A tradition into have their 22 Doli cocktail :) can't beat house infused pineapple vodka for a drink. Each year I sit outside at bowens wharf for a drink and food. This year they changed the menu outside which was upsetting. Less food options and not good ones. That is the reason I didn't give five stars. Same kitchen same restaurant bring back the full menu for all to enjoy!
(4)
Ralph A.
While local Rhode Islanders may be familiar with the Newport Restaurant Group (Boat House, Castle Hill Inn, Hemenway's, The Mooring, Smoke House, Trio, Waterman Grill) I can only review based on my one dining experience. 22 Bowen offers a more casual outdoor seating area and the main dining room which also has an outdoor dining table. We sat outside the dining room and felt our server and service overall was what you might expect from a high end establishment. For starters we had the bay scallops (3), and lobster corn fritters (9). I didn't particular notice any lobster but the fritter and side of sauce was at least filling compared to the scallops. For entrees we had a Veal Chop, Filet Mignon, Asparagus, and Mashed Potatoes. The sides are good to share with 2 or 3 people but unfortunately didn't taste or offer anything that made you say wow this is good. The meats were okay, disappointing for the price you could say. I'm surprised given the wide range of upscale tourist on yachts that this restaurant didn't over deliver.
I was highly disappointed in my dining experience at this restaurant. The hostess sat us next to a screaming baby when there were plenty of other tables available, which admittedly soured the rest of the meal. We were outside and the view of the warf was good for people watching, but not especially scenic. Our waiter seemed insincere and bored. It was like we were inconveniencing him by existing. In general, the food was good, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's great. The clam chowder was the best part of my meal. The crab cake and salmon were not especially memorable. Since our eardrums were bleeding at this point, we didn't stick around for dessert. Overall, I would skip this place. There are many other options nearby that have much better bang for your buck.
(3)
Mark F.
I'm not sure I've ever given a five star rating, but it is a solid rating here. We sat outside. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner, with a lovely Pinot Noir. But, one of the most pleasant surprises in a tourist-packed locale was our waitress, Britain. She was an absolute pro and fun to dine with.
(5)
Brad S.
Food was decent but when I spend $40 for an Alacarte steak ( veggies and potatoes extra) I expect top shelf food and service that just wasn't there. For the two of us with one drink each the bill was $135.00 ( without the tip) much better out there for the money.
(2)
Andrew S.
Like its counterparts in the "newport restaurant group" 22 Bowen is on the higher end of the dining spectrum. Do not expect to walk out of this place without droping some serious cash. That being said I do think this place is worth the dough if you have it. The service at this place is usually very good and the food even better. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is sometimes I feel the food selection is lacking. Located right downtown in newport you couldnt ask for a better location in terms of convience, however do not expect an amazing view. Although it does provide some opportunities for people watching some of the best views in Newport can be found elsewhere in the same price range (Inn at Castle Hill/Hyatt on Goat Island/41 North). Not much more to say here ---- I'm a fan
(4)
Erica P.
We were walking through Newport hungry and we walked into 22B. The hostess asked if we had a reservation (we did not) she told us she'd be able to get us in 15 minutes. When we went to sit at the bar to get a drink we noticed the reserved sign after we took a seat. I apologized to Craig the bartender and he said not to worry, he took the reserved sign away and let my husband and I enjoy a drink at the bar. So nice of you Craig! The hostess came to get us 15 minutes later to seat us. Where we met our waiter Manny. He was so personable and friendly! He described the specials and also would point out other dishes that were served to other guest so we got an idea how they looked. Bread was served, our appetizers were served immediately. Very impressive! Jumbo shrimp was fantastic. We the ordered our main courses. Steak (a la carte) and swordfish. The steak was by far the best steak I've ever had! Swordfish was grilled to perfection. Such a fantastic experience. Two thumbs way up, If I had a third you'd get that too! We will be coming back!
(5)
Meghan B.
One of the best meals I have ever eaten. I got the Grilled Swordfish and my boyfriend got the filet with scallops both were delicious! We ordered the cookie dough dessert and that was deadly! Waitress was very nice. I did wait about 10 minutes for a beer refill but other than that it was great!
(5)
Mike F.
When in Newport this is the place to go. Whether you just have a burger or have a gourmet meal this place is fun. After walking around Newport we stopped here for lunch. I had a mixed drink that was made to perfection and a burger.My wife had a sangria and a chicken pesto sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. You must start off with a bowl of their clam chowder. We usually do not have desert but we ended our meal with the key lime cake with sorbet. Our server, Carol was right there with great service and even took our picture. I highly recommend 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille. It may be a little pricy but you are in the heart of Newport. I can sit here and people watch all day.
(4)
Shari A.
A really fine dining experience from start to finish. Having limited options on a Monday evening prior to high season, I opted for this place based on some convincing reviews here on Yelp and on trip advisor. I took my cousin here for a nice meal and it did not disappoint. Our server was very nice and made some thoughtful recommendations. I had a glass of beautiful Pinot noir and my cousin ordered a Hendricks and tonic. Perfect. We decided to forego appetizers in favor of some delectable side dishes but next time I will certainly sample something in the way of a seafood or raw bar preparation. Had the seared scallops which were caramelized to perfection. My cousin had the lamb served medium rare and he was very pleased. The highlights were definitely the Brussels sprouts with bacon and grilled asparagus. Yummmm.... We skipped dessert but will definitely be back. For top notch service and a wide ranging menu, a beautiful and lengthy wine and cocktail list and food to match, you cannot go wrong with this steakhouse/fine seafood restaurant. The setting is elegant, not stuffy, and the views of the water really scream Newport!
(4)
Andrea P.
This restaurant was highly recommended by a few friends who had visited previously. So it seemed like the perfect place to have my pre-birthday dinner. This entire weekend is about treating myself, and treat myself I did at 22 Bowens! First off, the service was incredible. Our server was kind and funny. Her recommendation was on point and her knowledge of wine in general was impressive. Not to mention, she brought out a slice of cake at the end for my 29+2 birthday, which was sweet. I started off with a few of their oysters. I tend to like west coast oysters but their selection was delicious. Not too big but with a big flavor. Then came out their masterpiece - the filet! Oh my! It came out perfectly and tasted incredible with the fois gras butter. The brussel sprouts were on point as well!
(5)
Arthur C.
As in my other reviews, service is important to me. That being said, we went in there for dinner on a weekend. We had a waitress named Holly, she was excellent! And I thoroughly enjoyed my apps and the seafood tower. On the downside, my friend's filet was well done instead of MR. If we are paying 40 bucks for steaks without sides, they better be perfect. So, for that main reason, I would've ranked dinner 3 stars, but the service was so good we did not care. The next day we sat at the outside bar and, again, the service was the best. We had multiple bartenders that day and they were all GREAT. I was much more impressed with my lunch. The lobster roll was great, the chowder was delicious, the braised rib was one of the best I have had in a long time. If you are going there, you will be treated great by the well trained staff, but bring your wallet, cause it is not cheap.
(4)
Nina-Marie C.
I had dinner here last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sat on the upstairs deck. It was a little chilly that evening, but one of the waitresses was kind enough to pull down the plastic awning for me. I had the scallops for my entree and they were fantastic. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu items.
(5)
Mike E.
Profoundly disappointed. Back in town with my wife for our third anniversary. We came here for our honeymoon and second, and had dinner at 22 Bowens both times. And both times it was excellent, thus our return. Tonight, not so much. Steak was tough and not good. Previously phenomenal. Same could be said of the sides; unremarkable. Waiter was courteous. Wine was not quite what we ordered from the list but still a good choice; the change profoundly changed the value quotient. Overall, it seems the place has downgraded. We may come back to Newport next year but will try elsewhere for our special dinner.
(2)
Vasily K.
1. Service was not overly friendly. They were reluctant to move us to a table in the shade. Our waitress wasn't friendly. 2. Clam chowder for $9 -- very mediocre clam chowder. Three fried scallops for $16, I can easily cook better at home. Overall doesn't worth it.
(1)
Nikki I.
I just visited here to try out the winter prix fixe menu that is being offered and it did not disappoint. I was able to get a wedge salad, perfectly cooked filet and dessert all for $30. Usually prix fixe menus can leave you feeling hungry or that you did not get the best of what the restaurant has to offer...but this was not the case here. The portions were generous and the food was cooked perfectly. On top of the $30 weekday promotion, house bottles of wine are only $15 when you choose the prix fixe menu. If you live close and can take advantage of this deal on a cold week night, do it!!
(4)
Mike P.
On Monday, we had a table upstairs with a view of the pier and it was fun watching the boats going in and out. Lovely decor, lovely server named Elizabeth and a lovely menu. I had the beef carpaccio and the Caesar salad. My friends had the fritters and the risotto and everyone was happy. We split the sticky bun dessert which was amazing .
(5)
Jinyoung S.
The food price is not expensive and taste was good. It was so nice to sit and have lunch outside. Good looking intrerior
(4)
Paul L.
Fine dining, expert service, gracious servings and a killer wine list. A must stop for those who enjoy pleasure dining
(5)
Rose F.
I went with a party of 4. My friends Salmon was way undercooked took them forever to get back to her. The rest of us got sirloin and there was so much fat it in...thickly marbled throughout the entire piece..for all 3 of us. Our server however was wonderful.
(2)
Naomi G.
High up there on the fancy scale. I didn't feel like dressing up so my husband and I sat at the bar and it was perfect. The Bartender and Front of House Manager was very attentive to us and answered a lot of questions we had, because it was our first time there. I had steak and my husband had swordfish steak and it was unbelievable. Cooked perfectly and juicy. They allowed us to split a salad between us and I ordered a baked potato, but consider yourself warned, the potato is huuuugggeee. I recommend splitting it two or maybe even three ways. So far, hands down, this is the best food in all of Newport that we have had. All of our out of town guests will be coming here with us. Paid parking, cash only. The attendant will direct you to the nearest ATM.
(5)
Tim C.
We were in Newport for a wedding and ate here the first of a three night stay. This is the nicest and best restaurant that we ate at during our entire stay and it was certainly the best in terms of atmosphere, location and selection. We arrived after a long day of travel with no reservations and they were able to quickly make adjustments to accommodate us. The food was fantastic. I had one of the best Bone-In Filets that I have ever had. Great selection of appetizers, scotch and wine. The staff was ultra friendly and accommodating and we simply loved our visit. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area to enjoy a meal here.
(5)
Stephen V.
Took my mom out for brunch ,we had lobster salad, blaaach, terrible, I think it was ground up uncooked fish
(1)
Alex H.
Eh...the location is great. They have an abundance of outdoor seating, but the food was eh. It was generic, mediocre food at best. The steak sandwich tried to be fancy with arugula and "truffle goat cheese," but it ended up being a sloppy mess of what seemed to be leftover steak bits. To be honest, it just wasn't good. The fries were typical fries, nothing special. The waitstaff was friendly, however. I'll give them that. Our waitress was friendly and the food didn't take forever to come out. Overall, I would go elsewhere in Newport for a meal. There has to be better food somewhere around there.
(2)
Kristen T.
Food is very good but service was slow. I made the reservation three weeks in advance yet we had the worst table in the restaurant. For the price and service I would probably go somewhere else.
(3)
Jeff M.
Booked a table here on a lark, Valentine's Day and I had waited too long for a reservation at my favorite spots. Coming in with very low expectations, and on a hard night for fine dining, totally came away impressed. Large, salty whole anchovy fillets topped an otherwise rudimentary Caesar salad to start my dinner. But the star of the show was a perfectly cooked, generously cut Prime Veal Rib Chop. Soft and succulent, and dressed with a dollop of a decadent and rich Porcini mushroom and Shallot butter. Equally impressive, the award winning wine list and its especially strong selection of vintage and fine Champagnes. Twenty plus choices is about as good as you'll find anywhere, heck I find many places have trouble with 1. And further, that eight or nine of them were under $100 bucks, good enough for me. I really didn't want to have such a good time, or great dinner. I had done some work for the previous management, and left without such a high impression. But I can't take anything away from them, it was a fine night out. Well done, A-.
(4)
Fred G.
Service was very good. Everyone enjoyed their meal, the mussels were excellent, some of the other, such as the seafood pasta, items could have used more seasoning. Portions were large and well presented. The atmosphere was appropriate, with outdoor seating available.
(3)
Nikki K.
Just finished an amazing dinner at 22 Bowen. Kale salad and onion soup were our starters and both were delicious. Hubby got a Delmonico and I the veal chop. Both were prepared just as a top steak house would prepare. Perfect crust and temperature of meat. We sat outside and Mike took great care of us! We will be back soon and will be sure to save room for dessert!
(5)
Lori C.
Pappardelle with seafood was delicious! Also enjoyed the clam chowder! Will definitely return! Place was busy but we had great service!
(5)
D H.
I had the seafood parpardelle and we had the mussels as an appetizer. It was fine but not really anything more. It's a nice restaurant. We showed up and there were oodles of empty tables but they wouldn't seat us, saying all of them were reserved. So we sat in the bar area, which apparently has the same menu. It was fine, don't know that I would go back.
(3)
Margie S.
I enjoyed a great night at 22 Bowens last night with good friends. The food was amazing from the chowder to the entree . The waiter Dave was exceptional. The atmosphere was beautiful and festive for the holiday. They have a open kitchen where you can see your food being prepared downstairs or upstairs they have more seating surrounded my windows so you have view of the wharf. There is a extensive menu to choose from along with a dinner special. The steaks seem to be the choice at our table this evening. They were perfectly cooked. The waiter explained exactly how the cook them in a 1500 degree oven to sear in the flavor. A must try experience! I highly recommend.
(5)
Kitti O.
Located by the Bowens shops in the far right corner. The atmosphere was nice and upscale yet relaxed. My server was nice and recommended the Kale salad with Seared Tuna. It came out fast and considering I'm no fan of Kale it tasted great! The Tuna was nice and rare and the Kale was covered in cranberries and spiced pecans. Overall it all seemed average Considering the very high price tag.
(3)
Rich F.
Absolutely fantastic dining experience last night. Was seated for our reservation immediately and had a great table out of the way. We had a shrimp cocktail and lobster cocktail appetizer which was amazing. Also recommend the scallops and seafood pasta entree. Probably the best seafood/pasta dish I have ever had. I was floored. For dessert we split the cookie dough tarte which just sealed the deal. I don't have a bad thing to say about this place at all. Our server manny was amazing. Great sense of humor, personable and was just extremely attentive and was a pleasure to have. Can't wait to come back here!
(5)
Rob S.
Spent a few days in Newport for my birthday. Found this place by accident, looking for another restaurant which has since closed. Had a wonderful lunch, and a very charming waiter who made us all laugh. Then returned for dinner a few days later. I must say this place knows how to prepare seafood. Had one of the best seafood pasta dishes I ever had. The staff is great also, even though the restaurant was packed I had made reservations for the wrong evening via Opentable. The hostess was very understanding, we had to wait about 10 minutes but she found us a table even though they were clearly booked. Thanks 22 Bowens for a great evening. When I'm back in Newport I'm certain to return.
(4)
Ashley J.
My boyfriend and I went here today and had a wonderful experience. We sat outside near the bar by the dock. We each had a cocktail and a salad. The food and drinks were delicious! Our waitress was absolutely phenomenal! She was quick, super friendly and very knowledgable about the area. We told her we were hopping around and she gave us great suggestions on how to continue on our evening. Her name was Britton and I hope she gets recognized for her great work and personality!
(5)
Christina S.
Lovely atmosphere and attentive service. The overall experience here is wonderful. Make sure to reserve a table outside for added ambiance. Cocktails were delicious and we only needed one to get us through the meal. The bucket of clams was awesome...tender clams and mussels with crostini bread and delicious broth to dip. Husband got the filet mignon. He said it was good, but has had better in ny where we live. For the price it should have been comparable. I got the yellowfin tuna a la carte so I got a side of asparagus. Again for the price, it was good, not amazing. A little too salty and dry for my taste. Go here for a fine dining experience, but you are paying for it with Newport pricing.
(4)
Nina F.
Came here for my boyfriend's birthday. Service - 1 or 0 star. Perhaps I am giving 1 because the host was nice enough to take our photo as it was my boyfriend's birthday. For the server, I give 0. He was unfriendly, very slow and impatient. Did not check on us at all and we had to keep asking other servers for water, etc. In the end, he came by to give us the check. Tip? 15%. Food...Eh. 3 stars. For a place with pricey food (total was about $180 for two), you would expect a delightful meal. Steak (ribeye) was mediocre (I agree with the other reviewer that it lacked seasoning) and the lobster was ok. Nothing special. I would not waste $70-100 per person at this restaurant, especially with awful service. Go somewhere else.......
(2)
Sydney K.
The day before going, I made reservations on Open Table. I went at 6:00 on a Thursday night with three other people; we were sat immediately and with a great view of the wharf. Moreover, the service throughout the entire meal was great. For instance, my mother is a rare breed that likes her steak medium well; when she thought her seek was too pink, it was immediately remedied. In addition, when the manager noticed my mom hasn't truly devoured the steak after this, she came over to inquire whether everything was alright (which it was, my mom just over did it on appetizers and sides). I also had steak (NY sirloin), which was great. The a la cart sides are big enough to share with another person (maybe even more). Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert! However, well worth it!
(4)
John W.
Service... 1 star. I witnessed a waiter actually eat food off a guest's plate while in the window!!! In addition, our waiter was very slow and inattentive. Bright spot was the personable bartender while we waited for a table. Food... 3 star. Lobster fritters, still looking for the lobster, although generous portion. My steak (delmonico ribeye) was good, lacked some seasoning. My wive's steak (specialty filet) was excellent, although it was overcooked. Such a shame at a steakhouse. Will try again...
(2)
Mary Laird G.
22 bowens came recommended by both our hotel receptionist and a friend from work who used to be in the area. We went to grab a drink at castle hill prior to (highly recommend) and got to 22 bowens around 7:15. Seated in a quieter area of restaurant which was nice and had a great waitress. She allowed us to taste a few wines before ordering. (Largest pours ever) She was very knowledgeable regarding the wine and food and gave great Recs. did not hover but was also very attentive. Menu is expansive enough to give options but small enough that you aren't overwhelmed and know they like to do things well. We usually like to split 3 or 4 items so we ordered 2 oysters on half shell (husband loved these), the crab cake, chopped kale salad and swordfish entree. First crab cake was pretty burnt but they fixed quickly. Kale salad was delicious. Very hearty and they split for us. The swordfish was also done very well. They split this as well. Accompaniments were a great add. Overall, meal was a great pick. We skipped dessert because we were more set on the self serve pinkberry down the street. Two glasses of wine plus oysters, kale salad, crab cake and swordfish was $108 including tip. Pretty reasonable for the service, wine pours, and quality/portions of food. Would definitely recommend!
(4)
Michael L.
22 Bowens is the best steak house in RI This time I enjoyed the Leg of Lamb. Hmmm We look forward to the next time
(5)
Julie G.
I will keep my review for 22 Bowen's as short and sweet as possible. First, the food and service here are always fantastic. However, it is one of the pricier options around town so I tend to only go in for their yummy lunch (seating outside in warmer months!) or when there is a seasonal deal. Of course this place is known as a steakhouse, but there are also lots of other great options... Even the vegetarian grilled cheese was insanely good and wonderfully priced at $12 for lunch with tomato soup and fries. So if you are looking to stay reasonable on price - there are plenty of options. On the other hand, if you are looking to impress a special someone or have a fancy evening in Newport... 22 Bowens Dinner service certainly doesn't disappoint. The food, service, and great wine list will be sure to make your evening special (just be ready to pay for it all!). *Parking is extremely limited at Bowen's Wharf, especially in the summer. Walk if you are close enough and able. *There is outdoor dining once the summer hits. An outdoor Bar "22 Portside" opens up as well offering a separate outdoor seating area and menu service... which is fantastic for early cocktails and small bites. *Check their website for seasonal menus and deals. Restaurant week here is always pretty great.
(4)
Miss C.
Clearly, this establishment rests on its location because its a joke. I could write a long review on how horrendous the service was from our waiter who couldn't be bothered, to the woman helping him bus tables who kept trying to take our food that we waited TWO hours for, only minutes after it was placed down in front of us, to the outright obnoxious manager who seemed like it was a surprise we were underwhelmed. BUT if I did that, I would be giving way more attention to this pig with lipstick joint than we got at our THREE hour meal. Aside from that the fact that the food was horrible, outback makes a better steak, crunchy risotto and on and on. We filled up on bread for $350. Makes you want to go right? Go for drinks and eat somewhere else. Pissed I canceled my Thames street restaurant reservations for this place!
(2)
Aaron W.
Excellent food and wine and the service is phenomenal. Great location and atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and stop in if your in Newport!
(5)
Skippy J.
We chose 22 Bowens as the destination for our family Thanksgiving meal this year. Salads were very nice and the kale salad was a big hit with several in our party. I had a great sirloin au poivre and a delicious baked potato with rosemary sea salt and a bacon creme fraiche. Mike our server was very friendly and attentive and the overall atmosphere was very warm and inviting on a cold and rainy Thanksgiving. I will definately be back when in Newport.
(5)
David D.
Sorry, here comes a bad review. Service ruined our experience. Our waitress's greater us for drinks orders and did not reappear for 10-15 minutes (and then at my request) to take our order. It serious took an hour to get our food. When I, in desperation ask our waitress how long it would be, she said she'd go check and then came back and told us, the order was up now and she just had to get it, but didn't return for another 10-15 minutes. When she brought the order, it was not complete, but we told her not to bother bringing what we had ordered but she forgot. It was a plus that the manger came out to apologize but only said he wouldn't charge us for what they didn't bring out anyway. Then it took another 10-15 minutes to get the check. I felt bad for the water boy, whom I kept going to to try and get some service. The steak I had was very good as was the cold foie gras. Thing is we had a late dinner anyway because we ate after a harbor cruise around 8:30, so the restaurant was not busy. My younger child was falling asleep waiting for the food. It made it worse that those around us who got seated after us finished and left before we even got our food. The service wasn't just slow, it was repeatedly slow, even after asking and asking. The manager did nothing to appease us other than apologize and then disappear again for 15 minutes. One of the worst dining experiences, and the worst we had in a town with MANY great dining options.
(1)
Nicole F.
Great food, friendly staff and beautiful outdoor views. My 12 year old son and I went here for a mom/son night. We both loved it. Service was somewhat slow, but I attribute it to a busy Friday night. The food was fantastic! I went with a chicken salad with sangria and my son had fish and chips. We sat outside and took in all the yachts around us.
(4)
Matt V.
We had done the Newport Mansion tours and were reading the menus outside several establishments. This one just sounded like the ticket so we went in and were seated right away on a Sunday early evening. Dark wood, linen table cloths and a sumptuous menu. First thing we noticed was there was a busboy being trained. We noticed because our table had not been set with bread plates and after the bread basket arrived we were trying to get his attention to bring some, but he ignored us, possibly out of embarrassment. Our waiter was a pro. Easy going and covered all the specials and made sure we had everything. I like nice restaurants where the seasoned wait staff actually keep an eye on their tables and are there when they see you might need something. Like I say, he was a pro. I had the Atlantic Salmon with gnocci and asparagus. It was pan seared and a healthy portion. I had a caesar salad and for the life of me I can't remember what anyone else had except the crispy calamari, which got a thumbs up. I was happy with my fish and we all were happy for the most part. Now for the downside on the meal: My salad was not properly dressed since the lettuce was not coated with dressing. The lettuce was in fact dry with a teaspoon of dressing on the bottom of the plate. To their credit another member of our group said that her caesar had ample dressing. Prices were not out of line for a seaside restaurant. I've eaten at many, east and west coast. What we got for the money was just average in terms of taste and quality. When we got back from dinner and mentioned where we ate, I was asked, "Why didn't you eat at The Black Pearl?" Maybe next time I should.
(3)
Adam L.
I am in complete agreement with all the other reviews. The steaks were good, but the service left a lot to be desired. Our server seemed more interested in watching the basketball game than attending our table. It was slow coming on the initial taking of the order and the wine, no refills on water after the check arrived. They also really pushed the most expensive items, which were some nice steaks, but I feel I got a better value with the prix fixe. HOWEVER, there was a wire from a brush in my dessert. The manager came by and comped my after-dinner drink, which already had been a replacement when what I wanted they were out of. In my mind, a tiny piece of metal in the food is more than comp a drink and good to go. This place had nice food but was far from running smoothly.
Food is pretty good here. Great atmosphere. Only con is seating times/reservations. Went at 5 to make a res and earliest time available was 10pm but plenty of empty tables.
(4)
Stuart B.
Great atmosphere better than all the nearby places however one boisterous buffoon was bantering belligerently with the bartender.
(3)
Eileen R.
shared the cheese platter and requested extra of cheddar since we don't like blue. Alyssa the bartender was very accomodating. The salmon entree was the best we've had in Newport!!! Also, Joe the batemder was entertaining with NY stories (we r from NY)!!
(5)
Joe R.
Ambiance is fair. We sat next to a service door to an outside patio being wafted with cold air. Service was very good but not excellent. Server seemed to have too many tables or not enough untermenschen or untermedchen. Food presentation was very good. Portion sizes were large. We shared entree and used a veg dish as our sides. Preparation was very good but not excellent. They recognized our occasion. We shared a dessert, key like pie, which was excellent and light-this from non dessert eaters. Price was high for comparable establishments.
(3)
Anne M.
My friend from the DC area came up for the weekend & I took her on a whirlwind your of Boston & Newport. We decided to have dinner at this place after walking around a bit that day shopping. The outdoor restaurant aesthetics & a the menu selections piqued our interest. The restaurant is in the Main Newport Marina area. It's located on one of the small Piers off the Main Street overlooking the boats. As you walk up is a there is a lovely outdoor patio area with umbrellas as well as an inside 3 Season dining area that has large windows that open out to the Patio. The upstairs had the 3 Season dining space also. The Bar fronted the Kitchen. The entire place was spacious but had friendly, intimate spaces. Both the lighting, layout & decor created a very nice inviting ambiance. My friend & I started with the Clam Chowder which was good. It was 9:30 pm & they were putting it away in the Kitchen apparently. It should've been warmer but hey. It was late. My friend ordered te Kale salad which she loved. I had a piece of grilled swordfish which was cooked fine although I would've preferred it to be a much thicker cut & less time on the grill. It was $26 just for the fish. Their steaks & most of their mains are on the ala carte menu. Not something I encourage restaurants to do UNLESS the steak or main is a large thick portion. I didn't feel the piece I had warranted the $26 price tag. The wine & drink menu was extensive & priced fairly I thought. The service was efficient & our server was very pleasant & helpful. We did not have dessert or coffee. We really enjoyed ourselves because of the ambience & we would def go back but I will order either 2 appetizers or salad OR pick a selection from the Main Meal Entrees bc I think the portion/price ratio is more appropriate.
(4)
Holly S.
Upstairs bar is where it's at, ended my night having a yummy red wine and hot toddys for my friends that were so strong! Yay!! So cozy up there. Loved it
(5)
Timothy M.
Amazing once again! Our second time here and our second great experience at 22 Bowen's! Great food and amazing service! To start, my wife and I shared the mussels and their clam chowder. Both were delicious. For entrees my wife had the grilled cheese with Brie and blue cheese. She enjoyed it, however she thought it may have been a bit much with the cheese. Maybe adding something to cut the richness of the cheeses like arugula? I had the steak and cheese. This was pretty good but seemed to be missing some extra flavor. French fries were done to perfection. I enjoyed a Mary Ann's Spiced beer which caught me off guard by being absolutely awesome. We both had desserts which were included because of the Restaurant Week menu. They were both done very well. Overall great experience! We will be back!
(5)
Jackie S.
Loved it! We came around 8 for dinner. Had a small wait then were seated upstairs. Our server was very informative and friendly. The place was packed for the boat show that was in town but the food came out in a timely manor and was delicious! If I'm back in the area again I'd definitely like to dine here again.
(5)
Shannon W.
My boyfriend booked this place for dinner for our first night in Newport. I'll start off with the ambiance. It's very uppity/slightly snobby, but the servers were nice and attentive. While I have no complaints about them, in order to match the snottiness of the restaurant and the extremely high prices we paid, I did expect them to be a bit more on par, knowledgeable about the menu, and more enthusiastic, but then again, it's not like I was in NYC. We started with the scallops. They were delicious. Then we had the calamari. It was very tasty, but not out of this world. We had the scallops as a main dish too (the scallops app was tastier) and brussels sprouts on the side. The brussels sprouts were not that good at all. We had chocolate cake for desert, eh I've definitely had better. At the end of the meal, the server then accidentally put an extra entree on our bill that was meant for another table. She apologized and it was totally fine...but I'm so happy my boyfriend caught that mistake. I mean, c'mon now! It just seemed unprofessional to me, esp at such a high end place. In conclusion, the prices are just very high for the quality of the food and service, then again, it's Newport, so I expected high prices.
(3)
Nicolette B.
This place has to be the most overrated restaurant in Newport. We went for restaurant week--THANK GOD--because I would have been PISSED if we'd paid full price for a very run-of-the-mill dining experience. Menu was uninspired--basically the same combination of protein, starch and vegetables that every other restaurant in Newport is offering. We ordered the chowder and the lobster fritters and I will give the place this...the fritters were ON POINT. Very flavorful, packed with large, distinguishable pieces of lobster and served piping hot. The rolls they bring to the table are also excellent and served with room temperature butter (its truly amazing how many restaurants overlook this important nuance!) The chowder was MUCH thicker than I expected it to be, especially since the menu indicated that it was made with "light cream". Believe me, there was nothing light about it! It tasted good but just be aware if you prefer a thinner chowder. My boyfriend got the Pan-Seared Atlantic Salmon and I got the Bistro Filet. The salmon was dry and the filet was not cooked evenly (some parts were medium, others were medium-rare.) My boyfriend enjoyed the salmon but I thought the filet was bland and ended up grabbing the salt shaker and going to town on that dish. Don't get me wrong...the ingredients were of good quality and looked nice on the plate but the dishes themselves were not seasoned or prepared in a way that justifies the insanely high prices. Service was slow but friendly. Our waiter was knowledgable about their craft beer selection and helpful when it came to making recommendations (we loved everything he suggested.) There was a long lag between the appetizer and entree course but the desserts came quickly after that. In sum, its not a bad restaurant, its just overpriced and not worth what they are asking for on the every-day menu. If you much try this place, I recommend that you wait for restaurant week.
(2)
Terry K.
We had the hamburger and steak sandwich for lunch the flavor,presentation, and quality were well worth the price. The Fried Calamari was great if you do not like hot peppers ask for them on the side they give a good amount......my error I did not but my girlfriend enjoyed them.
(5)
Jon J.
The food here was decently okay. Nothing to write home about, but who writes home about food anyways? The service was unacceptable. I ordered salmon saying I wanted it "very well done". The first time it came, I have suspicions it was still swimming. When I asked if they could cook it for a little longer, it came back still woefully undercooked, not much different from the first time. Then, when the waitress came back with my change, my bill was $xx.25, and the waitress shorted me the 75 cents. I'm not so much concerned about the money, but the principle. It is not at the waitress' discretion to not give me back some of my change. Great restaurants give you the change. It's not rocket science.
(2)
Sharon E.
Last Evening we had the pleasure of dining at one of Newport's finest restaurants, 22 Bowen's Wharf. From the minute we arrived , my guest and i were treated like Queens. We were seated at a window seat, where we could watch the Beautiful Sunset. We had the pleasure of having one of the best Servers in Newport, HIs name was Hamilton. From the minute we sat down he could not accommodate us enough! To begin with he worked with us to find the most hearty, palatable Cabernet in our price range. Our table looked like we were at a wine tasting. The bottom line was through his expertise he was able to satisfy our taste buds. He was very attentive and charming. And the Food ! OMG......to die for. I always indulge in the Wedge salad , which is made up of a very good blue cheese and a fine smoky bacon made in house. I asked the chef if i could have a few chopped kalamata olives put into my Roasted Garlic Beurre Blanc , which would accompany my Melt in Your mouth Filet Mignon and before I blinked an eye, it was done! My guest chose the delectable 16oz. Prime Veal Chop fit for a King. Charred too perfection. While i can's say enough Great things about this restaurant or it's wonderful staff, i feel the so called "Sides", you order to accompany your meal need to be kicked up a notch. They are a little boring. The portions were so generous that i had no room for dessert, but the dessert menu did look very very tempting, especially the Pumpkin Creme Brulee! A good Brulee is hard to find, but I'm sure that there's would be one of the Best! But the overall experience was a "10"! I would highly recommend this restaurant to my Family and Friends. Kudos for a Job well done and a very Special Thank you to Hamilton. Sharon E.
(5)
Miryam Y.
This is one of those restaurants I had wanted to try for a while and finally got to during Newport Restaurant Week. Came here for dinner with a group of 10. Appetizer+entree+dessert = $35. Everything was amazing and I thought that the restaurant week dinner price was beyond reasonable for a place like this! We got a whole variety of things, including clam chowder, lamb, and filet mignon. We were all pleased and would love to come back here! The service was great and good location too :)
(5)
Nicole R.
Came to 22 after a Sunset Cruise. Sad to report this place is highly overrated and completely disorganized. Fritters were great. But the Cod was way oversalted and there was "confusion" over a baked potato. Really? Sad we wasted a dinner on this place.
(2)
N P.
Not worth it for prices charged.... My girlfriend and I visited the restaurant during the holidays last week. The place was busy, the peopel at the front desk nice.... and everythign else medioacre.... I ordered a steak, medium... and ended up getting a not so good quality steak that was almost well done... I told our waitress,a nd her replyt was... I will send someome over... not sorry, is there anythign i can do.. or anythign else that would imply customer service... Well, someone showed up, we had the same conversation and he left by saying sorry.... So for food... and food service, i would not consider this as a classy joiont... Now lets discuss service... I had to wave down our waitress a few times to ask for drinks, even though she cam by and didnt even look at our table and empty glasses... Verry impersonal and unpleasant... Bottom line... I would not go againa nd would not recommend this place to anyone for the prices charged.. Management and staff not preoperly trained...
