Clarke Cooke House
Clarke Cooke House things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Description
Multiple casual & formal New England food & drink options in a picturesque 18th-century edifice.
attractions: Bowen's Wharf, White Horse Tavern, Audrain Auto Museum, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Discover Newport, The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection, Bellevue Gardens Shopping Center, Long Wharf Mall, Newport Classic Cruises Bannister's Wharf, Newport Hi-Speed Ferry (Perrotti Park), restaurants: The Red Parrot Restaurant, Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Midtown Oyster Bar, Benjamin's, The Lobster Bar, Diego's, Buskers Pub And Restaurant, Newport Lobster Shack (Kitchen), O'Brien's Pub
Ratings
Description
Multiple casual & formal New England food & drink options in a picturesque 18th-century edifice.
Posts
Clarke Cooke House How does one write a review of an iconic restaurant? By dropping names, that's how. Just take a look at the photos of sailing yachts from years past, signed by long ago patrons of this world-famous dining mecca located on Bannister's Wharf in the heart of America's "First Resort," Newport, RI. Sailing legend Dennis Conner, CNN Founder Ted Turner (who, years ago, my boyfriend literally ran into here, nearly knocking them both over.) Actress Mia Sorvino (again, my boyfriend's story, as they both waited in line for the tiny restroom on the first floor. He let her go first.) And the list goes on through Hollywood, international media, politicians, gangsters, and an endless stream of hedge fund managers. But you're not here for that . . . Your dining adventure is led by executive chef Ted Gidley, who took over the kitchen in 1995. He says his Mediterranean-influenced American menu is inspired in part by his time working alongside legendary chef Roger Verge at the famed Moulin de Mougins on the French Riviera. Constatnly improving his mastery of culinary arts Gidley as spent time at La Grenouille with chef Daniel Orr, at Daniel Boulud’s Restaurant, Daniel, with Grant Achatz at Alinea, and, most recently, with Clarke Cooke alumnus Thomas Keller at The French Laundry. The Calamari Fritti was delicious and the fried capers were the perfect added touch. The Warm Brussels Sprouts “Caesar” salad was yummy and made me feel a bit healthier after eating fried calamari. The Seafood linguini was full of mouthwatering seafood and the shiitake mushrooms were a nice, meaty addition. The Expresso Martini was perfect and the whole dining experience eating outside (with my dogs!) was fantastic. The hostess was very thoughtful and brought water bowls to my furry companions. Our server was a dog lover who attentively filled the water bowls whenever needed. I highly recommend Clarke Cooke House. There is not a better place on the entire East Coast to enjoy a summer night while seeing, and being seen by the rich and famous!
Cowgirl & Her BearCowgirl & Her Bear
20
Such a classic beautiful destination for a lovely dinner, too bad their food didn't quite live up to the expectation. I have always enjoyed it in the past, however my experience this time was disappointing. Started with a great martini, mussels were ok, out of the eight I had, four were gritty upon eating & the broth was good, just not great. Tuna carpaccio was really good, but just 4 very small pieces. My wife's chicken was fine, but not noteworthy. My special Bavette Steak, which I ordered medium, specifically engaging the waiter on if that meant slightly pink, which he confirmed....arrived rare to raw & we sent it back(wish I took a pic of that). Upon returningit to our table, it was evident that they literally threw it under the broiler & burned the life out of it..."where am I dining again "?...Dennys? Who makes that decision to do this in such a fine dining establishment? We of course sent it back. For the record, we are not of the ilk to send food back. Management did come to our table saying they would re-make the dish...too late. My buddy's steamed Halibut was very good. Our two deserts Creme Brule & chocolate bomb were also very good. Regardless of my food experience, we had a wonderful night & enjoyed the ambiance there, that you really can't duplicate elswhere.
Allan DiSimoneAllan DiSimone
00
I’m forced to give this reputable and well-known restaurant in Newport a single star rating, due to the unpleasant racist treatment and rudeness received by one of the waiters who run the bar upstairs. I’ve visited this place recommended by local friends there in the last week up to three times. The first experience in the lounge I have to admit was incredible and we received exceptional treatment and had great dinner with an amazing wine. The second visit we had dinner at the bar and everything went well, except that the waiter I’m referring to did not stop making bad stupid jokes and constantly interrupting our evening, constantly trying to be funny and without paying attention serving us the glasses of wine from our bottle to overflow. My friend explained that this was not the most appropriate way to serve wine and the waiter looks like seemed offended by the comment. We paid, still leaving a very excellent tip for the waiter. The next day we decided to return and I, who was shopping in Newport, went ahead of her determined to have a cocktail at the bar. I find a seat and greet the waiter and ask him for the cocktail list and he tells me that he can't serve me because I'm not wearing a shirt. I ask him, remembering that he liked to act funny, if it's a joke, and he answers that it's not a joke and that it's the restaurant's rules. As I’m a person who perfectly understands the protocols and rules of dress when they correspond, understanding that they must be followed, I call my friend to give me a shirt as I leave the bar, but I realize that at the bar there are not only people still dressed more casual than me, but there are also at least two people who wear the exacly same Newport sweatshirt that I wear. I ask the waiter why I'm the only one he can't serve me, and if the reason is because I'm Jewish and he's racist. He tells me again that these are the rules and that he cannot serve me. The behavior of this waiter is completely unacceptable, from whom I finally had to ask for a glass of water, who served me in a very bad way and without looking at my face, banging the glass of water on the table and muttering “cheers” My friend arrived and we spoke with the manager about this unfortunate and unacceptable and unpleasant situation in the restaurant. I hope they take the appropriate measures since in these times we should not be served by rude and much less racist people.
