The curly fries were not overcooked; Bill liked the wild rice in his pilaf; the cole slaw was fresh and crisp, though I would have liked a little zing in it. The salsa with my flounder was made with under-ripe tomatoes and needed a re-do.
Wiley's also serves a sirloin strip, a chicken dish (that evening it was chicken and eggplant parmesan), crab cakes, an eggplant and crab quesadilla, plus chowder, stuffies, and calamari. We liked the Manhattan chowder because there were plenty of veggies in with the clams, not just tomatoes ($2.95 cup/$3.95 bowl). The special calamari that night had a sweet-and-spicy Asian sauce on it, with sliced banana peppers. The squid rings were just flour-dredged and quickly fried before tossing them in the sauce. Very tasty.
Since the desserts were not home-made (cheesecake and chocolate cake), we betook ourselves next door to the first-day-of-spring opening of Brickley's ice cream shop. Perhaps Wiley's could lay in a few half-gallons for yet another collaboration among local eateries. Works for us!
Johnette Rodriguez can be reached at johnette.rodriguez@cox.net.
Related:
Privius Lounge, The West Deck, Scales and Shells, More 
- Privius Lounge
I thought I had Privus figured out based on what owner Jarlath Quinn had done with his popular bar, The Kells, located right next door.
- The West Deck
Shame on us. There we were, scratching our heads over which Newport restaurant to choose as the destination for an visitor, and we didn’t think of the West Deck until last.
- Scales and Shells
Since the open kitchen at Scales and Shells is behind the hostess station, you are pulled into the restaurant by the aroma of wood smoke and garlic as you open the door.
- A taste of Florida
On a recent road trip down the coastal corridor to Key West, I was reminded that one of the best ways to explore the "culture" of a different region is through its food.
- The Barking Crab
The Barking Crab's second location in Newport is the ideal spot for strolling summer tourists, right in the downtown harborfront
- Review: Off the Boat Seafood
To find Off the Boat Seafood, a South Italian take-out joint that just this winter added a 10-table dining room and a wine list, mainlanders will pass through the Callahan Tunnel and embark on an exercise so challenging it's not unlike finding the Northwest Passage.
- Keep your skin on
Skinless, boneless cuts of fish are convenient — you don't have to clean them yourself — but getting rid of those "extras" takes away a lot of flavor, and a lot of the nutrition, too. Good news! It's easy to grill whole fish, and they make a great centerpiece for summer cookouts.
- Maria's Seaside Café
The recent mini-heat-wave that made us all optimistic that summer really would roll around again set us to thinking about seasonal restaurants along Rhode Island's shore.
- Blount Clam Shack
The scene at Blount Clam Shack on a Sunday summer afternoon is like a well-orchestrated block party: large white tent for keeping out rain or providing shade; long, family-style picnic tables; outside the tent, more picnic tables and beach chairs; a large cooler with bottles of water; and live music from 3-7 pm, often provided by Warren resident Otis Read and friends.
- Spain
It's not even 6 pm and the parking lot is packed.
- Exotic Sushi and Tapas
Exotic Sushi and Tapas doesn't have the most exotic sushi, but the combination of Japanese bar snacks with their European small-plate counterparts is an unusual angle on fusion that can be worked into a square meal.
- Less
Topics:
Restaurant Reviews
, Culture and Lifestyle, Food and Cooking, Foods, More
, Culture and Lifestyle, Food and Cooking, Foods, Fruits and Vegetables, Desserts, Seafood, Narragansett, cafe, Less
