A Taste of Naples at Avvio. A Tour of Portugal at Celeste. March at Newport Restaurant Group

Avvio, located at 90 Hillside Avenue in Cranston’s Garden City Center, is continuing its monthly prix fixe menu celebrating the unique regional cuisines of Italy. For March, they are featuring “A Taste of Naples.” This three-course menu is available exclusively during dinner hours for $40.00 per person, with optional wine pairings available for an additional $19.00.

Celeste, located at 15 Kingstown Road in Narragansett, is continuing its monthly series celebrating the coastal regions of Europe. From March 4th to March 31st, guests can enjoy a “Tour of Portugal.” This two-course prix fixe menu is available Sunday through Thursday during dinner hours for $40.00, with optional wine pairings available for an additional $9.00.

More about Avvio’s Taste of Naples

The three-course menu is available daily during dinner hours only. The cost is $40.00 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, and is not available for take-out. Wine pairings are also available for an additional $19.00 per person. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.avvioristorante.com.

The menu begins with a choice of antipasti, Mozzarella in Carrozza: breaded and fried mozzarella with prosciutto, basil, and pomodoro or Pasta e Fagioli with cannellini beans, mirepoix, pancetta, and ditalini pasta in a tomato herb broth. The suggested wine pairing is the Terredora di Paolo Falanghina, featuring bright, citrus and floral fruit notes and a spicyearthiness.

Entrée selections include Spaghetti alle Vongole with native littlenecks, chopped clams, roasted fennel, garlic, chili flakes, parsley, white wine clam broth, and olive oil; Melanzane Panuozzo: a fried eggplant sandwich with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, basil and pomodoro on panuozzo bread and served with Parmesan fries; or Genovese Rigatoni: Genovese beef ragout, house made mezze rigatoni, and pecorino. The suggested wine pairing is Terredora di Paolo Aglianico, featuring a nose of black cherry, wild blackberry and plum fruit with a spicy, toasted overtone.

Dessert features a choice of Spumoni: layers of chocolate, cherry, and pistachio gelato or Zabaglione Mousse topped with fresh berries and whipped cream. The suggested pairing is the Marenco ‘Pineto‘ Brachetto d’Acqui, a sweet and aromatic red Italian dessert wine.

More about Celeste’s Tour through Portugal

Celeste, located at 15 Kingstown Road in Narragansett, Rhode Island, is pleased to announce its next monthly menu celebrating coastal regions of Europe. From March 4th through 31st, guests can take a culinary tour through Portugal with a menu of the traditional cuisine for which the region is known.The two-course menu is available Sunday through Thursday during dinner hours only. The cost is $40.00 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, and is not available for take-out. A choice of house red or white wine is also available for an additional $9.00 per person. To make reservations, please call 401-792-4333 or visit www.celesteri.com.

The menu begins with a choice of a shared plate: Shrimp Mozambique with garlic aioli, picked red onion, and grilled house bread; Kale Soup with linguiça, chourico, potato, and onion, and served with country bread; or a Salt Cod Croquette with lemon-caper aioli, pickled red onion,and frisee.

The second course features a choice of entrees, including Carne de Porco à Alentejana with crispy potatoes, cured olives, and garlic-wine broth or Galinha à Portuguesa with chourico, braised kale, beans, and herb breadcrumbs.

About Celeste

Celeste, located in the heart of Narragansett’s historic Pier district, is a neighborhood gathering spot just steps from Narragansett Beach. Celebrating the bounty of the nearby Atlantic, the menu highlights simply prepared seafood dishes as well as coastal European cuisine inspired dishes steeped in the flavors of coastal Italy, France, and Spain. During the spring and summer months, guests can enjoy al fresco dining on Celeste’s expansive patio. The menu, changing seasonally, features a raw bar, a pizza menu, shareable small plates, and entrees complemented by a curated wine list and hand-crafted cocktails.

Celeste is ideal for private events. The Narragansett Room offers space for up to 40 guests and in the winter months, the room’s cozy fireplace creates a warm and inviting setting. In the summer months, the room’s light and airy décor invites the nearby ocean breezes. The Pier Patio accommodates up to 24 guests in a special covered outdoor area which can be booked independently or added on to the Narragansett Room to create ample space for any special occasion.

Celeste’s current hours are Monday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.celesteri.com.

About Newport Restaurant Group

Newport Restaurant Group’s award-winning portfolio of restaurants include Castle Hill Inn, The Mooring, 22 Bowen’s, Bar ‘Cino, La Vecina, and Smoke House all located in Newport; J.T. Commons in Middletown; Celeste in Narragansett; the Boat House in Tiverton; Waterman Grille and Hemenway’s, both located in Providence; Avvio Ristorante located at Garden City Center in Cranston; Iron Works in Warwick; Papa Razzi in Wellesley, MA; and Bar ‘Cino in Brookline, Watertown, and Westwood, MA. Newport Restaurant Group’s mission is to provide the highest quality culinary experience in unique, service-oriented atmospheres and to create each menu with a creative, thoughtful, and responsible approach. Newport Restaurant Group is proudly 100% employee owned. For more information, please visit www.newportrestaurantgroup.com.    

About Avvio Ristorante:

Avvio embodies the essence of everyday Italian dining; a place where friends and family gather, share laughs and celebrate milestones. With an open kitchen featuring a handcrafted Marra Forni wood-burning oven, guests are invited to harken back to a simpler time where the aromas of fresh herbs, baking dough, and homemade sauce simmering on the stove mingle with the laughter and conversation of family and friends. As always, the Newport Restaurant Group’s focus on simple ingredients will be on display, sourced both locally and directly from Italy. Prepared with distinct, yet traditional cooking techniques, Avvio’s menu features inspired Italian classic dishes along with Neapolitan pizzas and wood-fire grilled entrees. For more information about the restaurant visit www.avvioristorante.com.