Newport Restaurant Review (Ottawa)

Home to the Elvis Presley Sighting Society, Moe's World Famous Newport Restaurant is located in the heart of Westboro Village at 33 Richmond Rd.(corner of Churchill) Ottawa. When the restaurant and its regular patrons aren't contemplating on the location of the King of Rock & Roll (they report he is living in Tweed) they can be seen taking advantage of the delicious selection of pizza, pasta, chicken, fish, steak and sandwiches on the menu.

The décor is Elvis-themed with memorabilia of Mr. Presley covering every wall. The restaurant is fronted by a small convenience store selling cigarettes and snack foods which is unusual in concept. The atmosphere is casual and the floor plan includes stools at the bar reminiscent of those '50s ice cream and soda shops.

When my companion and I entered there was no wait for seating as the restaurant was empty. We were given our menus, cutlery and glasses of ice water promptly which would be expected because of the restaurant's vacancy. But what was surprising was the waitress's lack of etiquette. She forgot to inquire on a drink order. We decided to stay silent about the lapse thinking it would be corrected but unfortunately the first mention of anything of a liquid nature occurred after our meals were finished. The question of coffee was raised and we wholeheartedly accepted.

Our meals themselves were brought in a timely manner (less than 15 minutes) and our orders of Chicken Caesar Salad for my companion and Roast Beef Dip (a favourite of mine) for me were delicious. My companion enjoyed thick slices of chicken breast generously proportioned over a bed of romaine lettuce, croutons, real bacon bits and dressing with two slices of garlic bread.

For myself, I was slightly concerned about my order as my last review (Mayflower II Restaurant & Pub Review) revealed how difficult it is to make a tasty Roast Beef Dip. My trepidation was ill-founded as the Newport knows how to prepare this dish. Although the meat was slightly dry it was thickly stacked on a Kaiser bun (the best bread for this sandwich) and the dipping juice (Au-Jus) was spectacular. Its consistency was perfect as it was absorbed easily into the bread. The mashed potatoes were made from scratch rather than dehydrated flakes. The gravy for the mash was the only drawback. It was thick and had the proper consistency but the taste was sweeter than normal as if the sweet savory spice was used in abundance.

As for staff service, it was top-notch. The food, coffee and cheque were brought quickly. There was no need to ask for any items as they were at the table at placing or were brought before they were missed. Our water was refilled, the coffee was brought without a reminder, and the waiters inquired at the appropriate times if anything else was needed.

The final price of the meals including tip was reasonable. Unfortunately on this night the staff was working as if they had no designate section, meaning we were served at different times by four different workers. It made it difficult to judge on who should receive my generous gratuity. But it is a minor point. The cost of thirty dollars was well spent and a return to the Newport will likely be in my future.

Décor: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (Recommended)