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Scales & Shells
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
55 reviews for Scales & Shells
Review Highlights
"their lobster fra diavolo is one of the best things i've..."
(in 8 reviews)
"D They marinate a nice toro tuna steak in garlic soy sauce."
(in 2 reviews)
"Overall, the food was very fresh."
(in 5 reviews)
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff R.
Burtonsville, MD
10/18/2011
A great place. Really solid servers that absolutely enhance the quality of the dinning experience. Prices are quite reasonable and the food is so fresh that they only have a huge black board for a menu. V had the lobster - super good. Wood plank grilling is the way to go.
Be warned that:
1. they only take cash
2. that it will be crowded
-AND-
3. After going there and having dinner you won't care about 1 &2. -
Review from Lili T.
Tucson, AZ
2/9/2012
Was in the mood for some good seafood so we chose this place. I'll start with the positives--great location, staff are decent. Okay so here goes, the place itself is quite cramped. The menu is written on a chalkboard and is mounted on the wall. To order from your table, you have to keep looking back to that wall and it's not very convenient that way. Then there's the food; kinda mediocre if you ask me. Could have been better.
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Review from Renee W.
Huntington Station, NY
7/19/2011
Skip it. Prices are fairly reasonable for fresh seafood, but the food is just awful. Four of us went to dinner after hearing from several locals that this was *the* place to go for fish. Not any more, living off an old reputation. We ordered monkfish that came to us in small, cut up pieces that were super dry and with black char marks all over them. So it tasted like... dried, charcoal-y fish. Blech. such a shame, as monkfish is such a wonderful food & can be so moist! No salt, no pepper, no herbs, no butter, no garlic - nothing! Mine arrived like that, my husbands arrived like that, and our friend who ordered another kind of fish - well, it arrived like that too. Nothing on the plate either, just dried out small pieces of charred fish. One person ordered the broiled scallops and they were Delicious! Too bad the rest of us didn't.
The next day we ran into a foodie local who said that he used to send everyone at his B&B to Scales and Shells, but he went the other night and it was terrible and he won't be sending them back there. He said this Lobster Fra Diavolo was weak and only had 1/4 of tail meat! He also said that they lost their sous chef and that he thinks has sent the restaurant into a tailspin.
Such a disappointment. Save your money and go elsewhere until they hire better cooks. -
Review from Melmoth K.
Ewing, NJ
1/12/2011
I've been here twice and really like the seafood, but the only menu is on one wall of the large dining room, so unless you're in a narrow strip of seats near the middle of the room, you can expect to get up out of your seat to go read the menu, or you can expect someone to come over and stand next to you in your seat while they read the menu. Its really annoying, especially since the menu was nearly the same both times I went here (they were about 3 years apart!). Its not like they have no idea what's going to be on the menu each day.
Both times we ate here the vegetable kabob side was small and dry and shriveled and the vegetables were not evenly cooked. That's what you get when you put a huge potato chunk on the same skewer as a little chunk of pepper.
The bar gets decent business from people just hanging out, and the table service is pretty informal, so this place hovers just above being a locals' seafood shack. -
Review from george k.
Philadelphia, PA
7/30/2011
We dined at this favorite of ours. I read some negatives about the place lately. As we always do, first night in Newport means dinner at Scales and Shells. Our server was great, we didn't need to read the black board menu, we knew what we wanted. Linguini and clams, grilled lobster, grilled eggplant. Everything was very fresh and delicious. The clams were both sweet and salty (taste of the ocean). The lobster was simply delicious. The grilling adds a nice touch.
The place was packed, a bit loud but we know what to expect.
Scales is a casual, straightforward seafood restaurant. There are no pretentions. And they do it well. -
Review from K B.
Verona, NJ
8/2/2011
When you first walk in the door, you're immediately immersed in the scene and the garlic. They don't take reservations, so you show and wait and while the bar is an ideal place to be, it's not huge. It is, however, a raw bar to boot, so patience is essential here. The oysters were wonderful, if not a bit expensive. The Sicilian Little Necks are off the charts and the Scallop Scampi is delicious. If you love garlic, freshly prepared seafood and clean, classy, non-complicated joints, this is your spot. If you're looking for ambiance and touristy crap, go elsewhere, this is a local favorite for those who prefer the uncomplicated and delicious.
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Review from Dave L.
