Malt

Try the Malt burger!!! One of the best burgers in town! Food is consistently fantastic and the service is always great!

Simply the best Newport has to offer. Friendly and knowledgable staff, consistent excellent food. The restaurant and bar are cozy and inviting. The owner is on site most evenings and always happy to make sure your experience is enjoyable. Best burger in town. Try the Thai Shrimp Nachos!

Stopped in on our way to a game, sat at the bar, friendly servers, made our cocktails fast. The food was amazing. Split the hummus appetizer and unplanned the hubs and I both had the steak Panini. Perhaps the best Panini I have ever had.
Can’t wait to go back!

Came here tonight for my works Xmas party and read up on reviews before. I was a little worried but it ended up being a fabulous experience. The waitress was fabulous and very attentive. Even had a great sense of humor. The food and drinks were AWESOME! I had a sample tray of the ales and all of them ruled. For my entrée I had the sirloin over mashed potatoes and green beans. It was honestly one of the best meals I’ve had in ages. Overall it was a really awesome experience and we had a great time. Would definitely come again!

Our initial visit to Malt was fine. The second time one of us ordered a burger medium — it arrived after a very long wait completely raw and cold inside. The wait staff grudgingly took it back and we waited over 20 minutes to have it reheated. It came back completely burnt and in the meantime I had finished my dinner after waiting long enough for it to get cold. No apology offered. Not again!

Amazing food and absolutely zero service.
We ate last night, a Tuesday in October.
The food was amazing and came at very interesting intervals.
The server unfortunately wasn’t trained in either service or the restaurant’s menu.
Details aren’t that important but nothing came when it should have. Nothing.
The food was top notch. Beautifully presented and nicely executed.
There was no sign of a manager or owner so I assume they were in the kitchen. Too bad.
I agree with above statement. The place needs a thorough cleaning. Maybe a little more floor help too

Basil Gimlets & Thai shrimp nachos are what my Malt dreams are made of. I crave this place on the regular. In fact, the only reason I am not in there more often is because I’m a fan of dining at the bar… and apparently so is everyone else in town. So if you pass by and see some spots, grab ‘em up fast! The bartenders are all engaging and friendly. The beer and whisky list are interesting and extensive. The boyfriend even found a Japanese whiskey he loves. I personally adore all the small plates and herb infused cocktails… they really know how to whip up a delicious concoction. Everything from the cheese plate to the fish and chips has been delicious. They also do a great job of sharing plates for couples. The atmosphere is hip yet classic. Malt is the full package: delicious cocktails, inspired food, and a cool ambiance. My only possible gripe is the lack of a website for opening hours/​menus.

The staff is kind there. There’s always room somewhere and the establishment is set up in a very effective manner.
Steak frites are my favorite! Their drink selection is extensive.