(2)
Joe M.
I love 22 Bowens, best steak in town! I always order Beef Carpaccio, and the NY Strip. Try the Bordelaise sauce on the steak as its great.
(5)
Tom M.
Had a great sunset dinner last night, with spectacular food, but the real focus of this review is on the service. Steven was one of the best servers we have ever had, anywhere. Knowledgable, attentive, and very friendly. He made our dinner memorable, and deserves every compliment I can give him. Well done, Steven.
(5)
Shelby F.
This place is great! I've been to many of Newport's restaurants and this place is awesome! My boyfriend got the lobster roll and it was the best lobster I have ever seen and tasted. It was so flavorful and there was so much lobster in it. I got the fish and chips. Fish and chips can be a bit flavorless sometimes but WOW, their fish and chips was amazing. We then got the blueberry lemon creme bulee, it was so delicious! I loved the food and the portions were great for the price. Not to mention they have nice outside seating and a nice outside bar. Also the service was great. I am definitely coming back again and would recommend this to everyone!
(5)
Angelica B.
This place just completely and totally sucks. I hope, if you come here, that you don't like salt...or food that tastes good. That is the only way you'll like this place. Go to The Mooring. It is around the corner, and actually worth the price. The service and wine were the best part of my meal. It's a shame the food didn't match up.
(1)
D P.
This place is amazing. I'm leaving this review because the service was the best I've ever experienced. I was amazed by the quality of service here.
(5)
Emily H.
My boyfriend and I came to Newport to celebrate our anniversary. We decided on 22 Bowen's for dinner solely because of the reviews and location. We walked in and were greeted almost immediately by a cheerful and gracious host who led us to a table in a small room by the window. Not much of a view, but I'm assuming in warmer weather they open the windows and take advantage of the fresh air. We were handed menu's even though we already knew we were going to order the prix fix menu. Even though we're both adults, we decided to skip drinks with dinner. I think that shocked the waiter when I told him. Don't get me wrong, I understand we were at a wine bar, but my license had expired and I didn't want to risk being turned down a drink just for not having an up to date license. After ordering our meals, everything felt a tad rushed. When we ordered the chowder appetizers, they were brought out almost immediately. We were in and out of the restaurant in under an hour on a Friday night. Maybe if we had ordered drinks we would've lingered longer, but our meal was so rushed we felt strange sitting around. I will definitely return, however, for the wine and cocktail list. My meal of pan-seared salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked. The char of the jumbo shrimp really put the dish over the edge. My boyfriend ordered to bistro filet, only to be told they had run out of the filet and was asked if he'd like the hangar steak instead that they serve with fries for $19.99. He said it was fine, but on a Friday night, running out of a main dish ingredient like filet is almost inexcusable. We both work in the service industry as well (I'm a concierge at a luxury apartment building in Providence, and he is a Line Cook at a fine dining restaurant) so we understand that slip ups can happen. Overall, 4 stars for service and food.
I came here this past Sunday for Newport Restaurant Week. We were able to still catch the lunch menu since it was about 3:30pm. I had the shrimp and sweet corn fritters, apple and bacon melt and lemon olive oil cake. My boyfriend had the mushroom and ricotta crostada, kale salad and chocolate budino dessert. The food was delicious and very flavorful. And the portions were great for lunch, I was happy to not leave feeling stuffed. I can't wait to come back when it's a bit warmer and enjoy their other options!
(4)
Nela D.
Great outdoor spot on the pier with house infused liquors. We had a drink and lunch at the outdoor bar. The food was pretty good (lobster, shrimp, oysters) but the timing was all off. Apps/oysters and salad came out at the same time as main, then my main came out a good 30-40 mins later. Oh well! We were just relaxing outside so not a big deal. The wedge salad was lame - skip it. And there are better oysters at other places nearby. Check it out on a nice day and enjoy a house cocktail.
(3)
Evan M.
Probably the best restaurant in Newport. Everything from the location, the service, to the food is top-notch. The restaurant is situated right by the water on the wharf, and you can choose to sit at their outdoor bar, patio, or either of their 2 indoor levels. If you want a quick bite and a drink I would recommend the outside bar. If you are looking for the true experience, sit inside. Ask for Shane, the best bartender in Newport. This isn't a place you go for a quick burger, or a plate of nachos. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place. The menu here is mostly steaks and seafood, but you can't go wrong with any choice. The porterhouse is amazing (but then again for $54 is should be). The restaurant is relatively expensive, but you are paying for superior food and service. So know this before you go in, or take a look at a menu before sitting down. It's a good place to splurge, and expect to spend about $100 per person for dinner/drinks. If you are in Newport and are looking for the best, this is where you should be.
(5)
Mitch W.
4.5 Stars for me! After a super duper long hike (Cliff Hike), we were looking for a place to eat in the Newport, Rhode Island area and after checking menus at several places, we settled on 22 Bowens. They have a restaurant and two outside seating areas. We opted for the seating area that was closest to the water (and the harbor tour boats). Even though we were very hungry, we aren't big eaters, so we shared the Baby Greens Salad ($8.95) and the 22B Burger ($9.95). We got a vinaigrette salad dressing and both the salad and burger were delicious! Our server was Jessica and she was friendly, helpful and attentive. We told Jessica that we were splitting both dishes and the restaurant evenly split our food and put it on two plates so we didn't have to divide it ourselves. That was very thoughtful and nice! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at 22 Bowens. Please see my pictures. Xie Xie!!
(4)
Lisa S.
The place is overpriced. The service was horrible We ordered a bottle of sparkling water, and she pored regular horrible water in our cups where there still was sparkling water. We had to order additional large sparkling water Clam chowder is 3 stars. The server said that salads are pretty big to share, and it was hardly enough for two. The special is too small. We were hungry after eating. The check was over 120.
(2)
Steph B.
It was okay. This place is trying a little too hard to be something it's not - was our food cooked correctly? Yes. Was our server nice? Yes. But was our order taken incorrectly twice? yes. Was the bread stale? Yes. So, overall, 3 stars. If you're looking for something very middle of line eat here. But remember, there is plenty better within two feet.
(3)
Rachel M.
Bryan I believe is the waiters name he went above and veyond. He sung me and my fiance happy birthday and anniversary! Which is why we were in town celebrating. He was very careful with my dairy and pepper allergy so I felt in great hands
(5)
Jane S.
Excellent excellent. The muscles were to die for. Highly recommend this restaurant
(5)
Stefani A.
The price is expensive but I think its worth it for how good the food is. It'll definitely cost a lot so thats why my hubby and I only come here for our anniversary or Valentines Day. Service is great, although last time our waitress seemed a little confused but she might've been new so I'll let it pass. I order a steak every time I go. I like my meat cooked medium rare and at other restaurants I go to, they either cook it medium or really overcook it. Every time, Bowens has cooked my steak PERFECTLY. Always juicy and tender. And the steak sauce is to die for. Absolutely delicious. We usually get the creme brule for dessert and it's absolutely phenomenal. Last year they had a chocolate souffle with pistachio gelato. We don't like pistachio so we got Salted Caramel instead. WOW!! Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Amanda L.
My husband and I ate here for Valentine's Day. We always come down to Newport and have for the past 3 years, but this year it fell on Winterfest week, so Newport was a bit busier than it usually is. We made dinner reservations for 6:30pm about a week or so before Vday. We were given a table upstairs overlooking the water. The difference in dress was bizarre, some people very dressed up and some in literal sweat pants... I don't get it! Anyway... Our drinks from the bar were good (Grey Goose Dirty Martini & CC&Ginger's). The bread is very good. We got the Bucket of Clams (Off season and they were "ok") for an app along with the Cesar salads. (Anchovy - yuck! Forgot to ask for no anchovy, but no big deal, still very good.) For dinner we each got a filet and had baked mac and asparagus. My 8oz filet was under cooked (I ordered medium and got rare) Husbands 12oz filet was cooked perfectly, so we switched cause I can't do rare... We had desserts which I believe were pistachio ice cream & carrot cake. Delicious. Overall, I liked the place but it didn't wow me. We paid over $200 for dinner, which is to be expected, but I have eaten at amazing steak houses in Boston (Ruth's Chris, Grill 23, S&W, Capital Grille) and would argue that any of those I just listed are far better than 22 Bowens. Also, if I am ordering a $40 dollar steak, it needs to be cooked correctly. Yes.. I know... I could have sent it back. But that's not the point. You kinda have to get it right the first time around.... Unfortunately we wont be back for a big night out dinner this summer. Maybe for lunch, though!
(3)
Amelia S.
I have to say I wasn't overly impressed. We were here for a party with a group of 8 so you can always expect that the wait staff won't love you...but one individual had an issue with her steak and they didn't even seem phased by it. Clamboil was good but nothing to write home about, and the prices were steeper than what I think it was worth. Views weren't as good as other places in Newport. We probably wouldn't be back....
(2)
Britton P.
It was fantastic. We ordered apps, salads, and the most beautiful delmonico I've ever seen!! Great girls night!!
(5)
Chris S.
Always delicious and perfectly cooked steak. Very expensive but if you want to order a meal you know will be good, go here.
(4)
Todd B.
I had a great experience at 22 Bowens last night, and I particularly want to thank them for being open when most of the other restaurants in Newport had closed for the January break. A local recommended 22 Bowens, but I was going to try Black Pearl or Moorings instead. Because they were closed, I settled on 22 Bowens, and I'm happy that I did. I had a great experience. I was warmly welcomed without a reservation, and I chose to take a seat at the bar since I was alone. The two bartenders, Joe and Guy, were incredibly friendly and made my dinner a lot of fun. They were incredibly knowledgeable of the menu as well as wine and cocktail options. When I was undecided about the soup, Joe offered two samples so I could make a decision. I chose the Cheddar Ale, which was outstanding. I got into a conversation about bourbons with them, and Guy allowed me sniff a couple. When I ordered a cocktail, it was a large size and not a skimpy cocktail glass. I chose the seafood dinner with baked clams, mussels, lobster tail and Grouper in a red sauce. The sauce, along with the accompanying sourdough bread, was magnificent. The seafood all was hearty and cooked to perfection. Because I'm watching carbs (the bread was an irresistible oops!), they offered sauteed spinach instead of potatoes. It was maybe the best spinach I've ever had. I would recommend 22 Bowens on any night in Newport, and big kudos to such a warm and friendly staff as well as great service. And give Joe a promotion. He deserves it.
(4)
May B.
Had some yummy oysters and tried the rib eye which was cooked really well. Good service and a nice selection of wines and beer. I would recommend to go here for a special occasion.
(4)
MJ B.
We were driving from Boston back to NYC and decided to stop by Newport to check out the mansions. We had an early dinner and walked in this restaurant. For appetizers, we had the oysters which were fresh and succulent. For the main course, I had the lobster roll which was one of the best I have tried. My friend had the scallops paired perfectly with some greens. Great dinner!
(4)
Lisa V.
The drinks are very pricey.... but the staff is awesome! The location is perfect, especially if you are going for a few cocktails before a sunset sail. Also, they will stay open as long as you are still drinking. Had a blast last Monday evening!
(4)
Nick C.
Should be better considering it's location and atmosphere. Their chowder is among the worst in Newport. The Mooring and Brick Alley have way better chowder. My salad had rotten lettuce and the lobster meat was definitely canned. Skip it.
(2)
Laura M.
Had a great dinner here while vacationing in Newport. After reading yelp reviews, I booked a reservation for 8:15 on a Saturday night. We had a drink at the bar and then were seated within 15-20 minutes. We started off with the clam chowder - might have been the best I had a weekend. I had the tagliatelle with lima beans and string beans, in a pesto sauce. It was very tasty and a pretty large portion. My boyfriend had the steak delmonico - which was really good (and I don't even like steak!). The service was good too - pretty speedy and friendly waitstaff. Only downside was that this place was expensive! Most entrees were between $25-$45. We overlooked this fact only because it was a vacation.
(5)
Tammy G.
I just absolutely love it here year after year it is still perfection. I always order steak but last week I ordered a veal chop and I have to say it was over the top. I am still thinking about it. Service is always spectacular even during the summer when it is super busy.
(5)
Jeffrey R.
Bad experience. Food was ok. They ruined my day. A manager walked by and asked me what the item was that I had on the table. It was my electric cigarette. He seemed fascinated by it and said it was good that I quit smoking. 3-4 minutes later a different person in a shirt and tie came over and told me I couldn't vape in the out door patio. All during lunch I keep catching some woman peeking around the corner at me to see if I was vaping. They made me feel like a criminal. Ruined my whole day. If patrons can not vape in this restaurant then fine, just please tell me at the door so I can choose a different place to eat.
(1)
Dorothy M.
Parking was a challenge. Food was delicious. Service was sub par.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Enjoyed a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. Service was great,Hamilton was our waiter and loved the atmosphere. Drinks were good. My husband had a lobster salad roll, it was delicious, price was good, & fries were hand cut...would definitely go back for one. I had the kale salad topped with rare tuna. I could not believe how much I LOVED the salad! The tuna though was not good, though it was cooked perfectly it lacked flavor. It seemed like they just threw it on the grill without seasoning, searing or anything. I had to ask for some kind of sauce to make it SEMI-enjoyable. Would never order that again, very disappointing for a higher end place. I think the chef should do better
(4)
Kaila A.
Amazing Valentine's Day dinner! We had delicious Mac and cheese for an appetizer, the steaks were cooked to perfection, and the sides were awesome. We split brussel sprouts and the fried sliced potatoes. For dessert we tried the chocolate chip cookie dough torte which was unbelievable. Overall, the service was great and the food was even better!
(5)
C M.
Excellent food, excellent service (sat at bar), great atmosphere, and prices were excellent as well. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Shantel S.
The $30 prix-fixe menu was wonderful, but the service was lacking. The portions were very large. The specialty cocktails are amazing.
Had a babe from Ireland as our waitress who did a wonderful job. My pork belly app was good as was the chicken I had for my main course. Bit over priced in my Polish opinion but you're in Newport so ya know how it goes. If you're rich go drop some racks yo
(4)
Rich M.
Without a doubt my favorite restaurant around. It is not a place for a cheap night out (although the Steak Fritte's night is a pretty good deal), but if you're looking for a high-end steakhouse you've found it. The food is top of the line - been there close to two-dozen times and haven't been disappointed yet. Wait staff is exceptional, restaurant decor is upscale and refined, and the wine list is extensive. You won't get a better steak in Newport, for sure....but the seafood and other options on the menu are equally fantastic. If you're looking to invest in a quality dining experience, look no further - you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Ann T.
Very nice restaurant right near the water with a clubby feel to it. We came for the $19.95 Steak Frites, which was very good. It came with a Bearnaise sauce but they let me substitute the braised tomato which was good. French fries were yummy.
(4)
Robyn R.
My co workers and I had a delicious meal here! We all agreed it was one of the best meals. I had clam chowder and the salmon entree. I've never been to a restaurant where I could taste the fresh herbs in every dish! The sauce on the salmon dish was declines! The asparagus, gnocchi, and shrimp was perfectly paired with the salmon. The atmosphere was pretty nice also.
(5)
Steven A.
There is no way this place deserves only 3.5 stars. Yes, it's not the cheapest, but the quality matches the price. It's terrible that the other reviewers use the star rating to show that they didn't like the price. Service and food was excellent. The tuna tartar was stellar! Both the scallops and tuna were cooked perfectly. My girlfriend got the salmon which was also wonderful! An outstanding place to go with a great wine list as well. Highly recommend.
(5)
Emily P.
Excellent! Sure, it's the off-season in Newport, but that didn't take away from our experience, service or the tasty food. My husband and I both ordered off of the pre-fixe menu - $30pp for a three course meal. We were wowed. Great wine selection and the chocolate souffle will have you arguing over who gets the last bite.
(5)
Michael S.
Went here while on my bachelor party, had a fantastic time and the food was amazing. The seafood was super fresh and the steaks were amazing. The crowd was a little douchey though, some women had to let us know that we were holding our after-dinner drink glasses incorrectly. Sweet, thanks.
(5)
Beth C.
Nothing special, it's in a good location if you want dinner on the warf, but the food is all average. I had a grilled fish and my husband had steak. Both were just average. We won't be going back. There are so many better choices in Newport.
(3)
Mike A.
Went here Sunday night . The manager is absolutely horrible . I go for a Filet at least once a week and go to all the best fine steak houses. I ordered my steak medium and it came out almost well done . I'm sorry but when you are paying $50 just for a steak it should be cooked correctly . When I told the manager he took my plate acknowledged the steak was cooked improperly and said they would make me a new one . No big deal it happens but what happened next was a big surprise . He had the audacity to come back out with the original steak and a flashlight , yes you heard correctly a flashlight and proceeded to show me that it had some pink in the steak . If I wasn't a business owner and a gentleman I would of thrown it on the ground and waked out . I was so insulted I will make sure neither I or any of my associates, family or friends ever go to this place again .
(1)
Mia J.
Never got to sit down. Very disappointed in the lack of knowledge and shabby treatment by the hostess this past Sunday. Don't even think about bringing your dog...dog lovers beware. After they tell you that you'll be seated ...walk you over to the outside bar area and then tell you to tie your pooch up to a piece of wood in the hot sun, they stand there with a stupid look on their face and don't understand why that's not a good idea. How about just saying " we don't allow you to have your pet anywhere near our service area". Anyway..... It's a no go for me. :( Having travelled extensively in high end dog friendly places...I was just plain wrong to think this was one of them.
(1)
Pete M.
This is only based on a single lunch so it's flash perception and I do know other places here well. Overall it's very nice. Very good wine list by glass and bottle - great selections and reasonably priced. Food seems to be very competently handled, great ingredients fresh and top quality. Clean and inviting inside, right near the water as well. Menu is simple, which is fine but perhaps could be expanded a bit and the entrees embellished just a little more with a balance of fresh greens which are scarce unless you order a salad separately. They claim to use organic and local food where possible and I believe that based on observations. Would be nice if they stated which of the choices use organic produce or local seafood - a practice other places tend to overuse. I'd go back with pleasure - would like to taker a deeper dive next time. Btw prices good especially for Newport main tourist district (is there a non tourist area here?). Lunch for two with wine 55.00 and that included sashimi grade tuna and another fish entree. By the way the seared tuna the best I've had because of the superb quality of the tuna. They could have seared it a bit more artfully but beat nine the less. Go.
(4)
Andrea I.
We visit Newport every year and have walked passed this restaurant and finally decided to give it a try. The prices were high (and we live in NY) but it is vacation after all so why not. The appetizers were good we never got a bread basket. My husband ordered the salmon which he said was really good. I ordered the 2 lb. lobster for a whopping $59.00 again its vacation. I ordered this back in July and I'm still chewing it. The lobster was so tough and the shell was like rubber so I couldn't crack it. Obviously it was cooked earlier and then put back in the water before serving. It was terrible. When the waitress asked how it was I told her it was really tough. She told the chef who advised her to offer me a glass a wine. Really a glass of wine OK that makes up for the $59.00 lobster. I guess because of the location this restaurant feels it can server sub-standard food. What a joke. We will not be returning.
(2)
Matt M.
Great food, but you definitely pay for it. Nothing outstanding about it. But overall, a nice place with high quality food and drinks. Got some a great statler chicken breast and yellowfin tuna steak here. Both were excellent cuts and were cooked perfectly. The truffled mac & cheese was by far the highlight. We also got "The Wedge" salad (iceberg, bacon, bleu cheese) which was fantastic. I was also seriously impressed with their Scotch selection. Lots and lots to choose from, with a great description of the various regions on the menu itself.
Really quality outdoor seating makes this place worth going to, right on the wharf. Had a sausage that was average to salty, but crab avacado salad was excellent. Great date.
(4)
Karis O.
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.
(4)
Amy W.
Have been to 22 Bowens twice now, and was quite pleased each time. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive, tables spaced sufficiently so that we weren't on top of the next diners, food reliable and as described. The first time, I had onion soup as an app, and loved it - but I won't get it again, as the size of the portion was way too large for an appetizer. No, I didn't have to eat it all, but somehow...I did. The steak I ordered was terrific, a perfect medium rare, and side of baked potato was enough for three people. That would lead to my only complaint with 22 Bowens - portion sizes are crazy big. I'd gladly get less food and pay a little less, though since I live here I don't mind getting a doggie bag and having lunch the next day included in my night out. Friends had lobster that night & shared a few bites - it was delicious. Steak again the second time around, though my husband and I shared the special, a 28-oz delmonico for two. After appetizers (I had a cassoulet app, which was great, though too heavy for then having steak, but that was my mistake, not theirs) we waited...and waited...the waitress came around and told us that our steak had come out too well done and she made them cook another more rare. Fair enough, thanks for doing that - I'd rather wait than have it too well done, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. The steak when it did appear was perfect. So bravo. Neither time have we been able to order dessert, not being able to restrain ourselves at the entree. Good wine list, and we got good recommendations. A little too pricey to be the casual, 'hey, let's go out' kind of place, but a good go-to for when we want something better than the run-of-the-mill.
(4)
Reno D.
We ordered the "Aged Ribeye" and asked them to split the steak which they gladly said they would do for us. We waited atleast an hour for our food to come...We asked our waitress at about an hour about our food. The Manager came by to apologize to us for the wait. (Hmmmm, I've always found it more sincere when a Manager comes to us first and says,.... Im sorry were slammed we're behind, opposed to me dicussing our issue with the waitress and all of a sudden he shows up and says, sorry were behind. (Bottom line he's the Manager). Trust me , I wasn't the only one to get my food late or screwed up. We asked for our steak to be "Medium Rare", it came "Rare". My girl sent hers back, I was too hungry to send it back and wait, who knows how long I would've had to wait for it to return cooked right (Med Rare Aged Ribeye Cooks quick on a hot grill 10 mins tops) .... They forgot our "Mash Potatoes", they had to go back and get them...Nothing special about their "Aged Ribeye Steak". Save your money on that one. Manager came by and asked if he could get us some dessert on the house. No Thank You, at this point we just wanted to leave. A hundred dollars for 2 of us (if everything was right or atleast 1/2 right Ok ). No one expects to wait an hour for their food after waiting to be seated. I expected the "Aged Steak" to be alot better than what it was. Maybe I'm spoiled from Los Angeles, but I do know my Aged Ribeye! Especially how long it takes to cook them! I've had many. Well I probably should've tried their seafood, but I was seafooded out, then again I still would've had to wait an hour for my food. Seafood did look good though. Not a fun evening with your friends when your hungry and waiting for your food, and when it finally arrives its wrong, and missing items ordered. Hopefully it was just a bad day for them and your experience will be more enjoyable. . If you enjoy people watching, sit outside...Beautiful little town...
(2)
Damon C.
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.
(4)
Richard D.
Very nice place awesome food friendly service worth the money
(5)
Roseann C.
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 Saturday 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.
(3)
Nick R.
Our server was great she ran down the special brought us the bottle of wine we ordered which was great we had a second bottle 2011 Malbec Argentina! For apps we had crispy calamari with hot peppers this was a hit! The seated feta and heirloom tomato wasn't that good! The Feta was cold and the tomato hard! Clams in broth was really good! My scallops for dinner were seared perfectly! My wife lobster wAs also really good!
(5)
A M.
First, expensive. Second, overpriced for what you get, and I truly don't mind paying for good food. Third, very delicious food with a nice view of a pier with boats. The blue point oysters were superb, but at $3.50 each they should be. Steaks were excellent but cooked, it was agreed, one level above what was ordered for the entire table. I order medium rare and got medium, etc. The wine list is very good, and not particularly overpriced. Service was impeccable from both a quality, timeliness, and politeness standpoint. Would go again if money not a question.
(3)
Peter W.
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.
(4)
Dee L.
First the good stuff - Excellent service, nice atmosphere, amazing Lobster spring rolls. The so so stuff... We sat upstairs which was really nice and itimate however there was a large party on the 1st floor which was really really loud. I was pretty shocked how loud they were considering this place pretty much is fine dining. I guess you can't take some people anywhere. I thought the prices were a bit on the high side and everything is ala cart. Got the filet a bit too charred on the outside I know that sometimes happens with filets but at Ruth Chris that never happens. The sides for the extra cost were a bit skimpy. Overall it was a nice experience, would I rush back probably not.
(3)
Susan W.
Sat at outside bar. Had soup and salad. Food good. Great to sit outdoors and enjoy the view which was totally destroyed by a bunch of filthy mouthed guys F this and F that reliving their high school and college days and obviously had too much to drink. Other women at the outside bar and nothing was done to contain their inappropriate behavior. Couldn't waif to get out of there.
(1)
Toni M.
--From April 23 and May13, 2010, sorry for the delay-- I was with a group up at the Naval War College. A few of us professed to be foodies, so we formed an ad hoc supper club. 22 Bowen made the list. As a matter of fact, it was so good we had the 'last su
(5)
Erick S.
Was a little disappointed with the food, but the service trumps everything else. My wife and I celebrated our 5th anniversary here and were expecting a specatcularly 5 star dinner. I had been here for drinks and apps before with colleagues, but never dinner, though I had heard lots of rave reviews for their entree's. It was packed, and the only reservation we could get was an 8:15 dinner seating. I let them know before hand it was a special night, and the front-desk did a nice job of making a special table on the upper deck available for us. Our waitress was warm and friendly, and the runners were attentive - we never had to ask for water refills or bread. Drinks were a little slow, but given the summer crowds, that's understandable, besides we were happy to enjoy each other's company. Apps arrived promptly, however, and were pretty good. Oysters are a no-brainer down there, as is there house specialty pineapple vodka! My wife ordered the redfish and I ordered the scallops. We were both pretty disappointed with our meals - the fish was pretty bland and didn't have the kind of flavor profile you'd expect at a high end restaurant. The scallops were scorched - over-cooked, rubbery chunks of flesh. I tried to eat a few (it was late and we weren't going to wait for a second round of food), but just couldn't bring myself to finish the plate. I let our waitress know, nicely, that our food didn't really meet our expectations. She was apologetic, and after offering us dessert (which we politely declined), she spoke with her manager and adjusted our bill - removing my meal entirely and comping us a round of drinks. While the seafood was disappointing - especially since it's a waterfront property - the service was great. That experience alone would bring me back to give them another shot... this time though, I might stick to a steak.
(4)
Lynne K.
Amazing wine selection, almost overwhelming! Dinner was fantasic, though the mac n' cheese is a little too rich. Loster fritters were not that good. I wish they had a bigger menu, especially dessert!! Overall, it was a lovely venue, but a little too busy for my taste.
(3)
Jennifer W.
Wow, not sure I have ever paid more for a meal I couldn't eat. The staff certainly didn't care a bit that the meal was untouched by most of our table. We started with the lobster soup, which was brown and thick like gravy. Had a very strange after taste as well as a gross texture. Main meal was ok, but certainly not work the spend. None of us could touch our deserts. Please if you go, don't pass on the bread. I will at least fill you up a little. Salad was also full of sand.
This place has a nice location and pleasant environment. It's sort of in tourist-central, but holds a classier feel then some of the surrounding restaurants. It effectively isolates you from the hustle of the crowds and enables you to slow down and enjoy. The food is good and reliable, but more classic then cutting edge. You'll end up paying a little more then strictly necessary, especially when it comes to wine; their selection is extensive, but a little high in price. The service is good, but a little casual - think professional until a friend sits at the table next door or a customer on the phone is less then clear - all in all, I'll go back, but there are some other places I'd go first.
(3)
Angela N.
The service and the view were great. What started out like the perfect dinner night turned out to be a bit hairy!. There was HAIR in one of the appetizers I ordered!! The manager as very apologetic and she did not charge for the appetizer and the wine. However, both my friend and I had a very bad reaction to the same appetizer. Very surprised since I have been there many times and had a very good experience.
(2)
Tony P.
Dined at the restaurant on 8/12/12. Outside dining near dockside. My entree was one of their specialty dishes, the Grilled Tuna with a Chili Glaze, and Noodles. I like sushi, so I asked for the tuna to be rare. The entire dish was fantastic. The tuna was lightly seared, the glaze was great. The wasabi paste was a bit spicier than I would have expected, so go easy there. But the dish was 10 out of 10!
(5)
Marianne M.
Went for lunch. Excellent kale salad! Friends loved their lobster roll and scallops. Very accommodating for gluten free.
(4)
Blake N.
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.
(4)
N R.
Ate here for the first time recently, and it was fantastic! The service was absolutely great. I'm afraid I can't remember our waiter's name, but he was Greek I think? Very nice, personable guy. The food was excellent. I had a filet and on a hunch, ordered it medium. In most places I order medium rare, because so many restaurants seem to think that medium = brown all the way through. It came out exactly as I hoped, a perfect medium. We were a big group, so we ordered a lot of sides and they were all good. I believe there was mac and cheese, mashed potato, spinach, and asparagus on the table, all devoured. This place is quite expensive, but I'll definitely be keeping it in mind for special occasions. We went in the winter, so we sat inside, which was very nice. I'm sure in the summer it is even nicer to sit on their porch by the water.
(5)
Abby O.
A bit of a tourist trap... we had terrible service at the outside bar, 22B. All the waitress did was talk to her friends at the next table and ignore us. Then went over to the main restaurant for dinner where the service was great but the food was mediocre at best. Maybe ok if you're just going for steak but we had the Stuffed Portabella app, the Tuna app and the Chopped Salad all of which had no flavor. If I'm going to drop $50 on dinner I want it to taste like something.
(2)
Yi H.
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.
(4)
Sean M.
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.
(4)
Rick L.
Average food, average atmosphere, average service at very expensive prices. The $50 steak had no flavor at all. There are many other options in Newport. Do yourself a favor and look at other options.
(2)
Jeff H.
They have decent chowder, but I would more recommend this as a place to have drinks - at least their outside patio bar is. I didn't actually go into the restaurant - my girlfriend and I sat at the patio bar by the water. This is another nice place to have a couple beers while on vacation - and a good place to watch the sun go down.
(3)
MS P.
Came here without a reservation on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed at 7pms so I sat at the bar. Place is pretty pricey but the food is good. Had the clam chowder which is pretty good. Also had the Shepard Pie which is really good. Split the porterhouse steak with the bf and it was very juicy and tender. The Mac n cheese wasn't that good so nothing to rave about. But yea the bill came out to be pretty high because as u can see, I like to eat a lot and at the end, I was too full to even move. Will be back. It's a yummy place
(4)
Ben P.
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.
(3)
Lelian O.
Ambiance of this restaurant was romantic type of feel, perfect for a date or a night out. The food was good. I ordered the beet salad and the braised beef short ribs and those were delicious. The clam chowder and mac and cheese were just OK. The service was great but my only negative would be parking is really hard for an SUV and very limited. I can't imagine coming here during the summer months when Newport is busy. I would suggest parking somewhere else.
(4)
Meesh K.
In the summer you can't beat the view from the outdoor bar. Its great for people watching, to relax and have a drink during a day of shopping, or just meet your friends. They have good beers on tap, an ok wine menu, and they even serve a limited menu outside. Inside however isn't worth the price. The food is just ok and I am being nice saying that. Stick with the drinks outside and during the winter skip it all together.
(3)
Amanda S.
I've been wanting to visit 22 Bowens for a while now, so when restaurant week came around, I decided to put them on my list. I made reservations for lunch with two of my friends and was running a bit late so I called 10 minutes before my reservation to ask if we could push it back a half hour. They were kind enough to allow us to do so, and when we arrived they were actually telling people that there was a half hour wait. We were seated immediately and perused the restaurant week menu. Our waiter was a bit pushy, and took our order for all three courses at once. I started with the clam chowder, which was good but not the best I've ever had. My entree was fish and chips which was good, but very salty. Dessert was chocolate mousse, which was the best part of the meal. We were in and our very quickly, nothing fancy. Not sure if I'll go back.
(3)
HyunJoo K.
Just the place I always want to be! My boyfriend took me out there last year as a surprise for my birthday! It was actually the first time in Newport, RI as well! It is a beautiful place with the Cliff Walk and Mansions. There is plenty of boutique shops, but keep in mind tax!!! I am not used to taxes on anything! Anyways, 22 Bowen's has indoor and outdoor seating, and my boyfriend purposely chose outdoor seating, knowing that I am not a big fan of loud public places - I like a more private intimate setting. It is also facing the Newport Harbor which is a lot of fun to watch the boats go in and out of the port. The food was absolutely amazing. We started with Bacon Wrapped Georges Bank Scallops- Macadamia Nuts, Mango Micro Green Salad, probably the best I ever had, and then I had the 22 bowen's signature special, Grilled Filet Mignon over Roasted Shallot Mashed Potatoes with Wild Mushroom Demi-Glace and Whipped Great Hill Blue Cheese. (Yes, those are not by memory, I had to go back to the website to remember the exact dish title). Then at the end, they came out with a simple small circle shaped bread pudding with a single candle - simple and sweet! I think that was the most memorable birthday I have had. I hope to go back there for some more filet mignon! Oh, the inside of the place is very clean and dim light setting, but I found it to be a little too loud? Well, it would be great too for some special occasions or company events. Also, they supposed to carry a good wine list, but I am not fond of alcohol, so I couldn't really tell you in that aspect. Well, go check the place out, while I am imagining being there :D
(5)
Nik H.
I took my clients here based on a number of referrals. I thought the food was very good but nothing special. The steaks that we all ordered were properly prepared and the sides were all plentiful and tasted great. Ordinarily, this would earn 4 stars but a couple of things occurred that removed one star... 1. They had a cocktail on the menu which was a Blantons manhattan. It was $14. I received it, took a taste and it was NOT Blantons. When I asked the server, she got huffy and I am not a fan of huffy servers. She reluctantly checked with the barman and found out I was correct. He made an ordinary Manhattan. 2. The same server made an error on the bill and rolled her eyes at me when it was pointed out. Really? Great food is found everywhere. When you charge this type of money, you need to be in a truly separate class; if food is the sole differentiator. More often, it is the overall experience- cocktails, food, atmosphere and service that differentiates high end restaurants. I for one was disappointed with the overall experience. Doubt I will go back. There are too many other good places in the same general area.
