There were many bright spots in the local restaurant scene this past summer, including the recent PVDFest that was hailed by downtown restaurateurs as a much-improved festival that brought crowds back, but there seems to be caution in the air among some patrons when making a choice of dining destinations among Providence, Newport, Narragansett or East Greenwich.
However, business is no less than booming in the suburbs. Patrons are staying close to home, or more often visiting the burgeoning restaurant rows in East Greenwich and the East Bay, particularly Warren.
One Realtor in East Greenwich proclaims the waterfront district along Main Street is home to more than 20 restaurants, cafes and bars. The town’s overall restaurant roster tops 75 eateries. The East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce is wrapping up its annual East Greenwich Restaurant Week, spotlighting bargain specials at most of the spots in town, as well as just over the town line in Warwick and North Kingstown. Savor EG, the indoor/outdoor dining event hosted at the East Greenwich Yacht Club, kicked off the celebration.
More than 20 local restaurants took part in the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce’s biennial Savor the Sunset event, during which attendees indulged in mouthwatering small bites and refreshing beverage samplings from local Rhode Island vendors. This year’s event was hosted on the beautifully landscaped grounds of Hopelands by the Bay, which is located at Rocky Hill Country Day School in East Greenwich.
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GIVING BACK: In August, Newport Restaurant Group celebrated Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 20th anniversary with a Fruits from the Field fundraiser, in which NRG restaurants, including Bar ’Cino in Newport, offered a tomato dish using Farm Fresh produce and donated a portion of the sales to Farm Fresh. Pictured from left are Bar ’Cino General Manager Paul Sousa, Farm Fresh Associate Director of Marketing Caroline Grand, Farm Fresh Director of Advancement Delite Primus and Bar ’Cino executive chef Mariana Gonzalez Trasvina.
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In Newport, as well as elsewhere in the state, Newport Restaurant Group celebrated Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 20th birthday in August with a special Fruits from the Field fundraiser. From Aug. 1-31, NRG restaurants Avvio Ristorante in Cranston, Bar ’Cino in Newport and Waterman Grille in Providence offered a special, locally grown tomato dish using produce from Farm Fresh and Greenview Farms and donated $2 to Farm Fresh from each dish sold. More than 1,500 dishes were sold, yielding a $3,058 donation to the organization.
“Farm Fresh has been an invaluable partner to NRG since its inception 20 years ago,” said Kevin DiLibero, director of culinary arts at the Newport Restaurant Group. “We are so thankful to our loyal guests who participated in this fundraiser so that this wonderful organization can continue its efforts to not only connect farmers with restaurants but to also increase access to fresh local food for those who need it the most.”
When Farm Fresh was created, Newport Restaurant Group quickly became its largest customer. Since then, NRG has continued its support of the organization, landing in its top three largest customers every year and regaining the title of its largest seven times, including this year. NRG is Farm Fresh’s top tomato purchaser and has been each year since its founding in 2004.
“Farm Fresh Rhode Island is deeply grateful to Newport Restaurant Group for their generous support through the Fruits from the Field fundraiser,” said Nikki Ayers, director of giving at Farm Fresh. “This donation reflects their ongoing commitment to our mission of connecting local farmers with the community and increasing access to fresh, local food. We are thrilled to celebrate our 20th anniversary alongside such a dedicated partner and look forward to continuing our impactful work together.”
“Dining Out With Bruce Newbury,” syndicated weekly on radio, is heard in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Indiana. Contact Bruce at bruce@brucenewbury.com.