Dan GuerDan Guer
50
I’ve been coming to this restaurant with my mom for a number of years and always had a great experience. Unfortunately I had to rate it a 3 star and 3 for service because the bartender I had that I normally love ripped me off today when I visited by myself. Not only did he charge me more for my salad than what the lunch menu said but he also charged me $30 for what I thought was a white sangria that I saw a few people order and it looked refreshing and was curious to try it. Never did he once warn me of the price and verify if I still wanted to order it. When I got the bill I was in for a very bad surprise. I’m aware this place is pricey but the quality of this drink ranged anywhere from $12-$18 much similar to the Bloody Mary I ordered prior. Never once have a come here and been charged that much for a drink before. Unfortunately a lot of the drink “names” are not the stereotypical “sangria” “Bloody Mary” so you understand your tab when you’re ready to pay. It felt sketchy and felt he made a mistake but he insisted my drink was $30 despite not giving me a fair warning of the outrageous price for a drink that wasn’t even that good. Word of advice - Do not get “Newport Water”, because unfortunately the bartenders don’t at least give you the courtesy of informing you of how much it is before going through it and I’d probably advise to ask how much things cost before ordering. Sadly it seems to have come to that, I don’t think I will be back there for awhile because I feel cheated and it was a huge disappointment.
Jenna S.Jenna S.
00
During our recent lunch visit to Clarke Cooke House in Newport, Rhode Island, we were initially impressed by the charming atmosphere, vibrant crowd, and prime location. The menu appeared promising, sparking our anticipation for a delightful meal. However, our experience quickly took a downturn. Our waiter was noticeably cold and unfamiliar with the menu, unable to provide insights or address dietary queries for my vegan friend. When asked about milk options, he admitted to not knowing. We placed our order, and my ham sandwich was supposed to come with a side of fries. Unfortunately, the food took 30 minutes to arrive, and my fries were missing. Despite my efforts to catch the waiter’s attention, he seemed to ignore me. Another staff member eventually brought the fries 10 minutes later, but they were cold by the time they reached our table. To make matters worse, my friend felt unwell after eating the pesto pasta and had to leave early, later experiencing severe discomfort and vomiting. While Clarke Cooke House has potential with its promising menu and great atmosphere, our lunch experience was marred by poor service and food issues. We hope our next visit will be more positive, but it’s hard to overlook the disappointments we faced this time.
Ryan ByrneRyan Byrne
00
We've been here once before but this time we came on Thanksgiving day. First off, if you're going to be in Newport for Thanksgiving and you plan on eating out you MUST book well in advance or you may not get a seat at the place you want. Clarke Cooke House is an interesting restaurant, I had no idea it was so big, has a few bars, different levels, it even had a fire going in the fireplace. The decor is rustic and beautiful. For Thanksgiving, they had a Prix fixe option - turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and you start with a soup or sale and end with dessert. I had the Newport Clam Chowder. It was a slightly creamy broth and chock full of clams. On this ridiculously cold day, it was a great way to start the meal. When the main came out, it was a huge serving. The turkey was cooked well and was nicely seasoned. Everything was pretty good. My one complaint was that there wasn't a single vegetable on the plate. Instead of mashed potatoes and puree squash (why have both?), maybe add in carrots or green beans or something? For my dessert, I had the apple crumble. It was a little sweet but overall very good. Our drinks were good and our waiter was excellent. You should definitely check this place out.
Mudi KenneyMudi Kenney
20
Nearby Attractions Of Clarke Cooke House
Bowen's Wharf
White Horse Tavern
Audrain Auto Museum
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Discover Newport
The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection
Bellevue Gardens Shopping Center
Long Wharf Mall
Newport Classic Cruises Bannister's Wharf
Newport Hi-Speed Ferry (Perrotti Park)

Bowen's Wharf
4.6
(900)Click for details

White Horse Tavern
4.5
(790)Click for details

Audrain Auto Museum
4.5
(382)Click for details

International Tennis Hall of Fame
4.6
(407)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Clarke Cooke House
The Red Parrot Restaurant
Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
Midtown Oyster Bar
Benjamin's
The Lobster Bar
Diego's
Buskers Pub And Restaurant
Newport Lobster Shack (Kitchen)
O'Brien's Pub

The Red Parrot Restaurant
4.4
(2.2K)$$
Click for details

Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant
4.6
(1.9K)$$
Click for details

The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
4.5
(1.7K)$$$
Click for details

Midtown Oyster Bar
4.4
(980)$$$
Click for details
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