One of my favorite experiences in Newport. Here's the breakdown. Ambiance: 5/5 Important note -- this five out of five is specifically for the outside bar. If you have the opportunity to sit outside in the summer, it is just spectacular. The inside and main restaurant are probably a three out of five by comparison. But if you can snag an outdoor spot, don't think twice. Five out of five. Service: 4/5 Nothing that knocked our socks off. The bartenders weren't the most talkative, but drinks and food came out fast. They're super busy and we'll give them some grace. Gets the job done. Food & Drinks: 5/5 My wife and I came here specifically for drinks and appetizers, so I can't speak to the full menu -- but if the apps are any indication, I imagine the food here is just excellent. We got the John Daly frozen iced tea, and it was so good that we literally left and came back for another one. Perfect summer drink. We also got the clam chowder, and I'm giving this a six out of five -- probably one of the best clam chowders I've ever had in my life. Just perfect. We also got the Parmesan fries which were good, not crazy amazing, but solid. Overall: 5/5 Come here for the outdoor bar experience, the drinks, and the clam chowder. That alone is worth the trip. One of our favorite experiences in Newport and I couldn't recommend it more strongly. read more

Came here for a dinner while in Newport. We were seated outside which was not my favorite ambiance wise. Just a patio on the middle of the wharf. Inside is also really dark and dreary looking so we chose outside. Food was okay. Clam chowder was good. Someone in our group got a chopped salad which was not chopped at all and not good. Burger was mid. Lobster roll was definitely very very fresh. Our group however wasn't a total fan because it wasn't what we were used to (were used to/prefer the hot lobster rolls). However that's nothing to say about the quality of the lobster. We are not running to come back here anytime soon. Wasn't horrible but not the most memorable either. read more

Service by Tiffany was outstanding and location of eating Alfresco was great but food was just blah for me. Ceaser Salad was just overloaded with anchovy paste. Not a fan. Luckily I order a steak with it so I got to enjoy that. Clams Casino weren't good My wife ordered the charcuterie board appetizer, which we all enjoyed. Very limited menu for non seafood lovers, so she ordered a basic Chopped Salad which was just ok. My friends enjoyed the lobster roll and fish wrap. Just disappointed with the experience especially the price. After a 25% tip for the four of us, it was $324... and only had a total of 5 drinks. Not going back for food but the location is good to grab a drink.... In the heart of Newport waterfront. read more

Love the dark ambiance in here! Stopped in for a quick midday drink at the bar. We did have to wait a bit as they were pretty busy and it was a Friday, but once we received our drinks they were super cold and refreshing! Definitely will be back to try the food! read more

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So good!!! They take reservations but note they are only for the indoor space. For outdoor seating across the way, you try your luck with the queue. On a blazing hot day, we were fine with sitting indoors - plus they seated us next to the back Dutch door with the top open so we could still see outside - perfect combination! Our server was attentive and clearly knew the menu well. For entrees we had the salmon and cod, and for sides we got the couscous, cauliflower and pasta alfredo for our little guy. Everything was delicious!!! We'd happily run back the entire experience. Thanks to The Black Pearl for a great dinner! read more

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Almost decided just to give it three stars, but it is a lovely place to to sit and watch the waterfront and be seen. We went for an early dinner as we had a sunset cruise coming up later. The outside tables are first come first serve. I had read very good things about the muscles appetizer and while they were tasty, the sauce was not "" drinkable as some people had mentioned I felt it was much too thin and could have been reduced some and perhaps it would've been much better. My husband had the clam chowder which had a few chewy clams and not a ton of them. We also had the clams casino which were tasty but on the small side for sure. Overall, it was lovely and a great place to sit, but the food was not over the top fabulous. read more

The Black Pearl - Area - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Awsome place outside great food and drinks right on the canal Freindly people. Right on the middle of the busy area. read more

The Black Pearl - Toasted corn beef sand - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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My first clam chowder! Nice and hot! Mussels were a good white cream sauce, but a little too "creamy" for my liking, but hubby loved them. The bartender was so nice and everything came out fast! Enjoyed our little snack and drinks here :) read more

