Every summer, southern Rhode Islanders and tourists alike are drawn to the coastline. The Atlantic Ocean provides a magnificent reason to celebrate summer. Days are spent on the beaches swimming, picnicking and people watching. When evening falls, some beachgoers have a hard time driving back inland and often seek out the restaurants that inhabit the coast. If you find yourself in Westerly this summer, there is a hidden coastal gem you might want to check out: the Pleasant View Inn.
Built in 1903, the Pleasant View Inn is located directly on Misquamicut Beach in Westerly and has hosted generations of vacationers. The hotel’s restaurant, known as The Kitchen, is open seasonally (this year until October 19). The restaurant is divided into four unique, separate spaces – the main dining room, the Upper Hatch Lounge, an outdoor seating area adjacent to the lounge and a function room. In the last ten years, the dining room has made a transition from a jacket-required formal atmosphere to a more casual, family-friendly setting. The views from the dining room provide sweeping panoramas of the ocean, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Block Island, Fishers Island and even Long Island.
This year, the Pleasant View Inn hired Joseph Taunton as its new executive chef. The menu is designed with an emphasis on fresh, local seafood and produce and includes a wide spectrum of tastes and prices – from an $8 mountain of nachos to a $28 bouillabaisse. The portions were quite generous, but the restaurant offers salads and several of the entrées as “small plates” which is perfect for those with smaller appetites. Our excellent waiter was quick to point out that everything, including the desserts, is made in-house (with the one exception of lobster ravioli from Providence’s Venda Ravioli). With such an extensive menu, that’s quite an accomplishment. In addition to the regular menu, Chef Taunton provides some tantalizing nightly specials. On the night we were there, there was an appetizer of Grilled Polenta Sliders with duck confit and pomegranate lime relish ($12) and an entrée special of Braised Boneless Short Rib with Taleggio cheese risotto and roasted baby vine ripe tomatoes ($26).
On that gorgeous early summer night, the bar area and outdoor patio were very crowded with patrons enjoying the pub fare menu, and we were the first in the dining room. We started with cocktails and a few appetizers. My Bombay Sapphire Martini ($10) and my father’s Ketel One Martini ($10) were cocktail perfection. The best appetizer we tried was the PV (Pleasant View) Little Necks ($12). The large soup bowl of flawlessly cooked fresh clams was sitting in a soupy broth of white wine and garlic butter with large chunks of Italian sausage and cannellini beans. The broth cried out for crusty bread to sop up its goodness. The Crab Cakes ($12), however, had more breading than crab, but were finished with a delightful citrus aioli. We also tried two “small plate” salads – Caprese ($5) and Roasted Beet and Spinach ($7) – and found everything to be fresh, tasty and the perfect size for one person.
Sticking to the ocean theme, I ordered Pan Seared Scallops ($26) for my entrée. I enjoyed the scallops and the mushroom risotto that accompanied them. The Shrimp Linguini ($25) was served with what seemed to be a pound of linguini. Although the shrimp were cooked to perfection, I thought the sauce could have used a bit more flavor. The three small pieces of Baked Flounder ($25) were filled with a crab stuffing (very similar to what made up the Crab Cakes) and sat atop a rich lobster sherry cream sauce. Wanting to sample what was called a “PV Classic,” my mother ordered a “small plate” of her favorite Chicken Francais ($16), which was light and eggy – a classic indeed. The flounder and chicken were served with mashed potatoes and steamed broccolini.
My family is not known to eat light, so we forged ahead and ordered desserts. Since they were made in-house, we really couldn’t pass them up. On the night we were there, the gelato flavors were Fig Mascarpone and Balsamic ($6) or Makers Manhattan ($6). I gobbled up my small bowl of Makers Manhattan. It was amazing, and the highlight of my meal. My mother loved her slice of Ricotta Cheesecake ($8) topped with pineapple compote.
At any time of the year, dinner with friends or family enjoyed with a perfectly made cocktail and a view of the ocean is a welcome addition to the end of a day. But in the summertime, it’s as good as it gets. So, before the season is over, grab your closest friends and family and head to the Pleasant View Inn. On a clear day, you might not be able to see forever, but you will see how good life can truly be.
The Kitchen at Pleasant View Inn, 65 Atlantic Avenue, Westerly 596-5031
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