Richard C.

Top quality. The lobster was smaller than I hoped for as a Californian, but I admit to not knowing what I'm doing. I had the cucumber pepper tequila drink they have as a house special and it was incredible. The scallops, potatoes and asparagus were perfectly cooked.

Komal P.

Being a picky eater is difficult when going to a seafood restaurant. I was a bit nervous when walking into this place. I ordered the ginger beer which was fantastic!! For my meal I ordered the grilled cheese - amazing! It had chile peppers and portobello on country bread. A little spicy but very flavorful. For dessert I had the pumpkin cheesecake - not too sweet and you can taste the spice. Would highly recommend this restaurant! Oh and you cannot beat the view!!

Claire M.

Really excellent food and cocktails. Every time I have gone I have had a super nice waiter, always a pleasure to go.

Andrea A.

Horrendous service. Waitress hardly came to the table. Food was mediocre and management was terrible. Overall not worth the snooty vibe.

Tom E.

These folks know how to make a person with allergies feel normal. So many places make you feel as if you are imposing on them. This place went over the top in making us feel welcome. The waitress knew from the beginning and helped us with our menu selections. We started with the wonderful cheese plate appetizer. Good selection with mixed fruit and candied pecans. The blue was especially good. Beautiful location on the water and the night was a perfect August night. The place was packed. Nice draft beer selection with some local offerings. For our main course there were so many choices but we each had the Caprese Salad. I chose the yellow fin tuna and my wife went with the scallops. The heirloom tomatoes were perfect and the mozzarella and balsamic reduction were tasty. My wife said her scallops may have been the best prepared she has ever had and my Tuna was exactly as I asked for it. Great meal. The manager and assistant manager both came out to help deliver food and make sure it was to our liking and prepared for our allergy. This was smart and also kind and so unusual. Thanks. We had not intended to have dessert but we split the Key Lime pie which was awesome. It had a real pastry crust and a dried slice of lime that was terrific. Great night on Newport. Thanks to everyone who made this meal so special. It was also fun to watch the hosts and yachts docked in front of the restaurant. The sunset was awesome as well.

Emilie W.

So, I'm just trying to be honest here. The oysters were fresh and tasty, which all the proper accompaniments. The "bag of donuts" was fried and fresh as promised, with little bits of seafood inside. Certainly delicious, but also heavy. We arrived after sun set so didn't get to appreciate the views. Perhaps I would feel differently if seated at sunset and looking out on the harbor. We also ordered the calamari, which was good, fresh, standard. Overall no low points, but also no real highs. It seems all the oysters in Newport are $3 each, which is a little steep, but I'll pay it. There was just nothing exciting about this place. So come, eat, drink, pay a lot. The ambiance is like any restaurant with so many tables. Honestly I couldn't bother with the other food. I wouldn't come here over any other restaurant in town unless you're trying to get a view. And then you'd better reserve in advance.

Henry G.

Perfect location, upscale but not pretentious the service is excellent!! The chowder and fish and chips are terrific, and from my previous visit, one can expect an excellent and generous cocktail from the bar! Well worth it!!!

Katherine G.

This is a nice place to grab a bite located in the center of Newport. Nice seafood and nice service.

Nicole A.

Awesome seafood restaurant. The staff was very kind and friendly. Service was pretty fast. I had the fish and chips for a light dinner and it was swell. The restaurant itself is large and clean. I recommend if you are looking for some reasonably priced seafood.

Lori C.

2nd time here. Seafood pasta dish is amazing! Great service and view. Cucumber drink was also really yummy! Topped off by take 5 pie! Definitely will return!

Alyse W.

Great location on the water, extensive wine menu, and delicious traditional new England seafood. Perfect for brunch lunch or dinner. The bag of doughnuts and scallop chowder are a must. And I recommend making reservations

Dan Q.

Such a great experience. We were seated quickly In a great location. The server was very attentive. The bag of donuts was unique, hot, super flavorful, and filing, and there was so much good stuff on the appetizer menu that we never even made it to a main course!

Sally B.

We had enough time in Newport to eat here twice. Two wonderful meals. Fresh, huge, delicious oysters and clams; very tasty clam chowder; perfectly steamed lobster. All of the fish we had was really perfectly cooked. You may think it's a tad expensive, but you get what you pay for here.

John M.

Everything a Newport restaurant should be. Try the scallop chowder. The raw bar I had (local oysters and Mexican shrimp) was to fresh as fresh gets. Baked stuffed lobster and seafood pasta were out of this world. Fantastic place for serious seafood lovers.

Alison F.

My boyfriend and I had the most enjoyable meal here over the weekend. Our server, Meg, was friendly and attentive. We got the bag of doughnuts, salmon, and fish and chips. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Will definitely return!

John C.

Came here on consecutive occasions. The outside dining area is right by the ocean, the waitstaff is attentive and the food is phenomenal. I will probably never enjoy another lobster roll again after eating their lobster croissant sandwich. I would recommend the clam chowder and anything on the dessert menu if you're up for it. Even the coffee they serve is of high standard and it's served on a French Press.

Jennifer H.

Wow, are we glad we were able to secure a reservation the day before. At first the only available slots were for 5:15 and 8:15, in which we declined. However, after looking at Yelp again, Mooring seemed the place to get delicious seafood, so we called them back and secured the 8:15 reservation. We were about 7 minutes late, but we called 2 minutes before 8:15 to let them know, and they were very accommodating and still got our tables set. Well after a year of postponing this review, all I can think about are the Seafood Doughnuts!!! These savory donuts oozed ocean flavor and were perfectly fluffy. Dipping it in the sauce that accompanies it heightens this flavor further. After a year later, I'm still thinking about it. I don't remember what else we ordered, but I just know that everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. If I ever go back to RI, this would be the place to hit up.

Maria G.

So my boyfriend and I were highly recommended to eat here We got there a lil before our reservations we sat at the bar for a drink the bartender was very friendly and made us 2 drink specials the banana martini was amazing We sat for our dinner and started w the cold chilled raw sampler w lobster claws shrimp oysters and clams DELICIOUS VERY FRESH WE THEN Had a crab cake One of the best crab cakes I ever had Our dinners were both amazing I had the lobster stuffed w crab scallops and shrimp actually they came whole not chopped Amazing My boyfriend had the pasta seafood fish it was really good The staff was so friendly and accomadating Great delicious experience and not overly priced great portion ‼ Come try this wonderful restaurant

Julia C.

This is a great restaurant and I'm happy we picked it as our first stop in Newport. We waited at the bar for our reserved table to open up. It's a lovely open space with generous pours at surprisingly reasonable prices ($9 for bourbon on the rocks). For an appetizer we ordered the bag of doughnuts, and we both really enjoyed it. I'm not so big on the heavy fried food, but this was great. For dinner, my fiancé ordered the 2-lb lobster, baked and stuffed. I thought that would be too large and was frankly kind of irritated when the server suggested it. Turned out that it may have looked big but was definitely too small for two to share. The lobster itself was probably a 3.5 out of 5. The flavor was okay, stuffing just okay, overall a meh experience. I ordered the scallops and would say that they were probably a 4 out of 5. They were cooked perfectly, and the sauce was splendid, but the corn cake in the center was pretty blah. Overall I would say that this restaurant is a 5 for ambiance, 4.5 for service but only 3.5 for food. I think that I expected a fantastic meal given the prices and the reviews, but it was pretty mediocre food. The location and the service tip it up to a 4 star review, but I would recommend not expecting 4 or 5 star cuisine.

Arthur C.

Went in there last week, sat on deck. Waitress was rude and just plain unhappy. She was around my age, guessing 35-40ish, brown hair, but she should get a job she likes, imo. Food was decent.. View was great

Arelis L.

Easy reservations were made. Staff was great, always made sure we were all set. It was restaurant week so we went with that menu. Food was amazing!

Rick A.

Very disappointed! Arrived and we're told that we needed to wait for 10 min while they got our table ready. It was a late lunch and requested a seat on the roof to overlook the harbor. Then 10 min turned into 15 min and several smaller parties were sat before our party of 6. Finally our table was ready and just as we were about to be sat the hostess snapped at us that they couldn't seat us because a member of our party was wearing a sleeves muscle shirt. When we asked why we weren't told this nearly 20 min ago the hostess had no answer?? Needless we left and will never return.

Benjamin L.

Excellent place to eat!!! My wife and I got the doughnut bag (fried dough with shrimp and lobster) as an appetizer and we both got the lobster roll. They were all delicious and the staff were very friendly and attentive. The wonderful luncheon was almost ruined because of the table behind us. They were so loud and full of themselves but the friendliness of the staff attracted my attention more than those clowns. Definitely a place to eat if you're in Newport!

Laura S.

I went here for dinner with some friends for my sister's bachelorette weekend. Our drinks were great to start! The waiter was super helpful and gave us suggestions for things to try. I had the scallop chowder to start and it was AMAZING! I love scallops and have never had them in a chowder and this was awesome. I want to go back and order just this! I got the lobster croissant for dinner and it was great. All of our food was awesome and we all want to go back again! I'd definitely recommend this restaurant!

Tammy R.

Great location right in water but good was ok. Servers didn't smile much. We were with a big group. If I was back in area. It sure if I'd be back.

Lujia C.

Very nice place in Newport!!! If you are the first time to visit this pretty beach city, you definitely should go to this restaurant and try their seafood pasta and oysters!!!

Mike P.

A romantic location that is tastefully decorated in old New England charm, this restaurant knocks it out of the park. We were ably served by Matt, who was friendly and fast. The food and drinks came out very quickly. I tried their chicken salad sandwich that was topped with cheese and bacon- mmmmmm, delicious. The fries were perfectly seasoned, and I was quite full. Sadly, I didn't have room for dessert, but I was so tempted after seeing the brownie with peanut butter pudding! This was all washed down with their house sangria all while looking out at the harbor. I can't wait to go back!

Xiomara S.

Loved this place! We sat out on the dock area overlooking the harbor. Service was great, the staff were super friendly! Cocktails were yum! and the Seafood Doughnuts were amazing!! Next time im in Newport will be heading here!!

Katie B.

Delicious food, right on the water, and impeccable service. How can you go wrong? I was in Newport for the day and was looking for a great seafood spot for lunch and my fellow Yelpers did not let me down. We sat outside on the patio, which is on the water with a great view of the harbor. I started with a few oysters and clams from the raw bar. They all tasted very fresh and were served with a delicious cocktail sauce. Then, I shared a crab cake appetizer with my friend. The crab cake may be the biggest one I've seen and was served with two great sauces. I finished with some clam chowder since I was already pretty full and it was one of the better ones I've had. It had lots of clams and wasn't just cream and potatoes like some places. I'd definitely recommend everything I ate there, it was a wonderful lunch. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the Bloody Mary, it was a little bland and could have used some kick (I like them spicy). I will also say that the service absolutely impressed me. Our waiter must have given me a fresh plate and new silverware about 3 different times and was not at all annoyed with refilling my water every 5 minutes (it was a pretty hot day).

Emily L.

Awesome food with a great view! We got a table outside - sun, water, boats, & seafood = great combination. Wine & apps - We started with a bottle of chardonnay, $52 (not bad given that a glass is $13). Ordered 5 varieties of oysters. We liked the East Beach Blondes and Matunucks the most. Loved the buttery taste of the Blondes and the briny/fat from the Matunucks. We then got a order of the bag of doughnuts. I was torn on ordering them since some reviews said they were great and others not so much. They were actually really good with the sauce. You could see the bits of seafood. A bit heavy but we are glad we tried them. Entrees - We got the lobster croissant and Georges Bank scallops. The lobster in the croissant was plentiful and seasoned well. The croissant was nice and buttery but could be a bit more flaky. The fries that came with the croissant was delicious! Eat it with the sauce that comes with the bag of doughnuts! The scallops were amazing! It was placed over a carrot puree. I didn't think the puree was going to be that good but it was! The pickled onions and frisee gave the dish some needed lightness and acidity to balance out the heaviness of the corn pudding (lobster claw meat on top!). Needless to say we finished both dishes down to the last bit. Dessert & coffee - Caramel banana ice cream - creamy, smooth, and delightful! Cappuccino and Latte came with rock candy pops - best idea ever! Coffee was very good. The service was great! Got helpful recommendations. Checked on us in a timely manner. She knew what we wanted before we even asked. I do feel bad that they have to squint (can't wear sunglasses) in the sun. They are currently doing a back to school special where you can buy a $100 certificate and get $20 as an added bonus to spend at the restaurant. They just started the promotion today so I was not able to partake. I was told that you can do this online so do this before you go to the restaurant! They also have a perks reward program. 500 points ($1 per point) gets you $35 off on a future meal. Great place for a meal - ambiance and food.

Greg C.

We will definitely be dining at Mooring again the next time we visit Newport...what a great experience. My girlfriend and I came to newport for a nice Labor day weekend getaway. This was an amazing way to start off our trip. We had made a res through opentable for 7. When we arrived at the restaurant at 6:55, the guy in front of us was told there was at least a 2 hour wait ( hint: reservations are a MUST!). They seated us right away at a beautiful table on the deck overlooking the sailboats and superyachts. Beautiful! Our server Tania, was friendly, attentive, and showed infinite patience as we (and several other tables) asked her to take endless pictures of us and the beautiful scenery. Now the food: we started with samples of several varieties of oysters from the raw bar. Oh! So fresh, buttery, sweet, and delish. Our favorite were a locally caught variety called umami (we got a second round of those). For apps we got the clam chowder (of course), surf and turf sliders, and fish tacos. All were very good. My fav was the sliders, ground beef with big chunks of lobster, although the ratio of bread to meat was a bit off. For a entree we split the scallops with corn pudding, lobster, and carrot purée. The salad had a delicious bacon vinaigrette that had just the right amount of saltiness from the bacon. So good. The scallops were nice and the pudding was tasty. The thing that really impressed me about the entree was that the server asked if we were splitting it, and they prepared two plates for no extra charge. Most nice restaurants charge a sharing fee just for bringing an extra dish, much less actually plating two half portions. If you are in newport, you should definitely make an effort to try the mooring. We will be back.

Billy P.

Exceptional. Came here for lunch prior to a wedding later that evening. Conveniently, Mooring has its own parking lot that is reasonably priced. Absolutely clean and classy inside. We chose to sit outdoors overlooking the waterfront because of the perfect weather. Ordered a bottle of champagne for the table and started with excellent raw oysters from the local Rhode Island area. Had the special of the day, cioppino with jasmine rice. Incredible. Flavorful, but not overwhelming and a perfect portion. Service was impeccable. Our waitress was attentive but the rest of the staff who refilled our waters and constantly checked on us were great. Highly recommended for a nice occasion!

Mary E.

I was here about two months ago with about 12 girlfriends. We were in Newport celebrating my final days as a single lady! The mooring was by far the best meal I had! My maid of honor had a made a reservation, upon arrival as were seated immediately. Since we were so many, we ordered a whole bunch of stuff! The bag of doughnuts, a must!! Best fritters I've ever had!!! We all shared a salad, and also ordered some oysters from the raw bar (also a must) they were so fresh! For dinner, where to start! We ordered the lobster, surf and turf, scallops, seafood pasta, you name it, it was on our table! Not one of us had a complaint! Everything came out cooked perfectly and just the way we ordered it. A few of us even made some modifications to our meals! Our servers we attentive and very accommodating! I would absolutely recommend The Mooring! The location, the quality of food, the view, the service, you really can't go wrong!! Enjoy!

Cathy M.

Upscale dining directly on the water. Expensive, tall ceilings, elegant, fast service, convenient when at the Newport Boat a Show. Outside seating. Attractive plated food. We come annually. No issue with noise. We come for dinner. Chowder excellent. Scallops are usually a favorite. $100 easy for two.

H M.

When in Newport one of my favorites. Was here with a group of 8 and made reservations 6 weeks in advance. The most amazing meal and the best service. Four people in our party ordered the seafood pasta special. It is the best thing I have ever had! Amazing, everyone raved about it! Can't wait to go back.

Chris D.

This place was awesome! Appetizer of fried oysters and pickles melted in our mouths. The spicy aioli sauce was the best part. The ahi tuna sandwich was cooked to perfection and did not disappoint. We came to celebrate an early valentines weekend and we left very satisfied. The service was great!

Kristen M.

Food, ambiance, service...5 stars all around! Dining partner and I had reservations for 7:30 on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. Glad we did, because when we walked in we heard the wait was up to 3 hours long. We were seated on the back deck and loved watching the boats and sunset. For cocktails, I had the Strawberry lemonade and Dining Partner had the Pink Limoncello, both of which were tasty and strong. We began with the Raw Bar 4 varieties of oysters. They were SO fresh! While I was eating the oysters I dropped a fork on the floor, out of no where a few seconds later came a server with a new one. Did I mention the service was great? Dining Partner had a foodgasm over the scallop chowder and is still talking about how good it was (two weeks later). The Bag of Doughnuts (6 of them) filled with lobster, crab & shrimp were warm, fluffy, and delicious. Our entrees of the Lobster Croissant and Pork Chop also satisfied. We ended the meal with the dark chocolate brownie which was forgettable compared to the rest of the meal. Definitely a must while in Newport, but be sure to make a reservation!

Emaan M.

Great waterfront location with amazing food and service! It's a dinner that i'll never forget. We scored a table in front of the boats overlooking the water and the sunset. Highly recommend.

Fred G.

Ate there last evening. Went because it was highly rated. We were extremely disappointed in both the service and the food. Those raved about donuts were overdone balled of dough with little else. Mostly tasteless. Todd was not much better. We had to ask twice to get our water glasses refilled.

Aj W.

Perfect RI meal. Got better with each course. Started with a local IPA and a chopped salad. Next were the swordfish tacos which were amazing. Note - Only comes with 2 so order a few if you're with a group. Grand finale was the lobster. No description necessary- you can't get seafood like this anywhere else. Best meal of our trip to Newport!

Andrew W.

Great lunch on the water. Calamari and the lobster croissant were fresh and delicious. Bartender was a real nice guy Great Service.

Brian E.

Came here for the first time in three years and upon looking at the menu, realized they took my favorite: Seafood Pie off the menu. Had to take a star off my original review. The food was still good but hearing that I wasn't the only one that asked about the removal of that one particular menu item kind of makes this place retreat further into a "tourist trap." That Bag of Doughnuts was still excellent though.

Johnny Y.

This place knows what their doing. The view, the water, the food, the service, the jokes, the drinks, the whole package. If you want to test the waiters out on knowledge for food. G.Fing DAMN. As if they were the chefs in the kitchen. The recommendations not to boost the tips or pay the extra $$$ but, they speak the truth. They sold us with the specials and the popular dishes and what they have. Usually I don't need to give descriptive explanations of how amazing it is. But this needs to be written! To be honest. I was very please with the selections of the appetizers more so towards the main courses. We end up doing a family style of all varieties. The Clam Chowder, the tuna tartar, the seafood doughnut!? Mind blowing I also really enjoyed the lobster croissant. That would've been a great brunch choice. We also had the crab cakes, and the seafood sampler platter which was pretty good. There wasn't anything that was displeasing. Definitely will do a come back to test their consistency!

Boki H.

According to Yelp check-ins, this was my third time here (I don't know why i didn't write any review for the first two times:/) I can't remember what exactly I had before, but I do have a generally fond memories of this place so that I decided to return. However, this time, it didn't live up to expectations. Two girl friends and my husband and I had a reservation at 6 but we arrived a bit early around 5:30ish. They were able to seat us immediately, which was really nice. We had afternoon tea a couple hours ago so we were not too hungry yet. We decided to order a few appetizers to share. Here were what we had: Oysters from the raw bar - they had 6 varieties which was pretty impressive. We tried a few and consensus was that umami was really good. I personally preferred the walrus and carpenter - a small, sweet and creamy kind in a deep shell. One of my friend claimed that the blue point she had tasted not fresh. Bag of donut - I absolutely loved this! In fact, I almost finished the whole bag all by myself! Neither friends nor my husband liked it; they said it was tasteless like a plain bread. But I could actually taste the seafood inside, and I really love the chewy texture of it, and the the sweep sauce was a perfect complement! Grilled squid - this was ok. A big bland and greasy. Mahi mahi taco - not too bad, but nothing really stood out either. Surf & turf sliders: I think the beef one was just okay, but my friend enjoyed the seafood one very much. We also shared the pork chop entrees and hubby said that's his fav dish of the night. It has some sweet sauce made of fruits on top which was really delicious. The spiced smashed sweet potato on the side was epic! The food is more like a hit and miss, and probably worth 3-4 stars. But the service was a bit lacking; our service was not the most friendly I've see. She messed up my friend's drink and seemed upset when we told her to change. She didn't really checked in with us during the meal but tried to clear the table multiple times while we were obviously still eating - definitely brought it down to 3 stars.

Robert K.

More style/hype than substance. Can't beat the location. It backs up to the harbor, offering a view of the sunset, boats, and occasional mega-yacht. The newer building offers a plenty-nice country-club feel, though lacks a bit in the character that restaurants housed in older buildings have. I'd definitely recommend coming here before it gets dark, as the outdoor dining room is very well lit and that lighting obscures the view of the harbor. Food wise, a mixed bag. Literally? The Bag of Doughnuts was a miss for us. Dry, and mostly fried dough filler. The seafood that was in them was scant and barely discernible. That trend continued with the Surf & Turf Sliders. Tasty, but ultimately more Turf than anything. Trace amounts of lobster. Coming from a state where a heaping serving of lobster is the norm in any good lobster roll at the same price, this was disappointing. The Fish & Chips were average, but a great portion that made for a second meal later on. The Sole Francaise was the standout of the meal: light, a great combination of flavors, and very fresh. Other positives included great service from our waiter, and rather strong drinks to go along with the premium. Oysters were fresh. Come here for the view and service, but don't expect the best dining in Newport by any means.

Lisa S.

Sit outside by the water. It's beautiful! Our server was extremely friendly and helpful. We ordered the bag of donuts app and the lobster croissant sandwich. Both were very good. Great for lunch or dinner. We would definitely return on our next trip to Newport!

Ian G.

The best seafood I've had in Rhode Island, hands down! I was here on Mother's Day weekend and arrived for lunch with no reservation and had no issues with finding a seat. I sat at the outdoors area and enjoyed the beautiful view of the ocean. The waitress was kind and knowledgable of the menu and the surrounding area (I was asking questions about things to do at Newport since I'm from Massachusetts). I ordered approximately one of each of the 3 variations of oysters native to Rhode Island and they were amazing! Next up I had ordered Yellowfin Tuna which was cooked to perfection and plated with experience. It was a solid 8.8/10. My only complaint was the garnish of fried onions on top were overly bitter and took away from the dish. My girlfriend ordered scallops and they were fresh and delicious! This restaurant made my vacation in Newport much more enjoyable, I hope to come back in the future!

Meggie K.

Fantastic everything! My boyfriend took me here on the 4th of July for my birthday, so of course the place was packed and busy. Despite this, the service was great, the food was delicious, and everything was brought out in a timely manner. We were seated right at our reservation time, there was prosecco at the table when we sat, we had a great table over the water per requested, and our server was very friendly and accommodating. No one seemed like they were rushing or stressed out. 5 stars to this restaurant.

Emily S.

Great seafood destination and cool atmosphere! Very warm, inviting and happening place to eat or drink. Clam chowder is one of the best I've ever had and the cod entree was also very good (although the addition if chorizo to the stew was a little odd). Friendly wait staff and great service. Would highly recommend this place if you're coming out of town and want some yummy seafood by the water.

Wendy W.

Food=meh. service=blah. View on that outdoor seating patio=parking lot for boats (couldn't even see inside the fancy yachts!) Price=too much $$$! Not impressed, esp for the price. The only thing good we had were the raw oysters... & they didn't even cook those! Had the bag of doughnuts a few yelpers were raving about. Doughy fritters w/seafood. I guess it's a way to use up leftover bits of seafood? It's a bunch of fried dough w/some pretty delicious chipotle aioli, but for $10-15? Not worth the calories. My eating partner had a burger- can't mess that up right? They did: ordered med rare, got well done. I got surf & turf sliders- it was cold slices of beef w/bits of lobster. Skimped on the lobster & it was slathered in some salty sauce. Not worth it. The rest of newport is expensive enuf w/o this under-whelming meal

Tim F.

This was our first Newport restaurant and it set the bar high for every other place we visited. We had reservations for two via Open Table with a request for the deck. Our table was amazing and the sunset was perfect. The food was delicious. Thanks to other reviewers I knew what I wanted before I even looked at the menu. Chowder, Bag of Donuts, and a Croissant Lobster Roll. They were all excellent choices. The best Lobster Roll by far. The croissant was flaky and added a slight amount of sweetness to the lobster. The one bad decision... not going back another night.

Oleg V.

Location is good, but the food is definitely not. The mussels and the cod were both so spicy I could hardly feel the taste! Also they add some sort of spicy ham to those dishes which seemed awkward. Not the best experience overall.

Heidi B.

Mark the bartender is full of charm and amazing customer service! His 30 years of experience shines and makes this place! We ordered the famous doughnuts! Crab, lobster and shrimp stuffed doughnuts with a maple chipolti aoili !! Five stars amazing!

Phillip G.

Wow. Everything was so good. Among the three of us we had the seafood pasta, scallops, and one special. The waitress was wonderful. They have a gluten free menu. Ask for it. We will definitely go back.

Joshua P.

One of my favorite Newport restaurants. When I made a reservation recently, I called the day before and requested a table of 4 by the window. The lady said they would hold us a table. Her name was Nicole. On arrival, we were told there are no tables by the window and they "try to accommodate, but today, we cannot." Wish they treated their repeats guests a little better....especially in the off season we are the ones who love RI and drive their business in the slower months. Disappointing (especially b/c I am a Newport Restaurant Group junkie). As always, great food. Okay service (they got our soup order wrong).

Sheryl B.

The Mooring doesn't need my review so I'll keep this short and sweet. It was a Beautiful day eating an early dinner on the outside deck near the water. Not too crowded. Our apps, one the bag of donuts, reminded hubby of clam cakes. He really liked them. I liked them. We loved the NE chowder. The waitress gave my husband tips on eating a whole lobster successfully. He enjoyed it! I had the Seafood Pasta which had large chunks of lobster, scallops and shrimp...mmmmmmm! We even shared a crème brûlée which was very very good. You may not know that we are pretty good critics of crème brûlée, but not lobster experts yet! Service. Great. But the view, breeze and company (who is mine) was fantastic!

Robert J.

Great meal, and great service. The view of the marina added to the whole experience. We had the raw platter which was delicious. For dinner we had the seared scallops. The corn pudding that came with it was actually really good. Wasn't sure if I would like it. We went without reservations and chose to wait at the bar. We ordered a few drinks and the raw platter at the bar. As soon as the platter came our table was ready. They were more then happy to bring the platter to the table and gave us our choice to settle up at the bar or bring the tab to our table. I thought they were very accommodating with that. Great all around experience. Everyone we encountered was extremely pleasant. Would definitely go back again.

Chintan M.

It is an historical establishment and has nice nautical theme going on. Nice location!! Their was burgers excellent and calamari was also pretty good. Their ahi tuna wrap was okay. Finally, their service was average. I would give this place 3.5 stars if yelp provided with that option.

Laura A.

Location, location, location. Mooring Restaurant is all about the location and not the food, or at least that was our experience. We were visiting Newport for the first time and decided upon dining at Mooring Restaurant based on the 4.5 star Yelp reviews (462 reviewers couldn't be wrong, could they???). Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but our seafood tacos were bland, the cheese plate was boring, the lobster croissant was pretty meh, and my po' boy was just plain poor. That said, the ambiance was lively and sitting near the docked yachts at sunset was a perfect way to end our short day trip to Newport. The atmosphere nearly made up for the sub par food, but toward the end of our meal a waitress serving a nearby area (not our waitress, she was great) gave our daughter an obnoxious scowl, which was unnecessary and unfortunate because our 9-month old was perfectly behaved for the whole meal (not exaggerating, she kept to herself and happily played with a toy monkey for the hour or so that we were there). Too bad.

Phil Z.

This is the place to go for seafood! Super fresh and extremely delicious! A great assortment of oysters that are brought in daily. I highly recommend the scallops hands down one of the best dishes I've had in a restaurant.

pmutter k.

We had chosen this restaurant from other reviews on Yelp because we wanted a nice casual restaurant with seafood (as Newport is known for its seafood). The restaurant is located in a nice spot along the harbor which (along with the beautiful weather) contributed to a very enjoyable atmosphere. We had lunch and the wait was thirty minutes as it was very busy. When we were sat, the wait staff was pleasant and took our orders quickly. Our only complaint about the restaurant was that it took more than an hour for the food to be served. We had 8 oysters from the raw bar, the bag of doughnuts, the mussel appetizer, and two orders of fish and chips. The food tasted fresh and clean, tasted good (especially the bag of doughnuts, which are actually seafood fritters and the sauce that mussels came in). The portions were descent (although the mussels were tiny), and we walked away satisfied. Overall a very nice, clean, good quality restaurant.

Karen F.

For our first night in Newport we picked The Mooring. We couldn't have been happier. The little neck clams from the raw bar were the perfect size. I had the scallops which were perfect and my boyfriend has the ahi tuna which was out of this world delicious. We finished with some jiggly strawberry pie thing which when you move beyond the fact that it jiggled like it was scared to be eaten was very good. The service was fantastic as well. I wish I remembered her name, she was knowledgeable and always there to bring whatever we needed. Wish we went there hungrier. It is a must return when we go back to Newport!

Adam B.

raw clams and oysters were great..... chowders were thick and rich though the clam was too dilly..... the doughnuts were on the bland side.... great view and location, though pricey..... if it was less expensive then my rating would be 4 stars....

Laura L.

What kind of trip to New England would it be without a nice seafood dinner? We live down on the Chesapeake Bay, so we get great crab on a regular basis, but there's nothing quite like lobster from the New England region, and Newport's Mooring Restaurant did not disappoint. We were seated before our reservation, just by chance. Our waitress was very attentive, and provided us with the digital drink menu to play with right away. I do a lot of dining out, but this was a first for me. Browsing a drink menu on a tablet was pretty fun! The hunk of warm bread was delivered in a paper bag, and was a perfect start to the meal. We also ordered the bag of doughnuts for an appetizer based on previous reviewers on here. They did not disappoint! The chipotle-maple aioli that came with them only added to the experience. My husband ordered the lobster, and I had the tuna steak. As expected, the lobster lived up to New England expectations. Despite the fact that I have tried to enjoy lobster, I just don't like it. My husband enjoyed his meal though! The extras on the plate with the tuna steak were interesting. I really enjoyed the crispy fried leeks, and the summer squash and zucchini saute was good. I can't say I was a fan of the eggplant puree, but it was easy enough to avoid. We each ordered a dessert as well: him, the creme brulee, and for me, the devil dog. Both were average for what they were, but not the selling point for the Mooring. Beware, the Devil Dog is VERY rich, so it's probably better to share than to eat it on your own. Overall, I would return here if we find ourselves fancying a nice seafood dinner in Newport again.

Lisa L.

This place is great. Delicious seafood. I had the scallop soup and my daughter had clam chowder and they were both excellent. We had lobster and it was very tender and tasty. Great service and atmosphere.

Kate T.

I knew as soon as we got to the hostess desk that something was up - the FOH manager was frazzled, not engaging, and not efficient. He tried to persuade us to be seated in the covered porch, which he suggested was 'more casual'. Sorry I was only wearing a silk top and not a Chanel tweed like an old WASP fogey. We opted for inside since I saw people getting re-seated because it was too cold. That aside, our waitress was dour but accommodating, I had to send my asparagus back because it was steamed and bland -- not grilled as stated on the menu -- and overall the service was really lackluster, so nothing stood out since the food was just standard. I wouldn't come back -- it's rough around the edges and completely lacking in character.

Christina S.

Fabulous location just a few steps from the main town area. Sit outside to overlook the water and boats. Started with 3 different types of local Rhode Island oysters, Beavertail from Narragansett Bay being our favorite. Shared a bowl of clam chowder which was absolutely delicious and is a must get. My only complaint so far was that I had ordered the oysters and soup in order, expecting them to come out separately, but they came out together. Not a huge deal though. My husband ordered the shrimp po boy and I had the cod sandwich. Both came with fries and we shared each other's meals. Both were fantastic. The cod was slightly dry on the inside but had a delicious and crunchy outer layer. The shrimp was seasoned with a mango chutney and a crab avocado spread. Overall a lovely dining experience and a must if in Newport.

Rick L.

Outstanding in every way...especially the staff and service. Not quite Boston NorthEnd with the Pasta and seafood, but what is. A nice wine selection, even by the glass, but not overwhelming A great selection of fresh seafood with daily catch species. You can't go wrong by checking out The Mooring. It looks like they have a great selection of fresh oysters which I will confirm this weekend. A great bar and restaurant with gorgeous views....at a minimum check out this place while enjoying a cocktail.

Paige C.

This place is FANTASTIC !!! The ambiance and the food are perfection. My family was visiting from Monterey , California and this has been one of the best restaurants I've been too so far on the east cost ! Highly recommend coming here and treating yourself to the infamous "bag of donuts" appetizer. My mouth is watering just thinking about it ! I also had a salad and added salmon to it. The salmon was cooked impeccably !! My family members were all extremely satisfied with their entrees ( all fish entrees) and the bread they give you is such a treat . Warm and fluffy! I'm a super healthy eater and usually don't eat the bread or "donuts " but it was the best treat I could have given myself !!!! Yummy yummy yumm !

Joanie H.

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Anne D.

The restaurant and food was very good! I would definitely go here once again!

Matty F.

Excellent food as well as wait service. For the price, however, I expected a little more professionalism and general courtesy from the manager/hostess checking us in. We were with a child and I recommended he could sit in a booth no problem between us to accommodate our reservation of 4 (2 yr old was #5) and she remarked maybe we could just sit him on the ceiling and walked off. Not spending $300 here again. 22 Bowen just as good and no snarky remarks from bull nosed meanys.

Funglin W.

Such a great place to come in Newport. First, who said the scallop chowder was delicious? It was not good at all. But aside from the scallop chowder, we loved and enjoyed our experience at Mooring Restaurant: Lobster on Croissant (4): the lobster meat was so fresh and nice tasting, although I did realize that after a full lobster roll hunt, Mooring Restaurant did give the least amount of lobster meat. If it just gave more, I would have had zero critique on it since the meat was so fresh. Scallop Chowder (1): It had this weird taste to it. I loved how generous they were in terms of the scallop meat but the broth was not very appealing and it was almost the only dish we could not finish. Clam Chowder (5): Amazing!!!! I killed this dish in about 5 seconds. Great broth, lots of meat, just awesome! Seafood Pasta (5): THIS IS A MUST ORDER. Mooring Restaurant's seafood pasta is delicious. The flavors are spot on, the generous amount of scallops/shrimps/lobster was just great. The seafood added so much freshness and flavors to the pasta and it was definitely our favorite. Bag of Donuts (4): There were soooo many donuts in this bag that it would've been perfect for 3 people, not just the 2 of us. But we LOVED this as an appetizer and were happily shocked by how much we loved it! Overall, I loved my experience here. We came here 5 minutes before it opened to ensure we could get a seat right outside facing the harbour. We also had the nicest waiter and the best service possible!

Alexandra C.

Still just as good as years ago! Sole Francaise and the salmon entrees were super fresh and very good.. same with the quinoa vegetable side dish. The beet salad with goat cheese was good but unmemorable. Same soft warm rolls served with excellent sea salt butter. Chocolate pudding was very rich and too sweet. Great heated balcony on the water on a chilly spring day with excellent, friendly service. Loved it!

Sophea C.

I highly recommend The Mooring if you are visiting Newport (would give it 4.5 stars if I could). Last night was my second time eating at The Mooring. I love the decor, service and food here. We started off with a dozen oysters (we tried varietals from CT, RI and Canada) and all were scrumptious in their own way (ranging from sweet to savory). We also tried the oyster shooters which were delicious with the IPA pairing. I've had the Seafood pasta, and while it's a bit pricey, it's absolutely worth it. The garlic wine flavors are infused perfectly and the seafood is very fresh. My fiance had the Portuguese roasted cod which was very flavorful and perfectly balanced. The cod was cooked perfectly, and the clam and chorizo stew was delicious.

