Rhode Island :: River Oysters

Okay, there’s no such thing as river oysters…but there are $1 oysters at New Rivers American Bistro. It was a rainy night, 9PM, and I hadn’t had dinner yet…I wandered around College Hill and was happy to find a little spot that was still serving something other than pub food. I wish I had more to report about the city, but other than a glimpse of State House (no pictures – fail!) from a quick run around the block, I haven’t had a chance to explore the city yet...hopefully that will change next week!

I will say, however, that it’s not the quaint little town that I pictured when I was asked to go to Providence. I was envisioning white picket fences, beautiful fall coloured trees lining the streets, a quiet town, and lots of pleasant people – kind of like a North-Eastern Charlotte. Shows how little I know about American culture & geography!

Beech 1900 C-12J is the smallest plane in Canada’s fleet (lucky me) and it swayed at every turn and patchy farms came into view...



The service at New Rivers was excellent, coupled with a young, vibrant vibe. The bartenders were friendly and chatty, perfect for a spot touting local fare. I started with a trio of local Oysters (definitely recommend Walrus oysters – they were fantastic!) and followed with Fluke.

I was a bit disappointed with the fluke – the bed of roasted pumpkin bisque was good in theory but lacked spice, and I don't even remember the artichokes. Mind you, I’m a fan of stronger, spicier flavours so I prefer earthier greens. The fish was pan fried, but excessively so. While not the perfect meal, given the ambiance, bar, and menu I wouldn’t be opposed to giving it a second try. I'll go with my initial instinct of rabbit or cassoulet instead...if I return.

We also hit Temple a couple of times out of convenience – standard restaurant fare, nothing particularly interesting to note except their fun opening to Movember – we all donned finger-moustache tattoos, which was a fun start to the night.

Temple’s not bad – but I won’t be missing it or particularly craving later. The Lobster Ravioli, Temple Mezze Platter, and Mushroom Flatbread are good to share – and the atmosphere at the bar is good for socials

In the meantime, I’m bracing myself for Hurricane Sandy (aka Frankenstorm) that’s supposed to hit hard on next week! Wish me luck!