Memory Lane

Chuck and I were down in Rhode Island yesterday with my Mom. It was an unusually long afternoon with lots of errands, so we didn’t get out of her hair until early evening. On the way home we stopped for a bite to eat at Newport Creamery. I grew up with Newport Creamery so for me it is all tied up with happy childhood and teenage memories. My favorite location was the one in East Greenwich, next to Thorpe’s Pharmacy, in the same plaza with Almacs. I may have gone to Friendly’s restaurants over the years (Newport Creamery’s primary regional competitor), but my heart belonged to Newport Creamery. Unfortunately, after the founding family sold the business, the corporation went through some dire times (including bankruptcy and auction) and nearly disappeared.

We discovered this Newport Creamery, on Atwood Avenue in Johnston, several weeks ago. The moment I saw the sign, I had absolutely no choice but to pull in and get a coffee (what else?) ice cream cone. It tasted exactly the same as I remembered: heavenly! But we hadn’t eaten a meal in a Newport Creamery since the one in Worcester closed many years ago. Last night was a treat. We found that they still serve a hamburger “The Newport Creamery Way”: on buttery grilled bread with melted cheese; lettuce and tomato on the side. I ordered mine well done; Chuck’s medium. They were done correctly. They still serve their amazing Sweet Red Pepper Relish which puts the whole homestyle-comfort-food-burger-cheese-melt right over the top. Amazingly, we resisted ice cream, a cabinet (which, heretically, they are now calling a frappe!) or an “Awful-Awful”. The joint was jumpin’ and noisy with kids. But the service was great (Thanks Taylor!). Coincidentally, this Newport Creamery is housed in a former Friendly’s. Maybe “coincidentally” is the wrong word. Perhaps I should have used “justifiably”! Either way, we’ll be back.