Stephen S.

A consistently good dinner....lots of variety, excellent seating capacity and ambiance. The only drawback is the lack of adequate parking. The lit out front is owned separately and they gouge the diners. If you can park a few blocks away, you'll be able to walk-off some of the calories.

Al T.

To echo other reviews. The bag of donuts are a must get. Little fritters that have seafood mixed in. They are very flavorful, especially with the aoili dip that's included. You must have them right out of the fryer. NO TO GO. The mussel appetizer was also great. Large portion. Lots of Jamon and had a good kick. The clam chower was also very good. Not too thick and not too thin and had a decent amount of meaty clams. It also had a little kick to it which was nice. For mains, we had a couple of the sandwiches. They were alright. The appetizers really filled us up though. The menu is on the pricier side, but if this is the one "fancy" dinner of the trip, its worth it.

Teampcbeach ..

Really good seafood in downtown Newport. Service was very attentive and since the Mooring is right n the water the views were very nice.

Jeanyoung J.

My husband and I wanted just one nicer meal while visiting Newport, so we decided on The Mooring, which ended up being a good choice. It's not overly fancy or anything, but has a nice romantic vibe to it. The food and service were both excellent, and the seafood was fresh and well-prepared. I don't think you can go wrong with coming here for a nice dinner.

Dave L.

Amazing! This place has so many good points to it, from the food to the view, that I don't believe you could have a bad experience. Our server was friendly and helpful, the food was delicious, and we had seats near the outside patio overlooking the water. The experience was perfect. For food we had the Bag of Donuts, clam chowder, crab cake, potato gratin, and some raw bar items. The oysters and cherry stones were great, as was the crab bake, but the bag of donuts and clam chowder were out of this world. They are must tries! We could have done without the potatoes gratin but the rest of the food made up for this side. Overall this place is great. Pricey but if looking to have a nice day or night out it is perfect.

Lina B.

We loved our experience here. Definitely recommend this restaurant. Great food and customer service; great ambiance also. My boyfriend and I have a 'surf and turf' diet...I love seafood, he loves his meat. We came here for lunch right after taking a tour next door. The Amazing Grace tour. We'll come back. So many delicious selections.

Owen M.

Food was great. Service was awesome. And the management was very accommodating, even after we showed up with a party larger than we anticipated. A great pick for anyone celebrating a graduation in the newport or south shore area

Raz S.

Very good food. The sea and land options were solid. Good place to bring seafood and non seafood eaters together in Newport.

S C.

The restaurant is right at the fisherman's harbor so the food was very fresh. Clam chowder is definitely one of the best. You should order a small size because clam chowder can be filling. The oysters and pastas were also delicious.

Dottie S.

"...SETS THE STAGE FOR ROMANCE!" Dinner the night of 2/23/15 goes down as perfection & one of the most romantic dates of my 50 year life! Reservations were made in The Harbor Room overlooking the ocean & timed just before sunset by my wonderful boyfriend. Our belated Valentine's Day celebration was made perfect by The Mooring staff from the moment we walked into the restaurant. Arriving on a weekday for our Cliffside Inn B&B getaway offered a slower Newport pace than weekend traffic! In The Harbor Room, there was only 1 other couple at the onset of dinner...very private & romantic. It almost felt like he rented out the entire room. The main dining area had many seated. Not sure if this is a seasonal offer, but currently on Monday nights, they have a special...any soup or salad, any entree & any dessert for only $30! You can upgrade to the larger lobster or stuffed lobster for a $10 up charge...which I did. Initially when we planned dinner, we weren't aware but our waiter was helpful to point out the savings. The scallop chowder was delicious...the stuffed lobster exceptional...and the cheesecake sinful! After dinner, the manager blessed us with 2 complimentary glasses of Italian Rose Prosecco to complete the evening. There are many fine places to dine in Newport, but gratefully, our choice was The Mooring for a romantic evening of fine food & spectacular ocean/marina views!

Steve F.

Decent fish - any everyone is correct, those seafood pastries are pretty ridiculous.

Jean F.

Not much better than a weekend, summer afternoon sitting outside at the mooring with a delicious drink, listening to the live music! The food is pretty good and not outrageous prices. Just sit back and re-laxxxxx

Nicholas A R.

Ordered: various local raw oysters, tiger shrimp cocktail, cioppino with jasmine rice, champagne. Ambiance: calm, relaxed, more of a business casual vibe. There were big stuffed fish on the walls but the decor was well done and not tacky. This place really puts itself out there as a seafood restaurant both with the overall motif as well as the food selection. Food: in my opinion, when it comes to seafood, freshness is the most important factor in taste. A friend and I got two each of three different types of local, raw oysters, The oysters tasted very fresh, not too fishy (which in my opinion is the sign of old oysters). The tiger shrimp was huge. The cioppino had a few big chunks of excellent fish and had maybe 15-20 mussels and a handful of clams. Everything tasted fresh and I thought it was delicious. My buddy got a bottle of nice sparkling wine for the table off of the beer and wine menu. The beer/wine menu is actually an iPad and there were quite a few varieties of high quality microbrews. Cost: be prepared to spend at least $30 per person if you want an entree, raw bar appetizer and an alcoholic beverage. $30-40 per person for this place is worth it. Tip: do not skip the raw bar appetizer. Summary: FRESH and delicious. A real treat. I recommend this restaurant.

Heather F.

Ok...from the moment we sat down until we left was nothing short of redonkulasness... Bag of Donuts = Bag of Crack...omg.... Hubby ordered fish n chips with an order of shrimp that were bigger than life itself. I ordered the seafood pasta which just danced in my mouth to its own party. Our drinks were laced with the finest alcohol...no skimping here... and mixed perfectly! This place is amazing and I highly recomend trying it out. Im just mad we live so far away to not eat here more often!

Lynda G.

Had a nice lunch on the Saturday of Valentines weekend at the Mooring. I had the scallop chowder for an appetizer which had full sized scallops in it! Delicious! I also had a burger which was so big I could not finish it, but definitely well prepared and cooked perfectly to my taste. My date had Fish & Chips, and was disappointed with his cut of fish (being tails of the fish) but overall said it was tasty. The view was gorgeous and I would definitely return in the summer and sit outside, or sit at the bar and have a few drinks and take in the scenery. Prices were definitely up there.

Steve C.

This was my first time to Newport and wanted some good food. My waitress was very helpful and recommended the crab cakes for an appetizer, seared tuna for my entree, and the lime cheesecake for desert. All dishes were super good and and I would highly recommend them. Perhaps my cute waitress had a charming affect on me too, but I can't say for sure ;) The atmosphere on the patio was very nice and comfortable and everyone that helped was so polite to me. Great food, great people, great location= happy with my choice.

Scott J.

The next time you visit Newport, Rhode Island make sure to make Reservations ahead of time and request a Table facing the Marina. The atmosphere, decor and staff was friendly, comfortable and inviting. We were very satisfied with our Meals and hope to come back soon.

Bill K.

We were attending the Newport Boat Show today. We had lunch at the Moorings and the meal and service was excellent. We were immediately seated outside overlooking the docks filled with boats, people, etc. Our server Krystal was super responsive and went out of her way to make us feel comfortable. We had wine and then had their signature Scallop Chowder. The chowder was fantastic! Later we ordered a turkey club, which is not offered on their menu. Krystal was able to have the kitchen create one out of a turkey bacon sandwich. Overall we had a great lunch on a very busy day. Kudos to the Moorings staff.

Andrea I.

Loved the atmosphere of this restaurant. As for the food I ordered the Caprese Salad which was excellent my husband had the Caesar Salad also very good. I ordered the Seafood Pasta which was a bit disappointing. The dish had so much butter in it that was all I tasted. The seafood in the pasta was cooked perfectly very tender but again all I tasted was butter. My husband ordered the Cod which he really enjoyed although it was quite small. I will go back and give this restaurant another try because I enjoyed the view and most of our meal was pretty good.

A A.

Had dinner here last night with a group. The place was super busy for a Monday night in May. While the food was excellent and the service was pretty good as well, we waited a good half hour before bread or appetizers were served. And we were there for over two hours by the time our main courses were served.

Jessica S.

I was here a week or so ago with a friend. I got the shrimp cocktail, lobster roll on a croissant with a side Caesar salad, and the crème brulee. We sat near the outside area, not quite waterfront but outside of the main room. I prefer the décor in the main room I think. Overall the food was good, though tomato does NOT belong on a lobster roll. amateur move. More old fashioned than trendy, good service, nice bathrooms.

Alex G.

Seems to be the staple of Newport. The restaurant is huge. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We came here on a Thursday night and the wait for a table for 2 was 1 hour so we came back on Friday for lunch and were seated right away. The interior resembles the feel of Newport perfectly. Wood, opulence, old, and ships. We started off with the clam chowder which was excellent. It wasn't too salty which was a plus. I had the beet salad with goat cheese and grilled shrimp. Not anything remarkable but certainly a solid 4.

Alec B.

If you're looking for classic seafood on the Newport waterfront, the Mooring is definitely my first recommendation. My second recommendation, should you miraculously manage to land a table during the high season, is to order a Bag of Doughnuts, as big of a raw platter as you think you can handle, and some beer to wash it down. Everything else they have is good, but ultimately it will just come between you and all of the sweet raw littlenecks you should really be eating.

Kim B.

This is one of those restaurants that my family goes to for special occasions. For the amount of times I have been here, I have never really gone in the "on" season, so I was really impressed with their deck seating with my most recent summer visit. I made a reservation for Greg and I, and we were promptly seated outside without even asking! It was a very high class restaurant but still the typical feel of being a boater/on a boat. When ordering our drinks, you are given an ipad with descriptions of all of the drink options (and there are a lot)... it was really fun and high tech! It was also so hard to decide what to get for a meal.. now that I eat seafood (this is new in the past 8 months), I want to try all of it! The bread is delicious, and for me, that's an automatic 5. I ordered a red cabernet and a swordfish, with a side of asparagus, and Greg got clam chowder and a soup (he wasn't too hungry, I think he had too many cheese and crackers at my house beforehand. We had an 8:30 reservation but he typically eats dinner at 6:00 so this was a stretch). Both are meals were delicious and devoured real quickly. I loved my meal and can't wait for my next trip back! So many more things to try!

Marisa F.

Love the bag of doughnuts, oysters, ceaser sliders really anything here is yummy. Andy is the best behind the bar.

David E.

Wonderful fine seafood dining. The bar is rich with wood and warmth. Full bar has plenty of options. Staff is well trained and versed in the entire menu. Oyster selection was great.

German B.

The Mooring is right on the water at Newport so it has a great harbor view, if especially if you're lucky enough to score seats closest to the large windows. The rear dining room offers good views for all though, and the food did not disappoint! The George's Bank scallops and pan-seared salmon were cooked to perfection, which we paired with sides of mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and roasted asparagus. The meal was heavenly and the service was timely but not intrusive for our anniversary dinner. We definitely plan to return!

E R.

Totally not worth the hype! When I saw the reviews on Trip Advisor and Yelp I made a reservation immediately! I was very excited. I'm giving this a two star rating mainly because of the food. The ambiance, setting and service were wonderful. The food was not outstanding, quite bland and just ok. We started with the shrimp tacos which had a good crunch, but no flavor. We also got the doughnuts as they were raved about, but I think there were 3 pieces of seafood in the entire batch of six. The fritters are mainly bread crumbs and seasonings and I was expecting them to be full of seafood with minimal fillers. My husband had the pork, which was a bit overlooked and just bland. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection, but again all the stuff on the plate was just really bland. Both meals had beautiful presentations, but just no real pizazz at all which is what I was expecting based on its rating and other reviews. I would definitely recommend trying of the other many places in the area.

Judy C.

Oysters are a must! Repeat the oysters are a must...plus the lobster roll. I swear this was the best lobster roll I ever had. Overall if you are in Newport, please go to Mooring worth all the money!

Brad J.

The service was exceptional. Jessica was attentive and handled all aspects of service as they should be done. The food was delicious. I had the scallops, best ones I've had in recent memory. The wine list is great. On the expensive side but if you got the dough it's worth it. Best and most extensive list in the area.

Shelby F.

This restaurant is awesome. Amazing food, Amazing service, Amazing view. The bag of donuts was so tasty and their seafood pasta and scallops were perfect. Also their french press coffee was so nice and refreshing after dinner. Was it a bit pricey? Yeah it was but it was well worth it. Definitely a great place to go for a fancy night out.

Matt H.

The waitress was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu and the food was delicious. The swordfish was fantastic and I loved the variety of oysters on the menu. The beer menu was also great. I would gladly return next time I'm in Rhode Island.

Eryka U.

INCREDIBLE FOOD! Our waiter was so nice and extremely helpful with food recommendations. Would highly suggest for date nights or large dinner parties. Must try the Seafood Pasta and the Bag O Doughnuts!

Jon L.

What a great experience. Took my girlfriend for our one year anniversary and we had a great time. Delicious clam chowder with plenty of clams and bag of donuts to start. Extremely tasty seafood pasta entree that was loaded with shrimp, scallops, and a lobster tail. And a nice dessert. Maybe best of all was the service. Believe her name was Sarah, she was prompt, helpful, sociable, and professional. Overall a very nice night. Looking forward to our next dinner there. Thank you.

Billy F.

Honestly, one of the nest restaurants I've been to and I've been to a lot. It was my second time coming here. First, they had a pretty good selection of beer. If you're in newport and looking for a nice date night dinner, look no further. The prices can get high but I assure you it is worth it. A lot of gluten free options including appetizers. Everything from the service to the knowledge of staff is impressive. Gets busy on the weekends so it might be a good idea to make a reservation.

Giovanna A.

What a great place! We started with the bag of doughnuts (fried fish), tuna tartar and salad. I ordered the seafood pasta, which was delicious! The appetizers were great too & it all was finished quickly. Our server was very helpful in describing the dishes and very friendly. As you wait, you can use their ipad to look at the menu options. The staff was also helpful in directing us where we should go after for a night of dancing and willing to take a picture at every request. Great place on the water and very close to shopping areas. I highly recommend!

P.D. N.

We enjoyed a great lunch at the bar last Sunday. When in Newport we go out of our way to visit the Mooring and we are never disappointed.

Jasmine X.

Let me just start off by saying that I really wish Newport used Yelp a bit more. It would definitely have been much more helpful as an avid Yelper to actually get a Yelp community going so I could figure out what a good place to dine was. My friends and I came to Mooring Restaurant during Restaurant week which was pretty nice. We ordered a medley of dishes--oysters, scallop chowder, Mooring Caesar, swordfish, and the highlight of the night--the Maine Lobster baked and stuffed with native scallops and shrimps. Let me just start off by saying that their bread is deliciously warm and toasty. The other dishes that we got were fine, but nothing spectacular which is why the restaurant is just okay to me. Oysters were good, scallop chowder was a disappointment, Caesar was a classic Caesar, and the swordfish was way too dry. That being said though, the Lobster was phenomenal. Lots of fresh lobster and as you would unveil the lobster you would find pieces of scallop and shrimp. The bread crumbs that they sprinkled on the lobster itself were also supreme. All in all, a nice dining experience. You can get your parking for free if you get the ticket validated inside. We would not have gone except for the fact that it was the only restaurant that had open reservations during restaurant week. So definitely a popular place, but I'm not sure I would single it out and say that it was the best seafood restaurant that I've ever had. tldr; solid seafood place, but nothing spectacular

Dave H.

Star Rating Guide 2 stars for Bag of Doughnuts and their overall command of fried seafood 1 star for high ceilings and comfortable seating 1 star for excellent service This is a large seafood restaurant that commands high prices starting with the generally hard to find parking in coastal newport Rhode Island. After a long day at a corporate offsite, followed by a harbor sail, we were in the mood for seafood. We got that here. We skipped entrees entirely. This is not your esoteric seafood joint and there are no Shellfish Sommeliers here for you. This place is like a Capital Grille for seafood. Lots of great raw options but nothing that you couldn't get somewhere else in town. But its saving grace is its service and comfort. If you aren't concerned with Gluten or Fried Foods, order the bag of doughnuts. It's a unique way to combine crumbs and seafood.

John L.

Great place. Amazing view. Great food. Bag of Donuts. Bag of Donuts. Bag of Donuts-hush puppies with lobster, and shrimp cooked into them. Just get it. It will change your life.

Noah P.

Overall, delicious. Robert was a great bartender / server. Would've been 5 stars but both my wife's and my salad were an unimpressive way to start a meal. However the entrees and dessert were both fantastic.

Susan M.

I spent a few days in Newport during the holidays. The food and service was excellent at the Mooring. I highly recommend the seafood pasta entree.

Sweta C.

Looooove the restaurant!!!! Absolutely the best service Their clam chowder soup and seafood pie was amazing

Melissa R.

Three words. Bag. Of. Donuts. Don't be fooled into thinking this is dessert. Oh no no no - the bag of donuts is a piping hot bag of lobster/crab/shrimp fritters. Amazingly delicious. A must-order. Their chowder is also delicious. To be honest, I don't remember the rest of what we ate, not because the food was bad at all, but because I just remember those damn donuts. Also a great wine list with nice affordable options. A nice destination for a romantic dinner - I would definitely go back in a hearbeat!

Herman T.

Went here on a last minute trip and heard about the food. Service is excellent and good food. I have nothing bad. Bring an appetite because portions are big and not for the timid. The raw bar is fresh and I felt safe to eat.

Lisa C.

Yep. love it. We had a reservation and were seated right around our reservation time. We started with the bag of donuts, two different kinds of oysters, and both the scallop and clam chowder. the donuts were delicious, definitely not to be missed. We got the two kinds of oysters from RI and were so pleased with how fresh they were and the level of brininess. Both chowders were good, but the clam was definitely the winner. For dinner, we had the uptown salad, the scallops, and the seafood pasta. All were excellent, but I think the scallops were the clear winner for everyone at the table. Service was excellent and attentive and the food was reasonably priced. Enjoy dinner outside at the Mooring on a beautiful summer night around sunset and you definitely won't be disappointed.

Ann-Marie T.

I am SO disappointed in the experience I had here! I came for restaurant week in Newport for lunch. I love to sit at the bar and people watch, so naturally I sat at the bar. Immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and the bar. It also has a beautiful view. I ordered a Hotty Toddy to drink, and it was delicious! Unfortunately, I was never asked if I wanted another drink... (I was at the bar).... and never got another drink... There was only 5-6 other people sitting at the bar too... I ordered the grilled cheese lunch with salmon as the app and the brownie for dessert. The grilled cheese was over done. I love grilled cheese, but this one was just too much. They added veggies on it, that just don't mix. Ended up the older gentlemen who was working the bar, who took our drink order... not only didn't make my drink or ask me again, but also intentionally stayed at the opposite end of the bar, "was having a bad day." We FINALLY got served our dessert after tracking down another guy who was trying to pick up where the older gentlemen was ignoring. Because of this experience, I will never go back. Really wish I had loved this place!

Mariya H.

Great atmosphere, superb views of the harbor & canal. The food was delicious with vegan/vegetarian options and the staff was courteous and professional. If you're looking for a great sit down restaurant in the heart of Newport, this is it.

Sarah M.

Seafood is amazing here.

Holly S.

I'm a grilled cheese snob! I will start with that. So I decided to go for it, minus the mushroom because a good grilled cheese needs to be basic. It was on thick country breads, plenty o oozing cheese and roasted peppers. AMAZING ON AMAZING! Yup, it was perfect. My friends had the lobster roll. Eh I've seen better, too much mayo. And for the pice it should have been ample lobster! For the most part the mooring has never disappointed me!

Pasquale R.

The Mooring Restaurant, for the most part, has received great reviews. I wasn't wowed by the food but did enjoy the views and sitting outside with netting. It is located on the main St but you have to walk a little back to reach the actual restaurant. In doing so, you are walking through their parking lot. The outside looks really nice like an old mansion and the inside doesn't lose much of the ambiance. Where it lacks is the quality of food. The lobster, I found, was a bit rubbery and a big pain in the butt to get a little meat. I figured for the amount of money you are paying they take care of it for you. I don't like fighting my food. I just want to eat it. Rewind to the apps. We split the NE chowder and Beet salad. The beet salad was the winner. Refreshing and delicious. The chowder ranked among the lower throngs of our experiences in NE. Back to the main course, I had the lobster stuffed with scallops and shrimp. The entire combo didn't sit well with me. Yeah I battled the lobster for meat but the shrimp and scallops were coated with breadcrumbs which killed the taste. I don't recall what the Mrs got because I was struggling to come to terms with my disappointing meal. The service was good. I wish I had asked more questions about my meal. If you are a beer drinker, definitely try their assortment of local brews. We skipped dessert to go to our loves Ben & Jerry. Food/drinks are pricey. Attire seems to be upscale casual. I would be hard pressed to return here. I will do more research and try other spots when I return in a couple of months.

Cat L.

Came here for dinner Saturday night and the place was packed! I had ordered 8 raw oysters, seafood donuts, and 1.25lb baked/stuffed lobster and my boyfriend had the Seared Tuna. The oysters were very fresh, delicious! The stuffed lobster, donuts were extremely tasty and good. All in all, probably the best restaurant I've eaten this weekend in terms of quality of the seafood and service.

Carlos N.

Fantastic place. Beautiful sunset dinner. Food was amazing our server was great. My gf and I came here for her birthday and Dan made it very special. The wine selections were very good and our pairing went perfect with our dinner. Will continue to return forgreat food and fantastic service. Try the bag of doughnuts, you will be amazed. Prices are very good and portions are too. You must try this place. You will love it, as we did. The desert was a bday gift from Dan. Thanks.....

L T.

A really lovely lunch. My friends & I stopped in & we're all pleased with our meals. There's a separate gluten free menu if you're into that sort of thing. We shared the seafood "doughnuts" which were good, I had the surf & turf sliders- which were fantastic & perfect size for lunch. My friends had a lobster- which was fresh & delicious, & a tuna melt which was perfectly portioned & satisfying. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Newport!

David M.

We couldn't have wished for better weather to enjoy the outdoor dining room nestled amongst the marina docks. Started with two varieties of chowder--a traditional New England clam and a herb scallop chowder--both authentic and satisfying. Next, a mozzarella salad with grilled salmon and pan fried haddock with green curry over a bed of jasmine rice. Overall food quality good, atmosphere excellent, and service friendly and prompt.

Hunter Y.

The scallop chowder is amazing. It is rich, creamy, and full-bodied. But at the same time it is very light. I did not feel sick after having a whole bowl of it. The seafood pasta is great as well. The Mooring does it right with the added kick of spiciness to it. Two things I did not like was: 1. the angel hair pasta was over cooked. Thin pasta should be made al dente, so it is not mushy. 2. the dish is loaded with butter. Have your cardiologist on speed dial before digging in.

Crystal R.

Just straight goodness!

An T.

Really delicious and fresh food. The clam chowder was okay but the Mexican shrimp and lobster roll were out of this world.

Di B.

We had a delicious lunch, lobster salad croissant and roasted vegetable sandwich with fries. All was yummy. We have had their donuts before and just were not as impressed with them as others. Maybe we expected too much from all the reviews. We do love this place. We sat on the deck where we had a beautiful view. They had the plastic "windows" down, but it is heated and was great on a cool day.

Izzie C.

I did not like this restaurant at all. The view outside was amazing, and the waitress was nice, but the food was terrible. The bread was soggy and the butter was hard. I got the tuna tartare. It was the most American tuna tartare ever, with carrots and cucumbers and a weird chip. I don't even think the tuna was sushi grade. My parents got the clam chowder which they hated and said was the worst clam chowder they'd ever had! Gross! I had pasta with red sauce for dinner which was fine, not the best or worst. My mom got the mussels over pasta and said it was terrible. The sauce was smokey and half of the mussels were closed. Do not suggest eating here, especially since there are a ton of other restaurant around.

Joe C.

The food and the ambiance make this a great destination. I ordered the Portuguese Cod entree. The cod is served in a delicious broth complemented by steamed clams and assorted spices and vegetables. It was absolutely delicious. My wife enjoyed fillet of sole piccata over arborio rice seasoned with fresh grated parmesan. Service was knowledgeable and attentive. One tip, avoid the parking lot. While there is a parking out front, it's not connected to the restaurant so there is a $15 charge for parking, no validations accepted. You are better off at a street parking meter @ 1.25 p/hr w/ 3 hr limit.

Becca L.

I love the ambiance of this place not to mention the fact that it's on the water! There can be a decent wait, but there are two great bars to enjoy before sitting . Great menu if your party is a mix of seafood lovers and non. Busy all year round so if you happen to find yourself in Newport during the winter months it is still worth making a reservation. An added bonus is that it's steps away from all the fun Newport nightlife if you're looking for a night out! A high-end restaurant that's priced accordingly, but one of our preferred choices for a fancy meal. Highly recommend!

Nancy F.

Loved my meal! Always love coming here on giada's recommendation of the donuts ! So yummy. The clam chowder is the Best!!!! Chopped salad was delicious with the orange tangy dressing! Also had lobster croissant. And the Pablo cod!! Very memorable!

Steve V.

Top of the line restaurant on the water in Newport. The prices are high but you get what you pay for. The menu is on an iPad which is pretty cool, and the staff is very accommodating. The atmosphere is wonderful, as are the views. The only thing I didn't like we're the screaming kids running about. Don't get me wrong, I love kids and have two of my own, but I don't want to feel like I'm at Chuk-e-Cheese while dropping a hondo on dinner. We were a party of two with a $100 gift certificate, and still had to throw in $35 of our own. The food is amazing and I would highly recommend you plan a visit to this restaurant, minus your screaming kids ;)

Yichen J.

Having a short weekend vocation with my dad at Rhode Island. After reading reviews, I decided to have my big dinner here. We ordered staffed lobster and scallops recommended by the waitress. Well, both of them are good. The reason I took off a star is because it's a bit pricy. Also, The waitress seemed that she was busy around and she didn't really serve us. Above average restaurant, but not a top one.

Chris D.

As good as seafood gets. Yes, it's pricey. No, you shouldn't go here two times a week. The name of the place is predictable and boring. Who cares? Whether it's just classic steamed lobster, shrimp cocktail, or a complex scallop dish, you can guarantee your food to be of the highest standard. Great for celebratory dinners. Excellent cocktails too.

Tori M.

This place is incredible. Ambience: Wonderful, with a variety of seating options and beautiful decor. We sat in a sort of sun room at the back of the restaurant overlooking the harbor. Gorgeous. Staff: Very friendly, accommodating and gave great recommendations. A pleasure. Food: Oh man. I live in Boston, but I would go back to Newport just to eat here. You HAVE to get the bag of doughnuts. They're seafood fritters with an incredible aioli. Blew our minds. Honestly one of the best things I've ever tasted in my life, no joke. We got the sangria and paella deal ($30 for 2 people on Thursdays). When it came, we thought maybe we had misread the menu and it was $30 per person....but no, it was just $30 flat. Incredible deal. A huge pan of paella with flavorful rice, sausage, chicken, mussels, clams and a whole lobster. Yes, a whole lobster. It was on par with the paella I had in Spain, which is crazy. And it paired with the sangria perfectly. Delicious. And we barely put a dent in it even with both of us. An absolute must-visit in Newport, hands down.

Barney R.

The Mooring is a popular restaurant overlooking Newport's harbor. The scallop chowder is excellent and the choice of local oysters is terrific. The stuffed sole is also very good. Service is prompt, friendly and professional. It seems it's always busy, so make a reservation. There is free parking for patrons, which makes the downtown location much easier to handle.

Leslie D.

Get the "bag of donuts" aka- seafood fritters. BEYOND amazing! The crab cakes were also delish!

Allison P.

Had two excellent dinners at the Mooring, by far the most impressive restaurant I experienced in Newport. Great place for stuffed and steamed lobsters. I loved the little homages to New England traditions, and it never felt stuffy or dated (like a few in Newport). The bread, the lobsters, the wine, the devildog(!), all were phenomenal. Also, really professional and genuine servers. Our server was named Sarah, and even after we left everyone from my party was compelled to mention how great she was.

David D.

Great seafood, comfortable environment. My vacation really didn't feel like it began until I took a bite of their lobster croissant roll. Tasted like victory. Why people still insist on using the hot dog bun and calling it a roll is beyond me. Lobster croissant - have some. The molten chocolate center bread pudding. Don't fuck around. Get this. Ordering a bottle of wine? Be prepared to flick through a server's iPad. Minus 1-star for this nonsense. This ain't Minority Report and I'm not Tom Cruise. Threw that digital shit back in their faces and demanded the analog wine list. Yezzir. (How to order wine at Mooring: youtube.com/watch?v=1W3c… )

Jeffrey S.

Chowder was good not great. Food was good not great. Beautiful views. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Good service.

Mitch W.

4.5 Stars for me! After a long day of sightseeing in Providence, we ate dinner at Mooring Restaurant based on the Yelp reviews. We had a reservation, but still waited 20+ minutes for a table (we were a little early for the reservation). It raining a lot and very windy that night we ate at Mooring, so we waited just inside the door. When our names were called, we got a table outside (covered) in the patio area. This restaurant must be the place to go for Bachelorette parties because there were three in the patio during our time at Mooring. The service is top notch at Mooring Restaurant. Our server gave us the specials and asked what we'd like to drink. I tried the Newport Storm Amber Ale from Newport, Rhode Island Amber Ale ($4.75). It was good, but a bit too bitter for my taste. The bread is warm, fresh and very good! For my entree, I ordered the Uptown Salad (Sauteed lobster and shrimp, grilled salmon, tomato onion, salsa, arugula, balsamic reduction for $27.00). It was delicious and the seafood was very fresh and I like the taste of the balsamic dressing. I would definitely eat this entree again, but the next time I eat at the Mooring, I might try a different dish just to try something else at the restaurant. My friend really enjoyed her Mooring Scampi (Pan roasted lobster, shrimp, sea scallops, tomato, garlic-herb butter, angel hair pasta for $36.00). It's a good size dish and she took just under half home. For dessert, we tried their creme brulee ($8.00). It was a large portion and very good too! Overall, an excellent meal, great service and wonderful atmosphere. I'm sure it's even more beautiful during sunset! Please see my pictures. I didn't use a flash, so they are a little dark. Xie Xie!!!

Jordan C.

Great meal!! To start we got the bloody mary and the blueberry lemonade for drinks - both fantastic - and the crabcakes and top necks casino - delicious! For dinner we got the tuna and I told the waiter that I had a milk/cream/cheese allergy, and the portuguese roasted cod. My bf said the tuna was delicious. The cod was very good - loved the broth with the chorizo, olives, and potatoes. The fish itself was a little bland for me, but still very good. Additionally, I told the waiter about a milk/cream/cheese allergy, and she was very diligent about making sure that there were none of those ingredients in the things that I ordered. Another staff member even came out to confirm that I could eat everything. Excellent service and great food. Would definitely come again!

J D.

This restaurant has a very cool atmosphere and excellent service. Our waiter was extremely attentive and took every interaction with us very seriously. You can just tell when someone is focused on your needs by the way the ask follow-up questions and look to please. Very good service. The food was fantastic. Definitely get the bag of donuts. I got the chowder which was very chunky. I also got the tuna steak that was cooked perfectly. I have a member of my family that has some food restrictions, and they took the effort to find some that would work out. I will visit this restaurant again

Steph S.

Our dinner at Mooring was pretty much unplanned, and we were very lucky to get a table for two without a reservation on the last day of Newport's Restaurant Week. Kudos and much thanks to the host for giving us that table - it was a yummy end to a whirlwind trip around CT, MA, and RI. We ordered from the Restaurant Week menu, but I also added on a couple appetizers - the Bag of Doughnuts ($12) and the Galilee Squid (aka calamari - $11). From the RW menu, we got a selection of three raw oysters, the Clam Chowder, Fish & Chips, the Acadian Redfish, and Apple Bread Pudding. As you can probably tell, I totally over-ordered but it's OK because we had a lot to munch on during our drive to Hartford later that night. :) The Bag of Doughnuts was tasty, but I felt like there was more dough than lobster, crab, or shrimp. The fritters were very dense, so this was a pretty heavy appetizer. We ended up taking most of them to-go, which I don't really recommend because I think these are probably best eaten hot. I liked the fritters, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order them again. The Galilee Squid was also good, but I'd just been to Giacomo's in Boston the night before and was therefore comparing the two different calamaris. Mooring gave a very generous portion, but compared to Giacomo, the batter was not as flavorful - in fact, it didn't have much seasoning. You needed to dip each piece in the tomato sauce. What did set it apart though, was the addition of the kalamata olives. Never had it this way before (or with the peperoncinis in both Mooring's and Giacomo's versions)! I didn't get to try the raw oysters, but the bf liked them. :) The clam chowder was rich and full of chopped clams... I would order this again. The fish that came with the Fish & Chips was bigger than my face and it also came with fries and slaw. Get this if you're hungry! I really liked my entree, which was the Acadian Redfish - the filets had a really thin, beautiful crispy crust and they were cooked perfectly. The potato mash and the veggies were traditional, but yummy as well. It was definitely a lighter dish than the Fish & Chips and was therefore the right portion for me (especially after all those appetizers!!!). We both got the Apple Bread Pudding for dessert and it was surprising. Until this version, I've only had bread pudding that came as really big and thick hunks. Mooring's bread pudding is much thinner and not as mushy. It had big apple slices and a scoop of ice cream, too. :) Perfect ending. Service was very good and our server was extremely friendly. I wish we had a place like Mooring closer to home; fresh seafood, decent prices, a good atmosphere and friendly service - I'd visit more often if it weren't across the country!

Todd G.

To sum up our experience at The Mooring: great atmosphere, extensive menu of fresh seafood, wide variety of wines, and top notch service. I was also impressed by their Gluten-Free options: they offered tasty GF dinner rolls and a brownie dessert that was killer (our server mentioned that the GF items came from a local bakery the next town over). If you claim to not like Brussels Sprouts, then I dare you to try theirs--they add in thick-cut bacon and will make a believer out of you.

Kaleigh F.

Holy yum. This meal was delicious from start to finish. To start we both tried oysters for the first time which we both discovered we loved, we also had an order of the crab cake which was also very delicious and was filled with flavor. For entrees we had the george bank scallops which were awesome, fresh + cooked to perfection. We also ordered the all natural chicken, juicy, with an amazing potato truffle purée sauce. For a side we had the brussel sprouts, the bacon flavor was really cooked into the sprouts which made them extra tasty. To finish we had dessert cocktails, the white chocolate raspberry martini and the sweet dreams both were a great way to end dinner. The atmosphere was great, our table over looked the water on a cold winter night and the service was on point. We will definitely be back in again when we are in the area.

Nadia B.

LIVES up the high ratings! Wonderful outdoor seating... very reasonable prices for the quality of food. I ordered the fish taco appetizers and the scallop chowder for lunch. Both were unbelievably fresh tasting and wonderful. The only reason I gave it 4 and not 5 was because the olive oil with berries and local ricotta underneath the non-moist cake just didn't do it for me. I like to end my meals (even lunch) with a dessert so I'm on a happy note (aka sugar high), but there was such a mild unsweet weird taste to this that I didn't really enjoy. BUT, there were other options for dessert. My friend had oysters (all different varieties) and she said she really enjoyed it. The service was also great! If I'm in Newport, I will definitely try dinner here.

Jim C.

This place was delicious. The price is a little on the high side but the food is amazing. Easily one of the best meals we've had in Newport. I still think about the the Seafood Pasta dish frequently and it gets me salivating. GO HERE, you won't regret it.

Emily M.

Our reservation was made 6 months in advance. Our entire party was in at 6:20 and ready to sit. They hustled us to the back bar and told us we would have a table in 10 minutes... Fast forward 30 minutes later. We were sat outside. Greeted by our amazingly friendly and over accommodating server and servette. Kate and Jameson (this review has nothing to do with them they are both excellent servers) BUT..... The management is delusional. They clearly have a false sense of who is important in this place... 4 stars for the food only 4 stars for the service too

Miryam Y.

Great place! Came here for burgers and beer in the winter. AMAZING!!! The burgers were very unique and well-made. I would check this place out if I were you. I also came here for Newport Restaurant Week (lunch)-- even more amazing! Clam chowder, seafood pasta, and gelato for $16.

Robin C.

