01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, June 22, 2006

These are brief versions of reviews of Newport restaurants that have appeared in The Journal in recent years.

Aidan's Pub & Grub, 1 Broadway, 845-9311. This extremely popular restaurant features a nice selection of good beers, most of them from Britain or Ireland; Irish comfort food, such as bangers and mash; excellent fish and chips (especially the chips); and a few fancy items. Casual. Reservations only for 8 or more. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Parking across the street. V, MC, AE. Highchairs and children's menu. $.

Asterisk, 599 Thames St. 841-8833. Inspired Mediterranean-Asian fusion cooking in a small restaurant with great style. Casual. Reservations recommended. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for dinner only. A small parking lot in the front of the building, as well as on-street parking. V, MC, AE, DC, DIS. $$$.

The Black Pearl (Commodore's Room), Bannister's Wharf. 846-5264. Excellent traditional fare with subtle personal touches from chef Daniel Knerr. Jacket suggested. Reservations accepted for evening only. Not wheelchair accessible. Open daily for lunch and dinner. On-street parking. V, MC, AE. $$$$.

Bouchard Restaurant & Inn, 505 Thames St. 846-0123. www.restaurantbouchard.com. French enough to fly the tricolor outside the front door, this luxurious upscale restaurant is run by an American graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who studied and worked in restaurants in France. Some of the dishes are just as rich as the traditional ones in French, but most of the sauces are made somewhat lighter. Everything is made in-house. Jackets not required. Reservations accepted. Not wheelchair accessible. Lunch Jan. 15-May 15 on Saturdays. Closed Tue; open for dinner the rest of the week. On-street parking and paid parking lot at Waites Wharf. V, MC, AE, DIS. No highchairs. $$$$.

Buskers Irish Pub and Restaurant, 178 Thames St. 846-5856, www.buskerspub.com. Great beer, comforting food and a jovial atmosphere amid Thames Street's dining spots, coffee shops and boutiques. Casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. High chairs. Open for lunch and dinner daily. V, MC, DIS, AE and DC. Street parking. $.

Cafe Zelda, 528 Thames St. 849-4002, www.cafezelda.com. Not quite a French restaurant, not quite an American one: A cozy and inviting neighborhood place where conviviality is spiced with sophistication, yet it's not all about the food. Casual. Open for dinner every day, lunch on Fri/Sat, Sunday brunch. Wheelchairs need to negotiate one step. Highchairs. Reservations accepted. MC, V, AE. $$$.

Castle Hill Inn and Resort, 590 Ocean Drive. 849-3800. www.castlehillinn.com. The view from the dining room of this 1869 Shingle Style inn has always been stunning, and the food has risen to the standard of top restaurants in both Providence and Newport. An award-winning wine list complements the entrees. Upscale, with a jacket requested but not required. Reservations recommended. Wheelchair accessible. Open daily for lunch and dinner and brunch on Sun. Ample parking. V, MC, AE, DIS. Highchairs. $$$$.

Cheeky Monkey Cafe, Perry Mill Wharf. 845-9494. Stylish and chic, with a short, punchy menu of inspired concoctions from Cajun country to the Far East. Casual dress. Reservations recommended. Wheelchair accessible, but no designated handicapped parking. Open for dinner Tues-Sat (during the months of April and May). As of June 1, open seven days for dinner. Call for seasonal hours. Limited on-street parking, with a paid lot nearby. V, MC, AE, DC. Highchairs. $$$.

Crowley's Casino Pub, inside La Forge Restaurant, 186 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 847-0418. Irish and American pub food located inside Newport's International Tennis Hall of Fame. Casual. No reservations taken in pub. Wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner with a Sunday buffet brunch. On-street parking. V, MC, AE. Highchairs and children's menu. $$$.

Fathoms, 25 America's Cup Ave. 849-7788. Good seafood with a million-dollar waterfront view in the Newport Marriott. Smart casual. Reservations suggested, especially if you want a window view. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with an all day menu everyday. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC. Free parking with validation in adjacent Gateway Center lot. $$$.

Flo's Clam Shack, Route 138A (Aquidneck Avenue), across from Easton's Beach. 847-8141. Some of the best fried clams and clamcakes around. It's fun and very, very casual. No reservations. Wheelchair accessible. Hours are from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Ample parking. No credit cards (ATM available). Highchairs. $.

Le Bistro Newport, 41 Bowen's Wharf. 849-7778. www.LeBistroNewport.com. For more than three decades, this intimate, subtle French bistro has maintained its reputation as one of Newport's best. Emphasis is on the lighter cooking of the south of France, along with New England seafood and Black Angus steaks. Casually upscale. Reservations encouraged. Not wheelchair accessible. Open seven days for lunch and dinner. Smoke-free. Parking at Bowen's Wharf and on the street. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC, CB. Highchairs. $$$.

Lucia Ristorante Italiano, 186B Thames St. 846-4477. Well-prepared Northern Italian cuisine. Casual. Not wheelchair accessible. Open for lunch Sat-Sun, and for dinner daily except Wed (closed). V, MC, DIS. On-street parking or in municipal lots. $$$.

Mamma Luisa's, 673 Thames St. 848-5257. www.mammaluisa.com. The owners are from Bologna, Italy, and the food is exceptional at this cozy restaurant. Casually upscale. Reservations accepted. Not wheelchair accessible. Open daily for dinner from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, closed on Wednesdays the rest of the year. V, MC, AE. On-street parking and in small lot at rear of building. $$.

Marina Grille, 5 Marina Plaza, Goat Island. 841-0999. Wonderfully fresh seafood in varying ethnic treatments, plus salads, sandwiches and enormous burgers, all with a spectacular view of Newport Harbor. Casual. Open May to December. Reservations for parties of six or more. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Open daily for lunch and dinner. V, MC, AE. Free parking, though the parking area just outside the restaurant is limited and you may have to walk from lots several hundred feet away. $$.

