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22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants Steakhouses American (New), Wine Bars, Steakhouses [Edit]
22 Bowens WharfNewport, RI 02840
(401) 841-8884
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sun 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
82 reviews for 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille
Review Highlights
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"We also had the bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer." In 3 reviews -
"I hope to go back there for some more filet mignon." In 6 reviews -
"The truffled lobster mac and cheese was a big hit along..." In 3 reviews
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82 reviews in English
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Review from Felecia W.
Newport, RI
2/7/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I always sit at the bar when I go here. Joe is ALWAYS bartending which is great, he's a cool guy and always has some great suggestions and good stories.
I like this place because its so homey and a great place to go in the winter. The dark wood is so inviting. This place just LOOKS warm!
During the winter they have the seasonal menu for $19.95 which is pretty awesome. They have some great choices and you don't feel like you're getting crap for $20.
I also LOVE that I can go there and get a side of Mac & Cheese and a glass of red wine. That MAY be my favorite meal EVER.
(Im sure this place is crazy in the summer, and I prob wont ever attempt that trip. But the outside bar/patio is great in the summer.) -
Review from Scott K.
5/2/2012
Very good location, and good (not great) food. The service was a tad stuffy overall (from our initial interaction with the hostess, the surly older gentleman who sat us, our waitress and a couple bus boys).
Menu choices are fairly basic fare. The prix fixe is a good deal (especially in pricey Newport). Portions are large. Bread pudding is very tasty.
Not worth a special trip to Newport, but if I was a local, I'd probably hit this place up fairly regularly. -
Review from Phil D.
Pascoag, RI
4/13/2012
Uggghhhhh........
We received a gift card to 22 Bowens from family. We would never have gone to this restaurant otherwise. We chose it out of the mess of similar restaurants that Newport group operates and decided to give it a shot tonight.
We arrived fifteen minutes before dinner seating began and sat at the bar waiting for a table. We were promptly seated at 5pm. So far so good.
Our server was a 30ish year old male and was excellent. Really, really good. He was attentive but not overbearing, cordial but casual. I couldnt say enough about his service. He belongs somewhere better.
We ordered the $65 dinner for two but opted to go without the wine since neither me or my girlfriend are big wine drinkers.
Soon after a basket of bread arrived. Three pieces. Why do restaurants do this with bread and apps? Make it an even number. This was the first sign of what was to come. The first roll I cut into was still cold in the middle, like semi thawed hadnt been in the oven long enough and was still kind of frozen, cold. A place charging these prices should probably make their own bread. I can excuse them using a frozen food service product but at least warm it up so I can pretend its fresh and not frozen.
For my first course I had the baby greens salad with honey vinaigrette. The best part of the meal! Excellent fresh greens, veggies and a really solid, slightly sweet homemade dressing. My girlfriend had the caesar salad and said the dressing was homemade as well and the romaine looked fresh and clean.
The next course was a chefs tasting intermezzo. We informed our server that my girlfriend has a shellfish allergy since these are usually spontaneously made and ingredients vary. He brought us two very small vegetable spring rolls. They were crispy on the outside but again, room temperature at best. I suspect these were also a foodservice product. They may have been house made but if they were I would expect a lot better. They also didnt stick with the theme of the meal very well. Spring rolls? At a steak and seafood place? Really? At this point I really felt I was in for a really poor experience.
My main course was a "duo of land and sea ravioli". Supposedly duck confit and lobster. Unfortunately my duck confit must have somehow been switched with mushrooms because that was the ONLY flavor in the "land" ravioli. The pasta was fresh and housemade but....again.....luke warm at best. The loster ravioli was better, with lots of lobster and was actually reasonably warm. They gave me six ravioli total. I finished and was still really pretty hungry.
My girlfriends main course was a linguine with chicken, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, parmesan, garlic and, supposedly, saffron. While the pasta was actually very good and the portion much better than mine. I detected no saffron flavor. I dont know why saffron would be put in this dish anyways. It was actually fairly warm though and probably the best dish we had overall.
Dessert was a chocolate chip bread pudding. I was happy when he brought me a huge chunk of bread pudding. I took a bite and it was GOOD. But on my second bite, cold, again. It hadnt been microwaved thoroughly enough and had hot and cold spots. This is now the third separate item I had that was cold and was supposed to be warm. Whatever, i'll never be back anyways.