Wakefield, MA
7/31/2011
I have eaten here many many times over the years and have never had a bad meal. If you like FRESH seafood than this is the place to come! I strongly recommend the Lobster Fra Diavlo for 2. It is one of the best, you will not go wrong! Seafood lovers will be very happy here as seafood is the only thing featured on the menu. Also, very important they only accept cash as we found out the hard way. Definitely worth a try though!
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Review from Rachel F.
New York, NY
7/12/2011
My husand and I spent a terrific weekend in Newport, and went to Scales & Shells twice. It was the best seafood we'd ever had. It's casual, friendly. We had linguini with scallops and linguini with shrimp. The scallops were the size of oreos and plentiful. As were the shrimp. Very fresh. We were deliciously stuffed at the end. **Major note & tip: you WILL have to wait for a table no matter what. However, getting there by/before 6:30, and it should be just 15 minutes or so. After that, waiting times become 45 minutes to an hour. Worth it, but something to be aware of. Overall, NO trip to Newport is complete without a meal a Scales & Shells if you love fish.
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Review from Dina I.
Beechhurst, NY
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been a favorite for 20 years. Grilled lobster at it's best! Love Newport.
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Review from Genevieve B.
Mountain View, CA
11/21/2010
I wish I could give no stars. Based on recommendations from the family, we walked accross Newport in the cold to have dinner at this restaurant only to find it closed. Contrary to the hours on the website. Contrary to the hours on the phone message. Common courtesy would indicate that you tell your customers when you'll be there.
UPDATE: we called today to see if they'd be open. The woman was horribly rude and said they were closed for the week. I let her know that we'd tried to come last night and there had been no indication on the website or phone message that they would be closed. She was extremely rude and acted like I was bothering her. Don't worry -- I won't bother you again! -
Review from lindsay w.
Newport, RI
10/17/2010
Priceless moment: watching the waitress who was ready to go home for the night pile dirty plates and napkins into our pan of mussels and cart it off without even asking if we were done. There were plenty still left uneaten, but alas.
Fresh, delicious seafood, but for a $120 meal, I expect decent service, especially when I'm there an hour-and-a-half before closing. No need to rush. -
Review from Lady B.
Seattle, WA
12/13/2010
Our B&B recommended this restaurant for a good affordable seafood spot in Newport...and that is just what it was - good. We enjoyed our dinner, the service was good and the atmosphere was what we expected.
Pros: Cherrystones were pretty good. Service was consistent throughout the night. I liked the fact that the server offered to show us the fresh fish - in particular one that we were unfamiliar with. Lobster Fra Diavolo - We asked for it extra spicy and they delivered!
Cons/Sugestions for Improvement: Cold Bread - Bread is the first thing you try at a restaurant..why not go through the simple step of warming it up to make a good first impression? The Lobster Fra Diavolo was very tasty, but filled with rather inexpensive seafood (for the price) - mussels, calamari, chick sized lobster and a few clams - we would have preferred to see less mussels.
Other: Menu is on a chalkboard so if you have trouble seeing or don't want to walk up to see the menu, ask to be seated near it. CASH/CHECK ONLY - we were not told this until we received the check even though the server asked us if this was our first time at the restaurant and we replied, "yes." -
Review from Rosie C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/4/2007
My best meal during my trip to Boston wasn't in Boston. It was in a cute little restaurant in the state of Rhode Island.
My friends and I arrived a couple minutes shy of the doors opening, and we had a chance to look at the menu. Mouths were watering at the huge menu of seafood.
Once we were seated, I practically yelled "CALAMARI! LARGE! PINOT GRIGIO!" to our server. Man, the calamari was fucking delicious. I think I ate half of it.
For my meal, I had the yummy toro. Perfectly seared and paired with asparagus and mushrooms. I finished the whole damn thing.
If I'm on the right side of the country, I'll definitely take a little side trip to Newport so I can eat at Scales! -
Review from Kim P.
Newport, RI
6/4/2008
What a complete waste of time. There are a zillion places to get good seafood in RI - why spend your money on overpriced mediocre food?
We went to Scales and Shells twice during our last summer in Newport. The first time was because we were with my in-laws, one is handicapped, it was at the end of Holland (where we were renting) so could drop dad off at the door and then park back at home. I had the grilled lobster - it was good - but LOBSTER is good, isn't it? It wasn't anything special at all. It was deafening in there, the specials are all on one board and if you're seated on the far side of the restaurant, you can't see it. (and I don't need glasses.) I had to walk over, stand among other's tables, to see what was available so I could then relay the information to everyone else at the table. Of course, had the waitress offered to just tell us what they were it would have saved me a trip.