(3)
Nick S.
I have been 4 times before and had incredibly poor meals. Went back with a gift card and sat at the bar. Barman was great. We shared the blue crab app which was great in its simple ness . Fresh lump crab and good. We split the big ribeye medium rare and they did not overcook it for once. Did not go near side dishes are they are very poor. Steak quality was excellent. If you go, stay simple and order one degree below where you like your steak done. Wine is good and so is glassware.
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.
(4)
Bradford O.
22 Bowens gets two stars for ambiance, but that's about it's only saving grace. The ingredients are of decent quality but the chef is without talent. Caesar salad was bland and unimaginative. Both of the two pieces of fish we ordered were badly over-grilled. Mac and cheese was criminally bad. The Brussels sprouts were also overcooked. Bread was stale. Total for two salads, two pieces of fish, two sides, and a $35 bottle of wine came to $175 including tip. I have no intention of ever returning.
(2)
Jenn K.
When we're in Newport (and we try to be in Newport often!), we always head here for drinks and appetizers. They have a great chopped salad, a really nice and spicy calamari, and a delicious mojito. It's great to sit at the outdoor bar and watch the boats come in and go out. Enjoy!
(4)
Laurie M.
Amazing. The food was wonderful. The prices are a bit high but we knew that when we made a reservation. Suggested by a local and would do it again. The waitress was so friendly and helpful. I had the shrimp with lobster sauce and pepper, great. My daughter has the salmon, the best and my boe has the lobster pot
(5)
Rose L.
Appetizers: Petite Cassoulet with duck confit, clam chowder. This was our first time trying cassoulet, and it was delicious. The duck was seasoned well, and the beans were soft, creamy, and tasty. The clam chowder was also very good - it had a lot of big, chunky pieces of clam in it and wasn't as thick and creamy as most other places, which I enjoyed. After such yummy appetizers, we were really excited for our entrees to arrive... Entrees: Grilled Ribeye with rosemary Worcestershire glaze, bacon and cheddar mashed potato-stuffed popover, sauteed fall mirepoix and Greater Omaha Choice Sirloin with grilled rosemary gorgonzola bread pudding, sauteed fall mirepoix, green peppercorn demi-glace. Don't they both sound amazing? Unfortunately, the descriptions were the best part of the entrees. The grilled ribeye entree was okay, but the sirloin was god-awful - so bad that it had to be sent back...the first time I've ever sent back a meal. The steak was so burnt it was inedible (okay, so I asked for medium well...but I ALWAYS order my steaks medium well and I've never had this happen. Not to mention, if "medium well" meant "burnt," the waitress should have warned us, imho), the bread pudding was poorly seasoned and REALLY dry and burnt, and even though "sauteed fall mirepoix" sounds fancy and delicious, it resembled those frozen vegetable medleys (you know - where the carrots are chopped into little cubes?). Not impressive. The worst entree I've ever had in Newport. Dessert: fig gelato and chocolate bread pudding. The fig gelato was deliciously figgy...enjoyed it very much. It's actually very rich and strong-tasting, so I was surprised they gave 3 big scoops of it. The chocolate bread pudding, on the other hand, was very dry and tasteless. Overall, the place had a lot of potential, but very hit-or-miss in terms of taste and quality. For the price, I expected more from both the food and the service.
(2)
Julie N.
With a bunch of money to spend on a girls getaway weekend, I picked 22 Bowens for dinner for our first night. I had gone to Salve Regina and remember always hearing amazing fancy things about 22 Bowens but never had the opportunity to eat there. I made a reservation for five people on a busy Friday night at 9:30pm but we showed up at 7:30pm. I checked in with the hostess and let them know we were really early but wanted to check on tables. They graciously sat our party right away upstairs in the bar area and we were all thrilled by that gesture. Then things went downhill. Our waitress was probably the most miserable person I have ever met in my life. She made it know that she did not give half a sh*t and did not want to go once inch above just taking our orders and taking off. We were about to spend a LOT of money and we were all a bit pissed at this situation. After our appetizers were delivered I went to speak to the manager about our waitress and he was more than apologetic. He asked if we wanted a different table and I said we would just prefer a different waitress. He sent a new waitress and she turned out to be sweet as pie. The food. Well, the caesar salad was completely inedible. I mean like one bite and you push it away in disgust. I understand anchovies in a caesar, but when the entire salad reeks of the ocean it that just doesn't work. My scallops wrapped in bacon were undercooked (both the scallops and the bacon), the filet was average for the hefty price tag, and most of my party said their food was just okay. It just wan't good. Would I ever go back? Absolutely not. For a menu with prices that high for subpar food and an air of superiority, 22 Bowens needs to check itself.
(2)
Vince D.
Food was delicious and the service was great. They take reservation on opentable which is a plus. We ate outside in a good atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)
Patrick B.
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
(3)
Alexandra C.
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.
(4)
Dan B.
This tourist trap tries but fails to deliver. We sat upstairs where they simply couldn't adjust AC all night -- they don't seem to own a thermostat. Our entrees (one costing 47 dollars) were not served hot and had to be sent back. No towels in one of the two one-person bathrooms-- which for a restaurant of this size were really too few. I always am wary of these MBA-driven restaurants. Despite its cool location, it will set you back alot. Key lime pie was very good, in the restaurant's favor (not offered gratis, despite all our problems that night.)
(1)
Melissa R.
Nice outdoor seating - the waitress did a decent job for being busy, but service was slow. However, she did get snappy in front of us by scolding another waiter for calling her Becky instead of Becca The disappointment came from the Chef's inability to cook any of our burger's correctly. Medium Rare came out Well Done. Medium came out Charred. Good thing we didn't order the overpriced porterhouse! Pretty sad ending to a wonderful Newport Weekend.
(2)
Sam D.
We went here on our second night to Newport. I'm glad we did. Not only does it have an amazing wine menu but the steaks are the best I've had outside of NYC. You have to try the Six Peppercorn Sirloin with cognac cream sauce. My girlfriend had the steam lobster. Both entrees were delicious. Dessert didn't wow us. The service was great. Our waitress Beth was very attentive, friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend coming here.
(4)
Judy G.
Upscale place in a beautiful location. The Delmonico was very good; cooked perfectly med-rare. Everyone in our business group of 7 loved their meal from the shell fish tower appetizer, soups, salmon, sides, coffee, everything!!! And the service was excellent (thanks Joan).
(4)
Matt L.
This was my second time eating at this restaurant and the first time I really liked it, but for a romantic night out, there are quieter places in Newport to go!! I had just gotten engaged at the Breakers that night and wanted to treat my new fiance to a night out that was special. the upper level of this place had a Xmas party going on and it was loud and people were obnoxious and yelling! We had to basically scream over the noise!! I couldnt believe it that a place this pricey would have that much going on like a fraternity party! I would highly recommend looking elsewhere to eat out in Newport if your looking for a romantic time out!! this place lost its touch...
(3)
Edward A.
Good Steak. Went for Dinner.
(3)
Christie C.
Never disappointed by 22 bowen's. Our dinners were exceptional, as was the service and drink list. We each had a filet, one was a nightly special and the other the 22 B filet. Same cut of meat but totally different flavors and wonderful culinary experiences. Made for a delightful night in Newport.
(5)
Michelle L.
22 Bowens is definitely a bit better than your run of the mill "seafood shack" type restaurant that you normally find down by the waterfront in most tourist towns. The decor is very tasteful and inviting. They have both indoor and outdoor seating - the main indoor dining room offers a wonderful view of the harbor. This was part of the reason that my husband and I chose it for one of our dinner destinations on our recent vacation in Newport last month - along with the fact that we are wine lovers and figured the name speaks for itself! They have a great wine list - so many good selections, including some wonderful dessert wines. For appetizer, my husband and I shared the crispy calamari with three pepper mint relish. The calamari itself was very good, but the portion was huge! Far too much for the 2 of us to polish off by ourselves and still be expected to eat our meals. For our main course, I had the baked stuffed lobster and my hubby had the seared scallops. Both were good, but not great. I guess we expected more from a place that is well know for it's great steaks and seafood, not to mention that I expect my meal to be of a certain quality when I am paying a certain price. My lobster was average and not very flavorful - definitely more along the lines of something you would expect from your typical touristy seafood shack. My husband liked his scallops, but found the accompanying risotto to be bland and flavorless. Dessert was no more impressive. I went with the key lime pie, which again, was enormous - to the point where it was a turnoff to see such a giant lump of unappetizing pie on my plate. It was not very flavorful and did not taste fresh. My husband opted for plain old ice cream since nothing on the dessert menu appealed to him. All in all, we were not impressed with anything besides the wine list. Our server was nice, but she literally focused all her attention on me and barely acknowledged my husband. This earned her a 15% tip rather than the 20% we normally leave. I'm from NYC, so I rarely get sticker shock when I look at a menu and I'm willing to pay good money for good food. But for the prices here, we just expected much, much more. At least our wine and dessert wine were really enjoyable!
(3)
Brian K.
Awesome, great salmon, nice wine, sat outside, professional staff, we would absolutely go back.......
(5)
Supek, L.
So there's A on the patio on the water, and then there's B, indoors. We went for drinks and an appetizer on the outdoor patio, until our 9:30 reservation was ready. Drinks were good, service was friendly, even bought my brother in law, a birthday beer. The view of all the boats was great! Then we went to our table indoors. The place is pricey, but def worth it for a birthday dinner! My sister and I split the special of the day, Parmesan crusted sirloin with Lobster and sausage rigatoni.... two words...... OMG YUM! The sides we got were awesome!!! sweet potato fries, lobster mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, and asparagus with red pepper.... Loved every one of them! They even gave the birthday boy creme brule for dessert on the house! Service was super friendly, if you go, ask for the pretty Colombian server (can't remember her name). Would come back here again and again, if we lived near Newport, or if we had a summer house!!!! We hope to one day!
The hostess here is a huge _____ (fill in the blank). Really snooty for no good reason. We tried to go for a late lunch and some drinks and she really turned us off to the restaurant before we went inside. They think they're a classy place but from the looks of it, they're not. Went to Clarkes Cookshop instead, much better choice.
(1)
Emily B.
I didn't actually eat in the restaurant, but my boyfriend and I spent quite a lot of time at the outside bar. We came here for drinks in the middle of the afternoon, and were both pleasantly surprised that they had Leinenkugels on tap. At 5 o'clock they started serving a light menu so I had 6 oysters and some clam chowder. Very tasty. Not the best chowder I had in Newport, but the oysters were good. We came back here that same night after dinner for more drinks. We sat right at the bar, and the bartender was very attentive and friendly. I would like to try the actual restaurant next time I am in Newport.
(4)
Sabrina D.
The food was okay but the waiter was a little rude and looked that we were bothering him to do his job. Have been coming here for years. Will not ever come back after this experience.
(2)
Ms. S.
We were seated quickly for lunch and our server was sweet. My fiance had the oysters, which he said were great. I had the cream of broccoli soup (okay) and the salad with goat cheese and roasted figs. It was fine, not great, not bad. Nice, spicy Bloody Marys and a good chardonnay. Lobster roll on a croissant lacked flavor. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Ashley S.
My favorite place for filet mignon or steak in Newport (when my wallet allows me to afford it). I enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, and I've always received great service. My filet mignons are always cooked how I asked, so no complaining there! The portions are decent. The cocktails on are on the expensive side. I do enjoy grabbing a martini or margarita at their small outside bar from time to time when the weather is nice. I could probably go somewhere else and find the same drinks for a cheaper price, but view is nice. I do understand that this is a business, and that Newport has a tourist season, which they can use to their advantage to generate income.
(4)
Rahul M.
Went there on Christmas Eve since it was one of the few places open. My date ordered the chopped salad (very good) and I got the rib-eye steak, the least expensive steak on the menu at $24. The steak was good, but the bleu cheese bread pudding and pearl onions that came with it were forgettable. The (extra cost) side orders of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were inedible: the potatoes were dry and pasty and the spinach's cream sauce had too much flour. The bill came to $77, including a glass of wine and tip, which I found utterly overpriced for the quality. Would not recommend, except maybe for the special dinner for two and a bottle of wine for $65.
(2)
Therese Z.
Great place. Nice wine list and steak was cooked to perfection. Took a star away for the side dishes. Creamed spinach is not "creamed", it's wilted with Parmesan cheese on top and asparagus in lemon oil was bitter. Other then that it was a great dinner. Save room for the apple crostata!
(4)
Lauren C.
Ate here tonight, what a lovely place. I started with the house salad, which was sweet and flavorful-- the croutons were made out of pumpkin bread! Then the steak tips, which were served on a bed of pine nut rice pilaf-- oh my god, heavenly. I don't normally enjoy red meat, but this was absolutely to die for. As a last course I had the mango sorbet-- which was pretty creamy (for a sorbet), but since healthy desserts never actually satisfy, I took a bite of my boyfriends brownie sundae. Dear God, never have I tasted anything better in my life. I attempted to take another bite but he swatted my hand away-- I nearly fought viciously back for just one more bite of that deliciously moist delight, but I remembered both that I was in public, and that one more bite would probably add three pounds to my hips, and held back. Hands down, best brownie I have ever had. EVER. My only complaint was the volume of people there, and how tightly they had us packed in! Our waitress was wonderful, friendly and helpful without making you want to swat her away like an annoying fly buzzing around your head. I did enjoy it immensely, but I'm not sure it was worth the usual prices-- 30$/person was pretty much ideal. Great though, would make a wonderful expensive date venue!
(4)
Marissa E.
We came during restaurant week on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and were able to sit down immediately. Our server was very kind and helpful. He explained the menu in full detail and offered many suggestions. She stopped over several times to make sure everything was ok. The food was incredible!! We were so full that we had I take some home! The only downside about the meal was the clam chowder-it separated before reaching the table, not very appealing. All in all, we had a wonderful experience. Very pricey though-would come back for restaurant week.
(5)
Alex M.
After coming to Bowen 22 three times in the past 6 months and being disappointed each time, I am finally throwing in the towel. Being new to the area, my boyfriend and I decided to venture to Newport and wanted to have a nice lunch on the water. It was a beautiful day and Bowen 22 seemed to fit what we were craving perfectly. However, we were sorely mistaken. The hostess was extremely rude and off putting but we decided to ignore her and hoped our waiter would be friendlier. Again, not the case. He was just as rude as the hostess but our food was delicious so we decided to try it again. The second time, we decided to have dinner before a concert in Newport and again we were met with horrible service and I even had a full glass of water spilled on my lap. Again, I brushed it off because i REALLY REALLY wanted to like the restaurant since it was in such a beautiful spot and the food was good. The third time, I brought my best friend who was visiting from NYC. The service we received again was horrendous, but beyond anything I have ever experienced. We overhead our waiter talking to another waiter telling him to get his customers out of the restaurant so he could fill their seats with people who would be able to tip better. Then, a bus boy spilled water all over a baby in a high chair a few tables over. Our waiter had no idea what the specials were when we asked and when he found out, he just said "steak sandwich" without telling us anything else about it. When we asked for the bill, he didn't come back for about 20 minutes, and when he did he said he couldn't remember what we had and could we please tell him so he could get our bill. Even after we TOLD HIM what we ate, he still came back with a bill that had 2 more beers on it that we did not drink. After speaking with the manager (who i am not sure was even the manager) I was so upset that I did not leave any tip at all. The manager offered to take the beers of the bill (WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE) and a free appetizer. WHAT A JOKE. I will never be back, and will make sure to tell everyone I know what a horrendous place Bowen 22 is.
(1)
D. B.
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.
(2)
Karen C.
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.
(5)
Angela C.
A clean, nicely presented restaurant in the midst of restaurant row and tourist walk right on the front pier. While I have previously dined for dinner, we ate lunch on the open air dining patio this past weekend. In spite of being very busy, the hostess was more than happy to accommodate the stroller and 5 month old baby. Or waitress was prompt, informative and extremely kind. The outdoor dining can get warm as the forest green awning and lack of ocean breeze can make the air quite sticky. The food was quite delightful as my companions and I enjoyed fish tacos, a clamtastic platter and a simple salad with grilled chicken. While the prices are comparable to other establishments, the drink rates are quite high so enjoy the meal, linger and have a good time for the bill fleet what you ate and drank.
(3)
Lo-an L.
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.
(5)
Scott K.
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.
(3)
Sharon D.
Awesome food! great location and great service!
(5)
Crystal M.
Went here this past weekend to celebrate my and my husband's 1st year anniversary. We had a great time here. We were seated promptly and the entire staff was very polite and attentive. The food, while pricey, was delicious. The big downside is that for the price I really think a side should be included in the entrees. The entrees are a good size, but a side is usually standard and it was a bit annoying that they don't include one for the price. My husband had the petit filet mignon and is was cooked perfectly. I have the salmon and it too was delicious. We also had the bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer. Also delicious. They have a good selection of wine and beverages. I had a glass of Beringer and we both had a light and stormy. Our Light and Stormy's weren't very consistent though. My husband's had a prominent ginger beer flavor, but mine was a bit too heavy on the rum... not that I minded - I was out to celebrate afterall! :) I topped the night off with a glass of 10 year aged tawny port and an order of the creme brule. My husband had a slice of the Key Lime Pie. Again, everything was delicious. We had a very good experience here and we definately hope to get back again.
(4)
Sarah S.
My husband and I went to 22 Bowen's in mid-August and had an excellent experience. Great food and service. We had a very different second experience on September 21. After we ordered our food, we barely saw our server. Our water glasses were empty most of the meal. My husband ordered a steak, but wasn't given a steak knife. The server didn't come back to check on us until almost the end of the meal. When the server finally brought the knife, he didn't apologize or ask how our food was. We had a Dinner Club card and did not realize it wasn't valid at this restaurant until Oct 1. The manager explained this to us and after I conceded I was wrong about the dates, he abruptly left. No "thank you for coming" or "please come again" or even "have a nice evening." I have worked in high-end restaurants and know what kind of service a restaurant of this calibur should provide. It was sorely lacking. The food is excellent, but based on the service, we will not be coming back.
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!
(4)
BlueCat P.
We had the best service ever at 22 Bowens. The server's timing was superb, she was friendly and top notch. Granted, we got there early, but often early diners are overlooked because the workers are setting up. The food was wonderful. We had the Delmonico - cooked perfectly might I add - asparagus, a couple of lovely salads, and pork belly. I was stunned that what looked like a so so restaurant was so excellent. Loved it.
(5)
Felecia W.
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.)
(5)
Kellysue H.
Good location, pretty good food and ok service.
(3)
Ross D.
I've wanted to try this place the last couple times in Newport, but never quite worked out. Review only for drinks and an appetizer, and for the outside dining part on the wharf. First, location is great, right by a couple of the big charter sailboats. I like the look of the outdoor bar, too, although we sat at a table. Server was very friendly, but disappeared a few times for overly long stretches. Drinks: they have a nice list of cocktails. Wife had the red sangria, which she liked. I had the Blueberry Thyme Shrub, which was very refreshing and interesting. Decent list of wines by the glass, so we each had a glass of New Zealand Sav. Food: the menu isn't super extensive (strange, since the size of the menu book itself is strangely enormous), but is pretty cha-ching. We only ate the "Bucket of Clams" which was a decent amount of mussels, littlenecks, and a couple of giant clams--all steamed and served in a "natural broth" (think white wine and garlic). Very tasty dish, although I would have liked a bit more broth in the bucket for dunking the one piece of garlic toast and rolls. Extra points for the basket of 3 rolls--2 regular dinner rolls and 1 cranberry roll; those were all tasty. I don't think I'd choose this spot for dinner, but it's certainly a place I'd visit again for a drink and a small bite on a nice Newport afternoon or early evening.
(3)
Jacqui L.
Our waiter was the best waiter I have ever had. Seriously. Amazing. This is a restaurant that we go to for special occasions because of the price. The steak is outstanding. We asked that it not be served new York style so as to avoid the char. It was phenomenal. The wine list is epic. The yellowfin tuna was cooked perfectly, and the a la carte sides were great. I love this place, just be willing to drop a few bucks!
(5)
Jacki L.
REALLY REALLY GREAT FOOD ... We shared everything they didn't mind and it was a lot of food at a decent price! Bartender got slammed, messed up the order BUT it didn't matter he was a lot of fun very enjoyable!! Food came when it was ready and thoroughly enjoyed everything... I think sometimes we all just forget to sit back and enjoy... AND WE DID. SO GOOD
(4)
Neena C.
We walked in here on a saturday night (party of 2) and it was packed, now granted we probably should have made a reservation, but wishful thinking. Immediately, the interaction with the hostess was odd. She asked if we had a reservation, we said no and she said well the earliest we could seat you is 1015, a 2 hour wait. We looked around and realized there were a lot of empty tables and I glanced at her screen and could see very few reservations listed in that 2 hour timeframe. She said we could try the bar downstairs or upstairs. but did not offer to put our names down. I said we would try the bar, but if she could please put our names in and she grudgingly did. As my boyfriend visited the bathroom, I decided to check open table and see what it said. They had multiple reservations listed starting in 15 min throughout the supposed 2 hour gap that they didn't have anything...strange. The bar downstairs was packed, so we checked upstairs and I was about to make a reservation via open table when a couple was finishing up and offered us their seats. Besides the less than accommodating hostess, who I believe took her "power position" a bit far, this place still deserves 4 stars. It has a great ambiance and decor and our bartender was fabulous! My bf started with the clam chowder which was up there as one of our top favorites, wonderful smoky flavor. I had the seared feta, which I have never seen before, but had to try. It was out of this world. It was a thick piece of feta with a great seared crust on top of a baguette with heirloom tomatoes, arugula, avocado, and finished with balsamic glaze. Highly recommend! As for the entrees, mine was a bit disappointing. Don't order the tagliatelle...pretty boring/bland and the combination of asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and supposedly wild mushrooms, but I think I had maybe one or 2 in there with arugula pesto didn't work. The tagliatelle was also not cooked properly and too sticky. My boyfriend however ordered right. He had the ribeye with shallot porcini butter which was one of the best steaks I've ever had and I'm not much of a red meat eater. The brussels sprouts were delicious and cooked perfectly. The mashed potatoes were boring and a bit gritty I would stay away from those and maybe go for mac and cheese next time. The people next to us ordered the swordfish and scallops, both looked amazing and they cleaned their plates. Overall a pleasant experience and we will definitely be back, but next time I'll make a reservation with open table ahead of time and choose more wisely in my ordering.
(4)
Virginia T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Newport. The food and cocktails are great, and you are right on the wharf which has a nice view. They have an extensive wine list, and the atmopshere is cozy.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Our server Nils was really the highlight of our visit. My boyfriend and I came here for lunch and the food, wine and atmosphere were all terrific. Nils was above average though. Really made us feel like VIPs even though we were only here for a casual lunch.
(4)
Tricia M.
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.
(3)
Codi E.
I've been to 22 Bowens for a couple of special occasions and I am always pleased with the food, the service, and the atmosphere alike. The filet is out of this world, and since I knew what we were getting into, the price was right in line with my expectations. The service was good as I recall, nothing out of this world but GOOD. I'm okay with an unmemorable wait staff! What I like about the atmosphere is that as fancy as 22 Bowens can be at night, it's completely comfortable. In a world where most of us don't formally dine every night, it can be unnerving to go into a fancy place, but not here! Only reason this is 4 stars instead of 5 is because it IS pricey, not somewhere we can go every Friday night ;-)
(4)
Arlynn B.
Great Steakhouse! My friends took me to 22 Bowens to celebrate my birthday and we had a fantastic time! Great service and food! Birthday celebration = lots of conversation. The staff was very understanding, we took forever to decide weather to have wine or cocktails, we finally decided we wanted wine; we then took forever to decide what to eat...as I said, the staff accommodated us with no fuss. Service was very good and smooth and the food was delicious! I had the Prime New York Sirloin and it was a dream! I also heard my friends raving about the Grilled Yellowfish Tuna and the Filet Mignon. Special thanks to Alex for the amazing service!! Totally recommended for special occasions!
(5)
Dan G.
Bit expensive but huge portions and great wine list. Bit too dark for my tastes as I like to see the people that I am with and the food that I eat. I am spoiled with some of the best food and restaurants in the world by living in DC. Not with the prices but good food.
(3)
Sergio A.
Good food and great service! One of the many places to check out when in Newport! Pricy though, but worth it!
(4)
Carlen M.
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!
(4)
Sarah D.
I adore this restaurant. I went once with family when I was a bit younger and thought so highly of it that when I recently traveled to Newport, I just had to revisit it. It was fantastic. The oysters on the half shell are irresistible - so irresistible, in fact, that I had to restrain myself from ordering a second platter. The food there is just delightful and incredibly fresh. My only complaint is that the place can get quite loud. If you'd like a romantic evening, make sure to ask about seating in a less crowded area of the restaurant. If not, just tune out the noise and let the food make up for it because it most certainly will.
(4)
Brandon R.
The prime delmonico was fantastic! Wow. So much flavor. Truffled Tator tots weren't our thing. The clam chowder is great. Not sure if it's better here or at the Black Pearl. I'll have to keep trying!
(5)
Michelle R.
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.
(4)
Kelli P.
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!
(4)
Ron N.
we came here to celebrate our anniversary. We had a very friendly reception from the receptionist. We were given a lovely corner table upstairs with a view of the marina. The waiter has been helpful and friendly. The bread is warm. I ordered the roast cod clambake.. And it was perfect. Lots of mussels, clams and fish, and have for lobster tail perfectly cooked. All in a very flavorful broth. And covered with roast Corn that clearly was fresh sweet corn straight from the cob. In all, it exceeded every expectation.
(5)
Chris R.
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.
(4)
Art C.
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.
(5)
Dan G.
My family and I went here during Newport's restaurant week hoping for a nice lunch. The atmosphere was pleasant but everyone in family felt let down by the experience. To start we ordered our apps entrees and desserts along with the clam and mussel bucket for the table. We waited a half hour for the apps to arrive and when they came they were not what we ordered. The mushroom crustada was cold the chowder was delicious but unfortunately lukewarm.. Thankfully the corn and shrimp fitters had a healthy portion, so we could share. But the worst was yet to come.. The clams in our mixed shellfish bucket smelled like low tide enough that it ruined our appetite for the rest of the meal. At this point we wanted out but still had to wait for our entrees and desert and although portions were generous the flavor lacked. Dessert was the only saving grace, and to be honest getting the bill was everyone's favorite part of the meal.. Sorry guys but there is a lot of work to be done in proper execution of restaurant week.. Better luck next fall..
(1)
Thomas S.
Celebrated with 5 others last night. Our waiter, Stephen was excellent. Appetizers were fantastic. The steaks were delicious. Only complaint we had was a side dish of potatoes was cold. Nice touch by the restaurant to bring over a dessert on the house for my father-in-laws b-day. We will be back!
(4)
Reg Z.
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
(4)
LuAnn H.
Food was excellent, but for some reason my husband and I were invisible to the servers. Never filled water or iced tea glass, did not ask if we wanted a wine refill, no coffee or desert! For the price, the I attentive service made the experience awful.
(2)
Stefan N.
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.
(3)
Jade L.
Although the food is good, I would not return due to the horrible service. It is also quite over priced for the quality of food you are getting. I went to the restaurant with friends oin Saturday July 27th. The waiter was rude, inattentive and incompetent. He did not bring out the proper silverware for the seafood, it took him a long time to bring out the drinks, nor did he tell us the specials. When we asked he told us the one special they had. He did not describe the special. It is hard to believe at a seafood restaurant on a saturday in Newport that they would have one special which wasn't even seafood. We also heard our waiter tell another waitress to close out her table so the customers could leave and he could have it. When we asked him at the end to split the bill. He came back after 10 minutes to ask us again what we had ordered. After over 15 minutes of waiting for the bill, it was incorrect when we received it. After having such a negative experience we asked the hostess if there was a manager we could speak with. She was rude and reluctant to have us speak with the manager. When we finally did speak with the manager he seemed disinterested and disengaged. He did not seem to care at all about our experience. Only eat at this restaurant if you like terrible service, rude waiters, high prices, and good but not excellent food.
(1)
Mary Z.
Hardly the best restaurant in Newport..or anywhere else. The food was so-so, the server was pretentious and the wine was fair. I was anticipating a lot more for the amount that we paid. Sorry, won't be back.
(2)
Kate J.
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.
(1)
Ben I.
Nice view from the upstairs decktop, watching visitors stroll past. Lobster salad app was great, redfish wrap and fries were good. My wife liked her chicken portabello sandwich. Service was nice. I would go back.
(4)
Robert D.
Great place to grab an outside table during the boat show and order my annual lobster grilled cheese on Texas Toast and and Ice cold beer! Spectacular way to kick off the afternoon. If you aren't into seafood the French dip is so good it will make you weep! Dinners are great steaks excellent and servers work very hard to know their menu and accommodate every guest! Great memories for many years!
(4)
Steve S.
Super good. Staff did fantastic job of serving us with somel special requests. Definitely recommend. Doors were opened onto Bowen Wharf. The Seafood stew was fantastic.
(5)
Nicole B.
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!
(2)
Daniel L.
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.
(4)
Maureen M.
We had a beautiful view from indoors of the boats in the harbor. The scallops were delicious, the service was excellent! Beautiful place for dinner!
(5)
Julie Y.
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..
(4)
Patricia P.
We celebrated my birthday here last night and the food was awesome. The staff was terrific. My friends had steak and I had baked stuffed lobster and it was all really good. The wine list is also very nice. Enjoy!,
(5)
Mark P.
I was in the area for a business meeting and this was the location chosen for my sales team to eat dinner...so I didn't choose it. I am impressed! The appetizers were great, the location is nice, but what really impressed me is how they handled our large group. We had 10 in our party (which usually means a 3 hour dinner) but we ate in less than 2 hours with desert...amazing! EXCELLENT SERVICE!! I had the Filet and it was cooked exactly as ordered with a unique herb butter dip. The rolls were excellent and the desert was outstanding (they don't make it themselves but they picked some great tasting small sweets! Looking for a nice dinner with good service - this is your place!
(4)
Casey H.
I came here today for lunch with my 2 sisters. First, we asked for a drink menu, and the waiter asked us if we were over 21. I am in my 30's and my sisters are in their twenties. We told him our ages (I thought it was weird he didn't just card us) and he just came back with the drink menu. We each ordered a burger and a beer, I ordered wine. A few minutes later, the manager comes over, introduced herself (Kathy?), shakes our hands, looking us each in the eye, and asks us what we're doing in Newport, but not in a friendly way, it was more probing. We told her we just came down for the day from MA. She says to enjoy our lunch and walks away. Now, the waiter comes back and asks us where we are coming from. Again, it was more probing than friendly curiosity. My sisters and I are looking at each other like "What is going on here?" Meanwhile, the manager is talking to another server and staring at us. The manager didn't go over to any other tables, just kept looking at us, and at this point we are all really uncomfortable and wish we went somewhere else. The food was fine but I have never been questioned like this in a restaurant. If they had a question about our age (if that's what it was), they should have just carded us. Shame on them. Very awkward experience. Would never come back.
(1)
Toby T.
Great food, perfect location (right on the waterfront in downtown Newport), fantastic wine list, and a very on-point staff. Great for anyone that loves a quality steak and seafood house.
(5)
K M.
My husband and i went here for the first time last night. We were early for our reservation, but headed upstairs to the really cool loft bar to wait. When we told the manager that we were celebrating our 17th anniversary, he directed the bartender to give us complimentary champagne. Then he located a great table and we were seated early. The food was amazing - from the chef's special swiss veal app (which the chef personally brought to our table) to the PEI oysters to chopped salad and the delmonico steaks. Also the bar prepared great cocktails - my husband's dirty martini was perfect. I tried a [several] pineapple-infused vodka martini that was delicious in its simplicity (they infuse the vodka in house). Creme brulee, brought with a candle and congratulations, for dessert was crispy on the top and creamy inside, and teh right amount for 2 to share. Service was extremely attentive and thorough. The views of the wharf contribute to ambiance, which was rich and dark but elegant. Even with a large party of 20 or so seated near us, we had our own space. I think we found our new go-to place for special dates. We will definitely return for dinner, and also just to the bar again.
(5)
Kristi T.
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)!
(4)
Kyle C.
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.
(4)
Lilly C.
Wow, rarely is it that I find myself nodding in agreement with review after review after review. 22 Bowen has an excellent wine list. We've been lucky to receive thoughtful recommendations on what to pair with our order, and have found old favorites and unexpected offerings on their substantial menu. Like others, we have had a few inexperienced servers when it comes to wine service, but they've always been pleasant and have more seasoned coworkers assist. The bar is huge and has everything under the sun. More often than not, though we always have reservations, we end up grabbing a drink at the bar during the inevitable wait to be seated. Most recently, I had some drink that was the product of soaking lemons in straight vodka. Just two simple ingredients - that also happened to make a lovely decorative statement as well, since it was being "brewed" behind the bar - with an end result of pure, smooth sunshine and smiles. The only reason I know the cocktail contained what they said it did is because of how I felt after drinking a few. Main point: Get drinks, get dessert - the creme brulee, my goodness! Do not share yours, you will regret it! Yes, they have too much red meat, but the filet is so good! Yes, you do order sides separately and they are enough for 2 people. Yes, it's ABSOLUTELY FREEZING at all times no matter the time of year. No, it's not really a great place for your children. No, it's not very casual, so please dress accordingly. Oh, and I hate to pick on any staff in particular, but the hostess this past summer was sort of clueless. As in, sort of insufferably bad at her job. Maybe it was just a bad week, but after several encounters that resulted in either being ignored or having a really confused look coming my way, my patience ran out. Perhaps a longer training period for staff should be considered?
(3)
Devon D.
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.
(4)
Vinny D.