The server brought the check and it was $53. I dont really know what happened with the check (we never complained at all) but he did say the dinner would be $10 less since we didnt have the wine. This was slightly more than $10 less but still about $20 more than it was worth.
I left the server our $60 gift card and a $20 bill. He was awesome and deserved it. Hopefully he will go somewhere that the food can keep up with his service in the future.
I gave two stars but my real breakdown is 5 stars for service, 1 star for food (for the price) and maybe two and a half for classic new england baked schrody ambience.
Go somewhere else if you are actually thinking about going here for food. -
Review from Roseann C.
Medford, MA
5/22/2012
I really like the inviting atmosphere of this place and it is quite charming. Another reviewer put it well when they described it as "fisherman elegance." We arrived at about 10 to 9 on a busy Satuirday night without a reservation and were seated right away. Our waitress was wonderful - very affable and capable. We each ordered a martini - my boyfriend got a Stoli Doli (and later a lemon drop which he liked better) and I got a Grey Goose martini, very dirty. Mine was perfectly prepared. They brought out bread that was way too hot to the touch. My DC enjoyed it once it cooled down, especially the raisin rolls. He ordered the truffled mac and cheese as an appetizer. It came with lobster though he did not order that one. He ate it anyway but found it on the oily not cheesy side and pretty unremarkable. It took a very long time for our entrees to come out - over a half an hour after the appetizer, but we didn't mind too much since we were chatting away, making goo goo eyes at each other and having nice date. He ordered the honey BBQ pork loin with shallot mashed potatoes and gorgonzola corn muffin. He loved his meal, a lot. I confess, I snuck a bit of that muffin and mmmmmm. Gorgonzola in a corn muffin - who knew? Very nice. I ordered a specialty plate - grilled filet mignon which was supposed to come with roasted shallot mashed potatoes (which I swapped for sauteed spinach). It also came with wild mushroom demi-glace and whipped Great Hill Bleu Cheese. It was about $44 so I of course expected the steak to be cooked to temperature (I ordered it medium). It sadly was not - it was *extremely* well done - not a trace of pink left. Essentially, a hockey puck. I figured I needed to tell the waitress, especially since this establisment boasts that it is a "world class steakhouse," I figured they'd want to know. She was great about it, sent over the manager who agreed with me (I was lifting a piece of meat with my fork to show him and he said "he could see it from here"). Unfortunately, it was 10:00 at this point and we wanted to move on soon from dinner to the rest of our evening. I really did not want to wait for another to be prepared, especially since the entree took so long to appear the first time. If it were undercooked, I may have had them fix it. I will mention that while the meat was overdone, at least the flavor was good, and the spinach (they gave me a huge mound of it, enough to serve 3) was very tasty, as were the other accompaniments. The manager handled it quite well, removing the entree from the bill as well as the truffled mac and cheese (though we never mentioned it). I know I talked about the service already, but I will here again - it was excellent, and she was a real pro. It was just a shame about my steak, but I'd still go back. We were also lucky enough to be treated to the sounds of acoustic guitar and singing coming through the open window from the landing. They even played my DC's favorite song.
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Review from Devon D.
Middletown, RI
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
We did the Friday night special three course for 2 people with a bottle of wine. There is a good selection on that menu and the wine that comes with the dinner is great. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. We arrived a little early for our reservation and they had no trouble seating us which was very nice. The main menu is quite pricey but there are some excellent deals throughout the week in the off season that make this restaurant very good and reasonable for special occasions.
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Review from Karis O.
1/21/2012
Great food, great service.
To me it's the type of place to go to for a special occasion for an excellent fine dining experience.
We started off with an order of crispy calamari with a mint pepper relish and it was DELICIOUS, portion size reasonable.
For the main course I ordered the broiled 10oz sirloin with saffron risotto. I liked that you could order ANY accompanying sauce with beef/sea dish of your choice. I also ordered a side of truffle mac n cheese and it was to die for. I'd consider getting that as my main dish next time with a salad!
The service was incredible. The set up in the restaurant is intimate and cozy. -
Review from Yi H.
Manhattan, NY
12/29/2011
I really liked its great ambiance, dinning setting and customer services.
I came here with my hubby and parents-in-law. We ordered one steam Lobster, one baked Lobster with seafood stuffing, one honey BBQ pork loin and a Prime Sirloin.
The lobster was absolutely delicious, I didn't need any source and flavoring to enjoy its natural taste, it was perfectly cooked.