The second time we went with friends. It was the "second chance" and turned out to be the last. This time one of my dining companions had serious food allergies that limited her selection, so she ordered the grilled shrimp. $24 for literally 8 shrimp grilled with no seasoning other than the mesquite grill, on a platter. Her husband is a chef and couldn't even believe it. I felt horrible for even taking them there.
It is lively, and the service was decent. But Scales and Shells will not be making the dinner rotation this summer. -
Review from Chris P.
1/28/2009
Well, on a recommendation I took my girlfriend here for date night. It was a torrential downpour the night we went, so they were happy to have us in the off season and we doubled their number of tables when we walked in.
The menu is written all on a chalkboard - fortunately we were seated by it so we could read from our table, but if the place were busy I can imagine it would be a huge inconvenience.
The atmosphere is pretty nice, open with the grill and food prep area right there in plain sight. That always gives me a warm fuzzy. The walls and floors are all concrete though; with a full restaurant it must be ear-shattering.
I had grilled tuna with a side of grilled veggies, my girl had the grilled shrimp with pasta. My tuna was pretty awesome, I must admit - but my girl's $23.75 dish of eight shrimp was a little disappointing.
The service was okay - as I said there were only two tables seated, with that in mind and that we were about to pay a load for food, I feel like my water glass should never have been empty (which it was for about 10 minutes).
In all the bill came to around $80 with tip (by the way they ONLY TAKE CASH...or checks...WTF?), and I definitely don't feel like it was worth that much (and that's with only water to drink...wine would kick it over $100). I know other places where I could eat as well for half as much. I'm not cheap, but I feel like I should get something for the money I work for. -
Review from Ping P.
East Bay, CA
6/13/2009
On the recommendation of the front desk guy at the The Viking Hotel, we dined here on a Friday evening. It was packed.
Bottom line on this place - cash only and if you aren't into seafood move along. It is the only thing on the menu.
Be prepared to walk up to the menu - it is hand written on the wall in the back. Yes it is hard to read - but all you really have to do is figure out what type of fish you want and then what prep. any of the fishes come with any of the different preps (it seemed) so it is pretty simple really.
We were seated promptly though and the service was quick and friendly.
the cod cakes were delish! I had grilled monkfish (yummy!) and the man had grilled halibut. I had the grilled veggies as a side and honestly I forget what the man had as a side. I think it was potatoes...
We were really happy with the dinner and would definitely return. -
Review from Kristine S.
Jersey City, NJ
6/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I finally made it out to Scales and Shells, after years and years of walking by on lower Thames and seeing this place packed with people in the window. It was slammed on a late Saturday night (go figure), so my friend and I put our names in and came back an hour later at 9:00pm to eat. This place is really loud, but it has a really positive vibe to it inside. I don't think I'd take a first date here because it would be relatively hard to get to know someone if you're yelling at them across your table!
The food was pretty delicious. I love how you can watch the chefs cook at the front of the restaurant. Our waitress was extremely helpful; I was looking for a fish native to Newport/New England and was a little disappointed to hear that there wasn't a huge selection but I opted for wood grilled Sea Bass that was local. My friend got the mussels appetizer, perfect for the garlic lover because I swear there was a million chopped cloves in the dish!
Make sure also when you are waiting for a seat to check out the menu on the blackboard on the far wall and decide what you want to eat because depending where you sit in the restaurant, it might be hard to see what you want.
Not a bad place if you are craving a fresh seafood dish (only fried meal on the menu is Fish and Chips), but I think I'll avoid this place during tourist season and come back during the Fall or Winter for a faster wait time and quieter atmosphere. Cash only, folks! -
Review from Milena G.
Chicago, IL
8/12/2010
This place is awesomely fresh. You can see all of the fresh fish and vegetables cut and waiting for someone to order. The menu is basically whatever the owner gets for the day and it's on a blackboard at the back of the restaurant. We had a stuffed calamari that included raisins and pine nuts. Very delicious. The lobster fra diovlo looked amazing and I wish that we would have ordered that. It's a little pricey but definitely worth the money, especially if you are visiting from out of town. They have a good selection of beer and wine and the dessert was a great ending to a wonderful meal.
They don't accept credit cards so make sure to hit the atm down the street before dinner! -
Review from Hiro S.
