This restaurant is known for its open kitchen set-up, chalk board menu, taking only cash up until a few years ago (nowadays you can use plastic, no AMEX though), and some of the freshest seafood around.

Also, it’s Newport’s sole all seafood, all the time eatery!

Yea, I'm talking about Scales & Shells on Thames, and if you don't want to wait an hour or longer for a table, THIS is the pefect time of year to go have dinner there. (You know what I’m sayin, before all the out-of-staters start making beelines for Downtown Newport…especially because S&S does NOT take reservations.)

We started with some drinks including the martini above. (I mean, have you seen a prettier martini pic?)

But of course you're probably wondering about the food.

For apps, we went with oysters which were (drum roll, pls)…outstanding.

For mains, we had the John Dory special, grilled salmon, and a grilled John Dory, a completely boneless white fish that apparently hails from Europe.

And the verdict on all of our dishes was a resounding DELICIOUSO!

PS — Found out later that they are also known for wood grilling AND Italian inspired dishes

Find Scales & Shells at 527 Thames Street in Newport, Rhode Island.

As always, if you go after reading THIS, please let them know you were inspired by Patty J and PattyJ.com.

Photo Credits: Above images are all courtesy of Stacey Doyle Photography.