We enjoyed every dish apart from...my hubby's sirloin. He requested it to be cooked in Pittsburgh Rare / Black & Blue, but I guess they just didn't serve it quickly enough, when it came to our table, the steak was already cold. We sent it back and asked them to heat it up, but it was no longer Pittsburgh rare. However, they made it up by offering us most tasty dessert and coffee, they were very apologetic as well, so I think the service certainly made it up.
They had a whole book of wine list, lots of choices, we just wished that there was a sommelier to recommend the wine.
Overall, great dining experience and would come back again. -
Review from Dani S.
Paramus, NJ
This place is defiantly pricey and not something for every night. We went during off season and had a hard time getting same day reservations. If you come during season you need to call a day or two ahead of time, especially for weekend reservations. The food was amazing (the scallops and the lobster were great)!! They also have a nice wine list!
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Review from Tricia A.
Tracy, CA
9/1/2011 1 photo
Lovely waterfront restaurant. My husband and I went there in the fall and we enjoyed the food as well as the magnificent scenery. The food is not that great but it was worth the trip.
The oysters(we love those mollusks!) were fantastic with a glass (maybe 5-thank goodness we stayed at a nearby hotel) of Chardonnay. I loved my tuna steak and my hubby enjoyed his grilled filet mignon with so much pleasure he couldn't say anything but "mmm...mmm, this is great!" That is until he got our tab! It's a great restaurant for a date night, specially dinner. Don't go with your kids, it will burn a hole in your pocket!
Food-good. Ambience-fabulous, specially at night in the patio. Service-average; you would expect better knowing it's fine dining but don't get your hopes up. Just enjoy the time with your significant other or whomever you are with. Price-it will cost you and they have really good bottles of wine, be warned! Three stars for 22B. -
Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
10/4/2011
Great ambiance, on the waterfront and of course, excellent wine!
Loved my stuffed lobster dish.. Definitely worth the price. Good creamed spinach side dish as well. Date loved his dish. Have been here twice and both times the quality of the seafood dishes were definitely worth the price. -
Review from Carlen M.
Manhattan, NY
10/31/2011
The picturesque setting of 22 Bowens drew us in. It also helped that we saw a woman eating an amazing looking lobster roll at an outside table.
In general, this restaurant had an upscale fancy pub feel. It was also the largest restaurant I have ever seen that close to the water. It had outside seating, inside and upstairs. It was the type of place that is more casual during the day, and dressier at night.
Because of my obsession with lobster rolls, I didn't even need to look at the menu. I knew exactly what I was ordering before I set foot inside the restaurant. The lobster salad duo that I ordered arrived at my table and I couldn't wait to take the first bite. I was glad that this wasn't a creamy lobster roll, and that it was more on the lighter side. One thing that I wasn't totally in love with was that the rolls it was served on weren't buttery like the usual lobster rolls I am used to. Because they weren't buttery, I actually didn't bother eating the bread and just ate the lobster to be "carb free". It was delicious anyhow! MMMM Also, traditionally, this dish is served with fries, but I substituted it with salad!
My friends, on the other hand ordered a type of lobster sandwich that I have never even heard of. They ordered the Chef's EZ Lobster Grilled Cheese, which had brioche bread, brie cheese, local vine ripened tomatoes, tarragon mayo and served with housemade old bay potato chips. This sandwich is definitely one that I would like to try sometime, however that day I was more in the mood for something lighter. Definitely one to try next time, since it definitely is more on the creative side for lobster sandwiches! -
Review from Kelli P.
8/26/2011
This place is so charming!!
I came here with a group of 9 people. Reservations are a must for a place like this! Since it is in the heart of Newport, it is a popular place to go!
The ambiance is what I like to call "fisherman elegance". It still has that fisherman theme, but in an upscale way.
The waitress was attentive to us, but was no overbearing! She kept our glasses full and made some wonderful suggestions from the menu. Because of her fine details about the specials, I ended up ordering the surf and turf which was absolutely amazing!
The food portions are just right. My husband ordered two sides to go with our meals and even as we shared them with the table, we still had leftovers. I did not like the mash potatoes. Perhaps it was because they sat on my plate too long and then got hard, but I only took two bites and knew I was all set.
I highly suggest giving this place a shot. It says a lot about "proper" Newport and if you are either a resident or a tourist, you want to be able to experience why people are coming to this little city. This is one of the reasons; the fine dining! -
Review from Kyle C.