9/22/2008
I used to go there when I lived on this side of the country, and I miss it...
They only have seafood, so do not expect to have some chicken or beef - you must eat seafood, or just don't come here. :p I was glad to see they still continued the huge blackboard menu on the wall.
My favorites are little neck clams or oysters and cold Chardonnay to start, then toro tuna steak - yum! :D They marinate a nice toro tuna steak in garlic soy sauce. You squeeze fresh lemon when you eat it. I always ask them to sear it (not to "grill" too much) - for few seconds each side. The main dish includes salad and choice of pasta/veggie, etc.
Considering the food quality, I don't think this place is overpriced. I also like the atmosphere (open kitchen) and their friendly service.
They don't take reservations, so I tried to be there just before the open hours especially during busy summer time... -
Review from Kate K.
Stamford, CT
6/11/2010
Our friends directed us to Scales & Shells on a Saturday night, and said we were going there late because a)we ate our fill at Chowderfest and b)the lines go around the block starting at five o'clock.
We got there around nine and had about a twenty-minute wait, which I find acceptable for a Saturday night. Once we got seated, we got the wine menu. The prosecco was nice, but I'm not sure if it was worth $8.
The grilled lobster was delicious, I have no complaints there. My sweetie got grilled sea bass, which was also very nice, but was it worth the price? I'm not sure. The linguine that came with the lobster was tasteless, and my sweetie's veggie kabob was full of starch.
Our friends made out better, having calimari with sauce, and clams over pasta. Those were dishes that would actually allow the chef to shine.
Our server disappeared after we finished our meal. When she finally returned, I ordered a creme brulee, which had a sugar crust that was decidedly uneven, and I did not see any bits of vanilla bean in the custard.
In other words, no great shakes, and there is better in Newport for less. -
Review from B. B.
Somerville, MA
6/4/2007
Loud, cold, and only OK.
I've never understood why people love super-air-conditioned, deafening restaurants. So, I know Scales and Shells appeals to others, but it doesn't work for me. If you go there for dinner, bring a blanket and don't count on having your voice the next day. I ordered the Lobster Fra Diavolo after reading a rave review from a framed newspaper clipping on the wall. It was OK, but not rave-worthy in my opinion. It's easily enough food for three, if you don't mind negotiating the lobster pieces that are clearly meant to be shared by two. -
Review from Meghan K.
Brooklyn, NY
7/25/2007
Loved it. Everything looked good, but we obviously got the lobster fra diavolo and my boyfriend still talks about it. I wouldn't say it was perfect--- the lobster could have used a minute or two less in the pan, and the sauce could have used a pinch or two more red pepper, but the enjoyment factor more than made up for it.
Also, the staff continually brings you more hand wipes and constantly replaces the shell bowls, so you aren't navigating through peaks and horns of shellfish wreckage as you spear your last mussel. -
Review from Julie L.
Cambridge, MA
6/9/2011
My husband and I were really excited for some fresh local lobster. This restaurant was recommended to us by two Newport locals who claimed they were "foodies." When we got to the restaurant I was first disappointed by the lack of atmosphere. They didn't give you any menus (although they charge you like you're in a fine-dinning restaurant). Instead we had to stand up and go over to a chalkboard with all the menu choices.
Since my husband and I don't drink liquor there was only about 1 menu item that we could order. We opted for a lobster fra diavola dish, which the server informed us, they could remove the liquor from. The result was a disappointing dish of boiled seafood with a very thin nearly completely tasteless sauce, served with equally flavorless spaghetti noodles.
My overall experience with the place = HUGE waste of money. I'm sure imported seafood could taste better. -
Review from Alexandra B.
New York, NY
9/11/2009
My boyfriend and I spent some time in Newport last weekend and we happened to have a local recommend this restaurant to us for dinner. So glad he did. We had an AMAZING meal. Loved the casual atmosphere and the no-nonsense fresh seafood menu on the wall. The only down side is that they don't take reservations, which was actually fine for us. We put our names in at 7.30pm with an hour wait, which gave us time to go to the bar across the street for a drink.
We later returned and for 15 minutes enjoyed watching the masteful chef at work while we waited for our name to be called. Every dish he whipped together looked amazing and by the time we sat down I was torn on what to order since I had witnessed the making of some amazing seafood dishes! (mostly with pasta) After our appetizers we had the Lobster al diavolo - which was insane. Bibs and everything. Delectable.
