Midtown Oyster Bar

Great place! Had an AMAZING bartender, believe her name was Valerie. She was so busy, it seemed under staffed, but even though she was running around like crazy she was so nice and friendly and very helpful. Always refilled our drinks right away, and took the time to help us pick out our (delicious) oysters. Been here a few times, everything’s always been great. They have a nice oyster variety, a lot of beer on top, great wines and even have veuve by the glass which not many places do. 5 stars every time.

Sorry to say this is just another place you’d be fine to skip in Newport.
The location is ideal, especially if you’ve been or will be walking around Thames. And the facility has three different levels all with different vibes. I believe most of the downstairs is first come first served. The staff is friendly albeit a bit aloof at times.
But what this comes down to is the
Food. The oysters are pretty good. Not as good as the matuncket oyster bar. But well worth your money. It’s everything else on the menu that is so so. If you’re a food snob it’s the place you hate most. The menu lures you in with dishes that you know you like. It’s the execution that falls flat.
The salmon ceviche is barely a ceviche. Needs way more acidity to break the fish down. The mussels and fries are disappointing considering how easy it is to make a savory mussel broth. And the tuna tacos are something you’d get at Applebee’s. Actually as far as the menu Applebee’s is probably a pretty good comparison.
The beers are great. The cocktails are great. Both are slightly overpriced.
Go if you have a group of people that just want to drink and eat decent food.
Don’t if you’re looking for a unique dining experience.

We stopped in during Restaurant week for a Monday lunch. Our bartender was quite pleasant and helpful.
We consumed:
–Bloody Mary: my wife enjoyed it, though likes it a bit spicier.
–Newport storm RIP Umpkin ale: strongly flavored
–Haddock chowder: really good, fairly thick, well flavored, really good mix of potato, haddock, bacon. Really nice
–Salad: didn’t go light on dressing like I asked, but a good salad — nice size and mix of ingredients
–Oyster bar burger: quite a flavorful burger with a medley of mixins and sauce. Quite tasty

I have had a hankering for fried oysters so on a chilly afternoon during our recent visit to Newport, I convinced my husband to stop in here to share a plate with me.
We noticed the downstairs bar was quite full and I was afraid it would be chilly with the door continuously opening so the hostess mentioned there was an upstairs bar as well. That bar was essentially deserted save for one other couple so we saddled up.
The bartender brought us our requested drinks quickly — water for me, a beer for the dude. We ordered our snack and relaxed in the chill atmosphere. There was good music playing and our oysters came out quickly. Taste wise they were ok; they weren’t overly warm which I usually am not critical of but I expected a piping hot oyster given they were fried. I didn’t eat the remoulade as I wasn’t sure what was in it (pregnant) and didn’t ask. The slaw was not great though. It tasted off and after a small bite, I steered clear.
Overall, definitely a great place to stop and have a small bite or drink and given the crowd, I’m guessing many others agree.

I went last night around 7 pm & it was busy but not crazy (on par for Dead o Winter Friday night). The weather has been warmer the past few days so not surprised about the crowd. Its a larger restaurant (for NEWPORT) on 2 levels & bc it’s compartmentalized somewhat, it has nice feel to it. The main level dining area has a huge cathedrale ceiling with exposed beams with a bevy of Nautical flags draped from them. The Main level bar is wooded, dark, & cozy but it’s a nice size. There’s a smaller upstairs dining area with another bar which is nice.
I opted for the Upstairs bar since it was less crowded. I scored a seat at the bar & ordered a Vodka blueberry muddled lemon craft cocktail from their menu. The Bar staff were attentive, friendly & efficient. I was in the mood for Oysters & they had at least 10 selections from the RI, MA area. I decided on a dozen (which was overkill. 8 would’ve been fine). I selected all the RI offerings: Quonset, Walrus & Carpenter, Powder Pt, & Venus. Most were small sized which is my preference. The smaller the oyster, the more nuanced & delicate the flavor, imho. They were all freshly shucked to order & excellent. They came with 2 small sides: white wine mignonette & a cocktail, horseradish sauce. They were both great. I actually did not end up using either bc I wanted to get a feel of each of the oyster’s flavors. They brought bread which was cold & dense. It reminded me of real Italian bread almost like soda bread but it wasn’t appealing to me at all. No butter or flavored evoo which was a bit surprising. The woman next to me expressed the exact same sentiments to the Barkeep. One item that Mgmt might want to change.
It’s a clean, well appointed, warm establishment. I was checking out the other patron’s food selections & they all looked very appealing & most people seemed quite happy with the quality of their food. Mostly empty plates! The Mgmt & Staff were very professional, & pleasant. I really liked this place. I definitely recommend it!

I ate here recently with my more attractive half. She ordered the Mahi Mahi sandwich and I ordered the Oyster bar burger asking for «medium rare» preparation. Both were presented and cooked nicely and we enjoyed each other’s company in the pleasant ambiance. The beer selection was large and the full bar offered a nice selection of spirits. Cocktail prices were high, especially for the «off-​season» at $ 10+ a drink.
In summary, this place is well suited to group dinning. Overall the food was good and we were impressed with the restaurant’s cleanliness. During the summer season I could envision Mid-​town Oyster Bar rightly packed with locals and visitors enjoying their classic shore fare.