Even though it was a cold and rainy night, we made the ride over to mooring. My husband wanted to go strictly for the bag of donuts and it didn't disappoint. He couldn't stop eating them. It was restaurant week when we were there and we decided to go off the regular menu and we ended up spending the same amount. My husband go the lobster croissant and he said that they put so much lobster in it. I got the sole franciase and it was so tender and delicious. And even though we were so full we got dessert to go. We sat on the water and even though it was dark and it was closed up it created a really nice ambiance.

Gabrielle S.

I had the lobster croissant and it was disgusting! And the fries are seasoned with something that tastes a lot like soup? Gag! The only thing that was amazing was the lobster clam cakes... Which is really just lobster instead of clams. Yum! Plus the view outside is beautiful!

j b.

Not sure what all the fuss about. The view from the outside seating is nice but that's about it. Had the stuffed lobster--which was highly disappointing given it cost $42. The lobster was "stuffed" with unseasoned unappetizing scallops and shrimp--and by stuffed I mean placed in the gut of the lobster with a few unseasoned breadcrumbs on top. Nothing was done to it to make it tasty. It was like cooking by numbers. I've had far better stuffed lobsters in less fancy restaurants at a lower price point. Boyfriend got the seafood pasta. He said there was nothing to it. Just spaghetti with some bland red sauce-- and a few shrimp and scallops. We got the calamari which was easy to forget. Being in Rhode Island we were excited to try the calamari but there was nothing to it. Olives in calamari is weird. Some simple well prepared calamari would have been preferred. We did have the clam chowder which was good. I had a cappuccino which was also good. Service was good as well. Overall--save your money and go to that restaurant in that boat thing. I had the stuffed lobster there and it came with fries and cole slaw and was 10x better and cost less!

Jaclyn R.

Awesome place. Very expensive, but worth every penny. I went here with another couple and my 8 month old daughter. We all loved our meals and thought everything was delish! Like everyone else, we had the donuts, which were awesome. We also has the tuna tartar, which was super fresh. Everyone enjoyed their dinners. Our waitress was great. Very atentive and informative. I will definately being going back here!

Michael C.

The ambiance is sublime with a upscale atpmoshere and a nice view of the boats in the harbor. I'm not a fan of the hard bread and hard butter, and that is bad as it's going to get. Honestly the best fish and chip in all of New England. Everything is perfectly cooked and don't forget to try the doughnuts.

Ellie D.

My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary dinner and may I say, it was some of the best food I've ever had in Newport. Our waitress was kind and timely, arriving just as our glasses were near empty for refills and to clear our table of plates. We started out with the swordfish tacos as an appetizer. The fish was grilled to perfection and topped with delicious salsa, guac, and spicy chipotle sauce and laid on a corn tortilla. For dinner, I ordered the seafood pasta which did not disappoint. The seafood was cooked fully and tastefully and tossed in a tomato-basil butter sauce. My boyfriend ordered the NY Sirloin, and he was in heaven while eating it. I highly recommend this restaurant!! The Mooring is a beautiful venue with great food to match.

Kemi A.

On a quick visit to Newport, RI. I used Yelp to find a restuarant to visit and I was attracted to this place due to reviews and pics of food. I highly recommend making reservations. We were here Saturday afternoon, lovely weather, so you can imagine it was crowded outside. You have option to seated inside or shaded outside. There is also a side bar area. I can't speak for their drinks as I had a coke. But I saw several colorful drinks coming to nearby tables and they looked delicious. Apps- We had oysters (I had the baked one), doughnut bag, and sliders. I like my baked oysters. My friend enjoyed her raw ones. The bag of doughnut was tasty but I can only eat 2 of them. I am not big on fried dough. Sliders was a mixture of beef and seafood. I really enjoyed them. Entree- I believe the lobster crossaint, uptown salad, crabmeat sandwich and tuna was ordered. I enjoyed my salad. I didn't really taste the others. But everyone liked their meal. Dessert- We got the banana cake dessert with the ice cream. We were aiming for the bread pudding, but I don't think the waitress heard me OR she forgot so she only brought out the banana dessert. We were soo full and just stuck with one dessert shared. My waitress seemed a bit over-whelmed. It was a busy, hot sunny day. She was nice but you can tell she prob was getting to that stressed point. Overall, I saw many delicious appearing items on tables around us. I think the entree (seafood) menu can be a bit more creative. If you like seafood, then I would recommend this place. I would return to try their drinks and other menu items.

Jazzy S.

Julie the waitress is the best! The food is consistent all the time! Go Newport restaurant group!!!

Dan R.

Our fancy honeymoon dinner last Friday. Great atmosphere on the water. Lively, fun crowd and waitstaff. I had the mussels app which may have been my best ever! Great flavor and broth, with bits of spicy ham and garlic bread for dipping. Almost 2 apps in one using the broth as a soup after finishing mussels. Super! I had the St Georges scallops as an entree and they were done perfectly, with lovely sauce and bits of lobster. Molly had a great Caesar salad as her app, but wasn't thrilled with her gnocchi entree (had to be sent back initially because they forgot the gnocchi!) so stick with the seafood! Staff was very attentive and engaging. We'll definitely be back!

Jim G.

Great restaurant in newport with awesome views. Ordered the scallop chowder and the seafood pie, I 100% recommend getting either of those dishes. Others at our table got the short rib (very good), chicken, and scallops. I didn't have the chicken or the scallops but I was told they were good. Service was great. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're in Newport.

Kedar W.

As many reviewers recommended Bag of Doughnuts was amazing. I also had grilled shrimp po'boy which was good too. Super friendly staff and nice ambience. Bad part was we had to wait for 2 hours but you can reserve table on phone and they call you once your table is ready. BTW my vegetarian friends tried pasta which they didn't like :P

Kalina H.

WOW! I will say the food is pretty good, however, the service is OUTSTANDING! I drink like a yak in heat ( I drink a lot of water) my server never missed a beat! He was a chill dude! I wish I got his name. Best service I ever had! The only down side is the menu online doesn't match the menu in the restaurant. My boyfriend and I came to get dinner and dessert but they didn't have bread pudding like it said on the website. BOO! Overall food is pretty good but the service is GREAT!!! Give my server a raise!!

Liz R.

Simply amazing! You're just plain silly if you come to Newport without coming here. The steamed lobster was delicious. A definite must is the surf and turf sliders. The mixture of sirloin and lobster with a bit of cheese is divine. We just ordered a special devil dog for dessert. I'm so happy about this place that I'm writing the review at the table! Love love this place. :0)

Joann C.

Fancy restaurant in Newport. Its a bit pricey but the food and ambience helps justify it; you also get a 2 hour validation for parking which can definitely come in handy! If you have a small party, try to get a table where you can see the water...especially during lunch time. The view is just great! 1. Bowl of Scallop Chowder - this was nice and creamy. A little heavy on the herbs but thats better than being heavy on the salt. I like how they give you three giant scallops in the soup vs tiny diced chunks. 2. Bag of Doughnuts - I was so excited for this as I thought it was a legitimate bag of doughnuts. Lol. I was only slightly disappointed when I found out they were actually a bag of lobster fritters. The fritters itself do not taste like much...its all in the dipping sauce. The size and the way they look reminds me of conch fritters straight from the Bahamas...but again, if you eat them plain they dont taste like much. 3. Baked Cod - the special of the day. Perfectly cooked cod that came out moist and tender. Served over a bed of jasmine rice and asparagus and then drizzled with a lemon sauce. Definite go for yummy seafood and the great view!

Lindsey B.

Amazing view, good food. Pricey and touristy though.

Dorrell R.

Very nice atmosphere, the service was right on, food was just what I wanted it to be. A little pricey but acceptable for the quality. Would definitely eat here again!

Chris W.

Bar Experience during Saturday late afternoon. After wandering up and down the streets of Newport we settled with the Mooring. This ended up just going with instincts as most places looked on the trashy side or were closed for the season. The "doughnuts" were a nice starter with accompanied aioli and were packed with seafood. The draft beers are nicely mixed with some good microbrews. We also got a sample of the oysters which were all nicely shucked and came with an assorted condiments but did not need them at all. We spilt a bowl of the scallop chowder which was just above average not as good as advertised. I also ordered a birthday surprise for my fiancé's birthday (chocolate tasting) which was on the house. Our bartender Rob was great and definitely bumped this up to a 5 star review. The Mooring was an excellent experience and was perfect for a day trip to Newport. Great staff, service and food makes the price point worth it. Also was able to catch the Bruins on their one flat screen! They also have a raw bar special just not on Saturdays.

Tony A.

Food was delicious and plentiful. Service was responsive and friendly. I did not like the iPad drink menu and wine list, a bit ridiculous. I'm all for electronics but not at the dinner table.

Leonardo D.

Amazing place, very accommodating and pleasant. Me and my wife were able to come to this place with our 4 month old baby in the stroller. The server made us feel very comfortable. The best dish was the mussel soup, fresh and delicious. This place is not expensive and have a nice atmosphere. Will definitely go back.

A T.

Our server was terrific. We were a little miffed that we arrived 20 minutes early and had to wait at the bar for our table, considering our reservation was originally for 4 and we moved it to 430 (just in case) but arrived at 410; there were plenty of open tables. But once seated our server took great care of us. The food was very fresh; we had clam chowder and scallop chowder -- both warm and just as described and VG. Entrees of black fish and a protein laden salad (salmon, lobster and shrimp) were also VG. The bread was brought out in a paper bag to keep warm -- was soft and VG.

Jeff W.

Every year we visit Newport, we have to set aside at least one dinner at The Mooring. Bag of Doughnuts? Yes, please! And make that at least a few orders for the table to minimize the amount of fights over the tasty fritters. The clam chowder ranks as one of the better ones in town. The seafood pasta has a generous amount of scallops and lobster. The Portuguese Roasted Cod seemed more like a soup, but was still delicious. The beef filet was quickly devoured by the kids. Not too crazy about the Brussels sprouts side dish and the scallop chowder though (was more like a watered down clam chowder with 2 anemic scallops). But that won't stop us from going there again next year.

Mike S.

Hands down the BEST restaurant in Newport. The back porch is beautiful to sit and have dinner while looking out onto the water while the sun sets. Every item on the menu is absolutely delicious. I can't say enough about this place. You can't come to Newport without dining here.

Jason S.

Each time I come to Newport this restaurant delivers. The service is top class, the atmosphere is perfect (although being outside by the water beats out anywhere inside), and the food is fantastic. Their appetizer "bag of donuts" is a must have. Will definitely be back on my next visit.

Erika H.

Absolutely loved this place. My first time in Newport and this was the perfect choice. They sat us at the best table on the patio right next to the dock. Ordering the bag of doughnuts was the best decision. They were delicious! And the maple chipotle dipping sauce was fantastic. I got the Portuguese cod that had a spicy chorizo broth that was a great twist on the dish. My boyfriend got the swordfish that was also great. The only reason for a 4 star instead of 5 was because of their draft list. I thought it was lacking a little and my beer could have been slightly colder. But definitely go here if you visit Newport.

Allan A.

We ordered the bag of doughnuts, scallop chowder, & the lobster roll on croissant...it was ehhh ok. The bag of doughnuts was good, but a bit salty. The chowder was not bad, but scallops were overdown. The lobster roll was nothing amazing as I would have passed on that or ordered another sandwich. Place is pricey as well, but atmosphere is nice. Overall I give it a grade of C.

Craig M.

We had a wonderful night here! Seating right on the water was amazing and the service was great as well. Appetizers and soup were great and the food was delicious. I would definitely come back here in a heartbeat. It's a little expensive, but for the atmosphere it was totally worth it! We will definitely be back again!!

Lauren S.

Loved this place! The atmosphere and view of the water were awesome. The soup and bag of doughnuts were really good. The swordfish was pretty good but not amazing. The drinks were decent, not the best ever. Our waitress was super nice. And the dessert and dessert / alcoholic coffees were sooooo good.

Sarah S.

Loved this restaurant! Great location and nice atmosphere. Everyone loved their meal. My husband got the seafood pasta, several people got the sole, and I got the salmon. One person in our party just got sides, and they were amazing- the quinoa in particular! Our server, David, was a lot of fun to talk to! Using an iPad for the drink menu was a little strange though.

Ania S.

I've been here a few times over the course of a few years and have always been impressed by the atmosphere, location, views - oh, and the food and drinks ;) The menu offers a wide range of options for different tastes and all at different price points. You could be enjoying casual sandwiches beside another table eating sophisticated steaks. Oh, and the fact that there are two bars only drives this point home! The parking lot is a nice plus, too. Please keep up the good work!

Victoria B.

Good drink but not great service at the bar. Had salmon it was terribly dry. The bag of donuts always are amazing but next time I will stick to the crab cakes.

Maly A.

During my second trip to Newport a couple of weeks ago, my girlfriends and I had dinner here on Saturday night. The place is still as good as I remembered it from last year. The bag of donuts.....YUM! Two of us had the Filet (cooked to perfection) and one had the scallops which were also really good. Got a couple of sides. Shared a desert and round of coffee/bailey drinks. Wonderful evening.

Meredith T.

Pretty fantastic! Great atmosphere and terrific staff! calamari was eh, but everything else was AMAZING! We had the Seafood Salad, Burger, Pork, and Seafood pasta! YUM!

Mia B.

We had a phenomenal experience here!!! Thank you Yelp! Siren from the Mill Street Inn referred us and we are soooo glad we came! We stated we wanted just drinks and Kelsey, the charming hostess, directed us to the bar. The bartenders are awesome and we spent an hour at the bar then decided to eat at a table. Kelsey hooked us up with a table right on the water! Our server, Krystal was AMAZING!!! If you come here ask if she is working!!!!! She was highly attentive but not over bearing .... She constantly 'viewed' our table without intruding unless we needed something. She made our experience!!!! Krystal spoke highly of the hostess, her manager, and staff - the result of such a wonderful team is incredible food and remarkable service. We will definitely be back again!!!

Paul B.

LOCATION: Great view of the ocean from the restaurant. PARKING: There's parking right in front of the restaurant buy we didn't park there since it was a pay-parking lot. But I think they can waive it if you eat there. Call to check! PRICE: Expensive but worth it. FOOD: Loved the food! Especially Tuna Tartar! I had Seafood Pasta and that was great too. My wife had the Lobster Croissant sandwich and that looked good too! SERVICE: Great service! Our waitress was on top of things and very friendly. I'll recommend it to anybody who visits Newport! PROS: Good food. Great service. CONS: Maybe pay-parking but I think that can be waived.

Miranda W.

The crab cake appetizer was amazing and also along with the clam chowder and Portuguese cod!!! Highly recommend this place :)

Angela A.

Great ambiance as the restaurant is situated right on the water! Our dinner party had a bag of doughnuts to start which was the perfect option! What's not to like about fried crab and lobster fritters? My cod entree was also rich with flavor, mixed with littlenecks, potatoes, olives and chorizo..I could've slurped the broth up with a straw! Even the dinner rolls were perfection! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Newport, it makes a perfect choice for a special occasion!

Lorraine T.

The view was amazing - the food was pretty good. There are a lot of good dining choices in the area, the Mooring is not my first choice but it will do the trick in a pinch

Jon W.

Pleasant tourist trap. Those doughnuts might as well have been fried confetti. Mussels better. Bloody Marys airport like. I guess you could do worse, sorry now I didn't try Jamestown fish. Seafood pasta buttery but good, lobster tasty.

May B.

Ordered the bag of doughnuts - yum! Tried all the oysters on the menu and there was a huge variety of quality oysters to choose from. The clam chowder was delish! Chicken Salad sandwich was pretty good too :) Friendly service!

Ava G.

Delicious! Decided to get out for lunch with a friend and some shopping. This was a great choice! The Grilled Ahi Tuna sandwich was to die for! Service was wonderful and atmosphere was great as always. Can't wait for warmer weather to dine outside!

Janine R.

Mooring restaurant is a fabulous choice for a meal. I've never experienced more efficient service in my life. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful as were the rest of the staff who catered to our every whim. The food was delicious... the bag of doughnuts was amazing just like the aforementioned reviews said. The swordfish was exceptional and cooked to perfection. The cocktails were creative and well made. The ambiance of this restaurant is nice. If you visit Newport, and want an exceptional restaurant, I strongly recommend Mooring.

Shannon F.

Had the opportunity to eat here Sunday night and it was an absolute treat. Beautiful space and breathtaking views. My husband and I had the heirloom tomato appetizer and seafood doughnuts to start and a great bottle of wine. Our server, Felicia, recommended the Georges Bank scallops and Portuguese cod for dinner and both were outstanding. Our 5 year old was exhausted half-way through our meal and Felicia found a toss pillow and tablecloth for him to take a nap while we enjoyed our dinner. I would say one of the best experiences, both with food and service, I've had in a long time. Excellent restaurant.

Ann A.

I took my husband to Newport for an overnight and a pre birthday dinner. After consulting a few websites, I chose The Mooring for our celebratory dinner. I had never been there before and was VERY happy with the choice. The service, ambiance and food were all what one looks for. First of all, as soon as we came through the door we were greeted with birthday wishes. Nice. Then, our server, Skylar, suggested a few wines and gave us small tastes before we chose. He had made great selections for us after hearing our preferences. My husband had the seared scallops on a bed of corn pudding and he smiled for hours. My fish, also, was fabulous. Then The Mooring topped off our evening with a complimentary dessert. I am not much on dessert, but. I loved the warm chocolate Guinness pudding. A great evening !

Agnes A.

Absolutely the most beautiful place here with water view !!! Food amazing service on top bag of donuts and clam chowder delicious ,,,A+

Karen C.

Wonderful setting and very good food and service. We would recommend, and return.

Jimmy L.

Great all around. Fun classy atmosphere with awesome food. We had the scallop chowder - really good with whole scallops. For the mains, we had the lobster steamed and broiled / stuffed (with shrimp and scallops). Would say that both were great but the plain steamed was the way to go. Can't beat high quality lobster right off the pier!

David B.

The Mooring came recommended by a fellow hotel guest. I had the 'Uptown Salad' with sauteed lobster & shrimp, grilled salmon, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, balsamic reduction. Best shrimp I've ever had in my 40+ years.

C N.

Great view of harbor. Staff very eager to please. Noise level very high. Would go for lunch not dinner. Food average.

Mohamed A.

my wife and I had a nice dinner at this restaurant. My wife ordered the spacial and it was excellent. I ordered the striped bass and it was dry. Service was good, the view was excellent. Overall it was a nice evening, however I was disappointed that the waiter did not offer to do anything about my unsatisfactory meal.

C M.

Found 2 seats in front of the shuckers which was a little weird because we could hear the conversations of the shuckers who do not typically wait on bar people. But it was Saturday night and jam packed so really had no choice and we prefer the bar. Food was great. Bartenders were great. Food was very eclectic, drinks were good, just pricy but we knew The Mooring was pricy going in so can't say much here. Would go back but expect to spend $$$.

Estmordej M.

We go to the Mooring every summer this year we have gone 3 times and each time it has been Fabulous. From the service, to the food to the view. The oysters are the best!!!

Matt T.

Absolutely amazing. Great service, great atmosphere, the view of the boats as the sun set was unmatched. I had the scallop dish, and was served 4 big tender scallops cooked to perfection. My gf had the seafood pasta, which was full of seafood and delicious as well. What really stood out was their fried calamari. Every piece was tender and full of flavor. They serve it with olives, which is a nice touch and gives it a unique taste. The waiter was professional, attentive, and never too overbearing. If you're going to Newport, go to the Mooring. Simple as that

ken k.

This was my first time in the Northeast and Mooring Restaurant exemplified great food and service for the area. We started off with the Bag of Donuts. I didn't know what to expect starting off with something sweet but it wasn't it all. There was a little sweetness to the chipotle style sauce because it had maple infused in it. It had a good kick of spicy-ness to it. The giant prawns with garlic and lemon angel hair pasta was perfectly prepared. One of the best things on the menu. Lastly, the service there was excellent. Skylar or Sky for short had great wine and food recommendations. He was great at helping us through the menu and described each dish we asked about perfectly. I would love to come back for our next visit. Definitely a must!

Mike O.

The oysters were absolutely perfect, just top notch. Excellent crab cakes. A wonderful setting and fantastic service. Will definitely go back.

Jay G.

I have been going to The Mooring for years, though this is certainly a tourist destination the restaurant has a local hangout feel. They continue to deliver great food, upgrade the room and somehow add more dockside tables without overcrowding. I think they have the best chowder in the area and recently had a Bass Special that was caught off Newport that morning, spectacular. The Newport Food Groups management shows in this restaurant they know how to do it right.

Thiago M.

Only reason this place is getting one stars is because the food was awesome, the service however sucked beyond words can describe. The waitress lost my credit card somehow and came back with a manager. The manager basically said the card is lost but for me to contact him in the morning, but there was no guarantees because the card had fallen underneath the building and possibly into the ocean. It is the only credit card I use for all my purchases, and I depend on it. I spent the next 10 minutes with the credit card company to get a replacement card sent to me immediately. The manager comped our appetizers, but then gave me his business card in order for me to contact him, I don't know if he thinks that's good service but he needs to find another job. How about you take my number and call me? And in the opinion of my hotel manager and friends the meal should've been comped. I'll never go back there again, and I'll do my best to see that none of my friends go there ether. Thanks for ruining our anniversary dinner!!

Eun Jung P.

Newport being one of my favorite vacation destinations, I've always wanted to try this place. We finally had a chance to go last night and was not disappointed. It's only June and the place was packed with people and many who walked in had to look for elsewhere. Oysters and little necks were fresh. Wine paring did not miss. For a party of six, I only ordered one bag of doughnuts but wished I had more. For entrees, my children loved their pan seared cod and fries. I liked my scallops. Striped bass could have been more flavorful. It was a noisy and lively place, which can be a plus when you are traveling with energetic toddlers. Great place! Will visit again. Matt, our waiter, was great as well.

Wanli C.

I went there with my lovely girlfriend. This place is wonderful and made us the day of the trip to Newport. Recommendation is bags of donuts, u have to order that! Lobster is great, fresher and more tasty even than legal seafood in boston.

Sarah E.

BEST SALMON DISH EVER! I'm a seafood lover. No matter how nice the restaurant, I'm always nervous ordering salmon. One lousy experience and I'm off the delicious fish for months. This meal was perfection. It was the special (sorry) and absolutely worth the advertisement and the price tag. We had an amazing meal. The view was breathtaking (com'n, it's Newport) despite the rain and a chill in the air. I can't wait to go back!

Brendan H.

My group went here for dinner after the last night of Newport Folk Fest. The place is really nice and the bayside seating is beautiful. For an appetizer we ordered the donuts which everyone loved. A reasonably priced bottle of white wine, Brooklyn Chocolate Stouts, and a couple pomegranate mojitos to drink and everyone was enjoying themselves. I had a bowl of scallop chowder as well and it was amazing. I opted to order the cheeseburger after a long weekend of rich seafood meals. Everything that we ordered came out fairly quickly and it all looked great. Halfway into the cheeseburger, I noticed a piece of what I thought was onion leaf sticking out. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was wax paper that separated the slices of cheese. We didn't make a scene. I practically whispered the problem to the server who was very apologetic and went to get the manager. After about ten minutes, the manager strolls onto the deck, pats my back and says I'm sorry but I have another burger on the grill for you. I decline the burger and he asks if I want anything else off the menu which I also decline. He apologizes again and walks away. Now I don't really know what it's like to be a manager at a fine dining establishment. Maybe I'm naive in thinking that we would be offered a round of drinks, maybe another round of donut appetizers, 15% off the final bill. Again, I did not make an issue out of this and maybe we would have been comped if I were to press the matter further. That's not how I chose to do things. The burger was taken off of the bill, 12$ off of 400$, and the waitress offered to buy me dessert which I declined again. She left by saying how embarrassed she was that this would happen in a 5 star restaurant. We paid and left and that was it. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just a nice meal on the water and, once the burger fiasco happened, a little something to keep the night from being so dismal. But that was it. A shitty burger and a nonchalant, almost unapologetic, manager.

fred b.

Worse experience! Went for lunch and had clam chowder and swordfish tacos. The clam chowder hardly had any consistency except a heavy cream base the clams were so tiny and the potatoes were probably frozen all the same size. I told the waitress I was disappointed she said they were chopped clams and left. Having owning a business for 60 years she could of at least said she was sorry. The Mooring did get great reviews on there clam chowder it definitely was not the least flavorful, the nite before we ate at the Castle hill Inn the chowder was exceptional as well as the staff. The swordfish tacos were burnt,I do hope the manager will read this.

Tony E.

great setting; average food I'd say you are paying 80% for the ace, 20% for the food. service was good but we were there pretty early so it was not busy.

Joan W.

Great food & excellent service, with an ocean view, to boot! What more can I say? I am a Newport native, been going to the Moorings when it was a 'sailors' bar' back in the 50s as a little girl with my father, and it has certainly changed since those times! But it has always been known to be a fun place. It's one of the better restaurants on Aquidneck Island-definitely recommend.

Agustin K.

I agree that this is probably the best seafood restaurant in Newport - taking into consideration both location, view, food and service. Please do make reservation and explicitly specify whether you'd like to sit insult or at the patio (of course patio is best if you are willing to deal with the breeze). We came around sunset time and it was so beautiful. It did get quite cold so bring your jacket. The fried doughnuts (fried seafood balls) were out of this world!!! Next time I will come back and order this at the bar or to go!

Tom V.

We came to Newport on 7/14 for a wedding the next day. We drove over the bridge (paid our $4 toll), found our hotel, and found a bar with high reviews in the down town. At this point we had been driving from New Jersey (4 hours) and the day prior had done another 4 hours from Baltimore. We hadn't eaten all day and were starving and excited to explore Newport. We then had an hour that completely tarnished our image of the city. My GPS took me to a high way road that was under construction -- there weren't any detour signs -- and the only way to legally get back into the downtown was to drive back over the bridge, paying the $4 to leave Newport and then to immediately turn around and come back in again paying $4. I was irate in the car. We get to the downtown (Thames St) and see that street parking is nearly impossible to find. There are lots that charge $20 to park or $3/half hour. After attempting to find street parking we park and pay the $20 reluctantly -- walk down Thames Street, find that our bar has a one hour wait -- and come walk past our car in hopes of finding a new spot. As we walk by we see that the lot has changed it's rate to $15. I now have this image of Newport as a town who's sole purpose is to sleazily gouge every cent out of every tourist who comes to visit. I thought this until we came across the Mooring. In our 3 hours in the city, this restaurant was the first place that wasn't just out to shake us down. Our waitress was amazing and we exchanged quite a few jokes. In terms of customer service I would give the Mooring 5 stars. More if possible. The food was 3.5 stars. Clearly there are a ton of seafood options and all of it was fresh and great. We ordered the surf and turf sliders as an appetizer, my fiancee had a salad mixed with shrimp, lobster, and salmon. I had a tuna dish with a feta and rice mixture. We shared a side of mashed potatoes. All of the fish was cooked to perfection. However, everything was under seasoned and somewhat bland (Except for the rice which was also fantastic). We then ordered the butterscotch bread pudding to share for dessert and a regular coffee. The coffee comes out in a French press and is enough for 2 or 3 people and was fantastic. The dessert was likewise amazing. The restaurant has a great waterfront view and a large outdoor seating area that's covered with a canopy. The Mooring helped changed our opinion of the city of Newport and I would recommend it to anyone who's in town.

Katy A.

No. Just no. The Mooring was a great go to place for the past few years with reliable cocktails, food and pleasantry from the staff. I used to take out of town guests there for a taste of Newport, great scenery and reliable drinks. Today's visit undid all of that for me. Service was horrible. My table of 4 watched the 4 tables surrounding us, who all came in and ordered after us get entrees before we even got bread. Drinks were watered down and my Bloody Mary was lacking all flavor. I had to ask the wait staff for a side of horseradish, tobacco and lemon to re-mix my own cocktail and make it drinkable. When our food finally did arrive, it was inedible. The tuna tartare was literally swimming in teriyaki sauce, the red fish wrap was tasteless and had to be doused with tabasco to get it down and the surf and turf sliders tasted like ground beef with velveeta cheese. Our waitress was nowhere to be found and my table had to ask for condiments and silverware 3 times to 2 different waiters. Our bill for 2 apps, 2 sandwiches and 4 cocktails was a whopping $108. Waste of money. I'd gladly pay that kind of a bill for the restaurant The Mooring used to be. Never again.

Ian P.

Waiter: so attentive View: beautiful Food: so good

Jonathan B.

It looks great. But the food doesn't live up to the ambiance. We had lunch on a Sunday afternoon at around 1. The staff was friendly, and the porch inviting. The oysters, an afternoon treat, were very nice and upped the rating. But the rest of the meal was lackluster. The clam chowder was too thick, and the crab cake BLT was mostly bread, a little crab, and lacked flavor. For an inexpensive lunch this would have been ok. For an expensive lunch in a popular spot, it was sub par.

Meagan L.

The Mooring is one of my favorite restaurants in Newport. Can't beat the views, the service is top notch, and the food is worth every penny. Not to mention, you order your "adult beverages" off an iPad, which is unique. Though difficult for people like my grandmother, who had never used one. My birthday dinner request is always this place when the parents ask. As if it's even a question. And the waiter always puts a candle in my molten bread pudding, but doesn't sing happy birthday, which I appreciate (this place is more upscale than Chili's). Needless to say, I can't wait til April comes along, and I'm sipping a martini or a mojito, eating a bag of doughnuts (fancy clam cakes), and having the seafood pasta. Or the seafood pie. Either one is alright with me.

Olga G.

I would highly recommend this place. All of the food was delicious. Seafood was super fresh. Beautiful water views. Waitress was delightful as was one of the chefs who came out with some of our food.

Giancarlo D.

Everything about this place is off the charts. We had a ocean front view for eating. Matt our server is the best. We had oysters for apps i had the cod for main course and i had the best bread putting ever. Gotta come here to eat.

BB S.

The Mooring is our very favorite Newport restaurant, year over year and no matter what the season. Make sure to have a Bag of Donuts! Surroundings, menu and staff are superb and it is the best place to relax! Hits on every note. It is part of The Newport Restaurant Group, whose other properties include 22 Bowens, The Smoke House, and Castle Hill. Plus, others around Rhode Island. None of them will ever disappoint you. And, if something happens to be less than perfect - they fix it right away.

Xsubslr X.

Was in Newport over the weekend with a large group. (15 people). The restaurant has a great location with views of the water and marina. The service was excellent and our waiter was attentive and professional. The food is awesome! Everything is fresh and well presented. I recommend the Lobster Croissant. The cocktails are also very good. I will definitely be back the next time I am in town!!

Aaron R.

My wife and I went for our 7th anniversary dinner there last night. The experience was definitely lacking. Some things were beyond the restaurant's control, but a lot weren't. The bad stuff first... To start, we made a reservation for 8:15pm on a Monday night. We still weren't seated until 8:30pm. I'm told Newport is just crazy during the summer, so maybe I can't be too harsh there, but considering how late it was, I was unpleasantly surprised. Second, the restaurant is indeed right on the water. Unfortunately, there's several docks for huge (100ft+) yachts between it and the Bay. So the "ocean view" is rather limited...especially at high tide. I don't exactly blame the restaurant for that, but if I'm gonna be charged oceanside dining prices, I don't want to stare at the sides of yachts all night. Third, we ended up waiting nearly an hour from being seated until getting our main dishes. That's not good. Drinks were not refreshed all that often, either. The place was pretty busy, but still... Fourth, even though our server came back and specifically confirmed I wanted entree A and not entree B...they have similar names...I ended up getting entree B. They replaced it with entree A fairly quickly (about 10 more minutes) but the dish was disappointing. The lobster, scallops and shrimp were all bland and a little goopy (undercooked?) and the angel hair pasta was very greasy. On the plus side... First, they did comp me the cost of my dish, which was $38. They didn't have to do that. Second, my wife's dish, a seasoned tuna, was delicious. She had a succotash and quinoa appetizer that was excellent as well, and her white raspberry chocolate martini was very tasty if your tastes go that way. My caesar salad was perfectly fine, too. Third, I think if you can get there during the day, when all the boats are out on the water, the view is undoubtedly excellent. And you're right in the heart of downtown Newport so there's plenty of little shops to visit. The restaurant does have a pay-for parking lot right in front so that's a necessary convenience in summer when parking is hard to come by. To sum it up... A work colleague of mine who grew up in Newport later told me that the Mooring is where all the tourists go...with all that implies. My wife's coworkers said something similar, but mentioned that when they've been there outside of June, July and August, they had a great time (albeit an expensive one, of course). I might try it again in the fall, just to see if things are better. But I would steer clear during the summer months.

Taryn E.

The view was beautiful, the service was great and the food & drink were excellent. A great place to go with a group of friends. I recommend the lobster croissant- it was fantastic! Reservations recommended. If you are going on a summer weekend I also recommend leaving time to find parking- it can get pretty busy!

Shannon P.

This restaurant was great! Great views, very relaxing! We ordered drinks and apps. The apps were a little small for the cost, but the drinks were great! The view is amazing. We went when it was still a little cold so they had the plastic down. I wish they would have opened a little more of the plastic curtain things because it was a little hot in the outside part. I know the wait can be a little much sometimes, but if you go at an off time, it's definitely worth stopping in!

Brandon And K.

The atmosphere, good and service are all amazing. After tasting every meal on the table I have to say every meal melted in my mouth. Great ambiance and view. Inside is cozy and outside is inviting but not too over the top. We will be back very soon!

Ann T.

Nice atmosphere and view of the water, friendly efficient staff and very good seafood. I especially liked the bag of donuts appetizer with a delicious chipotle maple aioli and the Portugese Roasted Cod fish stew.

Jordan D.

I feel like once you've been to one waterfront Newport restaurant, you've been to them all. And after this visit to Mooring, I'm sticking by that reasoning. I guess the Bag of Doughnuts is the thing to get here? I thought this was a seafood place? Anyway, the crustaceans we ordered from the raw bar were top notch, along with the fantastic view of Newport Harbor and hot out the oven rolls they give you to start with. Aside from those 3 things, I felt as though "I've been here before". My tuna melt, while tasty, was nothing spectacular, especially at what it's being priced at. Someone else in my party thought the same tuna melt was fantastic, but it was only slightly above average for me. I get that we came on a holiday weekend for a lunch, but we had to wait close to 45 minutes between our raw bar and sandwiches. Ditch the lunch and swanky seating and head to the bar for some raw bar and brews/cocktails. Another nice surprise was the Windward Weisse they carrry. Who knew Rhody could concoct a delicious hefeweizen!?

Jesse S.

This place was good, but not somewhere I'd be looking forward to coming back too. The crab cake was pretty good- I'd give it 4 stars. Wasn't a huge fan of the bag of doughnuts. I expected it to have a good amount of meat inside but it's just all breading with a few tiny pieces of seafood. I love chipotle dipping sauces, but this was was sub par. The lobster croissant was pretty good. Lobster was clearly super fresh, but there wasn't a ton of lobster in the sandwich itself. I would have given 5 stars to the sandwich if it had double the lobster. The fries were 3 stars- crispy and well- seasoned, but overall average. This is a good place for lunch overall, but won't knock your socks off.

Amanda M.

Yummy food. Pricey.

Chris J.

I carefully reviewed all restaurants in Newport and decided Mooring for my gf who visited newport first time and I must say it was great decision. Atmosphere was romantic and my server James was kind. I ordered clam chowder, and seafood pasta and they were all great. You must try those menu in this restaurant. I also tried steamed Maine lobster and I think I'd rather try other dishes. If you visit Newport, try Mooring.

Jose P.

We visited the Mooring during Restaurant Week. Great place, with nice views and good service. Pros: large bar area with strong drinks. The clam chowder is great! So is the bread. Apple bread pudding is amazing. Cons: Portuguese Cod not good on this particular night Although the cod was not good, the waitress noticed that I barely touched it and asked me if I wanted to try something else, I declined her kind offer and then the manager came around and not only offered me anything I wanted on the menu, but they would deduct the cod. On top of that, he gave us free dessert. Everyone can have an off night every once in a while, but the service and attention we received will keep us coming back for sure.

Josh M.

