If you're in Newport, I think this is THE place for oysters. I love their whole day happy hour Tuesdays where oysters are $1.50 each. The only other thing we can rave about is their pan roasted mussels. My boyfriend is in love with it. We also ordered calamari but we didn't like it. It was tasteless. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is fine where I think the tables are too close to each other but that didn't really bother us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's also more seating upstairs.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking is on street and nearby parking lots. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - 2 dozen oysters - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Haed to decide on a resturant in Newport. Finally chose here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Busy and loud downstairs/ground level.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was a great fine. Special was 10 Oz filet with bacon wrapped scallops. The steak was cooked medium rare as ordered. The scallops were on a skewer, only 3, but cooked perfectly. Two nights in a row scallops cooked perfectly, we are living right. Fried oysters appetizer was good and a good sized serving. Fried just right with good sauces. The service was very good. Surprised us in a touristy city. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Only negatives tables close together and a little loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I hate leaving negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience. I visited Benjamin's Raw Bar in Newport with a group of friends during a girls' trip and was excited to try the seafood. I ordered the lobster bisque as an appetizer and a lobster roll for my entrée. Unfortunately, later that night, I became extremely sick and could not stop vomiting. One of my friends, who also ordered the lobster roll, experienced the same symptoms. We dined about an hour before closing, and while I can't say with certainty what caused it, the fact that two people who ate the lobster roll became sick is very concerning. Food safety should never be compromised, regardless of the time of day. It was incredibly disappointing to spend part of our trip dealing with what appeared to be food poisoning instead of enjoying our vacation. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and reviews its food handling and preparation practices to prevent this from happening to future guests read more

$1.50 HH 12-2 pm. Pic, the Bartender very friendly and gave us tips on where to go. We ordered a hot lobster roll-a little smaller than I expected for $27.95 but It was tasty and we had the fries with malt vinegar. Also ordered a dozen oysters. Sat at the bar in front of the oyster bar. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Noise level was normal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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We saw this place while we shopped and decided to come back for dinner and honestly it did not disappoint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Downstairs is a little louder and has more of a bar feel while upstairs is a restaurant feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When we ordered, we were greeted by a very nice waiter who took our orders. We got the New England clam chowder and Raw Oysters to start with a side of garlic bread. No words can describe how good it was. For dinner, we ordered the hot lobster roll and muscles zuppa style. Overall delicious and fresh. Costs were reasonable and I will return. read more

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Good service, good food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat on the table by the window and it was very refreshing without being bothered by passing people or cars.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had the fisherman platter and my husband got a burger. All good, we will be back. read more

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Upstairs at Benjamin's did not disappoint! We made a reservation ahead of time and got right in at our time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room was cozy and reminded me of the seafood places we grew up with.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They had kids menus ready for ours which is great (some restaurants in Newport aren't so child friendly).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff worked together to get us what we needed and pre-bus the table in time for our food to come out. We started with the Oysters Rockefeller- one of my faves! I went with a lobster roll with a salad instead of fries and coleslaw. That slaw was some of the BEST I've ever had! The hot lobster roll was good but a little fishy- maybe it needed more butter? The platters were all huge- someone in our group had the stuffed lobster- presentation was beautiful. We will be back! read more

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We were looking for light eats and drinks. We were with my cousin who knew the area - walked into Benjamin's around 4:30. We didn't have a reservation but they had a four top that was perfect for our party of 3. Lauren was quick to bring us water and then take our drink order. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lots of Newport vibes here with nautical themes, Fenway Park signs, lots of Christmas decor. Lots of music, spots on the tv[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. We loved the food! The calamari app $15 had perfectly fried rings and no tentacles. Yummy marinara served with the calamari. The oysters were shucked well - no shell fragments and all the oysters were freed from the shell. Clams casino are warm and delicious with toasted breadcrumbs. $1.50 each for both oysters and casino. Lauren kept our group happy! read more