I have been to Newport several times. This was the first time at this restaurant. The hardest part of the experience was deciding whether to eat indoor, or outdoors. We decided on indoors. The interior decor was both rustic and elegant. A difficult look to pull off. Our server was both friendly and curt. At this time, there was a $22 deal where you receive 2 meals for $22. We had both ordered the fish tacos with the soup of the day. The soup was a lobster bisque and the fish tacos were full of fresh fish and other finely diced vegetables. The flavors worked really well together. The service was quick and the food was excellent. Upon leaving we used the restrooms. They were very clean. I would recommend this establishment to any Newport newcomers that are looking for a quick bite during lunch to break up their day and enjoy the rest of Newport!
(4)
Yary M.
Service was below par. Waitress couldn't describe dishes. Chef Failed to get lamb chops done right even after 3 attempts. Kept getting it well done and not seasoned. Wouldn't recommend. I waited almost 2 hours to get entree.
(1)
Sha L.
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.
(3)
Alex R.
Good lobster. Lousy everything else. Salmon dry (even though we asked for it medium rare.) Tempura cold. Fries too salty.
(2)
Terri k.
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!
(4)
G B.
Food was great! I had the fried clam sandwich that came with chips and Cole slaw. Hands down the best fried clam sandwich I've ever had. The atmosphere was nice and the service very good. The chairs were uncomfortable but overall I would highly recommend this restaurant for lunch.
(4)
Ben A.
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.
(5)
J J.
First of all the wine list was fabulous! They are in wine spectators top 100 restaurants. The wine bar and decor were totally inviting. The food was great! I had the crusted tuna and people in my party had the chicken, scallops, pork and salmon. All were good, but not special given the price of the food. The kicker for this 3 star review was the fact that they sat us in a freezer box room. It overlooks the harbor which is great but they made no attempt to adjust the temp for us despite our requests. Finally during our desert we left to the bar area to finish our meal. Even though it was Sue's b-day and our discontent with the temp, they did not offer any compensation. Waiter was a little cheesy...partially to be expected in Newport. Would return but only sit in the wine bar.
(3)
J M.
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.
(4)
Melissa P.
I really think this place is best suited for a lunch spot however we did have a very nice yet slightly over-priced dinner during our stop in Newport. When we arrived in the evening the bar was dead and filled with young servers talking about where they were going to party that evening. Sort of a buzz kill for me but we persevered considering it was our 1st wedding Anniversary. I have to start off with the one mistake our waiter made. We ordered the 2005 Paraduxx for around $85 and we know the wine well since we belong to the club. Our waiter came to the table carrying a different bottle of wine and said that he only had a 2006. I jokingly asked him if that made it cheaper since it was a different vintage. He proceeded to tell me that wine, like cars, get more expensive the newer they are. Hmmm, maybe he needed to know a little more about wine before working at a place that had "Wine Bar" in the title. However he did redeem himself with his very professional and outstanding service. Nothing special about the food. Your usual steak house fare. We each had an 8oz Filet Mignon which was very good along with 2 sides: mash potatoes and creamed spinach. They knew it was our Anniversary so they brought out crème brulee with a candle which was a very nice touch. All in all a decent meal with a view of the Wharf. Next time I would definitely come back for lunch and sit outside!
(3)
Kim P.
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.
(4)
Amanda G.
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.
(3)
Donna S.
Loved this. I had 20 guests in the private room upstairs and every thing went well. Service was top notch!
(4)
Bridget K.
22 Bowens is one of the more upscale restaurants in Newport. The atmosphere is lively, the decor is beautiful and the food is good, though offensively overpriced. Because they are one of the few restaurants in Newport with a good menu and quality food, they can get away with charging what they do. I would recommend 22 Bowens for a special occasion or for out of town guests.
(3)
Jill A.
A tradition into have their 22 Doli cocktail :) can't beat house infused pineapple vodka for a drink. Each year I sit outside at bowens wharf for a drink and food. This year they changed the menu outside which was upsetting. Less food options and not good ones. That is the reason I didn't give five stars. Same kitchen same restaurant bring back the full menu for all to enjoy!
(4)
Ralph A.
While local Rhode Islanders may be familiar with the Newport Restaurant Group (Boat House, Castle Hill Inn, Hemenway's, The Mooring, Smoke House, Trio, Waterman Grill) I can only review based on my one dining experience. 22 Bowen offers a more casual outdoor seating area and the main dining room which also has an outdoor dining table. We sat outside the dining room and felt our server and service overall was what you might expect from a high end establishment. For starters we had the bay scallops (3), and lobster corn fritters (9). I didn't particular notice any lobster but the fritter and side of sauce was at least filling compared to the scallops. For entrees we had a Veal Chop, Filet Mignon, Asparagus, and Mashed Potatoes. The sides are good to share with 2 or 3 people but unfortunately didn't taste or offer anything that made you say wow this is good. The meats were okay, disappointing for the price you could say. I'm surprised given the wide range of upscale tourist on yachts that this restaurant didn't over deliver.
(3)
Alison F.
I was highly disappointed in my dining experience at this restaurant. The hostess sat us next to a screaming baby when there were plenty of other tables available, which admittedly soured the rest of the meal. We were outside and the view of the warf was good for people watching, but not especially scenic. Our waiter seemed insincere and bored. It was like we were inconveniencing him by existing. In general, the food was good, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's great. The clam chowder was the best part of my meal. The crab cake and salmon were not especially memorable. Since our eardrums were bleeding at this point, we didn't stick around for dessert. Overall, I would skip this place. There are many other options nearby that have much better bang for your buck.
(3)
Mark F.
I'm not sure I've ever given a five star rating, but it is a solid rating here. We sat outside. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner, with a lovely Pinot Noir. But, one of the most pleasant surprises in a tourist-packed locale was our waitress, Britain. She was an absolute pro and fun to dine with.
(5)
Brad S.
Food was decent but when I spend $40 for an Alacarte steak ( veggies and potatoes extra) I expect top shelf food and service that just wasn't there. For the two of us with one drink each the bill was $135.00 ( without the tip) much better out there for the money.
(2)
Andrew S.
Like its counterparts in the "newport restaurant group" 22 Bowen is on the higher end of the dining spectrum. Do not expect to walk out of this place without droping some serious cash. That being said I do think this place is worth the dough if you have it. The service at this place is usually very good and the food even better. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is sometimes I feel the food selection is lacking. Located right downtown in newport you couldnt ask for a better location in terms of convience, however do not expect an amazing view. Although it does provide some opportunities for people watching some of the best views in Newport can be found elsewhere in the same price range (Inn at Castle Hill/Hyatt on Goat Island/41 North). Not much more to say here ---- I'm a fan
(4)
Erica P.
We were walking through Newport hungry and we walked into 22B. The hostess asked if we had a reservation (we did not) she told us she'd be able to get us in 15 minutes. When we went to sit at the bar to get a drink we noticed the reserved sign after we took a seat. I apologized to Craig the bartender and he said not to worry, he took the reserved sign away and let my husband and I enjoy a drink at the bar. So nice of you Craig! The hostess came to get us 15 minutes later to seat us. Where we met our waiter Manny. He was so personable and friendly! He described the specials and also would point out other dishes that were served to other guest so we got an idea how they looked. Bread was served, our appetizers were served immediately. Very impressive! Jumbo shrimp was fantastic. We the ordered our main courses. Steak (a la carte) and swordfish. The steak was by far the best steak I've ever had! Swordfish was grilled to perfection. Such a fantastic experience. Two thumbs way up, If I had a third you'd get that too! We will be coming back!
One of the best meals I have ever eaten. I got the Grilled Swordfish and my boyfriend got the filet with scallops both were delicious! We ordered the cookie dough dessert and that was deadly! Waitress was very nice. I did wait about 10 minutes for a beer refill but other than that it was great!
(5)
Mike F.
When in Newport this is the place to go. Whether you just have a burger or have a gourmet meal this place is fun. After walking around Newport we stopped here for lunch. I had a mixed drink that was made to perfection and a burger.My wife had a sangria and a chicken pesto sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. You must start off with a bowl of their clam chowder. We usually do not have desert but we ended our meal with the key lime cake with sorbet. Our server, Carol was right there with great service and even took our picture. I highly recommend 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille. It may be a little pricy but you are in the heart of Newport. I can sit here and people watch all day.
(4)
Shari A.
A really fine dining experience from start to finish. Having limited options on a Monday evening prior to high season, I opted for this place based on some convincing reviews here on Yelp and on trip advisor. I took my cousin here for a nice meal and it did not disappoint. Our server was very nice and made some thoughtful recommendations. I had a glass of beautiful Pinot noir and my cousin ordered a Hendricks and tonic. Perfect. We decided to forego appetizers in favor of some delectable side dishes but next time I will certainly sample something in the way of a seafood or raw bar preparation. Had the seared scallops which were caramelized to perfection. My cousin had the lamb served medium rare and he was very pleased. The highlights were definitely the Brussels sprouts with bacon and grilled asparagus. Yummmm.... We skipped dessert but will definitely be back. For top notch service and a wide ranging menu, a beautiful and lengthy wine and cocktail list and food to match, you cannot go wrong with this steakhouse/fine seafood restaurant. The setting is elegant, not stuffy, and the views of the water really scream Newport!
(4)
Nikki I.
I just visited here to try out the winter prix fixe menu that is being offered and it did not disappoint. I was able to get a wedge salad, perfectly cooked filet and dessert all for $30. Usually prix fixe menus can leave you feeling hungry or that you did not get the best of what the restaurant has to offer...but this was not the case here. The portions were generous and the food was cooked perfectly. On top of the $30 weekday promotion, house bottles of wine are only $15 when you choose the prix fixe menu. If you live close and can take advantage of this deal on a cold week night, do it!!
(4)
Andrea P.
This restaurant was highly recommended by a few friends who had visited previously. So it seemed like the perfect place to have my pre-birthday dinner. This entire weekend is about treating myself, and treat myself I did at 22 Bowens! First off, the service was incredible. Our server was kind and funny. Her recommendation was on point and her knowledge of wine in general was impressive. Not to mention, she brought out a slice of cake at the end for my 29+2 birthday, which was sweet. I started off with a few of their oysters. I tend to like west coast oysters but their selection was delicious. Not too big but with a big flavor. Then came out their masterpiece - the filet! Oh my! It came out perfectly and tasted incredible with the fois gras butter. The brussel sprouts were on point as well!
(5)
Arthur C.
As in my other reviews, service is important to me. That being said, we went in there for dinner on a weekend. We had a waitress named Holly, she was excellent! And I thoroughly enjoyed my apps and the seafood tower. On the downside, my friend's filet was well done instead of MR. If we are paying 40 bucks for steaks without sides, they better be perfect. So, for that main reason, I would've ranked dinner 3 stars, but the service was so good we did not care. The next day we sat at the outside bar and, again, the service was the best. We had multiple bartenders that day and they were all GREAT. I was much more impressed with my lunch. The lobster roll was great, the chowder was delicious, the braised rib was one of the best I have had in a long time. If you are going there, you will be treated great by the well trained staff, but bring your wallet, cause it is not cheap.
(4)
Nina-Marie C.
I had dinner here last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sat on the upstairs deck. It was a little chilly that evening, but one of the waitresses was kind enough to pull down the plastic awning for me. I had the scallops for my entree and they were fantastic. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu items.
(5)
Mike E.
Profoundly disappointed. Back in town with my wife for our third anniversary. We came here for our honeymoon and second, and had dinner at 22 Bowens both times. And both times it was excellent, thus our return. Tonight, not so much. Steak was tough and not good. Previously phenomenal. Same could be said of the sides; unremarkable. Waiter was courteous. Wine was not quite what we ordered from the list but still a good choice; the change profoundly changed the value quotient. Overall, it seems the place has downgraded. We may come back to Newport next year but will try elsewhere for our special dinner.
(2)
Vasily K.
1. Service was not overly friendly. They were reluctant to move us to a table in the shade. Our waitress wasn't friendly. 2. Clam chowder for $9 -- very mediocre clam chowder. Three fried scallops for $16, I can easily cook better at home. Overall doesn't worth it.
(1)
Mike P.
On Monday, we had a table upstairs with a view of the pier and it was fun watching the boats going in and out. Lovely decor, lovely server named Elizabeth and a lovely menu. I had the beef carpaccio and the Caesar salad. My friends had the fritters and the risotto and everyone was happy. We split the sticky bun dessert which was amazing .
(5)
Jinyoung S.
The food price is not expensive and taste was good. It was so nice to sit and have lunch outside. Good looking intrerior
(4)
Paul L.
Fine dining, expert service, gracious servings and a killer wine list. A must stop for those who enjoy pleasure dining
(5)
Rose F.
I went with a party of 4. My friends Salmon was way undercooked took them forever to get back to her. The rest of us got sirloin and there was so much fat it in...thickly marbled throughout the entire piece..for all 3 of us. Our server however was wonderful.
(2)
Naomi G.
High up there on the fancy scale. I didn't feel like dressing up so my husband and I sat at the bar and it was perfect. The Bartender and Front of House Manager was very attentive to us and answered a lot of questions we had, because it was our first time there. I had steak and my husband had swordfish steak and it was unbelievable. Cooked perfectly and juicy. They allowed us to split a salad between us and I ordered a baked potato, but consider yourself warned, the potato is huuuugggeee. I recommend splitting it two or maybe even three ways. So far, hands down, this is the best food in all of Newport that we have had. All of our out of town guests will be coming here with us. Paid parking, cash only. The attendant will direct you to the nearest ATM.
(5)
Tim C.
We were in Newport for a wedding and ate here the first of a three night stay. This is the nicest and best restaurant that we ate at during our entire stay and it was certainly the best in terms of atmosphere, location and selection. We arrived after a long day of travel with no reservations and they were able to quickly make adjustments to accommodate us. The food was fantastic. I had one of the best Bone-In Filets that I have ever had. Great selection of appetizers, scotch and wine. The staff was ultra friendly and accommodating and we simply loved our visit. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area to enjoy a meal here.
(5)
Stephen V.
Took my mom out for brunch ,we had lobster salad, blaaach, terrible, I think it was ground up uncooked fish
(1)
Alex H.
Eh...the location is great. They have an abundance of outdoor seating, but the food was eh. It was generic, mediocre food at best. The steak sandwich tried to be fancy with arugula and "truffle goat cheese," but it ended up being a sloppy mess of what seemed to be leftover steak bits. To be honest, it just wasn't good. The fries were typical fries, nothing special. The waitstaff was friendly, however. I'll give them that. Our waitress was friendly and the food didn't take forever to come out. Overall, I would go elsewhere in Newport for a meal. There has to be better food somewhere around there.
(2)
Kristen T.
Food is very good but service was slow. I made the reservation three weeks in advance yet we had the worst table in the restaurant. For the price and service I would probably go somewhere else.
(3)
Jeff M.
Booked a table here on a lark, Valentine's Day and I had waited too long for a reservation at my favorite spots. Coming in with very low expectations, and on a hard night for fine dining, totally came away impressed. Large, salty whole anchovy fillets topped an otherwise rudimentary Caesar salad to start my dinner. But the star of the show was a perfectly cooked, generously cut Prime Veal Rib Chop. Soft and succulent, and dressed with a dollop of a decadent and rich Porcini mushroom and Shallot butter. Equally impressive, the award winning wine list and its especially strong selection of vintage and fine Champagnes. Twenty plus choices is about as good as you'll find anywhere, heck I find many places have trouble with 1. And further, that eight or nine of them were under $100 bucks, good enough for me. I really didn't want to have such a good time, or great dinner. I had done some work for the previous management, and left without such a high impression. But I can't take anything away from them, it was a fine night out. Well done, A-.
(4)
Fred G.
Service was very good. Everyone enjoyed their meal, the mussels were excellent, some of the other, such as the seafood pasta, items could have used more seasoning. Portions were large and well presented. The atmosphere was appropriate, with outdoor seating available.
(3)
Nikki K.
Just finished an amazing dinner at 22 Bowen. Kale salad and onion soup were our starters and both were delicious. Hubby got a Delmonico and I the veal chop. Both were prepared just as a top steak house would prepare. Perfect crust and temperature of meat. We sat outside and Mike took great care of us! We will be back soon and will be sure to save room for dessert!
(5)
Lori C.
Pappardelle with seafood was delicious! Also enjoyed the clam chowder! Will definitely return! Place was busy but we had great service!
(5)
D H.
I had the seafood parpardelle and we had the mussels as an appetizer. It was fine but not really anything more. It's a nice restaurant. We showed up and there were oodles of empty tables but they wouldn't seat us, saying all of them were reserved. So we sat in the bar area, which apparently has the same menu. It was fine, don't know that I would go back.
(3)
Margie S.
I enjoyed a great night at 22 Bowens last night with good friends. The food was amazing from the chowder to the entree . The waiter Dave was exceptional. The atmosphere was beautiful and festive for the holiday. They have a open kitchen where you can see your food being prepared downstairs or upstairs they have more seating surrounded my windows so you have view of the wharf. There is a extensive menu to choose from along with a dinner special. The steaks seem to be the choice at our table this evening. They were perfectly cooked. The waiter explained exactly how the cook them in a 1500 degree oven to sear in the flavor. A must try experience! I highly recommend.
(5)
Kitti O.
Located by the Bowens shops in the far right corner. The atmosphere was nice and upscale yet relaxed. My server was nice and recommended the Kale salad with Seared Tuna. It came out fast and considering I'm no fan of Kale it tasted great! The Tuna was nice and rare and the Kale was covered in cranberries and spiced pecans. Overall it all seemed average Considering the very high price tag.
(3)
Rich F.
Absolutely fantastic dining experience last night. Was seated for our reservation immediately and had a great table out of the way. We had a shrimp cocktail and lobster cocktail appetizer which was amazing. Also recommend the scallops and seafood pasta entree. Probably the best seafood/pasta dish I have ever had. I was floored. For dessert we split the cookie dough tarte which just sealed the deal. I don't have a bad thing to say about this place at all. Our server manny was amazing. Great sense of humor, personable and was just extremely attentive and was a pleasure to have. Can't wait to come back here!
(5)
Rob S.
Spent a few days in Newport for my birthday. Found this place by accident, looking for another restaurant which has since closed. Had a wonderful lunch, and a very charming waiter who made us all laugh. Then returned for dinner a few days later. I must say this place knows how to prepare seafood. Had one of the best seafood pasta dishes I ever had. The staff is great also, even though the restaurant was packed I had made reservations for the wrong evening via Opentable. The hostess was very understanding, we had to wait about 10 minutes but she found us a table even though they were clearly booked. Thanks 22 Bowens for a great evening. When I'm back in Newport I'm certain to return.
(4)
Ashley J.
My boyfriend and I went here today and had a wonderful experience. We sat outside near the bar by the dock. We each had a cocktail and a salad. The food and drinks were delicious! Our waitress was absolutely phenomenal! She was quick, super friendly and very knowledgable about the area. We told her we were hopping around and she gave us great suggestions on how to continue on our evening. Her name was Britton and I hope she gets recognized for her great work and personality!
(5)
Christina S.
Lovely atmosphere and attentive service. The overall experience here is wonderful. Make sure to reserve a table outside for added ambiance. Cocktails were delicious and we only needed one to get us through the meal. The bucket of clams was awesome...tender clams and mussels with crostini bread and delicious broth to dip. Husband got the filet mignon. He said it was good, but has had better in ny where we live. For the price it should have been comparable. I got the yellowfin tuna a la carte so I got a side of asparagus. Again for the price, it was good, not amazing. A little too salty and dry for my taste. Go here for a fine dining experience, but you are paying for it with Newport pricing.
(4)
Nina F.
Came here for my boyfriend's birthday. Service - 1 or 0 star. Perhaps I am giving 1 because the host was nice enough to take our photo as it was my boyfriend's birthday. For the server, I give 0. He was unfriendly, very slow and impatient. Did not check on us at all and we had to keep asking other servers for water, etc. In the end, he came by to give us the check. Tip? 15%. Food...Eh. 3 stars. For a place with pricey food (total was about $180 for two), you would expect a delightful meal. Steak (ribeye) was mediocre (I agree with the other reviewer that it lacked seasoning) and the lobster was ok. Nothing special. I would not waste $70-100 per person at this restaurant, especially with awful service. Go somewhere else.......
(2)
Sydney K.
The day before going, I made reservations on Open Table. I went at 6:00 on a Thursday night with three other people; we were sat immediately and with a great view of the wharf. Moreover, the service throughout the entire meal was great. For instance, my mother is a rare breed that likes her steak medium well; when she thought her seek was too pink, it was immediately remedied. In addition, when the manager noticed my mom hasn't truly devoured the steak after this, she came over to inquire whether everything was alright (which it was, my mom just over did it on appetizers and sides). I also had steak (NY sirloin), which was great. The a la cart sides are big enough to share with another person (maybe even more). Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert! However, well worth it!
(4)
John W.
Service... 1 star. I witnessed a waiter actually eat food off a guest's plate while in the window!!! In addition, our waiter was very slow and inattentive. Bright spot was the personable bartender while we waited for a table. Food... 3 star. Lobster fritters, still looking for the lobster, although generous portion. My steak (delmonico ribeye) was good, lacked some seasoning. My wive's steak (specialty filet) was excellent, although it was overcooked. Such a shame at a steakhouse. Will try again...
(2)
Mary Laird G.
22 bowens came recommended by both our hotel receptionist and a friend from work who used to be in the area. We went to grab a drink at castle hill prior to (highly recommend) and got to 22 bowens around 7:15. Seated in a quieter area of restaurant which was nice and had a great waitress. She allowed us to taste a few wines before ordering. (Largest pours ever) She was very knowledgeable regarding the wine and food and gave great Recs. did not hover but was also very attentive. Menu is expansive enough to give options but small enough that you aren't overwhelmed and know they like to do things well. We usually like to split 3 or 4 items so we ordered 2 oysters on half shell (husband loved these), the crab cake, chopped kale salad and swordfish entree. First crab cake was pretty burnt but they fixed quickly. Kale salad was delicious. Very hearty and they split for us. The swordfish was also done very well. They split this as well. Accompaniments were a great add. Overall, meal was a great pick. We skipped dessert because we were more set on the self serve pinkberry down the street. Two glasses of wine plus oysters, kale salad, crab cake and swordfish was $108 including tip. Pretty reasonable for the service, wine pours, and quality/portions of food. Would definitely recommend!
(4)
Michael L.
22 Bowens is the best steak house in RI This time I enjoyed the Leg of Lamb. Hmmm We look forward to the next time
(5)
Julie G.
I will keep my review for 22 Bowen's as short and sweet as possible. First, the food and service here are always fantastic. However, it is one of the pricier options around town so I tend to only go in for their yummy lunch (seating outside in warmer months!) or when there is a seasonal deal. Of course this place is known as a steakhouse, but there are also lots of other great options... Even the vegetarian grilled cheese was insanely good and wonderfully priced at $12 for lunch with tomato soup and fries. So if you are looking to stay reasonable on price - there are plenty of options. On the other hand, if you are looking to impress a special someone or have a fancy evening in Newport... 22 Bowens Dinner service certainly doesn't disappoint. The food, service, and great wine list will be sure to make your evening special (just be ready to pay for it all!). *Parking is extremely limited at Bowen's Wharf, especially in the summer. Walk if you are close enough and able. *There is outdoor dining once the summer hits. An outdoor Bar "22 Portside" opens up as well offering a separate outdoor seating area and menu service... which is fantastic for early cocktails and small bites. *Check their website for seasonal menus and deals. Restaurant week here is always pretty great.
(4)
Nicole F.
Great food, friendly staff and beautiful outdoor views. My 12 year old son and I went here for a mom/son night. We both loved it. Service was somewhat slow, but I attribute it to a busy Friday night. The food was fantastic! I went with a chicken salad with sangria and my son had fish and chips. We sat outside and took in all the yachts around us.
(4)
Matt V.
We had done the Newport Mansion tours and were reading the menus outside several establishments. This one just sounded like the ticket so we went in and were seated right away on a Sunday early evening. Dark wood, linen table cloths and a sumptuous menu. First thing we noticed was there was a busboy being trained. We noticed because our table had not been set with bread plates and after the bread basket arrived we were trying to get his attention to bring some, but he ignored us, possibly out of embarrassment. Our waiter was a pro. Easy going and covered all the specials and made sure we had everything. I like nice restaurants where the seasoned wait staff actually keep an eye on their tables and are there when they see you might need something. Like I say, he was a pro. I had the Atlantic Salmon with gnocci and asparagus. It was pan seared and a healthy portion. I had a caesar salad and for the life of me I can't remember what anyone else had except the crispy calamari, which got a thumbs up. I was happy with my fish and we all were happy for the most part. Now for the downside on the meal: My salad was not properly dressed since the lettuce was not coated with dressing. The lettuce was in fact dry with a teaspoon of dressing on the bottom of the plate. To their credit another member of our group said that her caesar had ample dressing. Prices were not out of line for a seaside restaurant. I've eaten at many, east and west coast. What we got for the money was just average in terms of taste and quality. When we got back from dinner and mentioned where we ate, I was asked, "Why didn't you eat at The Black Pearl?" Maybe next time I should.
(3)
Skippy J.
We chose 22 Bowens as the destination for our family Thanksgiving meal this year. Salads were very nice and the kale salad was a big hit with several in our party. I had a great sirloin au poivre and a delicious baked potato with rosemary sea salt and a bacon creme fraiche. Mike our server was very friendly and attentive and the overall atmosphere was very warm and inviting on a cold and rainy Thanksgiving. I will definately be back when in Newport.
(5)
Adam L.
I am in complete agreement with all the other reviews. The steaks were good, but the service left a lot to be desired. Our server seemed more interested in watching the basketball game than attending our table. It was slow coming on the initial taking of the order and the wine, no refills on water after the check arrived. They also really pushed the most expensive items, which were some nice steaks, but I feel I got a better value with the prix fixe. HOWEVER, there was a wire from a brush in my dessert. The manager came by and comped my after-dinner drink, which already had been a replacement when what I wanted they were out of. In my mind, a tiny piece of metal in the food is more than comp a drink and good to go. This place had nice food but was far from running smoothly.
Food is pretty good here. Great atmosphere. Only con is seating times/reservations. Went at 5 to make a res and earliest time available was 10pm but plenty of empty tables.
(4)
Stuart B.
Great atmosphere better than all the nearby places however one boisterous buffoon was bantering belligerently with the bartender.
(3)
Eileen R.
shared the cheese platter and requested extra of cheddar since we don't like blue. Alyssa the bartender was very accomodating. The salmon entree was the best we've had in Newport!!! Also, Joe the batemder was entertaining with NY stories (we r from NY)!!
(5)
Anne M.
My friend from the DC area came up for the weekend & I took her on a whirlwind your of Boston & Newport. We decided to have dinner at this place after walking around a bit that day shopping. The outdoor restaurant aesthetics & a the menu selections piqued our interest. The restaurant is in the Main Newport Marina area. It's located on one of the small Piers off the Main Street overlooking the boats. As you walk up is a there is a lovely outdoor patio area with umbrellas as well as an inside 3 Season dining area that has large windows that open out to the Patio. The upstairs had the 3 Season dining space also. The Bar fronted the Kitchen. The entire place was spacious but had friendly, intimate spaces. Both the lighting, layout & decor created a very nice inviting ambiance. My friend & I started with the Clam Chowder which was good. It was 9:30 pm & they were putting it away in the Kitchen apparently. It should've been warmer but hey. It was late. My friend ordered te Kale salad which she loved. I had a piece of grilled swordfish which was cooked fine although I would've preferred it to be a much thicker cut & less time on the grill. It was $26 just for the fish. Their steaks & most of their mains are on the ala carte menu. Not something I encourage restaurants to do UNLESS the steak or main is a large thick portion. I didn't feel the piece I had warranted the $26 price tag. The wine & drink menu was extensive & priced fairly I thought. The service was efficient & our server was very pleasant & helpful. We did not have dessert or coffee. We really enjoyed ourselves because of the ambience & we would def go back but I will order either 2 appetizers or salad OR pick a selection from the Main Meal Entrees bc I think the portion/price ratio is more appropriate.
(4)
Holly S.
Upstairs bar is where it's at, ended my night having a yummy red wine and hot toddys for my friends that were so strong! Yay!! So cozy up there. Loved it
(5)
Timothy M.
Amazing once again! Our second time here and our second great experience at 22 Bowen's! Great food and amazing service! To start, my wife and I shared the mussels and their clam chowder. Both were delicious. For entrees my wife had the grilled cheese with Brie and blue cheese. She enjoyed it, however she thought it may have been a bit much with the cheese. Maybe adding something to cut the richness of the cheeses like arugula? I had the steak and cheese. This was pretty good but seemed to be missing some extra flavor. French fries were done to perfection. I enjoyed a Mary Ann's Spiced beer which caught me off guard by being absolutely awesome. We both had desserts which were included because of the Restaurant Week menu. They were both done very well. Overall great experience! We will be back!
(5)
Shannon W.
My boyfriend booked this place for dinner for our first night in Newport. I'll start off with the ambiance. It's very uppity/slightly snobby, but the servers were nice and attentive. While I have no complaints about them, in order to match the snottiness of the restaurant and the extremely high prices we paid, I did expect them to be a bit more on par, knowledgeable about the menu, and more enthusiastic, but then again, it's not like I was in NYC. We started with the scallops. They were delicious. Then we had the calamari. It was very tasty, but not out of this world. We had the scallops as a main dish too (the scallops app was tastier) and brussels sprouts on the side. The brussels sprouts were not that good at all. We had chocolate cake for desert, eh I've definitely had better. At the end of the meal, the server then accidentally put an extra entree on our bill that was meant for another table. She apologized and it was totally fine...but I'm so happy my boyfriend caught that mistake. I mean, c'mon now! It just seemed unprofessional to me, esp at such a high end place. In conclusion, the prices are just very high for the quality of the food and service, then again, it's Newport, so I expected high prices.
(3)
Peter W.
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.
(4)
Susan W.
Sat at outside bar. Had soup and salad. Food good. Great to sit outdoors and enjoy the view which was totally destroyed by a bunch of filthy mouthed guys F this and F that reliving their high school and college days and obviously had too much to drink. Other women at the outside bar and nothing was done to contain their inappropriate behavior. Couldn't waif to get out of there.
(1)
Nicolette B.
This place has to be the most overrated restaurant in Newport. We went for restaurant week--THANK GOD--because I would have been PISSED if we'd paid full price for a very run-of-the-mill dining experience. Menu was uninspired--basically the same combination of protein, starch and vegetables that every other restaurant in Newport is offering. We ordered the chowder and the lobster fritters and I will give the place this...the fritters were ON POINT. Very flavorful, packed with large, distinguishable pieces of lobster and served piping hot. The rolls they bring to the table are also excellent and served with room temperature butter (its truly amazing how many restaurants overlook this important nuance!) The chowder was MUCH thicker than I expected it to be, especially since the menu indicated that it was made with "light cream". Believe me, there was nothing light about it! It tasted good but just be aware if you prefer a thinner chowder. My boyfriend got the Pan-Seared Atlantic Salmon and I got the Bistro Filet. The salmon was dry and the filet was not cooked evenly (some parts were medium, others were medium-rare.) My boyfriend enjoyed the salmon but I thought the filet was bland and ended up grabbing the salt shaker and going to town on that dish. Don't get me wrong...the ingredients were of good quality and looked nice on the plate but the dishes themselves were not seasoned or prepared in a way that justifies the insanely high prices. Service was slow but friendly. Our waiter was knowledgable about their craft beer selection and helpful when it came to making recommendations (we loved everything he suggested.) There was a long lag between the appetizer and entree course but the desserts came quickly after that. In sum, its not a bad restaurant, its just overpriced and not worth what they are asking for on the every-day menu. If you much try this place, I recommend that you wait for restaurant week.
(2)
Terry K.
We had the hamburger and steak sandwich for lunch the flavor,presentation, and quality were well worth the price. The Fried Calamari was great if you do not like hot peppers ask for them on the side they give a good amount......my error I did not but my girlfriend enjoyed them.
(5)
Jon J.
The food here was decently okay. Nothing to write home about, but who writes home about food anyways? The service was unacceptable. I ordered salmon saying I wanted it "very well done". The first time it came, I have suspicions it was still swimming. When I asked if they could cook it for a little longer, it came back still woefully undercooked, not much different from the first time. Then, when the waitress came back with my change, my bill was $xx.25, and the waitress shorted me the 75 cents. I'm not so much concerned about the money, but the principle. It is not at the waitress' discretion to not give me back some of my change. Great restaurants give you the change. It's not rocket science.
(2)
Sharon E.
Last Evening we had the pleasure of dining at one of Newport's finest restaurants, 22 Bowen's Wharf. From the minute we arrived , my guest and i were treated like Queens. We were seated at a window seat, where we could watch the Beautiful Sunset. We had the pleasure of having one of the best Servers in Newport, HIs name was Hamilton. From the minute we sat down he could not accommodate us enough! To begin with he worked with us to find the most hearty, palatable Cabernet in our price range. Our table looked like we were at a wine tasting. The bottom line was through his expertise he was able to satisfy our taste buds. He was very attentive and charming. And the Food ! OMG......to die for. I always indulge in the Wedge salad , which is made up of a very good blue cheese and a fine smoky bacon made in house. I asked the chef if i could have a few chopped kalamata olives put into my Roasted Garlic Beurre Blanc , which would accompany my Melt in Your mouth Filet Mignon and before I blinked an eye, it was done! My guest chose the delectable 16oz. Prime Veal Chop fit for a King. Charred too perfection. While i can's say enough Great things about this restaurant or it's wonderful staff, i feel the so called "Sides", you order to accompany your meal need to be kicked up a notch. They are a little boring. The portions were so generous that i had no room for dessert, but the dessert menu did look very very tempting, especially the Pumpkin Creme Brulee! A good Brulee is hard to find, but I'm sure that there's would be one of the Best! But the overall experience was a "10"! I would highly recommend this restaurant to my Family and Friends. Kudos for a Job well done and a very Special Thank you to Hamilton. Sharon E.
(5)
Miryam Y.