Went here over 4th of July weekend, it was very busy, but we had a reservation and were seated almost immediately upon arrival. Much like all of the restaurants on Newport the views were amazing. We sat inside, to hot to eat outside, but still had wonderful waterfront views of a great sunset on the 4th. The "Bag of Donuts" were as advertized and considered a "must" by all the locals that said we had picked out a great place for dinner. The entrees were served quickly and were great. If you find yourself in Newport for a few days this is def a place to check out for dinner.

Keds S.

The seared tuna appetizer was very good (I'm a sucker for tuna tartare), but I'm logging on to say how disappointed I was in the Mooring's solitary chicken dish (Murray's chicken). Now, maybe this was my just punishment for not ordering a seafood entrée, but the chicken was very dry and the Riesling sauce was almost tasteless; it seemed they took a tablespoon of white wine, half cup of light chicken broth and added flour to thicken it. That having been said, the bartenders were very charming, and the waitstaff are absolutely fantastic. Perfect service. Not too intrusive but always an eye on the table, and willing to chat if you felt so inclined.

Kristine F.

The Mooring was a wondering treat during our weekend away in Newport. Every other time in Newport, the wait was very long so although our reservation this time was late, it was worth the wait. We started with the bag of donuts and OMG they are delicious. I would just eat those all day. They are so flavorful and the dip is perfect. We then had the scallops and seafood pie for our main entrees. They were delicious! I would definitely go back. The service was fast and helpful.

Jen L.

Everything we had was amazing, yet again. This place never disappoints. Our waiter was Dan, he was great. We started with the sliders and a couple of beers, then had fish and chips and scallops with a lobster tail side. No complaints, love the cinnamon on the fries! I don't get the 1 star review below.. They offered you something else and you declined, yet complain that you didn't get something else? Ummm..? Had you asked to replace your burger with a bag of donuts they would have done so, they can't read your mind guy.

Harper S.

We walked by when we were hoping to grab a drink and they immediately sat us outside at a fabulous table overlooking the harbor. We had a nice waitress although she left after her shift (didn't tell us), someone else came over and chatted us up and then they forgot about us. Someone came over and realized nobody had checked on us in a really long time so they gave us a free bottle of wine. That was much appreciated. We picked on a bunch of appetizers along with our drinks and everyone really enjoyed what they ate. Highlight was the watermelon salad.

LARA S.

Great good! Oh my the bag of doughnuts is divine fried food! Superb service. This is a really well run restaurant. They know how to do it... Came for Restaurant Week. Wish I came sooner. Will be back again.

Tony T.

Came on a Sunday night in the summer and got seated almost immediately. The bread was warm and a bit chewy. Started with the scallop chowder, which contained 4 scallops per bowl (you can also order the smaller cup), and it was creamy but not overly so, and had some sweetness from the corn in the chowder. The herbs in the soup gave a nice flavor and overall it was a decent chowder. Next had the garden salad which was large enough for 2 or 3 people. The bacon topping was crisp but the salad needed a little more dressing. For appetizers had the bag of donuts which were fried lobster, crab & shrimp fritters. The batter is great as is sauce for the fritters, which was a little spicy. Also tried the calamari which came with rings of fried pepperoncini. This was a fine dish, but nothing special. For entrees tried the fish & chips. The batter was good, but the fish broke apart while I was eating it. The chips had a lot of flavor but I personally would have preferred them a little crunchier. The scallops were firm and a little overcooked but still tasty. I got a taste of grit but only from one of the scallops. The lobster was the star and I got a large one. It was cooked perfectly and came out with butter. The waitstaff was attentive and pleasant but the prices are a little high. Overall a decent place to have a meal in Newport.

adam x.

I go there for lunch. Great clam chowder. Great fish. Do NOT order the Caesar salad.... it's terrible.

Karen P.

We dined here in prime time, on a Saturday night this past weekend and having nothing but good things to say about The Mooring! We decided to eat here, based on a Newport regular's strong recommendation. Amazingly, when we arrived we were told we could be seated immediately without a reservation! The front desk was quick to grab our wet jackets for coat check service and then showed us to our table. We were seated at a great table for two, not too far from the windows with their amazing view of the harbor. We were off to a great start! Next, our server Matt stopped by to introduce himself to us, described their fresh oyster options to start with, and took our drink orders. Matt was terrific from start to finish. The drinks arrived quickly as we viewed the menu. He explained the specials and answered our questions. No doubt: he knew the menu! Clearly, seafood is their thing with lots of tempting choices but Matt made sure we weren't overwhelmed. Plenty of light or heavier dining options are here, depending on your appetite, so there's truly something on this menu for everyone. We were in the mood for lighter fare and were not disappointed! Do not miss the Scallop Chowder (tender sweet scallops in a slightly creamy broth; YUM!) that's perfection with their "Bag of Donuts" to fill you up. (Think hush puppies with lobster, crab, and shrimp bits inside, and a sweet & spicy dipping sauce that's out of this world!) The Chopped Salad with the addition of tuna is another excellent choice. Maybe their other seafood additions (called "Salad Buddies") would be just as great but honestly, it was the best tuna we've ever had. It had a wonderfully fresh taste with a tender, moist texture. Absolute perfection! Matt came back to check on us periodically. He had just the right touch: never intrusive but definitely attentive, even if it was just a quick glance to see that all was well as he walked by. Matt made sure we were always happy and content. We'll ask for Matt again! There's a really nice vibe to this place. While the restaurant was "hopping", it was a really good energy without being frenetic or too noisy. The place has expansive windows, rustic wood floors and tables, with warm lighting; just a really inviting New England feel. While our visit was strictly inside due to colder December temperatures, it's got to be an amazing spot to dine in the warmer months with its view of the harbor and a soft warm breeze coming your way. Another perk: Parking is pretty easy here. There is a large "for pay" parking lot out front but the restaurant will reimburse you with cash for the charge at the end of your meal if you show them your paid parking receipt. Nice! A full five stars for The Mooring from us! Delicious food, outstanding service, and a wonderful location. The next time we're in Newport, we'll be sure to stop back when we have big appetites to try their other tempting seafood options. The only thing we're about sorry is the fact that it's a three hour flight to get here! Totally worth it, though! ;)

Greg B.

Excellent oysters. If you don't have reservations, try to get a seat at the bar - preferably the oyster bar. The Ginny Hendricks Cocktail was delicious and strong. The fish and chips were decent, with the awesomely spiced chips (fries) being the best part. The succotash was fresh and wonderful. The service at the bar was spectacular. Not cheap at all, but a very nice place to enjoy a meal.

Tyler L.

It is restaurant week in Newport (11/1 - 11/10, 2013), so we have been trying to get to places not previously visited. The Mooring has been on our list for too long, so we booked a table (via OpenTable) for lunch. As is often the case during Restaurant Week we were, at first met with a bit of skepticism from our server (will there be a generous tip?). However, once we ordered a decent wine (they do have a tempting, extensive list), along with some extras (oysters) not on the special 3-course lunch menu, all was cheery! And yes, there was a generous tip at meal's end. First Course My wife & I each enjoyed the Autumn Greens salad. This was a slightly lighter version, missing a couple of ingredients, compared to the regular menu offering by the same name. It was fresh, crisp and very enjoyable with sherry vinaigrette. Main Dish A. Pork & Clams (see photo) - Native littleneck clams, braised pork, potatoes, sofrito broth, garlic butter, focaccia; a truly delicious meal in taste and balance, not too heavy yet certainly not lite. B. Open-Faced Turkey (see photo) - Smoked North Country turkey, muenster cheese, bacon, fried egg, basil pesto, toasted artisan bread; a heavy meal full of tastes (and protein) working in concert, thoroughly enjoyed. Desserts, shared A. Apple Bread Pudding - Butterscotch sauce, vanilla ice cream = EXCELLENT! B. Lemon Sorbet - very, very good; served with THREE scoops, which was entirely too much for us, but I suppose more is better than less.

Grace M.

Amazing food! Amazing service! By far the best meal that we've had on our New England trip. I had the seafood pasta, it was so delicious, the garlic was not over powering. I had oysters as appetizers, they were very fresh, melt in your mouth with just the right amount of brininess. My husband had a cup of clam chowder and the lobster dinner. Everything was seasoned perfectly. Service was excellent! Zack our server was very attentive and got everything we asked for quickly. Did I mention french pressed coffee... Definitely a must food stop in Newport, RI.

Esther T.

Mooring wasn't my original plan for dinner, even though I saw all the good reviews on Yelp. But it was recommended by the concierge, and taking a second look at my original choice it had better prices also. We sat at the patio which had a great view, but they had to cover it up when it started raining hard. But it was still nice, minus the loudmouth who wouldn't shut up at the next table. We ordered some littlenecks, and cherrystones, scallop chowder, swordfish wrap, and fried oysters po boy. The clams were great and very fresh. Scallop chowder was underwhelming given that it was supposedly "award winning". I didn't feel it was anything special, and definitely lacked in flavor. Hubby's swordfish wrap was good, and my oyster po boy was pretty good too. Both came with tasty spiced fries. We also ordered some drinks and had dessert. The molten bread pudding is actually "foolishly good" quoted by the waiter. Wasn't something we thought would be so good. I loved it, but could do without whatever red sauce was on the bottom of it. It was too tart to go with the rest of the dessert. But overall a good experience. Would come back if I was in Newport.

Victoria K.

I remember Giada DeLaurentiis dining here in an episode of "Giada's Weekend Getaways," and the appetizer she chose looked really delicious. I decided that someday I would have to try it, and that someday finally happened. The Mooring has a great waterside location with an excellent view of the harbor from both outdoor and indoor seating. It's a pretty large restaurant with a convenient pay parking lot directly in front. A giant metallic fish hangs over the bar, a perfect setting in this mostly seafood establishment. The amazing appetizer that I knew I had to try was the Bag of Doughnuts which consists of fried savory treats very similar to traditional Rhode Island clam cakes. If you never heard of a clam cake, it's essentially a fried clam fritter, and is oven served alongside white clam chowder. It's amazing. I don't often indulge in a series of fried dishes, but on occasion I think it's worth the guilt. These fritters contain a mixture of lobster, crab, and shrimp and are served with a knock-your-socks-off-amazing chipotle-maple aioli. If you think sriracha aioli is amazing (and it totally is) this takes the spicy aioli in a mildly sweet direction with just a perfect mixture of flavors. I would happily bathe in a vat of this sauce. But I was also quite content dipping my delicious "doughnuts" into it. Yum!! I would order this again and again, until my arteries crust over. Lunch consisted of sandwiches for both my cousin and myself. The entrees are the same price for lunch and dinner, and I can't bring myself to spend over $25 on a lunch entree unless it's for something really special, and considering we were eating dinner out as well that night, we both decided to keep it simple. She opted for the open-faced turkey sandwich with melted Muenster cheese, crisp bacon, basil pesto and fried egg on top. That's a serious sandwich! Mine was a simple fried sole sandwich with tartar sauce. I thought the fish was cooked nicely and the tartar sauce was tasty, but the bread to filling ratio was a bit bread-heavy. It was delicious and fluffy, but overwhelmed the delicately tasty fish. In any case, it was a good sandwich, and the fries were nicely seasoned. Lunch was filling and satisfying...

Linda F.

Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! excellent service, drinks were deliciously creative without being gimmicky, and the food, well, again... yum!!

Linda Z.

Great cocktails and superb service. The scallop dinner was exceptional, and they have a great raw bar. Their clam chowder needs a little work. A lovely setting for an evening out.

Maureen L.

I had a great time there tonight at the bar - my go to place to figure out how a restaurant is doing. Started with half-price oysters Wed and my advice is to stick with the RI types! Then did the sliders which were good and unusual but the steak could have been sliced a bit better to avoid the gristle. The "bag of doughnuts" were good but heavy (I'd call them grown up "hush puppies"); the aioli was fab! I'd do them only to share. Will be back again. Servers handling a large private party (great space) were on-point and show me the place is as good as advertised!

Amy S.

I had a church conference here during the winter and came here for lunch one day. It was really good! Kind of pricey, but worth it. The seafood was so fresh and delicious. The bread that they give you - so fresh and full of flavor and they just keep on bringing it out when you're done. I had the Mooring Scampi and it was so good. The lobster - so fresh, the shrimps - fresh. The tomatoes made a good flavor with the olive oil for the noodles. It was wonderful. The wait staff was also super friendly. Made fun conversation and was very helpful at explaining some of the things on the menu because there were some things we hadn't heard of before. The interior was also really nice because the big windows brought in a lot of open light and brightened up the atmosphere. The attire was a little more formal than casual but we didn't know that so we went in with hoodies and jeans. They didn't judge us too bad though. Definitely recommend for a visit when up in Newport (:

Yasmin K.

Amazing Amazing Amazing. My boyfriend and I went for lunch and were seated by the water. Without a reservation the wait was 20 minutes (around 1:30pm Saturday). We split the scallop soup, bag full of doughnuts and crispy fish sandwich of some sort. All were amazing and brought out in a timely fashion. Five stars!

Jimi F.

Perhaps the best seafood I've ever had, and I've had a LOT. I've been to Maine countless time, and the lobster at Mooring is awesome. Price for the restaurant is far less than you'd expect for such great dishes. I will absolutely go back again... one of my favorites places now!

Edwin V.

met some friends here for a birthday dinner. Atmosphere was excellent, "Bag of donuts" was out of this word ( not really donuts) and dinner was fantastic. Our waitress was pleasant and service was on the money. this place never disappoints

Tony W.

The crab cake and bag of doughnuts (seafood fritters) were delicious. However, the chicken salad sandwich was dry and the fries oversalted. Decent but I would have gone to the restaurant across next time. The scene WAS beautiful though. Our waiter Matt did a great job and was very friendly.

Melissa P.

The Mooring is on the wharf - make sure to sit outside to get the great views of the harbor. For appetizers we had: - Bag of Doughnuts: highly rated by everyone and good, but a little greasy. - Crab Cake: good, but nothing spectacular. For entrees we had: - Lobster Croissant: very good, lots of lobster! - 8 oz. Hereford Burger: Excellent! For dessert we had: - Bread Pudding: must try, this was by far my favorite part of the meal! Overall the service was great, and prices were reasonable. Would definitely return.

Topher D.

A classic NPT staple. I Stop here every time I am in town. Extensive beer and wine list showcased on an iPad. They have Crabbies (alcoholic Ginger Beer) delicious and goes great with rare Tuna Clam chowder is delicious but do try their scallop chowder equally as good. Tons of flavor in each. I usually get their Tuna ordered rare - quality is very good and flavorful. Lobsters are good and reasonably priced. Parking as with the rest of NPT can be challenging. They do have a parking lot but expect to pay and they do not validate.

Lyndsey C.

Always tasty and very nice service. Great location and very nice ambience. Great view of the marina.

Anne W.

You go to the Mooring for 3 things: 1. Lobster donuts (yes, that's what I said). 2. The view and ambience. 3. The raw bar. If you don't care about those three things, go someplace else and save yourself some money and frustration in the summer as this is a Newport tourist dining Mecca.

Josh K.

"Jamming at the Pearl of Newport" by Josh K. To the jingle of "Crazy Mary": "Take an oyster, shoot it down, pass it around." However, this all changes if in a large group. Now you are better off getting your oysters with some little neck and cherry stone clams, jumbo shrimp, and a whole lobster when ordering The Mooring's Fisherman's Seafood Platter - just bring some money. With an awesome raw bar, strong cocktails, and perfectly cooked fresh fish right on the Newport Harbor in the heart of the downtown nightlife, you really ought to make a trip here if only to pretend you own a yacht and one of the Mansions on Cliff Walk. It's expensive, it's touristy, its loud, its crowded, and it's probably full of preppy douche bags sure, but man do I love fresh well-prepared seafood. I also love beer and Dark and Stormy's, and nothing screams a long-awaited New England vacation than wearing my oxford shirt and sucking down an oyster with a hoppy Harpoon ale, and watching a sunset with my rum and ginger beer mixed drink except maybe spooning mouthfuls of creamy dill infused scallop chowder, or digging into a meaty swordfish steak. I can do that all with ease, consistency, and a whole lot of cash at the Mooring Restaurant.

Sossy B.

Amazing people watching - I've never seen so many whale emblazoned khaki shorts, cheesy blondes in maxi dresses, and stretch limos out for a "fun summer night." Food pretty good as was the service. I had the scallops. Seared well and a good sized serving. We got six people in with no reservation after about a 1/2 hour wait. The bag of doughnuts with lobster, crab & shrimp were a bit heavy but good. The Uptown salad was easily the best value on the menu - TONS of seafood and a decent amount of arugula and delish.

Cora A.

Really great atmosphere, and the food was great too! The locals even say that we hit an awesome spot; we don't like the tourist traps so this was excellent for us!

Becky M.

Visited on a winter Sunday for dinner. It happened to also be Restaurant Week. I have always had really good experiences with restaurants within the Newport Restaurant Group. Pros: - scallop chowder: perfectly cooked whole scallops in a slightly sweet (from the corn) broth with right amount of potato and not too much cream. - beautiful dining room. We were at a table by the windows and were treated by a radiant sunset. But, aside from that, the dining room is chic nautical. Very classy Newport without being cheesy. Dark wood trim. Photos of Newport history. A huge copper fish over the bar. - bread pudding. Cons: - We had to order 4 different bottles of wine before we found one that they had in stock. I trust that this I'd unusual, given my experience in other restaurants under this management. The bottle that we settled on was perfectly enjoyable. Our meals of beef tips and red fish was delicious. Overall, I would come again without a doubt. Especially in the low crowd season of early spring, late fall and winter. Though all the potential for outdoor seating is tempting for summer.

Carlie C.

This is probably the highest rated and most rated place on Yelp from Newport, RI. The Mooring has staked its claim for Giada (Food Network). The lobster croissant looked daunting, so we opted for the following: Bag of Doughnuts (delicious, but very rich and I could only eat 2..optimal for a party of 4) Littlenecks and Cherrystones (to my dismay, I ordered clams instead of oysters. The Littlenecks were good but the Cherrystones were way too big and chewy) Fried Sole Sandwich: Too much fried fish..but it comes with Boston seasoned fries Spinach Salad: Great presentation and pretty good flavor with cheese and strawberries and balsamic Scallop Chowder: Since this was acclaimed award winning, I had to try it. I loved the corn edition to it). The Mooring would be a great place for a nice day... too bad it was chilly when we went.

Kristen B.

My husband and I ate at the Mooring for his birthday dinner and we were quite impressed. We were seated promptly by the fireplace with a nice view of the marina at sunset. The wine list was on a tablet which I had never seen used before in a restaurant. We both ordered baked stuffed lobsters (1 1/4 lb) which were cooked perfectly and filled with a generous shrimp and scallop stuffing. For sides we ordered truffle polenta fries (yum!) and brussel sprouts with bacon (surprisingly delicious)! We were stuffed by the end of dinner, so we didn't order dessert, but we did order after-dinner drinks. We wanted to order chocolate cake shots (birthday theme...) but the restaurant is not permitted to serve shots. Our waitress was kind enough to transform the chocolate cake shot into a drink with ice and bring a side of sugar coated lemons to complete the drink!

Therese Z.

Delicious meal with great service and ambiance. For apps we had clam chowder, oysters from the raw bar, and "bag of doughnuts" (seafood fritters). Entree was the scallops which were perfect. My only problem was that the doughnuts sink in your stomach like a brick and fill you up. I would not order these again!

Eric F.

4.5 stars for my amazingly delicious entree =D My friends and I came by for a late lunch (linner? lunner?) by the water and we were seated right away - I suspect that def would not have been the case if we came during dinner time as the place got packed fast! We started with fresh bread (in a bag!) and some raw oysters including the Umami and Onset varieties and then moved on to some main dishes including clam chowder and a Grilled Cobia Wrap. As alluded to earlier, I ordered the Acadian Red Fish which came wrapped in bacon and stuffed with crab meat - SO GOOD! The fish itself was one of the most tender I've had yet and the crab offered further depth of texture. As for the bacon, it's virtually impossible to mess anything up by adding bacon to it...but nonetheless it was tasty and helped seal the fish's juices very well. A nod to our waitress too for being cognizant of our wait time for the food and coming by to update us and apologize for any delays. Lastly, the iPad menu for the libations was a nice touch ;)

Rich B.

Great lunch on the waterfront with the wife. We both had the scallop chowder which was great. Wife had the Lobster Roll which had tons of lobster served on a croissant. (SHE LOVED IT) I had the crab sandwich witch was a crab salad...it was just ok...I would go back views and service was top notch.

Lauren B.

On our last night in Newport, we decided to go to the Mooring to get our last fill of good seafood. To start out, we ordered some raw cherrystones and shrimp cocktail - amazing. We each ordered a soup, I had clam chowder which was great, and my boyfriend had the scallop chowder which is apparently award-winning. It looked really good with whole scallops in it. For our meals, we each ordered a 2lb lobster. These lobsters had gigantic claws and were actually pretty filling. We were going to order the seafood donuts that everyone was raving about to take home, but we were way too full. A little bit pricey but worth the money for good seafood. I would come back!

J P.

A must to check out if u r a local or tourist. Right on the water, this place has the newport charm. We love the sole francaise- fish that melts in ur mouth over light butter and rice.... Yummmm... And add scallops for a small premium $12 to complete the meal. Love the tuna tartar with huge chucks of the freshest tuna. We were impartial to the doughnuts that a lot of people raved about. We found it a little dry...but everything else was amazing!

A.N. B.

great food. great location and attentive servers. we were not disappointed! definitely need to make a reservation and arrive on time- it is crowded!

Irene D.

The Mooring is a great place to go if you're visiting Newport or have an event to celebrate. All of their dishes are good and the seafood is so fresh. This is the first place I've had scallop chowder and it may be the last. Great flavor and not too heavy with a generous serving of scallops. Traveling through Rhode Island has exposed me to many different clamcakes, these, as a part of the bag of doughnuts, are easily some of the best. Yes, this a bit pricier than your average seafood restaurant in Rhode Island but given the atmosphere, the level of service, and the freshness of the food, it's completely worth it. Huge outdoor space so it's really nice for warm summer nights. I hear they have amazing deals during the off season!

Lacuna H.

Certain dishes were spot on, others were terrible in proportion and rather bland. The bread rolls was quite possibly the best I've ever had, slightly crisp on the outside and airy in the middle. The oyster bar had a great selection and the oysters were properly cleaned and fresh The seafood pie was rich and delicious, the scallops snd shrimp were perfectly cook, which can be difficult in a casserole style dish with a variety of seafood. My only complaint was that I found a piece of lobster shell in my seafood pie and some of the other dishes, like the wrap were oddly proportioned, not enough protein and way too much veg and fries.

Jeffrey S.

We arrived early and were seated promptly. Sat outside on the covered back deck. Started out with scallop soup and pork belly. The soup had great flavor and plenty of seafood. The pork belly was very rich. For the entree I had a striped bass special and my wife had the fish taco app. All the food was great, especially the Striped Bass. Service was prompt and friendly. The view was of the marina.

Tammy E.

Holy moses, where to begin. Had a 6:45pm reservation had a short wait for our table. Very worth the 15 minute wait as we were seated by the windows and the view is stunning. Our server was cheery and attentive. Ordered the Raw Bar Platter and it was scrumptious. Fresh, well chilled and the oysters & littlenecks were amazing. I had the 8oz center cut with the lobster tail. Tender enough to cut with a butter knife & loaded with flavor. My husband had the 14oz steak with lobster. He also loved his meal. We enjoyed this place immensely. DEFINITELY, make reservations. People were walking in asking for tables and they were booked until 9:30pm! It's expensive, but well worth the price. The ambience was perfect. We really enjoyed it. We were staying close enough that we walked there but the server asked us if we drove, apparently they validate your parking. A MUST DO if in Newport.

Kevin G.

If you love seafood and are visiting Newport you have to come here. Every visit to Newport I come and I have never had any but an excellent meal. Well worth the price. There are a few choices on the menu for the people who don't like seafood but not many!

PD K.

Came back here for the second time in 2 years and I am a fan of this place. Good tasting food with great table views. Best fresh seafood in town!

Joy Y.

Solid. Charming location on water, good atmosphere (dimly lit, nice layout, appropriate noise level), and consistent-friendly service. Was in Newport for a conference and stayed to see the sights - a local recommended this restaurant as one of the three best. The New England clam chowder is authentic with big chunks of clam (get the cup if you plan on having dinner because the bowl was humongous), raw bar seafood looked fresh (I didn't order it though); the mussels zuppa was tasty (bits of chorizo in broth!), BF had lobster croissant (very good (big chunks of lobster) but too many carbs on plate -- served with fries, salad would probably be a better side offering. Drinks are good (stiff pour) but not cheap. A good splurge!

Robert F.

I had a very good time at this restaurant. We sat otuside in view of the boats in the harbor. The service and atmosphere at the restaurant was classy and professional. The Rhode Island plumpoint and Canadian Salt Air oysters were delicious. The sesafood "donuts" appetizer with sauce was excellent. Scallop chowder was exquisite,with delicious large pieces of scallops. I tried the daily soup which was curry with barley and agood departure from their usual fare. 1.5 lb Maine lobster stuffed with scallops and shrimp was outstanding. I am glad I chose to add the extra charge for the 'stuffing.' We also had the salmon fish sandwich. There was not enough room left for dessert! Verdict: This will definitely become a new must visit spot for my Newport trips.

Stephanie B.

WOW, is all I can say. We had the most incredible dinner here! Amazing seats - right outside overlooking the water. Food was delicious and the wait staff perfect. One of the most memorable meals we've had in a LONG TIME. Highlights include: clam chowder, oysters, and the sole. INCREDIBLY fresh! Cannot wait to go back!

Christopher W.

Great location with a patio on the water, well staffed, reasonably priced for the lunch-type stuff given the location. Lobster roll and watermelon salad were very good. Go after an early harbor yacht cruise with Sightsailing located nearby. Gets very busy after noon on weekends.

Sean F.

Excellent food & service - very helpful with the kidos; omg the clam chowder don't miss it

E M.

We've been coming to The Mooring for over 20 years. We have had very good experiences there. However, we were greatly disappointed this time around. We each ordered the seafood pasta, which is actually Jasmine rice. After waiting nearly an hour, the food arrived. It was the most disgusting meal we have ever had. Dripping with oil and butter to the point where we could not eat the meal. The manager was good enough to speak with us and did not charge us for the meal. But it was a small consolation as my wife became ill later that evening. Sad to say we will not be returning.

Dave M.

My wife and I actually went there twice on Wednesday. We stopped in just for an appetizer and a glass of wine before we went on a boat ride around the harbor. We each had the clam chowder and it was very good. It was served steamy hot and had lots of tender clams. The only minor issue was the potatoes were cut a bit large. We returned for dinner with 16 of our friends after the boat cruise. We only waited about 5 minutes to be seated and we did not have reservations. The service was excellent and the food was wonderful. I had a seafood scampi that was very tasty and plentiful. My wife had the same dish and took half of it in a dogie bag. While not inexpensive the portions and quality were worth the cost.

Lauretta L.

We got 2 bags of Seafood Doughnuts to-go for the road back home and were surprised at how addicting they were. These "donuts" are more like fried biscuits with little chunks of shellfish inside. They are dense and filling, and honestly could easily be a meal. The sauce is definitely what makes these unique. I recommend completing as much of Cliff Walk as possible and getting these as a post work-out snack!

Kel S.

Yay. Thank you for participating in restaurant week! It was nice to be able to try out this restaurant for a fraction of what it would typically cost. The fish taco appetizer was decent, the mussels and frites were wonderful, and the brownie sundae was to die for. The views from just about every seat are amazing and the service was great.

Neil A.

Service was GREAT! The food was amazing. We had the pleasure of sitting outside overlooking the water. Highly recommend the Bag of Doughnuts appetizer.

Bryan H.

Very good dinner and evening out. The chowder was just okay but everything else was delicious. Definitely get the bag of donuts everyone is talking about. My wife and I both had a fish dish that was excellent. I don't think you can go wrong here. Reserve a window seat during sunset early.

Karen W.

One of my favorite good eats when I visit Newport, RI! This is perfect for a special occasion or for an indulgence in fresh seafood. Good choices: Scallop or Clam Chowder Salmon Caesar Salad Bouillabaisse

Heath S.

Great restaurant, the staff was courteous and attentive and the bag of donuts was awesome. We had a great time on the back porch enjoying three different apps, fish tacos and bruchetta, which was plenty for the two of us. We definitely recommend the Moorings and will visit again next time we are in Newport.

Ashley S.

When at the bar, you better be carrying your Louis V. bag and wearing your Louboutins, otherwise they won't acknowledge you. Talk to the bar back. He's a nice guy. He ended up taking care of us. Young guy, curly hair.

Kelly G.

Positives: - Great seafood- delicious food and a lot of seafood options! - Large portions - Service- our waitress was great Negatives: - Outdoor seating- when we made our reservation we specified that we wanted to sit outside because I read great things about the harbor view. Even though it was still warm outside, the plastic was down over the windows to insulate the deck and this made it difficult/impossible to see outside Experience: We came here for dinner and were impressed by the food (a little disappointed about lack of view on the deck). My boyfriend got the seafood pasta and we were amazed by how much seafood was actually in there! Definitely worth the money if you are looking for a seafood feast. I would recommend going here while visiting Newport.

Kat A.

Nice atmosphere. The food is excellent and fresh. Drinks are delicious. The view is amazing. Will be coming back!

Nona C.

Taking advice from these posts, my man and I came here for lunch right before ending out little getaway and ordered the bag of doughnuts and I was promptly catapulted into food heaven. I am salivating at the thought of it as I'm writing this review. The show winner was the chipotle aioli sauce that everyone is raving about here... absolutely absolutely do yourselves a favor and don't leave Newport without trying it! Another dish I adored was the scallop chowder.. holy smokes, easily one of the top 10 things i have ever eaten in my life! I'm normally not a fan of thick creamy soups but this was on the light side, perfect for my taste with chunks of scallops on the bottom. YUM! The BBQ Pork sliders on a bed of coleslaw also did not disappoint. Absolutely delicious! For our entree, we got the seafood pie which was again delicious and a pleasure to eat. The "pie" comprised of scallop, shrimp, chunks of lobster with a flaky pastry bread balanced on top so it didn't look like your typical pot pie. All this food with a glass of wine, looking out into the harbor as we soaked in our last moments of sun, wind and vacation sitting outside over the water... couldn't dream for a better meal even if I tried. Oh, and the service was excellent! Our waitress was so pleasant and made sure we were happy with everything!

Amanda W.

Slowest. Service. Ever. And on a Monday night! The place is buzzing with servers so you'd think they are efficient, but it's all an illusion. Food was good, but not worth the long wait for it to arrive at the table.

Melissa P.

Wow, what a great place. I feel so lucky to have friends who checked Yelp before making a dinner reservation for our one night in Newport. From start to finish, this was an awesome dining experience. Attentive, friendly, and totally chill bartenders at the back bar, great hostess who was quick to switch our table when we saw one we liked more, and adorable bus boy who made little jokes while setting up our new table. Our server was a smidge on the overly chatty side for some of the people at my table, but I didn't mind the friendly banter. The bag of donuts lives up to the hype! But it is a lot of food for the beginning of a meal that will undoubtedly contain huge portions. We all wished we could have eaten more--the food was that good. I had the scampi, which was filled with tons of lobster, shrimp, and tender, melt-in-your-mouth scallops. I don't think I ate more than one strand of pasta because I was so determined to consume as much seafood as possible. It was a sad moment when I had to leave so much of it behind. Take advantage of Mooring's lenient dress code and wear stretchy elastic waist pants so you can eat a lot. We saw a little bit of everything, from heels to flip flops, so put on your eatin' clothes and you will feel comfortable no matter what.

Nova P.

While in New England, do as the New Englanders do. I had to take of advantage of being in New England and ordering clam chowder which was absolutely delicious! From years of trying clam chowder bowl after clam chowder bowl in socal that have way too much cream and potatoes and sans clams, I was not disappointed by the nice balance of clams and potatoes, flavor, and consistency of this clam chowder. Interestingly enough, they served sourdough rolls in a small paper bag which I am sure has some meaning. I loved my dish which was a sole lightly battered in egg, with a buerre sauce and capers over a bed of jasmine rise and topped with field greens. I was so thrilled to get such a delicate fish perfectly cooked and so fresh! I think the fish would be better paired with some type of risotto rather than plain white rice. My cousin said her salmon teriyaki was the best teriyaki she ever had. She ordered a seasonal special of three courses that came with soup, main dish, and dessert. She was nice enough to share her cheesecake with me so I order a decaf. The coffee served was a nice touch as you are served a cup of coffee along with a french press to pour. We had a nice view by the window of the water and lights from across the island.

Catherine W.

Great food, great service.

C. E.

We went there for dinner at about 6:30 and were seated without reservations. The place filled up very rapidly after we arrived. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and how items were prepared. She was excellent. The food way very good. I had chopped salad which was wonderful and a tuna entree that was very good as well. My wife had a seafood sampler pasta dish which she loved.

Parson P.

You will not see this place on Kitchen Nightmares. Great service and great food. We took an infant and they put in a nice spot and gave us good service. Only complaint would be that they used an iPad for the wine list but still did not have the first wine we ordered.

Ju L.

Pros: Waterfront dining. Staff is very accommodating. Cons: Don't valid parking. The "bag of donuts" don't live up to the hype. Food is only mediocre.

Lauren W.

I considered a 2 star rating for this restaurant, but I see potential in it and I hope it makes a change for the better. Pros: The seating on the deck, the friendly staff, the libations and the spinach salad. Cons: My husband got the mussels...they were loaded with sand:( Both of our entrees (New England Seafood Stew and Sole Sandwich) were completely bland. We chose to pick at them, and then speak to the manager. The management was extremely nice and interested to hear our feedback. Apparently those are two of the 'newer' dishes on the menu. I feel like I would go back if the food quality was changed. It was a huge tease to have the yummy spinach salad and then be presented with bland meals. And again, we loved everything about the restaurant, just not the taste:(

Jeremy B.

Expensive and delicious. I would go back but I wouldn't expect to be wowed. I had the Surf and Turf with a lobster tail. Delicious. Steak was cooked perfectly. Try just showing up. It seemed (on a weekday) that while the reservation system said full there were plenty of seats available inside. The outdoor patio was full, but not what we were looking for anyway.

Michelle M.

Everyone says "get the bag of doughnuts", which is true, but they're only great when you dip them in the chipotle-maple aioli. An all time favorite though, is their scallop chowder and their cheese plate. It is the best in town!

Meghan D.

3 Words: Bag of Donuts. Absolutely amazing to the point that as I write this I crave them. The pictures depict it perfectly - no frills - brown paper bag with fried dough with pieces of seafood. The aioli sauce is a perfect complement but make sure you ask for extra! I could have easily eaten an entire bag, but as another reviewer said they are rich and heavy. Best calamari in Newport, though I must attribute some of that to the doughnut sauce - I used that instead of the provided sauces and it was delicious. The view on the patio is great - and worth the wait for a seat. Just spend some time at the bar, have a drink, and you are sure to enjoy the dining experience and great service.

Kim P.

I love Mooring! We had a great view right on the water and exceptional service. Highlights: the bag of donuts. Just order them. You'll love 'em. Shrimp cocktail was nicely sized, and my salmon was cooked perfectly. Overall, it was a wonderful place to spend a birthday dinner. The place was busy, but it didn't feel overly crowded and we didn't feel rushed at all. I wished they'd had better offerings for the dessert menu, but my waistline thanked them for that.

Erik S.

Scallops Chowder, bag o donuts, raw bar, oyster shooter, seafood pasta! I cannot complain. Very good overall.

Christine C.

Food fabulous. Service rushed us in and out and barely gave us a second look. Friday night may have not been the best idea for us to go eat here. We were seated 45 minutes after arriving. Long wait list on Friday. And we were seated by the bar, very very noisy inside. Next time, if there is a next time, I would wait for outside I imagine. They got us some rolls - super hot, super delicious hot rolls with butter. And we went straight into dinner. I had the organic salmon. It was good, I requested no salsa and the chef put a different sauce on top that must have had some vinegar in it, it was yummy. Under my salmon there was couscous, but they did not put much, so I ran out of it as I ate my salmon with it. Neil had the fish and chips. It was the largest and freshest portion I had seen. The fries tasted a bit sweet, and it was delicious as well. I am not a huge fan of the noisy etc, but this place was great, just minus the service on a Friday night (they should have more staff). I would go back, when it's not sooo busy.