1/5/2012
Even before our arrival, 22 Bowens was outstanding.
When we called to make a reservation, about a week beforehand, the person that answered the phone was more then happy to assure us how seriously they take allergies and food sensitivities. But she insisted we get the chef on the horn to discuss the specific details ahead of time. Pretty impressive.
We were sat at a great corner table. Service was knowledgeable, but not pushy about the product. Some of the hot buns had cranberries in them. Hot cranberry buns... YES. The waiter approached and let us know he was aware of the food sensitivities before we even mentioned it to him. He then had the chef come to our table to discuss exact specifications/ and make suggestions. Double-bonus-points.
My only gripe was the cocktail I ordered, a concoction of Jameson, ginger beer and lemon juice. Somehow ended up being way too sweet for me... but very forgivable.
The Yellow fin was fresh and delicious... the sauce and accompaniments were also superb.
For those on a strict budget, there is a 3 course pre-fix deal M-TH for $19.95.
Worth the drive. -
Review from Art C.
Fairfield, PA
11/27/2011
I found myself dining alone in Newport during the offseason. The desk clerk at my hotel suggested 22 Bowmans for a high quality steak dinner. It's a tad pricey, but it was well worth the money. i thought it odd that the server didn't ask me how I wanted my steak done. Apparently, the default is medium rare, which was perfect. I had a filet on garlic mashed potatoes, a glass of nice merlot, and grilled asparagus. Everything was prepared to perfection, and the service was impeccable. I had vanilla bean creme brule and a single malt scotch for desert, and was totally satisfied. If I have any complaint it would be the asparagus. It was wonderfully prepared, however, it was enough for 3 if not 4 people. I really hate wasting food; think the restaurant should either offer half portions, or at the very least, let diners know how large the portions are.
I travel fairly frequently, and consider myself a foodie, if not a gourmet. This was truly one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. If I find myself at Newport again, I will absolutely eat there again. -
Review from Ben A.
Franklin, MA
2/20/2012
This is my first Yelp review so bare with me...
I went here with my parents Saturday night 2/18/12. We have been here before but it's been a while for me. My parents meantime are very friendly with Joe the bartender (Uncle Joe) and the host as well.
We started with a nice bottle of flowers wine followed by some apps. My mother had some shrimp cocktail, my father so local oysters and I had the Petite Cassoulet with Duck Confit. The duck fell right off the bone and mixed into the cassoulet it melted in my mouth, a 5 star starter made even better by it being a cold night. I then had a Caesar salad which was good but a standard salad.
For dinner my mother went with the filet, my father ordered an off the menu dry aged NY strip (remember that...just ask the waiter, they have it) and I feeling the need for good meat went with the king of steaks the Porterhouse. We all loved our meat. My steak was perfectly medium and juicy. Even the filet side had a ton of flavor. I got the hollandaise sauce on the side but the steak needed none of it, full of flavor on it's own.
On the side we got some lobster mac & cheese, sauteed spinach, asparagus and per our waiters suggestion we got the mushrooms to put over our steaks and it was amazing. Great add on.
During our meal our waiter came to up sell after dinner drinks and desert. He mentioned that there are people itching to by us drinks and desert a bonus of my parents knowing people. Needless to say we took advantage. My father got some Patrone Silver, a double espressro for my mother and a desert wine for me. On top of some chocolate bread pudding and a cheesecake it was the perfect cap to the night.
This was an awesome meal and night. I cannot wait to go back! If anyone fro, Bowens reads this I thank you for a wonderful family night out. -
Review from Stefan N.
Hartford, CT
8/1/2011
Excellent food lousy execution.
4 of us arrived without reservations and instead of a simple yes or no we were met with utter confusion. Some of our food came out raw other dishes came out over done. Those that were safe to eat were quite delicious.
It was a busy night (not packed but busy and full) The wait staff seemed tired and wanted to go home. We sat outside and enjoyed appetizers until a table was ready inside. The location is romantic and fun but not stuffy. When turned in for the night the place was still 3/4 full.
I initially had a better impression of the place but thinking about it later I knocked off another star.
P.S. This is more of an annoyance complaint than anything else. For a New England shore restaurant in a port town they need to put Rum drinks on the menu. Having mostly Vodka drinks in the birthplace of the Rum Trade is just laziness. -
Review from Reg Z.
