Tickets Restaurant & Patio — Restaurant in Middletown

I was in Newport for a wedding last weekend and visited Tickets twice on Sunday May 23rd. The meal and service for our brunch was great which is why this review even gets 2 stars. But I would honestly give it -5 stars for my experience that same evening. We returned to Tickets in the evening as the bride had rented out a private room upstairs for the wedding afterparty. As per the contract with Tickets, the room was rented out until midnight. The bride and groom arrived at 10:45pm and were told by 2 bartenders that she and her guests only had 15 minutes left and then had to leave. They stated that the agreement was to rent out the place from 10pm-midnight and since the wedding party was late, they only had 15 minutes left. Firstly, wedding receptions most often run later than predicted. Secondly, there was a paid contract of $500 to rent out the place from 10pm-midnight. Therefore, regardless of the arrival time, the party had the room rented out until midnight. Unfortunately, these bartenders wouldn't budge and left the bride IN TEARS (on her wedding day). They had no remorse and were more concerned about going home than providing a proper service. Thankfully, after pulling up emails of the discussion/agreement between the bride and the manager and some serious debating, the bartenders reluctantly agreed to let the party stay until midnight. They continued working but appeared very agitated the entire time and did not announce last call for alcohol. They just decided at 11:40pm that they would stop serving drinks.... EXTREMELY disappointing service and making a bride cry on her wedding day, NOT a good look, Tickets. Your staff needs to do better. If they cannot serve people with respect and a smile, they should not be in the restaurant business. Not to mention, there were about 30 people at the after party buying drinks at the bar. Not an intelligent business strategy to try and turn...

I recently dined at Tickets and had a mixed experience that I feel compelled to share. While the atmosphere, staff friendliness, and picturesque view were undeniably five-star worthy, the same cannot be said for some of the food offerings.

Let's start with the positives. The ambiance of the restaurant is absolutely delightful, creating a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere perfect for a meal with friends or family. The staff were attentive, courteous, and made sure our dining experience was enjoyable from start to finish. And, of course, the view from the restaurant is simply breathtaking, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal.

However, where the experience fell short was in the execution of some of the food items. Despite advertising a specialty in brick oven pizza, the pizza we received was a disappointment. It was under-cooked, with barely melted cheese, which is not what one would expect from a legitimate brick oven preparation. The lack of proper cooking resulted in a raw texture that was far from appetizing.

Similarly, the buffalo tenders failed to deliver on their promise. Instead of the expected spicy flavor, they tasted overwhelmingly of melted butter. It seemed as though they were sautéed solely in butter, lacking the signature buffalo sauce kick that defines this dish.

On a brighter note, the pasta dishes and fish tacos were highlights of the meal, showcasing flavors that were well-balanced and satisfying.

In conclusion, while Tickets excels in providing a wonderful atmosphere, excellent service, and stunning views, the inconsistency in the quality of some food items was disappointing. If you choose to dine here, I would recommend exploring options beyond the pizza and buffalo tenders. With some improvements in the kitchen, this restaurant could truly be a standout dining...

The day I woke up at seven years old in Vermont, the snow outside tasted like chocolate and hummed like a kettle left on too long. Dentists marched up the driveway in white coats, clutching toothbrushes the size of oars and scolding anyone within earshot about cavities and flossing. Chickens—suddenly everywhere—strutted through the drifts, their feathers powdered with cocoa like they’d been dusted by a confused baker. I couldn’t help sticking out my tongue to catch a flake, because seven is the age you obey your mouth before your brain.

I remember laughing until my knees gave out, watching a chicken peck a dentist’s shoelace, and then everything went soft and syrupy. The snow swallowed sound and light; the world turned into a sleepy cartoon where details bled at the edges. My head felt like a wool ball, and I blacked out with the taste of chocolate and the faint, indignant clucks of poultry ringing in my ears. When consciousness came back, it did so with no warning—no slow return, just a snap that hurled me into a new, stranger moment.

I woke up somewhere cold and vertical and then fell through the balcony like a door that had forgotten how to be solid. One second I was checking the window in my bedroom, the next the wind was a shock on my face and chocolate flakes raining past me as I tumbled down into the yard where the dentists and chickens had formed some ridiculous parliament. I landed in a puff of cocoa snow, boots soaked and pajamas sticky, and for a while I wasn’t sure whether to be in trouble or to ask the chickens if they knew how to floss. Vermont never looked the same after that day—every sidewalk could have been a balcony, every dentist might be a hero or a threat, and every snowflake tasted suspiciously like a secret. Oh yeah and the...