I am very surprised by all the negative reviews here! We stumbled upon the Blues Cafe just as they were opening. It had started to rain and we were just looking for somewhere to grab a bite. The decor is nothing fabulous, but it is open and airy. We were there on a Tuesday (it doesn't say it on Yelp, but in the summer they are open all week) and they had literally JUST opened so we were the only ones there.
We were nervous at first because the waitress (while very nice) didn't seem to know much about the beer list and after ordering we found out that there are no regular French fries, just sweet potato fries, and the chicken parm is grilled, not breaded. We were very pleasantly surprised!
The mango chutney cheese spread with crackers was unique and flavorful and a wonderful cool appetizer to start with on a humid day. My companion ordered the chicken parm and it was delicious! The sauce is light and well seasoned, and that is some of the best grilled chicken I have tasted! It was complemented perfectly by the sauce and it didn't get that soggy texture that grilled chicken in sauce often has. I ordered the fish and chips and was blown away! The breading on the fish was light and thin, no grease, no overpowering batter taste. You could really enjoy the fish, which was great since it tasted so fresh I wouldn't be surprised if it had been swimming that morning! No fishy smell; this was not some piece of junk fish disguised by greasy fried breading, this was fine seafood! Oh, and those sweet potato fries? I don't even LIKE sweet potatoes and I couldn't stop eating them. The portion sizes are super generous also.
Also, they have a special: certain items (good ones!) are 2 for $19.99, so both big meals, our appetizer, and a drink (and tax and tip) all came to $45!!!!!
Like I said, the negative reviews are baffling to us. I don't know if the place changes at night when it becomes more of a club scene, but for an evening dinner I would definitely go back in an instant!
What an awesome place to see live music. Â I've been here twice and although it's a bitch to find parking it's totally worth it. Â And I don't know about you but I'll happily pay a cover to see live music. Â We've been here twice in my travels to Rhode Island, which is weird because this place is so much bigger and more comfortable than the other places in Newport. I've seen Those Guys (look them up they're an awesome local cover band) and on July 4th we had the pleasure of seeing BADFISH, finally. We randomly came to find out that Badfish was playing at Newport blues on July 4th at around 8-9 pm. Â We obviously decided we had to go but the concert junkie in me was convinced there was no way we'de ever get it in. Â $20 cover later we were in and saw Badfish play every amazing Sublime song you can imagine. Â I loved the fact they had a small cash bar at the back of the stage if you didn't want to wait for the larger bar which was very crowded. Â Go here to see live music on a random night; its the perfect place for it.
Review Source:Have been to NB a few times and each time was just ok. Not worthy of a review either way. Last night was a different story. The crowd was exceptionally seedy for Newport. Maybe it was the band ( Downtown Fever) and local following. I wanted also to comment about the band. Although the music selection was good and definitely a dance vibe it seemed as though the music was prerecorded or dubbed in. Â Thats what happens when you dont drink alot...you focus on the talent. I have never seen a band read or constantly work from an IPad. I believe the lead singer may have been singing live but there were too many women backup vocalists that were not on stage. The blond singer was so awkward up there it seemed as though it was her first time with the band. The other singer was also as equally awkward. im not sure either one of them knew the words to most songs. I guess these days you dont have to have real talent....because there is an App for that!
Or maybe i just need to drink more.
I bought a $20 voucher for $10. Â they did not accept it because it was during an event (LAME) i live in California, and i probably will never be in the neighborhood again (or anytime soon)
Please feel free to use my redemption code.  not sure if they will take the code       without the cell phone... but it's worth a shot, and it was already paid for, so i don't see why not!
Redemption Code: J3KWND
Expires: 10/22/2013
My daughter's birthday dinner was scheduled here...we had made reservations. Â At 2pm the night of her dinner we rec'd a call saying that the restaurant had been closd due to a private party. Â I was incredulous. Â I know things happen. Â But when I asked to speak to a manager, the woman said she was the manager. Â She expressed no remorse whatsoever - it was well, yeah, we're sorry. Â As she said, 'there's nothing I can say that will make you happy' - well, got that right! Â I may come to hear some music again one night - but never, ever will I eat there again.
Review Source:Attended a St Jude's Benefit upstairs at the cafe - space was a little odd for a fundraiser as it has a square opening so guests can view the band from the second level. Our fundraiser should have been done before the band (80's rock tribute band) went on but it wasn't so it made for a lot of yelling and sign language to select the winning numbers from the raffle. I had wished the venue would have held the warmup until we were finished which was just another 10 minutes. The crowd downstairs eventually flowed upstairs and I have never seen such a mixed bag of drunken hot messes - men and women staggering, bumping into each other and one girl even smeared leftover chocolate all over her face so her dumpy wasted BF could slowly lick it off. That was my cue to leave. I went once for the fundraiser and will never go back.
