In Newport for the Folk or Jazz Festival? An insider's dining guide to get through the day
Brace yourself – festival season is coming.
In just one week, some of the world’s greatest musicians will make the sojourn to our great city so they can share their music on the storied stages at Fort Adams. Whether it's the Folk Festival on the last week of July or the Jazz Festival on the following weekend, great music will be in the air which means Aquidneck Island will once again be a hub for music fans. And with the influx of music lovers coming, don’t worry, the restaurant community of Aquidneck Island will be there to make sure they stay well-nourished before, during and after a day at the festival. But a word of advice: plan ahead.
Getting to the festival early is always advisable. It gives you time to find your spot and get set for the day. But more importantly, you need to account for the time it takes to get there. The traffic in and out of the festival has been known to cause a major conniption or two. You better stop and get some caffeine for the ride to wake you up. Empire Tea & Coffee has two Newport locations which are easy detours, plus you can order ahead and have your Iced Caramel Macchiato or London Fog Tea Latte waiting for you. Or stop in at Custom House Coffee on Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown where you can get a really good cup of coffee and can get in and out of pretty quickly – something you can’t always do in the heart of Newport. And, there’s always Ma's Donuts & More on West Main Road. Hit the drive-thru to get a fresh-made iced coffee and a deliciously glazed Ma’s Donut for the ride.
Maybe you’ll want to opt for a healthy and satisfying smoothie to start your day. Swing by Root on Broadway in Newport where you can stick to the music theme of the day and enjoy a Strawberry Fields smoothie made with strawberries, blueberries, bananas and spinach. Or stop in at Drift Cafe on Thames Street for an Island Time smoothie made with mango, pineapple, banana and coconut. Fresh ingredients will give you all the energy you need to get through the festival commute.
While the festivals will have a lot of great options of food for purchase, many of which are local vendors and food trucks, you may want to plan on bringing a lunch or some snacks. It’s going to be a long day. There are limitations on what you can bring into the festival. First, no outside alcohol, beer or wine is allowed (but are available for purchase at the festival). You also can’t bring in any un-sealed beverages. Rather, bring empty refillable water bottles to use at refillable water stations. You can bring soft-sided coolers inside but hard coolers are not allowed. The festivals are proud of their Sustainable Music Festival status, so as a visitor, embrace that too. Skip the plastic bags and plastic straws, and as always, bring out what you bring in.
For what you can bring, look to our local providers for the best options. Order sandwiches and snacks from Picnic on Bellevue like their Tarragon Chicken Salad or Prosciutto & Mozzarella sandwiches. Think about that needed sugar rush you’ll be craving midway through the day, so grabbing one of their Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies or a Hazelnut Chocolate pastry will do you right. Or you could make a stop at the Ash Mart Deli on Carroll Avenue in Newport for some of the best sandwiches in town, all made fresh to order and perfect for taking with you. They’ve been making sandwiches for festival goers for the last 15 years, so they’ll be ready to get you in and out fast (and deliciously too).
If you plan to take in the festival from the water, be sure to stock up your boat with great food. Foodlove Market has been updating their catering menu and has great new options for a day at sea. Order ahead of time for easy pickup. You can also give the new Roasted Clove Deli & Catering a try (in the former Sig’s Place spot in Middletown). They have great sandwich platters available for large groups which is perfect for boaters and picnickers alike. The Surfers End wrap made with grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, basil aioli, arugula, tomato, bacon, & avocado is spot on and you must indulge in one of their Bacon Brownies too! You read that right: bacon brownies.
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After the festival, you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy a night out. The waterfront will assuredly fill up with hungry diners who still have music ringing in their ears. The festival buzz can be felt up and down Thames Street, and you may even bump into a performer or too. But if you’ve had enough of crowds, consider heading outside the downtown area for some great food and fun. Look to Island Park in Portsmouth for some out-of-the-way options. Watch the sunset with a tasty cocktail at Jimmy Buffet’s favorite Rhode Island spot: Sunset Cove. Then sashay over to the Blue Anchor Grill for some chowda and shrimp primavera. Or get cozy at 15 Point Road Restaurant, a local favorite with great food and an enchanting view of the Sakonnet River. Middletown has great options too. Stop in at the new Helmway Restaurant inside the Pell Hotel for a Blueberry Espresso Martini and some calamari. Or relax with a farm-to-table dinner at Newport Vineyard served with great local wine or beer. Across town, Coddington Brewing Company is always serving up great eats alongside their local brews. A good place to stop for nachos and a Beer Cheese Burger.
Exciting days are ahead for music lovers in Newport. We can’t wait. And when it comes to hitting the right note for eating well while the festivals are in town, the restaurants, cafes and bars of Aquidneck Island are ready for their encore
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 Thursdays in The Daily News. Cheers!
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport dining guide for Folk, Jazz Festival visitors
