Giving Midtown Oyster Bar 4 stars overall. While the food was great, the initial experience at the front desk was disappointing--the hostess came off as cold and dismissive and didn't offer a proper waitlist, even though there appeared to be availability. It didn't feel very welcoming, especially seeing other guests turned away as well. We ended up booking through OpenTable and returning, where that same girl was chatting with another girl while sipping on a cocktail and ignoring the fact there are customers standing there. Thankfully, another staff member, Bella, stepped in and was kind and attentive, along with our server, which helped turn the experience around. Food-wise, everything tasted great. The Newporter platter was enjoyable (though oysters were a bit small), the blackened salmon was well-cooked, and the lobster roll was a standout--crispy, fresh, and easily a top 3 for me. The Chilean seabass was delicious but a bit small, especially for $50. Overall, great food but inconsistent and disappointing service at the front. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - The Newporter Sharable Platter - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Solid Seafood establishment in the heart of Newport. The choice and quality of oysters is first rate. Prices are very reasonable as well. Loved the Baked Lobster. The stuffing was tasty. The Lobster Roll was just ok. Nothing special but good nonetheless. Service was friendly and professional. read more

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I don't give a shuck about what anyone says because I shell always love Midtown Oyster Bar! While there's plenty of debate about the best oyster spot in this part of Newport, for me there's really no contest because I'll always pick Midtown. The raw bar here is the star. Especially their rotating seasonal selection of raw oysters. The raw oysters here are always sooo fresh and shucked clean!! I'm also a die hard fan of their oysters rockefeller and homemade key lime cake/pie. A while back they offered fried oysters on the menu but have since taken them off. However the few times I've been back, they've been able to accommodate my request for a basket of them- so just ask! When I say this is the spot for oysters I mean it because that's all I ever get here! If possible, I always skip the tables and try my luck at bar seating in the back. The raw bar seating is pretty casual and you get to see all the shucking action. If you know you'll be coming back often, they do have a rewards card that you can sign up for. read more

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Great ambience and service- unfortunately their lobster roll was just meh- I think it was unfortunately due to the bread being basically burnt (not sure if it was over toasted or if it was left too long under the heat lamp). Their drinks were delicious. read more

Off the cruise ship and walking in town. Ran into this restaurant. Since it was 34 degrees. It was nice and warm. Greeted by the host and seated timely. Came in to get some steamed clams but found out that they only served it for dinner only. Our waitress said that she would talk to the kitchen and see what she do do. She came back later and was gladly to say that the kitchen agreed to make the steam clams. Also ordered fish and chips which looked like half the fish cooked in a crispy beer batter. Hot and cooked perfectly. Claims came cooked perfectly and the broth was a little salty. Order some fresh oysters since it was an oyster bar. They have an oyster list like a wine list. Pros: My fish and chips was excellent. Fresh oysters was fresh and sweet at $35 each. Cons: I understand that the clams is served only for dinner. But the broth was salty and for little amount of clams, they changed me $21. read more

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Celebrated the boo's birthday here. Since I am a vegetarian girlie, I chose this restaurant purely for him. For any other vegetarians reading this, unsurprisingly this place isn't for you. He ordered a few rounds of mostly all of the small oysters on the menu and loved several, also had lobster and a few items I can't remember. I had the pear martinis and another cocktail which were a little on the sweeter side for me. For the vegetarians, if any, just be prepared to eat ahead. I got an off menu "pasta primavera" which was so noticeably an after thought mish mash of whatever was in the back-- noodles, canned tomato sauce, tiny bits of asparagus. The goat cheese and beet salad were small and just OK. If you're vegetarian just eat before you come. That aside, our waitress was incredible. Wish I hadn't left this review in the drafts because now I can't remember her name and she was so wonderful. read more

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We found this Wonderful oyster spot with a great variety for lunch. We discovered it during a girls trip and enjoyed all the food offerings. The lobster rolls had great flavor, lots of meat, and buttery bread. I'd skip the upgraded truffle fries but liked the aioli on the side. There is a good amount of seating and it is a short walk to lots of great shops nearby. We walked here so not sure what the parking situation is or how hard it might be to get in for dinner but we walked right in for a late lunch. Prices are high but quality of food was really good. read more