Fairfield, CT
5/30/2011
Grabbed a glass of wine and the truffle mac and cheese as a late afternoon snack. The mac was good, not too oily and slightly creamy - think more real cheese and truffles than creamy sauce. The wine selection by the glass was ok, we each found a white we liked.
Mixed clientele from families with kids to the jersey shore wannabes near us that provided comic relief for the entire bar. The bone-in steak I saw looked great, didn't think the 8 year old kid who had eaten six bites of it would be pleased if I had ponied up and finished it off for him -
Review from Chris R.
Narragansett, RI
10/6/2010 3 Check-ins Here
This is another jewel in the crown of Newport Restaurant Group.
I have eaten here on several occasions and not once have I been disppointed.
We met a friend of ours there and had a bottle of White Haven Sauvignon Blanc. Well, actually two. the first one was quite tasty.
Joe, our bartender was pleasant as always.
This is a place where you can go and grab a cocktail without the loud noise and bs of some spots. As Napa and Paris are grown up vacation destination spots, so too is 22 Bowens. -
Review from Anthony C.
Annapolis, MD
8/30/2011
We had a wonderfull dinner at Bowens 22 and I have to say even though it was pricey it had to be one of the best steaks, perfectly cooked that I have ever had - normally I do not order steak out as it is just too difficlut to get restaruants to do it just the way I want it, I prefer to cook it myself. I had the six pepercorn and my wife had the fillet I could tell that the quality of the meat was superior from what you would get at other restaruants that did not specialize in Steaks. It was great
The service was good, however the real service came after our visit and what has really prompted me to write this review. I left my camera behind me at the restaruant and did not discover the fact until we had already gotten home to Annapolis, Maryland. I called and the lady took the details found the camera and said that they would send it to me. The manager Bob Storm called me with the shipping information and my camera arrived safely within two days. The fact that this was just not a problem for them and that they treated the request with a positive attitude was quite clear. The fact that professional service continues to their customers whether you were in the restaruant or not is the sign of a well managed operation - Thank you and great job - we will be back the next time we are in Newport - keep up the good work -
Review from Donna S.
New Canaan, CT
11/12/2011
Loved this. I had 20 guests in the private room upstairs and every thing went well. Service was top notch!
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Review from Karen C.
9/21/2010
Hands down my favorite Newport restaurant. I wasn't able to check it out on my last visit but hopefully will when in town for the half marathon next month.
I can credit 22 Bowen's with the discovery that I love scallops - they served them bacon wrapped with mango chutney and were delicious! It was my first venture into seafood (hated it growing up) and it didn't disappoint!
Steaks have always been cooked just as I like (rare!) and the wedge salad is one of the best I've had.
Onion rings are thick cut and come in a giant (kinda ridic, in a good way!) tower.
Everything is always fresh, service is always good. Love it. -
Review from Michelle R.
Brooklyn, NY
7/20/2011
I've been here for drinks and appetizers by the outdoor bar ONLY - and I must say it was a great experience! I loved the drinks and bar snacks. I'd like to try out the restaurant when I come back, but definitely know the outdoor bar is the kind of place to sit down and have a nice couple of drinks before/after dinner or just because. It's located right next to some docked sail boats, which was also very nice.
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Review from Kate J.
Kingston, RI
8/5/2010
CHECK YOUR BILL.
I sat their outside bar a few weeks ago with family, paid the bill and happened to look at it the next day. There was a cocktail on the bill that we hadn't ordered. I was annoyed but let it go, it was a busy summer night. This past weekend I had friends in town and we went back. Over the course of three hours two of us had two drinks, the other three. The bill came, again I paid it and we left for our dinner reservation. We realized when we were at dinner how expensive our drinks were, but we didn't think too much it was a rare weekend that we were together. Last night I looked at the receipt that was still in my purse. The bartender added THREE drinks to the ticket.
Two times in a row......that's a pattern. They are padding their checks. I will not go back there, and I will not go to the other restaurants and bars they are a part of. -
Review from Lo-an L.
San Francisco, CA
5/5/2010
Disturbingly good lobster rolls! Much better than Black Pearl's (*gulp* I said it).
My order came with 2 mini lobster rolls over the weekend, sprinkled with bite size celery crunch and not, I repeat NOT soaked in mayo. It was the perfect brunch along with some crispy thick fries. My date had the eggs benedict and for once I wasn't eyeing him with contempt, as I was too busy gorging on the lobster rolls. We also had an order of fried risotto cake, which were really not much to write about.
