The restaurant ratings range from one diamond, equating to “Quick Serve,” up to five diamond, “Leading Edge.” Four diamonds is considered “Distinctive,” which is where the Newport restaurants ranked.
NEWPORT — AAA Northeast recently released its 2019 list of four and five diamond-rated restaurants and Newport was well represented with three fine dining establishments making the cut.
The Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn, The Vanderbilt Grill and Cara at The Chanler each received four diamond honors, judged by AAA inspectors on food, service and decor.
The restaurant ratings range from one diamond, equating to “Quick Serve,” up to five diamond, “Leading Edge.” Four diamonds is considered “Distinctive,” which is where the Newport restaurants ranked.
“The five AAA Diamond levels describe the kind of experience members can expect. They identify which AAA Inspected & Approved hotels and restaurants will provide the best fit for your occasion and budget,” it reads on the AAA website.
The inspector notes for Cara at The Chanler, which received an overall rating of 4.5 and a badge for the noted “romantic” rating, say: “If you seek an elegant dining experience, try the chef’s tasting menu with a set wine pairing. The New England-inspired tasting menu may include striped bass with wilted spinach, artichokes, chanterelle mushrooms, double-smoked bacon and roasted tomato in a bouillabaisse sauce. For dessert, soufflé is divine when it’s available.”
Also receiving an overall rating of 4.5, and garnering a “scenic view” badge for its vast windows and lawn overlooking Narragansett Bay, the inspector’s notes for the Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn say: “Here you’ll enjoy modern New England cuisine from a seasonally changing menu driven by the availability of fresh ingredients. Guests have a choice of a three-course prix-fixe menu or a six-course chef’s tasting menu that can also be paired with wines. Attentive service by a formally trained waitstaff will cater to your whims, making this the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.”
The Vanderbilt Grace, which received a 4.0 overall ranking and joined the Cara among those with “romantic” badges, the inspector notes read: “The seasonally changing menu focuses on high-end steak, chops, and the freshest farm-to-table ingredients available. Service is impeccable and accommodating to guest needs.” The review goes on to remark on the aesthetic, “The décor is top notch with fine Frette table linens, Riedel glass stemware, Bernardaud dishware and Baccarat centerpiece table lamps. The designers kept the integrity of the early 1900s architecture but added a modern feel with custom European chandeliers and American illustrated art from the 1920s and ’30s. Some of the famous originals on display include calendar and magazine covers of Judy Garland, Doris Duke and Joan Crawford.”
Among the hotels recognized in Newport, seven were given a four-diamond rating: 41° North, Grace Vanderbilt, Cliffside Inn, Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina, Hydrangea House Inn, the Newport Marriott and The Chanler at Cliff Walk.
For a complete list of diamond ratings, visit aaa.com/diamonds.