Malt is run and staffed by people who care about food and beverage, and most importantly about service and customers. That’s a rare find in the restaurant world these days.
We ate dinner here twice in three days during the Newport Jazz Festival. We’ve been coming to Newport for years and have eaten in the worst and the fanciest in Newport, you know the places right on the water with massive dining rooms that are run like factories where the kitchen is on autopilot and servers barely say hello.
Malt is the opposite of that. It’s a friendly neighborhood place, low on pretense and high on delivery, with great food and exceptional service.
Our first night here was late on a Friday, we arrived sometime after 9:30 and were hungry from a full day of music in the sun. Our waitress, Zoe, greeted us warmly, addressed all of our questions and, upon request, gave us her recommendations.
Three of us had the coq au vin, one the linguini and clams and the other the risotto. Of the three who had the coq, two were native French who waxed poetically about the flavors, consistency and the childhood memories it evoked. It is exceptionally good… so good in fact that on my second visit I had it again. The linguini also received a perfect score, and pleased both a grown Frenchwoman with exacting tastes as well as an eleven year old foodie-​in-​training on the second visit. Steak and risotto were solid and delivered on expectations both in flavors and execution, with the only demerit being that the risotto was a little mushy. Scallops, ordered by my husband on our second visit, were spectacular, with a playfulness (scallops served on potato scallops) and a seriousness (delivery of flavors that wowed) in equal measure.
Wine selection offered great choices at equally reasonable prices to the food (the most expensive items on the menu are the scallops and the steak at $ 28 each, while the coq au vin is a mere $ 16 for a bowl of heavenly cooked poultry in wine, asparagus and polenta.) We ordered a delicious wine for $ 38 which satisfied our serious oenophile friend from Lyon, and on our second visit we had cider from their great selection.
Now is a good time to mention that my husband and are gluten-​free. Our request for gluten-​free dishes was taken seriously and we felt well taken-​care of on that front.
On our return visit, a Sunday night, we found a great band in the front of the restaurant playing Celtic tunes. Our request to sit in the very back in a more quiet section was immediately accommodated and, lucky for us we were waited on by the same waitress.
She was equally attentive, engaging, and remembered some of your preferences… in other words she cares about her job and makes sure her guests feel well cared for. While this should be the norm of hospitality, sadly it is not and from our experience in Newport is rather hard to find.
So there it is, it’s a 5 star review for all that and more. It has a farm-​to-​table vibe from the freshness and selection of the ingredients as well as the great cotton napkins that feel soft to the touch atop natural wooden tables with wild flowers in small vases and different vintage salt and pepper shakers.
If you come here don’t expect overpriced seafood standards, or tired-​out fashionable food concepts, there’s no view except the friends and family you decide to share your meal with, and the service will be kind and professional. If you can handle that, then come see for yourself why Malt is a place that cares in equal measure about what they serve and who they serve it too.

Excellent brunch spot with yummy menu items to choose from; homemade apple doughnuts, French toast with real maple syrup (nice touch) & berries, omelettes, burgers, etc. we checked out the omelette of the day (Swiss cheese, mushrooms,& spinach), French toast, & a burger with bacon. Food, service, & ambience were all spot on.

A local friend raved about Malt so we (a friend and I) decided to try it on a Saturday night around 9:30 pm. Parking in this area is a challenge on the weekend nights but we were able to find on street parking about a block away after circling several times. We were greeting immediately by the hostess who said the wait was about 10 minutes. After reading the Unilocal reviews and talking to our friend, we had to try the spicy shrimp nachos. We were seated within 10 minutes and our waiter came over fairly quickly to ask for our drink orders. He did NOT look and act like he wanted to be there which totally ruined our excitement to try this place. His attitude did not change throughout our meal either. We ordered water for our drinks and the nachos. We sat by they kitchen door which were great seats to preview the dishes that were coming out… tons of burgers exiting. When the water was served, it was warm, no ice nor was iced water ever offered ~ different. Our nachos arrived in a fair amount of time and the presentation is very different from what one would expect when you near nachos. The dish was thin and long vs. a platter type plate. The nachos as described by many reviewers is actually fried wonton skin vs. tortilla chips. Four whole shrimp were placed at the top adorned with green onion «florets». Described as «spicy», we didn’t think they were. Tasty and cooked perfectly but not spicy. The peanut/​coconut sauce was terrific. We decided on the felafel wrap with a side salad and the grilled steak panini with a side of fries. Two felafel «patties» were in two separate pita pockets which doesn’t fit the description of a «wrap» but my friend said they were very good. They had a little kick to them. The steak in the panini was topped with blue cheese (which my friend did not prefer and I forgot to ask for on the side as we were sharing the sandwiches) and was very tender and tasty. Fries were OK and salad was about 4 whole pieces (not chopped or cut) of butter lettuce with a caesar-​like dressing. My friend rated her experience a 1.5 and I would say mine was a 3. Service by waiter … a 0. He seemed more annoyed that he was working and never acknowledged us thanking him for serving us.

We visited during a bachelorette weekend. Their drink menu was super fun and their menu, though small was really unique but had options for everyone. The food was very fairly priced. The restaurant was a little snug but I really loved it! The Malt burger was delicious!

