Four Corners Grille
3841 Main Road
Tiverton, RI 02878
(401) 624-1510
August 21, 2010
On a beautiful but too warm Saturday afternoon we headed out to historic Tiverton 4-Corners. Our goal ...to finally try the FOUR CORNERS GRILLE that we've driven pass more times than I care to think about. We've been to this lovely area so many times and I've read so many great reviews of this restaurant I don't know why we haven't been here sooner. Well today we correct our oversight. Arriving at the famous Four Corners location ( there really are four corners ) around 3 p.m., we couldn't help but look around.If you haven't been here take the lovely drive out. There are many small businesses here and in the surrounding area. There are art galleries, antiques, clothing shops, gifts, specialty foods, restaurants, ice cream, coffee shops, jewelry makers and artisan crafts. All set into a colonial setting, these shops are as much fun to walk around as they are to seek out very unique gifts.
We were very lucky to get a parking spot right outside the restaurant's deck and super lucky to read a sign that said ...seat yourself. If you know me you know I love to pick out my own table and to dine alfresco. Laura and I chose a nice table in the shade and enjoyed sitting in this lovely little spot. Only downside ...flies...lots of them. It got to be annoying, and we could have gone inside, but we braved the beasts and stayed outdoors.
It wasn't long before our waitress came to take our drink order and leave the menus. We both ordered a diet Pepsi and perused the menu. For the small unassuming place it was, they had quite the eclectic menu. For appetizers they had steamers, mussels, crab cakes, calamari and wings , rings, poppers and cheese sticks. They offered specialty salads, soups & chowders, lots of seafood dishes ( shrimp, scrod, swordfish, salmon,scallops and clams ) and land-lubber specials (steaks, veal, chicken, pastas, shepard's pie and liver & onions ) . They had several angus burgers and sandwiches and lobster and scallop rolls. They also have a beer & wine list and a mystery dessert list ( more on this later ) .
When our waitress brought over our sodas ( surprisingly 2 glasses of ice with 2 cans ) we gave her our order. Laura decided on a tuna melt with onions and avocado on rye and picked homemade chips as her side. It also came with a pickle. I decided on a Lisbon angus burger , which was a burger topped with a chourico ( spicy Portuguese sausage ) patty and served on a sweet Portuguese muffin. I chose fries as my side. Good choice. These were some terrific fries , crisp and potatoey. Mine also came with a pickle which I promptly gave to Laura ( pickle phobia ). My burger was fantastic, done perfectly and paired with the sausage, it was a great combination. Laura adored her tuna melt. She'd never had it with guacamole, black olives, and onions before and it was a hit with her, as were the homemade chips, which were delicious. Now I understand all the great reviews for this place.
Lisbon burger
Tuna melt
We were thinking about dessert, because we'd seen one go by ( see the power of suggestion ? ) so we asked our waitress for a list of today's offerings. For whatever reason this was a chore for her. Now we were already a little peeved with her remark to Laura that she (Laura) was a member of the clean plate club. Hey, we didn't buy it not to eat it. So she reluctantly rattled off a short list of desserts. As she was speaking, a car alarm went off and we couldn't hear a word she was saying. When it stopped , we asked her to repeat the last couple of things we'd missed. Exasperated, she told us to go around into the restaurant to see the dessert case ourselves. Actually , what she really said was....LOOK WITH YOUR EYES ! Hey, what am I 4 ? Well, we decided on NO dessert and asked for the bill.
Tuna melt - $8.49
Lisbon Angus burger - 8.99
2 cans Diet Pepsi - 4.58
Subtotal - $22.06
Tax - 1.76
TOTAL = $23.82
We left $29 including tip. This was a terrific lunch and I definitely want to come here again to try some other dishes. However, if I ask for the dessert list next time, I hope I get the list and not the attitude. And put some citronella on those tables for the flies . They were really getting annoying.
Four Corners Grille is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
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Milk & Honey Bizarre Bazaar
3838 Main Road
Tiverton, RI 02878
(401) 624-1974
After our delicious lunch at the FOUR CORNERS GRILLE we drove about 1 second down the street to the MILK & HONEY BAZAAR . Adorable from the outside, this place has been beckoning us for quite awhile. So since this was a day of firsts, we drove into their parking lot. From their website I learned they carry over 100 varieties of artisanal cheeses. They also carry pâtés, charcuterie, olives, olive oils, vinegars, jellies, mustards, honey, flatbreads and crackers, and fresh baguettes. We were dying to take a look and take some pictures for you ,our dear readers. But that's hard to do when you're the only person in the store, which we would have been. How could we do this and not get seen? The one gentleman on duty seemed poised to pounce on anyone who came in. The one woman who went in was immediately approached by the man ( who seemed happy to have someone to talk with ) . And honestly , he was doing exactly what he should be doing because how many people do you know understand cheeses. I'd like to learn more about different cheeses and which ones are used for which dishes. But today, we just wanted to take pictures in secret and that would have been impossible.So here's the "bizarre " part...we drove in, parked, took outside pictures, walked around, got back in the car and drove off. LOL We vow to be back another day when there are more cars parked outside and we can be inconspicuous. And I really do want that nice man to tell me about different cheeses but on another day ....when I'm " ready ".
Milk & Honey Bazaar is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 12-5 p.m. Sunday.
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While you're in the Four Corners area don't forget to check out PROVENDER for a terrific gourmet sandwich and a fabulous BIG cookie. This is one of the best sandwich places around. Click on this link for a full review.
And no trip to the Four Corners would be complete without a stop at GRAY'S ICE CREAM. Their award winning coffee frappe alone is worth the trip . Click this link to see all they have to offer.
So that was our trip to the famous Tiverton Four Corners. It's such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The shops, artists and foods, displayed in such a beautiful background, make you feel like you've stepped back in time. Come and enjoy.
Check out our friends at MenuJoy.com for area restaurant menus.