Alison P.

A really nice place. It was very crowded when we were there, but we had reservations and were seated right away. Our waitress was quite busy, but did a good job making sure we didn't have to wait too long to order. The raw oysters were delicious and the glazed pork belly was amazing! My husband and I both had seafood for dinner, which was super fresh and really tasty. If you don't mind a crowded dining room, then this is a place to try.

Robert G.

Stopped at The Mooring for lunch last Friday. It was a beautiful day in Newport. We have been going to The Mooring for over 40 years, and have never had a bad meal there. We were services by Zack and he did a fine job. We both ordered roasted beet salads with salmon, and a glass of wine. The only problem was that when the salads first came out they lacked the salmon, but that was not Zack's fault. He wrote the order correctly.

Melanie B.

Oysters, great. Crab BLT, great. Seafood doughnuts, great!

Malcolm K.

So good we came here twice in less than 24 hours. Fresh oysters and a phenomenal selection of white wines in an airy, casual-elegant environment. Servers and bartenders are all over it, as is the fair pricing. Had to stop short at the $36 seafood pasta, though. Maybe next visit.

Kelsey A.

I've been come to eat here since I was in college with my family and even 20 years later It's stil A+++ The food is always excellent and the atmosphere is beautiful! during the summer you can watch the boats in and out of the harbor..

Erin E.

I have eaten here several times. While they are touristy and pricey, the food holds up (which a lot of touristy places do not). During the winter, there are some supper deals that are super great and price friendly. The drinks made there are yummy. By far my favorite thing is the "bag of donuts." I usually do not go for fried foods, but these rocks. Make reservations during the summer (open table). You usually can get some they day before, but the wait without them can be really long if you do not. If the weather is nice, sit outside!

Sharon L.

The restaurant is beautiful and located conveniently close to the cliff walk. We didn't have reservations on a Saturday night so ended up waiting for some space at the bar. We had no problems completely pigging out at the bar though. The full menu was available, and we started off with the crab cakes and clam chowder. The crab cakes were amazing with a ton of crab meat and just enough breading around. Apparently the clam chowder here has won numerous competitions and rightfully so. I had the scallops as my main dish and thought they were a bit overcooked but were still pretty good. They let the natural flavors come out by laying off the seasoning. The baked polenta side was amazing though. Very interesting take on polenta. The hostess had a too cool for school attitude, but I guess that's what happens when the restaurant is this good.

Crystal C.

After seeing all the reviews we had to try the Scallop Chowder and the Doughnuts both were amazing. Every element of the Seafood Pasta was cooked to perfection (scallops, lobster, shrimp). We were there for our anniversary and were treated to complimentary dessert and champagne as well. we will definitely be back again!

David S.

Truly pissed about my experience at the Mooring last Saturday night. It was my 10 year anniversary. Big day. We had 8:15 reservations - we were seated around 8:30 out on the deck. 15 minutes late - no big deal. The view was lovely, we were happy. Ordered cocktails which were fine. Filled out our raw bar card. 3/4 items came, but our mexican shrimp were missing....maybe they were coming later? (Nope, they just never came.) Our waitress, Caitlin, took our main course order. Fast forward ONE HOUR. No food. Our waitress did not approach us...we saw her on the other side of the deck, but couldn't seem to grab her attention. Kevin, one of the managers comes over. Kevin: Did Caitlin fill you on on what's happening? Us: No. Kevin: The kitchen is really backed up right now...but food should be coming soon...Not sure when, but soon....I'll be honest, we forgot about your order (?!?!?!) Which one is it, Kevin? Is the kitchen backed up or did you forget our order? Kevin: Can I keep you hydrated while you wait? (Pointing at our empty cocktail glasses) Us: No, I think we're ok for now. Kevin: Ok...well we will do something for you. The food comes. Worth the wait? Eh. It was good, but $150 good? Eh. We finish our meal, and our waitress comes over and asks us if we'd like dessert. At this point, we had been there for over 2 hours, and were pretty pissed - we just wanted to get out of there. She brings are bill. No deduction, nothing. Not one mention of our anniversary, which I had called to remind them about. Absolutely. Nothing. Step up your game. Or start charging significantly less.

Amy S.

Came here in March (low season) and luckily made a reservation on a Saturday night because it was definitely packed! The bag of doughnuts were stupid good. I still think about it every now and then. The scallop chowder was also amazing -- they give you giant scallops. My bf had the lobster for his entree and that was okay. I had a scallop entree which was also pretty good. I'd come back here if I'm in Newport again :)

Dani S.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Its a little pricey but well worth it. The service was amazing... (thanks Mike) and the food was even better. You HAVE TO HAVE their doughnuts (which is actually deep fried seafood with an amazing sauce)

Mitchell F.

Had reservations for Saturday night at 7pm. Came at bit early and was seated right away in a nice 2-top. As with the other wharf restaurants the view is nice but you are going to see mostly boats. The service was excellent. The noise level was not bad but thus is not a place to have a quiet dinner. My wife and I had shared the clam chowder which was ver good. I had the chef salad with grilled shrimp and my wife had the seafood pasta both dishes were very good. Did not have dessert. Would definitely go again.

Rita C.

Five of us ate here for a late lunch. Drinks were strong. Scallop chowder was amazing. Seafood pie was fabulous. Atlantic salmon is another favorite, save room for dessert! Worth the price.

Ginny S.

As newcomers to Newport, we happened upon a charming hostess (Kaitlyn) while having afternoon beverages last week. She gave us tremendous insight into the town where she grew up. Her best suggestion was for dinner at The Mooring. It was WONDERFUL! I was hungry and just a bit concerned that the portions may have been "fine dining petite". Boy was I wrong! Portions were generous and appealing.The tuna was prepared perfectly, the uptown salad was incredible and the bag of doughnuts was...well, you just have to try them! I just wish we had had room for deserts, they looked great. Though we didn't use it, I was also impressed that they furnished a full gluten free menu. We were only in Newport a few days but we will return and DEFINITELY dine at the Mooring again.

Dan L.

perfectly fine.

T.R. B.

Ate at the bar. Apps and drinks. Brian the bartender keeps the flow going! A must stop in Newport. Off season is an even better time to go.

Jill C.

Our lunch was really good. What I wanted to mention is that for people with food allergies, I would highly recommend this restaurant. I advised our server that my children have allergies. The waiter checked with the chef who advised that the kids not have French fries ( oil used to fry pecans). As their chowder was served the server stated that this was safe for them. We continually felt that they were thinking about and aware of the issue which is comforting and appreciated!

Alan A.

I thought it was good. The service was good and the food was very good. The bag of doughnuts was a nice change from the regular appetizers and the chipotle sauce was very good.

Yaocheng L.

It's a great and busy restaurant, but not as boisterous as the wharf ones. I like the bread here, the delicious food here.

Dorothy W.

Tradition and bloodlines rule in Newport. It's filled with classic people of all generations, all married to one another and very gossip friendly. ("You remember Richard, dear? He was married to Louise before she left Andrew who is my first cousin, Kathleen's step-brother.") American history is right under your nose in Newport, and you're also surrounded by the expensive, glamorous world of international yachts. I love Newport. And I love The Mooring. Like many of the historic sites and gorgeous mansions lining Bellevue Avenue, The Mooring has been around forever. I can't give it five stars, as the food is seldom innovative and in many ways, it is a destination for tourists, not gourmet lovers. BUT, it is a friendly, welcoming destination right on the water in downtown Newport. Their menu overflows with traditional New England food, with award winning chowders, lobster and steak. (It is not very vegan friendly.) Their wine list is amazing for this kind of place. I have always discovered new labels when I am here. If you can, sit outside on the deck where you'll see the boats come and go, watch the sun shift around the horizon and absorb the scene. The Newport air is crisp and clean. You may want to check in for a while, so bring a sweater. When the sun goes down, it can get chilly on the water. The Mooring is very family friendly in addition to being a hot spot for singles on a busy Saturday night in August and members of the Newport Rat Pack at the bar. Kids are always welcome here. Love that. The Mooring is not at all pretentious or arrogant. It's not showing off or trying to be some exotic newcomer to town. Newport has enough of those. The Mooring will always fill you up with generous portions of traditional New England food, warm friendship and large glasses of wine. Thanks for being there. I can always rely on The Mooring.

Vanessa K.

The place isn't bad.. it really isn't for a restaurant in Newport, RI. The ambiance is very nice with a dock view into the waters (if you are lucky to be seated). We were seated in the corner at first maybe because of how young we looked while the waiters were sitting the older couples closer to the better view. I asked for a change and they were hesitant but I was insistent and we got what we wanted. There's also a nice fire place next to the hostess table that is good for pics. The food was a-ok. We tried their famous lobster/crab doughnuts and it was just too much dough and not enough seafood. The sauce for it was delicious tho but I'd really rather prefer if they had smaller portions and then cost less as well. My boyfriend got their famous scampi and once again it was ok, I wasn't impressed, the size of the shrimp was huge and the scallops too but I didn't think that the lime and butter sauce mixed together, there was really anything special to the dish that cost over 30 dollars. I got the scallops chowder (yes I love scallops) and it was mediocre as well - the flavor just tasted like cream of mushroom/corn mixed in with three small scallops, the clam chowder was def. better though but still nothing to be WOWed over. I also ordered the scallops wrap in which I didn't even take a bite of.... my boyfriend had half and he packed it to go only to chuck it later. Overall, the service was ok - our waitress only catered to me and ignored/did not look at my boyfriend once at all and they also lost our jackets at the end which was kinda annoying. And for the rest of the trip, I compared every seafood restaurant to Mooring and everyone of them was actually better which made me sad since the bill was well over 80 dollars... either way, I'd go with lower expectations because it wasn't as good as the other reviews had made it seem.

Caitlin P.

Amazing food, great service. Loved the look and feel of the restaurant. I would absolutely check this place out if you have the chance!

Jessica E.

Such a disappointment! My husband and I came here for lunch just a few weeks ago on our way to Nantucket. We started with the oysters, all of which were fantastic. Unfortunately it went down from there... I ordered the crab sandwich. I don't like lots of mayo so I inquire prior to ordering, if the sandwich had lots of mayo. The server told me it only had on a very very light amount. Sandwich arrived and it was completely dripping in mayo! It was just really not something I wanted at all and the server was obviously not familiar with the menu. There was so much mayo, that it really covered up the flavor of everything else, it was very disappointing. On top of that, the service in general was extremely slow. Every time we needed something we literally had to stand up and flag down the server after watching her breeze by us without paying any attention to our table. I would only be interested in coming back to the bar and having some oysters. Otherwise I wouldn't waste my time or money.

Al L.

The location and view its pretty good, great for Sunsets :) service is average and food nothing special... Good pork tenderloin burgers.

Chad M.

Good for kids of all ages. Ignore the Yelp description saying that it isn't. Kids menu and high chairs are available.

Alex C.

This place was okay. I came here with my family and we found the service was very slow. Also 2 of the people with me had dairy allergys and it was very difficult to find food for them here. The food was okay but something's dident have much flavor.

Glen W.

Excellent! Oysters cold and fresh.

Clint W.

Good food. Had a pan seared chicken special, delightful.

Niko S.

I came here yesterday with my parents and fiance for a little celebration lunch/dinner. The staff here is very friendly, from the hostess to the busboys. They know how to act like professional restaurant workers, which was nice to see. The atmosphere was very nice, with a nice view of the water even from inside. Also the place has a nice modern, classy, yet laid back feel to it. Everyone in my party liked the food. Dad had the fish and chips which were moist and fresh tasting. Mom had one of the seafood sandwiches (forgot which one), and she liked it. We also split an appetizer of the bag of donuts. Now My fiance and myself are not seafood eaters at all and I actually liked them, I got the burger which was cooked correctly (medium), tasty, however the fries were average. My fiance got the open faced turkey sandwich, which she liked. Overall, this is a place I will definitely consider again. The fact that I'm not a seafood fan and still found things appealing to me that tasted good. The food is overpriced, but at least the experience made it worth the price.

Mr. Met s.

Georges Bank Scallops - AMAZING - 7 scallops with 4 egg baked sliced cake and small salad. $27 dollars of ambrosia Seafood baked pie - WOZERS - thin baked bread with a mix of lobster, whitefish, regular scallops, and crab meat added with special soup. $32 of JOY. Scallop bisque , bowl size $9. adequate for two people and just amazing, although I prefer it to be thicker. Great service Amazing view(sit outside) Total classy place Expensive parking! Make reservations during busy times!

MS P.

Scallop chowder is so friggin good and it comes with 4 huge scallops so i wasnt disappointed at all. the soup is So creamy and full of flavor. Mussels is also good too except most of my mussels were very sandy so I kept having to deal with the crunchy noise which I hate so I will pass next time. I ordered the Mooring scampi for my entree and it was very good. There was a lot of seafood in there so I was satisfied. Prices are a bit high but this isn't one of those cheap restaurants. If you want good food, u have to pay the price. Great water view too so it makes a great date spot. They have their own parking lot and the first two hrs is free when u show them your receipt or something. I will be back though.

Jim P.

Made a reservation for 4 p.m. on Sunday. I told the person on the phone that we would like outdoor seating, in a quieter area for our 40th wedding anniversary. She said she couldn't guarantee the outdoor seating, but would put it down. When we arrived, we had a quiet table on the upper part of their outdoor deck. We started with one of their special cocktails, and then split a dozen of delicious oysters. Next we split the bag of doughnuts....delicious fritters with seafood. Our server, Nick, was pleasant, attentive, and efficient. I had the sole franchise and my wife had the uptown salad, loaded with shrimp, half a lobster tail, and a good sized piece of delicious salmon. After dinner Nick brought over 2 flutes of sparkling Rose' wine as a complimentary anniversary treat! I can't thank the staff of The Mooring enough for an absolutely wonderful dining experience to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary!

Jamie M.

The food was definitely mediocre. Maybe the head chef was out? We got the scampi and the bacon wrapped fish. The fish was really bland and the seafood in the scampi was over cooked and somewhat bland. We started with oysters and clams and tuna from the raw bar which were all good, but that's hard to mess up if you have fresh seafood. I will say the ambiance at this place is really nice, but for the price the food was very disappointing :(

Ohshrit B.

The bag of doughnuts was great, but super fulling. The spiced fries aren't that spicy and not worth the six dollars. Now the surf and turf - The Surf was good - but no better than the other places in Newport. The Turf however was atrocious. I asked for it rare, it came medium-well, and burnt on the outside. not charred, BURNT. It was probably the worst steak I've ever had. No exaggeration, it was terrible, not worth it in any which way possible. That being said the view of the water is to die for - I would go back only to sit out back and have a drink - but not for the food.

Lauren P.

Horrible experience!! I'm giving one star for a location and clean place. The service was EEK!!! I first walked into an unfriendly guy hostess, who put us into the corner table by the patio door exist when there were plenty of tables available nearby- at least not in a tiny corner table where I really had to squeeze myself in or a table with a broken chair!! we had to ask to move twice when he could have put us in that table in the first place. My boyfriend and I dont mind spending a great amount of money on a good food, but we do expect an excellent service from the waitess and not a mean hostess!!! our waitress was EEK and didnt give any suggestions. the food was okay and nothing special about them at all. what a big disappointment and total waste of money!! Two of us spent nearly $100 on that one meal and still hungry after we left the place. TWO words for this place "superficial" & "waste".

Julie S.

I love this place. They are always spot on. The food is consistently great, the view is unbelievable, and you know the staff is always on their toes. I went for dinner with my cousin and sister. My cousin is not from the area and doesn't get the pleasure of seeing the ocean whenever she would like, so having dinner right on the water was a treat. All of the food was spectacular. Dessert really was the main event, we all shared a Banana Toffee Cake with Cinnamon ice cream. It was the perfect finish to a spectacular dinner.

Naomi B.

We had such a delicious meal and over-the-top wonderful service that we booked a reservation to return later in the week before dinner was even over! Besides the food being outstandingly fresh, flavorful, interesting and delicious, the thoughtful and friendly service that Dan provided made our night. Sent over to offer some wine advice, Dan made us feel totally comfortable admitting that we know zero about wine and then patiently asked us a few questions to get a sense of what we like. Totally respectful of our modest budget, he brought over a wine for us to taste and when one of us liked but didn't love it, he immediately brought over something else for us to try (which, by the way, hit the nail on the head and was great). When we asked our (also lovely) waitress who we could speak to in order to compliment Dan, we learned that he's actually the manager. Learning that, it made sense that the whole atmosphere should be so great. We ate: cherry stone clams (best shellfish we had all week), chopped salad, pork loin, scallops, olive oil cake, and chocolate peanut butter gelato (they were happy to add homemade whipped cream to it when we asked). Every plate was sent back clean- the sides and sauces pulled it all together.

Peggy B.

The bag of donuts delicious but greasy. The lobster was delicious but give them a 7 due to not starter cracking for the 3 of us. Cornbread served with the lobster was excellent, sweet. Brussels sprouts were a 10. Dessert was the blonde lava cake which rated a 10!

Winnie W.

Raw bar : not fresh shrimp ...frozen jumbo shrimp Starter . Good tuna salad Main . We have over cook . Dried steam n super small red snapper .. N not delicious at all

Leigh C.

I have always wanted to check this place out, because the views are outstanding and the restaurant is so pretty....higher end nautical. Dare I say, classy! We started with the lobster doughnuts...outstanding! The oysters were local, fresh, salty and delicious. The scallop chowder was amazing...and if it's not already "award winning" they get one from me! For my entree, I had the fish and chips...crispy and light. My husband had the red fish wrapped in bacon...he said it was just "OK". Our friend had the sirloin....he said it was really good, cooked perfect and seasoned nicely...and it looked it! The service was attentive and cool...not overly friendly, but altogether nice. All in all, a great meal! I would recommend while in Newport.

Dennis S.

Chef Bob Bankert knocked it out of the park! Boom! Great meal and environment

Harold S.

We made a reservation for 5:45 pm and were seated at our table immediately. We ordered the clam and scallop chowders, both of which were average. I ordered the Mooring Scampi and regretfully, it was tasteless. The angel hair lacked flavor and the scallops were a bit overcooked. The salmon and roasted scallops were also average as well. Very disappointed. P.S. Parking lot costs $20 to park, it does not belong to the restaurant.

Julianne Y.

This place was amazing!!!!! the whole dinner from appetizer to dessert was perfect. The atmosphere was so great. I feel people are just nicer under the environment. The waitress was so nice. She had just the right amount of service. She didn't keep on asking whether we need anything, but when we need something, we could always find her easily. We ordered the oyster, and NOTHING was comparable to the oysters at this place. It just melt in your mouth, and so fresh. the whole entree was great, the food taste very delicious, and unique. My boyfriend and I just talked and enjoy the whole dinner experience. They also had one of the best desert, I ordered the white chocolate lavender creme burlee. It was so creamy but it wasn't over. LOVE the place, I would definitely come visit the place every time I visit RI.

Laura A.

Went to this place yesterday. The only satisfaction that I got was the wine, it was a server's mistake but a it was actually a good mistake. The lettuce in the tuna tartare was all rusty, I do not understand how the cooker, chef or server did not notice it. The steak was well done what did not allow us to taste the good flavors and juices. The Codfish stew was to oily however it did taste good.

Susie R.

We throughly enjoyed our lunch here. Yes. the doughnuts are worth getting. We sat outside on a beautiful sunday afternoon, ate delicious seafood, drank delicious wine and just absorbed Newport. It was a lovely experience all over.

Richard L.

This was the first seafood restaurant I went to in Newport and I didn't find it enjoyable. The fish tacos were greasy and I didn't find the portions to be adequate for the price. Plus you'll probably be around loud and boisterously drinking crowds. It will be busy and is a "fancy" restaurant as others have mentioned. Not a fan.

Kelly M.

I've tried the Mooring on a -30 degree New Year's Eve, and a 90+ degree July day. Both times it's been lovely: excellent fresh seafood and pretty good service. The parking lot is helpful [$7.50 park on July 4th weekend in Newport is something close to miraculous] and the entire restaurant has a decent view of the harbor. I've been told that the clam chowder is excellent, although I've never tried it. On the more recent lunch excursion, I had probably the most decadent sandwich I can imagine: a lobster roll on a croissant. Why would you do that to a person? Were my current butter intake levels just woefully inadequate? Why not? He had a lovely seared Ahi tuna sandwich. Both were served with fries; we split the delicious mussels to start. The mussels might have been an afterthought to their amazing broth, which was perfectly soaked up by the delightful garlic toasts. Now, I'm going to just throw this out there: let's end the iPad-as-a-restaurant-tool thing. (To the Mooring -- this isn't specifically directed at you, but you're the first time I've been personally presented with a wine list curated by the oenophiles at Infinite Loop Vineyards, Cupertino, CA.) It's heavy, it's awkward, and it shows ALL of the previous guests' fingerprints. I know that it's really no different than touching a menu after another guest. Yes, I'm sure that the iPad is cleaned every so often; it's just that... staring at someone's grubby fingerprints on the communal iPad is maybe the surest way to make me not focus on the wine list and instead start aggressively Purell-ing everything in sight. I just really had to say that.

Jeff R.

My partner and I recently celebrated his birthday here and we were blown away by the quality of the good, value of the meal and professionalism of the staff. If you stick to the $30 3 course meal (any entree) it's a real bargain. Of course the wine and yummy lobster claw appetizers add up. Great splurge place with excellent food and service.

Daniel L.

We had dinner here last night and overall had an excellent experience. We got there at 6:45 for our reservations and were a little surprised at how sparsely populated it was (it did fill up as the evening progressed, though). The staff was welcoming and friendly, and I had trouble selecting from the many choices on the menu. We ended up ordering half a dozen oysters from the raw bar, the bag of doughnuts appetizer, and my fiancee had the scallops while I had the seafood pie. Everything we had was quite tasty! The oysters were very fresh and delicious, the "doughnuts" withe the special mayo - YUM!, and both entrees delicious. For dessert, we had a pecan frosted pumpkin cheesecake that was decadent and tasty as well. I would have given this place five stars, but as the restaurant started filling up, the service became slower and slower. There were a couple of large parties in our area (one of which apparently couldn't read the menu because they asked about what was in each and every dish on the menu according to our server - okay, maybe there were some allergies there, but still. . .) and our server said that the area was only being covered by two of them. I felt kind of bad for her, and it's not like we were in a rush, but the time between dropping off the dessert menus and taking our order was on the order of 15 minutes, and then another 10-15 minutes to receive the order. I don't necessarily blame the server, but management should have recognized that there may have been a problem. I would hate to see the crowds here in the summer (and I will definitely avoid that situation), but we will definitely return again during the off-season.

Matt D.

Good calamari, and their take on the lobster roll (on a flaky croissant) was tasty. Good views, and I can imagine this place is hopping during the season. Down side: no open table points. Not a big deal, but not giving a warning that they're denying you points is cheesy.

Suz S.

This place was highly suggested and rated on Yelp. We didn't make reservations; which was also suggested so I was a bit concerned about how long it would take us to be seated. We were seated a few minutes after we arrived and had an excellent view of the water around dusk. The water front views were spectacular. We ordered Cali wine (of course) and the bag of doughnuts to get us started. The wine by the bottle is the best savings. The bag of doughnuts is a fried seafood fritter that comes with a delicious maple chipotle dipping sauce. The bag lasted about 3 mins before it was all gone. The dipping sauce was so good I asked the waiter to leave it on the table. Our waiter's name was "Sock" and he was very attentive and efficient. Next our stuffed lobster with shrimp and scallops came out. It had a breading or crumbs with butter over it. The food and view were exquisite, and up there with the best I've ever eaten. I won't bore you with my Food Network description of the buttery and sweet lobster or the briny, smoky and sweet scallops. Nope, I'll save that for another show. LoL Seriously, if you are ever in Newport, RI you must visit Mooring. It was a beautiful experience and our waiter Sock was so cool and skilled about handling our group and making suggestions (Bag o doughnuts). He was simply amazing. This place is a bit pricey but worth every penny. You get great service, excellent quality food and terrific views. I also want to thank all of you "Yelpers" because you keep it real and give me more value and bang for my $$$. I seriously won't eat in a place if a few Yelpers complain of taste, dirty, or bad service.

Cristina P.

Upscale restaurant with great food, high quality, reasonable prices. Not great for kids, the waitstaff was a bit snooty about a neighboring table with kids. Otherwise very friendly and accommodating. Even though it was a busy night we called to say we'd be 15 min late for our reservation and they were fine about it.

Jenn D.

We went here after a really long day of working at the Jazz Festival. I'll be honest, I am wavering between 3 and 4 stars because there were some goods and some just ok's! The staff was great! It was a Saturday night, it was the weekend of the Jazz Festival and they were rocking busy. But they all kept smiles and were polite. We waited a while for a table (expected!) as we did not have a reservation, but the bar was great for waiting, so the time went fast. The Bag of Donuts is amazing...have it! We could have eaten another. We also ordered the crab cakes appetizer which was really great as well. When it was time for dinner I had a caesar salad (again great!) - but the dinners left a little to be desired. I had the Seared Ahi, and while the Ahi was really good, the entree as a whole was very bland. Others in our group agreed that the dinner was just on the okay side. The atmosphere was good, a little more casual than I expected and it was pretty loud. I think if I would have stuck with appetizers and drinks it would have gotten four stars from me.

Brandon R.

The service is great. Atmosphere too. The seafood doughnuts are awesome. Nice spice! The galilee squid is very good. Especially love the olives mixed in with them. My wife had the Swordfish. She gives it a 7/10. I had the New England seafood stew: 7/10. One friend had the salmon: 10/10. Two other friends had the Seafood pie: 8/10. All in all a great meal.

Edward S.

Excellent restaurant right on the water near the Newport Yachting Center and Bowens Wharf. Upon arrival on a BUSY summer Saturday night in Newport, we were seated on the outside deck overlooking the marina. Mind you, we did have a reservation but it was nice to be seated right away. I have eaten here a few times over the years and the Mooring continues to impress. Always excellent service, great presentation, and delicious food. The decor inside has an upscale, nautical feel with many views of the harbor and marina. Not cheap, but you are getting what you pay for. A must try for locals and tourists alike.

Kathy H.

Went here and was looking for a decent "local" lunch. It was restaurant week so they were packed. Luckily they squeezed us in. Food was great but I felt the restaurant was just okay. Service was okay. Food was okay. Nothing to complain about but I wouldn't go here again.

Jessica M.

Such delicious food! Filling! Great view! What a satisfying dining experience. We were looking for seafood with a good view....such a low expectation for this restaurant. Reasons why I want to come back: 1. Spenldid view of the water and sunset 2. Good wait staff. They were around but not constantly. 3. Quick service. 4. Technology in ordering drinks b/c i'm a sucker for apple (ipads at every table) 5. Delicious food 6. Authentic New England seafood entrees 7. Makes for a romantic dinner Only bad part: the strong wind blew over a piece of bread. It's still not going to make me take one star away. Drinks were very standard but still no complaints. :-)

Ronald S.

nice place. not cheap. not vegetarian or vegan friendly at all. if you like a nice harbor view and fancy seafood this is the place for you. great atmosphere, great staff, quick kitchen.

Nixo A.

Service deserves 4 to 5 stars, food would get 2 to 3. The baked oysters were delicious, the fish and chips were below average. The jasmin rice tasted better than the sole. The lobster croissant is forgettable. The location is great but a little noisy.

Chris R.

Dropped in last night for a light meal and am happy to day that I am still delighted with the food, the atmosphere, the service and the experience. We decided to eat at the bar and Mark, our bartender took very good care of us. I had a chopped salad and then moved on to the Ahi tuna sandwich (rare please). Done perfectly. My bride had salmon and it too was done to perfection. Another winner.

Heather S.

Boyfriend took me to Newport for my birthday weekend and for a nice romantic dinner we made reservations on the patio at Mooring. We waited about 10 minutes at the bar before being seated, which was shorter than I had expected on a busy Friday night. We brought a bottle of wine, which apparently was amazing they did not have on the menu. The server and manager showed no signs of being irritated by the fact that we brought our own bottle and actually the server was verbally impressed and told us all about the wine because he had worked there at one point in his life. Small world! At the suggestion of Yelpers everywhere we got the doughnuts and they were good but I think the real star was the dipping sauce! We also got the sirloin and Georges Bank scallops. The steak was tender, flavorful and cooked as ordered (which is unbelievably difficult for too many restaurants). I mean no disrespect here but it was what you would expect for a seafood house. The scallops were flavorful and buttery and cooked perfectly but personally it was too much scallop for me. Decadent +buttery + heavenly x 6 scallops = itis Though extremely full and satisfied we ordered desert, chocolate cake. Yummers. It paired beautifully with the red wine and the coffee was top notch as well. All in all the service was AMAZING and the setting is second to none. If you want a special dinner in Newport I suggest you dine on the Mooring's patio.

Richard C.

Our party of six dined at Moorings, last friday night, while in town for a Navy OCS graduation . After reading many reviews, we chose this place. I assume we arrived on a bad night, as our meal was totally average or below. The clam chowder was definetly misnamed, potato soup would have been more appropriate. The "bag of doughnuts" were doughy and greasy. Several of our group ordered the lobster, and i'd never seen such small ones, the fries were luke warm Its a lovely space, and a killer location, but I'd certainly never return.

Riley B.

Took my family here to celebrate graduation from Officer Candidate School. Outstanding service. Disappointed a bit in the draft selection on tap, but the food and ambiance made up for it in a big way.

cal p.

I was in town for the first week of August and looking for seafood and outside seating. I as happy to find the mooring. Of course I ordered the Bag of Dounts and it was the appetizer I expected very favorful fried treat. For lunch I got the King Cobia fish wrap and it just the right amount of spice. go for the view and the food isn't bad either

The C.

We ate here just a few weeks ago and I have to say, it was a great experience. First of all, they were on the ball with my son's allergies. I had called ahead--he has a shellfish allergy (among others) so I wanted to make sure that as a seafood place they could accommodate him. The waitress had already been briefed when we got there and had a card with the info on it. She continued to ensure everything he ordered was safe for him which allowed us all to have a great and more relaxed meal. Drinks were great, food was very good, service was smooth and it was reasonable given that it was a nicer restaurant and we were 5 people. Also, it was nice that it was kid-friendly but still a nicer restaurant. Great job, can't wait to go back.

Wendy O.

My husband and I had a great date night here. Loved sitting outside looking at the water, the sunset, the boats. The Bag of Doughnuts was AWESOME. We loved it and would go back just for that appetizer. I wasn't impressed by the lobster roll, unfortunately, and have had better lobster rolls at other restaurants in Newport.

Kate W.

Wonderful service! Great menu and food! We would definetly come back.

Sarah G.

The Mooring has great food and exceptional service. This is one of the *only* family friendly places on the Thames strip (they have a storage room for strollers and plenty of highchairs). They made sure my husband, my 1 year old daughter, and I were comfortable and happy. The wine selection is fabulous, by the way. So go, get some wine & oysters for yourself then get a great meal for yourselves. Make sure to get the garlic mashed potatoes for the kids. It's a treat for them (and the parents who end up eating the rest!) I highly recommend this restaurant. Highly! Drink, eat and have fun!

alison k.

Went to Newport for the day and decided to have a late lunch of seafood to tide us over till we arrived back in Boston and after scouring the Yelp reviews drove here for some oysters. The atmosphere - pretty quiet, but pleasant sitting in the heated conservatory. Reckon it would be really busy in summer and did seem a bit 'touristy', though very pleasant. The food. OH and I had a dozen oysters - really really yummy and fresh, and half-dozen littlenecks from the raw bar. I don't like all the dressings on my seafood - I like them straight up, but I did try this pomegranate vinaigrette which complemented the clams beautifully. Then onto a bag of the seafood doughnuts which were piping hot - super tasty, although all we seemed to get was crab and shrimp. No scallop for us :-( I was a bit underwhelmed by the aioli, but it was tasty, and the 6 doughnuts were enough between the 2 of us. We both then opted for the fish sandwiches as we felt the mains would be too much for lunch after all of that - I had the tuna and OH the lobster croissant. The lobster was AMAZING very mild and fresh and a generous amount. The croissant was very buttery and flaky - probably one of the best we have had in the States. My tuna was perfectly rare and melted in the mouth. Awesome. What let the meal down was the bread that the tuna sandwich was on, and the fries. The fries were a bit meh to be honest. When we double-checked about nuts in the ingredients of our mains, the waiter said that the Boston spiced fries and the bread were not made in house so they couldn't guarantee that there were no nut traces. This was really sad to me because I feel that the bread products and the fries really let down the lovely fish and that if they could, it would do so much to make their bread themselves. I don't think that this would ever be a 5 star place, for lunch at least, because it's not so out of the ordinary wonderful, but the fish was very very fresh and tasty - and the wine list was AWESOME and HUGE! Plus point - tickets validated and if you arrive after 3.30 it is a $10 flat rate - all of which gets validated! Yay!

Todd L.

I have dined at this place several times. I recently had dinner with family on October 27. The meal was fantastic. The Scallop Chowder is unbelievable as an appetizer. For dinner, we all had the "Seafood Pasta". I can't remember the exact name of the dish, but it was a mixture of lobster, scallops, clams, etc. It was fantastic. We went back for lunch on October 30. I had the Lobster Roll. The lobster is awesome. I definitely recommend this place.

Claire O.

Wonderful food, atmosphere, and waitstaff! Overall, a great Newport restaurant.

C C.

Great restaurant. The appetizers in particular was great. We had the pork belly and seafood sliders. The only reason I took off a star was because my steak filet entree was pretty dry and a little bland.

Michelle W.

Amazing seafood, lovely location at the pier and reasonable price!! Love: - Clam chowder - Crab & shrimp cheese dip - Tempura nori wrapped with blue crab, cream cheese and chive Likes: - Scallop chowder - Bag of doughnuts (intriguing, but prefer fried seafood without the flour) - Fresh oysters and clams (the pickled jalapeno vinaigrette is refreshing and delightful!) - Lobster croissant

Toby T.

Another fine dining restaurant in Newport with great food and wine. lots of variety and amazing ocean views :)

Alyssa K.

This review is just for the Bag of Doughnuts. Before arriving in Newport, I read the reviews here about how the Bag of Doughnuts were amazing and to die for. Naturally, I had to check that out for myself. I was on a budget, and since this is one of the finer dining establishments in Newport, I just walked over to the spacious bar and gave the bartender my to-go order for the Doughnuts. About 15 minutes later, my Bag (or in this case, Box) of Doughnuts arrived, and my boyfriend and I walked outside to enjoy these treats in the summer sun. I swear, these things must be deep-fried in crack. I had a foodgasm after every bite. These lobster, crab, and shrimp fritters are so ridiculously tasty. And that chipotle-maple aioli to dip the fritters in... wow, let's just say that after the fritters were gone, I licked the aioli out of its little plastic container (yes, I'm a disgusting fatass). If you like seafood, and you like deep-fried dough that tastes like super savory garlic bread (but 10000x better), and you like awesome dipping sauces, then you MUST get this appetizer. I've never had anything like it before... it costs about $13 after tax, and it was the most expensive single dish we ordered on my trip, but it was definitely well worth it. My only regret was not going back there a second time that weekend!

Munira L.

Bag of Donuts!!! Simply Awesome.

Shirley A.

Excellent food and service. Had a wonderful and quiet dinner with the bf and his family and really nothing to complain about. We were here off-season, so it was pretty quiet, but would love to come back if ever in the area. Ordered the rainbow trout... I think I actually liked the spinach/bean mash underneath more--it was so tasty! Bf had fish and chips which was this huge piece of fried cod that looked scrumptious... his mom had the salmon, which she seemed to enjoy. Chowda was quality, as well. Server was just the right amount of attentive and restaurant ambiance was lovely... must be quaint to look over the harbor during the day. Overall, a great dinner experience!

Ace P.

Really like this place!! The service is top notch, as service should be, they go out of the way to make your experience positive. We've dined here many of times and like that they mix up the menu. The only reason for not giving this place 5 stars is that the food could be a smidge better for the prices they charge. I get it that it is Newport but then step it up! The service shouldn't have to make up the difference.

