The Up River Cafe - Westerly, RI

The rain subsided for a bit, so we decided to venture out. After reviewing "The Grapevine Guide to Rhode Island's Best Restaurants", I found The Up River Cafe in Westerly, Rhode Island, and we headed there for lunch.

The Up River Cafe is a two-story building right on the Pawcatuck River. We ate downstairs in the bar which had large windows and a great view of the river.

Our server recommended the Bellini-Tini (Absolut vodka, white peach puree, peach schnapps and peach bitters served straight up with a frozen peach) and I took him up on it. It was quite good, and the frozen peach was a nice touch. E had a Dark and Stormy (Gosling' rum, fresh lime juice and ginger beer) which was quite appropriate given the weather we've had lately.

I was set on ordering a spinach salad ... until the server listed the very last special - a wild mushroom and goat cheese tart. It was absolutely delicious, and the crust was a standout - light and flaky. It was served with a side of baby greens, and the presentation was beautiful. I dug right in and started enjoying the dish ... and completely forgot to take a picture!

E chose the 3/4 pound bistro burger with blue cheese and bacon. It came with a side of homemade fries and a pickle. The burger, obviously, was huge, and E couldn't finish it. He said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had, and he's still raving about it.

We finished our meal by splitting creme brulee and a dessert ale - Lindemans "Framboise" Lambic Ale. It was raspberry flavored, very refreshing and a sweet way to finish a wonderful meal.

After lunch, we drove east of Westerly and ended up at the beach. It was a bit overcast by that time, but we still had a wonderful time walking on the beach finding shells and watching dogs chase tennis balls thrown in the water.