Young couples looking to enjoy a romantic evening, energetic families, and experienced diners have all had good times at Spaghetti Bender since 1969, helping what appears to look like a rustic Italian villa from outside, to become a Newport institution.

Customers linger in the cosy tree filled patio bar and engage in a friendly conversation over glasses of wine and food. The staff are warm and friendly, and some have worked there for many years.

The Bender as the locals call it serves dishes ranging from soups, garlic bread and salad, served with papa Lorenzo's famous salad dressing, to unique pastas and meat creations such as ravioli beef, carbonara, and rigatoni primo. Its tureen of soup served with dinners is popular among customers.

Appetizers consist of fried mozzarella, and sautéed artichoke hearts, while specials embrace papa's combination of lasagne, spaghetti with meatball, veal and peppers, and mama's alternative of eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti marinara, and fettuccine Alfredo. Chicken is represented by the cacciatore baked with wine, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes while seafood lovers rejoice with the scallop della casa.