Dinner here can begin with the water in full view and end with the sky changing over Narragansett Bay. The restaurant looks out across the ocean, with broad waterfront sightlines that give an ordinary lunch, a date-night dinner or a family celebration a little extra occasion.
The setting has more than one mood. There is a traditional dining room, an indoor bar, outdoor seating, a rooftop bar and the separate waterfront Anchor Room, along with private igloos that place a small group close to the bay. You can make a whole evening of moving from a drink to dinner without ever losing sight of the water.
Even the approach has a bit of character. The historic building has an arched crossover, or drive-under, design that stands out before the meal begins.
The Anchor Room and the Water
For diners who want the strongest connection to the shoreline, the Anchor Room is the space to know. Set apart from the main restaurant, it has especially expansive water views and a near-over-the-water feeling that can make the bay seem very close indeed.
The main dining room offers a cozier alternative. It suits the nights when you want the same seafood-centered meal and polished service in a more enclosed, traditional restaurant setting.
At sunset, the waterfront tables have an obvious appeal, but the view is not limited to dinner. The inside bar also pairs ocean scenery with a relaxed place for lunch or a pre-dinner drink.
A Seafood Menu With Room to Roam
Seafood is the backbone of the menu, and there is enough range to keep a table from ordering in unison. Lobster rolls, oysters, clams, shrimp, scallops, cod, haddock, swordfish and salmon have all appeared in various preparations, alongside changing seasonal specials.
A seafood platter is a pleasant way to start a longer meal, combining oysters, littlenecks and large shrimp. It is the sort of opener that encourages a table to slow down, order a bottle or a round of cocktails and settle in.
The appetizer list has also included tempura cauliflower, lobster bisque, octopus and mussels. The cauliflower is a useful reminder that the menu is not a one-note parade of shellfish, especially if a group includes someone who wants a break from the sea.
Lobster Beyond the Roll
Lobster gets plenty of attention here, but not only in the familiar roll. Past offerings have included lobster-stuffed ravioli, lobster pasta and a lobster-corn tamale, giving the kitchen several directions to take one of New England's most beloved ingredients.
Pasta is another strong lane for the menu. Seafood spaghetti has brought together an ample mix of fresh seafood, while linguine with clams and both cream-based and red-sauce seafood pastas have offered more classic comfort.
One especially rich pasta special paired chopped scallops, shrimp and lobster with pappardelle in cream sauce. Specials change, of course, but the dish gives a good sense of the restaurant's willingness to make dinner feel a little more celebratory than a quick fish-and-chips stop.
Other preparations have included scallops over fresh vegetables, swordfish, and haddock served with au gratin vegetables. That variety makes it easier for a group to share a few starters and still have plenty of distinct entrées to consider.
Save a Little Space
Dessert can be as straightforward or as indulgent as the rest of the evening. Options have included a graham-cracker-coated cheesecake, chocolate flourless cake and an espresso dessert.
The cheesecake sounds particularly well suited to a table that has spent dinner sampling seafood and pasta: familiar, a little playful and easy to divide into a few last bites. A flourless chocolate cake takes the evening in a more serious direction.
Drinks With a Bay View
The beverage program is broad enough to support either a quick drink or a full dinner. There is a large wine selection, local rosé, cocktails, mocktails and specialty drinks including a pomegranate martini.
The rooftop bar gives the water another stage. It is a separate option from the indoor bar, so the experience can shift with the season, the breeze and how close you want to be to the open air.
Helpful beverage guidance is part of the service style. Staff can walk diners through specials and offer candid menu suggestions, and wine choices need not be made blindly; tastes of a rosé have been offered before a final selection.
Private Igloos for a Smaller Celebration
The private igloos are the restaurant's most unusual dining option. Designed for groups of up to eight, they overlook the ocean and turn a meal into a contained little gathering place for birthdays, anniversaries, holiday outings or a long-overdue dinner with friends.
Inside, the setup is more lounge-like than a bare outdoor enclosure. Igloos have included an electric fireplace, a heater, Bluetooth speaker, sofas, tables and a basket of blankets. Each has its own theme; an autumn-inspired version has brought a seasonal visual touch to the enclosed space.
These are spaces for lingering. With seating, warmth and a view beyond the glass, an igloo works nicely for a leisurely meal rather than a rushed stop between errands.
Planning the Visit
Reservations are commonly recommended, particularly for private igloos, special occasions and warmer-weather visits. The most scenic spaces are understandably the ones that benefit from advance planning.
Parking arrangements can vary, with valet service, street parking and a paid lot among the options that have been available. The waterfront location also means outdoor tables can catch a coastal breeze, a welcome feature on some days and a factor to consider on others.
The Anchor Room is in a separate building from the main restaurant. Stairs may be involved in reaching it, so diners with mobility concerns may want to confirm the current route and seating setup when making arrangements.