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This Iconic RI Restaurant Is Opening For The Season, So Your Weekend Dinner Plans Are Made

Because it's officially opening for the 2018 season tonight, Friday, April 27th, at 5pm...

Long before it was featured in Vanity Fair, in 2016 for its 100 anniversary, the Olympia Tea Room was the place for eats and drinks in Watch Hill. With its art deco interior (the pink walls and ceiling and that black and white retro tile floor) and paintings by the owner's wife lining the walls, it feels almost like stepping into an old Hollywood movie, as though Bogie and Bacall (with maybe Peter Lorrie or Sinatra in tow...Bogie was after all the head of the original Rat Pack) are going to glide thru the screen door any second and slide into a booth. 

During peak season, once the weather really heats up, it's so low key enjoyable to sit outside for a delicious meal (I adore their grilled pizza and Boston Bahama Salad) and some top notch people watching. I mean you never know who'll walk by. Maybe Oprah or Selena (as in Gomez, good friend of T. Swift's who does still have that house that's a stone's throw from Bay Street) will actually stroll by or into the restaurant this season. Both are among the many superstars who've *allegedly* been spotted looking at property in the area over the years. (The Oprah rumor predates TS by at least 3-4 years by the way.) 

Now, post VF piece (a few summers ago while staying in WH we could've sworn we spotted Graydon Carter, longtime-now-retired editor of Vanity Fair, in town) and TS, the town and the Tea Room are busier than ever. Exactly why off season (right now and in September) is my NEW favorite time to be there. So, what the heck are you waiting for? Before the throngs of people start flocking there come June, July, and August, motor over now for a fantastic, early season din din. 

Photo Credits: All photos courtesy of PattyJ.com

As always, if you end of going for opening weekend, please let the folks at Olympia Tea Room know you found out about it via Patty J and PattyJ.com.