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We had a really great dining experience at Midtown Oyster Bar! We were seated upstairs in the large dining room that was decorated with big nautical flags. The seafood was all very fresh. The oysters were delicious. We loved the fish dip appetizer. I particularly enjoyed my salmon poki. We enjoyed some spritzes, wine and even an oyster shooter. The drinks were good! I would recommend Midtown Oyster Bar. read more

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It can be hard to find a good place to eat with a large party of 10+, but Midtown Oyster Bar worked out perfectly. I made the reservation through the manager via email and loved that it didnt require a preset menu or minimum. The food and drinks were everything we had read about online. But a really nice bonus was being seated upstairs where it was a little quieter, allowing us to actually hear each other down the long table. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Lobster Roll - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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An absolutely bizarre experience. Recently went to a wedding reception at Midtown and unfortunately it changed my perspective on the restaurant. This was a weekday and the group was about 30 people (sat on the second floor). We called ahead for a reservation. Guests were ordering food as they were ready. A few lunches came out but then we were told there was a kitchen fire and no other hot meals could be served. Our options were soup, salad (no proteins) or raw seafood and it would be about an hour before their second kitchen was up and running. Some folks ordered salads which came out as lettuce only (yet salads that came out beforehand had croutons, veggies, cheese, etc). We had to ask for toppings and dressing. About a half hour later, we saw that other tables (located on the first floor) were served hot food during this time. Once I saw this, I asked a bartender if we could place a few orders of hot apps (like fries) and he said yes. Then our server came over and said the kitchen wasn't ready. It was quite bizarre overall. I'd almost guess that they ran out of food and wanted to serve the regular lunch crowd vs. our larger party. When we got the bill (which was over $150 a person), we were shocked. They didn't offer any discount or comp'd items, despite the experience. Thinking back, there was no emergency personnel on site, no fire department visit, no alarms, no smoke, etc. We will not be back. read more

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We came here based on a friend's recommendation, and I'm so glad we did! Even though the restaurant was packed, we were seated within seconds of walking in (around 5 PM). The raw oysters and clams were fresh and delicious, but the lobster roll blew me away. It was warm, juicy, and loaded with a generous amount of lobster meat Will definitely come back for another roll. Highly recommend! read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Signature Lobster Roll Lunch - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Very nice place, good friendly service and most importantly the food was on point. We had the little neck steamers for appetizer, my wife had the lobster roll with truffle fries and I had the stuffed lobster special. They were both delicious. Will return next time in the area read more

Food & drinks were good, but old time bartender, I won't name names, made it VERY uncomfortable. Rage baiting and highly inappropriate comments. read more

When we got here, we had to wait for about 30 minutes for a table since their reservation system was messed up, but things were great as soon as we were seated. I got the wicked shrimp appetizer and it was a HIT at the table.We literally finished it within seconds. I got the baked cod (in butter) with truffle fries for dinner and it was amazing. It was extremely busy the night we went but that didn't affect the table service. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Baked cod with truffle fries - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Love the look and feel of the Midtown Oyster Bar, the location has multiple seating options as it has three floors, outdoor seating as well. Will definitely be back for martinis and oysters. Pro tip, they do serve "stuffies" not on menu for dinner but just ask nicely and they might be able to accommodate read more

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No reservation available at 5 PM When I called for a reservation, I was told I had to come at 4:15 or 7:45 pm and they were totally booked ... not the case see the attached photo. It was empty for the entire time and as we leave at 5:30 there's only two other tables besides ours. The service was excellent. The food was good. Front of the house you missed this management process. Disappointed. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Empty restaurant - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