The Black Pearl - Mussels Black Pearl - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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This is a beautiful restaurant at the Newport waterfront. The inside is cozy and tastefully decorated the service was good. We got several appetizers - the muscles were my favorite, and I would recommend them to anyone. They came with a delicious butter sauce. We also got the oysters, which were OK, but not my favorite and a little expensive. I also tried the clam chowder which was very good - eight dollars for a cup. I also enjoyed the burger. It was thick and juicy and came with a lot of fries overall a little expensive but I would recommend coming here and trying it out as it is one of Newport's most well-known restaurants. read more

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Had to stop in and try the Black Pearl's well reviewed clam chowder. And I am glad I did. The BP had tavern seating, a dining room as well as a large outdoor patio-it was a beautiful day so we opted for outdoors. Along with the fore mentioned chowder, my better half ordered a lobster roll and we shared some raw oysters. Let's begin with the chowder-it was definitely something unique to it. Perhaps dill as well as another flavor (sweet) thats difficult to pinpoint. A guess could be brandy or rum they used when creating a roux. Packed with claims and just enough potatoes, it was outstanding. The lobster roll was very good-a great buttered split roll although I prefer my lobster a little less dressed. A few of my oysters could have benefitted from better shucking but they were briny and delicious. Service was prompt and our server handled her tables expertly. A great day eating superb food. Highly recommended. read more

The Black Pearl - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Aside from the initial service, this place fell intensely short. The food here was cold, lacked flavor. This was actually the first meal where I couldn't even eat most of it. We had ordered the fish and that was hard as a rock. The fries did not have any flavor to them and were cold and disappointing. The burger was OK but really not that good. Pasta was subpar. The so-called famous clam chowder that is pasted all around town as being the Best from Rhode Island wasn't really up to snuff. The ambience is what sells this place because it is both indoors and outdoor outdoors and on a nice beautiful day it's great to be on banister's wharf but really that is all that it has going for it. read more

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Excellent restaurant and worth a visit. The atmosphere is very cozy and some of the seating can be a bit tight. Lighting is dim and warm. Service was friendly and food arrived promptly after ordering. Probably one of the better clam chowders in the New England area in my opinion. Similar flavors to what one might find at the Sail Loft in Boston, but with more clams in the soup and less potatoes, which is a big plus. Clam Chowder - Excellent clam chowder, not overly watery or thick. Good consistency with plenty of clams in the soup. Clean and delicious. Definitely worth an order. Tavern Burger - Solid burger cooked medium. Bacon was thick cut and toppings in the burgers were all fresh. Tastes of a backyard grill on the meat which was awesome and added to the flavor profile. Corned Beef Reuben - Amazing corned beef sandwich with delicious slaw. Bread was not overly toasted or thick. Plenty of meat in the sandwich. Overall an amazing entree. Fries that come with this meal are properly cooked and seasoned. Cod Wrap - This was a delicious wrap with a reasonable portion of cod and slaw. Wrap wasn't in any way dry and had plenty of "juice" from the fish and slaw. Overall, this was a good experience. All the food was great. Staff is friendly and attentive. It was a good enough experience that we stopped by a second night, unfortunately, it seems they experienced some shortages because they had run out of the chicken pot pie and corned beef reuben on the second night, which happened to be what I wanted to order. All else was great. read more

The Black Pearl - Corned Beef Reuben and Cod Wrap - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Chris, our waiter/server seated us quickly, first time here, Aaaagh we had to go to the Black Pearl, for Jack Sparrow ya know..... Black Pearl Clam chowder, Oysters, Chicken Pot Pie Gotta return, the Clam Chowder is......in a word...best I've ever had!!! Hands down, coffee and cheesecake for desert, great way to share our 40th anniversary Thank you Christopher read more

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I made a reservation and the staff could not have been nicer, our waiter was also very friendly. Clam chowder was delicious. Grilled oysters were good. I was pleasantly surprised by the charcuterie board it had this spiced apple/pear compote that left us wanting more. We were upsold on dessert that unfortunately did not live up to the hype. All good. Great place to people watch. read more

Just stopped by at 10am for a drink at the outdoor bar - nice bartender and good drinks!! Loved being right on the water! read more

The Black Pearl - Mimosa and Guiness - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Good spot full of character. Low key, non ripoff place. Ambiance is great. Lots of characters. I've been here a few times and I'll hopefully return several more times. read more