Good food and a nice atmosphere with reasonable prices. Shared the oyster bar burger and the mahi mahi sandwich. Both were nicely prepared. Classic Rhode Island shore inspired food which was satisfying on a cold off-​season day for Newport. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area.

This was my first trip to Newport and luckily this place was right across the street from my hotel. Since they have good reviews and I love oysters, I’m glad it was close by for me to check out. The atmosphere, like many other restaurants in this area as I discovered, was very cozy and intimate with candlelit tables and dark wood paneling. Our waitress was extremely nice and accommodating throughout the entire meal.
The food was really good as well. They had a really nice selection of oysters (hence the name) and I got to try some I haven’t had or seen before. I ordered the oyster stew as well, which was ok, but was loaded with giant oysters which was nice. I really felt that for my main meal I should have ordered fish as well, but the special braised beef and vegetables sounded too good to pass up. And it was pretty amazing. The beef was extremely flavorful and fell right apart once I touched it with my fork. My friend ordered the lobster roll and was happy with her choice as well.

From making reservations to arrival to the actual meal itself, this place has it dialed in.
Extensive craft beer list, very good wines by the glass and a full bar will start off your meal right. Service is always on point and very friendly. Start off with the COD FISH CHOWDER and you can’t go wrong from there. The raw bar is amazing, salads are all fresh and I haven’t had a bad menu item yet. We like to go and family style the meal, so we usually order a bunch of stuff and all share. I highly recommend the SALMON CEVICHE.
You have a fan and I will return often… keep up the great job.

This is a great place right in the middle of Newport with three floors and a variety for everyone. It has traditional sit down tables and booths in the back, but my wife and I chose the livelier bar area where there was more to see and everything you needed to eat. The food was a very good fare of seafood, I had the shrimp with a lobster roll and my wife loved the arugula salad. The food quality was enhanced by the serving staff, who I think went out of their way to do things right and made our evening so enjoyable, that we went back the next day to do it all over again!
I would give them five stars, if it weren’t for the prices, which I think were a bit higher than the quality. Overall a great experience!

Hip and happening bar in Newport. Midtown has great food in addition to drinks.
–Had the salmon ceviche, which was fresh, but could have used a little more citrus.
–The oyster selection is out of this world.
–And what I enjoyed most was the swordfish cooked perfectly and served in a buttery sauce. Everyone eyed it from across the table.
However, go early as this place turns into a bar and pub after hours making it hard to have a sit-​down meal amid pints floating above your head.
I certainly would recommend Midtown Oyster

This lively spot in the heart of Newport seems to straddle the line between casual and formal dining. There’s a stellar raw bar (hence the name), and plenty of smaller plates you can cobble a meal together from, as well as pricier mains that looked beautiful, although we stuck to the small stuff.
The tuna tartare tacos are excellent, and the cod chowder a bit underwhelming. The desserts are surprisingly fantastic, and they’ll stick candles in a free one if one of your friends is celebrating her birthday, or if you’re a bunch of liars.
I hear it turns into a dance party later in the evening, which is good if you like dancing, and bad if it means I dance next time I’m here.

If you’re looking for amazing food — come here! We ate on the outside deck upstairs and even bough there were 5 of us were able to fit comfortably at a round high table (directors chairs). Really nice drink selection, plenty of cocktails, wines and beers to choose from. We had a pitcher of the peach sangria and it was pretty good but a little on the watery side. It tastes different than the usual sangria, almost a spiced taste, so just be prepared for that!
Appetizers, try the tuna tartare tacos which are nicely made in a thin crispy taco shell and accompanied by a spicy mayo type sauce but not too hot. A must have is the fried oysters. I’ve only had better ones in a small shop in Montauk. Cooked to perfection and just the right amount of breading — spot on!
Dinner… We all had the hot lobster roll which is incredible! I think the bun really makes the meal, it is soft and almost croissant like. The lobster is fresh and they give you a nice big portion. Make sure you ask for a side of drawn butter otherwise it’s a little dry. Tip… They automatically give you French fries as a side unless you specifically ask for something else.
Best food in Newport!

Do stop by if you’re craving raw bar! I highly suggest the cherrystones, crab cocktail, Ahi Tuna tacos and Ahi Tuna Poke special if they have it. Lots of oyster options if you’re a fan as well. That day I believe there were at least 8 different kinds. The only dish we ordered that was «meh» was the cooked fish tacos lunch entrée. Again, I think the overall thing here is to stick with their raw bar.
They have 2 separate outside decks if you’d like to be seated outside. Very nice pastime and I highly recommend.

Been here several times and always had a great experience. MUSTS: walk up to the 2^nd/​3^rd floor if able, great ambience and outdoor deck in the summer. Great scallops and smoked fish spread appetizer, highly recommend! However unless you’re a tourist from the 203 area code then avoid the hot lobster roll, not worth it and simply a tourist trap entrée overpriced and so-​so quality/​quantity.
Overall recommend the place, but don’t wear your Red Sox baseball hat indoors or the «teenage-​management team» will get gruff w/​ya!