A Vegetarian’s Guide to Newport Restaurant Week

By Marrissa Ballard | Co-Editor-in-Chief 

For college kids and island residents, Restaurant Week offers the rare chance to sample some of Newport’s finest cuisine at a fraction of the price. Participating restaurants usually offer three-course specials, meaning that you can try more food and feel fancy while doing it.

However, as great as Restaurant Week is, the specials can pose a problem for meat-free eaters or those who don’t much care for seafood. Rest assured; there are options, and I’ve done all the legwork of finding them for you. Here is my guide to nine eateries that will make for a meat-free restaurant week.

1. Diego’s

In general, Diego’s is always a solid choice for a meal out. For a first course, I recommend the fresh guacamole, but you can also try the Drowned Egg Soup. After that, vegetarians can try the Stuffed Avocado Chopped Salad, in case you didn’t get enough of that green goodness in the guac. In regards to dessert, you can choose either option but I recommend the Tres Leche Tamarind Flan.

2. Speakeasy Bar and Grill

If you’re looking for a spot with a bit more options, feel free to visit the Speakeasy. For the lunch selections, there are the Fried Pickles or Speakeasy Fries, but you can also try the Fresh Potato Chips or one of three salad options. At dinner time, you can go with a Cheese Plate, or you can likely ask the servers for the Warm Pita Bread without the prosciutto.

For the main course, you could probably adapt a couple of the dishes by just asking the chef to remove the meat (like the Personal Sized Nachos), but the restaurant also serves a Black Bean Burger loaded with hummus, cucumber, feta, and avocado ranch. For dessert, you can either choose the Classic Cheesecake or the more nostalgic Brownie Sundae.

3. The Vanderbilt Grille

For a starter, the only vegetarian option available is to ask for the Caesar Salad without the white anchovies, which the servers are happy to do. (The Tomato Bisque, unfortunately, has chicken stock in it, so it’s a no-go.) For the main course, you can try the Roasted Vegetable Wrap, which comes with balsamic marinade and almond hummus. As for dessert, you’ll have to avoid the S’mores, but you can sample their cheesecake or house-made ice creams. The sorbets are another option, if you want something light and crisp.

If you’re more of an evening eater, you can go with the Dandelion Greens salad, which includes pecans, figs, blue cheese, and a blood orange vinaigrette. For dinner, there’s the Black Pepper Fettucine, which comes with green cauliflower, oyster mushrooms, and an asiago cream sauce. If you still want dessert after all that richness, you can try the added options of crème brûlée or the brownie sundae.

4. Redlefsen’s Rotisserie & Grill

This option is for those out there with more adventurous tastes, or those of you who want to use the deals to try some completely new flavors. To start, you can have the salad or check out the soup du jour, but the main event of the meal will definitely be The Ultimate Grill Cheese & Fig. This grown-up version of your favorite childhood sandwich includes goat cheese, fig jam, sourdough bread, and fries. After that flavor explosion, you can end with lemon sorbet or chocolate mousse.

5. Spiced Pear Restaurant

For a starter, you can ask about the soup of the day or have the Early Spring Vegetable Salad. The star of the show will definitely be the entrée, which includes a Vegetarian Cassoulet. This classic dish is made with shelling beans, roasted vegetables, foraged mushrooms, and Roma tomatoes. After that, you can close the meal with the Chocolate Amaretto Bar, or go for the Verrine, a desert made with hazelnut biscotti and citrus flavors.

6. Revolving Door

Revolving Door is one of those restaurants that changes its menu often, which means there are always new things to try. This restaurant week, the vegetarian options include a Warm House Made Cornbread or Truffled White Bean Hummus. For the entrée, the only veggie option is the Roasted Eggplant, but the meal includes green lentils and a tahini vinaigrette. To end the night, you can go with either option, but I’m most excited about the Chocolate Pot de Crème. As a bonus, the Revolving Door has a great atmosphere and the dishes are very artful, so this would make for a great night out.

7. Simone’s

From Tuesday to Saturday, Simone’s is offering dinner specials with a lot of vegetarian options. For an appetizer, you can go with a salad, the Spinach, Parsnip, and Porcini Soup, or the Zucchini-Feta Fritters. I would go with the Fritters, since they’re a more interesting dish and Restaurant Week is the perfect time to splurge on some crunchy goodness. After that, you can go with the Baked Eggplant, a classic dish and veggie favorite. For dessert, you can try the Flourless Chocolate Cake, the Warm Gingerbread, or the Butterscotch Pudding. All three of these would make for a sweet end to a savory night.

8. The Deck

For the first course, you have the option of a Beet and Goat Cheese salad, which I would recommend just based on the flavor combination, a Traditional Caesar Salad (just check that the dressing doesn’t have anchovies), a “Bleu” Caesar or an Arugula Salad. These lighter options compliment the substantial plates for the entrée, which include the Broken Noodle and Penne Alla Vodka. The Broken Noodle includes kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes, and the Penne has all those classic Italian flavors with an herbed marinara sauce. For dessert, Chef Jessica Kortonick will provide some seasonal specials.

9. The Grill at 41 North

There is a reason that The Grill at 41 North comes last in this list, and that’s because it is arguably the restaurant I am most excited to visit. For the first course, you can probably try either option – just check what kind of stock is used in the soup – but I would go with the Roasted Beets Baby Greens salad.

41 North also offers a truly rare and spectacular special for the main course: Cauliflower Steak, served with quinoa and tahini sauce. If you’re new to the veggie game, you might not have realized the power of a well-seasoned, well-cooked cauliflower. Thankfully, 41 North is giving you a chance to rectify that without all the hassle of actually preparing it. After that, you can enjoy a simple Pavlova dessert made with tropical fruit. If you visit at dinner time, you can also end with the chocolate cake.

If this list tells you anything, there are certainly some good options out there for anyone who is avoiding meat this Restaurant Week. With $16 dinners and $35 lunches, these specials simply should not be missed. Restaurant Week only lasts from March 27th to April 7th, so try to get in as many discounted meals as you can.