Review Source:I too, have had an awful experience in dealing with an employee of this bar! I'm so appalled by her actions towards me that I feel compelled to write a review and tell others to avoid this place!
This past weekend I was visiting a cousin in Newport for the first time, coming from New York. I had a great experience in the town! Great food and scenery. Everyone I encountered from baristas to sail riggers to bank tellers to dog walkers on the street, felt welcoming despite my being a tourist and despite not knowing the local idiosyncratic details of life in Newport. I grew up in a tourist town so I understand the "locals only" vibe of some places and try my best to not act in a stereotypical tourist way.
On Saturday (8/25/2012) night, I ventured out with my cousin and five of his male friends (all of legal drinking age) to a few of the bars in town. We had a great time at Pour Judgement and a few others, and as last call approached we heard there would be live music over at Newport Blues Cafe on Thames. We rushed over, 5 dollar cover in hand, expecting to end the night dancing. As we lined up to get in, the boys were allowed in without a cover (it being so close to last call) and I was last to show my ID to the bouncer.
Being that I live in such close proximity to a city with an extensive public transportation system, coupled with the fact I was in an accident when I was in high school, I've never had much motivation to obtain my driver's license. I have a DMV issued New York State learner's permit. This is a form of ID accepted at virtually any other establishment in any other state (I travel A LOT for work) for proof of age. Upon examining my ID card, the bouncer laughed to himself and started saying things like "New York State IDs aren't this flimsy" and even at one point POCKETED my ID and told me to get lost. I persisted, stating that I was 25 and that the ID was in fact valid, asking if he could call the police over (I saw them on a nearby corner) to run the ID. They came over and verified its legitimacy, that I was indeed 25.
However, that was not the end - the (I think) bar manager (maybe just door girl) and bouncer then asked for something else with my picture on it. I produced a debit card and also had a student ID ready to go. It was still not enough and they maintained they were refusing me entry. The girl (who at this point had been pretty silent and merely supervising) shoved a document in my face (I suppose rules/regulations of the bar) and pointed to a list of acceptable forms of ID - the top being "Driver's License." rather than state issued DMV ID. This means that anybody unable to operate a motor vehicle but who is of legal drinking age doesn't have the proper ID to enter this bar! I have a hard time believing they'd turn away somebody with a RI learner's permit.
At this point, I was ready to drop it, but my group were still inside unaware that I had never made it past the front door. As I got out my phone to text my cousin, the bar manager/doorgirl again reared her head, asking the bouncer why I was still hanging around. I stated that I was waiting for my group of friends and that is when she moved toward me, palms out, and shoved me down the front stairs of the bar. As she did so, I went limp, not resisting her at all, and she continued to push. Throughout the few seconds of pushing I kept talking to a group of girls that were outside, making it clear that I was not touching her and she was hurting me.
I stood next to this group until my cousin came out, where he again tried to plead my case with the two (at this point I think three employees were around, two women and the bouncer). Not knowing I had already involved the police, he also stopped a police officer that he knew and chatted for a bit. Unfortunately the police maintained as before that despite my ID being verified, the bar could still refuse me entry because it's a private business. The bar could not give him a reason for refusing me entry other than they flat out didn't want me in there. I did not act belligerent or rudely. I'm not a drunk sorority girl type crying on the sidewalk. My cousin went back inside to let everyone know what had happened, the group finished out the band's set and then met me over at a bar next door where I was welcomed with my NYS ID.
Bottom line - I tried calmly resolving the situation only to be met with unbridled, undeserved hostility by somebody who supposedly has lots of power in her role at this bar. Avoid the Newport Blues Cafe at all costs!
Let's start over. Â To be fair, this has nothing to do with the actual food or beverage end of this establishment. Â My experience happened in the parking lot. Â I was using the lot next to the Newport Blue Club (which belongs to a bank) on a Sunday morning at 10:45am, Â I pulled into a spot that said it was for bank customers only but i needed quick access to load some flyers for a local business on the other side of the bank and being that I am seven months pregnant I just needed a quick place to park so I didn't have to carry the flyers a long way. Â At the time I pulled in to park there was no one else in the lot, no other cars, no employees, no signs stating you have to pay. Â I knew I would only be a few minutes so I parked and got out.