Maura C.

The Mooring requires a phone call to make a reservation for more than people.... I tried to make a reserveration for 2 weeks from now for 8 people for LUNCH! They already have a party of 15 ppl for that time and will not take a reservation within 1 or 2 hours of this other party because they need to space them out. We could go in as 2 parties of 4 and they wouldn't turn us down. If every seat in the therestaurant filled up at 1pm they would be just as busy. Why would you turn away a $$$ like that if you aren't full???

Lawrence J.

Totally exceptional place to have lunch or dinner! Just every meal has been unique and very savory down to the last bite! A great experience with pleasant waitstaff. Right on the strip on the water.

Lisako V.

Locals steered us here on a recent Saturday night, and while the food & service were good, I wasn't totally blown away. The atmosphere is a little tired, but it's still warm & inviting. The tuna tartare was DELICIOUS. Very fresh & totally yummy. Giant bowl of sautéed spinach was good, and the quinoa and veggies were also well prepared- I was craving some greens! My fiancé wasn't in love with the crab BLT, but overall the meal was yummy. Not sure if I'd rush to come back, but we enjoyed it.

Pat F.

Food was excellent as were the drinks. Maitre'd, bartenders and waitress were very friendly and helpful. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was because the enclosed porch we sat on was a bit drafty and cold. The inside looked a little nicer but was very noisy. Nontheless, I would definetly go back, and highly recommend the food. Delicious scallops!

Amanda S.

My sister and I went to the Mooring for the first time during Spring 2012 restaurant week. I had been wanting to go to the Mooring for a while now and restaurant week seemed like the perfect time, especially since the menu looked amazing. We went to dinner during a weekday. We had reservations and they were not very busy, although it was still early 5:30. We had a beautiful view of the water from our seats and were able to see the sun setting. Our waitress was very attentive and the drink menu is on an iPad. My appetizer was two fish tacos on corn tortillas-AMAZING. My sister had three baked oysters which she said were also really good. For an entree we both had fish and chips which were really good, the fish was nice and moist. I normally don't eat cole slaw, but this cole slaw was the best I have ever had. For dessert we had a white chocolate brownie/cookie sundae which was out of this world. To finish we order coffee, which comes in a french press and is the best coffee I've ever had at a restaurant. It was very thick and almost had a chocolate hint to it. I will definitely go back, I actually think we will be going back to celebrate her birthday.

Jennifer W.

Very consistent food : I have been here a dozen times over the past year (mostly for business lunches) and have never found a meal to be under par. The bag of doughnuts is generally the appetizer most people come here for, as the presentation is unique in its triangular tray with a good side sauce to boot, but there are many other items on the menu that are worth trying : - warm crab and shrimp dish - delectable! - lump crab cakes - very tasty and made just right - raw bar generally well stocked with local seafood I would recommend the Ahi Tuna or Sole Francaise, but have been told their open faced sandwiches are one of the plates people come here for. If you reserve, make sure to get a table by the water. Off season is always a delight here, since there's always a table available for locals. During summer, they open the patio for additional tables, that look out onto the marina. Definitely worth the detour.

Samantha S.

I had a fantastic night at Mooring Restaurant to end my mini-getway to Newport. My boyfriend and I started with the scallop chowder, which was wonderful and had about 5 large scallops in it, which considering it was about $6 is impressive since most scallop dinners only have that many. For dinner he had the scallop wrap ($16) which he thought was very good but not excellent, and I had the seafood scampi ($32) which I substituted the scallops for extra shrimp in. That was fabulous. I loved the broth, there were two large halves of lobster tail (so a full tail), and a ton of big shrimps all over linguini. We sat by the window with a water view, and though it was dark out it was still beautiful (though a little cold). Nice atmosphere, nice waiters, and great food!

Lori G.

Had lunch at this waterfront restaurant in downtown Newport. Very nice ambiance, and superb service. Lovely view of the boats. We had the Scallop Chowder and Clam Chowder. They had very different tastes, and both were really delicious. We followed with a Bag of Donuts (lobster and clam fritters served in a paper bag) and an Oyster Po' Boy - an ample portion of fried shellfish served with grilled onions on a hoagie roll - delicious! Would give this restaurant a 3.5 star rating if the system allowed.

Cara G.

I've been waiting a bit too long to write my review of the mooring. As a life long Rhode Islander and holder of a Newport restaurant group rewards card, I do not know what I was thinking waiting as long as I did to get to the mooring. Maybe it's the long line of tourists in the summer or the rage that sometimes comes over me when I am trying to find a parking spot. Whatever it may be, my fiancé and i found a fine time to start at the bar with a glass of champagne this past spring. Service at the bar was great and a patron even scooted over for us to grab two seats together. Lunch was our goal that day and boy did it prove to be top notch. Obv from every review and photo on yelp, we had to start with a bag of donuts once seated. I highly recommend them. I eat my fair share of fried seafood balls in the ocean state and these were on point. The dipping sauce was the perfect compliment. For lunch I went with the salmon blt and and i would have it again in an instant. Overall the service and food at the mooring are right up there with each of the other Newport restaurant group spots. You will not leave disappointed. Oh wait. The view is amazing.

Evelyn G.

I came along with a group of 12 people for a celebratory dinner. All the appetizers we ordered were outstanding, but my favorite was the Bag of Donuts which were fritters of Lobster, Shrimp, Crab. Awesome. The Calamari was also very good. I was let done by the main course - the salmon - which was pretty uninspiring and the desert - chocolate cake. I guess if you choose to go 'safe' you shouldn't expect to be wowed, but I had high hopes nonetheless for a place of this stature. My friends who were strictly vegetarian were made to feel out of place and I think the wait staff should be trained better on how to handle these requests.

Paul M.

I stopped here on the recommendation of a Rhode Island resident. He recommended the clam chowder, which was my starter. It was VERY good. I had perused the online menu, and I developed a craving for the lobster croissant. So naturally that was what I ordered. I got a sandwich with plenty of lobster and quite tasty. Although quite good the croissant was a bit more dense that I prefer, which was my primary reason for awarding 4 stars. I ate at the bar, and service was amzing, almost instantaneous. I ate there on a Weds evening around 6:00pm. I had barely finished ordering the clam chowder, when it was presented to me, literally two minutes later. The lobster croissant was delivered in a similarly timely fashion, perhaps five minutes after ordering.

Joseph H.

My husband and I did a crawl of Newport as it was restaurant week and out of all the places we went this was the best and that was not the 3 gin and tonics I had previously making that decision. I started with a Gin and tonic which took some time to get as the bartender seemed distracted, but it was well made and he made up for it later with very attentive service. I then moved on to their scallop chowder which was divine completed with giant whole scallops, their oyster selection was the best in town for that day, if you haven't already try the cape cod bay oysters. We finished with a caesar salad which I have to say was very crisp and generous with the cheese.

Helen D.

First: if you're driving, try to avoid parking in the lot right in front of the restaurant (unless you're loaded like the majority of Newport residents). I think it was $3 per half hour. If you don't mind walking, there are usually free spots north of Thames St, near Touro Park. This was the first meal my boyfriend and I had in Newport. I was delighted to be seated in one of the best seats of the house. We were sitting indoors, but right next to the open air windows so we had a perfect view of the harbor outside. The ocean breeze was a little chilly, but refreshing. Service was also outstanding. The restaurant was packed but someone came to fill our water and check on how we were doing at comfortable intervals. Now, the important part... the food. Overall, it was just ok. We started off with the bag of doughnuts, which were essentially giant fried seafood balls. There were 6 in a bag, and these were enough to fill us up. They were a bit too salty, and I think the chipotle mayo sauce it came with was really the redeeming factor. We also had clam chowder, which was good, but not memorable. For entrees, I had the lobster croissant and bf had the scallops. The croissant was cold, dry and disappointing. I ordered it for the novelty factor but I'm sticking my my classic lobster rolls from now on. Scallops were ok... I've had better. The plate came with an awesome piece of cornbread though! My verdict - 5 star view and service, 3 star food. Definitely a restaurant worth trying, but I would recommend against getting the lobster croissant.

Anna G.

Had an excellent lunch at The Mooring on a recent visit. It was a beautiful day, we had just done a sailing excursion, and were definitely starving. The hosts greeted us warmly even though we arrived 30 minutes early and we were seated at a nice corner table on the "deck" area, which overlooked the water. Our server was friendly and chatty, coming around to check on us often, but not overbearingly so. We ordered a bottle of prosecco (as a side note: most of the bottle prices were much lower than I expected for a tourist destination) and our glasses were never more than half empty. We started with an appetizer of the bag of doughnuts. I was expecting this to be just ok since I figure most things that reach this type of cultish hype never live up to it, but the bag of doughnuts was terrific! Decent sized, filling, and with good dipping sauce. My husband and I then decided to split the clam chowder and the day's special swordfish sandwich. The former was a tasty large portion and not too creamy. The swordfish burger was a decent size at a great price. Our total came out to $95 with tip. All in all, it was a great experience during which we were able to enjoy the atmosphere without feeling rushed. Would definitely go back on subsequent visits to the area.

Greg P.

Perfect restaurant for an amazing day. Might have been the best day of the summer. Service was outstanding by Tracey and the host was so professional and friendly. Atmosphere is outstanding. We had a great view on the outside deck (see photo). Food & drinks were delicious! Starting with the rolls and margaritas. Bag of doughnuts (Fancy Clam Cakes with Shrimp & Lobster) were so good I had them as my meal along with a Caesar salad after my friend ordered them as a appetizer. My wife's Chicken Flat pizza was a "10" and added succotash which was "so good". Our friends both ordered the lobster sandwiches which they loved. We'll be back!

Ryan F.

There are plenty of places that offer outdoor seating with no view, or great service with mediocre food, but The Mooring has that triple threat, and that's why I will keep coming back here every time I pass through Newport! Their seasonal menu selections have always been terrific but I feel like they really settled into their own this summer. Offering a comfortable "anytime menu," you can choose from an assortment of sandwiches, salads, land & sea entrees and more, any time of day. After scarfing down an order of the "bag of doughnuts" (seafood fritters served with chipotle-mayo aioli...YES YES), we ordered two sandwiches - the seared tuna, and the grilled swordfish. Both were very hearty and well worth their modest $16 price tags. Both come served with fries, but if you have a really nice server and/or are hankering for that truffled potato puree (it's served with one of the chicken entrees), you may just get lucky and be able to swap your side. Don't forget about their raw bar too - good by themselves or as a nice side to your meal, like a lobster claw for $7, jumbo shrimp for $3.50 apiece, and the usual oysters, cherrystones, and littlenecks too. A+

Mandy L.

The lobster croissant in the lunch menu is great. I thought it might be too buttery/oily, but it wasn't. They don't put much mayo or that many fillers in the lobster part of the sandwich. Raw oyster very fresh. Clam chowder was fine, although nothing too special. I was hoping I would like their bag of doughnuts (seafood fritters) more, but thought they could use more meat and less dough. Great service, great views.

Laura D.

Spicy cucumber - mmmmmm, I could drink that for the rest of my life and be completely satisfied. Oysters - quite pricey and not as good as the ones we had previously the night before for dinner (Midtown oyster bar) The bag of doughnuts - can't believe people could complain about these. I mean, no - they aren't STUFFED with seafood, it is mostly batter and I'm sure it is the crap ends of the fish that they roll in a ball the batter - but WHATEVER - this fried goodness comes displayed so cutely and comes with a finger lickin' good chipotle mayo. I'll pay 12 bucks for this and be a happy camper. My girlfriend & I got the lobster croissant and got it on a potato roll instead. It wasn't the best I've had - but pretty good! The fries were hot and delicious. They have plenty of outdoor seating!

Dana M.

Perfect for getting drinks or dinner with a fantastic view of the sunset! We came here for our first night in town and were not disappointed. It's a bit pricey for dinner, but the food and cocktails are delicious. My favorite was the margarita, closely followed by the strawberry lemonade. Our table split the raw bar platter with 3 each of lobster claws, jumbo shrimp, clams, and mussels. I had the lobster roll on a GF bun, which was surprisingly amazing! I don't normally go for gluten-free bread at restaurants or from grocery stores because I think it tastes like cardboard, but this one was fluffy and very tasty. The lobster was great too. My friends loved the salmon entree with couscous! Wish we could've had more room for dessert, because they looked amazing. Would definitely come back.

Ruth C.

A lovely place for dinner with a wonderful dining layout and elegant/classy appeal. Seafood pasta was a generous portion enough to split 2 ways with lobster, shrimp and tender scallops. Asparagus side was slightly overcooked - I like my asparagus a bit more toothy, and I couldn't quite tell the citrus on it. Service was exceptional. Wine list was pretty good, but I wish they had more options by the glass. Bread was served warm in a paper bag (kind of strange??) I wish they gave us more since it was actually quite tasty. Bag of donuts was amazing! I loved them! The spicy mayo was perfect and the only reason I didn't eat all of the donuts was because I wouldn't have been able to finish my pasta! Highly recommend!

Alexandra L.

The Quick: Everything you could want from a Newport restaurant: strong drinks, great seafood, right on the water, with ample outdoor seating. The Details: I love this spot and will absolute return next time in town. The food is great and the view is even better. Pair that with the friendly staff and you got everything you could want. If you're a tourist or avid seafood lover, I recommend getting the bag of donuts. It's basically deep-fried zeppoles filled large pieces of lobster and shrimp. It's very heavy, so split with a friend. The lobster croissant was also perfection. My boyfriend and I split the bag of donuts and a croissant and a perfectly satisfied. The Damage: A split entree and appetizer (the most expensive on the lunch menu), oysters, and a drink + tip= $32 each

Becky S.

The Mooring is amazing! The place is really cute right on the water. And the food was delicious! We had oysters, shrimp tacos, lobster roll and the cod. Most were recommended by our great waiter Dan. He knew the menu really well. All the food was so yummy and we were really full and couldn't order dessert but Dan brought us one anyway on the house. Of course we had to try it and it was delicious - the take 5! Def recommend this spot and ask to be seated in Dan's section

Eric F.

I consider myself to be a clam chowder expert. I must say this chowder is in my top 3 of all time.

Danise F.

The Mooring is a huge restaurant in the middle of Newport. It's really clean, spacious and cozy on the inside! There were lots of couples as well as families eating here, it can definitely accommodate bigger groups! The staff is very friendly and attentive. We actually came here during winter time (February) and there were a lot of people in the restaurant for a winter weekend. They also have deck/porch section where you can sit during the summer..will definitely try to make a trip back here and check that out in the future! The view is really nice, its right on the water. We ordered a few drinks and got the raw bar platter, which includes a few different types of oysters, jumbo shrimp and lobster claws. mmmm it was so good! Would recommend this! We got a cup of toasty mooring clam chowder, it was very soothing and just what we needed! by now, were already starting to get full and we ended with the fish and chips to share...it was a great choice, the fish came out crispy and hot hot hot and the fries were just as good! Definitely gonna make a trip back here next time I'm in Newport (hopefully this summer!)

Ashley B.

Made a reservation for 4pm today- just my boyfriend and I. We got there early around 3:30 and they had no problem seating us and on the patio, which was pretty nice. I got the clam chowder as an app, which I might say was the best I've had. It had tons of clam in it (so many chowders just bulk up the potatoes and leave you with little clam) and everything was diced up nice and evenly. He had 6 oysters which he loved, though they were definitely pricey... but hey it's Newport. We both got the lobster croissant and enjoyed it. I didn't think it was anything wildly special but definitely tasty. I got a side salad with mine and it was lightly dressed and just what I was looking for. Service was quick and friendly. I would definitely come back.

Sue M.

Visiting rhode island and my boyfriend brought me here for a seafood meal. We sat outside, right on the water....the view was really nice and peaceful. Got some raw oysters, other raw bar items to start and a steamed lobster for the main course. Boyfriend had a steak. The food was good. The highlight was a biscuit. Really good service. If you want a meal with a view on the water(mostly boats) this is the place for you.

Martyna G.

I made a reservation by yelp and it was a great decision! Place is pretty big, temperature was good in the end of November for me but if you prefer cooler places better wear a tshirt ;) we had a great table with a water view, very kind and professional service+ delicious red wine (Pinot noir). Food was delicious, prices not very cheap but is worth it. I definitely recommend this place.

Sung K.

mediocre at best. bag of doughnuts were decent but very doughy. Swordfish tacos were a joke. Fish and chips looked great, tasted bland - lacked seasoning on both batter and fish. Lobster roll with croissant was interesting but croissant definitely overpowered the lobster and the tomato was a bad choice. overpriced. overrated. just a good location.

Allison O.

Visted here from Illinois and loved it. We got there at about 5pm, and was told we'd have to wait for a table. After waiting for less than 5 minutes, we got seated outside, just how we asked even though there was a little bit of a crowd. I'm not a seafood person, and was nervous about finding something I'd like on the menu. I ordered the open-faced turkey breast and it was to die for. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was delicious. It had a big piece of bread on the bottom with pesto, thick pieces of juicy turkey, muenster cheese, bacon, and an open faced egg on top. Cutting into the egg and letting it all over the rest of the sandwhich really was the best part. Loved this place!

Kayla D.

YUMMMMMMM! Came here for dinner with a party of six for 10 PM on a Saturday night. For appetizers we had the bag of doughnuts, surf and turf sliders, tuna tartare and the top necks casino - all were delicious and the tuna was so fresh! For our main entrees we had the scallops, seared tuna, seafood pasta and the surf and turf. Every dish was cooked and presented perfectly, the cocktails and service were great as well. This was our favorite meal in Newport by far and we all agreed! Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Newport!

N B.

Love this place. Staff works hard to please, food is great. Love it best in the off season....much less loud.

L S.

Had a great Father's Day, drinks and grand shellfish platter on the water. The shellfish was presented very well,with vinegar,horseradish/cocktail sauce. Oysters little on the small side but fresh. 6 little necks (1 was bad but we didn't complain) 6 colossal shrimp, small ramekin of crabmeat and a chilled lobster for $69, not bad. We each had 2 drinks each I had a pomegranate mojito and my hubby had a spicy Bloody Mary both excellent. The rolls were fantastic! Warm, fluffy and seasoned butter, yummy. We ordered the philly cheese cake pie, had two bites and found a long hair baked right in! Yuck!!! I almost gave this experience 5 stars but the bad clam and the pie at the end , well, just didn't deserve it. Good note, our server Sheila was excellent, attentive and took the pie right off the bill. Would go back again

Ron C.

Fish tacos were fantastic. Philly Cheescake for dessert to top it off. Can't beat the view. Have the Newport local ale with a variety of fresh raw oysters. Yum!!!

Kevin M.

Came here on a summer afternoon and sat on the deck overlooking the water. That certainly started things off well. I had the lobster sandwich on a croissant and it was delicious. The lobster was extremely fresh and the croissant was freshly baked. That was my first time having that mixture and it's certainly one of the best seafood dishes I've ever had. I also had an order of clam chowder which was some of the best I've ever had as well. Clams were extremely fresh and the chowder itself wasn't too salty, which is always a turn off. This place was excellent. Highly recommended.

Jennifer T.

Great place for prepared seafood options, you can dine either inside or on the patio (which is still enclosed and heated). I'd give the food itself probably an average of 3-stars, as I found my dish unique and flavorful, and I think the others in my party fluctuated from finding the food satisfactory but nothing really phenomenal or all that noteworthy. I had the pan-seared tuna that had a unique basil and sundried tomato flavor. The others got the salmon dish (which they found was a bit overcooked) as well as the scallops dish (which they found a bit salty). Came here to celebrate a birthday, and it was to our pleasant surprise they came out with a small dessert at the end for the special occasion. Overall, I give this place 4-stars as our server was attentive, and had the weather been nicer that day, I'm sure our patio seating would have had a nice view of the marina.

Nikki I.

This was my first time here and I loved it! The bar was large and the drink menu was fun! We shared the scallop chowder and fish tacos for appetizers, both were really good. If you are here, you cannot miss out on the scallop chowder! For entrees we split scallops and the filet, both were cooked perfectly. I cannot wait to go back!

MICHELE M.

Fresh sweet lobster - bag of donuts were fantastic... great drinks list and awesome ambiance. Pricey, but best food so far!

Joanna C.

Do not get the sliders - it's described as being sliced sirloin with lobster and cheese sauce - which made me think it was sliced sirloin with chunks of lobster on top with a dollop of sauce on the bun. Not so. It was like a sloppy joe with tons of cheese sauce and bits of lobster. I wasn't a fan. The bag of donuts was amazing though as was the tuna sashimi! The sliders were just not what I expected and super unappetizing.

Kieran M.

This place was top notch. We went here for dinner and drinks. The food was phenomenal. Our raw oysters were delicious as were our entrees. The setting is beautiful too. Make sure to make a reservation and ask for a window see. We made the mistake of winging it. It got a little busy but the bartender was quite friendly and welcoming.

Tom S.

This place was great! Food, service and atmosphere were excellent. We Had bag of doughnuts, fish n chips and the seafood platter. All were excellent. Service was great and the view perfect. Highly recommend.

Angie S.

This place is as good as the reviews say. The bag of doughnuts was amazing! My husband got the seafood pasta and it was delicious. I ordered the grilled swordfish and it was perfect. The service was also great. The atmosphere is nice and relaxing. We are already talking about going back again before we leave in a few weeks!

Elizabeth L.

This restaurant did not disappoint. The food was excellent and priced reasonably for fresh, high quality seafood. The service was outstanding. Aside from our waitress, there were two additional people working in our area continuously filling drinks, removing dishes etc.... As we left the restaurant, we literally had three additional staff members speak genuinely to us and wish us farewells. None of the staff congregating and chit chatting among themselves or glued to their phones that you see in a lot of establishments. My husband and I would frequent here on a regular basis if we lived closer.

Christina P.

Another over-priced, not-worth-it meal. The bag of doughnuts (supposed to contain lobster and shrimp) were all dough and barely any seafood. They were good and they gave us a lot, but it's just not worth the prices. My friend LOVED the scallop chowder, so if you do find yourself here, go with that! My other friend said her lobster was over-cooked. That's unacceptable when you're paying $34 for the plate! My seafood cioppino was mostly good, but the mussels were over-cooked. Again, not cool when you're paying top dollar. I really wanted to order the seafood pasta, but couldn't justify spending $41 on a bowl of spaghetti, some clams, and a little lobster. The service was fantastic though, and we all thought it was cool that the drink menu was on an ipad. It was a little inconvenient to pass it around the table when we had 7 people.

Christie E.

I was visiting RI for the first time and was torn between the countless restaurants along bannister wharf. A bus driver recommended mooring for dinner, it wasn't on the tourist guide and I haven't heard of it hence I didn't expect much. Well, little did I know it will turn out to be one of my most memorable and heart warming dinner... Mooring and its excellent ambiance ( most importantly, its extensive wine list) is exactly what you need right after your cliff walk.

Nicole S.

We went here for dinner (with a reservation) when we were in town for a long weekend. We sat at a very nice table out on the covered deck area--sun was setting and view was great. The food was delicious--we had the "doughnuts," which are a-mazing (they felt like cousins to zeppoles). And a few of the chilled shrimp cocktail. For entrees, we had the tuna and branzino (crispy) and they were excellent. Even the bread is really good--it comes out heated in this little brown lunch bag. It's a little pricey but it was worth it. My only criticism was that the food came out a little too fast--no time to breath in between courses, sip wine, etc. But we weren't rushed out when we finished our food.

Crystal K.

Very good service, fresh fish, and the waiter knew enough of the food and wine to suggest pairings and seasonal options. We had the stripped bass, Portuguese cod and seafood pasta. We had the seafood donuts and those were too heavily breaded and not enough seafood. The tuna tartare was nicely and simply some with solid chunks of tuna. The bass was grilled perfectly and reminded us of a beef steak with the outside grilled tons yummy buttery crisp with a fork tender inside. My husband loves spice and on the east coast there's so few places that "get it". The Portuguese cod was a perfect balance of fresh cod, sausage, steamers , olives and peppers. Seafood pasta was abundant with a variety.

Tyson H.

Bag of doughnuts were good but not as great as expected - the other reviews may have bumped up my expectations too much. The fish and chips I had weren't great either but okay for the price. They did substitute the fries for sweet potato fries when I asked so that was great. My husband had the lobster roll which he enjoyed and my friend had the salad with added lobster tail - which she said was very good. The best part of the meal was hands down the dessert though. The brownie was heavenly and a must try! All in all a pleasant dining experience.

Brian E.

We had a wonderful dinner last night. Our server, Kristal, was attentive, informative and charming. My wife's Mahi tacos were just enough for her and very tasty. My open-faced turkey sandwich with fried egg, bacon, Muenster and pesto was spectacular. The Boston-spiced fries were also top-notch. Great beer list, on a tablet, to give you info on each one. Beautiful sunset too. We arrived at about 6:30 on a Thursday and sat right down. Just after that though, it filled up quickly.

Traci S.

Horrible manager and hostess staff I have ever encountered! Made my first day on vacation and RI start off terrible! Food did not make up for the horrible service! Book this reservation on OpenTable two weeks before vacation. After traveling four hours this was our first meal in RI and we were excited to come. Reservation 6:30 PM we were told it was difficult to park in the area so we make sure to leave our hotel 2 miles away early (5:40) well before our reservation, with intention to find parking and to walk around and shop a bit before dinner. Parking did present a small problem, it took us so long to park that we had no time to shop before dinner, note if you do not find metered parking you have to pay for parking, restaurants on the island do NOT validate parking and it is a flat rate $20 anywhere you go. walked into a reservation at exactly 6:30 and was seated by a young woman. We sit down we order.. Halfway into our appetizers my fiancé receives an email while were at the table saying our Open Table reservation has been canceled because we did not show.. He walks up to the host stand when he is greeted by a gentleman who must be the manager, my fiancé says to the man I don't think they check me in on OpenTable because it says my reservation has been canceled but I'm actually eating my appetizer as we speak! The manager was so rude and said you were two minutes late so we can book 2 is canceled, he did not even seat us so how did he even assume that we were late? Did you not communicate with your hostess to find out what one of your 4 hosts including yourself who sat us? Technically! OpenTable rules are you have a 15 minute grace past your reservation to check in before it's allowed to be canceled that would mean 6:45. He said he couldn't fix it and he would ask the other hostess to call OpenTable and take care of it sometime later. Every time you book a restaurant and dine with OpenTable you get points for visit, if you don't check in for your reservation or it was canceled because you don't show you lose those points and possibly loose your OpenTable booking rights!!!! .. As we were leaving my fiancé noticed that his OpenTable still had not reflected the points. When he asked the manager again he was so rude and dismissive, and scoffed, that we were asking again. When you have bad service in the restaurant it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, especially when you have bad service before you even eat, we ordered a lot of food, The donuts, oysters, salad, and two entrées. Honestly not much was memorable about it except for the rude manager upon walk in, and the rude manager upon walk out. OpenTable will be hearing from us as well!

Kiki J.

AMAZING! Let's talk about a few things...the Bag O Doughnuts, made me call my mother, reserve a smack, and then smack her when I got back home via the reservation I made - they were SO good! Move on to ordering the entrees. Two of my companions were stuck between two choices and they mentioned the hard choice to the waiter. They placed their singular entree orders and NICK came back with cute half servings of the dishes they were stuck between. I train on service style for Marriott, as did all of my peers at the table, and this was thoroughly impressive to everyone. I had the mussels and cauliflower au gratin for my main dish. The tomato based sauce on the mussels was a nice change from the white wine base I am familiar with, and I will never degrade the holy name of cauliflower again. The service, food and beautiful view of the sunset over the water from my seat by the window cemented this in my mind as a must to anyone visiting Newport.

Rachel M.

I made a reservation here using the open table application on the website. I wrote in the comments " First Wedding Anniversary, table by the water." We arrived for our Sunday night reservation and were seated promptly by the water as requested and were greeted by friendly staff at the door. Our waitress was wonderful and knowledgeable. We started our dinner with a bottle of wine and enjoyed the wasabi tuna which was to die for! They also gave homemade dinner rolls that were crunchy and flavorful. Everything from the appetizer to the dinner rolls were Very delicious and beautifully presented. For dinner My husband and I enjoyed the swordfish and sea scallops! The scallops were by far the best seafood I have enjoyed in a long time! They were served with a lobster cornbread that just melted in your mouth. After we cleaned our dinner plates and dinner ended we were surprised by a complimentary peanut butter pretzel brownie with a candle and two glasses of champagne. The manager I think is the gentlemen who brought it over and said " We understand you are celebrating a special anniversary." The dessert and drinks were just the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner experience. It was one well never forget. We would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great experience, amazing seafood, wonderful service, and an overall high quality establishment. We enjoyed our stay in newport thoroughly and will defiantly be back in future years. Thank you for making our anniversary extra special!

Natalie V.

Dinner at the Mooring tonight by the recommendation of the hotel front desk. He suggested the scallop chowder. So we did a taste test. I got the scallop chowder, my guest had the clam chowder. We called the test a tie. Both excellent. Had the fluke special with lobster mashed potato excellent choice ! Staff was attentive and made sure we never ran out of beverages. Was a quiet evening and we got a table at the window. We could see the waves on this cold night , looks like a great place in the summer. !

Greg B.

Upon recommendations from Newport regulars we added The Mooring Restaurant to our "must experience" list. Well we were right for putting them on the list. We arrived just at sunset and sat in the covered "indoor" seating. Our table for two had a full view of the most incredible view in New England. Our server was quick and very helpful to make suggestions. The ipad wine and cocktail list was great. We quickly settled on a drink and appetizer (bag of doughnuts!). Timing was perfect, as soon as we finished those our dinner order was taken and suggestions fro a matching wine were done. My steak and scallops were perfect "nomnomnom", and my wife's sea scallops tenders and juicy. Well done Chef! As the sun set we noticed how different the whole room looked. It was like sitting on on our own deck enjoying an incredible meal that neither of us had (or could) cook. The Jazz music in the background sure helped the wine. There were a few tables with kids (5-9yos), so make a judgment call for your own kids, are they going to ruin some couples $150.00 meal. If so, leave your spawn at home. I walked to the restroom past the front door and over heard "at this point we are on a 2 hour wait" it was 8:30pm. So make reservations, or get ready to wait. The view is to die for, and the food just happens to be the reason to return. I didn't give five stars only because it got cold quickly in that room and my standards for a "5" are insane.

Erica T.

Delicious food! I had the lobster and my hubby had the scallops. Also clam chowder and crab cakes.... Beers too--spent about $100.... Well worth the money. Well go back in the future

Dan A.

Great food, great staff! My wife and I love going to the mooring bar and sitting with the regular bartenders. Andy, Brian, Mark, Heather, and all the rest have always been so good to me and my family. I feel like they are family! The food is delicious to boot!

Joey F.

Excellent service with Kaileigh! We love this place. The food is sooooo good. We will be back for sure.

Chris K.

Dinner was amazing. Had the bag of doughnuts I read about. Great taste only flaw I found was way to much bread filling not much seafood. On the other hand had the steak and lobster was worth the money. Left feeling full. Great views of incoming and out going ships. Great service, nice drink menu. Over all my last dinner here would come back again very impressed.

Susan W.

A little pricey but oh so good! Bag of doughnuts are a must order. Portion size is HUGE! Even the tarter sauce is exceptional. Beautiful ocean view and great service.

Diana H.

$14 for a grilled cheese not worth it's weight in velveeta. I'll pass on the Mooring.

Tiffany L.

Came here for dinner and had a wonderful evening. The ambiance is typical to a nice seafood restaurant by the water, and the views are lovely. Our waitress was great. I ordered a glass of Dom Perignon because I've never had it before, and because my husband and I were celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary. When she came out with it, she apologized it took long but that she had them open a new bottle because no one should have day-old Dom for their first time! To start, I ordered the Scallop Chowder, hubby got the Clam Chowder, and we got the Bag of Doughnuts. The Scallop Chowder was absolutely delicious. It was rich and flavorful without being too heavy, and the scallops were generous. It was probably the best chowder I've ever had. The Bag of Doughnuts, although good, were a little disappointing for me based on their and reviews. I thought that they were too doughy, and I couldn't really taste the seafood in them. The Chipotle Aoili was very good, though. I got the Salmon dish which was delicious and perfectly cooked. It came with ricotta-thyme gnocchi, swiss chard, oyster mushrooms and butternut squash puree. It was a perfect winter dish and everything was very flavorful. My husband had the Fish and Chips which was a gigantic piece of fish fried in a Guinness batter and a generous mound of fries. For dessert, we had the Guinness Milkshake which was really good. No desserts on the dessert menu intrigued me, but you can't really go wrong with a boozey milkshake! I would definitely return if I'm in Newport again for the quality of the food and especially for the Scallop Chowder!

Steph G.

Great for groups, couples or families. Def make reservations. Sit outside if u can. Great cocktails. Fantastic raw bar. Amazing clam chowder. We got the muscles and tuna tar tar. We were totally stuffed. Great service. All around great meal. They were so packed, every table filled but no worries still didn't have to wait at all. If u don't like seafood though do not come here.

Adriana C.

Our first stop in Newport based on yelp reviews. I made a reservation on open table for lunch on a Friday. We arrived and the staff was excellent from start to finish. We were floored by the lobster roll served on a croissant. Brilliant. A must if in Newport. The fries served with the roll were perfectly seasoned, I didn't even want to use ketchup because they tasted so good on their own. We had other lobster rolls while on this trip but Mooring's was the most memorable. My husband loved the local beer on tap. Great location and ambiance. My only complaint is that they canceled our reservation a few hours after we left and we didn't get the open table points.

Michael And Angela P.

Generally pleasant experience. Lovely outdoor seating faces the water. Definitely a place to lounge for an extended period of time, have a drink, and try many food items. (If you're parked at a meter, make sure you have plenty of time.) - Bag o' donuts: Nothing better than fried lobster/shrimp fritters with chipotle mayo. - Spring greens with grilled shrimp: A little heavy on the dressing and the tails were difficult to remove from the shrimp, but good. - Blackened swordfish wrap: Delicious bites of sweet and creamy, until you run out of the pineapple salsa. The seasoned swordfish wasn't enough to stand on its own. - Service was pleasant and our water glasses were refilled often.

beverly c.

Bag of doughnuts not that good, fried dough with some seafood in it. Lobster croissant was generous with fresh lobster and had a light dressing, not overpowered by mayo. Fries had a good herb flavoring. The quinoa succotash salad was okay but some mouthfuls had a weird taste and I couldn't identify what it was. The brussel sprouts are chopped mixed with bacon and was okay, too. Service was attentive and atmosphere was a nice, bustling mood. Kind of surprised at the 4 and 5 star reviews but pretty good. I appreciate the attempt to try moor (ahah) fancy combos like the quinoa salad and tarragon lobster or bag of doughnuts. You will probably need to make a reservation during the summer months since we could not get a table for 2 at 7:30 pm (1.5 hour wait time quoted from hostess) a second time we decided to stop by.

Jen K.

Didn't have a reservation so wait was close to an hour. Ambience was very nice and the people just kept pouring in. Once we sat, the service was SLOW - although we really liked our waitress. Not sure if she was overwhelmed or if that's just the standard. Took us 2 hours to get though a round of drinks and appetizers (which were quite good). DEFINITELY advise making a reservation - especially on weekends in the summer.

Andrew S.

Was recently in newport touring with some family and our breakfast at nick's was wearing off around 3pm, and people wanted lunch.... With lots of places in newport, I got out yelp and was directed to the mooring by the reviews and we were not disappointed. First, we were seated outside with great harbor views. Our service was prompt and polite (keeping our beer and water filled on a hot day). 2 of the group had salads which they said were solid though unspectacular. The rest of us had various fish sandwiches (halibut, fried cod, etc) which were all fresh and well-seasoned and accompanied by nice fries. Definitely would recommend for a lunch especially if one can get a nice table.

Lindsey G.

My mom and I were traveling for Mother's day and had an amazing lunch. Everything was perfect. Our waiter (sadly I'm forgetting his name) was wonderful!! Food: We had the crab and shrimp spinach cheese dip - amazing My mom had a lobster cesar salad - simple, crisp, she licked the plate I had a grilled salmon and subbed the beans with asparagus - again, just perfectly seasoned and grilled. Ambiance: We were there on a Monday right at lunch time and were able to be seated right by the window looking out to the water. The restaurant was filled by the time we left. Wine list: Wonderful assortment of half and full bottles. We opted for the full bottle. :) We will definitely be going back soon!