This is one of those restaurants I had wanted to try for a while and finally got to during Newport Restaurant Week. Came here for dinner with a group of 10. Appetizer+entree+dessert = $35. Everything was amazing and I thought that the restaurant week dinner price was beyond reasonable for a place like this! We got a whole variety of things, including clam chowder, lamb, and filet mignon. We were all pleased and would love to come back here! The service was great and good location too :)
(5)
Nicole R.
Came to 22 after a Sunset Cruise. Sad to report this place is highly overrated and completely disorganized. Fritters were great. But the Cod was way oversalted and there was "confusion" over a baked potato. Really? Sad we wasted a dinner on this place.
(2)
Joe R.
Ambiance is fair. We sat next to a service door to an outside patio being wafted with cold air. Service was very good but not excellent. Server seemed to have too many tables or not enough untermenschen or untermedchen. Food presentation was very good. Portion sizes were large. We shared entree and used a veg dish as our sides. Preparation was very good but not excellent. They recognized our occasion. We shared a dessert, key like pie, which was excellent and light-this from non dessert eaters. Price was high for comparable establishments.
(3)
N P.
Not worth it for prices charged.... My girlfriend and I visited the restaurant during the holidays last week. The place was busy, the peopel at the front desk nice.... and everythign else medioacre.... I ordered a steak, medium... and ended up getting a not so good quality steak that was almost well done... I told our waitress,a nd her replyt was... I will send someome over... not sorry, is there anythign i can do.. or anythign else that would imply customer service... Well, someone showed up, we had the same conversation and he left by saying sorry.... So for food... and food service, i would not consider this as a classy joiont... Now lets discuss service... I had to wave down our waitress a few times to ask for drinks, even though she cam by and didnt even look at our table and empty glasses... Verry impersonal and unpleasant... Bottom line... I would not go againa nd would not recommend this place to anyone for the prices charged.. Management and staff not preoperly trained...
(2)
Joe M.
I love 22 Bowens, best steak in town! I always order Beef Carpaccio, and the NY Strip. Try the Bordelaise sauce on the steak as its great.
(5)
Tom M.
Had a great sunset dinner last night, with spectacular food, but the real focus of this review is on the service. Steven was one of the best servers we have ever had, anywhere. Knowledgable, attentive, and very friendly. He made our dinner memorable, and deserves every compliment I can give him. Well done, Steven.
(5)
Shelby F.
This place is great! I've been to many of Newport's restaurants and this place is awesome! My boyfriend got the lobster roll and it was the best lobster I have ever seen and tasted. It was so flavorful and there was so much lobster in it. I got the fish and chips. Fish and chips can be a bit flavorless sometimes but WOW, their fish and chips was amazing. We then got the blueberry lemon creme bulee, it was so delicious! I loved the food and the portions were great for the price. Not to mention they have nice outside seating and a nice outside bar. Also the service was great. I am definitely coming back again and would recommend this to everyone!
(5)
Laurie M.
Amazing. The food was wonderful. The prices are a bit high but we knew that when we made a reservation. Suggested by a local and would do it again. The waitress was so friendly and helpful. I had the shrimp with lobster sauce and pepper, great. My daughter has the salmon, the best and my boe has the lobster pot
(5)
Lelian O.
Ambiance of this restaurant was romantic type of feel, perfect for a date or a night out. The food was good. I ordered the beet salad and the braised beef short ribs and those were delicious. The clam chowder and mac and cheese were just OK. The service was great but my only negative would be parking is really hard for an SUV and very limited. I can't imagine coming here during the summer months when Newport is busy. I would suggest parking somewhere else.
(4)
Emily H.
My boyfriend and I came to Newport to celebrate our anniversary. We decided on 22 Bowen's for dinner solely because of the reviews and location. We walked in and were greeted almost immediately by a cheerful and gracious host who led us to a table in a small room by the window. Not much of a view, but I'm assuming in warmer weather they open the windows and take advantage of the fresh air. We were handed menu's even though we already knew we were going to order the prix fix menu. Even though we're both adults, we decided to skip drinks with dinner. I think that shocked the waiter when I told him. Don't get me wrong, I understand we were at a wine bar, but my license had expired and I didn't want to risk being turned down a drink just for not having an up to date license. After ordering our meals, everything felt a tad rushed. When we ordered the chowder appetizers, they were brought out almost immediately. We were in and out of the restaurant in under an hour on a Friday night. Maybe if we had ordered drinks we would've lingered longer, but our meal was so rushed we felt strange sitting around. I will definitely return, however, for the wine and cocktail list. My meal of pan-seared salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked. The char of the jumbo shrimp really put the dish over the edge. My boyfriend ordered to bistro filet, only to be told they had run out of the filet and was asked if he'd like the hangar steak instead that they serve with fries for $19.99. He said it was fine, but on a Friday night, running out of a main dish ingredient like filet is almost inexcusable. We both work in the service industry as well (I'm a concierge at a luxury apartment building in Providence, and he is a Line Cook at a fine dining restaurant) so we understand that slip ups can happen. Overall, 4 stars for service and food.
I came here this past Sunday for Newport Restaurant Week. We were able to still catch the lunch menu since it was about 3:30pm. I had the shrimp and sweet corn fritters, apple and bacon melt and lemon olive oil cake. My boyfriend had the mushroom and ricotta crostada, kale salad and chocolate budino dessert. The food was delicious and very flavorful. And the portions were great for lunch, I was happy to not leave feeling stuffed. I can't wait to come back when it's a bit warmer and enjoy their other options!
(4)
Nick R.
Our server was great she ran down the special brought us the bottle of wine we ordered which was great we had a second bottle 2011 Malbec Argentina! For apps we had crispy calamari with hot peppers this was a hit! The seated feta and heirloom tomato wasn't that good! The Feta was cold and the tomato hard! Clams in broth was really good! My scallops for dinner were seared perfectly! My wife lobster wAs also really good!
(5)
Evan M.
Probably the best restaurant in Newport. Everything from the location, the service, to the food is top-notch. The restaurant is situated right by the water on the wharf, and you can choose to sit at their outdoor bar, patio, or either of their 2 indoor levels. If you want a quick bite and a drink I would recommend the outside bar. If you are looking for the true experience, sit inside. Ask for Shane, the best bartender in Newport. This isn't a place you go for a quick burger, or a plate of nachos. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place. The menu here is mostly steaks and seafood, but you can't go wrong with any choice. The porterhouse is amazing (but then again for $54 is should be). The restaurant is relatively expensive, but you are paying for superior food and service. So know this before you go in, or take a look at a menu before sitting down. It's a good place to splurge, and expect to spend about $100 per person for dinner/drinks. If you are in Newport and are looking for the best, this is where you should be.
(5)
Nik H.
I took my clients here based on a number of referrals. I thought the food was very good but nothing special. The steaks that we all ordered were properly prepared and the sides were all plentiful and tasted great. Ordinarily, this would earn 4 stars but a couple of things occurred that removed one star... 1. They had a cocktail on the menu which was a Blantons manhattan. It was $14. I received it, took a taste and it was NOT Blantons. When I asked the server, she got huffy and I am not a fan of huffy servers. She reluctantly checked with the barman and found out I was correct. He made an ordinary Manhattan. 2. The same server made an error on the bill and rolled her eyes at me when it was pointed out. Really? Great food is found everywhere. When you charge this type of money, you need to be in a truly separate class; if food is the sole differentiator. More often, it is the overall experience- cocktails, food, atmosphere and service that differentiates high end restaurants. I for one was disappointed with the overall experience. Doubt I will go back. There are too many other good places in the same general area.
22 Bowens gets two stars for ambiance, but that's about it's only saving grace. The ingredients are of decent quality but the chef is without talent. Caesar salad was bland and unimaginative. Both of the two pieces of fish we ordered were badly over-grilled. Mac and cheese was criminally bad. The Brussels sprouts were also overcooked. Bread was stale. Total for two salads, two pieces of fish, two sides, and a $35 bottle of wine came to $175 including tip. I have no intention of ever returning.
(2)
Julie N.
With a bunch of money to spend on a girls getaway weekend, I picked 22 Bowens for dinner for our first night. I had gone to Salve Regina and remember always hearing amazing fancy things about 22 Bowens but never had the opportunity to eat there. I made a reservation for five people on a busy Friday night at 9:30pm but we showed up at 7:30pm. I checked in with the hostess and let them know we were really early but wanted to check on tables. They graciously sat our party right away upstairs in the bar area and we were all thrilled by that gesture. Then things went downhill. Our waitress was probably the most miserable person I have ever met in my life. She made it know that she did not give half a sh*t and did not want to go once inch above just taking our orders and taking off. We were about to spend a LOT of money and we were all a bit pissed at this situation. After our appetizers were delivered I went to speak to the manager about our waitress and he was more than apologetic. He asked if we wanted a different table and I said we would just prefer a different waitress. He sent a new waitress and she turned out to be sweet as pie. The food. Well, the caesar salad was completely inedible. I mean like one bite and you push it away in disgust. I understand anchovies in a caesar, but when the entire salad reeks of the ocean it that just doesn't work. My scallops wrapped in bacon were undercooked (both the scallops and the bacon), the filet was average for the hefty price tag, and most of my party said their food was just okay. It just wan't good. Would I ever go back? Absolutely not. For a menu with prices that high for subpar food and an air of superiority, 22 Bowens needs to check itself.
(2)
Alexandra C.
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.
(4)
Melissa R.
Nice outdoor seating - the waitress did a decent job for being busy, but service was slow. However, she did get snappy in front of us by scolding another waiter for calling her Becky instead of Becca The disappointment came from the Chef's inability to cook any of our burger's correctly. Medium Rare came out Well Done. Medium came out Charred. Good thing we didn't order the overpriced porterhouse! Pretty sad ending to a wonderful Newport Weekend.
(2)
Judy G.
Upscale place in a beautiful location. The Delmonico was very good; cooked perfectly med-rare. Everyone in our business group of 7 loved their meal from the shell fish tower appetizer, soups, salmon, sides, coffee, everything!!! And the service was excellent (thanks Joan).
(4)
Christie C.
Never disappointed by 22 bowen's. Our dinners were exceptional, as was the service and drink list. We each had a filet, one was a nightly special and the other the 22 B filet. Same cut of meat but totally different flavors and wonderful culinary experiences. Made for a delightful night in Newport.
(5)
Brian K.
Awesome, great salmon, nice wine, sat outside, professional staff, we would absolutely go back.......
The food was okay but the waiter was a little rude and looked that we were bothering him to do his job. Have been coming here for years. Will not ever come back after this experience.
(2)
Ashley S.
My favorite place for filet mignon or steak in Newport (when my wallet allows me to afford it). I enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, and I've always received great service. My filet mignons are always cooked how I asked, so no complaining there! The portions are decent. The cocktails on are on the expensive side. I do enjoy grabbing a martini or margarita at their small outside bar from time to time when the weather is nice. I could probably go somewhere else and find the same drinks for a cheaper price, but view is nice. I do understand that this is a business, and that Newport has a tourist season, which they can use to their advantage to generate income.
(4)
Therese Z.
Great place. Nice wine list and steak was cooked to perfection. Took a star away for the side dishes. Creamed spinach is not "creamed", it's wilted with Parmesan cheese on top and asparagus in lemon oil was bitter. Other then that it was a great dinner. Save room for the apple crostata!
(4)
Marissa E.
We came during restaurant week on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and were able to sit down immediately. Our server was very kind and helpful. He explained the menu in full detail and offered many suggestions. She stopped over several times to make sure everything was ok. The food was incredible!! We were so full that we had I take some home! The only downside about the meal was the clam chowder-it separated before reaching the table, not very appealing. All in all, we had a wonderful experience. Very pricey though-would come back for restaurant week.
(5)
Alex M.
After coming to Bowen 22 three times in the past 6 months and being disappointed each time, I am finally throwing in the towel. Being new to the area, my boyfriend and I decided to venture to Newport and wanted to have a nice lunch on the water. It was a beautiful day and Bowen 22 seemed to fit what we were craving perfectly. However, we were sorely mistaken. The hostess was extremely rude and off putting but we decided to ignore her and hoped our waiter would be friendlier. Again, not the case. He was just as rude as the hostess but our food was delicious so we decided to try it again. The second time, we decided to have dinner before a concert in Newport and again we were met with horrible service and I even had a full glass of water spilled on my lap. Again, I brushed it off because i REALLY REALLY wanted to like the restaurant since it was in such a beautiful spot and the food was good. The third time, I brought my best friend who was visiting from NYC. The service we received again was horrendous, but beyond anything I have ever experienced. We overhead our waiter talking to another waiter telling him to get his customers out of the restaurant so he could fill their seats with people who would be able to tip better. Then, a bus boy spilled water all over a baby in a high chair a few tables over. Our waiter had no idea what the specials were when we asked and when he found out, he just said "steak sandwich" without telling us anything else about it. When we asked for the bill, he didn't come back for about 20 minutes, and when he did he said he couldn't remember what we had and could we please tell him so he could get our bill. Even after we TOLD HIM what we ate, he still came back with a bill that had 2 more beers on it that we did not drink. After speaking with the manager (who i am not sure was even the manager) I was so upset that I did not leave any tip at all. The manager offered to take the beers of the bill (WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE) and a free appetizer. WHAT A JOKE. I will never be back, and will make sure to tell everyone I know what a horrendous place Bowen 22 is.
(1)
D. B.
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.
(2)
Karen C.
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.
(5)
Angela C.
A clean, nicely presented restaurant in the midst of restaurant row and tourist walk right on the front pier. While I have previously dined for dinner, we ate lunch on the open air dining patio this past weekend. In spite of being very busy, the hostess was more than happy to accommodate the stroller and 5 month old baby. Or waitress was prompt, informative and extremely kind. The outdoor dining can get warm as the forest green awning and lack of ocean breeze can make the air quite sticky. The food was quite delightful as my companions and I enjoyed fish tacos, a clamtastic platter and a simple salad with grilled chicken. While the prices are comparable to other establishments, the drink rates are quite high so enjoy the meal, linger and have a good time for the bill fleet what you ate and drank.
(3)
Lo-an L.
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.
(5)
Scott K.
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.
(3)
Sharon D.
Awesome food! great location and great service!
(5)
Crystal M.
Went here this past weekend to celebrate my and my husband's 1st year anniversary. We had a great time here. We were seated promptly and the entire staff was very polite and attentive. The food, while pricey, was delicious. The big downside is that for the price I really think a side should be included in the entrees. The entrees are a good size, but a side is usually standard and it was a bit annoying that they don't include one for the price. My husband had the petit filet mignon and is was cooked perfectly. I have the salmon and it too was delicious. We also had the bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer. Also delicious. They have a good selection of wine and beverages. I had a glass of Beringer and we both had a light and stormy. Our Light and Stormy's weren't very consistent though. My husband's had a prominent ginger beer flavor, but mine was a bit too heavy on the rum... not that I minded - I was out to celebrate afterall! :) I topped the night off with a glass of 10 year aged tawny port and an order of the creme brule. My husband had a slice of the Key Lime Pie. Again, everything was delicious. We had a very good experience here and we definately hope to get back again.
(4)
Sarah S.
My husband and I went to 22 Bowen's in mid-August and had an excellent experience. Great food and service. We had a very different second experience on September 21. After we ordered our food, we barely saw our server. Our water glasses were empty most of the meal. My husband ordered a steak, but wasn't given a steak knife. The server didn't come back to check on us until almost the end of the meal. When the server finally brought the knife, he didn't apologize or ask how our food was. We had a Dinner Club card and did not realize it wasn't valid at this restaurant until Oct 1. The manager explained this to us and after I conceded I was wrong about the dates, he abruptly left. No "thank you for coming" or "please come again" or even "have a nice evening." I have worked in high-end restaurants and know what kind of service a restaurant of this calibur should provide. It was sorely lacking. The food is excellent, but based on the service, we will not be coming back.
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!
(4)
BlueCat P.
We had the best service ever at 22 Bowens. The server's timing was superb, she was friendly and top notch. Granted, we got there early, but often early diners are overlooked because the workers are setting up. The food was wonderful. We had the Delmonico - cooked perfectly might I add - asparagus, a couple of lovely salads, and pork belly. I was stunned that what looked like a so so restaurant was so excellent. Loved it.
(5)
Felecia W.
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.)
(5)
Kellysue H.
Good location, pretty good food and ok service.
(3)
Ross D.
I've wanted to try this place the last couple times in Newport, but never quite worked out. Review only for drinks and an appetizer, and for the outside dining part on the wharf. First, location is great, right by a couple of the big charter sailboats. I like the look of the outdoor bar, too, although we sat at a table. Server was very friendly, but disappeared a few times for overly long stretches. Drinks: they have a nice list of cocktails. Wife had the red sangria, which she liked. I had the Blueberry Thyme Shrub, which was very refreshing and interesting. Decent list of wines by the glass, so we each had a glass of New Zealand Sav. Food: the menu isn't super extensive (strange, since the size of the menu book itself is strangely enormous), but is pretty cha-ching. We only ate the "Bucket of Clams" which was a decent amount of mussels, littlenecks, and a couple of giant clams--all steamed and served in a "natural broth" (think white wine and garlic). Very tasty dish, although I would have liked a bit more broth in the bucket for dunking the one piece of garlic toast and rolls. Extra points for the basket of 3 rolls--2 regular dinner rolls and 1 cranberry roll; those were all tasty. I don't think I'd choose this spot for dinner, but it's certainly a place I'd visit again for a drink and a small bite on a nice Newport afternoon or early evening.
(3)
Jacqui L.
Our waiter was the best waiter I have ever had. Seriously. Amazing. This is a restaurant that we go to for special occasions because of the price. The steak is outstanding. We asked that it not be served new York style so as to avoid the char. It was phenomenal. The wine list is epic. The yellowfin tuna was cooked perfectly, and the a la carte sides were great. I love this place, just be willing to drop a few bucks!
(5)
Neena C.
We walked in here on a saturday night (party of 2) and it was packed, now granted we probably should have made a reservation, but wishful thinking. Immediately, the interaction with the hostess was odd. She asked if we had a reservation, we said no and she said well the earliest we could seat you is 1015, a 2 hour wait. We looked around and realized there were a lot of empty tables and I glanced at her screen and could see very few reservations listed in that 2 hour timeframe. She said we could try the bar downstairs or upstairs. but did not offer to put our names down. I said we would try the bar, but if she could please put our names in and she grudgingly did. As my boyfriend visited the bathroom, I decided to check open table and see what it said. They had multiple reservations listed starting in 15 min throughout the supposed 2 hour gap that they didn't have anything...strange. The bar downstairs was packed, so we checked upstairs and I was about to make a reservation via open table when a couple was finishing up and offered us their seats. Besides the less than accommodating hostess, who I believe took her "power position" a bit far, this place still deserves 4 stars. It has a great ambiance and decor and our bartender was fabulous! My bf started with the clam chowder which was up there as one of our top favorites, wonderful smoky flavor. I had the seared feta, which I have never seen before, but had to try. It was out of this world. It was a thick piece of feta with a great seared crust on top of a baguette with heirloom tomatoes, arugula, avocado, and finished with balsamic glaze. Highly recommend! As for the entrees, mine was a bit disappointing. Don't order the tagliatelle...pretty boring/bland and the combination of asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and supposedly wild mushrooms, but I think I had maybe one or 2 in there with arugula pesto didn't work. The tagliatelle was also not cooked properly and too sticky. My boyfriend however ordered right. He had the ribeye with shallot porcini butter which was one of the best steaks I've ever had and I'm not much of a red meat eater. The brussels sprouts were delicious and cooked perfectly. The mashed potatoes were boring and a bit gritty I would stay away from those and maybe go for mac and cheese next time. The people next to us ordered the swordfish and scallops, both looked amazing and they cleaned their plates. Overall a pleasant experience and we will definitely be back, but next time I'll make a reservation with open table ahead of time and choose more wisely in my ordering.
(4)
Virginia T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Newport. The food and cocktails are great, and you are right on the wharf which has a nice view. They have an extensive wine list, and the atmopshere is cozy.
(5)
Jacki L.
REALLY REALLY GREAT FOOD ... We shared everything they didn't mind and it was a lot of food at a decent price! Bartender got slammed, messed up the order BUT it didn't matter he was a lot of fun very enjoyable!! Food came when it was ready and thoroughly enjoyed everything... I think sometimes we all just forget to sit back and enjoy... AND WE DID. SO GOOD
(4)
Jennifer M.
Our server Nils was really the highlight of our visit. My boyfriend and I came here for lunch and the food, wine and atmosphere were all terrific. Nils was above average though. Really made us feel like VIPs even though we were only here for a casual lunch.
(4)
Tricia M.
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.
(3)
Codi E.
I've been to 22 Bowens for a couple of special occasions and I am always pleased with the food, the service, and the atmosphere alike. The filet is out of this world, and since I knew what we were getting into, the price was right in line with my expectations. The service was good as I recall, nothing out of this world but GOOD. I'm okay with an unmemorable wait staff! What I like about the atmosphere is that as fancy as 22 Bowens can be at night, it's completely comfortable. In a world where most of us don't formally dine every night, it can be unnerving to go into a fancy place, but not here! Only reason this is 4 stars instead of 5 is because it IS pricey, not somewhere we can go every Friday night ;-)
(4)
Arlynn B.
Great Steakhouse! My friends took me to 22 Bowens to celebrate my birthday and we had a fantastic time! Great service and food! Birthday celebration = lots of conversation. The staff was very understanding, we took forever to decide weather to have wine or cocktails, we finally decided we wanted wine; we then took forever to decide what to eat...as I said, the staff accommodated us with no fuss. Service was very good and smooth and the food was delicious! I had the Prime New York Sirloin and it was a dream! I also heard my friends raving about the Grilled Yellowfish Tuna and the Filet Mignon. Special thanks to Alex for the amazing service!! Totally recommended for special occasions!
(5)
Dan G.
Bit expensive but huge portions and great wine list. Bit too dark for my tastes as I like to see the people that I am with and the food that I eat. I am spoiled with some of the best food and restaurants in the world by living in DC. Not with the prices but good food.
(3)
Sergio A.
Good food and great service! One of the many places to check out when in Newport! Pricy though, but worth it!
(4)
Carlen M.
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!
(4)
Sarah D.
I adore this restaurant. I went once with family when I was a bit younger and thought so highly of it that when I recently traveled to Newport, I just had to revisit it. It was fantastic. The oysters on the half shell are irresistible - so irresistible, in fact, that I had to restrain myself from ordering a second platter. The food there is just delightful and incredibly fresh. My only complaint is that the place can get quite loud. If you'd like a romantic evening, make sure to ask about seating in a less crowded area of the restaurant. If not, just tune out the noise and let the food make up for it because it most certainly will.
(4)
Brandon R.
The prime delmonico was fantastic! Wow. So much flavor. Truffled Tator tots weren't our thing. The clam chowder is great. Not sure if it's better here or at the Black Pearl. I'll have to keep trying!
(5)
Michelle R.
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.
(4)
Kelli P.
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!
(4)
Ron N.
we came here to celebrate our anniversary. We had a very friendly reception from the receptionist. We were given a lovely corner table upstairs with a view of the marina. The waiter has been helpful and friendly. The bread is warm. I ordered the roast cod clambake.. And it was perfect. Lots of mussels, clams and fish, and have for lobster tail perfectly cooked. All in a very flavorful broth. And covered with roast Corn that clearly was fresh sweet corn straight from the cob. In all, it exceeded every expectation.
(5)
Chris R.
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.
(4)
Art C.
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.
(5)
Dan G.
My family and I went here during Newport's restaurant week hoping for a nice lunch. The atmosphere was pleasant but everyone in family felt let down by the experience. To start we ordered our apps entrees and desserts along with the clam and mussel bucket for the table. We waited a half hour for the apps to arrive and when they came they were not what we ordered. The mushroom crustada was cold the chowder was delicious but unfortunately lukewarm.. Thankfully the corn and shrimp fitters had a healthy portion, so we could share. But the worst was yet to come.. The clams in our mixed shellfish bucket smelled like low tide enough that it ruined our appetite for the rest of the meal. At this point we wanted out but still had to wait for our entrees and desert and although portions were generous the flavor lacked. Dessert was the only saving grace, and to be honest getting the bill was everyone's favorite part of the meal.. Sorry guys but there is a lot of work to be done in proper execution of restaurant week.. Better luck next fall..
(1)
Thomas S.
Celebrated with 5 others last night. Our waiter, Stephen was excellent. Appetizers were fantastic. The steaks were delicious. Only complaint we had was a side dish of potatoes was cold. Nice touch by the restaurant to bring over a dessert on the house for my father-in-laws b-day. We will be back!
(4)
Reg Z.
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
(4)
LuAnn H.
Food was excellent, but for some reason my husband and I were invisible to the servers. Never filled water or iced tea glass, did not ask if we wanted a wine refill, no coffee or desert! For the price, the I attentive service made the experience awful.
(2)
Stefan N.
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.
(3)
Jade L.
Although the food is good, I would not return due to the horrible service. It is also quite over priced for the quality of food you are getting. I went to the restaurant with friends oin Saturday July 27th. The waiter was rude, inattentive and incompetent. He did not bring out the proper silverware for the seafood, it took him a long time to bring out the drinks, nor did he tell us the specials. When we asked he told us the one special they had. He did not describe the special. It is hard to believe at a seafood restaurant on a saturday in Newport that they would have one special which wasn't even seafood. We also heard our waiter tell another waitress to close out her table so the customers could leave and he could have it. When we asked him at the end to split the bill. He came back after 10 minutes to ask us again what we had ordered. After over 15 minutes of waiting for the bill, it was incorrect when we received it. After having such a negative experience we asked the hostess if there was a manager we could speak with. She was rude and reluctant to have us speak with the manager. When we finally did speak with the manager he seemed disinterested and disengaged. He did not seem to care at all about our experience. Only eat at this restaurant if you like terrible service, rude waiters, high prices, and good but not excellent food.
(1)
Mary Z.
Hardly the best restaurant in Newport..or anywhere else. The food was so-so, the server was pretentious and the wine was fair. I was anticipating a lot more for the amount that we paid. Sorry, won't be back.
(2)
Kate J.
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.
(1)
Ben I.
Nice view from the upstairs decktop, watching visitors stroll past. Lobster salad app was great, redfish wrap and fries were good. My wife liked her chicken portabello sandwich. Service was nice. I would go back.
(4)
Robert D.
Great place to grab an outside table during the boat show and order my annual lobster grilled cheese on Texas Toast and and Ice cold beer! Spectacular way to kick off the afternoon. If you aren't into seafood the French dip is so good it will make you weep! Dinners are great steaks excellent and servers work very hard to know their menu and accommodate every guest! Great memories for many years!
(4)
Steve S.
Super good. Staff did fantastic job of serving us with somel special requests. Definitely recommend. Doors were opened onto Bowen Wharf. The Seafood stew was fantastic.
(5)
Nicole B.
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!
(2)
Daniel L.
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.
(4)
Maureen M.
We had a beautiful view from indoors of the boats in the harbor. The scallops were delicious, the service was excellent! Beautiful place for dinner!
(5)
Julie Y.
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..
(4)
Patricia P.
We celebrated my birthday here last night and the food was awesome. The staff was terrific. My friends had steak and I had baked stuffed lobster and it was all really good. The wine list is also very nice. Enjoy!,
(5)
Mark P.
I was in the area for a business meeting and this was the location chosen for my sales team to eat dinner...so I didn't choose it. I am impressed! The appetizers were great, the location is nice, but what really impressed me is how they handled our large group. We had 10 in our party (which usually means a 3 hour dinner) but we ate in less than 2 hours with desert...amazing! EXCELLENT SERVICE!! I had the Filet and it was cooked exactly as ordered with a unique herb butter dip. The rolls were excellent and the desert was outstanding (they don't make it themselves but they picked some great tasting small sweets! Looking for a nice dinner with good service - this is your place!
(4)
Casey H.
I came here today for lunch with my 2 sisters. First, we asked for a drink menu, and the waiter asked us if we were over 21. I am in my 30's and my sisters are in their twenties. We told him our ages (I thought it was weird he didn't just card us) and he just came back with the drink menu. We each ordered a burger and a beer, I ordered wine. A few minutes later, the manager comes over, introduced herself (Kathy?), shakes our hands, looking us each in the eye, and asks us what we're doing in Newport, but not in a friendly way, it was more probing. We told her we just came down for the day from MA. She says to enjoy our lunch and walks away. Now, the waiter comes back and asks us where we are coming from. Again, it was more probing than friendly curiosity. My sisters and I are looking at each other like "What is going on here?" Meanwhile, the manager is talking to another server and staring at us. The manager didn't go over to any other tables, just kept looking at us, and at this point we are all really uncomfortable and wish we went somewhere else. The food was fine but I have never been questioned like this in a restaurant. If they had a question about our age (if that's what it was), they should have just carded us. Shame on them. Very awkward experience. Would never come back.
(1)
Toby T.
Great food, perfect location (right on the waterfront in downtown Newport), fantastic wine list, and a very on-point staff. Great for anyone that loves a quality steak and seafood house.
(5)
K M.
My husband and i went here for the first time last night. We were early for our reservation, but headed upstairs to the really cool loft bar to wait. When we told the manager that we were celebrating our 17th anniversary, he directed the bartender to give us complimentary champagne. Then he located a great table and we were seated early. The food was amazing - from the chef's special swiss veal app (which the chef personally brought to our table) to the PEI oysters to chopped salad and the delmonico steaks. Also the bar prepared great cocktails - my husband's dirty martini was perfect. I tried a [several] pineapple-infused vodka martini that was delicious in its simplicity (they infuse the vodka in house). Creme brulee, brought with a candle and congratulations, for dessert was crispy on the top and creamy inside, and teh right amount for 2 to share. Service was extremely attentive and thorough. The views of the wharf contribute to ambiance, which was rich and dark but elegant. Even with a large party of 20 or so seated near us, we had our own space. I think we found our new go-to place for special dates. We will definitely return for dinner, and also just to the bar again.
(5)
Kristi T.
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)!
(4)
Matt M.
Great food, but you definitely pay for it. Nothing outstanding about it. But overall, a nice place with high quality food and drinks. Got some a great statler chicken breast and yellowfin tuna steak here. Both were excellent cuts and were cooked perfectly. The truffled mac & cheese was by far the highlight. We also got "The Wedge" salad (iceberg, bacon, bleu cheese) which was fantastic. I was also seriously impressed with their Scotch selection. Lots and lots to choose from, with a great description of the various regions on the menu itself.
(3)
Kyle C.
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.
(4)
Lilly C.
Wow, rarely is it that I find myself nodding in agreement with review after review after review. 22 Bowen has an excellent wine list. We've been lucky to receive thoughtful recommendations on what to pair with our order, and have found old favorites and unexpected offerings on their substantial menu. Like others, we have had a few inexperienced servers when it comes to wine service, but they've always been pleasant and have more seasoned coworkers assist. The bar is huge and has everything under the sun. More often than not, though we always have reservations, we end up grabbing a drink at the bar during the inevitable wait to be seated. Most recently, I had some drink that was the product of soaking lemons in straight vodka. Just two simple ingredients - that also happened to make a lovely decorative statement as well, since it was being "brewed" behind the bar - with an end result of pure, smooth sunshine and smiles. The only reason I know the cocktail contained what they said it did is because of how I felt after drinking a few. Main point: Get drinks, get dessert - the creme brulee, my goodness! Do not share yours, you will regret it! Yes, they have too much red meat, but the filet is so good! Yes, you do order sides separately and they are enough for 2 people. Yes, it's ABSOLUTELY FREEZING at all times no matter the time of year. No, it's not really a great place for your children. No, it's not very casual, so please dress accordingly. Oh, and I hate to pick on any staff in particular, but the hostess this past summer was sort of clueless. As in, sort of insufferably bad at her job. Maybe it was just a bad week, but after several encounters that resulted in either being ignored or having a really confused look coming my way, my patience ran out. Perhaps a longer training period for staff should be considered?
(3)
Devon D.
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.
(4)
Vinny D.
I have been to Newport several times. This was the first time at this restaurant. The hardest part of the experience was deciding whether to eat indoor, or outdoors. We decided on indoors. The interior decor was both rustic and elegant. A difficult look to pull off. Our server was both friendly and curt. At this time, there was a $22 deal where you receive 2 meals for $22. We had both ordered the fish tacos with the soup of the day. The soup was a lobster bisque and the fish tacos were full of fresh fish and other finely diced vegetables. The flavors worked really well together. The service was quick and the food was excellent. Upon leaving we used the restrooms. They were very clean. I would recommend this establishment to any Newport newcomers that are looking for a quick bite during lunch to break up their day and enjoy the rest of Newport!
(4)
Yary M.
Service was below par. Waitress couldn't describe dishes. Chef Failed to get lamb chops done right even after 3 attempts. Kept getting it well done and not seasoned. Wouldn't recommend. I waited almost 2 hours to get entree.
(1)
Sha L.
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.
(3)
Alex R.
Good lobster. Lousy everything else. Salmon dry (even though we asked for it medium rare.) Tempura cold. Fries too salty.
(2)
Terri k.
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!
(4)
G B.
Food was great! I had the fried clam sandwich that came with chips and Cole slaw. Hands down the best fried clam sandwich I've ever had. The atmosphere was nice and the service very good. The chairs were uncomfortable but overall I would highly recommend this restaurant for lunch.
(4)
Ben A.
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.
(5)
J J.
First of all the wine list was fabulous! They are in wine spectators top 100 restaurants. The wine bar and decor were totally inviting. The food was great! I had the crusted tuna and people in my party had the chicken, scallops, pork and salmon. All were good, but not special given the price of the food. The kicker for this 3 star review was the fact that they sat us in a freezer box room. It overlooks the harbor which is great but they made no attempt to adjust the temp for us despite our requests. Finally during our desert we left to the bar area to finish our meal. Even though it was Sue's b-day and our discontent with the temp, they did not offer any compensation. Waiter was a little cheesy...partially to be expected in Newport. Would return but only sit in the wine bar.
(3)
J M.
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.
(4)
Melissa P.