Upon returning to my car I was met by a woman on her cell phone who was yelling at me, demanding I owed her $20 for parking in the lot illegally. Â I tried to explain the situation as did the owner of the business whose flyers I was picking up. Â The parking lot attendant continued her rant and told me she called the cops and then a tow truck. Â I looked around in the lot where there were no other cars and couldn't believe this woman was creating such a commotion over the 5 minutes I had been in the lot. Â I explained that I didn't have any cash and she continued to stand behind my car so I couldn't leave demanding payment. Â I kept thinking, is this how they treat people every day here? Â How abut a little common sense. Â I'm sure you will have plenty of opportunities to make your money throughout the day. Â The business owner that came out with me paid the woman $10 and when I asked if I could leave she said "he only gave me twenty, you still owe me ten!". Â That's when I lost it, I jumped into my car and tried to back out, Â I had enough of this woman. Â She proceeded to jump behind my car and block me in saying I could not leave until she got the rest of her money. Â Thankfully the owner of the business I was initially visiting came back with another $10 and told her she needed to get some help. Â Upon leaving I was so upset that my emotions got the better of me and I yelled a few choice words at her. Â the proud look on her face for basically stealing money from me was enough to drive me over the edge so I left before anything else could happen.
Later my husband went back to pay the store owner his $20 and spoke with the manager of the blues club. Â She basically told him that the attendant was just doing her job and there was nothing she could do. Â If doing her job is to harass people then she deserves a raise.
With so many other choices in Newport, don't waste your time and money on a place that treats potential customers this way. Â We didn't even have to walk in the door to experience the bad service and food like the rest of e people of yelp. Â I guess we should be thankful that we only lost out on $20.
We have certainly learned our lesson from this incident and I encourage you to save yourselves the hassle of a hostile environment. Â Why patron a place that treats people this way? Â Don't pay to park at this place, park at our house and walk for free!!!
Where to even begin?!?! So my teenage daughter and I go there at 5pm when they opened thinking we'd be better off because they wouldn't be busy yet but we were wrong. I decided to go there because I'm a huge fan of <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frestaurant.com&s=c5fe485af4df376130bee54f875814d79c4d7913e1258123b1206d2bdbf4873b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://restaurant.com</a> and they are featured on there. In the past we've gotten extremely lucky and found some hidden gems. The 60 year old hostess at the door was odd to start off, giving us an option to sit in front of the window in the sun or at a table out of the sun. We opted for one in the sun but then quickly realized that it was just too hot so we moved one table over, remember that we were the ONLY people in there. She then makes a snide comment about how she asked us if we wanted to sit in the sun, because apparently people can't change their mind within 10 seconds of deciding. She then proceeds to sit at her podium eating and playing with her cell phone. Then the waitress comes over and knows absolutely nothing about the menu. I asked her if they had wheat bread and she responded, "Uh yeah I think we have white, yup white bread". Everything she told us about the menu was wrong. The soda tasted like chlorine water with syrup in it. My sandwich was made wrong so I asked her very nicely to have them fix it, when I get it back and take a bite, part of it was still wrong mind you but I let it slide, I swear it tasted like a cleaning chemical. Oh, in between this debauchery I moved the wine menu that was on my table to another table that was empty to allow for more room for our food because the table was small and the hostess gave me an attitude for doing so. My sandwich sucks so I decide to suck it up and try to enjoy my sweet potato fries. I look down at one and realize that there is a curly hair baked into it! Now I'm completely disgusted, the waitress comes over, I let her know very nicely and she says she'll take it off the bill. To be honest, I didn't care how much I was spending because my gift certificate alone was $25 off my bill. We then decide we want dessert so my daughter asks the hostess nicely for a menu. She hands her the wine menu I moved and states that the desserts were on the back of the menu that I so idiotically moved. Because the waitress took the sandwich off of my bill and forgot to charge me for the soda, my bill was $3 shy of the minimum $35 purchase. The hostess almost didn't want to allow us to use the certificate and while discussing our bill she is rudely discussing how we moved the wine menu to make room on our table. Right in front of us she is talking about us!! The best part is it's now time to leave because I paid the bill and the rude ass hostess stares us down the whole way out of the door and doesn't say a word. I would never go back, even if you gave me a year of free food there and never recommend this place to anyone!! Don't waste your time, money, patience or sanity there.
Review Source:Crappy doesn't even explain this place. We went for the two for one deal on dinner and wow was it a bust! First they add 20% gratuity which I would be fine with if the service or the food was somewhat decent. Our waitress didn't pay attention most of the time and the place was dead to begin with. The food was no saving grace. My steak was fatty and poorly cooked with the most disgusting sauce I've ever tasted. Â My mashed potatoes were seasoned with who knows what, but it wasn't the garlic mash I was hoping for and the seasonal veggies that I was so looking forward to were limp drenched crap that my dog wouldn't touch... Needless to say maybe the music is worthwhile but the food is below decent.
