The Carriage House — Restaurant in Newport

We are new members of the Preservation Society of Newport County and were visiting the Elms for the first time. The docent at the Elms recommended we eat at the new Carriage House and said that they had a lovely patio. We arrived at about 1:30 PM and asked for a table on the patio, there were about seven open tables. We were told that reservations were required and we would have to sit inside. Not wanting to waste any more time looking for an alternative place, we agreed. The food was delicious. We had the New England Chowder and the Chicken BLT. Richard, our server, was friendly and helpful.

I am giving the restaurant four stars instead of five for two reasons - First, when we left there were still four open tables on the patio and RESY, the APP used to book reservations, indicated that there were reservations available on the patio at 2:30 PM. Also, RESY specifically states that “reservations are encouraged” but does not say that they are required.

Second, we were charged a 2.96% surcharge (not disclosed until we paid our bill) for using a credit card. The restaurant said that it’s to offset their processing costs and is not more than what they pay in fees. When did this become a thing? Since most people pay by card, it would appear that accepting cards and paying the processing fee is the cost of doing business? In fact, restaurants benefit from accepting credit cards: 1) it allows merchants to easily and securely accept and process payments; 2) it improves customer experience by reducing wait times and makes the customer payment process more convenient; 3) it reduces merchant costs - no need to count and process money and coins, it saves time and effort to bundle and transport money and coins to the bank, it reduces possible theft, and it avoids bad checks and counterfeit money; 4) it is also more sanitary to use credit cards. Forcing people to carry cash to pay large bills at a restaurant can also be a safety risk for...

Charming Setting with Elegant Bites

Dining at The Carriage House at The Elms was a lovely experience. Set in a beautifully restored French-style carriage house, the architecture and setting alone are worth the visit-graceful, historic, and perfectly nestled within the grounds of the Elms estate. It feels like a quiet escape into another time.

For an early lunch, the menu offers some excellent light options-fresh salads, delicate sandwiches, and small plates that pair well with a coffee or sparkling water. Later in the afternoon, the menu shifts a bit, with rich and flavorful pasta dishes that feel indulgent yet still refined. Everything was well-prepared, thoughtfully plated, and served with a laid-back elegance that matched the space.

Whether you're stopping by after a tour of The Elms or simply looking for a relaxing meal in a unique setting, The Carriage House delivers charm, taste, and ambiance.

This is still new, and the staff is still learning to be patient and kind. i.e. Putting cold bear into warm glass and / or failing to...

The Preservation Society offers so much for a visitor, great homes, app and tours but dining options are still a miss. This is a lovely venue but we were quite disappointed with the our experience. The food should have been better. Quiche was bland and chicken added to a salad was dried out. Definitely not worth the prices charged. Lunch was $85 for soup, an entree and non-alcoholic beverages for two people. They charge 3% surcharge if you use a credit card, not listed anywhere. Beverages are not refills, it cost $4.50 for each iced tea. Service was very disappointing. Our beverages and water were not filled and waiter seemed distracted. We had to flag him down to get the bill. He barely visited the table. We wanted some bread and he said there was none offered. Later, we saw that they have biscuits, which he...