Jo's American Bistro — Restaurant in Newport

It's hard to choose where to go splurge for an excellent special first first dinner in Newport because you're spoiled with so many great choices. It's the hubby's advanced birthday dinner while we're in town for the weekend and we both wanted only the very best.

Enter Jo's American Bistro. From the reservations process, to being warmly welcomed (with good Covid-19 procedures), down to being seated in an excellent table upstairs and being served while we just indulged, everything was above par. Vinny attended to us last night and not only was he a consummate pro at what he does, he really engages and connects with you as customers. That's not an easy feat and that wasn't lost on us.

As for the meal, we got an excellent bottle of Prosecco (great bottle service too, thanks Vinny!) and started off with their hot bread with butter which was sooo good, you already know you're in for an excellent time. Then we enjoyed their delicious and perfectly crisp Calamari. Our entrées were Lobster Carbonara, Grilled Shrimp on Risotto and I had the scallops. Let's break it down. Hubby loved the Lobster Carbonara. He loves it so much he would happily drive from NYC anytime for it. Our cousin loved the Grilled Shrimp on Risotto. I'm not a huge Risotto person but we tried it and oh my goodness that was just divine. How they seasoned and grilled those huge shrimps isn't easy to achieve, it's actually easy to overcook it but they nailed it. Now for my scallops. I normally hesitate ordering scallops because I can cook delicious scallops but Vinny highly recommended it and I am so thankful I trusted him. One of the best scallop entrees of my life! These were huge, delicious, in this amazing puree, and I'm still not over it! You will not go wrong getting any of these dishes.

While we were choosing our bottle last night they overheard we were celebrating my husband's birthday while in town this weekend from NYC. Vinny came out in the end with a delicious creme brulee dessert with a little candle, a little treat on the house. That level of attention and thoughtfulness is what sets apart great restaurants from good restaurants.

Thank you, Jo's. You've just won over customers who will happily return soon! My compliments to the Owner, Chef, Vinny, and the entire team for an...

To start with, the food at this place has never disappointed me. Seafood is succulent; sauces are creamy, never oily, with just the right balance of savory and tart; bread is warm, soft with a slight crispness about the crust; service is friendly and familiar, present but not oppressive. I have a favorite cocktail there (forget the name) made with champagne and a combo of fruit juices, which I think about between visits.

I've been to Jo's a few times for indoor dining, last time in March of 2021 with pandemic precautions, and they managed to combine relative safety with pleasant atmosphere. Tables are spaced and separated by plexiglass (outside seating available), all staff are masked. We love this place for its food and because it's one of the very few restaurants where my sister can eat safely. She is a highly sensitive Celiac (reacting to below 20 parts per million of gluten in her food), and at most eateries even the food claimed to be gluten-free is contaminated. She used to get sick all the time, so we got a Nima gluten sensor -- a life saver. Jo's makes wonderful dishes, substitutes gluten-free pasta for her, serves mouth-watering GF rolls (I like them better than the wheat ones), and they go to the trouble of having separate GF plates (marked by a colored rim) and having a separate area in the kitchen.

Of course, nothing is 100% perfect, but when something goes wrong, Jo's fixes it quickly and with grace. The first few times we were there, all the GF food passed the Nima test, and my sister had no reaction. The last time we both ordered seared scallops -- mine over spaghetti, hers over GF penne, a beautiful, nuanced dish, both filling and light -- but her sauce tested positive for gluten. Immediately the chef came out to apologize and offer a possible explanation for how the mishap happened and went to make a new one; then the manager (or owner) took away my plate and returned it in a doggy bag, then they brought out new portions for me and my sister so we both would have hot meals to eat together. This time her food tested gluten free, and of course it was delicious. We're going down to Newport soon again, and no question Jo's is our main meal (if tables...

Made a reservation a week in advance for 21 people........Was told we needed to have a prix fixed menu due to the size of our party.........though disappointed, not due to price but due to limited choices for our party....however we agreed. Arrived early for our reservation, sat at the bar and spent a few hundred dollars as we awaited the balance of our party... then we were told we had to be seated in two separate tables, one on the first floor one on the other. Of course we were again disappointed since we had a large family gathering celebrating several exciting family events...We asked the hostess if there was any way we could be seated together since upstairs was empty.... .She stated "not gonna happen" in a very nasty tone...... first group of 12 was seated upstairs., and lo and behold there were two empty tables for 4 right next to our large table. I again asked the waiter" if we could have those two tables for our other 8 guests....he said " I don't see why not, i'll go check".When he went to check, the hostess immediately and seemingly intentionally seated a party of two at one of the tables for four....though downstairs was half empty..... thereby eliminating any possibility that we would be sitting together as a family. She was rude, and nasty to us and obviously did not wish to accommodate this "large party" though we had reserved these tables a week in advance. As we all stood and walked downstairs and out of the restaurant, she made a nasty comment. Went next door to Sardinellis' we were seated together immediately and had a fabulous meal, service was incredible...... Tab at Sardinelli's approximately 1500 dollars............Why would someone be so nasty I do not know......polite well dressed people there in town for our daughters wedding and were celebrating the day after a graduation and birthday as well.............I just don't get it. Obviously we cannot recommend Jo's anymore with that kind of rude...