These Newport breakfast spots will get you going with the most important meal of the day
NEWPORT — So you’ve always grabbed breakfast at Bishop’s 4th Street Diner, and now you’re not sure where to go after the longtime establishment in the North End of the city closed its doors.
Not to worry, the area has a number of options to get the day started on the right foot. Here are five breakfast spots to try in Newport County:
Annie’s
176 Bellevue Ave., Newport
Situated next to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Annie’s is a favorite for both tourists and locals.
“Fantastic dishes, super-friendly staff and the BEST location makes Annie’s the perfect place to experience casual Bellevue Avenue dining,” its website reads.
The menu offers omelets, hotcakes and Benedicts for breakfast, as well as traditional eggs and home fries. Breakfast is served all day, though there are plenty of options for lunch.
More: As customers say goodbye to Bishop's 4th Street Diner a new owner is in the works
Gary’s Handy Lunch
462 Thames St., Newport
Gary’s offers that diner vibe without the dining car. The menu options won’t blow you away, but it’s good food that’s “easy on the wallet.” Though you’d better bring cash.
“Located on Thames Street, Gary's Handy Lunch has offered a good meal for over thirty years since Gary Hooks purchased it,” the restaurant’s Facebook page reads. “Why pay a lot of money for Breakfast and Lunch when you can have an enjoyable, cheap meal while chatting about local events, and more?”
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Franklin Spa
229 Spring St., Newport
The Franklin Spa name dates back to the 1940s, when it was a pharmacy, but it’s just what the doctor ordered. Some consider this corner spot to be a secret, though there always tends to be a line out the door.
There is no shortage of egg options, omelets, Bendicts and sandwiches, as well as pancakes and French toast. And it’s fast. In a 2012 interview with Newport Mercury, owner Rocky Botelho said, “I like to get a table of four’s food out in seven minutes.”
Mel’s Cafenio
25 Broadway, Newport
Brothers Steve and Greg Mellekas bought Quality Lunch at 25 Broadway in 1982, expanded into the space next door and changed the name to Mel’s Cafenio (in the Mediterranean, that’s what they call a coffee shop).
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While tourists come during the summer months, its regulars are what keep this restaurant going. The menu has all of the breakfast staples — omelets, eggs and home fries, pancakes and French toast — plus options for lunch.
“It is a hole in the wall by every definition,” wrote Yelp reviewer Robert G. of Newport. “The place is pretty well laid out, the decor is dated (like 1970's), and the upkeep of the shop is a little lacking, but the food is greasy goodness.”
Foodworks
2461 East Main Road, Portsmouth
This one is a bit of a drive from the city, but it’s worth it and there’s always ample parking. Foodworks has been family owned and operated since 1982 by the Polsellis.
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Our focus is to serve our customers a quality, delicious meals, cooked with real ingredients,” its website says. “We also aim to provide you with friendly service that only a family run restaurant can provide.”
The breakfast menu is fairly expansive with a number of Benedict options and specialty omellets, as well as “House Favorites.” The summer specials menu offers a few more items not normally seen the rest of the year, and don’t forget to wash down your meal with a cold cocktail.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Breakfast options in Newport RI that will fill that diner feel