Review Source:Got there early before the band started playing. Â Had dinner (which was delicious). Â The service was a little slow but we were not in a hurry. Â Went a couple more times for the drinks and bands and it was good every time. Â It is a little older crowd thank goodness! Â Been to a few of the younger clubs and only succeded to get irritated. Â If you want to listen to a live band, drink some beer and still be able to talk to each other, this is the place. Â Sit upstairs and hang out or hang out downstairs to dance and drink. Â There is a bar upstairs and downstairs.
Review Source:This is a fun place. Hands down, probably the best "club" scene in Newport and the trashy, skanky girls are a minimum. (But do not think you won't see at least a few! Shmuts are everywhere!)
The music is usually very good. The drinks are good and sometimes on the strong side, but who complains about strong?
The atmosphere is nice, but the people who work there can be kinda pushy sometimes. I have never tried the food, so I cannot comment there, but the place is worth the try!
This is a terrible live venue! Especially if the band's demographic is under 40 and they plan on playing loud. Their security staff has no idea how to handle a crowd and escalates and situation unnecessarily.
THIS IS JUST A REVIEW AS A VENUE. It's not worth the gamble. I have bruises from the bouncers and my wallet is $15 lighter.
YAY so much fun!! I went there this past Saturday & they had a hilarious 80s cover band playing all night... so if that's your scene, this is your place! Drink prices are on par with everywhere else in the area. They definitely didn't use the best alcohol... but what can you expect, I guess?!
Review Source:We made a 7:30 reservation for 2 on a Saturday night. Â We were looking for dinner and to watch some blues/live music. Â The bar/restaurant/venue is in a former bank, which is pretty cool - the vault was open, the ceilings were super high and the room had very tall windows. Â We were seated at a bar-table, in bar stools with backs. Â The stage was getting set up and the dance floor was cleared - I was ready to see the people of Newport, RI party.
They had a well-rounded set of beers on tap. Â My boyfriend had a Blue Moon, and I had a Newport Storm beer. Â It was tasty, and made up for the fact that we didn't actually make it to the brewery for a tour.
We split the calamari and wings to start.  The calamari was not very fried/crispy, but the pickled peppers tasted awesome with the calamari.  The wings were decent - kind of between spicy and sweet.  It is definitely bar food.  We were going to get a rack of ribs, but they were out.  My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich; he said it was good.  I ordered a cup of clam chowder (I was starting to feel the effects of 2 consecutive days of eating  out).  My clam chowder was really yummy and mellow tasting.  However, it was a little on the gritty side.  We sat around waiting for the band to play...and they didn't start until 10pm.  I'm happy the servers at the restaurant didn't rush us out of our table - I'm guessing that if you reserve a table for dinner, you get to keep it through the show.  They also didn't push us to get more drinks or anything; they kind of just left us alone, which is awesome.
Close to 9:30pm after we'd let our stomachs digest a little more, we ordered dessert. Â My boyfriend had creme brulee - he said it was good, but I didn't verify. Â I ordered the "key lime pie (cholesterol-free)". Â The key-lime part was good and zingy, but there was no graham cracker crust. Â I love graham cracker crust and it keeps a pie together, but this pie was all key-lime and not enough pie crust. Â Maybe I got a weird slice.
The (cover) band, Sugar, came on around 10:15pm. Â They were a lot of fun - the girl singers are hot, the saxophonist very talented, and I bounced around in our bar chairs for quite a bit. Â The crowd was definitely a bit older than us (we're in our 20s), but who cares - they were having a really awesome time. Â At the end of the first set, we went home because, after all, we'd been in the same place for like 4 hours.
Great place to see a live band! Â If I lived closer, it would definitely be a place I frequented. Â Big room with lots of room to dance or just hang out and people watch. Â Seemed to be a pretty mixed crowd as far as ages. Â I can't vouch for the food (except the wings...PASS) but it's a great atmosphere for a fun night out and seems to get pretty crowded on a Saturday night.
Review Source:GO for the live bands.
DON'T go for the food.
We got there a few hours before the Journey cover band "Separate ways" was to play and had a few drinks and an appetizer of wings. Bottom line, the wings sucked and cost $9.50 but the beer was good!
Shortly after the band started and I ended up having a great time. Separate Ways rocked!
Thanks for the music NBC but you can keep the food.