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Avoid this place and try another spot. I was actually going to the place next store but stopped here due to their menu and raw bar. Staff is ok.... We were sat fast and then forgotten about. Two other tables came in after us and ordered before us. I finally got my oysters.... They were ok. The food was finally ordered about 45 minutes later. I went with the 1 lb lobster with a side of clam chowder. Clam chowder was barely warm and probably the worst I have ever had. Now, let's get to the real reason for the 1 star. You served me a bad lobster it smelled of ammonia when it arrived and I knew it was bad but I did not want to make a scene. I regret that. I paid and we left. Avoid the hell out of a place were they do not care enough to do the right thing and serve you bad seafood. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Love their happy hour/lunch specials! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Looking for a place to sit and relax and eat fresh oysters and clams? This is your place!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got a big plate of oysters and clams and very large shrimp! Also got some Rockefeller cooked oysters and a garlic bread to balance things out. We had a good time with all the food. Raw items were super fresh, the shrimp were nice and big, and the cooked items had good flavor. Yes they had a full menu of other items, but we didn't really look at that. There is a nice bar with good drinks and beers. Our waiter was good too - helpful and funny. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a great place to stop midday for a fun, fresh lunch![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Our first plate from the raw bar Oysters, Oyster Rock-a-fella, Littlenecks - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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3.5/5 Great spot for oyster happy hour with strong drinks (the margarita packs a punch, and the Newport Sunset is a nice balance). Service was excellent and really made the visit. Food was more hit-or-miss: the fried shrimp were good and tasted super fresh, but the seafood pot pie had overcooked shrimp with the tails still on, which made it tricky to eat. Didn't love the little neck clams. Limited street parking, but the ocean view and the quirky Grand Marnier Club wall of bottles give the place a fun, local charm. read more

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I can't say enough about the seafood here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Pretty small seating area inside but we were lucky to get seated right away.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Very nice servers too. They were very busy but the servers were hustling and kept up. Our order was correct, hot, and delicious. We had Oysters Rockefeller, Clams Casino, and steamers. Spot on excellent! read more

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Haven't been to Benjamin's in 2 years, and it's still the same. The bartender, Andrew, was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came on a raw bar Tuesday night, and it wasn't busy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We enjoyed the oyster Rockefeller, Benjamin's linguine, and ribeye steak. Coming back soon. read more

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My wife and I were in Newport for a mini vacation. We had been here one time in the past and thought it was good. So we decided to return . Bad idea. We started with the island punch, which was actually very good. That's where the highlights end. We then moved onto the lobster bisque. This can best be described as tomato soup with no lobster flavor. To start, the color was a dark murky brown. Unlike any lobster bisque I have ever seen. If I was blindfolded and asked to name what I was eating, lobster bisque would not be my guess. On to the entrees. My wife had the Stuffed Sole. It was supposed to have a cream Sherry sauce stuffed with lobster , scallops and shrimp. None of these items were evident in the dish. In fact, the sherry sauce turned out to be nothing more than retreaded lobster bisque. I had the shrimp scampi with linguine. This dish is quite puzzling. The best way I can describe this is shrimp cocktail over linguine and a bowl of flavorless soup covered with mozzarella cheese. You heard right ,mozzarella cheese. In what world does mozzarella cheese go on shrimp scampi? This establishment clearly does not have a chef. There is no cooking acumen whatsoever contained in the slop they are serving. My wife ate 2 packages of oyster crackers and considered that the highlight of the meal. On a positive note, our sever Connor was Excellent. He was very apologetic and arranged for my dinner as well as 1 Bisque to be deducted from the Check since they were barely touched. Unfortunately we will be crossing Benjamin's off our list. I suggest you do the same. read more

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Service was outstanding!! Our waitress was so attentive and kind. We would come back for her. The stuffed sole was amazing. My lobster roll was a little overcooked but definitely worth eating. The fries and coleslaw were delicious. A must, if you in Newport. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Yummy!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Best raw seafood spot ever. I eat a lot of raw seafood. Their Oysters and Clams are the best half shells you will ever eat!!! read more

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Great visit. Food was cooked to perfection. You need to get the French fries. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Plenty of room in the front too dinning room[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] service was a little slow read more

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We popped in for lunch and honestly? Great decision on our part. We started with the clam chowder -- very good, cozy, and exactly what chowder dreams are made of. Then came the hot lobster roll, which was chef's kiss: delicious, warm, and perfectly balanced without drowning in butter (love butter, but I prefer to eat it, not swim in it). We also ordered shrimp and oysters that were so fresh I'm convinced they filled out timecards that morning. The staff was lovely, super helpful, and wonderfully attentive -- the kind of people who make you feel like you've been coming here for years. Overall, highly recommend. We'll be going back very soon... probably sooner than we should admit. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Hot Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Walked in = didn't know if I had to seat myself or not.. sat down to a dirty table , that I washed myself.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] To sit back and observe.. place was packed..with one waitress..who was frazzled & obviously overwhelmed & overworked.. My heart went out to her. I ordered a baked stuffed lobster to be told they don't have any..to be told they had one left....i was served luke warm mashed potatoes, and a dehydrated Lobster... Two scallops, two shrimp with some bread crumbs...it was absolutely disgusting.. See I ate it because I was hungry as I am HOMELESS and wanted a good Meal to end my SHIT ass year. A friend actually paid for my meal & I felt HORRIBLE him spending his hard earned money on me...not knowing As I was leaving. I tipped the waitress and noticed a lobster dinner for someone else... I don't like to be LIED to... They money you charge The service ya get For shit ass food is Wrong You're taking advantage of your staff. How do you except good service with one waitress. Also, what about the handicapped and elderly The only bathroom you have is upstairs... Happy New Year! read more

The oysters and clams are so fresh. So good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Sat at the bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Half price night. Would go back regularly.