By the time we left around 10pm, there was a two hour wait! Obviously they're doing something right. If you're ever in Newport, you MUST go here. -
Review from Amanda F.
Westfield, MA
2/28/2011
My boyfriend and I went here for our "fancy dinner night" while away for the weekend in Newport. It was very crowded with over an hour wait. We got a drink from a bar across the street to kill some time. We began with calamari (delicious). I ordered the shrimp scampi and it was very good. I forget what my boyfriend got, but I remember he enjoyed it! I remember that the menu is on the wall and can be very hard to see depending on where you are seated. Also, they do NOT TAKE CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS! My boyfriend had to run out to an ATM at the end of our meal. Overall, the food was very fresh. However, be prepared for the price of fresh seafood- with a couple glasses of wine, an appetizer, and 2 meals, our bill totaled nearly $150.
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Review from Anders B.
Manhattan, NY
9/22/2011
their lobster fra diavolo is one of the best things i've ever eaten. 'nuff said...
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Review from Kel S.
3/1/2011
I liked this place... fun atmosphere. We sat at the open area at the bar. Food was great, like the choice of put together your dish with type of fish, sides, etc. We also had some fantastic win. A great time was had by all...
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Review from Joe G.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2006
The lobster-clam-mussels-pasta is OFF THE CHAIN !!!
We wanted New England seafood and thats exactly what we got.
Plus 95% of their wine is from California.
Good service, good ambience, good prices -
Review from Marybeth B.
Austin, TX
10/13/2010
Living in Austin, Texas unfortunately does not afford the opportunity for fresh seafood very often. I came to visit my friend in Newport and she was really excited to tell me about this place! She had also been wanting to try it and thought my visit was the perfect occasion.
It started off well enough - the waitress seemed nice, she was efficient with our drinks, she gave us menu recommendations. Unfortunately, it sort of went down hill from there. We ordered some mussels as an appetizer since we were really hungry but hadn't decided on our entrees yet. However, a few minutes after the mussels were delivered she informed us that the kitchen was closing and we had to order. Mind you, this was at about 9pm and the website clearly states that they're open until 10. We ordered promptly and continued our mussels (which were actually really good!). We had polished off most of the mussels though there were still about half a dozen in the pan. Apparently our waitress thought we were finished because she came by and piled all of our trash in the mussel pan and hauled them away without even asking us first! Our entree came a few minutes later and while we ate it every worker in the restaurant decided to sit and stare at us as we were the only customers left.
We ultimately got most of the food to go considering the pressure we felt to finish large quantities of food in apparently a very limited amount of time. On top of it all, the bill came and it was $90! Now, I wouldn't have felt ripped off if the dining experience would have been better. The food was good and there was a lot of it but the whole evening was sort of ruined by the fact that they clearly just wanted us to leave - even though they weren't closing for at least another 30 minutes!
Next time I'm in Newport I'll definitely be checking out one of the other dozens of seafood options. -
Review from Jaclyn P.
11/16/2009
While it's not exactly user friendly upon first glance, if you just take a minute and observe the other diners and the lay of the land you'll get the hang of it.
I dined here on a Saturday night in July so I expected it to be jam packed and it was.
But we didn't have to wait long for a table and we end up getting the Lobster Fra Diavolo which was amazing!. The seafood was so fresh and the flavors were perfectly balanced.
It is cash only however which we felt prohibited us from ordering as much as we may have had the accepted credit cards. We skipped drinks and dessert because we didnt have much cash on us.
If you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner this is not for you. But if you can gear yourself up for a fun lively night and some perfectly fresh seafood then this is your place. -
Review from Armand P.
Bayside, NY
7/20/2010
I think that the this place is a solid seafood stop. Not much in the way of extras. The worst part was the bread was not warmed, and fried calamari had very few tentacles. The fish was as expected good. I had "local" Mahi Mahi. It was nice, just had it with a side salad. There was also Toro Tuna with jalapeno corn which was very good and quite a large portion. The sea bass was good and the shrimp scampi over linguine was pretty much spot on.
Our server was patient and attentive, the space is loud and often crowded. Their was no wait but it was a monday. They dont accept CCards FYI. -
Review from Lark L.
Lafayette Hill, PA
8/22/2009
I have been here a few times and I like it. Nice service and food is good--nothing fancy and expensive but taste good.
I would say for the prices they charge they should be able to step up and buy menus---it is hard to read the blackboard--and I have perfect vision! I know the menu changes but some things are probably are always on there and they could just explain stuff and write in the fish on the board. -
Review from J. T.