The Black Pearl - Newport Harbor - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Nice cozy atmosphere, good menu selection for food and drink, friendly service. Had a cup of clam chowder and a Rueben. Both were tasty. The French fries were fresh cut, but soggy. All in all a decent experience and would come back if ever in Newport. read more

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Went back and talked to Patrick as requested. Had another drink and really loved the second experience. Love the outside area especially when the weather was so nice! read more

The Black Pearl - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Came here for Friday night dinner very good. Make sure you make reservations to get in. Definitely try. The clam chowder was awesome. You also have to try the lobster roll sandwich also excellent great place for family and kids and large groups. Definitely put on your bucket list when you come to Rhode Island. read more

I am a native Rhode Islander and frequent Newport often. I go to Black Pearl yearly. Today's experience was less than satisfactory. The outdoor hostess had quite the attitude and was overall unpleasant. After waiting almost an hour we were almost turned away to end up being sat, it was all very chaotic. Our waitress turned our experience around and she was wonderful, but the food was also subpar. Overall, I don't know if I will return. read more

One star for a pretty ridiculous dress-code policy. We stopped at the outdoor bar hoping to have dinner with my parents and child, but were immediately turned away because I was wearing a tank top. The hostess specifically told us, "We don't allow men with tank tops." What made this especially bizarre was that we had just looked inside and saw women wearing tank tops, along with other guests in athleisure and beachwear-style clothing. I understand dress codes at upscale restaurants, but enforcing a men-only tank-top ban at an outdoor waterfront bar felt unnecessarily pretentious and inconsistent. We went to Wharf Fishhouse Coastal Seafood & Tavern instead and had a great experience--good food, good music, a relaxed atmosphere, and friendly staff. Black Pearl: 1/5. Tank top: apparently too scandalous. read more

Popped in here during our stay in Newport for a light lunch and my first time trying clam chowder, I heard this place was the best! It did not disappoint! I got a cup and it was large and decently priced but I wish I got a bowl because wow!!!! I didn't even need the oyster crackers, there was so much clams in it! I'm gonna be thinking about this for the rest of my life back in Texas! read more

The Black Pearl - Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

We loved this place! Our waitress was amazing and the food was fabulous. We started out with the clam chowder and the Mussels. Get the Mussels.... they were out of this world. The broth and fresh bread added the perfect touch. My fiancé then ordered the lobster role, and I got the cod wrap and we split them. We are big foodies and we both said this was one of our favorite meals ever. read more

Black Pearl is a wonderful spot to enjoy something to eat. The staff is great, very welcoming. I ordered a seared cod wrap. It looked good, but it was mushy, and the fries were over fried. It seemed like the fish was frozen then heated up quickly. Next time I think the clam chowder is a sure thing to have and enjoy the view. read more

The Black Pearl is a great spot on Bannister's Wharf for a meal or a cocktail. They have a large outdoor patio perfect for alfresco dining. The staff was quick and nice. My husband and I decided to split a few appetizers so we got the crab cakes, fries, Caesar salad, and clam chowder. It was a great lunch and I would definitely recommend eating here on your trip to Newport! read more

The Black Pearl - Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Enjoyed the charcuterie board, potato pave, tavern burger and roasted cod. Grits were a bit runny and the chopped salad was not distinctive--to be honest the both the tomatoes and avocado were over ripe and likely should not have been served. Service was a bit frantic and missing a few steps such as making sure we had water. The weather the last couple days--pouring rain in the middle of summer seems to have set everyone on edge. The restaurant could have gained miles by turning on their indoor heaters instead of letting us all freeze. Overall a serviceable restaurant that could be great by attending to a few details. read more

The clam chowder was amazing and lovely service! My husband also had lobster and loved it. read more

The Black Pearl - Clam Chowder 10/10!! - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Terrible website, can't even find the menu. I wanted to go but can't find a menu. Spend the money to promote your business.