I really think this place is best suited for a lunch spot however we did have a very nice yet slightly over-priced dinner during our stop in Newport. When we arrived in the evening the bar was dead and filled with young servers talking about where they were going to party that evening. Sort of a buzz kill for me but we persevered considering it was our 1st wedding Anniversary. I have to start off with the one mistake our waiter made. We ordered the 2005 Paraduxx for around $85 and we know the wine well since we belong to the club. Our waiter came to the table carrying a different bottle of wine and said that he only had a 2006. I jokingly asked him if that made it cheaper since it was a different vintage. He proceeded to tell me that wine, like cars, get more expensive the newer they are. Hmmm, maybe he needed to know a little more about wine before working at a place that had "Wine Bar" in the title. However he did redeem himself with his very professional and outstanding service. Nothing special about the food. Your usual steak house fare. We each had an 8oz Filet Mignon which was very good along with 2 sides: mash potatoes and creamed spinach. They knew it was our Anniversary so they brought out crème brulee with a candle which was a very nice touch. All in all a decent meal with a view of the Wharf. Next time I would definitely come back for lunch and sit outside!
(3)
Kim P.
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.
(4)
Amanda G.
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.
(3)
Donna S.
Loved this. I had 20 guests in the private room upstairs and every thing went well. Service was top notch!
(4)
Bridget K.
22 Bowens is one of the more upscale restaurants in Newport. The atmosphere is lively, the decor is beautiful and the food is good, though offensively overpriced. Because they are one of the few restaurants in Newport with a good menu and quality food, they can get away with charging what they do. I would recommend 22 Bowens for a special occasion or for out of town guests.
(3)
John K.
Really quality outdoor seating makes this place worth going to, right on the wharf. Had a sausage that was average to salty, but crab avacado salad was excellent. Great date.
(4)
Roseann C.
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 Saturday 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.
(3)
Amy W.
Have been to 22 Bowens twice now, and was quite pleased each time. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive, tables spaced sufficiently so that we weren't on top of the next diners, food reliable and as described. The first time, I had onion soup as an app, and loved it - but I won't get it again, as the size of the portion was way too large for an appetizer. No, I didn't have to eat it all, but somehow...I did. The steak I ordered was terrific, a perfect medium rare, and side of baked potato was enough for three people. That would lead to my only complaint with 22 Bowens - portion sizes are crazy big. I'd gladly get less food and pay a little less, though since I live here I don't mind getting a doggie bag and having lunch the next day included in my night out. Friends had lobster that night & shared a few bites - it was delicious. Steak again the second time around, though my husband and I shared the special, a 28-oz delmonico for two. After appetizers (I had a cassoulet app, which was great, though too heavy for then having steak, but that was my mistake, not theirs) we waited...and waited...the waitress came around and told us that our steak had come out too well done and she made them cook another more rare. Fair enough, thanks for doing that - I'd rather wait than have it too well done, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. The steak when it did appear was perfect. So bravo. Neither time have we been able to order dessert, not being able to restrain ourselves at the entree. Good wine list, and we got good recommendations. A little too pricey to be the casual, 'hey, let's go out' kind of place, but a good go-to for when we want something better than the run-of-the-mill.
(4)
Damon C.
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.
(4)
Dee L.
First the good stuff - Excellent service, nice atmosphere, amazing Lobster spring rolls. The so so stuff... We sat upstairs which was really nice and itimate however there was a large party on the 1st floor which was really really loud. I was pretty shocked how loud they were considering this place pretty much is fine dining. I guess you can't take some people anywhere. I thought the prices were a bit on the high side and everything is ala cart. Got the filet a bit too charred on the outside I know that sometimes happens with filets but at Ruth Chris that never happens. The sides for the extra cost were a bit skimpy. Overall it was a nice experience, would I rush back probably not.
(3)
Toni M.
--From April 23 and May13, 2010, sorry for the delay-- I was with a group up at the Naval War College. A few of us professed to be foodies, so we formed an ad hoc supper club. 22 Bowen made the list. As a matter of fact, it was so good we had the 'last su
(5)
Lynne K.
Amazing wine selection, almost overwhelming! Dinner was fantasic, though the mac n' cheese is a little too rich. Loster fritters were not that good. I wish they had a bigger menu, especially dessert!! Overall, it was a lovely venue, but a little too busy for my taste.
(3)
Jennifer W.
Wow, not sure I have ever paid more for a meal I couldn't eat. The staff certainly didn't care a bit that the meal was untouched by most of our table. We started with the lobster soup, which was brown and thick like gravy. Had a very strange after taste as well as a gross texture. Main meal was ok, but certainly not work the spend. None of us could touch our deserts. Please if you go, don't pass on the bread. I will at least fill you up a little. Salad was also full of sand.
(1)
Katrina M.
This place has a nice location and pleasant environment. It's sort of in tourist-central, but holds a classier feel then some of the surrounding restaurants. It effectively isolates you from the hustle of the crowds and enables you to slow down and enjoy. The food is good and reliable, but more classic then cutting edge. You'll end up paying a little more then strictly necessary, especially when it comes to wine; their selection is extensive, but a little high in price. The service is good, but a little casual - think professional until a friend sits at the table next door or a customer on the phone is less then clear - all in all, I'll go back, but there are some other places I'd go first.
(3)
Tony P.
Dined at the restaurant on 8/12/12. Outside dining near dockside. My entree was one of their specialty dishes, the Grilled Tuna with a Chili Glaze, and Noodles. I like sushi, so I asked for the tuna to be rare. The entire dish was fantastic. The tuna was lightly seared, the glaze was great. The wasabi paste was a bit spicier than I would have expected, so go easy there. But the dish was 10 out of 10!
(5)
A M.
First, expensive. Second, overpriced for what you get, and I truly don't mind paying for good food. Third, very delicious food with a nice view of a pier with boats. The blue point oysters were superb, but at $3.50 each they should be. Steaks were excellent but cooked, it was agreed, one level above what was ordered for the entire table. I order medium rare and got medium, etc. The wine list is very good, and not particularly overpriced. Service was impeccable from both a quality, timeliness, and politeness standpoint. Would go again if money not a question.
(3)
Blake N.
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.
(4)
Abby O.
A bit of a tourist trap... we had terrible service at the outside bar, 22B. All the waitress did was talk to her friends at the next table and ignore us. Then went over to the main restaurant for dinner where the service was great but the food was mediocre at best. Maybe ok if you're just going for steak but we had the Stuffed Portabella app, the Tuna app and the Chopped Salad all of which had no flavor. If I'm going to drop $50 on dinner I want it to taste like something.
(2)
Sean M.
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.
(4)
Jeff H.
They have decent chowder, but I would more recommend this as a place to have drinks - at least their outside patio bar is. I didn't actually go into the restaurant - my girlfriend and I sat at the patio bar by the water. This is another nice place to have a couple beers while on vacation - and a good place to watch the sun go down.
(3)
Ben P.
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.
(3)
Meesh K.
In the summer you can't beat the view from the outdoor bar. Its great for people watching, to relax and have a drink during a day of shopping, or just meet your friends. They have good beers on tap, an ok wine menu, and they even serve a limited menu outside. Inside however isn't worth the price. The food is just ok and I am being nice saying that. Stick with the drinks outside and during the winter skip it all together.
(3)
HyunJoo K.
Just the place I always want to be! My boyfriend took me out there last year as a surprise for my birthday! It was actually the first time in Newport, RI as well! It is a beautiful place with the Cliff Walk and Mansions. There is plenty of boutique shops, but keep in mind tax!!! I am not used to taxes on anything! Anyways, 22 Bowen's has indoor and outdoor seating, and my boyfriend purposely chose outdoor seating, knowing that I am not a big fan of loud public places - I like a more private intimate setting. It is also facing the Newport Harbor which is a lot of fun to watch the boats go in and out of the port. The food was absolutely amazing. We started with Bacon Wrapped Georges Bank Scallops- Macadamia Nuts, Mango Micro Green Salad, probably the best I ever had, and then I had the 22 bowen's signature special, Grilled Filet Mignon over Roasted Shallot Mashed Potatoes with Wild Mushroom Demi-Glace and Whipped Great Hill Blue Cheese. (Yes, those are not by memory, I had to go back to the website to remember the exact dish title). Then at the end, they came out with a simple small circle shaped bread pudding with a single candle - simple and sweet! I think that was the most memorable birthday I have had. I hope to go back there for some more filet mignon! Oh, the inside of the place is very clean and dim light setting, but I found it to be a little too loud? Well, it would be great too for some special occasions or company events. Also, they supposed to carry a good wine list, but I am not fond of alcohol, so I couldn't really tell you in that aspect. Well, go check the place out, while I am imagining being there :D
(5)
Nick S.
I have been 4 times before and had incredibly poor meals. Went back with a gift card and sat at the bar. Barman was great. We shared the blue crab app which was great in its simple ness . Fresh lump crab and good. We split the big ribeye medium rare and they did not overcook it for once. Did not go near side dishes are they are very poor. Steak quality was excellent. If you go, stay simple and order one degree below where you like your steak done. Wine is good and so is glassware.
(3)
Molly R.
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.
(4)
Jenn K.
When we're in Newport (and we try to be in Newport often!), we always head here for drinks and appetizers. They have a great chopped salad, a really nice and spicy calamari, and a delicious mojito. It's great to sit at the outdoor bar and watch the boats come in and go out. Enjoy!
(4)
Rose L.
Appetizers: Petite Cassoulet with duck confit, clam chowder. This was our first time trying cassoulet, and it was delicious. The duck was seasoned well, and the beans were soft, creamy, and tasty. The clam chowder was also very good - it had a lot of big, chunky pieces of clam in it and wasn't as thick and creamy as most other places, which I enjoyed. After such yummy appetizers, we were really excited for our entrees to arrive... Entrees: Grilled Ribeye with rosemary Worcestershire glaze, bacon and cheddar mashed potato-stuffed popover, sauteed fall mirepoix and Greater Omaha Choice Sirloin with grilled rosemary gorgonzola bread pudding, sauteed fall mirepoix, green peppercorn demi-glace. Don't they both sound amazing? Unfortunately, the descriptions were the best part of the entrees. The grilled ribeye entree was okay, but the sirloin was god-awful - so bad that it had to be sent back...the first time I've ever sent back a meal. The steak was so burnt it was inedible (okay, so I asked for medium well...but I ALWAYS order my steaks medium well and I've never had this happen. Not to mention, if "medium well" meant "burnt," the waitress should have warned us, imho), the bread pudding was poorly seasoned and REALLY dry and burnt, and even though "sauteed fall mirepoix" sounds fancy and delicious, it resembled those frozen vegetable medleys (you know - where the carrots are chopped into little cubes?). Not impressive. The worst entree I've ever had in Newport. Dessert: fig gelato and chocolate bread pudding. The fig gelato was deliciously figgy...enjoyed it very much. It's actually very rich and strong-tasting, so I was surprised they gave 3 big scoops of it. The chocolate bread pudding, on the other hand, was very dry and tasteless. Overall, the place had a lot of potential, but very hit-or-miss in terms of taste and quality. For the price, I expected more from both the food and the service.
(2)
Vince D.
Food was delicious and the service was great. They take reservation on opentable which is a plus. We ate outside in a good atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)
Patrick B.
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
(3)
Dan B.
This tourist trap tries but fails to deliver. We sat upstairs where they simply couldn't adjust AC all night -- they don't seem to own a thermostat. Our entrees (one costing 47 dollars) were not served hot and had to be sent back. No towels in one of the two one-person bathrooms-- which for a restaurant of this size were really too few. I always am wary of these MBA-driven restaurants. Despite its cool location, it will set you back alot. Key lime pie was very good, in the restaurant's favor (not offered gratis, despite all our problems that night.)
(1)
Sam D.
We went here on our second night to Newport. I'm glad we did. Not only does it have an amazing wine menu but the steaks are the best I've had outside of NYC. You have to try the Six Peppercorn Sirloin with cognac cream sauce. My girlfriend had the steam lobster. Both entrees were delicious. Dessert didn't wow us. The service was great. Our waitress Beth was very attentive, friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend coming here.
(4)
Matt L.
This was my second time eating at this restaurant and the first time I really liked it, but for a romantic night out, there are quieter places in Newport to go!! I had just gotten engaged at the Breakers that night and wanted to treat my new fiance to a night out that was special. the upper level of this place had a Xmas party going on and it was loud and people were obnoxious and yelling! We had to basically scream over the noise!! I couldnt believe it that a place this pricey would have that much going on like a fraternity party! I would highly recommend looking elsewhere to eat out in Newport if your looking for a romantic time out!! this place lost its touch...
(3)
Edward A.
Good Steak. Went for Dinner.
(3)
Michelle L.
22 Bowens is definitely a bit better than your run of the mill "seafood shack" type restaurant that you normally find down by the waterfront in most tourist towns. The decor is very tasteful and inviting. They have both indoor and outdoor seating - the main indoor dining room offers a wonderful view of the harbor. This was part of the reason that my husband and I chose it for one of our dinner destinations on our recent vacation in Newport last month - along with the fact that we are wine lovers and figured the name speaks for itself! They have a great wine list - so many good selections, including some wonderful dessert wines. For appetizer, my husband and I shared the crispy calamari with three pepper mint relish. The calamari itself was very good, but the portion was huge! Far too much for the 2 of us to polish off by ourselves and still be expected to eat our meals. For our main course, I had the baked stuffed lobster and my hubby had the seared scallops. Both were good, but not great. I guess we expected more from a place that is well know for it's great steaks and seafood, not to mention that I expect my meal to be of a certain quality when I am paying a certain price. My lobster was average and not very flavorful - definitely more along the lines of something you would expect from your typical touristy seafood shack. My husband liked his scallops, but found the accompanying risotto to be bland and flavorless. Dessert was no more impressive. I went with the key lime pie, which again, was enormous - to the point where it was a turnoff to see such a giant lump of unappetizing pie on my plate. It was not very flavorful and did not taste fresh. My husband opted for plain old ice cream since nothing on the dessert menu appealed to him. All in all, we were not impressed with anything besides the wine list. Our server was nice, but she literally focused all her attention on me and barely acknowledged my husband. This earned her a 15% tip rather than the 20% we normally leave. I'm from NYC, so I rarely get sticker shock when I look at a menu and I'm willing to pay good money for good food. But for the prices here, we just expected much, much more. At least our wine and dessert wine were really enjoyable!
(3)
Supek, L.
So there's A on the patio on the water, and then there's B, indoors. We went for drinks and an appetizer on the outdoor patio, until our 9:30 reservation was ready. Drinks were good, service was friendly, even bought my brother in law, a birthday beer. The view of all the boats was great! Then we went to our table indoors. The place is pricey, but def worth it for a birthday dinner! My sister and I split the special of the day, Parmesan crusted sirloin with Lobster and sausage rigatoni.... two words...... OMG YUM! The sides we got were awesome!!! sweet potato fries, lobster mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, and asparagus with red pepper.... Loved every one of them! They even gave the birthday boy creme brule for dessert on the house! Service was super friendly, if you go, ask for the pretty Colombian server (can't remember her name). Would come back here again and again, if we lived near Newport, or if we had a summer house!!!! We hope to one day!
(5)
Heather B.
The hostess here is a huge _____ (fill in the blank). Really snooty for no good reason. We tried to go for a late lunch and some drinks and she really turned us off to the restaurant before we went inside. They think they're a classy place but from the looks of it, they're not. Went to Clarkes Cookshop instead, much better choice.
(1)
Emily B.
I didn't actually eat in the restaurant, but my boyfriend and I spent quite a lot of time at the outside bar. We came here for drinks in the middle of the afternoon, and were both pleasantly surprised that they had Leinenkugels on tap. At 5 o'clock they started serving a light menu so I had 6 oysters and some clam chowder. Very tasty. Not the best chowder I had in Newport, but the oysters were good. We came back here that same night after dinner for more drinks. We sat right at the bar, and the bartender was very attentive and friendly. I would like to try the actual restaurant next time I am in Newport.
(4)
Ms. S.
We were seated quickly for lunch and our server was sweet. My fiance had the oysters, which he said were great. I had the cream of broccoli soup (okay) and the salad with goat cheese and roasted figs. It was fine, not great, not bad. Nice, spicy Bloody Marys and a good chardonnay. Lobster roll on a croissant lacked flavor. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Rahul M.
Went there on Christmas Eve since it was one of the few places open. My date ordered the chopped salad (very good) and I got the rib-eye steak, the least expensive steak on the menu at $24. The steak was good, but the bleu cheese bread pudding and pearl onions that came with it were forgettable. The (extra cost) side orders of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were inedible: the potatoes were dry and pasty and the spinach's cream sauce had too much flour. The bill came to $77, including a glass of wine and tip, which I found utterly overpriced for the quality. Would not recommend, except maybe for the special dinner for two and a bottle of wine for $65.
(2)
Lauren C.
Ate here tonight, what a lovely place. I started with the house salad, which was sweet and flavorful-- the croutons were made out of pumpkin bread! Then the steak tips, which were served on a bed of pine nut rice pilaf-- oh my god, heavenly. I don't normally enjoy red meat, but this was absolutely to die for. As a last course I had the mango sorbet-- which was pretty creamy (for a sorbet), but since healthy desserts never actually satisfy, I took a bite of my boyfriends brownie sundae. Dear God, never have I tasted anything better in my life. I attempted to take another bite but he swatted my hand away-- I nearly fought viciously back for just one more bite of that deliciously moist delight, but I remembered both that I was in public, and that one more bite would probably add three pounds to my hips, and held back. Hands down, best brownie I have ever had. EVER. My only complaint was the volume of people there, and how tightly they had us packed in! Our waitress was wonderful, friendly and helpful without making you want to swat her away like an annoying fly buzzing around your head. I did enjoy it immensely, but I'm not sure it was worth the usual prices-- 30$/person was pretty much ideal. Great though, would make a wonderful expensive date venue!
(4)
Miss C.
Clearly, this establishment rests on its location because its a joke. I could write a long review on how horrendous the service was from our waiter who couldn't be bothered, to the woman helping him bus tables who kept trying to take our food that we waited TWO hours for, only minutes after it was placed down in front of us, to the outright obnoxious manager who seemed like it was a surprise we were underwhelmed. BUT if I did that, I would be giving way more attention to this pig with lipstick joint than we got at our THREE hour meal. Aside from that the fact that the food was horrible, outback makes a better steak, crunchy risotto and on and on. We filled up on bread for $350. Makes you want to go right? Go for drinks and eat somewhere else. Pissed I canceled my Thames street restaurant reservations for this place!
(2)
Aaron W.
Excellent food and wine and the service is phenomenal. Great location and atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and stop in if your in Newport!
(5)
David D.
Sorry, here comes a bad review. Service ruined our experience. Our waitress's greater us for drinks orders and did not reappear for 10-15 minutes (and then at my request) to take our order. It serious took an hour to get our food. When I, in desperation ask our waitress how long it would be, she said she'd go check and then came back and told us, the order was up now and she just had to get it, but didn't return for another 10-15 minutes. When she brought the order, it was not complete, but we told her not to bother bringing what we had ordered but she forgot. It was a plus that the manger came out to apologize but only said he wouldn't charge us for what they didn't bring out anyway. Then it took another 10-15 minutes to get the check. I felt bad for the water boy, whom I kept going to to try and get some service. The steak I had was very good as was the cold foie gras. Thing is we had a late dinner anyway because we ate after a harbor cruise around 8:30, so the restaurant was not busy. My younger child was falling asleep waiting for the food. It made it worse that those around us who got seated after us finished and left before we even got our food. The service wasn't just slow, it was repeatedly slow, even after asking and asking. The manager did nothing to appease us other than apologize and then disappear again for 15 minutes. One of the worst dining experiences, and the worst we had in a town with MANY great dining options.
(1)
Rachel M.
Bryan I believe is the waiters name he went above and veyond. He sung me and my fiance happy birthday and anniversary! Which is why we were in town celebrating. He was very careful with my dairy and pepper allergy so I felt in great hands
(5)
Jane S.
Excellent excellent. The muscles were to die for. Highly recommend this restaurant
(5)
Jackie S.
Loved it! We came around 8 for dinner. Had a small wait then were seated upstairs. Our server was very informative and friendly. The place was packed for the boat show that was in town but the food came out in a timely manor and was delicious! If I'm back in the area again I'd definitely like to dine here again.
(5)
Angelica B.
This place just completely and totally sucks. I hope, if you come here, that you don't like salt...or food that tastes good. That is the only way you'll like this place. Go to The Mooring. It is around the corner, and actually worth the price. The service and wine were the best part of my meal. It's a shame the food didn't match up.
(1)
D P.
This place is amazing. I'm leaving this review because the service was the best I've ever experienced. I was amazed by the quality of service here.
(5)
Mitch W.
4.5 Stars for me! After a super duper long hike (Cliff Hike), we were looking for a place to eat in the Newport, Rhode Island area and after checking menus at several places, we settled on 22 Bowens. They have a restaurant and two outside seating areas. We opted for the seating area that was closest to the water (and the harbor tour boats). Even though we were very hungry, we aren't big eaters, so we shared the Baby Greens Salad ($8.95) and the 22B Burger ($9.95). We got a vinaigrette salad dressing and both the salad and burger were delicious! Our server was Jessica and she was friendly, helpful and attentive. We told Jessica that we were splitting both dishes and the restaurant evenly split our food and put it on two plates so we didn't have to divide it ourselves. That was very thoughtful and nice! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at 22 Bowens. Please see my pictures. Xie Xie!!
(4)
Lisa S.
The place is overpriced. The service was horrible We ordered a bottle of sparkling water, and she pored regular horrible water in our cups where there still was sparkling water. We had to order additional large sparkling water Clam chowder is 3 stars. The server said that salads are pretty big to share, and it was hardly enough for two. The special is too small. We were hungry after eating. The check was over 120.
(2)
Steph B.
It was okay. This place is trying a little too hard to be something it's not - was our food cooked correctly? Yes. Was our server nice? Yes. But was our order taken incorrectly twice? yes. Was the bread stale? Yes. So, overall, 3 stars. If you're looking for something very middle of line eat here. But remember, there is plenty better within two feet.
(3)
Stefani A.
The price is expensive but I think its worth it for how good the food is. It'll definitely cost a lot so thats why my hubby and I only come here for our anniversary or Valentines Day. Service is great, although last time our waitress seemed a little confused but she might've been new so I'll let it pass. I order a steak every time I go. I like my meat cooked medium rare and at other restaurants I go to, they either cook it medium or really overcook it. Every time, Bowens has cooked my steak PERFECTLY. Always juicy and tender. And the steak sauce is to die for. Absolutely delicious. We usually get the creme brule for dessert and it's absolutely phenomenal. Last year they had a chocolate souffle with pistachio gelato. We don't like pistachio so we got Salted Caramel instead. WOW!! Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Amanda L.
My husband and I ate here for Valentine's Day. We always come down to Newport and have for the past 3 years, but this year it fell on Winterfest week, so Newport was a bit busier than it usually is. We made dinner reservations for 6:30pm about a week or so before Vday. We were given a table upstairs overlooking the water. The difference in dress was bizarre, some people very dressed up and some in literal sweat pants... I don't get it! Anyway... Our drinks from the bar were good (Grey Goose Dirty Martini & CC&Ginger's). The bread is very good. We got the Bucket of Clams (Off season and they were "ok") for an app along with the Cesar salads. (Anchovy - yuck! Forgot to ask for no anchovy, but no big deal, still very good.) For dinner we each got a filet and had baked mac and asparagus. My 8oz filet was under cooked (I ordered medium and got rare) Husbands 12oz filet was cooked perfectly, so we switched cause I can't do rare... We had desserts which I believe were pistachio ice cream & carrot cake. Delicious. Overall, I liked the place but it didn't wow me. We paid over $200 for dinner, which is to be expected, but I have eaten at amazing steak houses in Boston (Ruth's Chris, Grill 23, S&W, Capital Grille) and would argue that any of those I just listed are far better than 22 Bowens. Also, if I am ordering a $40 dollar steak, it needs to be cooked correctly. Yes.. I know... I could have sent it back. But that's not the point. You kinda have to get it right the first time around.... Unfortunately we wont be back for a big night out dinner this summer. Maybe for lunch, though!
(3)
Amelia S.
I have to say I wasn't overly impressed. We were here for a party with a group of 8 so you can always expect that the wait staff won't love you...but one individual had an issue with her steak and they didn't even seem phased by it. Clamboil was good but nothing to write home about, and the prices were steeper than what I think it was worth. Views weren't as good as other places in Newport. We probably wouldn't be back....
(2)
Britton P.
It was fantastic. We ordered apps, salads, and the most beautiful delmonico I've ever seen!! Great girls night!!
(5)
Nela D.
Great outdoor spot on the pier with house infused liquors. We had a drink and lunch at the outdoor bar. The food was pretty good (lobster, shrimp, oysters) but the timing was all off. Apps/oysters and salad came out at the same time as main, then my main came out a good 30-40 mins later. Oh well! We were just relaxing outside so not a big deal. The wedge salad was lame - skip it. And there are better oysters at other places nearby. Check it out on a nice day and enjoy a house cocktail.
(3)
Chris S.
Always delicious and perfectly cooked steak. Very expensive but if you want to order a meal you know will be good, go here.
(4)
Todd B.
I had a great experience at 22 Bowens last night, and I particularly want to thank them for being open when most of the other restaurants in Newport had closed for the January break. A local recommended 22 Bowens, but I was going to try Black Pearl or Moorings instead. Because they were closed, I settled on 22 Bowens, and I'm happy that I did. I had a great experience. I was warmly welcomed without a reservation, and I chose to take a seat at the bar since I was alone. The two bartenders, Joe and Guy, were incredibly friendly and made my dinner a lot of fun. They were incredibly knowledgeable of the menu as well as wine and cocktail options. When I was undecided about the soup, Joe offered two samples so I could make a decision. I chose the Cheddar Ale, which was outstanding. I got into a conversation about bourbons with them, and Guy allowed me sniff a couple. When I ordered a cocktail, it was a large size and not a skimpy cocktail glass. I chose the seafood dinner with baked clams, mussels, lobster tail and Grouper in a red sauce. The sauce, along with the accompanying sourdough bread, was magnificent. The seafood all was hearty and cooked to perfection. Because I'm watching carbs (the bread was an irresistible oops!), they offered sauteed spinach instead of potatoes. It was maybe the best spinach I've ever had. I would recommend 22 Bowens on any night in Newport, and big kudos to such a warm and friendly staff as well as great service. And give Joe a promotion. He deserves it.
(4)
May B.
Had some yummy oysters and tried the rib eye which was cooked really well. Good service and a nice selection of wines and beer. I would recommend to go here for a special occasion.
(4)
MJ B.
We were driving from Boston back to NYC and decided to stop by Newport to check out the mansions. We had an early dinner and walked in this restaurant. For appetizers, we had the oysters which were fresh and succulent. For the main course, I had the lobster roll which was one of the best I have tried. My friend had the scallops paired perfectly with some greens. Great dinner!
(4)
Lisa V.
The drinks are very pricey.... but the staff is awesome! The location is perfect, especially if you are going for a few cocktails before a sunset sail. Also, they will stay open as long as you are still drinking. Had a blast last Monday evening!
(4)
Nick C.
Should be better considering it's location and atmosphere. Their chowder is among the worst in Newport. The Mooring and Brick Alley have way better chowder. My salad had rotten lettuce and the lobster meat was definitely canned. Skip it.
(2)
Laura M.
Had a great dinner here while vacationing in Newport. After reading yelp reviews, I booked a reservation for 8:15 on a Saturday night. We had a drink at the bar and then were seated within 15-20 minutes. We started off with the clam chowder - might have been the best I had a weekend. I had the tagliatelle with lima beans and string beans, in a pesto sauce. It was very tasty and a pretty large portion. My boyfriend had the steak delmonico - which was really good (and I don't even like steak!). The service was good too - pretty speedy and friendly waitstaff. Only downside was that this place was expensive! Most entrees were between $25-$45. We overlooked this fact only because it was a vacation.
(5)
Tammy G.
I just absolutely love it here year after year it is still perfection. I always order steak but last week I ordered a veal chop and I have to say it was over the top. I am still thinking about it. Service is always spectacular even during the summer when it is super busy.
(5)
Jeffrey R.
Bad experience. Food was ok. They ruined my day. A manager walked by and asked me what the item was that I had on the table. It was my electric cigarette. He seemed fascinated by it and said it was good that I quit smoking. 3-4 minutes later a different person in a shirt and tie came over and told me I couldn't vape in the out door patio. All during lunch I keep catching some woman peeking around the corner at me to see if I was vaping. They made me feel like a criminal. Ruined my whole day. If patrons can not vape in this restaurant then fine, just please tell me at the door so I can choose a different place to eat.
(1)
Dorothy M.
Parking was a challenge. Food was delicious. Service was sub par.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Enjoyed a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. Service was great,Hamilton was our waiter and loved the atmosphere. Drinks were good. My husband had a lobster salad roll, it was delicious, price was good, & fries were hand cut...would definitely go back for one. I had the kale salad topped with rare tuna. I could not believe how much I LOVED the salad! The tuna though was not good, though it was cooked perfectly it lacked flavor. It seemed like they just threw it on the grill without seasoning, searing or anything. I had to ask for some kind of sauce to make it SEMI-enjoyable. Would never order that again, very disappointing for a higher end place. I think the chef should do better
(4)
Kaila A.
Amazing Valentine's Day dinner! We had delicious Mac and cheese for an appetizer, the steaks were cooked to perfection, and the sides were awesome. We split brussel sprouts and the fried sliced potatoes. For dessert we tried the chocolate chip cookie dough torte which was unbelievable. Overall, the service was great and the food was even better!
(5)
C M.
Excellent food, excellent service (sat at bar), great atmosphere, and prices were excellent as well. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Shantel S.
The $30 prix-fixe menu was wonderful, but the service was lacking. The portions were very large. The specialty cocktails are amazing.
Had a babe from Ireland as our waitress who did a wonderful job. My pork belly app was good as was the chicken I had for my main course. Bit over priced in my Polish opinion but you're in Newport so ya know how it goes. If you're rich go drop some racks yo
(4)
Rich M.
Without a doubt my favorite restaurant around. It is not a place for a cheap night out (although the Steak Fritte's night is a pretty good deal), but if you're looking for a high-end steakhouse you've found it. The food is top of the line - been there close to two-dozen times and haven't been disappointed yet. Wait staff is exceptional, restaurant decor is upscale and refined, and the wine list is extensive. You won't get a better steak in Newport, for sure....but the seafood and other options on the menu are equally fantastic. If you're looking to invest in a quality dining experience, look no further - you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Ann T.
Very nice restaurant right near the water with a clubby feel to it. We came for the $19.95 Steak Frites, which was very good. It came with a Bearnaise sauce but they let me substitute the braised tomato which was good. French fries were yummy.
(4)
Robyn R.
My co workers and I had a delicious meal here! We all agreed it was one of the best meals. I had clam chowder and the salmon entree. I've never been to a restaurant where I could taste the fresh herbs in every dish! The sauce on the salmon dish was declines! The asparagus, gnocchi, and shrimp was perfectly paired with the salmon. The atmosphere was pretty nice also.
(5)
Steven A.
There is no way this place deserves only 3.5 stars. Yes, it's not the cheapest, but the quality matches the price. It's terrible that the other reviewers use the star rating to show that they didn't like the price. Service and food was excellent. The tuna tartar was stellar! Both the scallops and tuna were cooked perfectly. My girlfriend got the salmon which was also wonderful! An outstanding place to go with a great wine list as well. Highly recommend.
(5)
Emily P.
Excellent! Sure, it's the off-season in Newport, but that didn't take away from our experience, service or the tasty food. My husband and I both ordered off of the pre-fixe menu - $30pp for a three course meal. We were wowed. Great wine selection and the chocolate souffle will have you arguing over who gets the last bite.
(5)
Michael S.
Went here while on my bachelor party, had a fantastic time and the food was amazing. The seafood was super fresh and the steaks were amazing. The crowd was a little douchey though, some women had to let us know that we were holding our after-dinner drink glasses incorrectly. Sweet, thanks.
(5)
Beth C.
Nothing special, it's in a good location if you want dinner on the warf, but the food is all average. I had a grilled fish and my husband had steak. Both were just average. We won't be going back. There are so many better choices in Newport.
(3)
Mike A.
Went here Sunday night . The manager is absolutely horrible . I go for a Filet at least once a week and go to all the best fine steak houses. I ordered my steak medium and it came out almost well done . I'm sorry but when you are paying $50 just for a steak it should be cooked correctly . When I told the manager he took my plate acknowledged the steak was cooked improperly and said they would make me a new one . No big deal it happens but what happened next was a big surprise . He had the audacity to come back out with the original steak and a flashlight , yes you heard correctly a flashlight and proceeded to show me that it had some pink in the steak . If I wasn't a business owner and a gentleman I would of thrown it on the ground and waked out . I was so insulted I will make sure neither I or any of my associates, family or friends ever go to this place again .
(1)
Mia J.
Never got to sit down. Very disappointed in the lack of knowledge and shabby treatment by the hostess this past Sunday. Don't even think about bringing your dog...dog lovers beware. After they tell you that you'll be seated ...walk you over to the outside bar area and then tell you to tie your pooch up to a piece of wood in the hot sun, they stand there with a stupid look on their face and don't understand why that's not a good idea. How about just saying " we don't allow you to have your pet anywhere near our service area". Anyway..... It's a no go for me. :( Having travelled extensively in high end dog friendly places...I was just plain wrong to think this was one of them.
(1)
Pete M.
This is only based on a single lunch so it's flash perception and I do know other places here well. Overall it's very nice. Very good wine list by glass and bottle - great selections and reasonably priced. Food seems to be very competently handled, great ingredients fresh and top quality. Clean and inviting inside, right near the water as well. Menu is simple, which is fine but perhaps could be expanded a bit and the entrees embellished just a little more with a balance of fresh greens which are scarce unless you order a salad separately. They claim to use organic and local food where possible and I believe that based on observations. Would be nice if they stated which of the choices use organic produce or local seafood - a practice other places tend to overuse. I'd go back with pleasure - would like to taker a deeper dive next time. Btw prices good especially for Newport main tourist district (is there a non tourist area here?). Lunch for two with wine 55.00 and that included sashimi grade tuna and another fish entree. By the way the seared tuna the best I've had because of the superb quality of the tuna. They could have seared it a bit more artfully but beat nine the less. Go.