Somerville, MA
8/11/2009
We stumbled upon Scales while riding our bikes around Newport. We went at 6:30 and got a table right away - but we were lucky, the rest of the night there were poeple waiting for tables to turn over.
If you're looking for good beers, a decent wine list and simple, yet delicious seafood, look not further.
Stop by and ATM (cash only) and get ready for fresh seafood grilled to perfection. The menu is updated regularly on a huge chalkboard - no menus, so be sure to peruse the entire board. The menu is fish and simple sides (grilled veggie skewer, salad, or potato) - if you're not into seafood, however, you'll have to look elsewhere as they only serve fish here. This place excels on simplicity but does not disappoint.
Our party of four were really satisfied and would seriously consider returning on another visit return. -
Review from Sharon S.
Norton, MA
4/11/2010
I went with my husband & Mom to enjoy a new dining experience at a new restaurant. We arrived early, being one of the first few diners. We all LOVE seafood, and after reading many reviews about this place, we were anxious to try it.
My husband ordered swordfish and a dry salad and enjoyed it immensely. Mom ordered fried scallops and fries (the amount appears a bit on the small side). And I ordered the monk fish with grilled vegetables.
The vegetables were crisp and delicious. The monk fish (if you don't know about it) is like a thin strip of a lobster-like texture. It was breaded like veal and very bland. In fact I looked it up on the internet to see what a monk fish was (and not to disgust you), it looks like a swimming turd. Oh yes, I said it.
My issue mostly was, other than taking our order and delivering the food, we never saw our waitress again, other than hovering around the couples who ordered the higher priced meals. You see, our waitress was flirting, twirling her hair and spending more than enough time charming the patrons who ordered the big priced items (i.e. anything in a shell). I mean, we just ordered regular everyday seafood, I suppose, so the tip wouldn't be all that extravagant right?
After one beer, two glasses of tap water, there was no bottled water (oh and the 2nd beer was ordered right after the 1st and wasn't delivered until the end of the meal when we were leaving and still charged for although it was never finished) and 2 of 3 unexciting meals, the bill was a bit over $100.00.
I suppose if we ever went back, if we ordered the diamond encrusted lobster, our waitress might come back to refill our tap water. Sorry. -
Review from Marcy P.
Manchester, NH
2/19/2011
Not a great first experience but from what I've heard from others I expect I'll have a better time next time around!!
Atmosphere: CROWDED but its fun!! It's dressy casual.
Service: The staff is personable and friendly. The waitress was able to answer questions and offer suggestions. The waitress suggested we try the grilled calamari and my boyfriend and I weren't fans unfortunately. So I ended up getting jumbo shrimp which was a great compensation.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed complimentary beers, and chocolate gelato which was delectable.
The place can get pretty pricey and it doesn't accept cards (It's newport, are you crazy?) -
Review from Sonia K.
Edison, NJ
5/26/2009
We went here on a friend's recommendation on 05/24/2009 and it was a great experience. The line was of course long as it was holiday weekend but we just waited at the bar and had a drink. the hostess was very pleasant and so was our waitress. We ordered the oysters and clams for appetizers and they were great. we ordered grilled lobster and mussels marinara for main course and both were cooked perfect and tasted amazing!!! Every time our bowls were full with shells, some waiter/waitress stopped and cleared it. We did not have to wait for our waitress to come back. Worth the wait and worth the price...
Yes, of course they take cash but then a lot of good places do!! -
Review from Kristine C.
St Louis, MO
10/23/2010
most of my reviews are ridiculously long, but i cannot say much about my visit to Scales & Shells. i could tell from the menu they had great fresh seafood all over their menu - but if i could only look at their menu LONGER. the entire menu is written on a blackboard and because i was seated in the farthest corner from the wall with the menu, i had to stand awkwardly around people who were eating to pick my meal. of course, this was incredibly nerve racking (not to mention uncomfortable in heels), and so i picked my meal on a whim without even taking the time to ask questions about the local favorites, etc. what came out was "a-ok," but i think although the blackboard menu gives Scales & Shells character - a paper option would do wonders for their customers in the corner. especially if they have terrible eyes.
otherwise, great menu, pretty good prices, VERY personable waitress. NO clam chowder on the menu (WHAT?!)
what we ordered:
calamari (delicious, as all calamari, but not a stand out)
codcakes - would definitely order again
vongole (clams were fresh, but whole dish itself nothing to rave about)
grilled lobster (love the grilled taste, cooked to perfection) -
Review from Matt R.