So, unfortunately, I think this review is largely dictated by the server who was assigned to our group, as she seemed very aloof and distant and did basically the bare minimum of taking our order, bringing our food, and then dropping the check (after we had to ask for it). Our waters never got refilled, she never checked on us to see how we were doing, and she generally avoided waiting on us. I was hoping that the food would redeem our evening, but even that was fairly average. Nothing was bad, but nothing was exceptional, either. Setting is nice, and the vibe of the restaurant is cool, but the food was average, and our server was simply poor. read more

Went for Sunday brunch in early April. Nice crowd for off season. Sat outside in tent. This place is not cheap. Breakfast potatoes were incredible We paid the check, then waiter says he f'ed up and forgot to charge a round. How does a server get alcoholic drinks at a restaurant without ringing them in? Not very professional after the fact. A reasonably priced lunch turned into excessively priced one. read more

The Black Pearl - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Good spot overall. Definitely came for the outdoor patio, as it's in a prime location and is covered in case of inclement weather! I got the challah bread to start, pictured here, which was to die for. So light and fluffy, cooked to perfection, and buttery smooth as well. Melted in my mouth and I could have eaten four or five of these bad boys! Also got a Caesar salad with grilled shrimp - thankfully there were four shrimp but the salad portion was smaller than expected, for what the salad cost, I expected more than a side salad portion of lettuce. It was delightfully tasty, though, and the perfect dinner after a long adventurous day! Service was phenomenal, and again, the outdoor patio has a great atmosphere. read more

The Black Pearl - Challah bread - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

This place does not get the best reviews and as a tourist spot i guess I understand but I can tell you that my clam chowder and little neck clams were spectacular. Our service was great and the ambiance in this place is very rustic and feels like it fits the vibe it is trying to portray. Our waiter was so good at suggesting items and working with us. My experience could not have been any better. read more

The Black Pearl - Clam Chowder and clams - Seafood Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Shocked more people are not giving 5 stars.... Tiffany our server was GREAT! We had lunch and ordered the frites appetizer as well as the crab with tajin and a cup of NE clam chowder. The chowder was loaded with clam! Loaded! So good, The fries....amazing.....the crab....lump! We then had a burger, the cod wrap, the pesto pasta and a BLT. Everything our family tried we loved! Not our first time here, not our last! 5 starts all the way! read more

Let me just say that this was a trip back in time. Many years ago, my spouse was a poor struggling student in Providence, Rhode Island, and discovered the Black Pearl's clam chowder. When I made a trip back to the area about 20 years ago, I had to stop and see what the talk was about. I make darn good clam chowder, but their clam chowder was excellent. So recently we decided for nostalgia's sake we would try it one more time and the chowder was exceptional, thick but not claggy, creamy, full of clams, nicely salty and a boost of dill. We chose to sit outside on a beautiful fall day. Service was slow. We also tried a lobster salad on croissant. The croissant was stale and the lobster needed flavor. If I were back in the area, I would 100% stop for the chowder, but would probably look elsewhere for other food options. read more

We stopped in for a late lunch. Parking in Newport is hard to find but the restaurant was close to the hotel. The clam chowder was tasty as an appetizer and the Tavern burger with bacon was delicious. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere and our server was attentive and pleasant. read more

Food delicious... service fantastic...ambiance fit the setting along the sea coast in Newport, RI

The food and drinks are so good! And the two bartenders inside are the best! We will be coming back

Came here off of a recommendation from a friend. We got the Garlic Parmesan Frites, Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Crab Cake as apps. The aioli that came with the fries was delicious and so was the crab cake (though it was a little pricier). I tried the Mussels Black Pearl and was decently surprised! The butter/broth was delicious with the mussels and the bread and the mussels tasted fresh, not fishy at all. Our server was very nice and attentive, always checked up on us. However, there are only two single women's restrooms which led to a long line down a very narrow hallway in the middle of the restaurant. read more

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Overrated & disappointing Overall would def not recommend this spot. I've had way better food elsewhere and the service was def not the best. The waitress Taylor didn't check on. Overheard her mentioning she would stay just to finish up the tables since food was ordered, girl was ready to leave Cute atmosphere but nothing special. There are def other better places in the surrounding area to visit. The food tasted like it had been sitting. We ordered the: - Shrimp & grits: Shrimp was delicious. Most poor excuse for grits. - Clam Chowder Soup: ok. - Seared Cod Sandwich: Filled with great cod. But both sandwich and fries weren't hot. read more

Disappointed in food cod wrap was served cold including fries The shrimp and grits: 4 shrimp was very good but grits were very soupy! clam chowder was ok Beer: be aware it's a 10 0z pour for a pint price!!!! WHATT ! not specified on menu! who's serves a 10 ounce pour? be aware ! I bet the cod wrap would be excellent if it was served hot! I think our food sat in the kitchen ! You decide !! to go!! read more