(4)
Andrea I.
We visit Newport every year and have walked passed this restaurant and finally decided to give it a try. The prices were high (and we live in NY) but it is vacation after all so why not. The appetizers were good we never got a bread basket. My husband ordered the salmon which he said was really good. I ordered the 2 lb. lobster for a whopping $59.00 again its vacation. I ordered this back in July and I'm still chewing it. The lobster was so tough and the shell was like rubber so I couldn't crack it. Obviously it was cooked earlier and then put back in the water before serving. It was terrible. When the waitress asked how it was I told her it was really tough. She told the chef who advised her to offer me a glass a wine. Really a glass of wine OK that makes up for the $59.00 lobster. I guess because of the location this restaurant feels it can server sub-standard food. What a joke. We will not be returning.
(2)
Reno D.
We ordered the "Aged Ribeye" and asked them to split the steak which they gladly said they would do for us. We waited atleast an hour for our food to come...We asked our waitress at about an hour about our food. The Manager came by to apologize to us for the wait. (Hmmmm, I've always found it more sincere when a Manager comes to us first and says,.... Im sorry were slammed we're behind, opposed to me dicussing our issue with the waitress and all of a sudden he shows up and says, sorry were behind. (Bottom line he's the Manager). Trust me , I wasn't the only one to get my food late or screwed up. We asked for our steak to be "Medium Rare", it came "Rare". My girl sent hers back, I was too hungry to send it back and wait, who knows how long I would've had to wait for it to return cooked right (Med Rare Aged Ribeye Cooks quick on a hot grill 10 mins tops) .... They forgot our "Mash Potatoes", they had to go back and get them...Nothing special about their "Aged Ribeye Steak". Save your money on that one. Manager came by and asked if he could get us some dessert on the house. No Thank You, at this point we just wanted to leave. A hundred dollars for 2 of us (if everything was right or atleast 1/2 right Ok ). No one expects to wait an hour for their food after waiting to be seated. I expected the "Aged Steak" to be alot better than what it was. Maybe I'm spoiled from Los Angeles, but I do know my Aged Ribeye! Especially how long it takes to cook them! I've had many. Well I probably should've tried their seafood, but I was seafooded out, then again I still would've had to wait an hour for my food. Seafood did look good though. Not a fun evening with your friends when your hungry and waiting for your food, and when it finally arrives its wrong, and missing items ordered. Hopefully it was just a bad day for them and your experience will be more enjoyable. . If you enjoy people watching, sit outside...Beautiful little town...
(2)
Richard D.
Very nice place awesome food friendly service worth the money
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.
(4)
Erick S.
Was a little disappointed with the food, but the service trumps everything else. My wife and I celebrated our 5th anniversary here and were expecting a specatcularly 5 star dinner. I had been here for drinks and apps before with colleagues, but never dinner, though I had heard lots of rave reviews for their entree's. It was packed, and the only reservation we could get was an 8:15 dinner seating. I let them know before hand it was a special night, and the front-desk did a nice job of making a special table on the upper deck available for us. Our waitress was warm and friendly, and the runners were attentive - we never had to ask for water refills or bread. Drinks were a little slow, but given the summer crowds, that's understandable, besides we were happy to enjoy each other's company. Apps arrived promptly, however, and were pretty good. Oysters are a no-brainer down there, as is there house specialty pineapple vodka! My wife ordered the redfish and I ordered the scallops. We were both pretty disappointed with our meals - the fish was pretty bland and didn't have the kind of flavor profile you'd expect at a high end restaurant. The scallops were scorched - over-cooked, rubbery chunks of flesh. I tried to eat a few (it was late and we weren't going to wait for a second round of food), but just couldn't bring myself to finish the plate. I let our waitress know, nicely, that our food didn't really meet our expectations. She was apologetic, and after offering us dessert (which we politely declined), she spoke with her manager and adjusted our bill - removing my meal entirely and comping us a round of drinks. While the seafood was disappointing - especially since it's a waterfront property - the service was great. That experience alone would bring me back to give them another shot... this time though, I might stick to a steak.
The service and the view were great. What started out like the perfect dinner night turned out to be a bit hairy!. There was HAIR in one of the appetizers I ordered!! The manager as very apologetic and she did not charge for the appetizer and the wine. However, both my friend and I had a very bad reaction to the same appetizer. Very surprised since I have been there many times and had a very good experience.
(2)
Marianne M.
Went for lunch. Excellent kale salad! Friends loved their lobster roll and scallops. Very accommodating for gluten free.
(4)
N R.
Ate here for the first time recently, and it was fantastic! The service was absolutely great. I'm afraid I can't remember our waiter's name, but he was Greek I think? Very nice, personable guy. The food was excellent. I had a filet and on a hunch, ordered it medium. In most places I order medium rare, because so many restaurants seem to think that medium = brown all the way through. It came out exactly as I hoped, a perfect medium. We were a big group, so we ordered a lot of sides and they were all good. I believe there was mac and cheese, mashed potato, spinach, and asparagus on the table, all devoured. This place is quite expensive, but I'll definitely be keeping it in mind for special occasions. We went in the winter, so we sat inside, which was very nice. I'm sure in the summer it is even nicer to sit on their porch by the water.
(5)
Yi H.
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.
(4)
Rick L.
Average food, average atmosphere, average service at very expensive prices. The $50 steak had no flavor at all. There are many other options in Newport. Do yourself a favor and look at other options.
(2)
MS P.
Came here without a reservation on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed at 7pms so I sat at the bar. Place is pretty pricey but the food is good. Had the clam chowder which is pretty good. Also had the Shepard Pie which is really good. Split the porterhouse steak with the bf and it was very juicy and tender. The Mac n cheese wasn't that good so nothing to rave about. But yea the bill came out to be pretty high because as u can see, I like to eat a lot and at the end, I was too full to even move. Will be back. It's a yummy place
(4)
Amanda S.
I've been wanting to visit 22 Bowens for a while now, so when restaurant week came around, I decided to put them on my list. I made reservations for lunch with two of my friends and was running a bit late so I called 10 minutes before my reservation to ask if we could push it back a half hour. They were kind enough to allow us to do so, and when we arrived they were actually telling people that there was a half hour wait. We were seated immediately and perused the restaurant week menu. Our waiter was a bit pushy, and took our order for all three courses at once. I started with the clam chowder, which was good but not the best I've ever had. My entree was fish and chips which was good, but very salty. Dessert was chocolate mousse, which was the best part of the meal. We were in and our very quickly, nothing fancy. Not sure if I'll go back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jill A.
A tradition into have their 22 Doli cocktail :) can't beat house infused pineapple vodka for a drink. Each year I sit outside at bowens wharf for a drink and food. This year they changed the menu outside which was upsetting. Less food options and not good ones. That is the reason I didn't give five stars. Same kitchen same restaurant bring back the full menu for all to enjoy!
(4)Ralph A.
While local Rhode Islanders may be familiar with the Newport Restaurant Group (Boat House, Castle Hill Inn, Hemenway's, The Mooring, Smoke House, Trio, Waterman Grill) I can only review based on my one dining experience. 22 Bowen offers a more casual outdoor seating area and the main dining room which also has an outdoor dining table. We sat outside the dining room and felt our server and service overall was what you might expect from a high end establishment. For starters we had the bay scallops (3), and lobster corn fritters (9). I didn't particular notice any lobster but the fritter and side of sauce was at least filling compared to the scallops. For entrees we had a Veal Chop, Filet Mignon, Asparagus, and Mashed Potatoes. The sides are good to share with 2 or 3 people but unfortunately didn't taste or offer anything that made you say wow this is good. The meats were okay, disappointing for the price you could say. I'm surprised given the wide range of upscale tourist on yachts that this restaurant didn't over deliver.
(3)George K.
We had a great experience here today. We rushed inside while lightning was crashing around. The service (Sarah) was wonderful. There is an enormous wine list. We actually had numerous appetizers and they were all marvelous. Kale salad, cheese plate, flatbread, poached shrimp cocktail, braised short rib - we were so stuffed from the fantastic appetizers that we couldn't order an entrée.
(5)Alison F.
I was highly disappointed in my dining experience at this restaurant. The hostess sat us next to a screaming baby when there were plenty of other tables available, which admittedly soured the rest of the meal. We were outside and the view of the warf was good for people watching, but not especially scenic. Our waiter seemed insincere and bored. It was like we were inconveniencing him by existing. In general, the food was good, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's great. The clam chowder was the best part of my meal. The crab cake and salmon were not especially memorable. Since our eardrums were bleeding at this point, we didn't stick around for dessert. Overall, I would skip this place. There are many other options nearby that have much better bang for your buck.
(3)Mark F.
I'm not sure I've ever given a five star rating, but it is a solid rating here. We sat outside. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner, with a lovely Pinot Noir. But, one of the most pleasant surprises in a tourist-packed locale was our waitress, Britain. She was an absolute pro and fun to dine with.
(5)Brad S.
Food was decent but when I spend $40 for an Alacarte steak ( veggies and potatoes extra) I expect top shelf food and service that just wasn't there. For the two of us with one drink each the bill was $135.00 ( without the tip) much better out there for the money.
(2)Andrew S.
Like its counterparts in the "newport restaurant group" 22 Bowen is on the higher end of the dining spectrum. Do not expect to walk out of this place without droping some serious cash. That being said I do think this place is worth the dough if you have it. The service at this place is usually very good and the food even better. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is sometimes I feel the food selection is lacking. Located right downtown in newport you couldnt ask for a better location in terms of convience, however do not expect an amazing view. Although it does provide some opportunities for people watching some of the best views in Newport can be found elsewhere in the same price range (Inn at Castle Hill/Hyatt on Goat Island/41 North). Not much more to say here ---- I'm a fan
(4)Erica P.
We were walking through Newport hungry and we walked into 22B. The hostess asked if we had a reservation (we did not) she told us she'd be able to get us in 15 minutes. When we went to sit at the bar to get a drink we noticed the reserved sign after we took a seat. I apologized to Craig the bartender and he said not to worry, he took the reserved sign away and let my husband and I enjoy a drink at the bar. So nice of you Craig! The hostess came to get us 15 minutes later to seat us. Where we met our waiter Manny. He was so personable and friendly! He described the specials and also would point out other dishes that were served to other guest so we got an idea how they looked. Bread was served, our appetizers were served immediately. Very impressive! Jumbo shrimp was fantastic. We the ordered our main courses. Steak (a la carte) and swordfish. The steak was by far the best steak I've ever had! Swordfish was grilled to perfection. Such a fantastic experience. Two thumbs way up, If I had a third you'd get that too! We will be coming back!
(5)Meghan B.
One of the best meals I have ever eaten. I got the Grilled Swordfish and my boyfriend got the filet with scallops both were delicious! We ordered the cookie dough dessert and that was deadly! Waitress was very nice. I did wait about 10 minutes for a beer refill but other than that it was great!
(5)Mike F.
When in Newport this is the place to go. Whether you just have a burger or have a gourmet meal this place is fun. After walking around Newport we stopped here for lunch. I had a mixed drink that was made to perfection and a burger.My wife had a sangria and a chicken pesto sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. You must start off with a bowl of their clam chowder. We usually do not have desert but we ended our meal with the key lime cake with sorbet. Our server, Carol was right there with great service and even took our picture. I highly recommend 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille. It may be a little pricy but you are in the heart of Newport. I can sit here and people watch all day.
(4)Shari A.
A really fine dining experience from start to finish. Having limited options on a Monday evening prior to high season, I opted for this place based on some convincing reviews here on Yelp and on trip advisor. I took my cousin here for a nice meal and it did not disappoint. Our server was very nice and made some thoughtful recommendations. I had a glass of beautiful Pinot noir and my cousin ordered a Hendricks and tonic. Perfect. We decided to forego appetizers in favor of some delectable side dishes but next time I will certainly sample something in the way of a seafood or raw bar preparation. Had the seared scallops which were caramelized to perfection. My cousin had the lamb served medium rare and he was very pleased. The highlights were definitely the Brussels sprouts with bacon and grilled asparagus. Yummmm.... We skipped dessert but will definitely be back. For top notch service and a wide ranging menu, a beautiful and lengthy wine and cocktail list and food to match, you cannot go wrong with this steakhouse/fine seafood restaurant. The setting is elegant, not stuffy, and the views of the water really scream Newport!
(4)Andrea P.
This restaurant was highly recommended by a few friends who had visited previously. So it seemed like the perfect place to have my pre-birthday dinner. This entire weekend is about treating myself, and treat myself I did at 22 Bowens! First off, the service was incredible. Our server was kind and funny. Her recommendation was on point and her knowledge of wine in general was impressive. Not to mention, she brought out a slice of cake at the end for my 29+2 birthday, which was sweet. I started off with a few of their oysters. I tend to like west coast oysters but their selection was delicious. Not too big but with a big flavor. Then came out their masterpiece - the filet! Oh my! It came out perfectly and tasted incredible with the fois gras butter. The brussel sprouts were on point as well!
(5)Arthur C.
As in my other reviews, service is important to me. That being said, we went in there for dinner on a weekend. We had a waitress named Holly, she was excellent! And I thoroughly enjoyed my apps and the seafood tower. On the downside, my friend's filet was well done instead of MR. If we are paying 40 bucks for steaks without sides, they better be perfect. So, for that main reason, I would've ranked dinner 3 stars, but the service was so good we did not care. The next day we sat at the outside bar and, again, the service was the best. We had multiple bartenders that day and they were all GREAT. I was much more impressed with my lunch. The lobster roll was great, the chowder was delicious, the braised rib was one of the best I have had in a long time. If you are going there, you will be treated great by the well trained staff, but bring your wallet, cause it is not cheap.
(4)Nina-Marie C.
I had dinner here last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sat on the upstairs deck. It was a little chilly that evening, but one of the waitresses was kind enough to pull down the plastic awning for me. I had the scallops for my entree and they were fantastic. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu items.
(5)Mike E.
Profoundly disappointed. Back in town with my wife for our third anniversary. We came here for our honeymoon and second, and had dinner at 22 Bowens both times. And both times it was excellent, thus our return. Tonight, not so much. Steak was tough and not good. Previously phenomenal. Same could be said of the sides; unremarkable. Waiter was courteous. Wine was not quite what we ordered from the list but still a good choice; the change profoundly changed the value quotient. Overall, it seems the place has downgraded. We may come back to Newport next year but will try elsewhere for our special dinner.
(2)Vasily K.
1. Service was not overly friendly. They were reluctant to move us to a table in the shade. Our waitress wasn't friendly. 2. Clam chowder for $9 -- very mediocre clam chowder. Three fried scallops for $16, I can easily cook better at home. Overall doesn't worth it.
(1)Nikki I.
I just visited here to try out the winter prix fixe menu that is being offered and it did not disappoint. I was able to get a wedge salad, perfectly cooked filet and dessert all for $30. Usually prix fixe menus can leave you feeling hungry or that you did not get the best of what the restaurant has to offer...but this was not the case here. The portions were generous and the food was cooked perfectly. On top of the $30 weekday promotion, house bottles of wine are only $15 when you choose the prix fixe menu. If you live close and can take advantage of this deal on a cold week night, do it!!
(4)Mike P.
On Monday, we had a table upstairs with a view of the pier and it was fun watching the boats going in and out. Lovely decor, lovely server named Elizabeth and a lovely menu. I had the beef carpaccio and the Caesar salad. My friends had the fritters and the risotto and everyone was happy. We split the sticky bun dessert which was amazing .
(5)Jinyoung S.
The food price is not expensive and taste was good. It was so nice to sit and have lunch outside. Good looking intrerior
(4)Paul L.
Fine dining, expert service, gracious servings and a killer wine list. A must stop for those who enjoy pleasure dining
(5)Rose F.
I went with a party of 4. My friends Salmon was way undercooked took them forever to get back to her. The rest of us got sirloin and there was so much fat it in...thickly marbled throughout the entire piece..for all 3 of us. Our server however was wonderful.
(2)Naomi G.
High up there on the fancy scale. I didn't feel like dressing up so my husband and I sat at the bar and it was perfect. The Bartender and Front of House Manager was very attentive to us and answered a lot of questions we had, because it was our first time there. I had steak and my husband had swordfish steak and it was unbelievable. Cooked perfectly and juicy. They allowed us to split a salad between us and I ordered a baked potato, but consider yourself warned, the potato is huuuugggeee. I recommend splitting it two or maybe even three ways. So far, hands down, this is the best food in all of Newport that we have had. All of our out of town guests will be coming here with us. Paid parking, cash only. The attendant will direct you to the nearest ATM.
(5)Tim C.
We were in Newport for a wedding and ate here the first of a three night stay. This is the nicest and best restaurant that we ate at during our entire stay and it was certainly the best in terms of atmosphere, location and selection. We arrived after a long day of travel with no reservations and they were able to quickly make adjustments to accommodate us. The food was fantastic. I had one of the best Bone-In Filets that I have ever had. Great selection of appetizers, scotch and wine. The staff was ultra friendly and accommodating and we simply loved our visit. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area to enjoy a meal here.
(5)Stephen V.
Took my mom out for brunch ,we had lobster salad, blaaach, terrible, I think it was ground up uncooked fish
(1)Alex H.
Eh...the location is great. They have an abundance of outdoor seating, but the food was eh. It was generic, mediocre food at best. The steak sandwich tried to be fancy with arugula and "truffle goat cheese," but it ended up being a sloppy mess of what seemed to be leftover steak bits. To be honest, it just wasn't good. The fries were typical fries, nothing special. The waitstaff was friendly, however. I'll give them that. Our waitress was friendly and the food didn't take forever to come out. Overall, I would go elsewhere in Newport for a meal. There has to be better food somewhere around there.
(2)Kristen T.
Food is very good but service was slow. I made the reservation three weeks in advance yet we had the worst table in the restaurant. For the price and service I would probably go somewhere else.
(3)Jeff M.
Booked a table here on a lark, Valentine's Day and I had waited too long for a reservation at my favorite spots. Coming in with very low expectations, and on a hard night for fine dining, totally came away impressed. Large, salty whole anchovy fillets topped an otherwise rudimentary Caesar salad to start my dinner. But the star of the show was a perfectly cooked, generously cut Prime Veal Rib Chop. Soft and succulent, and dressed with a dollop of a decadent and rich Porcini mushroom and Shallot butter. Equally impressive, the award winning wine list and its especially strong selection of vintage and fine Champagnes. Twenty plus choices is about as good as you'll find anywhere, heck I find many places have trouble with 1. And further, that eight or nine of them were under $100 bucks, good enough for me. I really didn't want to have such a good time, or great dinner. I had done some work for the previous management, and left without such a high impression. But I can't take anything away from them, it was a fine night out. Well done, A-.
(4)Fred G.
Service was very good. Everyone enjoyed their meal, the mussels were excellent, some of the other, such as the seafood pasta, items could have used more seasoning. Portions were large and well presented. The atmosphere was appropriate, with outdoor seating available.
(3)Nikki K.
Just finished an amazing dinner at 22 Bowen. Kale salad and onion soup were our starters and both were delicious. Hubby got a Delmonico and I the veal chop. Both were prepared just as a top steak house would prepare. Perfect crust and temperature of meat. We sat outside and Mike took great care of us! We will be back soon and will be sure to save room for dessert!
(5)Lori C.
Pappardelle with seafood was delicious! Also enjoyed the clam chowder! Will definitely return! Place was busy but we had great service!
(5)D H.
I had the seafood parpardelle and we had the mussels as an appetizer. It was fine but not really anything more. It's a nice restaurant. We showed up and there were oodles of empty tables but they wouldn't seat us, saying all of them were reserved. So we sat in the bar area, which apparently has the same menu. It was fine, don't know that I would go back.
(3)Margie S.
I enjoyed a great night at 22 Bowens last night with good friends. The food was amazing from the chowder to the entree . The waiter Dave was exceptional. The atmosphere was beautiful and festive for the holiday. They have a open kitchen where you can see your food being prepared downstairs or upstairs they have more seating surrounded my windows so you have view of the wharf. There is a extensive menu to choose from along with a dinner special. The steaks seem to be the choice at our table this evening. They were perfectly cooked. The waiter explained exactly how the cook them in a 1500 degree oven to sear in the flavor. A must try experience! I highly recommend.
(5)Kitti O.
Located by the Bowens shops in the far right corner. The atmosphere was nice and upscale yet relaxed. My server was nice and recommended the Kale salad with Seared Tuna. It came out fast and considering I'm no fan of Kale it tasted great! The Tuna was nice and rare and the Kale was covered in cranberries and spiced pecans. Overall it all seemed average Considering the very high price tag.
(3)Rich F.
Absolutely fantastic dining experience last night. Was seated for our reservation immediately and had a great table out of the way. We had a shrimp cocktail and lobster cocktail appetizer which was amazing. Also recommend the scallops and seafood pasta entree. Probably the best seafood/pasta dish I have ever had. I was floored. For dessert we split the cookie dough tarte which just sealed the deal. I don't have a bad thing to say about this place at all. Our server manny was amazing. Great sense of humor, personable and was just extremely attentive and was a pleasure to have. Can't wait to come back here!
(5)Rob S.
Spent a few days in Newport for my birthday. Found this place by accident, looking for another restaurant which has since closed. Had a wonderful lunch, and a very charming waiter who made us all laugh. Then returned for dinner a few days later. I must say this place knows how to prepare seafood. Had one of the best seafood pasta dishes I ever had. The staff is great also, even though the restaurant was packed I had made reservations for the wrong evening via Opentable. The hostess was very understanding, we had to wait about 10 minutes but she found us a table even though they were clearly booked. Thanks 22 Bowens for a great evening. When I'm back in Newport I'm certain to return.
(4)Ashley J.
My boyfriend and I went here today and had a wonderful experience. We sat outside near the bar by the dock. We each had a cocktail and a salad. The food and drinks were delicious! Our waitress was absolutely phenomenal! She was quick, super friendly and very knowledgable about the area. We told her we were hopping around and she gave us great suggestions on how to continue on our evening. Her name was Britton and I hope she gets recognized for her great work and personality!
(5)Christina S.
Lovely atmosphere and attentive service. The overall experience here is wonderful. Make sure to reserve a table outside for added ambiance. Cocktails were delicious and we only needed one to get us through the meal. The bucket of clams was awesome...tender clams and mussels with crostini bread and delicious broth to dip. Husband got the filet mignon. He said it was good, but has had better in ny where we live. For the price it should have been comparable. I got the yellowfin tuna a la carte so I got a side of asparagus. Again for the price, it was good, not amazing. A little too salty and dry for my taste. Go here for a fine dining experience, but you are paying for it with Newport pricing.
(4)Nina F.
Came here for my boyfriend's birthday. Service - 1 or 0 star. Perhaps I am giving 1 because the host was nice enough to take our photo as it was my boyfriend's birthday. For the server, I give 0. He was unfriendly, very slow and impatient. Did not check on us at all and we had to keep asking other servers for water, etc. In the end, he came by to give us the check. Tip? 15%. Food...Eh. 3 stars. For a place with pricey food (total was about $180 for two), you would expect a delightful meal. Steak (ribeye) was mediocre (I agree with the other reviewer that it lacked seasoning) and the lobster was ok. Nothing special. I would not waste $70-100 per person at this restaurant, especially with awful service. Go somewhere else.......
(2)Sydney K.
The day before going, I made reservations on Open Table. I went at 6:00 on a Thursday night with three other people; we were sat immediately and with a great view of the wharf. Moreover, the service throughout the entire meal was great. For instance, my mother is a rare breed that likes her steak medium well; when she thought her seek was too pink, it was immediately remedied. In addition, when the manager noticed my mom hasn't truly devoured the steak after this, she came over to inquire whether everything was alright (which it was, my mom just over did it on appetizers and sides). I also had steak (NY sirloin), which was great. The a la cart sides are big enough to share with another person (maybe even more). Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert! However, well worth it!
(4)John W.
Service... 1 star. I witnessed a waiter actually eat food off a guest's plate while in the window!!! In addition, our waiter was very slow and inattentive. Bright spot was the personable bartender while we waited for a table. Food... 3 star. Lobster fritters, still looking for the lobster, although generous portion. My steak (delmonico ribeye) was good, lacked some seasoning. My wive's steak (specialty filet) was excellent, although it was overcooked. Such a shame at a steakhouse. Will try again...
(2)Mary Laird G.
22 bowens came recommended by both our hotel receptionist and a friend from work who used to be in the area. We went to grab a drink at castle hill prior to (highly recommend) and got to 22 bowens around 7:15. Seated in a quieter area of restaurant which was nice and had a great waitress. She allowed us to taste a few wines before ordering. (Largest pours ever) She was very knowledgeable regarding the wine and food and gave great Recs. did not hover but was also very attentive. Menu is expansive enough to give options but small enough that you aren't overwhelmed and know they like to do things well. We usually like to split 3 or 4 items so we ordered 2 oysters on half shell (husband loved these), the crab cake, chopped kale salad and swordfish entree. First crab cake was pretty burnt but they fixed quickly. Kale salad was delicious. Very hearty and they split for us. The swordfish was also done very well. They split this as well. Accompaniments were a great add. Overall, meal was a great pick. We skipped dessert because we were more set on the self serve pinkberry down the street. Two glasses of wine plus oysters, kale salad, crab cake and swordfish was $108 including tip. Pretty reasonable for the service, wine pours, and quality/portions of food. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Michael L.
22 Bowens is the best steak house in RI This time I enjoyed the Leg of Lamb. Hmmm We look forward to the next time
(5)Julie G.
I will keep my review for 22 Bowen's as short and sweet as possible. First, the food and service here are always fantastic. However, it is one of the pricier options around town so I tend to only go in for their yummy lunch (seating outside in warmer months!) or when there is a seasonal deal. Of course this place is known as a steakhouse, but there are also lots of other great options... Even the vegetarian grilled cheese was insanely good and wonderfully priced at $12 for lunch with tomato soup and fries. So if you are looking to stay reasonable on price - there are plenty of options. On the other hand, if you are looking to impress a special someone or have a fancy evening in Newport... 22 Bowens Dinner service certainly doesn't disappoint. The food, service, and great wine list will be sure to make your evening special (just be ready to pay for it all!). *Parking is extremely limited at Bowen's Wharf, especially in the summer. Walk if you are close enough and able. *There is outdoor dining once the summer hits. An outdoor Bar "22 Portside" opens up as well offering a separate outdoor seating area and menu service... which is fantastic for early cocktails and small bites. *Check their website for seasonal menus and deals. Restaurant week here is always pretty great.
(4)Miss C.
Clearly, this establishment rests on its location because its a joke. I could write a long review on how horrendous the service was from our waiter who couldn't be bothered, to the woman helping him bus tables who kept trying to take our food that we waited TWO hours for, only minutes after it was placed down in front of us, to the outright obnoxious manager who seemed like it was a surprise we were underwhelmed. BUT if I did that, I would be giving way more attention to this pig with lipstick joint than we got at our THREE hour meal. Aside from that the fact that the food was horrible, outback makes a better steak, crunchy risotto and on and on. We filled up on bread for $350. Makes you want to go right? Go for drinks and eat somewhere else. Pissed I canceled my Thames street restaurant reservations for this place!
(2)Aaron W.
Excellent food and wine and the service is phenomenal. Great location and atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and stop in if your in Newport!
(5)Skippy J.
We chose 22 Bowens as the destination for our family Thanksgiving meal this year. Salads were very nice and the kale salad was a big hit with several in our party. I had a great sirloin au poivre and a delicious baked potato with rosemary sea salt and a bacon creme fraiche. Mike our server was very friendly and attentive and the overall atmosphere was very warm and inviting on a cold and rainy Thanksgiving. I will definately be back when in Newport.
(5)David D.
Sorry, here comes a bad review. Service ruined our experience. Our waitress's greater us for drinks orders and did not reappear for 10-15 minutes (and then at my request) to take our order. It serious took an hour to get our food. When I, in desperation ask our waitress how long it would be, she said she'd go check and then came back and told us, the order was up now and she just had to get it, but didn't return for another 10-15 minutes. When she brought the order, it was not complete, but we told her not to bother bringing what we had ordered but she forgot. It was a plus that the manger came out to apologize but only said he wouldn't charge us for what they didn't bring out anyway. Then it took another 10-15 minutes to get the check. I felt bad for the water boy, whom I kept going to to try and get some service. The steak I had was very good as was the cold foie gras. Thing is we had a late dinner anyway because we ate after a harbor cruise around 8:30, so the restaurant was not busy. My younger child was falling asleep waiting for the food. It made it worse that those around us who got seated after us finished and left before we even got our food. The service wasn't just slow, it was repeatedly slow, even after asking and asking. The manager did nothing to appease us other than apologize and then disappear again for 15 minutes. One of the worst dining experiences, and the worst we had in a town with MANY great dining options.
(1)Nicole F.
Great food, friendly staff and beautiful outdoor views. My 12 year old son and I went here for a mom/son night. We both loved it. Service was somewhat slow, but I attribute it to a busy Friday night. The food was fantastic! I went with a chicken salad with sangria and my son had fish and chips. We sat outside and took in all the yachts around us.
(4)Matt V.
We had done the Newport Mansion tours and were reading the menus outside several establishments. This one just sounded like the ticket so we went in and were seated right away on a Sunday early evening. Dark wood, linen table cloths and a sumptuous menu. First thing we noticed was there was a busboy being trained. We noticed because our table had not been set with bread plates and after the bread basket arrived we were trying to get his attention to bring some, but he ignored us, possibly out of embarrassment. Our waiter was a pro. Easy going and covered all the specials and made sure we had everything. I like nice restaurants where the seasoned wait staff actually keep an eye on their tables and are there when they see you might need something. Like I say, he was a pro. I had the Atlantic Salmon with gnocci and asparagus. It was pan seared and a healthy portion. I had a caesar salad and for the life of me I can't remember what anyone else had except the crispy calamari, which got a thumbs up. I was happy with my fish and we all were happy for the most part. Now for the downside on the meal: My salad was not properly dressed since the lettuce was not coated with dressing. The lettuce was in fact dry with a teaspoon of dressing on the bottom of the plate. To their credit another member of our group said that her caesar had ample dressing. Prices were not out of line for a seaside restaurant. I've eaten at many, east and west coast. What we got for the money was just average in terms of taste and quality. When we got back from dinner and mentioned where we ate, I was asked, "Why didn't you eat at The Black Pearl?" Maybe next time I should.
(3)Adam L.
I am in complete agreement with all the other reviews. The steaks were good, but the service left a lot to be desired. Our server seemed more interested in watching the basketball game than attending our table. It was slow coming on the initial taking of the order and the wine, no refills on water after the check arrived. They also really pushed the most expensive items, which were some nice steaks, but I feel I got a better value with the prix fixe. HOWEVER, there was a wire from a brush in my dessert. The manager came by and comped my after-dinner drink, which already had been a replacement when what I wanted they were out of. In my mind, a tiny piece of metal in the food is more than comp a drink and good to go. This place had nice food but was far from running smoothly.
(2)Chrissy S.
Last weekend was the First time I have ever been to newport and I stumbled upon this beautiful restaurant set right on the water! Inside the ambiance was great and the service as well. My boyfriend and I both did the preset 3 course dinner for $29 each. We got the mussels and clam chowder as our appetizers which both were amazing. For the entree we got the short rib and the hake which were good as well. For dessert we got one creme brûlée and one choc lava cake. Definitely would recommend this place for a nice dinner or even to come just for a drink. Place started to get busy as we left after 7ish!! GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, and not too pricy!
(5)Sarah C.
Food is pretty good here. Great atmosphere. Only con is seating times/reservations. Went at 5 to make a res and earliest time available was 10pm but plenty of empty tables.
(4)Stuart B.
Great atmosphere better than all the nearby places however one boisterous buffoon was bantering belligerently with the bartender.
(3)Eileen R.
shared the cheese platter and requested extra of cheddar since we don't like blue. Alyssa the bartender was very accomodating. The salmon entree was the best we've had in Newport!!! Also, Joe the batemder was entertaining with NY stories (we r from NY)!!
(5)Joe R.
Ambiance is fair. We sat next to a service door to an outside patio being wafted with cold air. Service was very good but not excellent. Server seemed to have too many tables or not enough untermenschen or untermedchen. Food presentation was very good. Portion sizes were large. We shared entree and used a veg dish as our sides. Preparation was very good but not excellent. They recognized our occasion. We shared a dessert, key like pie, which was excellent and light-this from non dessert eaters. Price was high for comparable establishments.
(3)Anne M.
My friend from the DC area came up for the weekend & I took her on a whirlwind your of Boston & Newport. We decided to have dinner at this place after walking around a bit that day shopping. The outdoor restaurant aesthetics & a the menu selections piqued our interest. The restaurant is in the Main Newport Marina area. It's located on one of the small Piers off the Main Street overlooking the boats. As you walk up is a there is a lovely outdoor patio area with umbrellas as well as an inside 3 Season dining area that has large windows that open out to the Patio. The upstairs had the 3 Season dining space also. The Bar fronted the Kitchen. The entire place was spacious but had friendly, intimate spaces. Both the lighting, layout & decor created a very nice inviting ambiance. My friend & I started with the Clam Chowder which was good. It was 9:30 pm & they were putting it away in the Kitchen apparently. It should've been warmer but hey. It was late. My friend ordered te Kale salad which she loved. I had a piece of grilled swordfish which was cooked fine although I would've preferred it to be a much thicker cut & less time on the grill. It was $26 just for the fish. Their steaks & most of their mains are on the ala carte menu. Not something I encourage restaurants to do UNLESS the steak or main is a large thick portion. I didn't feel the piece I had warranted the $26 price tag. The wine & drink menu was extensive & priced fairly I thought. The service was efficient & our server was very pleasant & helpful. We did not have dessert or coffee. We really enjoyed ourselves because of the ambience & we would def go back but I will order either 2 appetizers or salad OR pick a selection from the Main Meal Entrees bc I think the portion/price ratio is more appropriate.