Everyone goes to Benjamin's. You will see it packed with happy customers. Great seafood in a comfortable vibe. The Tuesday raw bar special $1.50 oysters is very popular. I have eaten pretty much everything on the menu. It's all great! I love their fish and chips and prime rib dinner. I brought a large group for dinner. Our server was outstanding. Avery was very friendly and helpful when we were deciding what to order. She made us feel that we were part of the Benjamin's family. It's a great place and food is awesome. The whole staff here make this place special. read more

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I'm born and raised in Newport and this is one of the places I usually eat at when I visit home. I always eat upstairs not downstairs btw. The lobster bisque may be the best I've ever had, the steamers were magnificent, my wife and daughter loved the oysters. And the seafood past always great too!! My only complaint is we ordered mules and they came in regular glass cups (never had that happen before) & it didn't taste anything like a mule. Other than that this review would've been an easy 5 stars read more

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Great seafood restaurant decorated so cute in a nautical theme. We ate on the second floor and had a great view of the Wharf. The service was really good. She took care of us and was so friendly. He ordered the hot lobster roll and I ordered the fish and chips. Both were so good. The portion sizes were so big we couldn't eat it all and to top that the prices didn't break the bank! read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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I'm not quite sure where to start, so I'll begin with the positive: our waitress, Olivia, was the absolute best part of the experience. She did everything she could to make things right, and it was clear she genuinely cared. Unfortunately, when the kitchen doesn't get it right or care, there's only so much a server can do -- and that's ultimately what this experience came down to. Olivia even comped our salad without us complaining because she knew our meals weren't right. She handled everything professionally and did her best throughout the night. My husband and I both ordered prime rib cooked medium -- his was the King Cut and mine was the First Mate cut. When the meals arrived, my husband's was barely medium, but mine was completely overcooked with no pink at all. Olivia immediately took it back and brought another piece, but that one was also overcooked. She sent it back again, and the third attempt came out so rare I couldn't eat it. By that point, my husband had nearly finished his meal while I was essentially eating French fries for dinner. At a certain point, how many times can you send back a piece of meat -- especially at a restaurant known for its prime rib? So my husband ate some of mine and I ate some of his so at least I had more than salad and French fries. We had really been looking forward to this dinner. Newport has so many great restaurants, and we chose Benjamin's based on past experiences. Passing up other places for this meal ended up feeling like a mistake, and the entire experience was incredibly disappointing. The only bright spot of the night was Olivia. She was attentive, apologetic, and clearly trying her hardest to fix a situation that was out of her control. So 10 stars for Olivia. 1 for the chef. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Medium Prime Rib - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Stopped by solely for the $1.50 happy hour oysters (12-2 daily) and they were excellent. Expertly shucked fresh in front of me at the bar by Steve, the oysters were sweet and clean tasting. It was quite busy but Steve had a great attitude and patience in dealing with the waiting groups while he also managed the bar and shucked. Worth a visit for sure! read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Great ! Shared cup of clam chowder- large portion & very good ! Also shared the clam dinner - again huge portion. Came with slaw & fries. - excellent. Good service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Seated in front of huge open window - allowed great people watching during dinner[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The food was amazing. We came in for the raw bar, not knowing about the Tuesday special. I got shrimp & oysters (gluten free) and my hubby got a lobster roll. The happy hour/Tuesday special prices are too good to pass up! read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Tuesday specials.. got oysters and shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great local atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Small cozy bar downstairs and a nice restaurant upstairs.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had their oysters even though I'm not an oyster fan and it's the first time I wanted more. Fresh and flavorful without the sea salty taste. The clams casino, topneck, rock-a-fella, and shrimp were great too. Half price raw bar Tuesdays are a bonus. The service was great too. read more

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Cute little spot for a quick lobster roll and yummy appetizers! We sat on the second floor for a more quiet and relaxing atmosphere - the first floor is more of a bar feel with loud music and a rowdy crowd. The food itself was delicious! Coconut shrimp was to die for and I wish we'd ordered more. The oysters were so tasty and about $3 each. The lobster roll was a tad underwhelming because the bread used became super soggy and could not hold up the lobster. The sides were excellent though, best coleslaw ever and the fried were on point. Compared to other restaurants nearby, this lobster rolls is about $7 cheaper, so that's a win! Change out that bread and it'd be a solid 9/10. read more

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The drinks were good. The food didn't appear to be the freshest. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience was a bit too tight and uncomfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service varied greatly between staff, some being very responsive and friendly whereas some others were unattentive and abrupt. Price point felt slightly high with all things considered. read more