Go for the lobster rolls, sit outside and soak in the sun filled dock. Order a sparkling wine or a bloody mary (hold the celery salt, I was not a fan). Lather, rinse, repeat.Listed in: Places that sweeps me off my…
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Review from Daniel L.
12/13/2009 2 Check-ins Here
We like going here for dinner during the off-season. It's much quieter, parking is easier, and we don't have to worry about the crazy crowds that are there in the summer.
We dined here last night and had a good experience. It wasn't crowded at all, which was great. I had the special soup, a butternut squash bisque, that was quite tasty, and my wife had the baby green salad, which was unexceptional except for the pumpkin bread croutons she said. For entrees, she wanted the grilled halibut, but they were out of that and were substituting striped bass, so she had the salmon, which was good (I had her leftovers for lunch a little while ago). I had a bone-in filet, which was also a special and was quite good. If a place has bone-in filet I always get it and have never been disappointed. It was cooked perfectly to order (medium rare+). For a side we had the roasted wild mushrooms, which were yummy as well.
Dessert was carrot cake, which also was good. The wine list, as noted in other reviews, is extensive. After having a martini to start, I had a Simi Cabernet that went really well with my steak. My wife had a Doli Cosmo, then some kind of "winter wonderland" martini, both of which she loved.
The staff, from the hostess, to the server, to the food runners, were all pleasant and efficient - no complaints with that at all.
Price was steep, but it's a "prime" steakhouse in Newport, and we've been there before, so it was to be expected.
We'll be back, probably sometime before the summer crowds make it stupid to even think about going over the bridge to Newport. -
Review from Kim P.
Newport, RI
8/25/2008
5 stars for the outside bar. 4 stars for lunch. 3 stars for dinner.
I frequently head to the outdoor bar at 22 Bowen's for drinks. The bartenders have always been very nice, you can't beat the views of the boats and the crowd is a nice mix of locals, tourists, and boat people. I wish their wine by the glass selection was better (but isn't that often an issue?) but they redeem themselves on that front by offering Newport Storm Blueberry. :-)
I've eaten lunch there twice - both times had sandwiches that were good, solid lunch fare. I love their chowder. I wouldn't bother if I couldn't sit outside, though - the indoor ambience is too old-fogey for me. Very bland.
We ate there for dinner and it was just OK. For a purported steak house, I was not wowed at all by the steak. Which I don't understand since they tout their USDA Prime steaks. So I'm not sure what was missing - but for $42 a pop for the sirloin it was disappointing.
I'll definitely go back for drinks and lunch, though. -
Review from Julie Y.
8/17/2010
We were famished after riding on scooters and trikes... So we headed over to 22 Bowen ready for an amazing meal..
The oysters were so fresh, they melted in our mouths...
Since we were in newport, we all opted for the fish...
halibut, sea bass, scallops.. They were all really really good...
Truffle lobster mac and cheese was so-so... I've had better but not complaining...
The service was exceptional... Our waitress was a lil sassy and spunky, which we all enjoyed...
Very good place overall.. -
Review from Terri k.
Wrentham, MA
6/13/2008
OMG-we sat at the pier bar and I had the best martini Ever!! If you have the opportunity try the Bowen Tidal Wave. You only need two!! Nothing like having a martini right next to beautiful sailboats and handsome seamen(sailors)! lol....what a great afternoon! :-)
BTW-never ate there,but I will definitely go back! -
Review from Nicole B.
8/9/2010
SO NOT IMPRESSED.
I thought I was coming here for some fine dining. But this is really a tourist trap masquerading as a fine dining experience.
Service felt rushed and the waiter literally grabbed the bill out of my mother-in-law's hand without so much as a word. Creating issues as there was cash and 2 credit cards in the folder.
I ordered lobstered macaroni and cheese and there was no lobster! None. At all. I couldn't even taste any lobster essence! Waste of money. Also, the market price on the lobsters was waaaay too high. Like beyond market price. As in I'm doubtful that was the market price. My boyfriend's steak was delicious which a plus but overpriced. The best part of the meal was the french onion soup. That was delicious. he rest of the food was okay. Nothing very special. Not horrible, but nothing special.
For the prices, not worth it. Clearly this place is banking on the tourist dollar and not any repeat business because no one would go back! -
Review from Ben P.