The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, Sayer's Wharf (off America's Cup Avenue). 846-2260. Located in the heart of the historic district on the waterfront, diners have incredible views of Newport Harbor. The Mooring serves fresh seafood and traditional New England fare. The Mooring has an award-winning wine list comprised of more than 700 wines. Smoke-free environment. Casual dress. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Braille menu available. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Highchairs and children's menu. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC, CB. Discount plans, Newport Dinner Club. $$$.

The Place, 28 Washington Square. 847-0116. A sophisticated menu and impressive wine list are the hallmarks of this small, intimate restaurant. Rather confusingly, the Place is in the same building as the casual, pub-style Yesterday's, but it's really an entirely different dining experience. Dress code is casually upscale. Reservations are recommended. Wheelchair accessible. Open daily for lunch and dinner. V, MC, AE. On-street parking. Highchairs. $$$.

Puerini's, 24 Memorial Boulevard West. 847-5506. Great trattoria-style Italian. Casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchair accessible. Open Mon-Thu for dinner from 5 to 9 pm, Fri-Sat from 5 to 10 pm. V, MC, AE, DIS. No highchairs or booster seats. On-street parking. $$.

The Rhumbline, 62 Bridge St. 849-3999. French and American traditions meld with a dash of hot Latin fire in the historic Point section. Contemporary casual. Reservations accepted. Wheelchairs must negotiate one step. Highchairs, but this is not a restaurant geared to children. Open for dinner Tue-Sun, and for Sun brunch. MC, V, AE, DIS. Street parking and some spaces in nearby private lots. $$$.

Rocco's Little Italy, 124 Broadway. 848-4556. Good Italian food, pizza and lots of warm hospitality. Very casual. No reservations. Not wheelchair accessible. Open daily for lunch and dinner. V, MC, AE, DC, DIS. RW. On-street parking; small lot in back. Boosters seats and highchairs. $$. BYOB.

Salvation Cafe, 140 Broadway. 847-2620. The food here is funky, fun and fused with flavors of east-meets-west. Casual. Reservations accepted for parties of 10 or more. Bathrooms wheelchair accessible. Open daily for dinner. V, MC, AE. Parking in lot in rear of building or on-street. Highchairs and booster seats. $$.

Scales & Shells, 527 Thames St.. 846-3474, www.scalesandshells.com. Contemporary casual seafood. Open for dinner daily. No credit cards. Checks and cash only. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Parking on street or in adjacent Wellington Resort lot with validation. $$$.

Smokehouse Cafe, America's Cup Avenue. 848-9800. Specializing in smoked meats and fish, pulled-pork sandwiches, barbecued ribs and other fixins in a casual, fun setting. All meats are smoked on premises. Open every day from May 23 through Labor Day. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Bar open until 1 am daily. Smoke-free environment. No reservations. Wheelchair accessible. On-street and nearby lot parking. Highchairs and children's menu. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC, CB. Newport Dinner Club. $$$.

Spiced Pear, 117 Memorial Blvd. 847-2244. A superb menu of classically inspired cuisine inside the Chanler Hotel, overlooking the Cliff Walk. Casually upscale. reservations accepted. Wheelchair Accessible. Open seven days, lunch and dinner, and Sun for brunch. V, MC, AE. Free valet parking. No highchairs or booster seats. $$$$.

The Terrazza at The Chanler, 117 Memorial Blvd. 847-1300. www.thechanler.com. Burgers, salads and sandwiches in a beautiful setting above the Cliff Walk. Upscale casual. No highchairs. No reservations. Three or four steps up to the Terrazza. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. V, MC, AE, DIS. Free parking in lot. $$$.

Tucker's Bistro, 150 Broadway. 846-3449. Romantic atmosphere with a funky sense of humor and small but well-chosen menu. Dressy casual. Open for dinner nightly. MC, V, D. Bathroom is not wheelchair accessible. Private room available. No high chairs. Street parking. $$$.

22 Bowen's Wine Bar and Grille, 22 Bowen's Wharf. 841-8884, www.22bowens.com. Steakhouse serving aged prime beef on a lovely wharf overlooking Newport Harbor. Casually upscale. Open daily for lunch and dinner. MC, V, D, AE. Wheelchair accessible. Private rooms available. High chairs and boosters. Reservations accepted. Pay lot available on Bowen's Wharf but no parking validation. Off season validated parking at the Mooring lot on Sayer's Wharf. $$$$.

Vincent's on the Pier, 10 West Howard Wharf. 847-3645. A fine water view with food to match, from a menu that features the likes of stuffed Gulf shrimp, chicken Marsala and surf-and-turf. Dressy casual. Reservations accepted, recommended if you want a window table. Wheelchair accessible. Highchairs. Open for lunch and dinner daily. V, MC, AE, DIS. Free parking. $$$$.

The West Deck, One Waites Wharf. 847-3610. www.westdeck.com. A winning combination of modern French-inspired cuisine, an accessible wine list, good service, and a lively atmosphere. Casual. Reservations suggested. Wheelchair accessible. Summers only: open indoors seven days for dinner only/outdoors seven days for lunch and dinner; Sun brunch in winter, but call to be sure. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day there is a charge for parking. V, MC, AE. Highchairs. $$$$.

The White Horse Tavern, 26 Marlborough St. 849-3600. Classic food in a classic New England setting. This tavern, constructed in 1673, has good French and New England fare in a romantic and historic atmosphere. Upscale atmosphere. Reservations recommended. Not wheelchair accessible. Open for dinner seven nights, lunch Mon-Sat, brunch Sat-Sun. Parking available. V, MC, AE, DIS, DC. Highchairs. $$$$.