We got there a little early for the live music, but the place was set up very nicely. Â A large stage and a good open space for people watching the band make for a really cool atmosphere. Â We ordered the 2 for 1 dinner and added the bottle of wine for an additional 5 bucks. Â How can you go wrong. Â They included a 20% tip on the cost of the 2 meals before the discount and also any additional items that were ordered. Â I cant complain about this at all because the entire meal plus the tip cost less than 35 dollars.
Meal #1 was the fish and chips. Â The fish was flavorful, the fries were crispy, and the meal definitely hit the spot. Â Meal #2 was the baked stuffed scrod topped with lobster sauce with mashed potatoes. Â Good, could have used a little more flavor, but definitely not bad.
Overall for the price I would definitely recommend it, and if the music is playing and the band is good, its a stop we will make again the next time we visit Newport.
We were here Saturday night and happened to catch Joshua Tree, a U2 cover band. Â We had to pay a $10 cover but our bachelorette got in for free - major plus. Â We didn't specifically go to hear the band, so we left the main floor (it was pretty loud) and went upstairs. Â I was pleasantly surprised to see an open floor where you can look down into the main floor, so that was pretty cool. Â Most of the people peering down were older gentlemen, though, so on the creepster scale, that was kind of high up there. Â In any case, it wasn't super crowded on the 2nd floor, so it was comfortable for us to hang out by the bar and have a good time.
Review Source:This place gets one star for the cool napkins alone. One for the great interior (layout, stage, dining areas & decor). One star for the decent burgers (good fries). And loses one for the music... If and when I go back it will definitely be when there is not a traditional american folk group in place of a blues group and I will rate it accordingly. : )
Review Source:Not a bad place to see live music in a smaller setting.  Although if  you happen to be catching a show that is sold out, you are pretty much packed in there like sardines.  The room that holds the stage is more wide/long then it is deep.  I happened to catch a sold out show the other night and there was so many people I could barely breathe, never mind move.  I actually limited my drinking because the idea of moving through the crowd to get to the bathroom was not one I was excited about!  But that being said, the staff is really friendly and the crowd is a good mix of young and old people..its not full of obnoxious pink polo shirt wearing college kids, which is sometimes what I hate most about Newport bars. :)
Review Source:Newport Blues. . . more of an older crowd, but they don't seem to mind the youngins' coming out to play! Â Came here for a blues show (crazy i know). . . with the likes of Joe Bouchard from Blue Oyster Cult, Simon Kirke from Band Company, Tommy Shannon from Stevie Ray Vaughn's band, etc playing the stage! Â Great music, fun atmosphere, decently priced drinks, plenty of room and places from which to view the stage, including a balcony from above!
Ate dinner first, make a reservation! Â Make's life here much easier. Â Seated upstairs at the 2nd bar area at a small table for two with bar stools for seats. Â My friend tracked down a backed chair for me to relax in, no flack from the staff. Â Patience is a virtue as this bar can get very busy and ordering food can be a hassle unless you make your needs known right away. Â Had a BBQ pulled pork sandwich and fries, delicious! Â I don't recommend the Pomegranate vodka and lemonade, sucked. Â Blue Moon on tap though, that's a plus!
Right on Thames St, this is a great place to stop in if you are looking for food, drinks, and live music. Â Get there before the band starts, stake out your spot for the night, and enjoy! Â Positive atmosphere to meet new people and start conversations. Â Intimate settings as well as group areas. Â Comfortable seating, plenty of bar room, groovin' time!
I've never eaten at this place, but it's an awesome bar. Â They usually have live music (and unfortunately a cover), so it's cool to look down from the balcony. Â The crowd is a little older like most of Newport, but it's nice to be somewhere that you can really dance. Â No bumping and grinding here.
Review Source:I know this place more on the night life atmosphere. Â They specialize in live blues (duh), folk, acoustic and solos. Â It is a funky setting, previously a bank so they have two floors with an atrium. Â You can see where the vault was and the teller lines (bar now). Â It's an all right place and they sometimes charge a cover in the summer and once in awhile in the winter (depending on the band). Â It takes some time to get a drink and can be very quiet. Â It is a good place to start the night.
Review Source:although the place was cool looking both in the dining room section and in the vault section where we ate, the food wasn't great, was very overpriced, and we were sat, literally in like a back room (the money vault of the old bank that used to be there). though its kind of cool in theory, we were isolated and there were no windows. it made it really an awkward and kind of creepy place to eat dinner, as there were no other ppl in there with us..
my lobster pie had about one piece of lobster in it... maybe go for the music but the dinners cost WAY more than they were worth.
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