The raw oysters were the freshest and tastiest oysters I've ever had. Clam Chowder was very tasty. Fresh Lobster was great. Waitress was very attentive and made sure we were happy with everything. The Bloody Shrimp was delicious. Very cozy establishment on Thames St. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Fresh lobster, Clam Chowder, Raw Oysters, Bloody Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

I wanted to like this place, but it just fell short completely. They had great prices, but I should've listened to my instinct to go next door to the chowder house. It was busy, but the service was super slow. Items were forgotten often, not enough menus so neighbors had to share from different tables. The staff was nice, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the establishment is very small.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is what lacked for me. The lobster had a horrible moth ball smell to it that lingered with me all night. The fish and chips were okay, but almost seemed rubbery. Maybe it was just an off day, but I wouldn't be in any hurry to try it agai. read more

This was the only place that wasn't full with reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday on Easter weekend. I thought that meant it might not be as good but I was pleasantly surprised. The fish and chips here was incredible. Truly loved it. My girlfriend got a chicken Caesar and she also loved it. Good pricing and good service. We also got seated immediately. So happy with this choice (We went here in a vlog- Hailey and Kiki on YouTube!) read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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I met Benjamin's as a result of fate. We were planning to go the Lobster bar on the wharf, but it was closed due to a private event. What seemed like a loss in the moment ended up turning into a huge win. We saw Benjamin's in the distance and decided to pop in. The place was full, a great sign. It had all the sites and sounds of a great bar/restaurant as we sat down. We ordered the chowder fries as an app, some oysters, Clam chowder AND I got fish and chips. It was a glutenous display of eating but damn was it good. The clam chowder was excellent and probably the highlight for me, but the oysters were also amazing - and wouldn't you know it it was around 1 PM in the afternoon. You know what means? RAW BAR HAPPY HOUR, so we got the oysters for half off. Honestly it was so good, my sister and I went back the next day for RAW BAR HAPPY HOUR. I unfortunately was nursing a hangover due to a late night of dominating the pool table at O'breins, but she enjoyed a cool 26 oysters and the bartender was friendly and helpful. Tell my friend Benjamin I say hi when you check this place out. read more

This place is pretty okay, wish it was better. The coconut shrimp was amazing and the service was fast but the lobster roll was not good at all. All my friends and I ordered it and we all agree. The breast was soggy and breaking apart and the lobster roll was not well distributed. Eating upstairs is a much better ambiance! read more

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we were in search of a lobster roll and stumbled upon this spot. i do feel like the area where our group was sat (upstairs) was quite tight. the service it's self was very good and quick. the lobster roll wasn't my favorite. it didn't have much flavor and the bread got soggy and fell apart while eating. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Hot Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Stopped in for early dinner. Service was great. The Waterfront Marg was so great. They use Cointreau which I rarely see (its the right way) The herb mussels were superb; i wanted to bring the juice to go to drink it all. The stuffed clams (2) had a nice kick to them. My friend got chicken tenders and fries to go. Nice juicy chicken tenders with honey mustard. Loved it all! Second time we went service was not great we ended up leaving. So it maybe a hit or miss with service. But the food is great. read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Herb mussels - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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I've been here a few times over the years, and it has never disappointed. Busy or not, the servers and energetic and attentive. The vibe is classic New England coast, with the dark wood interior and seafaring decor. We went mostly turf instead of surf this time. My wife had the jerk chicken caesar salad, and I had the French dip au jus sandwich. The only seafood we ordered was a cup of clam chowder, which did not disappoint. Portions are more than adequate, and everything was delicious. I saw a nameless $1.50 fee on our bill, not sure what that was about. Definitely worth stopping in, I'm confident you will enjoy it. I have come back every single time I'm in Newport, and will continue to do so! read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

We always make a point to visit Benjamins when in town because of the lively atmosphere. Today it did not disappoint! I ordered the lobster quesadilla appetizer and hubby ordered the shrimp po boy and was very pleased. The quesadilla had chunks of lobster and came with pico, sour cream and salsa for dipping. All options were good. The shrimp po boy had plenty of shrimp and the roll held it all together very well. We will definitely return again. Our waitress was quick to serve us and handled all customers with a smile. The service was top notch! Try Benjamin's anytime you are nearby. You won't be disappointed! read more

Benjamin's Raw Bar - Shrimp po boy - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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We tried the Benjamin Raw Bar and honestly, it's a gem. The oysters and topnecks were incredibly fresh--like they were plucked straight from the ocean and placed on ice that very minute. Briny, clean, and perfectly shucked. The real surprise? My mother, who never touches seafood unless it's fried beyond recognition, ended up downing four raw oysters like a pro. She even asked for more. If that's not a testament to how good they were, I don't know what is. Chill vibe, super friendly staff, and top-tier shellfish. We'll definitely be back! read more