If you are looking for great food away from the hustle and bustle of touristy Thames St., then head up Broadway and try Malt. In addition to the superb, diverse menu selection, they have an outstanding choice of craft beers on tap.
Based on recommendations, I started with the Thai Shrimp nachos. They won’t disappoint. While not huge in portion size (read, not for sharing unless you ordered multiple different apps), they are both super tasty and filling.
Because I was feeling full, I steered away from the sea scallops and went with the steak panini based on the bartender’s recommendation. He was spot on.

My husband and I came to Malt looking for a casual, but good, place to eat for our 1 Year Anniversary. We were a little beat after walking around all day and weren’t up for anything super fancy.
I knew I was going to love Malt the moment I walked in. The atmosphere is great, low lighting, lots of high top tables, rustic but sitll high end. We were seated promptly, but we went at almost 9pm and it was early May. That being said, the place was definitely still busy. Its off the beaten downtown Newport trail, but it still gets packed.
My husand was thrilled that they have a big craft beer menu. Im currently expecting, so I couldnt sample any of the super creative, fun looking drinks, but they looked amazing. We started with what seems to be the most highly recommend item — the Thai Shrimp Nachos. They were every bit as good as I expected… even better! The cocounut thai flavor is so rich and creamy and actually pais perfetly with the salty chips. Some of the chips get a little chewy as they soak up the sauce… so good. Then, my husband got the rosemary burger and i had the steak panini (without the blue cheese). I am not kidding you when i say the steak on my panini was actually some of THE best steak Ive ever had. It was so incredibily tender, not at all what you expect when you get a panini. The flavors were incredible. My husband said it was an equally amazing burger– on his top 10 list. We were so happy with both of our meals. The only (very) sad part of our even came when they were out of their chocolate mousse dessert (chocolate bomb?). I had really wanted to try it, but its obviously pretty popular.
The service throughout our meal was excellent, timing of foood delivery was also great. I would highly recommend this as a date spot or to go to with friends. Too bad i dont live in newport!

A great craft draft of beer at the bar, and Thai shrimp nachos. That’s all you really need to know. But there is much more deliciousness on the menu, and it’s a must when in Newport.

My boyfriend took me here for Valnetine’s day. We had a reservation at 6:30, and I know it was snowing, but the place was dead. This should have been a sign. We weren’t able to see any menu online, so we were going in blind.
They had a good selection of beer on tap, some craft beers which we both enjoy. We were at a high top table near the kitchen, with a TV behind us, so it was a kind of loud and also extremely dark inside. We had to use our cell phones to read the menu! Everything was really pricey, and I was in the mood for chicken, so I was trying to decide which meal to get. I asked the server some questions and she was super nice and knowledgeable, but kept pushing me towards the scallops (a really expensive dish). My boyfriend knows how much I like scallops and since we «were in Newport» and Newport is known for good seafood, I should get them and not to worry about the price. So I got them, and wish I didn’t.
First of all, for over $ 30, I only got 4 scallops. I had the first one and it was OK, kind of tasteless. I had the second one and realized they were a bit under cooked, but figured it might just be that one so I ate a third one and they were definitely all under cooked. I didn’t eat the fourth one, and my boyfriend tried a bite and agreed they were under cooked. By that time almost all the scallops were gone and I did not feel right complaining about the meal, as we had eaten almost all the scallops. (again, there were only 4, not much time to even realize there was something wrong with the meal). However, I will say, the brussel sprouts with bacon were amazing.
For such an expensive meal, we were dissapointed. Especially for our Valentine’s day meal. Maybe my fault for being swayed by the server and my boyfriend into getting the scallops, but for such an experience food item, they should know how to cook them properly. We most likely won’t be back.

