Broadway has always been a Newport hot spot for food. Two spots add to the reputation.
Broadway in Newport is a unique street in the city. For some, it’s merely a well-traveled route filled with slow moving traffic where you have to stay vigilant for wayward pedestrians and impatient parkers. For others, it’s a place for serious things like hospital visits, police station inquiries and City Hall business.
A lot is happening on this road. But for those in the know, it’s a destination spot for great food and drink. From the tasty brews at Simple Merchant Coffee, to the famous Chili Dogs at Ben’s, to the newly-crowned Mac & Cheese Smackdown champions at Scratch Kitchen, there’s something for everyone on this busy roadway. It seems like all the local favorites are on Broadway: Pour Judgement, Corner Café, The Tavern on Broadway, Parlor Bar & Kitchen - the list goes on. It’s an area that has developed over the years into a community committed to serving great food and drink with smiles. That’s why we are excited to see two new spots emerge onto the Broadway food scene. Welcome to the neighborhood The Market on Broadway and Provencal Bakery. They’re going to fit right in.
Provencal Bakery is not new to Broadway. They opened at the 311 Broadway location back in 2019 but then had to shut down in late 2021 for renovations and redesign. Meanwhile, their Aquidneck Avenue location has remained open throughout. Now, they are back on Broadway and so are their delicious assortment of pastries, cakes and breads along with their homemade soups, salads and specialty sandwiches. It will be nice to see activity at their spot on the corner of Bliss Road, especially now that most of the road construction in that area has been completed. Provencal has built a reputation for great food over the years as they have been baking on the Island since 1998. They continue to provide many local restaurants and sandwich shops with their artisan breads and the new location has more baking space, so they can expand their wholesale operations. But, we’re not excited for their return to Broadway for wholesale items. We’re here for the great food on their daily menu!
Stop in to pick up something tasty today. Grab a Country Loaf that’s so fresh it will still steam when you cut into the center. Treat yourself to one of their Sticky Buns or a Chocolate Espresso Scone. Grab a Frasch's Mocha Cake (triple layer sponge cake with mocha icing) to bring to your next gathering. Looking for breakfast? Pick up a hearty breakfast sandwich served on their specialty bread or sit down to some homemade French Toast. Some homemade Portuguese Kale Soup is always great for lunch or maybe try one of their made-to-order sandwiches. Pick up some Mac and Cheese for dinner too! With Easter on the way, they will have you covered with an assortment of desserts like pies and Cookies. And they always have a pastry case full of bread to satisfy your sweet tooth. The food at Provencal is always a treat, so we are excited to see them with a second location and back to business on Broadway. It’s worth the trip.
The Market on Broadway is at 95 Broadway in the former 7-11 building. When you walk through the doors, you’ll get a quick, passing sensation of remembering what the old 7-11 looked like. But then you’ll look up and you’ll see the cheery staff pouring Nitro cold brew, you’ll see the cooler stocked with fresh seafood and meats and the giant sandwich counter with specialty items beautifully displayed and you won’t think of the former tenants again. There’s a little bit of everything here for anyone who likes good food. Take your time to peek around. The staff is there to help with whatever you need, but there’s a lot to soak in. You might find yourself staring (er, drooling) at the homemade stuffies or the fresh cooked shrimp. Then you might wander over to the prepared food section and start gawking at the Lasagna and the Pasta Bolognese. When you hit the sandwich counter, you’ll start salivating at the mention of a Pastrami & Swiss Hoagie or a Steak & Cheese with Peppers & Onions. This is the kind of neighborhood market you dream of.
The Market comes to us from locals Luther Whiting-Collins (owner of Lucy’s Café), Hank Whitin (owner of Pour Judgment), Kevin Sullivan (Hank’s former business partner) and Joe Fitzpatrick (local realtor). With that kind of Newport experience behind the venture, we know that customers are in for a special new spot. They are open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 pm. Stop in on your way to work for a good cup of coffee and a Chourico, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich on a bolo. Grab a specially crafted Spicy Italian Hoagie or homemade soup for lunch. Browse the aisles for some great finds from their selection of craft cheeses or from their bevy of beverages – have you tried the cold-pressed Pineapple Green Juice? The offerings are always changing so you can always find something crave-worthy. They have lots of seafood offerings for the Lenten Season and continue to offer new and exciting daily specials like a Peach BBQ Pork Loin Sub or a Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla. It’s an exciting new spot to check out and a great place to discover tasty food.
There is no shortage of spots to eat well in Newport, and few areas are as rich in great eats as Broadway. It’s a culinary adventure from end to end. And with two new spots on the street, it keeps getting better and better. Stop by Market on Broadway and Provencal Bakery today. We wish them many years of great success and delicious food.
Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality-related. His column appears on newportri.com and in The Daily News. Cheers!
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Provencal, Market on Broadway add to Newport's food scene
