Best dining in Newport, Bristol, Tiverton?

[Rich Lang]

As the weather warms up, we start to get to that part of the state a lot. We lived down that way for a short while and have eaten in many of the well known Newport spots. What are some favorites that maybe are not as well known (especially from those of you that live down that way)? Have heard very interesting chatter about Le Central in Bristol (a San Francisco chef/restaurateur who just moved east). Also someone just mentioned the Rhumbline.

[Steve Soper]

The Boat Landing in Tiverton is a bit derivative but a gorgeous spot for dining -- lots of nice attention to details and the food (a Sunday Brunch some weeks back) was good and the service spot on. Steve

[Alz]

Went to the Boathouse in Tiverton for VJ Day late lunch/early dinner with the old crowd. The food was quite good...calamari light and perfectly fried. Stuffed shrimp was might tasty...usually I avoid stuffed anything because it's just breadcrumbs, but this stuffing had flavor...shrimp on a bed of arugula with mandarin orange slices. But I have to say they still somehow don't seem to have their service act together. Could be because we were there between shifts, but the place was not busy and it seemed that the communication between kitchen and waitstaff was a bit off.

[JaneRI]

I had lunch at Castle Hill yesterday and it could not have been nicer. I had a gyro, my friend had grilled chicken over a salad....both were excellent. We had an inexp sauvignon blanc, and they were very generous....our waiter came over when we requested a second glass and said she was sorry that they were just finishing up a bottle so she'd give us "what was left in the bottle" to tide us over. She poured us a full glass. She came over later and poured us another full glass. Two ladies sitting next to us requested glasses of rose and questioned the difference between two of them.....their waiter came over w/two bottles and 4 glasses....and poured them full glasses of each to "taste them". We were all happily surprised w/their generosity.

[JaneRI]

Saturday I went to the Atlantic Inn on Block Island which was great as well....we intended to spend the afternoon at the Spring House but it was closed for a wedding, so we turned right and went to the Atlantic. Spent about 4 hours sipping gin & tonics and eating endless paper bags of spiced popcorn. A perfect day.

[Alz]

Yeah, the Atlantic Inn is really a terrific place...our favorite place to hang out on BI. We went for dinner a couple of years ago on July 4...they stopped service when it was fireworks time...let everyone watch the display...then we all went back in to finish dinner! Awesome!

[Rich Lang]

Anyone have new tips or thoughts this summer? Poor Newport must be suffering with the terrible weather. Let me know...