Pasta Beach Newport

Take a bite of an Italian summer at Pasta Beach, year-round

If you've ever visited Newport during the cold weather months, you know that the cold, ocean wind can sometimes settle so uncomfortably—yet so easily—underneath your skin.

There are a few practical solutions to fend off this bone-chilling cold during daylight hours—either enjoy a slew of hot beverages throughout the day or find something warm and fresh to eat over a long lunch.

If you choose the latter, I'd recommend taking a table with friends at Pasta Beach.

Pasta Beach has three locations—in addition to Memorial Boulevard in Newport, RI and Rowe's Wharf in Boston, MA, the owners have opened a new restaurant in Wayland Square in Providence, RI as of August 2016.

I kept my lunch basic ordering the spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino, but if I felt more adventurous, it would be more difficult to choose from the menu.

As a former/pseudo-Newport resident, I'm embarrassed to admit that it's only the second time I've eaten there. I have no idea why. It's a warm, light atmosphere with fresh flowers and deliciously simple pasta. The location is in the Bellevue Avenue shopping district and has easy parking at the rear of the building and along Memorial Boulevard.

I'll be looking forward to coming back there during Salve Regina University's Governor's Ball weekend...