I went there with friends of on the St. Patrick's Day celebration. We were charged a total of $120 for the six of us to walk in the door for a cover charge. We were all asked to leave the premises approximately 45 minutes later because they were closing. We were very disappointed that they took our money and never mentioned that they were closing in less than an hour. We were very disappointed. we felt that we were scammed at the door by them not mentioning the time they were closing down. In addition, there were several other people complaining about the the same situation . When asked for a refund , they refused to give us our money back and tough luck, we had it posted on our website. FYI , they are scamming people at the door!!! Beware!!! The people who are working there are stealing money. read more

I came by here on a day trip to Newport! It was pretty loud and busy, though the area itself was pretty spacious. We started off with drinks (smoky sunset and rose sangria). They both tasted a bit artificial, but were not bad. We also got some oysters, a couple of which were good and a couple of which were a bit too salty and didn't taste as fresh. For entrees, we got the lobster roll and the linguine and clams. The lobster roll was cooked well, but not very buttery and just lacking. The linguine and clams was actually pretty flavorful and my favorite dish for the night! I thought it was a decent place to go if the other nearby restaurants are too long of a wait. read more

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One of the highlights of our visit to Newport - had an amazing dinner here! Scallops, swordfish, cod chowder and Greek salad were all 5-stars! Service was as wonderful as the food. Awesome ambiance for a date night or an upscale family night-out. Definitely will be headed back here!! read more

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Always really good fresh seafood. A great place to go sit at the bar or sit at a table and have good food and a good atmosphere. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Grilled swordfish - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Items ordered: Cod tacos, French fries, and a Diet Coke The Review: On the verge of passing out on an abnormally hot day, we were desperate for a quality refueling. I am so glad that we popped into Midtown Oyster Bar out of desperation. Not only did they have a ton of gluten-free options, their staff were so accommodating and kind with questions about the food (not related to dietary reasons). Though presentation was a bit lacking for the price, the food was SOLID. The cod is local and was perfectly spiced, well-accompanied by the slaw. The fries were definitely way too salty, but earn points (in my heart) because they were perfectly fried and crispy. All things considered, I would totally go back to Midtown! read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Fish Taco - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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We've been living here for three years, and we finally had the opportunity to visit Midtown Oyster Bar! We kicked off our meal with Oysters Rockefeller, which were so delicious that we ended up ordering a second round! I chose the lobster roll paired with a side salad instead of fries, and the house vinaigrette was fantastic! However, the lobster roll was disappointingly dry, lacking the butter that the menu promised--perhaps it was simply overlooked, or maybe it was due to my choice of salad? Once I added a side of hot butter to my lobster roll, it tasted much better! Our waitress was incredibly kind and did her best to manage her busy section. With the ambiance and charm of a traditional seafood restaurant, we had high expectations, and they certainly delivered! The decor reminded me of a ship and perfected with the dimmed lighting. We might come here again! We will definitely need to compare some of the other places though first before we return. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Oysters Rockefeller - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Wow, what a great place! We had a sampling of oysters that were local. Super fresh and a great presentation. I had the swordfish, maybe the best I have had. The interior was classy but relaxed. Our waitress was super. If I am back here I will eat here again! read more

We had a dinner reservation but decided to have dinner a little earlier. We were seating right away. The staff were really nice to us. The service was great. We ordered three dishes. The oyster Rockefeller was delicious. It was probably the best we've ever had! The clam linguine was also very good. There were plenty of clams with the pasta. The fish was also very good. We left full and very happy. read more

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What an excellent place! Certainly not your typical tourist trap restaurant, of which there are many in Newport. This is a real deal, true to form, oyster bar. I came here to celebrate commissioning as a US Naval officer and was presented with a wonderful evening. To start, my family and I had a very attentive server. The place itself is large, a bit loud, but cozy with low lighting and wood paneling. We had 4 different kinds of oysters, and WOW, they were great! So fresh and all delicious, would highly recommend just trying them even if you're not an oyster person. I had the squid ink and clams pasta, which was made in house and delicious. This place makes an excellent swordfish steak as well along with superb chowder. To top it off, I was presented with a delicious key lime pie for dessert. Overall, would highly recommend to anyone going to Newport and looking for great food, especially oysters! read more

