Fantastic Italian Dining in Newport: Mamma Luisa Ristorante Italiano
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You will find a lot of great local dining options in Newport, including many great seafood and Italian eateries. We have been supporting many of these wonderful local restaurants since relocating to the Fall River area. Mamma Luisa Ristorante Italiano is a great choice for romantic fine dining .
The interior is decorated with a classy, home-style Italian elegance. The menu includes a variety of traditional Italian dishes, including vegetarian options, which was a big plus for me. I heard about this restaurant’s wonderful Italian menu and immediately put it on my must try list. Mike and I were impressed with the beautiful ambiance and the wonderful food. It’s definitely our favorite romantic dining choice in the region.
Fantastic vegetarian choices
For me, the highlight of dining here was the wonderful veggie friendly options. Italian restaurants can be a hit or miss – sometimes they have a lot of stuff I can eat, and other times the menu is really seafood heavy. The Ravioli di Zucca, which is a Butternut Squash Ravioli, with roasted peppers, sage, and pine nuts, in a creamy sauce was seriously delicious. I should have ordered another plate to take home with me!
The Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino, which Mike ordered, consisted of delicious pasta simmered with olive oil, garlic, crushed red peppers, mushroom, and olives. It was a bit lighter than my dish, but he was impressed.
Both entrees were reasonably priced at $16.75 and $14.95. Smaller sizes are available for a $3.50 discount, however, I would stick with the regular size as the portions are filling but not enormous. UPDATE: The price per dish is a bit higher, but about average for the industry.
What sets Mamma Luisa apart is their wonderful vegetarian menu. They offer soup, several salads, and a number of entrees and sides to choose amongst. In addition to the wonderful Butternut Squash ravioli, other specialities include:
- Bombette Pomodoro e Arugola (Homemade ricotta and spinach gnocchi with marinara sauce)
- Spezzatino Vegetariano con Patate (Seitan stew w/ onions, bell peppers, peas, tomatoes with rosemary potatoes).
- Garganelli al Ragu’ Vegetariano (Short rolled egg pasta with vegetarian Ragu Bolognese sauce)
Additional details
Mamma Luisa is a fantastic choice for Italian dining on historic Thames Street in Newport. Thames Street is conveniently located near Newport Harbor, for easy access before or after your dinner.
Address: 673 Thames St.
Hours: 5:00pm – 9:00pm (Sun, Mon, Thurs 10 on Friday & Saturday) , open everyday except Tuesday & Wednesday
What else to do?
I recommend taking a look at my weekend Newport itinerary if you will be in town for a few days. There are so many wonderful things to do in this charming city. Mike and I were lucky enough to live just a short half hour drive away in Fall River. It’s definitely a summer vacation city for sure with all the wonderful beaches, scenic drives, and most of fall, Cliffwalk to look forward to.
If the weather is too cold to explore much outside, then I recommend seeing if there are any shows or events at the gorgeous, historic Jane Pickens Theater, which is located just down the street.
