The Blue Plate Diner
665 West Main Road
Middletown, RI
by Bob Mariani
In addition to paying a very respectful and authentic homage to an American institution, the Blue Plate Diner with its streamlined stainless steel trim and quivering blue neon tube lighting, also delivers a broad array of first rate American food classics.
Located right where it should be on Middletown’s traffic-busy West Main Road, the Blue Plate emanates an energy that continues when you step inside. There’s a kind of J-shaped counter with chrome stools that swivel and an early "Jetsons’" patterned countertop that’s repeated on all the tables in the comfy booths.
The wait staff, in white shirts, aprons and neckties, are friendly and seem quite happy to be here in this beautifully evoked retro setting. And as I said, the menu lives up to every architectural promise, with roadhouse classics like fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf, and pot roast.
Of course they serve breakfast and lunch all day and night along with ice cream sodas, milk shakes and pie. And they have a full bar and brief wine list, as well. (Anything longer would be pretentious for a diner, don’t you agree?)
On a recent Saturday night the Blue Plate was nearly full. For starters I ordered my usual vodka martini with an olive, and noticed it came in a martini glass with sides that were slightly rounded, unlike the today’s strict v-shaped vessels. More reminiscent of cocktail glasses from the forties and fifties.
Seeing how large all the portions being served around us were, Jan and I decided to share. Our first course was a Southwestern Vegetarian Salad ($7.49) that was a very ample dish of tossed greens, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, and guacamole topped with tortilla chips and a tangy salsa, and drizzled with a smoky, fat-free BBQ ranch dressing. Perfect even for two pretty hungry people.
From the Specials Menu we next ordered the BBQ baby back ribs and chicken. The ribs were as tender and juicy as any I’ve eaten, dropping off the bone at the touch of a fork, and the BBQ sauce was a perfectly balanced mix of sharp and sweet. The chicken breast (most of which we took home with us) was also very juicy and tender. The meats were served atop a bushel of perfectly done French fries and some of the sweetest, most flavorful deep-fried onion crisps I’ve had anywhere.
For desert we shared a sumptuous slab of very home-made tasting apple pie with a hefty dollop of vanilla ice cream— a real, all-American treat.
In addition to some of the classic diner-style dinners mentioned above, other "Blue Plate Specials" I’ll be back for are their "Big Bowl" Chicken Pot Pie ($10.49); the half-pound Country Fried Steak lightly breaded ($9.49); the Oven- Roasted "Mile High" Turkey Dinner with stuffing and cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes ($10.49); a 10-oz. Black Angus Meatloaf ($9.89); an 8oz. Baked Scrod with veggies and smashed potato ($10.99); and a Fried Scallop Platter with cole slaw and French fries ($14.99).
As I said up front, the Blue Plate is a marvelous re-creation of the American diner with a menu as wide-reaching and as satisfying as anything this country has to offer in the food department.
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch of dinner, The Blue Plate has you covered and they’re open every day" starting at 7am until…." For more information call (401) 848-9500.
Bob Mariani is a Southeastern New England freelance author. Besides his "Your Table is Ready" restaurant reviews found here, he also writes jazz articles on allaboutjazz.com.
