Newport Creamery — Restaurant in Warwick

Disappointing Service – We Won’t Be Back

We’ve given the Newport Creamery (Warwick location) more chances than we can count, but after today, we’re officially done. While we enjoy the ice cream, the service here has been consistently slow and unwelcoming for years—even when the restaurant is nearly empty. Today’s visit only reinforced why we won’t be back.

We were greeted—if you can call it that—by a manager from across the room at 11:57 AM, who informed us they were still serving breakfast (lunch starts at 12). When we pointed out that was only three minutes away, we were told there were three other tables also waiting for lunch, as if that were a warning that service would be slow. We decided to wait, but no one brought us menus. When our server finally arrived, even she seemed confused as to why we didn’t have them.

Every visit starts the same way: an unnecessary wait at the door, even when plenty of tables are open. Staff members rarely acknowledge guests promptly, and once seated, service is painfully sluggish. Something is always wrong with our order. This time, they brought the wrong fries for our 5-year-old. Instead of simply bringing the correct fries and leaving the rest of the meal, they took the entire plate away—after it had been sitting on our table for a while as we struggled to flag down a server. The manager eventually noticed us and took the plate, despite our request to leave the burger. Strangely, the fries that were taken from our table ended up in the warming window—were they reused? At least the replacement fries arrived quickly.

Our server never checked on us—not once. This isn’t new; we always seem to get the same server, and she’s consistently inattentive. Meanwhile, we watched another server attend to the table next to us multiple times, even though they arrived well after us and still managed to finish before we did.

After we finished eating, we sat for nearly 15 minutes with our plates stacked, waiting for someone—anyone—to check on us so we could order ice cream. When the server finally returned, she took our order, delivered the ice cream, and dropped the check without a word. As I was still reviewing the bill, she abruptly reached across the table, grabbed my credit card from right in front of me, and walked away. When we got up to leave, she stepped in front of us to start clearing the table, making it awkward for us to exit. With open tables and no line at the door, there was no reason for the sudden rush—except to make our departure more inconvenient.

The restaurant itself feels poorly maintained. The ice cream menus are always sticky, and we overheard staff talking about how the closing shift left things in a "gross" state. We also noticed multiple customers standing at the entrance, waiting to be seated without being acknowledged.

This isn’t the first or second time we’ve had a disappointing experience—it’s been like this for years. Newport Creamery used to be a friendly, quick, and affordable place for lunch or dinner. Now, the service is slow, the staff is disengaged, and the overall experience is frustrating. There are plenty of other restaurants at this price point with better food and far superior service. While we’ll miss the ice cream, it’s just not worth the...

Absolutely horrific experience - will not return. As I write this review, my wife is on the phone with our credit card company attempting to unravel an unnecessary excessive overcharge that occurred on Saturday night, 03/11/23. The initial charge was for $34 and change, but when we (finally) left the restaurant, our credit card listed $64 and change and now there is also an additional charge for $64 (2x...?!?); this was following our meal and the error discovered and brought to the manager's attention, who assured us the issue would be resolved, which clearly it has not. As I continue on, the representative from our bank is going to directly contact the aforementioned manager of this restaurant to attempt to untangle this inexplicable mess as I type this as no one at the restaurant seems to be capable to fix this on-going disaster. Before we left the restaurant - we skipped dessert due to the fact that we were - at that point, were pressed for time - gave our waitress a chance to rectify the overcharge at the register - but it appeared to be above her pay level as she showed no interest in correcting her (initial) billing faux pas.

We arrived at approx. 4:00 p.m. for dinner and dessert - we had not been in about 5 years to this chain, more specifically this location (Rt. 3, West Warwick). We were seated relatively quicky, which is where our "good" portion of our experience ends. After about 20 minutes of waiting - our waitress, Taylor K, was clearly far more interested in socializing with her co-workers as the restaurant began to quickly fill up.

Our food arrived nearly 45 minutes after the initial placement of the order: the clam platter very nearly completely inedible as the clams were so overdone. I would have lodged a complaint, but our waitress was far too busy flitting about and seemingly enjoying ignoring all of her duties. The family sitting behind us had similar complaints about the lack of service and quality of food - we witnessed the father get up and get his own condiments as they, too, were being ignored.

We both work hard for our paychecks and take it quite personally when we waste our money on a anticipated rare meal out at a restaurant, only to experience terrible food and service so bad and low - virtually non-existent - it would have to reach up to hit the bottom. On the subject of hard-earned paychecks, we did something that we've never done in our years (closing in on retirement) of dining out - we left no tip. Far too many millennials, not unlike our waitress, want the proverbial keys to the company car, but don't want to put the effort into the reward! Clearly, we and many of the other diners were a blatant inconvenience.

Whatever happened to Customer Satisfaction in restaurants? It has completely disappeared from location. Judging from other reviews, it appears that now is the time that corporate should...

On a trip back to RI this week we stopped in for a quick lunch before I had to be at the airport. This was one of the worse experiences ever. Lets start with the greeting from the manager as we entered. She made us feel like we were an unwelcome interuption. When we asked for a booth she pointed and said go over there. She could not bother walking us to the table. Waitress takes our order. We did not ask for anything elaborate. Tuna sandwich, fish and chips and 2 grilled cheese woth bacon and spinach. We waited about 25 minutes and then tried to get someones attention. I waved my hand finally and looked roght at the manager. She ignored me. Finnaly got the waitress and told her I had a plane to catch. It seemed to be a chore to check on our food. It finally arrived and my granddaughters plate had hair on it. Sent it back while reminding her I had somewhere to be. She looked at me as if I was asking for her first born. Manager never came over, and as a matter of fact, seemed to pretend to be busy in the back. They did take the price of the hairy sandwich off the bill but I have never been so agravated in my life over a simple quick meal. No appologies at all and the waitress actually turned and walked away when we were talking to her. Also, Awful Awfuls are the signature product of NPC. My husbands strawberry tasted like Nesles Strawberry Quick in milk. Not thick, not even sure it had icecream. My daughter was with us and she is a manager of a resteraunt. She watched the whole proceedure and said there is NO EXCUSE for this poor service. I agree and will never go back. Thanks for making what could have been a nice memory a nightmare. I will be waiting to hear about this place going out...