Very good though the linguine with clam sauce was lacking flavor as the sauce was too thin. The clam sauce needs to be reduced before adding the clams so the flavor can intensify also there was onions not garlic in the dish. Just not great. While the French Onion Soup was Devine. Service was excellent and pleasant enough to sit. read more

Went on a recommendation, but I personally would not recommend this place. The atmosphere and décor were great, but that's where the positive experience ended. Service was extremely disappointing--my order was incorrect, so I had to wait while my spouse ate his meal. Dirty dishes were left on the table, and the restroom was not clean. Never again. read more

The service was lackluster. No shellfish forks nor bowl for the shells. Tiny flavorless mussels. Cold french fries. Typical tourist trap restaurant. read more

We made reservations as Newport is busy in the summer with tourism. We sat outside, which had a nice view. We ordered oysters, scallop crudo, and drinks. Oysters were great and they had a nice selection to choose from. My favorite was the scallop crudo. The scallops melted in my mouth. Service was great and timely even though it started getting busier. This location is not right by the harbor and street parking is difficult to find. We parked a couple blocks away, but the walk is a nice way to walk off the food. read more

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10/10 recommend the rum speciality drink -- so smooth yet strong. However the spicy margarita is very sour and tart. The fisherman's stew was so flavorful and filling (great portion size). The atmosphere was spacious and airy. Friendly service as well. I'd recommend going here for dinner or a late lunch. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Came in a very large group and this place gets a star for accommodating us. That being said, I didn't personally enjoy my tuna tacos. As some reviewers mentioned, it's relatively tasteless but with a fair amount of tuna. On another note, I was also misled on the pricing. I told the total cost would be $22 for three tacos (not on the menu) when it was actually $28. ‍ read more

Came here for dinner and it was loud and busy but we had a table and pretty large group ourselves. Our waitress was super nice and did individual checks for us so that was very helpful. I got the lobster roll (my first ever) and I upgraded to the truffle fries! I also got a cocktail. Everything was very tasty! Definitely recommend! read more

We had reservations tonight at another restaurant, but after visiting my friend Aurelia and her husband earlier in the day, we switched to Midtown Oyster Bar on their recommendation. Tim and I ordered cocktails, an old-fashioned for him and an extra dirty martini for me. Tim appreciated the large cube in his drink, and I loved the stemless martini glass. Both cocktails were on point. If you like bourbons, their bar has a very good selection. We started out sharing the smoked bluefish dip as an appetizer. I have no idea what bluefish is, but this dip was so good with that smoky flavor. The dip was served with basic saltine crackers. I ordered the baked cod with an herb crumb topping. It comes with truffle fries, but I opted for the roasted carrots instead. The cod was so moist, tender and flaky. It just fell apart. The roasted carrots were a great choice as they were charred yumminess. My husband had the grilled strip steak with potatoes and asparagus for his entrée. He asked for his steak to be cooked medium rare, but it was served more on the medium side and unfortunately also had some tough tendons in the steak making it chewy at times. Great flavor, though. Tim and I shared our entrées to get a little taste of what the other ordered. I think I definitely had the winner with the cod. I loved the atmosphere at this restaurant, plenty of seating both inside and out. Our server Marta was great at providing attentive service, too. If you're into oysters, this is the place. Their oyster selection and raw bar have many selections. I'm glad we made the switch to dine at Midtown Oyster last minute - even with the mishap on my husband's steak - we enjoyed it. read more

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We had a wonderful Sunday lunch as a group of 12. We were able to make a reservation and had a wonderful server. She was very detailed in explaining the dishes and our appetizers, drinks and entrees were outstanding. Dessert was also incredible. Possibly the best French Onion soup we have ever experienced. A blackened salmon BLT on multigrain toast with avocado was very tasty. The 401 farm raised oysters from their local farm were very good. Every diner was pleased with their meal. read more

