Pub Amble: Through the Murky Waters of the Ocean State

When I go out, I like the comfort of areas I know, like Thayer, Wickenden, Downtown or Olneyville. But on my latest excursion, I made my way south to a place shrouded in mystery and mystique. The only time I ever go south is to hit Narragansett, Scarborough or Newport beaches — never to drink. But I was curious about the bar options URI students have, so my trusty friend Michaela joined me on my quest as my official DD. She was on call for work, but don’t worry — she ordered a club soda from every bar to give a boozy appearance.

Our first destination was the one farthest away, Ocean Mist. When we pulled onto the street, I noticed that cars lined the entire road and the parking lots were filled. It was a damn Monday night — how bumping could any place be? We walked in and the place was packed like a can of sardines. I was hesitant at first because the crowd skewed older, but the space was so comfy and homey that it immediately put me at ease. The Great Gatsby quote, “I like large parties. They’re so intimate,” applied in this situation. It was like no one even knew we were there. A jazz band gave the bar a lively feeling and the food looked amazing as we creeped on other people’s plates, but the drink menu was nothing  special so I ended up just getting a good ole’ Narragansett. Nothing wrong with that. Michaela said she heard waves crashing, so we went out to the serene and peaceful patio overlooking the water. It was probably the best thing about the bar.

Next was the Saltwater Tavern, a 10-minute drive away. This place was so classy and cute — its romantic feel makes it perfect for a date, and its creative decor is a great conversation starter. Speaking of romance, one couple was not feeling the love. Their loud fight was awkward, but also pretty entertaining. A lot of f-bombs were dropped, and they constantly threatened to leave and break up. My favorite part was when the girl got up to leave and the guy said, “Oh, you’re not going to pay for your meal?” In response she threw a card on the table and the man said, “You’re going to pay with your business card. Great.”

Michaela and I were equally interested in their fight and their Brussels sprouts with a sesame soy glaze, so we got our own (the sprouts, not the fight). To go with our little app, I got a local beer called Whaler’s Pleiades, which was a sour ale. Don’t get me wrong, it was delicious, but the minute it touched my lips I knew heartburn was to follow, and lo and behold, I woke up that night with my throat on fire! After that I got one of their house cocktails, the Octopus’ Garden, which had Malfy Gin, Creme Yvette, and honey and lavender bitters. The drink was yummy and the gin was superbly complemented by the floral flavors.

The last stop on our trip was Mew’s Tavern, which is two minutes down the street from Saltwater. Mew’s has the most college vibe out of all the bars we went to with a lively and young crowd. All the walls, corner to corner, were covered in dollar bills with sayings on them. I forgot to ask the bartender what it all meant, but at that point I was on the edge of buzzed, so I was losing my mental stability. I did ask the bartender what I should drink, and all she did was hand me the drink menu. I was flabbergasted — 69 beers on tap! They had them nicely categorized, which made ordering easier for the simple state I was in. They had a section of fruit beers/shandies, and one called Traveler Grapefruit Shandy. I’m a traveler and I like grapefruit, so I went for that one and it was excellent.

I was a little nervous about traversing uncharted territory, but my night was a lot of fun and I would go to each of these bars again. Now that I’m back inland, I can say with confidence that I know where to go when I come back. Just next time — NO SOUR ALE!

Ocean Mist: 895 Matunuck Beach Rd, Wakefield

Saltwater Tavern: 195 Main St, Wakefield 

Mew’s Tavern: 456 Main St, Wakefield