Shananigans F.

I love the Mooring and have never had a disappointing meal here. Great for a casual lunch at the bar, or lunch at a table with a beautiful water view, or even a more formal dinner. The food and drinks are very good and you can come with friends or family. I have come in here hungover and had a great time and meal at the bar, and then on the flip side have come in with my daughter for a nice wholesome lunch overlooking the water. Love the versatility and wish more restaurants in Newport had this. The only thing I would suggest, because I am the high maintenance biatch that I am, is that the shrimp needs to be cleaned a bit better. Yes, it's time consuming to clean all the poop out of the poop shoots, but it needs to be done. I don't want to eat shrimp poop. I still order it though, and clean the poop out myself. But come on restaurant peeps, we know it's shrimp poop and we don't wanna eat it. Thanks.

Ella T.

Bag of Doughnuts!!! Just had them and I know I will be craving for them later. Wow so delicious!!!

Ashley P.

Went for valentines day dinner! Had a reservation and was seated right away even by the window as I had requested. Nice new layout of the drink menu on a tablet. We order apps of oysters for me and caeser salad for my date. The only real issue was here....when I order oysters I expect them to be fully shucked. Not only halfway. And my dates salad literally looked like 2 leaves of romaine thrown whole on a plate with a slice of cheese and 3 croutons. Otherwise my salmon was delicious and perfectly prepared and his burger was as well. Great ambiance

Chris C.

We went here for my wife's birthday and I booked a reservation on OpenTable. Overall, we were very pleased and give it a high recommendation. We arrived on a Saturday night at 9pm - the place was very crowded and there were several parties waiting at the bar and by the hostess. However, when we walked up we were seated immediately - +1 for prompt service and keeping to our reservation. We were seated outdoors on the second tier of the patio - this was a great view of the water and yachts. I'm not sure if the hostess did this on purpose, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that she saw the birthday notation on the reservation. We were given menus promptly, but were surprised to learn there were no specials - despite that we found several items on the menu looked delicious. Unfortunately (and this is why 4, not 5 stars) our waiter couldn't give us a recommendation for what to order or even a good white wine - this always bothers me when the staff can't tell me what they like. He instead pointed to the little asterisks showing the "house favorites" - as if I hadn't noticed those already. We settled on a nice pinot grigio and ordered. The appetizers came out very quickly. The raw oysters were delicious, perfectly chilled, but not cold, fresh and with a light salty finish. The scallop chowder was exactly as described on the menu - AWARD WINNING. The scallops were large, tender (not chewy) and the soup was creamy, yet light. The bag of doughnuts (and the accompanying spicy mayo) was awesome as previous reviewers have commented. For entrees, we had the lobster papardelle (which came with the shell) and the seafood pie. The pasta was fantastic and clean. The pie was more of a seafood in a bisque broth with a puff pastry topping making it lighter than the pot-pie style presentation I had expected from the description. Would definitely recommend both entrees. Lastly we finished with the strawberry mousse keylime tart. A perfectly fruity, light dessert, however my stellar waiter didn't realize it was my wife's birthday (there were several other birthdays around our table too). He seemed to remember once he brought us the check and said "happy anniversary, i mean happy birthday (looking at me), er, i hope you have a great birthday (turning to my wife)." You can see why I took a star away from Mr. Slick. FYI, total check before tip was ($136) Overall, a great restaurant, a wonderful meal and a good time. Will definitely go back.

Andrea M.

We went there memorial day weekend. We were lucky to get a table because we made reservations. I suggest that you make reservations on a busy weekend. We had oysters and oyster sooters(beer) for appetizers. I had the surprise fish (which was the haddock) and my bf had the scallops. Food and service was great. The fish was fresh. Probably one of the better restaurant we were at in Newport.

Sal L.

Wow, ate dinner and beside the oysters and lobster dough nuts, this place was horrible. Waitress was on point and made the night bareable

Jessica C.

We went on a Seal Safari - tickets purchased right next door to the Mooring, and this place smelled sooooo good from the outside that we had to go after the safari. It was doing good business around 2 or 3pm on a Sunday so the greeter at the front told us it'd be a 20 minute wait, but that we could sit at the bar. When we got to the bar, it was so perfect/awesome that we decided to stay and have our late lunch there. There was hockey on a big screen tv for my boyfriend to watch, and I had Twitter in my palm to distract me. Perfect. We split a clam chowder - not very thick, but not lacking in flavor or clams. Also, we ordered the fried calamari - it came with peppers and olives. The calamari was tender and delicious. I liked the saltiness of the olives with the calamari too. I had an ahi tuna sandwich - good tuna, but there was too much bread. The fries that came with it were seasoned and very tasty. My boyfriend had a chicken blt, which he said was good. I had some local beer - I'm not sure what it was, but it was a weisse beer, and on tap (the tap had a lighthouse on it). It was tasty and I was happy. We stayed until close to 5pm which is a pretty long time to take up space at a bar, but none of the bartenders complained. The restaurant was so relaxing and pleasant. There was lots of light; it is on the harbor, pretty much. The art is great, and they have giant nautical-themed sculptural pieces (like a corroded copper frame of a fish). I would definitely go back again.

Krys A.

My 1st thought when I walked into this place was wow, its beautiful... pretty sunset, located on the waterfront, awesome decor, very classy! I thought to myself, this is a place I honestly wouldn't mind getting proposed to at..... not knowing that evening I was going to be proposed to. We were googling restaurants in the Newport/Providence area for Valentine's day and we came across the Mooring Restaurants website. There website looks great and this is what got us hooked, we made our reservations and off we went. The restaurant itself is just amazing. Great location, great decor, fabulous staff to go with it and amazing food. All around 5 star!! We both got lobster for dinner with a few sides and the food just blows your mind. And I must add that I loved my dirty martini's!! I thank them for making my special night one to remember. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an incredible place to wine and dine.

Three words 'Bag of Donuts'. The things are Lobster, crab & shrimp fritters with chipotle-maple aïoli, they come to you in a brown paper bag...and they are like crack. The Mooring is a fantastic restaurants on the water in Newport Rhode island. It slightly up market place, where dressing up is expected, however the decor and the food make it worth it. if you dont make a reservation, you will probably have to wait alittle, however there is a large wrap around bar that is a great place to kill time while waiting for a table This is definitely a place for a nice dinner or birthday.

Salem A.

Very nice seating area by the marina. Good staff. Our waiter was nice and seemed very knowledgeable about the food items and was very helpful in suggesting what we order. Most importantly, the food is delicious.

Maria P.

It was our first time . We made a reservation for 8 pm, got there a few before and were told we were a few minutes earlier and asked to sit down and wait. As we are seated, a party of 3 come in they check them in and sit them. This certainly did not set well with me, if they had an earlier reservation they were late. A young lady ( one of the hostess) tells us when we asked how long " it will take about half an hour", Obviously that was not good. I guess the manager was walking to the area and he knew we were on time .He told us at that point he wanted to give us a table by the fireplace ( very smart..) we were eventually sat and did enjoyed our meal very much. had the clam chowder which was excellent ( I will compare it with the one at Black Pearl) . Both were excellent, the one at the Mooring with larger chunks of potatoes and served in a more casual way. The one at the Black Pearl was more elegant. I also ordered the bag of donought ( for my meal) eat 2 and took 4 of them home. They were good , but more of a lunch food. They use Ipads for the beverage list , The bad part is that 2 people in the party can't look at different things at the same tme The rest of my party enjoyed the food, but we did nto leave the restaurant talking about the food experience

Kayla O.

I still love the mooring. I have a current dietary restriction that makes it difficult for me to order out. Our waitress was fabulous and made it easy for me to order. This time around we ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell which were small but yummy. And I ordered plain grilled salmon with salt and pepper over sauteed spinach and garlic. Cooked perfectly. Our waitress kindly came back to make sure everything was right especially on my dish. I did not try any of anyone else's but the 3 other people I dined with also enjoyed theirs. The portions are not large, but do not need to be. The servers here are always really attentive making sure you have enough of your drink, or in my case refreshing my club soda every time it hit even close to empty Still my favorite restaurant and one that I would recommend to anyone who loves seafood, and a fabulous sunset over the harbor.

Tammie P.

Lobster papardelle, lobster croissant, oysters - one of my favorites in Newport!

Joey H.

I've never been much of the "you fancy huh" type of food venues, but this has got to be beyond my usual place of eateries. In simple words, I don't eat at places where they use fancy words to portray their food. Here is the bill: -cup of clam chowder $5 (best part of my visit) -Cod $26 -apple crisp $8 -glass of beringer white zin $7 $46 dinner w/dessert. I would've been more happy with the Sole Francaise that my co-worker bought. Whatever, it's over now. I finished my meal. Although the cod was flaky and nicely cooked, there just was no taste to it. Dull and tasteless. And I usually enjoy the tasteless meals. Not this time. The apple crisp wasn't what I expected, so I skipped that and went straight for the ice cream. YUM.

Steve S.

Attentive service, nice looking crowd and scenery, great raw bar, 5/5 clam chowder, excellent drinks, and a great burger. Might be my favorite place in Newport

scott h.

Great view of the harbor. Good service. Friendly staff. Food for me was just OK. I had the mussles. First, I am a fan of spicy food. These were over the top spicy. Mussels have a somewhat subtle flavor. The broth should bring this out. This dish was loaded with chorizo and in truth felt a little bit more like a five alrm chile. But my lunch comapnions liked their food. I would probably go back but really just for the view.

Jason W.

I was here on a business dinner with others from work and a guest. Reservations were made for a view of the water, and the restaurant gladly fulfilled our request. Service was prompt, friendly, and informative. They messed up our bill a bit at the end of the night, but it was an easy fix. Now, onto the food, which was very, very good. The rolls were warm and tasty. I had the award-winning scallop chowder. I probably had my expectations set too high - it was very good, but I don't know about award-winning. My cup did have some big scallops in there that were fantastic, so I cannot complain about that. My main course was an ahi tuna sandwich. Cooked nicely medium with a garlic mayo and some herbs and citrus (a gremolata). This was outstanding. There was a tuna entree, but I was on a bit of a budget and did not want to shell out that much. The sandwich was amazing, though, with the taste of the tuna shining through, no overpowered by the other ingredients. There was a side of fries, which were crispy and a great complement to the sandwich. Overall? Yes, it is pricey. But totally worth it.

Marcus D.

24 hrs after indulging in the bag of doughnuts and they are still sitting in the pit of my stomach - but they were so good! It was a lazy, cloudy, grey afternoon. The Pats were on and we wanted to hole up somewhere and have some drinks and apps after an early morning Cliff Walk jaunt. The Bloody Marys were excellent. We got the fried oysters (so-so), fried calimari, and the infamous bag of doughnuts. Plenty of other great choices on the menu - definitely a stop on my next visit to town. You gotta pay to park here - no restaurant validation.

Candice J.

Amazing Clam Chowder! The Cod and Salmon plates were amazing as well. Definitely a hit!

Mary H.

Every time we go to Newport we have lunch here, the atmosphere is great and the service is friendly. Food is very consistent. We always have a great experience and a great meal

Stephen S.

The best thing about this restaurant was the ambiance and the service. The food, though good, suffered a bit in the preparation area. I had the clam chowder to start. Though it had a great taste and enough of the tender clam pieces, it was served warm, not hot. My wife had a chopped salad that was under dressed and hardly chopped. I chose the sockeye salmon special for my main course. It had a great fresh taste but was a little dry due to being a tad over cooked. My wife had a fillet mignon with a Demi glaze sauce. The sauce was very sparse on the plate but the fillet was cooked to perfection and had a great taste. The Grand Marnier chocolate cake was delicious and a real standout. With a little more attention to preparation detail, this restaurant would command another star.

Nancy L.

We came to Newport for a weekend getaway and reserved a table at this place weeks before. Loved the setting as it is right by the harbor and the view was awesome. As for food, we ordered the Native Scallop Chowder, the Mooring Zuppa, Georges Bank Scallops, and the Mooring Scampi....all were very delicious but we thought the chowder was exceptional; definitely would go back again just for that.

Casey O.

Opt for outdoor dining if it isn't too muggy. The service was great, I especially enjoyed my sol dish. Excellent!

Dave C.

Its a shame that I cannot give this place 4 stars, but we shall see what happens in the future! The bag of doughnuts was delicious as stated by everything else. The chipotle aioli was effin awesome. I ate some of the bread with that sauce! However our main courses were blah. I had the szechuan pepper crusted tuna with the salad of arugala, beets and some kinda dressing. This dish was kind of gross. The arugala give it a very bittery taste and the sweet yellow beets in there did not do enough to cut it. The girl got the maine lobster baked and stuffed. The claws which were steamed was pretty delicious! but the baked aspect meh. After going to maine however you should just go to maine if you want fresh lobster and it is much cheaper! I would definitely give this place a second chance. To be honest I feel like we ordered the wrong stuff considering how awesome the bag o doughnuts were. ~go figure

George S.

I am a local and this is one of my favorite spots in Newport. It's an employee owned restaurant where the staff has a vested interest in your dining experience and it shows. The Bag of Donuts is a must and I highly recommend any of the seafood dishes. Eat at the back bar and enjoy the crowd. You'll love it.

Ryan C.

Pretty good meal. Loved the water view.

katherine p.

I went 3 yrs ago and threw up an hour after eating their food. I thought it was just me so I kept going and I was fine... I even went as far as recommending this place. My coworker went this past weekend on MY RECOMMENDATION and three of her friends got sooo sick (about an hour after eating) that they were unable to continue with the festivities! For those that may think it could've been something else, it was not. This was lunch and they had no alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately, i don't think the culprit is just one thing. I got sick when I ate scallops, and they had the salmon. My suspicion is that when the seafood goes bad, they cook and serve it anyway. Giant tourist trap... If you want good seafood and not get sick, go to Benjamin's across the street. I'm embarrassed to have recommended this place. Getting sick as an adult is pretty bad... But what if it was a child? Take it or leave it.

Kim T.

Love the mooring!!! This is the place we go to for one for my parents birthday because if its your birthday your entree is free up to a certain amount. Sitting outside during the summer is awesome because you are right on the water, nothing gets better.

Lindsay H.

A must get dish is their Shrimp & Scallop Stuffed Lobster! Absolutely fresh, buttery & delicious! Also, don't miss out on their Oysters- they have many different varieties to choose from, as well as their Littleneck Clams! Yum!

Kelly S.

The Mooring is good only for the location. The food was very disappointing. The service was ok if you like waiters with an attitude. I think he was trying too hard to be cool that he came off as just weird. It was also very noisy. It is a huge place that attracts family groups. I would not go back there or recommend it.

Amanda N.

I am a huge Mooring fan, and I've never ever had a bad meal there whether it was lunch, dinner, or just a bag of donuts at the bar. For anyone who loves clam cakes and fritters you MUST order a bag o' donuts...they are the most heavenly fried bites of lobster, crab and shrimp served with a spicy maple aoli. As an extra special birthday bonus my boyfriend brought in our own bottle of champagne -- not sure if many people know that the Mooring allows you to BYOB for a $25 corkage fee. The 1973 Bollinger he surprised me with was well worth the corkage! After our baked stuffed and boiled lobsters, a bag o' donuts, and tasty sauteed spinach we opted for the espresso and chocolate creme brulee...it was fantastic and big enough for the two of us to share. Because he had called ahead and made reservations for my birthday, dessert came with a cute candle, and compliments of the Mooring. Overall it was an amazing dinner, I can't wait to go back for another lobster--which by the way are amazingly priced considered how much some of the really bad seafood restaurants (*ahem Barking Crab, Quohog Company just to name a couple) want to charge for a weee bebe 1 1/4 pound lobster.

Bethany F.

I call this review "Donuts laced with a Sad Story" The Mooring is an A+ all around in my book, a summer dinner location just waiting for you to eat there. However, word of caution, do NOT accidentally get a huge appetizer with a pre-dinner cocktail before you go there, like we did, because it will inevitably lead to food-overload and you won't be able to truly enjoy the Mooring's tantalizingly delicious food. :( We sat outside at the most perfect table on the water/deck. How romantic, with the lights and view. Definite A+ for ambiance. Ordered (to be shared by 2): raw oysters, a Chorize & Mussels soup, bag of donuts, and the Lobster mac and cheese dinner. Raw oysters are basically the same everywhere, and they were yummy, but the highlight of the dinner was the Chorize soup. The mussels loved being in the flavorgul broth, and the bread that came with it begged to be dipped in the broth. Bag of donuts was absolutely delicious (little seafood fritters with a funny name) but it's sooooo tough to eat those heavy suckers and still have enough room for dinner. Super filling, but super good. B+ The sad part of my story is that I was SOO full before I got to the dinner portion (lobster mac n cheese) that I couldn't even eat ONE BITE of it. So, I took it back to the inn and put it in the fridge on our floor, thinking to myself "mmmm what a delicious lunch that will be tomorrow!" Wrong. Went to retrieve it the next day and someone had stolen my leftovers, which included huge hunks of uneaten lobster :( :( SO sad. I almost cried. Oh well, I already made the boyfriend promise to go back with me soon so I can try the dinner for real haha.

Trish P.

I had the seafood pie and I would say it was alright. It had tons of fish in it and only two shrimp. All of the seafood was smothered in this thick brown sauce which was kind of weird. The ambiance of the place was great. We sat outside and was kind of chili throughout dinner because of the breeze coming straight off of the ocean water. The service was fast

Olivia P.

What can I say? Another seafood restaurant that I did not have too high expectations from but wow was I pleasantly surprised. Turned out to love this restaurant after actually eating the food from the menu. The meal: Scallop Chowder - blew my mind away. Very delicate and smooth. Just delicious without being too creamy or heavy. Farmer's Salad - this is the salad if you love goat cheese like me. Mixed greens with ginger candied macadamia nuts, goat cheese and goat cheese vinagrette. Wow - thought it might be goat cheese overkill but not at all. Love this salad! Bag of Doughnuts - So unique and incredibly delicious. Essentially a brown paper bag of lobster, crab and scallop "hush puppies" without the grease and a chipotle dipping sauce. Loved it - so different and unique. Lobster Mac & Cheese - Absolute heaven! Not what you would expect. I'm talking fresh homemade papparadelle pasta in a saucy and cheesy (but again, not greasy sauce) with lobster meat piled on top and drizzed with truffle oil. OMG. Loved this one! Large enough to share with another person, if you are also having appetizers. I wasn't impressed with dessert to be honest, but that's ok, I came here for the seafood, not dessert. If you love seafood and looking for something a little more than a lobster roll or steamed lobster, come here and try the above dishes. Last thing I want to note, I'm not a huge fan of white wine but a big fan of red wine. Red wine seemed rather heavy for this meal of seafood so we tried a bottle of California Rose (not what I typically get) with our meal but this was a great bottle of Rose! It was a deep and dark pink color (unlike the pale pinks you usually see in Rose) and it was dry, fruity and refreshing. Enjoy!

Nellie S.

Everything you need in a restaurant: nice atmosphere, comfortable seating, great views, wonderful food, reasonable prices, great service. Perfect place to take guests. Food is not crazy trendy fusion, it's classy seafood that has not been ruined. Known for their "bag of doughnuts," which is really little lobster/seafood fritters - yum! Lobster salad is perfect, no added onions or fillers to spoil the lobster taste. These people have consistently known what they are doing for 50 years - plus they treat their staff well.

Robert R.

My wife and I enjoyed the Mooring for our last night in town celebration. Prices are in the high $20 range for entrees' but the portion sizes were good. I had the seared tuna and it was excellent. Side dishes are definitely big enough for two. Atmosphere was good. There are a lot of restaurants to try near the Mooring, but I think for that "special dinner", this is a good place to go. Loved being able to reserve a table thru Yelp. It's a nice feature.

M K.

We both LOVED the raw bar. Looking back I wished I had just gotten that. My husband got the stuffed lobster. Not what he expected, as the stuffed seafood was full, not cut up like most places, which he liked. I got the sole, which I wasn't really a fan of, because (and maybe I didn't read it clear enough) the sauce was just like eating butter. Good but very rich. We split the polenta fries, which were good. I had read a lot about the donut app and saw many people getting it, but we didn't get it since we got the raw bar. Split the cheesecake, which was good. He would go back. I would go back for the raw bar. Either way we'd have to save up first....

Sean M.

The Mooring is and has been solid for a good many years. I started coming here before I was married and had kids and the place has blossomed and grown in that time, not so much in size as stature because of the quality of the cuisine. In the summer we always have seafood, in the winter I go for the hearty dishes like duck. After riding the storm waves at 2nd beach we dropped in and had: * raw bar of course necks and oysters, love the pickled jalepenos garnish. * 2 lb Baked Stuffed Maine Lobsta with jumbo shrimp and scallops, almost too much for one person. * Bag of Doughnuts (upscale Clam Cake like fritter with lobster, crab and shrimp). * Fish and Chips * Baked Sole It was all quite tasty and served with a flair. The service was impeccable. Only the desert was a bit of a let down. * in the summer sit outside if you can. * two spacious bars, sit at one if you are just two * great open main room. * extensive wine list * Giada De Laurentiis graced this place with her presence, sorry I missed that. * Food Network site features Chris Ferris' Chowda recipe.

Janice S.

Went there for lunch during the week. The interior is beautiful and the water views are great. The wait staff was very attentive. I debated giving them a 3 or 4. The 4 is for the atmosphere and the 3 is the food. The food favors were great but the swordfish sandwich I had was overly spiced to mask the aging of the fish. I'm a big fish eater - few times a week and this was old fish. (not spoiled but getting old). I also know because I have a histimine sensitivity and when I eat older fish it immediately flairs (which it did.) Also didn't really get bringing the rolls in a paper bag. We had 2 rolls and then the waitress just took the bag crumpled it and threw it out. Just seemed like such an obvious waste of resource. (I'm not a green bigot -but this just seemed so wasteful and also pretty ugly brown bag sitting on the table.) I feel this review reads harsh and I really would go back there and would recommend the place but chef - I realize its tough making the margins in restaurant business but don't mask last night fish in spices...the restaurant is too good for that.

Annemarie H.

Bag of Donuts is AMAZING! Only went to the restaurant for these before dinner somewhere else. They were super filling. Go and get some!

Ali F.

This place is fantastic! We've eaten here a number of times and are always happy. The inside decor is nice and the deck outside provides a lovely view. The food is fantastic! We have had excellent soup and lobster here, but the best by far was the steak. Mooring gave me the best steak I've ever had. We have always had excellent to good service here. Definitely don't want to miss this place if visiting Newport!

Tricia J.

Nice place to go for dinner we ordered the "bag of donuts" as an appetizer strange name considering the type of restaurant but they were amazing, their salmon was very flavorful and the service was great!

A J.

Had a wonderful lunch here. Made reservations for 5 with very little notice and were given a table with a nice view of the water. Very good food (the scallop chowder was a particular favorite) and excellent service. If I'm in Newport again, I would definitely return to The Mooring.

Liao L.

very good service! nice food!

Matthew C.

Went here last night for my girlfriends birthday dinner, and I must say it was worth the 45min ride from SE mass! We arrived a little past our reservation time, but were still seated promptly. Our waiter was very attentive without overdoing it. Started with some oysters and a bottle of Sofia Rose. Got the bag of doughnuts (amazing) and crab cakes (ditto). For entrees she got a lobster pasta dish that was excellent and I got the Arcadian Red Fish, also delicious. Another bottle of Sofia later plus dessert and a couple of comped glasses of Champagne and we were well on our way to one of the best dinners we have ever had. We will definitely be returning here, highly recommended!!

Kate M.

I grew up in a neighboring town (Middletown) and the Mooring has always been a favorite restaurant until this weekend. The meal that we had was so disappointing that I had to write this post. The calamari was soggy, indicating that the oil probably should have been changed. The burger which was always fantastic was instead a pre-processed patty and not the quality of meat one would expect...nor something I would ever purchase at home. The bun was also poor quality and the fries were also soggy- much like the calamari. The scallops were chewy and over cooked. It was a horrible meal. They have obviously changed the quality of food and have been able to survive on the past reputation it had as a good restaurant. There are too many GOOD restaurants on the water so there is no reason to waste your money or your time on the poor quality of food now served at the Mooring. I did complete a comment card before leaving but since that is unlikely to make a difference you should know before wasting your meal here. Clarke CookeHouse, Fluke, Scales and Shells, the Black Pearl, Tallulah on Thames are all MUCH better choices. This place has gone downhill indicating the are saving money by using poor quality ingredients...sad.... if I could rank it zero stars I would. Come on Mooring return the the wonderful food that you used to produce...not a good dining experience at all.

Catherine J.

Bag of donuts- Awesome.... grilled oysters- AMAZING. these appetizers were SO delicious- was very glad we ordered both. I ordered the sole Francaise... it was good, but not the best thing i've ever had. (I did eat it all though) My boyfriend had the fish and chips and he said it was very good. Some of the dishes were a bit pricey, but the service was impeccable. I would go back for sure.

Michelle S.

On a hot day in New England, we decided to take a drive down to Newport to hopefully get some sea breeze off of the water and have a nice day wandering around the shops. We went to the right place. It was a good 10 degrees cooler and such a nice time walking around. Once the sun started to set, we figured we'd better find a place for dinner before we couldn't get in anywhere. I checked Yelp and found the Mooring at the top of the list and with the most stars of any so booked a reservation. When we made our way there, found that we'd been there a few years before and remembered it being quite fancy. We had worried about getting in wearing t-shirts and shorts but since it worked last time, it should again. And it did and without any judgement at the door so that was nice. We were seated at a nice two person table out on the deck overlooking the water which was fantastic. We started with the "bag of doughnuts" and scallop chowder. The bag of doughnuts were crab, shrimp and lobster fritters served with a maple, chipotle mayo. The fritters were a bit doughy inside but not horrible - still edible but I wasn't a big fan of the aioli. It was way too sweet for me but the bit of smokiness and touch of heat was nice. My partner liked the dip so maybe it was just me. The chowder was more like soup as it wasn't thick at all and didn't have much taste to it. The scallops were fabulous however. Super sweet and cooked perfectly so we just ended up fishing those out and eating mostly just the scallops. For dinner we got the Mooring Scampi which I was told was their top seller and the Acadian Red Fish. I was surprised to find a split lobster tail still in the shell atop the pasta. I wasn't expecting having to work for my dinner but the meat came out surprisingly easy but I noticed that it was actually coming apart as if the tail wasn't super fresh. Once I got the lobster out of the shell and the tails off of the shrimp, I stirred the dish around to get the smattering of tomatoes and garlic oil spread around a bit. I took a bite of the angel hair pasta with a scallop and the scallop was rubbery - very over cooked and the dish had a fishyness to it. I asked for some dinner rolls (as I noticed every other table doing - so note that they don't automatically bring the bread - you have to ask for it) and took a bite of my partner's dish. It was a red fish wrapped in bacon and stuffed with a crab stuffing. The stuffing was mostly breading and added a gumminess to the dish but didn't taste too bad. The tarragon sauce was lemony and fresh and went well with the fish. The sauteed spinach was also a nice accompaniment. She had a couple bites of my dish and we decided to trade. We skipped dessert and opted to get something along the way on our walk. For being one of the top fancy restaurants, I think I'd pass this one by for a place that knows how to cook. You'll know it when you see it as there will be a million people outside waiting to get in.

wendy m.

No complaints (other then paying $12 to park). Bartenders were very friendly, food, servers and atmosphere was very good. Great view overlooking the water.

John K.

Do you ever feel compelled to order seafood in a seafood restaurant, even if none of the dishes appeal to you? Especially, when you can smell the salt air and hear the surf crash from your table? ********************************* No? Oh well, it just must be me. Since I couldn't bring myself to go with the Murrays Free Range Statler Chicken or Hereford Beef Sirloin, I was locked into the "From the Water" side of the menu. I really would have loved some halibut, but the closest fish there was roasted "Whole Stuffed Flounder," for $24 with Brussel sprout leaves, cipollini onions, crispy pancetta, and pear & fennel stuffing. Sounds mouth watering on the menu, and the presentation was a sight to behold, but the fish itself was bland. (Yeah, I know. Flounder can be that way.) And I found out that I can't stand cipollini onions. I usually don't like Brussel Sprouts, but they made this bed for the fish with the leaves and they were really, really good. As previous reviewers have noted, the "bag of doughnuts" are absolutely to die for. Can you picture fritters stuffed with lobster, crab, and shrimp? They come steaming hot in a little paper bag and are served with aioli sauce. I only tasted one, but could have eaten the whole bag in lieu of an entrée. I'd eat them with a knife and fork, putting the little morsels in my mouth, torturing my dinner companions with groans, cries and whimpers. "No, I'm sorry, if you wanted one, you should have ordered them yourself." Props for Julie, our server! She was attentive even though the place was packed. Come to think of it, I should have asked Julie for a menu recommendation. In the "off season," which we qualified for, you can also get two 3-course meals, with a choice of 4 entrees to include "Cornmeal-crusted Blue Cod," and a bottle of (Beringer) wine for $49. I'd definitely go back to The Mooring, if for nothing else but a bag of dougnuts.

Meghan M.

I know a lot of people like this restaurant but I was thoroughly unimpressed. Scallop chowder- eh ( everyone loves this and I don't see it) Soup of the day- smoked chicken sweet potato soup with bacon- awesome Seafood dip- eh Filet- filet was perfect but side which was blue cheese potato croquette was awful. Overcooked and not too appetizing. I am meat and potatoes all the way and need potatoes to be good as well as steak. Boyfriend had ahi tuna sandwich which he loved and steak not so much.

John X.

Mooring definitely receives top marks for atmosphere and service, but I found the food a little lacking. Its location right on the harbor is great, and you have an awesome view of boats coming and going in Newport. The restaurant itself is pretty, with a large deck and decent bar. The clam chowder we got to start was excellent, and the bread there was also really good. I got the seafood pie which was decent, but I didn't think was that tasty. My friend got mooring scampi, which was alright, but I didn't think was worth the price either. Now, I saw some other people get the fish and chips, with a giant piece of fried cod the size of the entire plate, which I will go back and try.

David P.

One word, " WOW" what a menu! We went here for lunch. Even though we broke the budget, it was worth it. I got the :Mooring Scampi" Pan roasted Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, Tomato, Garlic -Herb butter, on Angel Hair Pasta. $36, but worth every bite. My wife got the Georges Bank Scallops, Grilled Scallops, winter squash rizotto,fried spinach, orange-sage burre blanc. $26. Both dishes were very good.

Poul P.

This place should be ashamed of it's food and service. I have no faith in the staff, and the entrees were so poorly prepared I felt honestly ripped off. Signature dishes were foul and not only would I not recommend this place, I will go out of my way to warn people off. 'Equivalent to Red Lobster' I would say, 'without the cheddar bay biscuits and three times the price.' On a Tuesday night, place was less than crowded at 630pm, they said the wait was 30 mins, fine we went to the bar to have a drink, which was almost slammed in our faces by one of the worst bartenders I've ever seen. When we went to check on our name, the host seemed startled and it was clear they had forgotten we were there. Sitting down my friend said 'why did we wait so long the dining room is almost empty.' The appetizers and chowder were pretty good, but it was all downhill from there. The entrees were atrociously prepared. I read the other reviews here and I am shocked at the ratings, bad food should give you bad ratings. If you are paying more than $30 dollars for a lobster pasta dish, then the pasta shouldn't be over cooked, with a poorly cooked whole lobster just dumped on top. The seafood pie was basically the chowder with a ton of seafood piled in, good right? No all the seafood was overcooked to dry and rubbery, the chowder was still thin and as others have said, presentation leaves something to be desired. The Lobster Croissant was lame as well, with flavorless lobster meat with a dry pasty texture, the best part of that plate was the fries. Lastly the Acadian red fish wrapped in bacon, the flesh was mealy, the stuffing bland and grainy and it all sat on the most poorly prepared and under-seasoned spinach I have ever had. I don't even think the kitchen staff knows what a beurre blanc is, be it lemon or tarragon. The server was horrible, of course disappeared for a good twenty minutes, and when pouring my bottle of beer managed to poor out about 5 inches of head to one inch of beer, his response 'whoa that was close.'

Kerry N.

Great dinner. The 'bag of doughtnuts' are WAY over-rated! Don't bother... unless you're in the mood for something fried, they do not taste like lobster, crab, or shrimp like they said. They were served hot and the dipping sauce was good. Fabulous service, and the scallops were wonderful! Desserts could use a boost because there is nothing really chocolaty and that's what I love! But the triple mousse that we did get was very good. Great feeling, and great drinks.

Aamir M.

The bag of donuts (which are not donuts, mind you) are indeed a revelation. More so is the sauce it is served with! I tried the grouper for my entree, and have to say it was really good. The ambience is great too. This is a restaurant definitely worth dining at again.

Lisa W.

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! We had a group of four that had appetizers, chowder and dinner and everything was fabulous. Everyone had multiple food-gasms. In case that wasn't enough, the service was great. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. Oh yeah, and the view was great too! The Mooring has become our go-to special occasion restaurant (and we live 1 hour away).

Sal G.

The quintessential seafood restaurant, with the ideal backdrop of the bay and the harbor, being seated right on the water. High quality ingredients (much of their food supplied by local Toppa Food Co. in Middletown), and dishes crafted by a chef who knows what his audience (mostly tourists) wants - great seafood dishes, with much variety, originality, and flavor. And when you go, you must order their 'Bag of Donuts', a tasty selection of lobster, crab, and shrimp fritters, each fritter containing only one of the choices, so you may get the crab, and Aunt Patty might get the lobster. No worry though, as all are delectable, accompanied by a chipotle-maple aioli. I asked the waiter what fish was local, since I wanted to truly eat seafood from local waters. Options at the time were the scallops, the sole, and a few others. I had the seared scallops, cooked perfectly, and also had a side of their risotto, which was rich and cheesy. Food is good, atmosphere is what you want when showing the town to your visiting relatives. THIS is the place you go for seafood when in Newport. End of story.

Je L.

Seriously?! How can people rate this place so highly? The taste of the food is so flat and uncreative. I think this place is extremely overrated. Yes, it does have a nice view, but that is about it. I ordered the Mooring Scampi, and it was so bland. I was disappointed. Husband got the Atlantic cod and, he too, thought it was nothing special. I would avoid this place, you end up wasting your money. I think I am just spoiled with choice at all the good restaurants in NYC. I couldn't even find one in Newport that wowed me.

seth w.

Food was decent. Quality was pretty good. Portions were tiny, prices were high. My $24 Scallop entre included 4 scallops... decent sized but not huge. Probably 12+ count OVerall probably dropped $150 for dinner for 2 and neither of us were thrilled with the meal. Prob a 6/10 for food but a 2/10 for value.

Melissa P.

On a recent trip back east we spent a few days in Newport and I was thrilled with this Yelp pick. Yes, you heard me. I planned my dinners around what everybody else had to say. I really liked this place for the casual yet elegant environment. We started off with a cocktail in the very lively bar that was quite the scene... in a good way! We were then escorted to the outside patio which made me a little hesitant due to the noise but it turned out to be a great spot. The view right on the harbor watching the boats come in and out at sunset was just beautiful. We started with the cheese plate which I didn't expect much from considering we were in a place that specialized in seafood however to my surprise it was delish! I had the scampi which was so fresh and citrus based and Mark had the Filet and shrimp. We were both so excited about our meals. Then on top of it all they brought us each a glass of complimentary Champagne to acknowledge our Anniversary. It was such a nice touch and very much appreciated. The service and ambiance were great and we would definitely go back on our next visit to Newport!

Philip N.

Everything about the restaurant is nice, save for the food which I thought was exceptional. Again, nothing is terribly inventive or daring, but the Mooring seriously served some of the best food I've eaten in quite some time. My girlfriend got the baked lobster stuffed with scallops, shrimp and bread crumbs while I got the New York steak while splitting a baked mac and cheese. I'm typically a steak person, but I got some serious plate envy after tasting the lobster. It's a must try. For dessert, the mint chocolate creme brulee stuck out to us, and it was awesome. Neither the sweetness or the mint-iness dominated the dish, and it was the perfect pairing with the Mexican organic coffee we shared to finish off a great meal.