We called ahead to find out hours since Unilocal didn’t have them listed. Dinner was served until 10 pm and the bar closed at 1:00 am.
Our rating is based on one visit: 4+ stars, damn close to 5.
The wait for a seat on the dining side was short and we were on the late side (about 9 pm). The bar side was boisterous and bustling the entire time.
We were served cold water while we looked over the many drafts to choose from on the menu. Two types my husband asked for had just become unavailable. The beers were cold and delicious. We each ordered a «small plate» appetizer. The Caprese salad was beautiful, fresh and tasty. The loaded Potato Croquets were quite a large app, 5 cheesy large balls. ;)
We both loved my husband’s rosemary burger and fries. Hot, very flavorful hamburger, crispy medium cut fresh fries. I ordered the Cod Risotto but it was out (sigh) so instead I ordered Fish and Chips. The fish was lightly breaded, not as crispy as I would’ve liked. The fish itself flaky and moist and the chips were cut more wedge style and very good.
All of the food was served hot and in a timely manner, displayed beautifully and we enjoyed attentive service.
After some debate, based on Unilocal pics, we caved in and ordered the Malt Chocolate Bomb dessert. It was awesome, light and unique. Being from out of town we knew we may never have the chance to try it. So glad we did!
We really enjoyed our last evening in Newport at Malt.

We came here after a failed attempt at another local restaurant. We were pretty excited, we all loved malt. On a Saturday night, we were seated right away with a party of 4. After ordering drinks, from their extensive menu, we all knew exactly what we wanted. I got the fish and chips, caitlin got a sandwich, saralynn and jono a salad and a shrimp nacho. We all loved all of the food. The fish and chips were extremely crisp and fresh, it melted in my mouth. Also, the fries are UNREAL. They are definitely hand sliced and extremely fresh.
One thing I noticed this time, was the uniqueness of the restaurant. Each and every silverware piece, is different, mismatched. Every single plate/​small plate, is from a different set. It is the coolest concept, and I fell in love. It was so artistic, unique, and pleasing, I want to do it for my house! Also, we noticed that every single table had a different salt and pepper shaker, all with a different theme. Some were Turkey’s, some were shells, some were cartoon characters. Again, it was a really unique touch that I have never seen anywhere else.
Malt is quickly rising to the top of my favorites list.

At first I was skeptical about going since I couldn’t find a menu online, but obviously went anyhow (living on the edge I suppose).
FOOD:
We were there around 3:30 on a Saturday which was still brunch/​lunch and not yet dinner. I was kinda boo-​hoo-​ing about it because I wanted a filling entrée. I decided to go with the Bisque and Shrimp Nachos which were amazing! The Shrimp Nachos were different in a good way. The mix of curry and salty chips was the perfect match.
Now my boyfriend ordered the Rosemary Burger and claims it is his favorite burger of all time. So keep that in mind. He said the bacon, fried rosemary and mustard spread was on point!
ATMOSPHERE:
The cutest place ever. They were really slow when we were there but everything was clean and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier. Our waitress, Meg, was funny and super nice.
I would definitely go back!

Malt did not exist when I lived in Rhode Island for almost a decade of my life up until four or five years ago. Having just opened last summer it’s one of the newer restaurants and certainly new to me! Our friends that we met up with for a nice weekend trip to Newport picked this place out. It was the first time for all of us.
They called in earlier in the day to make a reservation for 7:30p this past Saturday. It was confirmed, but when we arrived at that time it was nowhere in the books. Not a problem though as they seated us right away anyway.
Malt’s menu had lots of tempting options from intriguing appetizers to tasty looking main dishes. I went for the beet salad to which I had salmon added. The waitress noted that salmon is always medium rare unless requested otherwise. My friend asked for her salmon well done and they happily obliged.
My beet salad was presented beautifully with endive and frisee greens, roasted golden beets, toasted hazelnuts, and goat cheese. The very generous portion of salmon was buttery and delicious — also very fresh. Excellent salad! I could not stop eating it even after I was full.
One of the friends ordered Caesar salad and neglected to notice that the menu mentioned anchovies as part of the salad. I was lucky enough to get her salty, fishy anchovies… yum. She also liked her salad. The guys had no complaints about their burgers and fries. For dessert the ladies shared the Malt Bomb and one of the guys had a scoop of the malt ice cream. Next time I would just get the malt ice cream.
Beverage options were good. Our waitresses were helpful and competent. I liked the ambience. Its refined and comfortable at the same time. The outdoor seating is nice on a warm night if you like a street view of Broadway. This is close to but outside of the main drag of restaurants, bars, and stores in Newport but worth it.