Boston, MA
6/22/2009
I am vacationing in Newport this week and wanted to report on a meal @ Scales and Shells on Thames that was excellent if not marred by the ridiculous actions of the head chef that will keep me from returning.
Went with a party of six, we ordered four apps, two orders of clams in a garlic and white wine sauce and two in "Roberto" red sauce. All were excellent. A very good start to a good meal.
The problems arose when we received our entree's. My wife ordered the wood grilled lobster and while the tail was cooked through and very flavorful when she cracked the claw it dropped out looking more like lobster jelly than cooked lobster. We called the waitress over and she was very accommodating and understanding. When she brought the lobster back to the open kitchen I caught the tension between waitress and chef immediately and then noticed that the chef was in fact staring down my wife as if it was her fault the lobster was returned. This behavior continued throughout our meal. When the lobster was returned to our table half of the originally cracked claw meat was missing, and the chef who was watching my wife's every move (and she was visibly upset that her $30 dinner was such a fiasco) called the waitress over and slammed down a piece of the lobster shell that remained on the counter and said "tell her the meat is on the fucking plate." Every time I looked towards to kitchen the chef was staring us down. Bizarre
The waitress was amazing, she didn't comp the lobster but removed half of the charge from the bill, and comped us desert and coffee. She apologized profusely, but the one that really owed as an apology was the chef who continued to try to stare us down and intimidate us even as we left, and even while we were standing outside the door waiting for a guest to return from the bathroom. It was truly bizarre.
Some advice for you chef.
1. If this was the first time food has been returned to you, get used to it, it will happen again. Especially if you serve undercooked shellfish.
2. If you have an open kitchen it would behoove you to behave a little more appropriately with your staff. I felt embarrassed for you as you dressed down a waitress who was doing an excellent job.
3. An open kitchen is designed for you to show off your skill, and the quality of your craft not to allow you to attempt to intimidate your customers. This whole thing was truly laughable.
I have never used this forum to respond to, or comment on the behavior of a chef, waitress, hostess etc but in this case it was too egregious to ignore.
PS. The food was quite good, my striped bass was excellent. -
Review from Alyssa S.
5/10/2010
I think Scales & Shells gets 3.5 stars on my personal scale, but I upped it to 4 stars on Yelp for both our phenomenal server and because I wanted the overall rating of this restaurant to go up. I was surprised by how much I liked the restaurant because of the lower rating on Yelp; so I want to make the movement to change that. My dining partner and I came here during a weekend excursion in Newport, and it was very busy on the Friday night we went. However, we were still seated right away. The first thing we noticed right off the bat was that we were given a wine menu...and that was it! The dinner menu was listed in chalk on a blackboard on one of the restaurant's walls, and it made it very difficult for us to decide what to eat. We each had to go up individually to read the menu because of the dim lighting and because of our poor eyesight. Even though we thought the menu on the wall was odd, our server was very nice and patient with the time we were taking. We were served our drinks immediately along with a bread basket that came with butter and oil. For appetizers, we split the half littleneck clams for $1.50 each and a skewer of monkfish. Neither of us has had monkfish before, but we were intrigued by how many times it appears on the S&S menu; so we decided to give it a shot. YUM! It was really tender and perfectly cooked. For a scary looking fish, it's pretty delicious. For our main entree, we split the Lobster Fra Diavolo (for two), which includes clams, lobster, mussels, and calamari for $57. This dish was humungous! It is served over a bed of spaghetti, and the seafood is just mounted on top of it. This was my first time opening lobster by myself, and I thought it was fun to wear the lobster bibs and pry the meat out. The seafood was good, but the lobster was definitely my favorite part of the dish.
I liked the ambiance of this restaurant. Scales & Shells seemed to balance both a classy appearance with a comfortable vibe, and I really liked that. The staff was very friendly and attentive. My only gripe was the dinner menu solely on the blackboard as well as the lack of a martini menu. I may like to return here if in town again. -
Review from Chuck A.
Newport, RI
5/22/2008
Wow...some mixed reviews here. Two visits for me - both get a yes vote. I like the vibe - casual (yes, tiny bit loud) and local. The specials were both winners. Oh.....Scales & SHells no likey il plastic....cash only. I'd definitely go back!