Shane K.

Quite possibly the best seafood pie i have ever had! Great views, good beer, good service and decent prices. We shared the Bag O' Doughnuts for an appetizer and they were like wee bites of fishy heaven. The seafood pie was so good my mouth is watering now thinking about it. All washed down with a cold newport storm amber ale to top it off.

David N.

My wife and I had a very enjoyable dinner here a few weeks ago. Nice, casual, intimate atmosphere, if a little on the loud side. Our service was fantastic. The waiter was attentive, didn't charge us for a gin and tonic my wife changed her mind on, and didn't charge for the extra oysters they brought to us by accident. Speaking of which, the oysters were great; we ordered a couple of local ones; we could have eaten those all night. My wife ordered a 1/14-11/2 pound lobster which she said was excellent. I had the sole, which was a little on the salty side (was it the capers maybe?), but still good overall. I also got to sample a really good local winter beer.

Patrick J.

We stopped in for a couple of pints after a walk. The bar area is quite nice - lots of dark wood. A huge wide wooden bar in a square configuration. Not too busy on a Monday afternoon. Our first bartender was this nice Irish guy. Our second shift bartender was kinda sketchy. We got a cheese plate, which seemed to have three slices of the same type of cheese (and not very interesting cheese at that). However, they DID give you a small bowl of honeycomb, which was super fun to dig into, harvest your honey, and then apply to your cheese laden cracker. Since my father-in-law keeps bees, I'm saving this idea for future dinner parties. The sunset was nice. And the company beautiful.

Leslie M.

Bag of donuts are a RIP-OFF!!! Over priced and underwhelming...the "lobster" and "shrimp" it claims to contain is virtually nonexistent. If you want to waste money on a mouth full of fried dough then this is for you! Scallop chowder, however, was pretty tasty.

Lai T.

I had lunch at the Mooring over Memorial Day weekend. Their scallop chowder is exceptional! Absolutely price worthy, you can taste the freshness and natural sweetness from the scallops and the cup of chowder came with 2 whole large scallops, and it was cooked perfectly. Not overcooked. We had oysters too, which was really fresh. I prefer crab cakes to be chunkier, but it was still good. Overall, great food tasting experience. Its a little pricy, and as a raw oyster lover, I wished they had more than 2 varieties of oysters.

Holly W.

Three of us had the Scallop Chowder to start which was very good, the only complaint being that the scallops were slightly over cooked - I guess it's a fine line when putting them in hot soup since scallops cook so quickly. One person got the Clam Chowder and I had a taste, now that was delicious and I wished I had ordered it instead. We tried an order of the Seafood Doughnuts and they were good, the spicy aioli really made the dish. Two of us had the Seafood Pie and while it was good, it's a favorite of ours at another restaurant called Oyster Creek, Leeds Pt, NJ and comparisons were inevitable. This one had the seafood on the bottom with a piece of puff pastry balanced precariously on top and we were mystified about how to eat it, literally asking the waiter what to do! He said to sort of mash it down into the seafood which we did and It was messy and awkward, if I wasn't eating with family I would have felt self conscious. Once mashed down it soaked up the small amt of juice there so the dish tasted kind of dry. Again, the scallops were just a tad overdone. (The seafood pie we agreed we like better and get near home is like an actual pie, the dish being lined with the pastry and seafood on top, like chicken pot pie, and there is more sauce and it's creamier). Another of our party had the Ahi Tuna, rare and the other had the Seared Scallops and they were both perfectly cooked and delicious. The table shared a generous side of mac & cheese which was possibly the best I have ever had out, plus a garlic and spinach which was fine. We ordered coffee since we saw they were using french presses but unfortunately they were out of them when we ordered. It was still decent coffee though. Our dimpled waiter was wonderful, helpful, attentive and timely without being obsequious or overbearing. It's a lovely location, right on the water. I would definitely go back here, get the clam chowder and seafood doughnuts and maybe try one of their sandwiches or salads.

Debra L.

Excellent food. I would drive there again from Brooklyn just for their lobster and oysters. The freshest we've ever had. Highly recommend it.

Amanda P.

The food was YUMMY and the wine list was amazing!! I thought it was a bit loud for my taste but the food and service made up for it. I asked for a nice table due to a birthday and did not really get one so I was a bit disappointed about that.

Anthony V.

My fiancée, best man, and I had a great time here. The seafood Doughnuts were very good, never thought that spicy sauce would work but it did. The seafood potpie was good too. The desert list was a bit disappointting but the extensive drink and wine menu was impressive and on an ipad.

christine a.

This was recommended by the concierge at our hotel. . The wait from the time we sat down to when we left? 3 hours. We had a group of 8 which may have accounted for the long wait, but I don't think so. Several of us just ordered chowder and a side salad. Waiting 1 hour for your food to arrive seemed a bit excessive for what was ordered. The place is also not very vegetarian or vegan friendly. They do have a "separate" menu, but it's essentially all of the same side dishes as shown on the regular menu. Their renowned scallop chowder was meh. We had to chase down our waitress on several occasions to remind her we were still there. Not a great 1st impression.

Alanna S.

My boyfriend and I are in Rhode Island for the off season (it is January) and were thrilled to hear that many outstanding restaurants offer phenomenal specials during off-peak months. After finding out about Mooring Restaurant's $19.95 3-course prix fixe, we decided to start there, and were pleasantly surprised to discover that off season parking is free. [As an aside, you can add a bottle of Beringer wine to the prix fixe menu for a very reasonable $10. We did not, and my boyfriend had draft beer at $5.75 a pint - next time we will do the bottle!] We were ecstatic about the 3-course options - we both started with the clam chowder, which was awesome. Thick, creamy, chunky and full of meat, the soup was served on the edible side of hot and came with a dinner roll and butter. He enjoyed the tenderloin ravioli, which were probably 7 or 8 large raviolis in a creamy gorgonzola sauce covered with carmelized mushrooms - they were outstanding, especially since he loves red meat. I ordered the salmon pad thai, which I thoroughly enjoyed, as the pad thai was in a spicy peanut sauce where they weren't afraid to use red pepper flakes. The salmon was lightly breaded and on the drier side - it was very mildly seasoned, so if you like the taste of salmon, this would be a great dish for you! We also split a side of macaroni and cheese, because we had noticed (and craved) the $27 lobster macaroni and cheese and hoped (correctly, I think) that the $6 side would be the same, minus the lobster. It was PHENOMENAL. Creamy, baked and covered in a light bread crumb topping, it was really difficult not to finish it - the only thing that stopped us was the knowledge that dessert was coming. We finished with the apple crisp (him) and the pumpkin bread pudding (me). Both were outstanding - the apple crisp has a lot of seasoning, where normally apple crisps are sweet and dependent on butter. We both liked that this one was reminiscent of fall and harvest flavors and really held its own next to the incredible pumpkin bread pudding. We got there at about 745, and by the time we finished dessert, it was 9, so I would assume that the bread pudding had been sitting in the pan for quite a few hours at that point. It didn't matter, though, because besides the bottom being a little dry, the top and center were moist, sweet and delicious. Our server, Lindsey (I think), was stretched a little thin between three tables (that we could see) but she was thoughtful and sweet and took great care of us. We left a 25% tip due to her warm hospitality and good service. I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant and would absolutely recommend it, especially if you enjoy fine dining at a reasonable price.

Winnie T.

There were a few highlights - the bag of doughnuts (a seafood fritter) and the chowders, both New England and scallop, were exquisite. The fritters had spices and lobster bits mixed into the batter, plus the chipotle mayo aioli worked very well with the fritters. However, The Mooring lost stars because of the sluggish service, the salt content of some of the food, and some bad dishes. For example, one low point was the Mooring Scampi dish - our dish had very little pasta - how much does pasta costs these days anyways?! Another low point was the cod, it was so salty, I could not make it home without dying of thirst. Overall, I would not return, but try some of the other restaurants in the neighborhood.

Kim P.

Aug 08 Update: yeah, I don't think I'll go back to the Mooring. Last year when I went we had a good experience - the food was good, service was great. I went a couple of weeks ago with Mom and Aunt, and it was just OK. I thought it would be a good place to bring the out-of-towners for seafood, nice to sit outside and look at the boats. The food was adequate, but probably overpriced given the quality. But last night was the final straw. The girl at the table next to us had been at the ABC all day (I know because I saw her there) and was WASTED. Loudly talking, dropping f-bombs every sentence while the whole patio area heard how stupid she was for "falling in love." Ugh. NO ONE said anything to her - not even her dining companions, despite getting the stink eye from everyone sitting around them. Meanwhile, our food arrived. I had a 2lb lobster, hubby the sirloin. First of all, there is no way my lobster was 2 lbs. But I didn't complain about that since hubby took one slice of his meat and sent it back since it was well done. (instead of medium rare like he'd asked for.) So, I start to eat my lobster, sharing with him while he waits - and parts of it (particularly on the body and in the claws) were not cooked enough. I mean, how hard is it to cook a freaking lobster, and don't you get enough practice working at the Mooring? it needed probably 2 more minutes - so not raw or anything, but the uncooked parts were runny and mushy. And of course I was completely finished with my lobster (the edible parts) before hubby's meal came. When the steak finally did arrive, it was cooked properly but really just wasn't very good. Like, wasn't a good cut of meat, and the sauce that was on it was disgusting tasting. Taste is a personal preference, so fine. Won't get that again. Hubby finishes eating and had had enough of drunk girl, so goes to complain to the manager. Unfortunately too late as they were now leaving anyway. When they get up, I notice this girls ISN'T WEARING ANY SHOES. Didn't have them in her hand, either, just didn't have any. Why on earth would they seat a drunk girl, much less a shoeless drunk girl, in a place like this? And why didn't anyone on the wait staff or management say anything to this table which was clearly causing a scene? I felt kinda bad for our waiter - I don't think he'd been in the biz long and he had to field our complaints about the kitchen (which we repeatedly told hm we knew weren't his fault) and then about this woman. Anyway, we won't be going back. And we won't recommend it to friends when they come in to visit.

Suzanne G.

I really enjoyed this restaurant. First off, the location is great and the restaurant overlooks the water and Newport harbor. We came around sunset and the view was spectacular. The bar serves great cocktails, and I was very impressed with their presentation. The food was really delicious. We went on a Tuesday, and were able to get a 3-course prix-fixe menu for two, with a bottle wine, for $50. Especially since I was here with work people, expensing the $10 wine charge on the receipt would not be an issue! The blue cod I had was amazing, and I'm not even a big fan of fish. The calamari app was delicious- definitely try it because the cumin sauce was my favorite. Overall, this is a great place, especially if it's your first time to Newport.

Matthew B.

We ate on the patio and they had heat from above so very cozy. Food was so tasty and atmosphere was wonderful for me and my family. Not cheap but good value.

Geraldine K.

I had very high expectations for this place because of the great ratings and rants and reviews and the renown it possesses, but the experience was a bit anti-climactic. Not that it was in any way horrible or foul, but the caliber and taste didn't match what I imagined it to be. I can't give it quite 4 stars but it was certainly better than average 3. 3.5 stars, then! Ugh, why can't Yelp let us dole out half stars... I'm still waiting for this change - it will revolutionize Yelp! Food review: -The lobster croissant was fresh and quite tasty albeit a bit expensive, but it did satisfy my crustacean craving I had during my vacation. -The Mooring clam chowder is deemed the best in New England. It was very tasty with generous portions of clams. I haven't tasted that many clam chowders to claim theirs the "best" -Seared Tuna appetizer was good, but not as flavorful as expected. It's a great appetizer but I love tuna in general so it's hard for me to be negative about it (except for once, see my E. Village Gyu-Kaku review) -Hereford Burger: The Mooring is a seafood restaurant, but in no way, shape, or form does it lack skill in cooking non-seafood items! The bacon and well-done medium burger was cooked to perfection and flavoring was wonderful and savory. Both the burger and lobster croissant came with spicy salted fries, which was v. good - I have a penchant for salty, savory foods, so I was a happy camper in that area. Service was polite, but I felt it was insincere. Perhaps it's because they knew we were tourists, but that very fact gets to me! Prices are not cheap, but after seeing all the menus and prices in Newport, what they offer becomes the norm. Then, after awhile, you just find yourself looking for whatever's been rated crème de la crème. Hence, we visited the Mooring. Dinner here was light and good, but my expectations really got the better of me. What do you expect when you read about a famous restaurant that has great reviews? I've reconfirmed from the Mooring experience that a restaurant that has a lot of hype and is expensive is not worth it. Even at the end of this review, I shall stick to my rating of 3.5 stars.

Suzanne G.

Husband and I had lunch here the other day after discovering that the French Bistro is gone; now there is a restaurant called Flukes in the same location, but that was not open so we didn't get to try it. Off season and all...in any case, we started walking toward Thames St to check menus and find a place to eat. After seeing the interesting items listed at the Mooring we decided to enter and give it a try. It was about 1:00 and we were seated immediately. I overheard some women at the next table asking the server if there was a corned beef and cabbage special (we were there on St Patrick's day) and there was not, but listen, there are about 1,000 pubs on the other side of the street, so I don't know why they didn't go there first. OK, our meal. We ordered the doughnuts and fried calamari to share. These doughnuts are fritters with clams and bits of other things. A paper bag of six served with fabulous aioli, so good. The calamari were also fabulous, served with a salsa-like marinara. He had a bowl of the clam chowder and proclaimed it delicious, and I had a field green salad with walnuts and goat cheese. Now this is my kind of salad. No iceberg lettuce, just wonderful fresh baby green leaves and herbs and goodness. We had all this with a great white wine, Ste. Michelle Horse something? Why can't I ever remember wine? Service was great and this must be a perfect place to dine in summer.

Janice V.

eat at this place if your in rhode island. the fish is fresh, the bag of doughnuts are steaming, the pot pie is soupy and huge, good enough for two hungry people, gosh i just love this place, even the clam chowder is off the charts! visit visit, if your in town!!

Eliza C.

Great seafood, yummy crab cakes. Nice scenery by water

Noel P.

The seafood was very good, especially for a large, packed restaurant. It was a bit loud but not uncomfortable. The staff was professional and took good care of us. We had fun and will certainly go back.

Reg Z.

The food was good, but not spectacular. The view is also great, although at night it isn't too important. The scallop chowder was fantastic, definitely try it. The fish came out hot and over cooked (the waitress talked me into the fish because she said it definitely wouldn't be dry). The clam chowder was decent. The waitress asked if we wanted an ice bucket for our wine and after asking her two more times and letting our wine get warm, she finally brought it. We spent about $180 for two of us with tip and wine, I just walked away thinking I've had better experiences and food in Newport for less.

Phillip Y.

It's hard to choose where to eat once you park in historic Newport downtown. First, parking can be a little tricky. We managed to find a parking lot away from water front. Second, you got alot of choices so we decided on seafood and found good reviews on Yelp about this place. The ambience is really nice here and it's literally on the waterfront . The waitress was nice to seat us with a great view. We ordered the bag of donuts thinking it would be something new and different. Basically, these are a glorified version of hushpuppies from Long John Silver. You get a little more seafood but basically it's fried stuffing. The scallop chowder was pretty good and there is plenty of scallop chunks. The best part of the meal were the Ahi tuna sandwich. We had a medium rare and a medium well done. After looking at the medium rare, it looked more rare than just slightly pink. So, it just depends on your taste. I went with the medium well done just to be safe. It was done to perfection for me:) Also, this place has gated parking since it looks to be a wharf shopping area. So, you would have to check about how they deal with parking for restaurant customers. Aside from being slightly disappointed with the bag of donuts, I would have to say that we were all happy with the rest of the meal.

Rob S.

We live across the bridge in Jamestown, and this is our "go-to" restaurant. Easily our favorite in RI. Food, ambiance, view, staff - all great. Usually a wait in summer (duh, its Newport), but well worth it. If you're visiting or a local check this place out. We bring our kids and they love it - there is something for everyone on the menu. Bag of Doughnuts is a must. Good wine list and beer selection.

Manuel A.

Took my wife for birthday. The place was magnificent! Food was excellent, the help was outstanding and the setting was beautiful! One of the best places in Newport!

Sibil M.

I went here for lunch with a few of my girlfriends during a weekend visit to Newport. The restaurant is gorgeous and very spacious, with dark wood paneling and leather upholstered seats with stud detailing. The whole back end of the restaurant has wonderful open views of the water. We elected not to sit outside because of the strong midday sun, and we were thinking we'd regret this because we wouldnt' have a view of the water. We were pleasantly surprised to have a wonderful view of it because we were seated at a large window table. The wait staff was attentive and very friendly. Our drink orders were placed quickly and my Arnold Palmer was refilled without me asking when it was a quarter full. One of the girls complained that her mojito was too tart and didnt' have enough sugar syrup in it. That was maybe the only complaint of the meal, everything else was stellar! For appetizer, we decided to share the "bag of doughnuts", deep fried fritters of seafood with a chipotle-aioli dipping sauce. It was well seasoned, crisp and hot, and very tasty! We decided to have a soup/salad or soup/crab cakes combo for lunch, as we had a full day of tours and sightseeing to do and we didn't want to be too stuffed. Two of us ordered clam chowder, one ordered the award-winning scallop chowder, and another ordered a simple salad of greens. It was all delicious and so fresh. The chowder was creamy and delicious, it had the sea salty cream flavor that's essential in a good chowder! Me and another friend decided to get the special, which was cod cakes with fried green heirloom tomatoes. The rest of the group got crab cakes and stuffed fried oysters with andouille sausage. All of the food was well spiced and seasoned and crisply coated and fried. I would definitely come here again when in Newport. Excellent dining experience and wonderful wait staff!

Ile F.

Nice beach view for lunch. We had clam chowder in another place so we tried scallop chowder this time. It was amazingly great and so were their mini donuts. You can use the coupon came with Mansion house visit for the meal. Tips are automatically calculated if you use coupon since it adds back the coupon amount to the baseline. Service was great and prompt.

Lynne K.

The view of the warf at sunset was phenominal! So amazingly beautiful and romantic. I felt a bit overdressed, possibly due to my habit of dressing to the menu and more likely to the typical tourists habit of eating after wandering around in the heat and showing up unbathed and in running shoes. (Have the days of bathing and proper society fallen entirely by the wayside? My goodness!) The calamari wasn't overly impressive. The mussels were fantastic, though a huge portion! Dessert, a molton chocolate cake with fresh fruit, was fantastic! Plus, dessert coffees were a great addition and a nice night cap! Go if you can get a table outside and don't let them rush you to leave!

Ams A.

Excellent lunch at moorings Columbus day...bag o donuts, delish, raw bar, awesome!!! Service was top notch and the view ain't bad either

Alex R.

Very good.

J R.

I come here at least once or twice a month in the summer, either for a drink and some chowder at the bar, or actual lunch/dinner. Chowder - Tied for first in Newport, could never choose between this or the Black Pearl. Simply amazing. Bag o' Doughnuts - Flavorless in my opinion, ok with the dipping sauce, but I'd rather taste lobster, aka the main ingredient, which I do not. Oysters - Always as fresh as can be, always as clean as possible, A+ Shrimp Cocktail and Littlenecks - Same rating as the oysters, perfect. Calamari - Surprisingly well.. very lightly fried, not too crispy, but then again if they had a little bit more texture, the calamari would be rubber. Cooked extremely well. Lobster Croissant - Delicious, but I've had better lobster rolls. Not crazy about the croissant, I'll ask for something different next time. Wine selections are great. As far as the entrees go, I would tend to stay away from anything heavy. In the winter they have a chicken pot pie that has chourizo in it, amazing, but for everything else... seafood pie, and a couple other items I can't recall... I would suggest to do something simple. They serve very fresh fish, let the plate speak for itself :) Service is always professional, some servers/bartenders are a little more personable than others, but no one is bitter at all. Everyone that works there is very welcoming. Do come, at least for the chowder and a lovely belvedere martini that the bar so eloquently makes, ha!.

M R.

Went to the Mooring for a (very, very) late lunch. Didn't have to wait for an outside table, even though it was 5pm on a very nice Saturday, but we may have just lucked out. The service was reasonably fast, given that the place was very busy. Food was excellent, very nice selection of oysters (go for the local RI ones, they have at least 3 different kinds), the "bag of donuts" is a fun appetizer, and both our entrees were great - I ordered the scallops (wonderfully done, just wish they had more of the sauce on the side, it was tasty) and my wife had the lobster croissant, which was so good, she refused to share. The only thing to be aware of - parking in the area is an utter nightmare. If you don't absolutely have to - don't drive! Take a cab, public transport, walk, anything but drive! Parking is scarce and expensive, and you don't want anything to ruin your enjoyment of this wonderful place.

Heather B.

My husband and just celebrated our anniversary at the Mooring. We both have enjoyed two of their other spots, The Boathouse and The Waterman Grille. So, we new a jist of what to expect. The environment and decor our lovely. Great bar area, we enjoyed sitting at the bar before dinner for a drink and after. For late September the weather was beautiful and we sat outside on there covered patio right on the docks. Beautiful, sunset and service. My husband got the scampi dish with scallops, shrimp and some other seafood, he said it was light on the pasta. Guess he could have used more. I had the surf and turf, steamed lobster and fillet. It was good, the steak was a little bland, but I was satisfied. It is a beautiful location, pretty much anywhere in Newport is. Parking you pay for at the restaurant or you can find your own. We did a meter and then it is free after 9pm. Dessert....OMG get the Blondie, amazing!

Charles H.

Excellent food and dining atmosphere on the water in Newport. The Scallop Bisque was outstanding! The Seafood Pie was a great combination of seafood with lobster, scallops, crab meat, and white fish. Several of our party had the braised short ribs and raved about them.

Heather N.

A must if you are in Newport! The bag of donuts is a must and the drink menu on an iPad is genius!

Heather B.

i see why the mooring got mixed reviews. Still a great atmosphere and we really enjoyed our beers on the deck. We were very disappointed that a Seafood restaurant would serve bad mussels. I expected the chef to know how long they can keep fish or to smell them before serving. Was very excited about this meal but couldn't eat that part of it.

G B.

Excellent! When we walked in we were greated as true guests and escorted to a table outside. The staff was great. Our waitress (Sarah) was professional yet very personable. Food quality top notch. Very good experience. (great wine selection).

Periwinks P.

Ordered the scallop chowder and wasn't impressed. It had 3 large scallops but the flavor was dull. For my entree I had the Mooring Scampi and it was disgusting. The dish had zero scampi sauce and was not as good as the waitress recommended. For $36 I expected a better meal. The waitress offered another dish so I tried their grilled halibut special and it was much better. I was shocked that the manager actually comp'd my entree. Wait staff needs some training. Will not visit again.

Kim L.

I went here for my birthday this part weekend, and I thought everything was amazing. There was over an hour wait, but since it was so pretty inside, we decided to stay. But we ordered drinks and apps at the bar...so in no time our table was ready. Our waitress was super nice. My friend said it was my birthday, so she brought us out complimentary champagne and even said my dinner was free. I dunno if this is normal, but I was super-pumped! Our apps: Crabcakes, Stuffed Peppers and Seared Tuna. All delicious. We licked the plates clean. Dinner: Ahi Tuna - Excellent, Seafood Pie - Excellent, Chili-Crusted Scallops - Amazing; Sirloin - Excellent, but the mushrooms cheescake was just ok. The Fried rice and Potato sides were all delicious. PS. Pretty much all the servers are beautiful people. Me and my friends had fun checking out the guys. =)

sati k.

Scallop bisque is excellent as is their lobster croissant. Service staff is well trained.

Cheryl C.

The Mooring has a great atmosphere, views of yachts and the water, and deliciously fresh seafood. Located centrally in downtown Newport on a Wharf off of Thames Street. I've visited the restaurant three times and have never been disappointed by the food or service. Last Saturday being my most recent experience, we sat at the bar and ordered from the dinner menu. I tried the Georges Banks Scallop dish which was out of this world - the chive blossom sauce, combined with the pan seared fresh sea scallops topped with the pancetta and paired with almond polenta was an outstanding mouth watering flavor combination. The calamari that we shared was the best I've ever tasted and included fried pepper rings which were more pickle-y then spicy - yum. You definitely pay a bit more than most places because of it's outstanding location but it's wealth worth it.

Jeanne T.

Maybe if I knew about the bag of donuts, I would have enjoyed it more. I tagged along for a business dinner with my friend and her associates. The reservations were made by her associates, so we didn't know what we were getting into. The restaurant setting is certainly impressive -- on the waterfront with the yachts bobbing in the water. We sat inside, so that special feature wasn't part of our dining experience. So for me, it was like any other restaurant where the food and not the view is the main attraction. My quick assessment is that the food, while OK, could have been better. My friend and I started by sharing the chopped salad. It was fine. I remember enjoying it while I was eating it, but now two days later, I cannot remember what specifically was in it or recall the taste. Good but not memorable. I do, however, remember my main course, which was the fluke on a bed of quinoa. The fish was cooked well enough, but the prep people should have run their fingers over the fish to feel for bones. I usually overlook one or two bones when you eat fish, but there were a lot left in my fluke. It's really embarrassing when you're in a middle of a conversation with people you don't really know when you hit a fish bone. What to do? Pick it out with your fingers? Spit into a napkin? Chew some more? There is no elegant nor polite way to get the bone out of your mouth. And when it happens repeatedly, it takes all the enjoyment out of the dish. Needless to say, I had to stop eating it. My friend had the tuna, which she said she ate because she was hungry -- not exactly a glowing endorsement. Overall, not a bad restaurant if you sit by the water and have the horizon as your dining partner. But if you're going for the quality of the food, there are better restaurants in Newport.

Craig H.

The Mooring remains one of Newports top restaurants. The food, specializing in seafood, is creative and well prepared. The ambiance, set on Newport's harbor, can't be beat, especially if you time your arrival at sunset. Extensive wine list with bottles and glasses available at all price ranges.

Matthew Z.

Great view of the water, good seafood. I had the three course option for $20 with good clam chowder, sole, and apple crisp. Full bar available and some non-Sam Adams beers available (New Castle, Guinness). Good service. Also provides parking validation which can be important in Newport when it's crowded.

Dave K.

Been there a couple of times. It's a bit pricey, but the food is good, the staff is capable, and the view is pretty great, too. It's just that the place seems to lack... soul. It's like a really upmarket Chili's or Ruby Tuesday's. I get the feeling that if you went to any town with a waterfront and a tourist economy, you could get the same bowl of generic clam chowder served to you by an earnest but uninterested college kid waiter. I dunno. It leaves me cold.

Josie L.

Dinner at Mooring before visiting the Mansions. The place is quaint. I'm giving the place 3 stars due to service and experience with the meal. It's nice to be in Newport during off-season. I was able to park in the parking lot and didn't have to pay. I thought I check out the place due to the reviews and prixe fix menu. Three-Course: *Harvest Salad which I thought it was yummy. The dressing wasn't as vinegary. I would order it again. There's a lot of flavor to the salad. *Salmon Pad Thai - Pieces of salmon seemed like it was lightly breaded and fried. The salmon was dried. I do like the pad thai. It was nice and spicy. I wouldn't order it again. *Mooring Apple Crisp - It was ok. I think my friend liked it. I never had Apple Crisp before and I think the spices were a little too much for me. If I had to do it over again, I would not look at Prixe Fix menu. In addition to Prixe menu other items were ordered: *Littlenecks - Fresh and tasty. Loved the condiments that went with it. *Cherrystones - Fresh, sweet and tasty. Loved the condiments that went with it. *Cup of Native Scallop Chowder - Had to get this since it's an Award Winning. It was creamy and I tasted a lot of butter. I enjoyed it. This was the first time I ever had Scallop Chowder. *Bag of Doughnuts - I think Mooring should bottle the Chipotle-Maple Aioli. It's so yummy. The spicyn-ess is a creeper. It sneaks up on you. As for the doughnuts, we were eating nothing but the dough. It's great when one is hungry. After being full from stuffing ourselves we decided to take the dough apart. There was nothing but dough and a couple of small shrimps in it. AND, they are MAKING $12 a dish for this? Not worth it! But, LOVED the Aioli. *Side of Baked Mac-N-Cheese - This was a delicious mac-n-cheese. Totally would order it again. A lot of flavor and it was nicely done where the topping of bread crumbs were nicely baked and crispy. The service was bad because our wait staff didn't refill our water. He didn't take care of us. How can I tip my wait staff 15% if he's not doing his job? I expect better service for restaurant like this. I would go back to Mooring if I can't find any other places to try. The food is good, if you know what to order. Oh, yeah! I did see lobster special @ The Barking Crab after the fact. I think the special was discovered either after dinner or the next morning. The special was under $20. Oh well...next time I need to read the newspaper before heading out for dinner.

Yumi S.

OK, there is a caveat to this rating...the food is really great and I would give it 4 stars but I have to take 2 stars away because of the horrible service. I thought it was just the first time I went, but even worse on the second visit. If you decide to go any way, I really hope you will get better service to go with the good food they serve!

A N.

Excellent service and food. Yummy clam chowder, salads, BLT wrap and burgers.

Changun S.

great view: water, boats lobster pasta: home made pasta, HUGE lobster, mushrooms, bread, seasoned great... writing about it makes my mouth drool! fresh oysters~~ :) huge portions of lobster in their lobster roll will def. come here again! :)

Michael K.

Wife and I had dinner there May 24, 2013. Were seated overlooking the marina, so that was great. We chose to have one entree and several appetizers. Wife ordered the "award" winning scallop chowder. I tasted it and while I'm not much of a soup lover, it was outstanding. Even though has cheese in it, soup is surprisingly light and extremely tasty. It's a must. We also ordered two appetizers. Calamari with pepperoncinis and olives. When ordered I asked the olives not be included, however that didn't happen. Our waiter Matt apologized and took the blame. There were quite a bit of them and I picked them out. It was also served with marinara sauce. The sauce was cold. I mean not even room temp, but cold. That was disconcerting when dipping the warm calamari into it. The calamari itself -- probably the most tender and flavorful I've ever had. When ordering we asked Matt if the "Bag of Doughnuts" are good. He said its their most popular selling appetizer. That might be so because the description of crab and lobster fritters served in a brown bag sounds great -- unfortunately the item didn't live up to the hype. They were very "doughy" and essentially had no taste of crab or lobster (or anything else) as it was hard to find any bits of the seafood in the item. Mushy and tasteless we didn't even eat half the order. Also, it so happened that the table next to ours, that was seated after ours, also ordered the doughnuts. Well, the food runner brought them the order that was to be for our table. Matt saw the server screwed up, and when we told him we'd still like them, they arrived almost when we had finished our meal. They were comped because of the screw up, We also ordered the fish-n-chips. The fish was excellent -- light and tasty. The fries I think were fresh cut and also excellent. The slaw heavily accented with red pepper wasn't that great. From seeing the way the restaurant was run, Matt and the runner probably just had a bad moment that's not their norm. I wouldn't rule out going to this restaurant again when I'm in town next, but most likely would try others first for variety.

Oysters, clams, ... and the main courses are superb. Pricey but so worth it. Free wifi aso!

Indi G.

Good, reliable, fresh seafood. I've had lunch here several times, most recently yesterday. We had tasty salmon rolls to begin. I had a great scallop mixed green salad which was delicious, very fresh and prepared well. My husband had the fish and chips dish which was also excellent. We also quite impressed with the education and flyer that our server gave us re Alaska mining initiative that risks jeopardizing the salmon industry. Even seated inside, we could still enjoy the harbor views. All around a good lunchtime experience.

S H.

Don't know much else around Newport but was not impressed. The only thing that was ok was the scallop chowder. Fish and chips were a bust and overpriced. The fish was well-cooked but crap frozen chips and gross coleslaw did not make up for it.

Anita S.

Nice atmosphere,lots of wood and brass. But very noisy even though it wasn't full. Food was okay,not great. Nice outdoor patio for dining overloking the marina.

mickey l.

All 16 of us hungry, hairy, horny men for a bachelor party dinner. Everything was great, especially the seafood Appetizers like mussels and crab legs and scallops and oysters so on But ! I did not hesitate to send back my god damn steak because I'd ordered it rare and it came to me from the inexperienced waiter god damn medium well done! Hell No. If I am spending 35$ on a piece of meat, they'd better cook it to order and do it right. I can Hear the Hell's Kitchen TV Show with Chef Ramsey screaming about the meat in my head. Sitting, waiting, watching my friends eat their yummy plates, I fantasized about the tasty time I had a rare steak and fries while eating at an Argentinian Steak House on the famed Champs Ellesse in Paris..ahhh... So I really hoped my steak would out come soon and without fault. Within 10 minutes, The floor manager brought a huge, perfectly cooked steak to me with a smile, asked me to cut it and approve it in front of her. I smiled at her and went on to absolutely polish off the steak and fries with gorgonzola butter. I would go back. The views are fantastic and the food is fairly priced for the quality and quantity and atmosphere all make it memorable and enjoyable unless you hate dining on a wharf.

B S.

Moorings was great. Atmosphere was nice and busy but service was great. We had a nice view of the harbour. Our drinks were delicious. You have to get the bag of doughnuts......they were AMAZING!! we ordered the seared scallops and Seafood stew both were so yummy, stew was a tad to salty but the seafood in it was amazing! I would def go back

Sandy D.

Bag of Doughnuts was yummie!!! Meals were very good & ample portions! Clam chowder was exceptional!!!

Mad M.

If you are looking for good food and a pleasant atmosphere steer clear of the Mooring.On our visit to Newport we thought we have one formal dinner and one casual., so we chose the mooring as our casual restaurant. As it turned out it was casual with up scale pricing. The food was not good and over priced. One of us order the seafood pie, which wasn't a pie at all, just a small caserolle dish with overcooked seafood,and very little at that with a puffed pastry laying on top, and was priced at 38.00. I ordered a lobster tail it came out the size of a large shrimp it was tough and chewy and expensive. You do not get any sides as a matter of fact mine was served with a scoop of some limp greens. Without desert drinks or coffee the bill was over 100.00 for the two of us. I don't mind paying this price for a dinner that's tasty but this certainly wasn't. The atmosphere was very rustic and not relaxing at all. Although the waitress was pleasant I would not recommend The Mooring whatsoever. Two words to describe the Mooring TOURIST TRAP

jonathan y.

it may look touristy, but oh boy, their "bag of donuts" is just amazing! Their scallop chowder is also a must- rich with a hint of alcohol. request a table on the patio with a view, I promise you won't regret it.

katsu o.

this is my favorite place in newport. the shellfish is amazing! being able to sit out back by the water and watch the ships come into the harbor is a great bonus not to mention the littlenecks on the half shell.

JONATHAN S.

When comparing fine food establishments in Newport, The Mooring is at the top of the list. The atmosphere, food, drink, wine list, PARKING make The Mooring one of my top picks in the area. The patio is the perfect place to spend a hot summer evening.

Catherine J.

My boyfriend took me to Newport this weekend and proposed! We went to the Mooring afterward for dinner. It was a little crowded, but the food was Delicious! We ordered the Mussel Zuppa for and appetizer and 2 glasses of champagne to toast our engagement. The wine list came on a I -pad! The Zuppa was awesome! The broth was spicy and the mussels were fresh. It came with yummy grilled rosemary focassia bread. For dinner, I ordered the Lobster Pappadelle and my Fiance (YAY!!) ordered the cobia. He enjoyed his dish, but we both agreed the lobster pasta was out of this world! A whole fresh and sweet lobster, with homemade pasta in a perfect white wine and garlic sauce with peas and bacon. So amazing!!! Our waitress made the night extra special. When the bill came she kindly deducted our drinks! It was an amazing meal. I would love to give this place 5 stars, but there was quite a bit of hustle and bustle. The view was okay. it's located on a marina, so you can watch the boats, but it's not an ocean view. Also the closest parking is $15. If i went again I'd try to park somewhere esle and walk there. All things considered it was a great place to go!

Alberto M.

Wow! Absolutely the best scalop chowder ever, a must!! Outstanding service, fantastic dinner, and the best view in Newport... Really an outstanding restaurant, book early for an ouside table.

Chris P.

AHHHHHERWGTET$T#!! I just found out that on your birthday, you can eat up to $30 of food for free! So...I plan to take my girlfriend here on HER birthday, then I'll be a hero. ;-)