Stopped by this place as it was recommended by several locals . It is supposed to be authentic and decently priced . We had the fish stew and the swordfish and the salmon as an appetizer as well as some oysters . It was all very delicious as well as the cocktails . The staff was very pleasant , it was a pretty good experience oysters are fresh !The place is big lot of seating it's a laid back atmosphere and they have a very cute rooftop which is where we sat . Great for people watching !I definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting the area . read more

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Excellent lunch with friendly service on a busy holiday weekend Sunday. Pretty crowded but we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar where the entire regular menu and raw bar menu are available. Bartender who acted as our server was friendly and attentive. He's a graduate student a the local university and is a pleasure to talk with. Lobster bisque and cod cheek wrap were both really good. Carrot cake dessert ( tasted more like a spice cake) was really good. Did not try any cocktails or beer. Prices were not unreasonable given location and meal quality. Definitely enjoyed the experience and would recommend this restaurant. read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Really bad pic of restaurant front. - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Unfortunately, mostly mediocre food. Especially the appetizers. Calamari was mostly fine, just the sauce was so overpowering. Mussels were tiny, the broth was pure alcohol taste so it felt like we were drinking this whole meal, plus the fries were soaked into the soup and we were all like whatttt. Aren't the fries normally on the side? I don't want soggy wine fries :o For entrees, the fish tacos were good but only two tacos! That's just a really sad lunch...Fish and chips platter also came with two pieces of fish but they were much larger in comparison. It was juicy but not tasty, overall. We opted to swap out regular fries for truffle fries for +$3 but don't make that mistake because those were definitely NOT truffle fries. I was looking forward to the lobster roll but the lobster was so mushy and just didn't taste good :/ read more

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This is why I'm jealous of New England. They have places like Midtown Oyster bar from Rhode Island to Maine. A beautiful place where you can get fresh regional seafood, pull a chair up to the clam bar, easy peasy. I'm with a buddy of mine, we're at a conference all week in Newport. I told him, we have to get lobster while we're here. Lets take a walk down the hill and grab some grub. We headed straight to Midtown Oyster Bar. Walking in, it's a big restaurant. I'm not looking for a table. Gimme a chair where the action is at the raw bar. When I'm given an Oyster menu, I never know what to pick from their choices. If you know the difference between a Maine Oyster from a Long Island Oyster then you get a gold star. I told the waitress one of each please! Just spot on freshness, the bounty of the local waters. I ordered my Lobster Roll the same way as a kid, warm and buttery. No Mayo or fillers, gimme the crustacean on a toasted roll! Warm, buttered lobster on freshly baked bread. Mmmmmmm... So good! High thumbs up for Midtown Oyster Bar. Enjoy! read more

Midtown Oyster Bar - Oysters - American Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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I normally don't go out of my way to leave bad reviews, but this experience was truly disappointing. We dined in on 10/17/25 in the evening, and our server- I believe her name was Courtney (curly blonde hair, wearing a headband), provided some of the worst service I've ever had. I ordered a drink that took quite a while to arrive. When she finally brought it, she just dropped it off without saying a word and kept walking. It was barely full. After that, she disappeared for a long stretch, though I noticed she repeatedly checked on the same few tables nearby. When she finally returned, we placed our full order since it seemed like we wouldn't see her again for a while. We ordered 4 oysters and 2 clams but received 4 clams and 2 oysters instead. The food runners brought our meals- I had the salmon, and my boyfriend had the lobster roll. The rice tasted like instant rice, possibly microwaved, and the salmon was supposed to come with roasted vegetables but only had a single slice of zucchini. The lobster roll wasn't good either. Throughout our appetizers and entrees, our server never once checked back on us- not even when we were finished. Thankfully, a manager passed by so we could at least ask for our check. Terrible service and underwhelming food. Would not recommend dining here. read more

I'm lending the benefit of the doubt because it seemed to be a busy day. Pros: The cod chowder was great! Best $9 spent. Ginger beer was presented like a mocktail for less than 4 bucks Cons: service took forever. The baked cod was dry and tiny. I feel like I could have gotten a way bigger piece from Whole Foods and thrown it in the oven. I will do that next time. read more