San Francisco, CA
10/29/2007
22 Bowens hosted a large dinner for me (26 attendees) in connection with a convention I was attending. Bottom line: food was decent, service was good, wine list was good, price was very high, and there were some hiccups. Now, for the nitty gritty details.
I attend 2-3 conventions a year, and usually set up a dinner (or two) in connection with each one. Usually, restaurants are thrilled to have my business (imagine bringing a restaurant 25 lawyers eating on expense accounts). My experience was 22 Bowens was a bit off from the get-go, because rather than host the entire group as though they were regular diners, 22 Bowens wanted us to eat off a prix fix menu of limited options. Now, no restaurant had ever asked us to do this before, but this isn't totally unreasonable. It's a bit of a burden to try to prepare 25 entrees to be delivered simultaneously (although other restaurants in Newport did this---see my review of Whitehorse Tavern).
One item of extreme importance: the bill needs to be split evenly among the diners. I brought this to 22 Bowens attention repeatedly in the weeks leading up to the dinner, and was repeatedly assured that this could be done. Then, on the night of the dinner, I was told this could not be done, that the bill could only be split into 5 parts, and that everyone should just bring cash and split the bill that way. I host these dinners to spend time with friends of mine from across the country, not to argue with the hostess. If the bill couldn't be split, they should have been up-front with me, and I'd have gone elsewhere. It is unacceptable to try to pull the old switcheroo on the night of the event, and I had to twist some arms to get this problem solved.
The food was altogether decent, but no one walked away raving. In addition, the bill per person came to about $160. Now, we had appetizers, entrees, desert, and copious wine flowed, but this was one of the most expensive dinners I've ever hosted (the tab for these things usually runs about $100 a head, and the tab for other dinners during this convention hued closely to this average).
The waitstaff was awesome, easily the best part of the night. Two waitresses were dedicated to our group, and did just a fantastic job. In addition to the 20% gratuity added to our bill as a matter of course, a number of diners threw in more money, because we all recognized what a great job they had done.
So, 3 stars for Bowens: 1 star for decent food, 2 stars for decent waitstaff. No stars awarded for price or for me having to fight to get what I was promised. -
Review from Damon C.
Portsmouth, NH
9/30/2011
We had two appetizers with wine for an afternoon treat. The Ahi tuna flat-bread with wassabi, and the calamari with peppers were both excellent. My mouth still waters just thinking about the flavors! The prices along with a glass of wine were a little steep. I would love to come back and try something other than just appetizers.
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Review from Blake N.
St. Petersburg, FL
12/6/2007
5 for food, 5 for location/ambiance, 5 for wait staff, but have to give it a 4 overall cuz it is very expensive. If you are middle class (which I am), this place is pretty pricey. If you are the type who just stepped off your mega-yacht in Newport, this place would feel like home. This is not a jeans and T-shirt kinda place. Also, I do not recommend eating lunch here as it would feel like a rip-off.
AMBIANCE - Outstanding. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The place is kept very clean and very sharp at all times. In the summer time it is a place to be seen while relaxing over a fantastic dinner while people watching all the Richie Rich folks and sitting next to the water.
WAIT STAFF - I ate at the bar and the bartender was very cool. He knew when to help out and how not to interfere. Overall, I was very impressed with his professionalism.
FOOD - I had the "Bacon wrapped scallops" appetizer and it was outstanding. The scallops were HUGE and each one was savory. I was sad when I finally swallowed the last bight. I moved on to my entree of "Veal loin with polenta cake" which was just as incredible. It was arguably the best veal I have every had. Finally, I had the carrot cake desert. I should clarify that I am a carrot cake snob. The 22 Bowen carrot cake is NOT a good selection for desert (dry). With this exception the rest of the food was nearly perfect. This included the presentation and taste.
WINE - I had a bottle of the Shiraz, "Two Hands, 'Gnarly Dude'" which is a GREAT value and I highly recommend. Overall, their wine list is pretty good.
BOTTOM LINE - I will go back to 22 Bowen and I recommend it. It is a great place for a special occasion if you'd like to splurge. If you are a high roller, you will feel at home here. -
Review from T A.
Providence, RI
9/27/2011
Dinner here was terrific, but I may have been enamored by my very interesting company. Lunch was good, and the cocktail here was DEELISH! The Bloody Mary was amazing, however rather pricy. The lunch food was good, but I guess I expected and hoped for better. Both the lobster roll wasn't anything to write home about and the fish and chips were not the best around either. Since the place is right on the wharf, you hope the seafood is most delish. It fell a little short. HOWEVER, I like it enough to go back....I think dinner here is terrific here...my guests the first time seemed very happy, the second time not so much but satisfied all the same. The service for me was great each time I've visited...far better than any other place on Bowen's wharf. Very lovely view both day and night.
