The Black Pearl

We walked around Newport looking for a place to grab food without a reservation and probably looked at about 10 different menus. We decided to try Black Pearl and it worked out perfectly because we scored a table right away.

I'm pregnant and I was starving, and it could not have worked out any better. We started with the bread and an order of the black pearl mussels. Both were great, and the crusty bread dipped in the mussels sauce was amazing. I was pretty much immediately happy.

I got the shrimp fettuccine, and that's where my happiness continued. The whole thing was perfect, and it was a huge portion that I somehow almost completely finished. Everyone else really liked their food too (crab cakes, scallops, and something with lobster).

Our server was super attentive and friendly. Really helpful with both food and drink recommendations. We all left very happy that we decided to stop in!

What a perfect lunch spot! We sat in the outdoor area and it was so perfect for this fall day!
I had the blueberry lemonade which was very refreshing.
For my meal, I had a cup of the clam chowder and the rustic BLT. The clam chowder was delicious and had soooo many clams in it! The BLT, was so flavorful with the tomato jam.
My friend had the lox toast. She said it was fanatic!
Our server was super nice and attentive.
Overall, I highly recommend and if I was ever back in the area, I would absolutely go again!

What happened?

I've been coming here for 40 plus years. They had the best chowder and a fantastic burger. The menu has changed, sadly. The Tavern Burger which replaced the Pearl Burger isn't even close. Fries were few and had been hanging around for a while before being served. All the dill that used to be in the chowder is gone. So sad to mess with such a wonderful place.

Pretty good. Had the clam chowder and a Corona. I think they forgot our clam chowder at first cause all the complex food came out before it... and we reminded... but it's all good. Was good enjoyed our time :) Service quick, ambiance nice

The food here was pretty standard. I found the Clam Chowder to be watery and lacking in taste. The Lobster Salad on a Croissant dish was really good! I would actually get this one again (just keep in mind, it's very different from a traditional lobster roll). Lastly, the Tavern burger was definitely the stand out dish. Burger was super juicy and really tasty - well worth the price at $22 and came with a side of fries.

The server was really nice but it did take a while to get our food. We were actually served our main dishes before the appetizers. Definitely a nice spot that a lot of locals seem to visit.

We have been going to the Black Pearl for years and years. We remember when you could count on consistently good chowder, the best chowder anywhere. Yesterday, not so much. Sent it back as it was cold and runny, lacking flavor. Nothing like it used to be. Sent it back, it was delivered a second time seemingly microwaved. Adding insult to injury was the obnoxious table of 8 drunken adults with no manners and when we discussed this with the manger she refused to intervene, despite the numerous complaints from other patrons. Inevitably, it didn't end well when the drunken adults became loud and vocal with us for noticing our complaint to the manager. They ruined our experience and that of many others. They were so loud we couldn't hear each other speak. The waitress was a dream, wish I remembered her name. Had it not been for her and her pleasant demeanor and excellent service I wouldn't have much good to say. $387 total on our bill.

Located in Bannisters Wharf Marina in Newport Rhode Island amongst the quaint shops smattered around this location you will find the Black Pearl restaurant. The food was delicious and unique in its presentation. The lobster risotto was tasty with a mix flavors with actual big chunks of lobster meat.

The service was efficient, however, there was a lack of dessert offerings. They only had crème brûlée. One thing to note is the menu changes constantly. We were told that the current menu was about to change.

Soooo good! I had the scallops and they were perfect. Great service. All in a place that feels casual but has top class food.

The location is perfectly situated in the harbor which makes it the ideal tourist trap. Got dinner here after our boat cruise because they were able to seat our large group at tables of 4.

Ordered some drinks and appetizers which were nothing special although on the pricey side. We made the mistake of ordering steamed lobster and lobster squid ink risotto which were also overpriced. The risotto was watery and flavorless with the squid ink smeared on the sides of the bowls and came with 2 small lobster pieces for $43. The clam chowder is also watery and doesn't have much flavor despite having lots of clams.

I wish we stuck with just ordering appetizers and drinks because this place is not worth it for an actual dinner.

Great brunch spot! I loved how creamy the clam chowder was, a good amount of clams and potatoes ratio, soup was rich and not watered down. I loved the lobster sandwich served in a croissant, the flakiness and lobster meat matched perfectly. The crab cakes were not bad but could be meatier. We dined out for the view of the dock but you can dine inside as well.

Great spot for lunch. The seafood is fresh, there is plenty of outdoor seating and great views. The staff was friendly and prices reasonable.