Food & Drink

Giusto, the first independent restaurant concept from Chef Kevin O’Donnell, has been abuzz as locals and visitors alike eagerly await its late summer grand opening. A Rhode Island native with almost two decades of experience at celebrated restaurants in New England, New York, Italy, and France, O’Donnell’s homecoming fuses his talent and creativity to bring […]

Newport, RI – Awful awful news for Newport Creamery fans. The Newport Creamery located at 181 Bellevue Avenue in Newport has closed for the remainder of the year due to COVID-19. A sign placed on the window states; “Due to the pandemic this location will be closed until further notice. Please visit our location at […]

The Town of Portsmouth’s Zoning Board of Review last night unanimously approved Ragged Island Brewing Company’s special use permit to operate a limited series of beer gardens at their new location at 54 Bristol Ferry Road. According to the application, the brewery would partner with McGrath Clambakes and the permit will allow the brewery to host […]

Middletown, RI – Something new has been growing in the fields at Newport Vineyards and it’s not just the vines. For nearly two years the vineyard and culinary teams at Newport Vineyards have been secretly collaborating on the agri-tourism destination’s newest endeavor, The Vineyard Garden. Adding to their estate-grown portfolio, the garden will complement their existing farm-to-table […]

Newport, RI – Here’s the latest from the Newport County restaurant scene, enjoy! Have something that you’d like to see added here or include in a future edition? Email Ryan@whatsupnewp.com. News & Notes We are now in Phase III of Reopening RI – restaurant and bar guidance is here. Stoneacre Garden, the latest production of […]

 Hammetts Hotel, Main Street Hospitality’s newest addition to its management portfolio, will open on Friday, June 26. Centrally located on America’s Cup at Commercial Wharf, the 84-room hotel places guests in the heart of downtown Newport and welcomes the local community to explore, gather, and dine. The Sarah Langley Gallery at Hammetts Hotel, named for […]

Newport, RI Andy Ross, managing director of the Brenton Hotel, the new 57-room luxury boutique hotel on the harbor in Newport, RI, opening in July 2020, announced today the appointment of Kevin Wood as Executive Chef and Emily Brakenhoff as Food and Beverage Director.  Executive Chef Wood is charged with developing the new hotel’s seasonal menus, as well […]

Newport, RI – Just one year after opening, Newport Restaurant Group’s Bar ‘Cino is expanding in Washington Square. The restaurant, located at 22 Washington Square, will expand into 24 Washington Square this month, the space recently became vacant and available when Karol Richardson closed. The availability of the space caught Newport Restaurant Group a little […]

Newport Restaurant Group today announced that three of their properties, Bar ‘Cino and Smoke House in Newport and Avvio in Cranston, have launched a new delivery service.  The restaurants are using their own employee-owners as drivers, rather than a third-party delivery service, to bring an authentic restaurant experience to customers’ doors.  Orders can be placed […]

After several decades, Dunkin’ on Broadway in Newport is permanently closing at the end of this week. A sign put in in the window today says “this location will be permanently closing as of Sunday, June 14th”. A spokesperson for the franchise owner provided What’s Up Newp with the following statement on behalf of the […]

In a statement issued today related to the ongoing nationwide protests, the City of Newport said they “are not aware of any credible threats to the City of Newport or Aquidneck Island, our public safety personnel are actively taking precautions to prepare for any potential unrest”. Despite that statement, several business owners have begun boarding […]

Restaurants in the Newport area are trying to ensure that their growing dependency on take-out meals does not generate more plastic and threaten the area’s environmental gains.  Plastic has long been a target for greens because it fouls beaches, endangers marine life, and puts further pressure on Rhode Island’s sole landfill. The threat has spurred […]

Two more of Newport’s most popular hotels have reopened for guests and dining. Hotel Viking began accepting reservations for hotel stays beginning on May 21. One Bellevue’s patio is also reopening on May 21 for daily outdoor dining for those with a reservation, serving breakfast (7 am – 11 am), lunch (11:30 am – 2:30 pm), and […]