Five RI Restaurants Earn AAA's Four, Five Diamond Awards

AAA has released its exclusive five-diamond list of restaurants and only one in Rhode Island made the cut, while four restaurants were awarded four stars. The list, released Thursday, includes just 67 restaurants in North America and only three new restaurants were added this year. Just 0.2 percent of the nearly 32,000 AAA-inspected and approved restaurants were included on the list, AAA said in a release.

COAST restaurant in Watch Hill is Rhode Island's only five diamond restaurant.

"Located within a stately seaside inn with dramatic views of the ocean, this restaurant prides itself on using local Rhode Island and Atlantic Coast farm-to-table ingredients," said AAA's inspector in a release. "The menu changes daily to incorporate the freshest items from local farmers and fishmongers."

The organization noted that more restaurants have embraced a casual environment, as patrons are continually looking for a more relaxed experience. This means high-end restaurants have shifted toward simple and streamlined décor, and others now have lively open kitchen designs so diners can watch chefs work their magic.

“To be considered leading edge, chefs must incorporate a laser-focused approach using innovative concepts and menus featuring the finest ingredients,” Michael Petrone, director of inspections and diamond ratings, said. “Diners want to be wowed on multiple levels, so exceptional service is also important, but they’re not necessarily looking for all the formalities that were once synonymous with fine dining.”

Meanwhile, More than 650 restaurants nationawide earned a four-diamond rating, equating to roughly 2 percent of restaurants inspected and approved by AAA. And these restaurants are by no means slouches — they, too, offer a distinctive fine-dining experience and utilize creative food-prep techniques.

Three Newport restaurants and one in Providence were awarded four-diamond ratings. They are:

Newport:

• Cara (first recognized in 2004)
• The Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn (2016)
• The Vanderbilt Grill (2012)

Providence: Gracie's (2011)

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Photo credit: AAA