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Review from Sean M.
8/17/2007
Just an ok Steakhouse, not world class in my opinion. In three visits I tried the Porterhouse and the filet and was let down by both, the third time I went with the Rib Veal Chop, quite good. Truffled Mac n Cheese is a stand out side dish.
They do have the fat wines! If your are a carnivorous-oenophile with deep pockets you can satiate both appetites here.
3 stars for food
1 star for service, wine, and outdoor seating.Listed in: My Newport, Steakhouse/Upscale Burgers
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Review from Peter W.
5/31/2011
This place is in a great location for people watching. We came on a cool night and sat outside since inside was booked up. The truffled lobster mac and cheese was a big hit along with the French onion soup. The salmon and fillet mignon was cooked perfectly. Pricey, but expected.
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Review from Patrick B.
Marlton, NJ
11/6/2011
my wife went and had a bad experience - I'm not clear on the details, so I'll put three stars - might ahve been a fluke
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Review from Amanda G.
Stamford, CT
7/29/2011
The service was good and the food was okay, but it wasn't *great*. And for these prices, I would have expected it to be a little more memorable. The mash potatoes and warm bread were the bright spots of the meal (as well as the drinks, which are worth the pricetag). Overall, it was a nice experience, but I wouldn't go back.
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Review from Kristi H.
Chicago, IL
6/15/2010
Visiting Newport (and New England area in general) for the first time, we had an action packed planned weekend, including all of the necessary touristy to do's such as: eating copious amounts of lobster,The Cliff Walk, Sailing Tour, Pirate Walking Tour, and boutique shopping!
However, the weather was not in our favor, and the sailing tour we signed up for with our friends who are locals was cancelled due to thunderstorms... boo! Instead of letting the weather determine how our day was going to go, we decided to sit outside under the overhang of 22 Bowens Wine Bar.
GREAT DECISION!
We arrived around 12:45, and having just had lunch, were just in the mood for a few adult beverages. Mind you, one of our friends was pregnant, but ordered a non-alcoholic St. Pauli to join day drinking mode with the rest of us. Good thing she did... because after two hours of chatting and some amazingly exclusive bottles of wine consumed, we were happy as clams :) Some of their wine offerings that we loved were: Chalk Hill, Sokol Blosser, J Champagne, etc. Some of our favorites from Russian River Valley our last trip! Our 3pm sailing tour came, and went, before we could even react. Hence... we spent the remainder of the day until our dinner reservations sitting and drinking.
Our server Luke was amazing. Funny, charming, attentive but not intrusive, and totally supportive of just ordering wine and creme brulee!
This restaurant is right downtown with a gorgeous view of the water, fabulous people watching, and great for lunch, dinner, or some afternoon vacation drinking/dessert!
Good thing I live a two hour plane ride away, or this place would be trouble (in a good way)! -
Review from Molly R.
12/25/2007
Every year I visit my Dad in Newport for Christmas, and we usually go out to lunch on Christmas Eve day. This year, he chose 22 Bowen's, one of his personal favorites for a simple but consistently good meal. I was pretty impressed.
Checking out the ambiance as we walked in, I wasn't expecting much. It seemed like the type of restaurant you'd take your grandparents for bland food and 5 varieties of soup. But the menu told a different tale! I enjoyed the "Wild Rocket" salad -- the dressing was delicious, as were the crumbled pieces of bacon on top and the slices of chicken which I asked for.
A bit pricey, but worth it in my opinion. I bet it would be a lovely place to have dinner, especially in the summer since they have great views of the harbor. -
Review from Sha L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2009
I'm coming from San Diego, so it was interesting to visit the waterfronts New England has to offer.
There were so many restaurants to chose from and settled on 22 Bowens. The patio was inviting and the lunch menu looked great.
We ordered a Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwich, Fish Wrap, and a French Onion Soup with the Grilled Tomato & Cheese Sandwich.
The food was overall delicious and expected for the price. I was a little disappointed with the dryness of the chicken in the chicken salad sandwich, and it didn't go very well with the thickness of the focaccia.
Overall the food and service was a good experience. Maybe next time we visit the area we'll opt for drinks and appetizers.