(4)Holly S.
Upstairs bar is where it's at, ended my night having a yummy red wine and hot toddys for my friends that were so strong! Yay!! So cozy up there. Loved it
(5)Timothy M.
Amazing once again! Our second time here and our second great experience at 22 Bowen's! Great food and amazing service! To start, my wife and I shared the mussels and their clam chowder. Both were delicious. For entrees my wife had the grilled cheese with Brie and blue cheese. She enjoyed it, however she thought it may have been a bit much with the cheese. Maybe adding something to cut the richness of the cheeses like arugula? I had the steak and cheese. This was pretty good but seemed to be missing some extra flavor. French fries were done to perfection. I enjoyed a Mary Ann's Spiced beer which caught me off guard by being absolutely awesome. We both had desserts which were included because of the Restaurant Week menu. They were both done very well. Overall great experience! We will be back!
(5)Jackie S.
Loved it! We came around 8 for dinner. Had a small wait then were seated upstairs. Our server was very informative and friendly. The place was packed for the boat show that was in town but the food came out in a timely manor and was delicious! If I'm back in the area again I'd definitely like to dine here again.
(5)Shannon W.
My boyfriend booked this place for dinner for our first night in Newport. I'll start off with the ambiance. It's very uppity/slightly snobby, but the servers were nice and attentive. While I have no complaints about them, in order to match the snottiness of the restaurant and the extremely high prices we paid, I did expect them to be a bit more on par, knowledgeable about the menu, and more enthusiastic, but then again, it's not like I was in NYC. We started with the scallops. They were delicious. Then we had the calamari. It was very tasty, but not out of this world. We had the scallops as a main dish too (the scallops app was tastier) and brussels sprouts on the side. The brussels sprouts were not that good at all. We had chocolate cake for desert, eh I've definitely had better. At the end of the meal, the server then accidentally put an extra entree on our bill that was meant for another table. She apologized and it was totally fine...but I'm so happy my boyfriend caught that mistake. I mean, c'mon now! It just seemed unprofessional to me, esp at such a high end place. In conclusion, the prices are just very high for the quality of the food and service, then again, it's Newport, so I expected high prices.
(3)Nicolette B.
This place has to be the most overrated restaurant in Newport. We went for restaurant week--THANK GOD--because I would have been PISSED if we'd paid full price for a very run-of-the-mill dining experience. Menu was uninspired--basically the same combination of protein, starch and vegetables that every other restaurant in Newport is offering. We ordered the chowder and the lobster fritters and I will give the place this...the fritters were ON POINT. Very flavorful, packed with large, distinguishable pieces of lobster and served piping hot. The rolls they bring to the table are also excellent and served with room temperature butter (its truly amazing how many restaurants overlook this important nuance!) The chowder was MUCH thicker than I expected it to be, especially since the menu indicated that it was made with "light cream". Believe me, there was nothing light about it! It tasted good but just be aware if you prefer a thinner chowder. My boyfriend got the Pan-Seared Atlantic Salmon and I got the Bistro Filet. The salmon was dry and the filet was not cooked evenly (some parts were medium, others were medium-rare.) My boyfriend enjoyed the salmon but I thought the filet was bland and ended up grabbing the salt shaker and going to town on that dish. Don't get me wrong...the ingredients were of good quality and looked nice on the plate but the dishes themselves were not seasoned or prepared in a way that justifies the insanely high prices. Service was slow but friendly. Our waiter was knowledgable about their craft beer selection and helpful when it came to making recommendations (we loved everything he suggested.) There was a long lag between the appetizer and entree course but the desserts came quickly after that. In sum, its not a bad restaurant, its just overpriced and not worth what they are asking for on the every-day menu. If you much try this place, I recommend that you wait for restaurant week.
(2)Terry K.
We had the hamburger and steak sandwich for lunch the flavor,presentation, and quality were well worth the price. The Fried Calamari was great if you do not like hot peppers ask for them on the side they give a good amount......my error I did not but my girlfriend enjoyed them.
(5)Jon J.
The food here was decently okay. Nothing to write home about, but who writes home about food anyways? The service was unacceptable. I ordered salmon saying I wanted it "very well done". The first time it came, I have suspicions it was still swimming. When I asked if they could cook it for a little longer, it came back still woefully undercooked, not much different from the first time. Then, when the waitress came back with my change, my bill was $xx.25, and the waitress shorted me the 75 cents. I'm not so much concerned about the money, but the principle. It is not at the waitress' discretion to not give me back some of my change. Great restaurants give you the change. It's not rocket science.
(2)Sharon E.
Last Evening we had the pleasure of dining at one of Newport's finest restaurants, 22 Bowen's Wharf. From the minute we arrived , my guest and i were treated like Queens. We were seated at a window seat, where we could watch the Beautiful Sunset. We had the pleasure of having one of the best Servers in Newport, HIs name was Hamilton. From the minute we sat down he could not accommodate us enough! To begin with he worked with us to find the most hearty, palatable Cabernet in our price range. Our table looked like we were at a wine tasting. The bottom line was through his expertise he was able to satisfy our taste buds. He was very attentive and charming. And the Food ! OMG......to die for. I always indulge in the Wedge salad , which is made up of a very good blue cheese and a fine smoky bacon made in house. I asked the chef if i could have a few chopped kalamata olives put into my Roasted Garlic Beurre Blanc , which would accompany my Melt in Your mouth Filet Mignon and before I blinked an eye, it was done! My guest chose the delectable 16oz. Prime Veal Chop fit for a King. Charred too perfection. While i can's say enough Great things about this restaurant or it's wonderful staff, i feel the so called "Sides", you order to accompany your meal need to be kicked up a notch. They are a little boring. The portions were so generous that i had no room for dessert, but the dessert menu did look very very tempting, especially the Pumpkin Creme Brulee! A good Brulee is hard to find, but I'm sure that there's would be one of the Best! But the overall experience was a "10"! I would highly recommend this restaurant to my Family and Friends. Kudos for a Job well done and a very Special Thank you to Hamilton. Sharon E.
(5)Miryam Y.
This is one of those restaurants I had wanted to try for a while and finally got to during Newport Restaurant Week. Came here for dinner with a group of 10. Appetizer+entree+dessert = $35. Everything was amazing and I thought that the restaurant week dinner price was beyond reasonable for a place like this! We got a whole variety of things, including clam chowder, lamb, and filet mignon. We were all pleased and would love to come back here! The service was great and good location too :)
(5)Nicole R.
Came to 22 after a Sunset Cruise. Sad to report this place is highly overrated and completely disorganized. Fritters were great. But the Cod was way oversalted and there was "confusion" over a baked potato. Really? Sad we wasted a dinner on this place.
(2)N P.
Not worth it for prices charged.... My girlfriend and I visited the restaurant during the holidays last week. The place was busy, the peopel at the front desk nice.... and everythign else medioacre.... I ordered a steak, medium... and ended up getting a not so good quality steak that was almost well done... I told our waitress,a nd her replyt was... I will send someome over... not sorry, is there anythign i can do.. or anythign else that would imply customer service... Well, someone showed up, we had the same conversation and he left by saying sorry.... So for food... and food service, i would not consider this as a classy joiont... Now lets discuss service... I had to wave down our waitress a few times to ask for drinks, even though she cam by and didnt even look at our table and empty glasses... Verry impersonal and unpleasant... Bottom line... I would not go againa nd would not recommend this place to anyone for the prices charged.. Management and staff not preoperly trained...
(2)Joe M.
I love 22 Bowens, best steak in town! I always order Beef Carpaccio, and the NY Strip. Try the Bordelaise sauce on the steak as its great.
(5)Tom M.
Had a great sunset dinner last night, with spectacular food, but the real focus of this review is on the service. Steven was one of the best servers we have ever had, anywhere. Knowledgable, attentive, and very friendly. He made our dinner memorable, and deserves every compliment I can give him. Well done, Steven.
(5)Shelby F.
This place is great! I've been to many of Newport's restaurants and this place is awesome! My boyfriend got the lobster roll and it was the best lobster I have ever seen and tasted. It was so flavorful and there was so much lobster in it. I got the fish and chips. Fish and chips can be a bit flavorless sometimes but WOW, their fish and chips was amazing. We then got the blueberry lemon creme bulee, it was so delicious! I loved the food and the portions were great for the price. Not to mention they have nice outside seating and a nice outside bar. Also the service was great. I am definitely coming back again and would recommend this to everyone!
(5)Angelica B.
This place just completely and totally sucks. I hope, if you come here, that you don't like salt...or food that tastes good. That is the only way you'll like this place. Go to The Mooring. It is around the corner, and actually worth the price. The service and wine were the best part of my meal. It's a shame the food didn't match up.
(1)D P.
This place is amazing. I'm leaving this review because the service was the best I've ever experienced. I was amazed by the quality of service here.
(5)Emily H.
My boyfriend and I came to Newport to celebrate our anniversary. We decided on 22 Bowen's for dinner solely because of the reviews and location. We walked in and were greeted almost immediately by a cheerful and gracious host who led us to a table in a small room by the window. Not much of a view, but I'm assuming in warmer weather they open the windows and take advantage of the fresh air. We were handed menu's even though we already knew we were going to order the prix fix menu. Even though we're both adults, we decided to skip drinks with dinner. I think that shocked the waiter when I told him. Don't get me wrong, I understand we were at a wine bar, but my license had expired and I didn't want to risk being turned down a drink just for not having an up to date license. After ordering our meals, everything felt a tad rushed. When we ordered the chowder appetizers, they were brought out almost immediately. We were in and out of the restaurant in under an hour on a Friday night. Maybe if we had ordered drinks we would've lingered longer, but our meal was so rushed we felt strange sitting around. I will definitely return, however, for the wine and cocktail list. My meal of pan-seared salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked. The char of the jumbo shrimp really put the dish over the edge. My boyfriend ordered to bistro filet, only to be told they had run out of the filet and was asked if he'd like the hangar steak instead that they serve with fries for $19.99. He said it was fine, but on a Friday night, running out of a main dish ingredient like filet is almost inexcusable. We both work in the service industry as well (I'm a concierge at a luxury apartment building in Providence, and he is a Line Cook at a fine dining restaurant) so we understand that slip ups can happen. Overall, 4 stars for service and food.
(4)MaryAlice R.
I felt like royalty at this place. The service was fast and enjoyable. We got the calamari which was amazing! I ordered the pan seared salmon, it was wonderful. I might have had a little better at other places, but still delicious. My dad got the ribeye and I had a taste... Melted in my mouth! For desert we shared 2 creme brûlée's.... Best I've had and the presentation beautiful!
(5)Julie Y.
I came here this past Sunday for Newport Restaurant Week. We were able to still catch the lunch menu since it was about 3:30pm. I had the shrimp and sweet corn fritters, apple and bacon melt and lemon olive oil cake. My boyfriend had the mushroom and ricotta crostada, kale salad and chocolate budino dessert. The food was delicious and very flavorful. And the portions were great for lunch, I was happy to not leave feeling stuffed. I can't wait to come back when it's a bit warmer and enjoy their other options!
(4)Nela D.
Great outdoor spot on the pier with house infused liquors. We had a drink and lunch at the outdoor bar. The food was pretty good (lobster, shrimp, oysters) but the timing was all off. Apps/oysters and salad came out at the same time as main, then my main came out a good 30-40 mins later. Oh well! We were just relaxing outside so not a big deal. The wedge salad was lame - skip it. And there are better oysters at other places nearby. Check it out on a nice day and enjoy a house cocktail.
(3)Evan M.
Probably the best restaurant in Newport. Everything from the location, the service, to the food is top-notch. The restaurant is situated right by the water on the wharf, and you can choose to sit at their outdoor bar, patio, or either of their 2 indoor levels. If you want a quick bite and a drink I would recommend the outside bar. If you are looking for the true experience, sit inside. Ask for Shane, the best bartender in Newport. This isn't a place you go for a quick burger, or a plate of nachos. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place. The menu here is mostly steaks and seafood, but you can't go wrong with any choice. The porterhouse is amazing (but then again for $54 is should be). The restaurant is relatively expensive, but you are paying for superior food and service. So know this before you go in, or take a look at a menu before sitting down. It's a good place to splurge, and expect to spend about $100 per person for dinner/drinks. If you are in Newport and are looking for the best, this is where you should be.
(5)Mitch W.
4.5 Stars for me! After a super duper long hike (Cliff Hike), we were looking for a place to eat in the Newport, Rhode Island area and after checking menus at several places, we settled on 22 Bowens. They have a restaurant and two outside seating areas. We opted for the seating area that was closest to the water (and the harbor tour boats). Even though we were very hungry, we aren't big eaters, so we shared the Baby Greens Salad ($8.95) and the 22B Burger ($9.95). We got a vinaigrette salad dressing and both the salad and burger were delicious! Our server was Jessica and she was friendly, helpful and attentive. We told Jessica that we were splitting both dishes and the restaurant evenly split our food and put it on two plates so we didn't have to divide it ourselves. That was very thoughtful and nice! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at 22 Bowens. Please see my pictures. Xie Xie!!
(4)Lisa S.
The place is overpriced. The service was horrible We ordered a bottle of sparkling water, and she pored regular horrible water in our cups where there still was sparkling water. We had to order additional large sparkling water Clam chowder is 3 stars. The server said that salads are pretty big to share, and it was hardly enough for two. The special is too small. We were hungry after eating. The check was over 120.
(2)Steph B.
It was okay. This place is trying a little too hard to be something it's not - was our food cooked correctly? Yes. Was our server nice? Yes. But was our order taken incorrectly twice? yes. Was the bread stale? Yes. So, overall, 3 stars. If you're looking for something very middle of line eat here. But remember, there is plenty better within two feet.
(3)Rachel M.
Bryan I believe is the waiters name he went above and veyond. He sung me and my fiance happy birthday and anniversary! Which is why we were in town celebrating. He was very careful with my dairy and pepper allergy so I felt in great hands
(5)Jane S.
Excellent excellent. The muscles were to die for. Highly recommend this restaurant
(5)Stefani A.
The price is expensive but I think its worth it for how good the food is. It'll definitely cost a lot so thats why my hubby and I only come here for our anniversary or Valentines Day. Service is great, although last time our waitress seemed a little confused but she might've been new so I'll let it pass. I order a steak every time I go. I like my meat cooked medium rare and at other restaurants I go to, they either cook it medium or really overcook it. Every time, Bowens has cooked my steak PERFECTLY. Always juicy and tender. And the steak sauce is to die for. Absolutely delicious. We usually get the creme brule for dessert and it's absolutely phenomenal. Last year they had a chocolate souffle with pistachio gelato. We don't like pistachio so we got Salted Caramel instead. WOW!! Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Amanda L.
My husband and I ate here for Valentine's Day. We always come down to Newport and have for the past 3 years, but this year it fell on Winterfest week, so Newport was a bit busier than it usually is. We made dinner reservations for 6:30pm about a week or so before Vday. We were given a table upstairs overlooking the water. The difference in dress was bizarre, some people very dressed up and some in literal sweat pants... I don't get it! Anyway... Our drinks from the bar were good (Grey Goose Dirty Martini & CC&Ginger's). The bread is very good. We got the Bucket of Clams (Off season and they were "ok") for an app along with the Cesar salads. (Anchovy - yuck! Forgot to ask for no anchovy, but no big deal, still very good.) For dinner we each got a filet and had baked mac and asparagus. My 8oz filet was under cooked (I ordered medium and got rare) Husbands 12oz filet was cooked perfectly, so we switched cause I can't do rare... We had desserts which I believe were pistachio ice cream & carrot cake. Delicious. Overall, I liked the place but it didn't wow me. We paid over $200 for dinner, which is to be expected, but I have eaten at amazing steak houses in Boston (Ruth's Chris, Grill 23, S&W, Capital Grille) and would argue that any of those I just listed are far better than 22 Bowens. Also, if I am ordering a $40 dollar steak, it needs to be cooked correctly. Yes.. I know... I could have sent it back. But that's not the point. You kinda have to get it right the first time around.... Unfortunately we wont be back for a big night out dinner this summer. Maybe for lunch, though!
(3)Amelia S.
I have to say I wasn't overly impressed. We were here for a party with a group of 8 so you can always expect that the wait staff won't love you...but one individual had an issue with her steak and they didn't even seem phased by it. Clamboil was good but nothing to write home about, and the prices were steeper than what I think it was worth. Views weren't as good as other places in Newport. We probably wouldn't be back....
(2)Britton P.
It was fantastic. We ordered apps, salads, and the most beautiful delmonico I've ever seen!! Great girls night!!
(5)Chris S.
Always delicious and perfectly cooked steak. Very expensive but if you want to order a meal you know will be good, go here.
(4)Todd B.
I had a great experience at 22 Bowens last night, and I particularly want to thank them for being open when most of the other restaurants in Newport had closed for the January break. A local recommended 22 Bowens, but I was going to try Black Pearl or Moorings instead. Because they were closed, I settled on 22 Bowens, and I'm happy that I did. I had a great experience. I was warmly welcomed without a reservation, and I chose to take a seat at the bar since I was alone. The two bartenders, Joe and Guy, were incredibly friendly and made my dinner a lot of fun. They were incredibly knowledgeable of the menu as well as wine and cocktail options. When I was undecided about the soup, Joe offered two samples so I could make a decision. I chose the Cheddar Ale, which was outstanding. I got into a conversation about bourbons with them, and Guy allowed me sniff a couple. When I ordered a cocktail, it was a large size and not a skimpy cocktail glass. I chose the seafood dinner with baked clams, mussels, lobster tail and Grouper in a red sauce. The sauce, along with the accompanying sourdough bread, was magnificent. The seafood all was hearty and cooked to perfection. Because I'm watching carbs (the bread was an irresistible oops!), they offered sauteed spinach instead of potatoes. It was maybe the best spinach I've ever had. I would recommend 22 Bowens on any night in Newport, and big kudos to such a warm and friendly staff as well as great service. And give Joe a promotion. He deserves it.
(4)May B.
Had some yummy oysters and tried the rib eye which was cooked really well. Good service and a nice selection of wines and beer. I would recommend to go here for a special occasion.
(4)MJ B.
We were driving from Boston back to NYC and decided to stop by Newport to check out the mansions. We had an early dinner and walked in this restaurant. For appetizers, we had the oysters which were fresh and succulent. For the main course, I had the lobster roll which was one of the best I have tried. My friend had the scallops paired perfectly with some greens. Great dinner!
(4)Lisa V.
The drinks are very pricey.... but the staff is awesome! The location is perfect, especially if you are going for a few cocktails before a sunset sail. Also, they will stay open as long as you are still drinking. Had a blast last Monday evening!
(4)Nick C.
Should be better considering it's location and atmosphere. Their chowder is among the worst in Newport. The Mooring and Brick Alley have way better chowder. My salad had rotten lettuce and the lobster meat was definitely canned. Skip it.
(2)Laura M.
Had a great dinner here while vacationing in Newport. After reading yelp reviews, I booked a reservation for 8:15 on a Saturday night. We had a drink at the bar and then were seated within 15-20 minutes. We started off with the clam chowder - might have been the best I had a weekend. I had the tagliatelle with lima beans and string beans, in a pesto sauce. It was very tasty and a pretty large portion. My boyfriend had the steak delmonico - which was really good (and I don't even like steak!). The service was good too - pretty speedy and friendly waitstaff. Only downside was that this place was expensive! Most entrees were between $25-$45. We overlooked this fact only because it was a vacation.
(5)Tammy G.
I just absolutely love it here year after year it is still perfection. I always order steak but last week I ordered a veal chop and I have to say it was over the top. I am still thinking about it. Service is always spectacular even during the summer when it is super busy.
(5)Jeffrey R.
Bad experience. Food was ok. They ruined my day. A manager walked by and asked me what the item was that I had on the table. It was my electric cigarette. He seemed fascinated by it and said it was good that I quit smoking. 3-4 minutes later a different person in a shirt and tie came over and told me I couldn't vape in the out door patio. All during lunch I keep catching some woman peeking around the corner at me to see if I was vaping. They made me feel like a criminal. Ruined my whole day. If patrons can not vape in this restaurant then fine, just please tell me at the door so I can choose a different place to eat.
(1)Dorothy M.
Parking was a challenge. Food was delicious. Service was sub par.
(4)Jennifer C.
Enjoyed a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. Service was great,Hamilton was our waiter and loved the atmosphere. Drinks were good. My husband had a lobster salad roll, it was delicious, price was good, & fries were hand cut...would definitely go back for one. I had the kale salad topped with rare tuna. I could not believe how much I LOVED the salad! The tuna though was not good, though it was cooked perfectly it lacked flavor. It seemed like they just threw it on the grill without seasoning, searing or anything. I had to ask for some kind of sauce to make it SEMI-enjoyable. Would never order that again, very disappointing for a higher end place. I think the chef should do better
(4)Kaila A.
Amazing Valentine's Day dinner! We had delicious Mac and cheese for an appetizer, the steaks were cooked to perfection, and the sides were awesome. We split brussel sprouts and the fried sliced potatoes. For dessert we tried the chocolate chip cookie dough torte which was unbelievable. Overall, the service was great and the food was even better!
(5)C M.
Excellent food, excellent service (sat at bar), great atmosphere, and prices were excellent as well. Would definitely go back.
(5)Shantel S.
The $30 prix-fixe menu was wonderful, but the service was lacking. The portions were very large. The specialty cocktails are amazing.
(3)Regina F.
Though he doesn't eat red meat, mostly for health reasons, and he has mostly abandoned poultry as a food source, my father is of the old-school steak-house loving folk. His idea of the perfect meal is one wherein bread rolls are presented immediately after water is brought to the table, and the table is dressed in a white cloth. Flickering candles must dimly light the room, and the windows of whatever establishment he happens to be in lend a view so spectacular that his eyes receive as much of a treat as his mouth. 22 Bowens is the type of restaurant my father, your father, your in-laws would love. And you probably won't be disappointed either. Proffering standard American seaside meets steakhouse fare, this wharf restaurant offers something for everyone. The crunchy Boston Bibb salad served with presumably house made crispy onions and a slice of creamy, potent blue cheese will satisfy bacon lovers who like to feign healthful eating. The pan roasted Brussels sprouts sautéed with chunks of bacon are served in a skillet, sizzling hot, and deliciously cooked, albeit slightly greasy. As for dessert, try the luscious, almost lascivious, chocolate trio. With gelato, a mousse cake and a giant ball of chocolate truffle, you're sure to roll away with a few more anti-oxidant molecules roaming your system, as well as some glucose and saturated fat globules tossed there among.
(5)Andrew G.
Had a babe from Ireland as our waitress who did a wonderful job. My pork belly app was good as was the chicken I had for my main course. Bit over priced in my Polish opinion but you're in Newport so ya know how it goes. If you're rich go drop some racks yo
(4)Rich M.
Without a doubt my favorite restaurant around. It is not a place for a cheap night out (although the Steak Fritte's night is a pretty good deal), but if you're looking for a high-end steakhouse you've found it. The food is top of the line - been there close to two-dozen times and haven't been disappointed yet. Wait staff is exceptional, restaurant decor is upscale and refined, and the wine list is extensive. You won't get a better steak in Newport, for sure....but the seafood and other options on the menu are equally fantastic. If you're looking to invest in a quality dining experience, look no further - you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ann T.
Very nice restaurant right near the water with a clubby feel to it. We came for the $19.95 Steak Frites, which was very good. It came with a Bearnaise sauce but they let me substitute the braised tomato which was good. French fries were yummy.
(4)Robyn R.
My co workers and I had a delicious meal here! We all agreed it was one of the best meals. I had clam chowder and the salmon entree. I've never been to a restaurant where I could taste the fresh herbs in every dish! The sauce on the salmon dish was declines! The asparagus, gnocchi, and shrimp was perfectly paired with the salmon. The atmosphere was pretty nice also.
(5)Steven A.
There is no way this place deserves only 3.5 stars. Yes, it's not the cheapest, but the quality matches the price. It's terrible that the other reviewers use the star rating to show that they didn't like the price. Service and food was excellent. The tuna tartar was stellar! Both the scallops and tuna were cooked perfectly. My girlfriend got the salmon which was also wonderful! An outstanding place to go with a great wine list as well. Highly recommend.
(5)Emily P.
Excellent! Sure, it's the off-season in Newport, but that didn't take away from our experience, service or the tasty food. My husband and I both ordered off of the pre-fixe menu - $30pp for a three course meal. We were wowed. Great wine selection and the chocolate souffle will have you arguing over who gets the last bite.
(5)Michael S.
Went here while on my bachelor party, had a fantastic time and the food was amazing. The seafood was super fresh and the steaks were amazing. The crowd was a little douchey though, some women had to let us know that we were holding our after-dinner drink glasses incorrectly. Sweet, thanks.
(5)Beth C.
Nothing special, it's in a good location if you want dinner on the warf, but the food is all average. I had a grilled fish and my husband had steak. Both were just average. We won't be going back. There are so many better choices in Newport.
(3)Mike A.
Went here Sunday night . The manager is absolutely horrible . I go for a Filet at least once a week and go to all the best fine steak houses. I ordered my steak medium and it came out almost well done . I'm sorry but when you are paying $50 just for a steak it should be cooked correctly . When I told the manager he took my plate acknowledged the steak was cooked improperly and said they would make me a new one . No big deal it happens but what happened next was a big surprise . He had the audacity to come back out with the original steak and a flashlight , yes you heard correctly a flashlight and proceeded to show me that it had some pink in the steak . If I wasn't a business owner and a gentleman I would of thrown it on the ground and waked out . I was so insulted I will make sure neither I or any of my associates, family or friends ever go to this place again .
(1)Mia J.
Never got to sit down. Very disappointed in the lack of knowledge and shabby treatment by the hostess this past Sunday. Don't even think about bringing your dog...dog lovers beware. After they tell you that you'll be seated ...walk you over to the outside bar area and then tell you to tie your pooch up to a piece of wood in the hot sun, they stand there with a stupid look on their face and don't understand why that's not a good idea. How about just saying " we don't allow you to have your pet anywhere near our service area". Anyway..... It's a no go for me. :( Having travelled extensively in high end dog friendly places...I was just plain wrong to think this was one of them.
(1)Pete M.
This is only based on a single lunch so it's flash perception and I do know other places here well. Overall it's very nice. Very good wine list by glass and bottle - great selections and reasonably priced. Food seems to be very competently handled, great ingredients fresh and top quality. Clean and inviting inside, right near the water as well. Menu is simple, which is fine but perhaps could be expanded a bit and the entrees embellished just a little more with a balance of fresh greens which are scarce unless you order a salad separately. They claim to use organic and local food where possible and I believe that based on observations. Would be nice if they stated which of the choices use organic produce or local seafood - a practice other places tend to overuse. I'd go back with pleasure - would like to taker a deeper dive next time. Btw prices good especially for Newport main tourist district (is there a non tourist area here?). Lunch for two with wine 55.00 and that included sashimi grade tuna and another fish entree. By the way the seared tuna the best I've had because of the superb quality of the tuna. They could have seared it a bit more artfully but beat nine the less. Go.
(4)Andrea I.
We visit Newport every year and have walked passed this restaurant and finally decided to give it a try. The prices were high (and we live in NY) but it is vacation after all so why not. The appetizers were good we never got a bread basket. My husband ordered the salmon which he said was really good. I ordered the 2 lb. lobster for a whopping $59.00 again its vacation. I ordered this back in July and I'm still chewing it. The lobster was so tough and the shell was like rubber so I couldn't crack it. Obviously it was cooked earlier and then put back in the water before serving. It was terrible. When the waitress asked how it was I told her it was really tough. She told the chef who advised her to offer me a glass a wine. Really a glass of wine OK that makes up for the $59.00 lobster. I guess because of the location this restaurant feels it can server sub-standard food. What a joke. We will not be returning.
(2)Matt M.
Great food, but you definitely pay for it. Nothing outstanding about it. But overall, a nice place with high quality food and drinks. Got some a great statler chicken breast and yellowfin tuna steak here. Both were excellent cuts and were cooked perfectly. The truffled mac & cheese was by far the highlight. We also got "The Wedge" salad (iceberg, bacon, bleu cheese) which was fantastic. I was also seriously impressed with their Scotch selection. Lots and lots to choose from, with a great description of the various regions on the menu itself.
(3)Alexandra L.
Amazing service, amazing food, amazing drinks. Love this place! Went during restaurant week. Chowder was so-so but I don't really enjoy seafood. Short ribs were to die for and the creme brûlée was off the chain.
(5)John K.
Really quality outdoor seating makes this place worth going to, right on the wharf. Had a sausage that was average to salty, but crab avacado salad was excellent. Great date.
(4)Karis O.
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.
(4)Amy W.
Have been to 22 Bowens twice now, and was quite pleased each time. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive, tables spaced sufficiently so that we weren't on top of the next diners, food reliable and as described. The first time, I had onion soup as an app, and loved it - but I won't get it again, as the size of the portion was way too large for an appetizer. No, I didn't have to eat it all, but somehow...I did. The steak I ordered was terrific, a perfect medium rare, and side of baked potato was enough for three people. That would lead to my only complaint with 22 Bowens - portion sizes are crazy big. I'd gladly get less food and pay a little less, though since I live here I don't mind getting a doggie bag and having lunch the next day included in my night out. Friends had lobster that night & shared a few bites - it was delicious. Steak again the second time around, though my husband and I shared the special, a 28-oz delmonico for two. After appetizers (I had a cassoulet app, which was great, though too heavy for then having steak, but that was my mistake, not theirs) we waited...and waited...the waitress came around and told us that our steak had come out too well done and she made them cook another more rare. Fair enough, thanks for doing that - I'd rather wait than have it too well done, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. The steak when it did appear was perfect. So bravo. Neither time have we been able to order dessert, not being able to restrain ourselves at the entree. Good wine list, and we got good recommendations. A little too pricey to be the casual, 'hey, let's go out' kind of place, but a good go-to for when we want something better than the run-of-the-mill.
(4)Reno D.
We ordered the "Aged Ribeye" and asked them to split the steak which they gladly said they would do for us. We waited atleast an hour for our food to come...We asked our waitress at about an hour about our food. The Manager came by to apologize to us for the wait. (Hmmmm, I've always found it more sincere when a Manager comes to us first and says,.... Im sorry were slammed we're behind, opposed to me dicussing our issue with the waitress and all of a sudden he shows up and says, sorry were behind. (Bottom line he's the Manager). Trust me , I wasn't the only one to get my food late or screwed up. We asked for our steak to be "Medium Rare", it came "Rare". My girl sent hers back, I was too hungry to send it back and wait, who knows how long I would've had to wait for it to return cooked right (Med Rare Aged Ribeye Cooks quick on a hot grill 10 mins tops) .... They forgot our "Mash Potatoes", they had to go back and get them...Nothing special about their "Aged Ribeye Steak". Save your money on that one. Manager came by and asked if he could get us some dessert on the house. No Thank You, at this point we just wanted to leave. A hundred dollars for 2 of us (if everything was right or atleast 1/2 right Ok ). No one expects to wait an hour for their food after waiting to be seated. I expected the "Aged Steak" to be alot better than what it was. Maybe I'm spoiled from Los Angeles, but I do know my Aged Ribeye! Especially how long it takes to cook them! I've had many. Well I probably should've tried their seafood, but I was seafooded out, then again I still would've had to wait an hour for my food. Seafood did look good though. Not a fun evening with your friends when your hungry and waiting for your food, and when it finally arrives its wrong, and missing items ordered. Hopefully it was just a bad day for them and your experience will be more enjoyable. . If you enjoy people watching, sit outside...Beautiful little town...
(2)Damon C.
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.
(4)Richard D.
Very nice place awesome food friendly service worth the money
(5)Roseann C.
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 Saturday 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.
(3)Nick R.
Our server was great she ran down the special brought us the bottle of wine we ordered which was great we had a second bottle 2011 Malbec Argentina! For apps we had crispy calamari with hot peppers this was a hit! The seated feta and heirloom tomato wasn't that good! The Feta was cold and the tomato hard! Clams in broth was really good! My scallops for dinner were seared perfectly! My wife lobster wAs also really good!
(5)A M.
First, expensive. Second, overpriced for what you get, and I truly don't mind paying for good food. Third, very delicious food with a nice view of a pier with boats. The blue point oysters were superb, but at $3.50 each they should be. Steaks were excellent but cooked, it was agreed, one level above what was ordered for the entire table. I order medium rare and got medium, etc. The wine list is very good, and not particularly overpriced. Service was impeccable from both a quality, timeliness, and politeness standpoint. Would go again if money not a question.
(3)Peter W.
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.
(4)Dee L.
First the good stuff - Excellent service, nice atmosphere, amazing Lobster spring rolls. The so so stuff... We sat upstairs which was really nice and itimate however there was a large party on the 1st floor which was really really loud. I was pretty shocked how loud they were considering this place pretty much is fine dining. I guess you can't take some people anywhere. I thought the prices were a bit on the high side and everything is ala cart. Got the filet a bit too charred on the outside I know that sometimes happens with filets but at Ruth Chris that never happens. The sides for the extra cost were a bit skimpy. Overall it was a nice experience, would I rush back probably not.
(3)Susan W.
Sat at outside bar. Had soup and salad. Food good. Great to sit outdoors and enjoy the view which was totally destroyed by a bunch of filthy mouthed guys F this and F that reliving their high school and college days and obviously had too much to drink. Other women at the outside bar and nothing was done to contain their inappropriate behavior. Couldn't waif to get out of there.
(1)Toni M.
--From April 23 and May13, 2010, sorry for the delay-- I was with a group up at the Naval War College. A few of us professed to be foodies, so we formed an ad hoc supper club. 22 Bowen made the list. As a matter of fact, it was so good we had the 'last su
(5)Erick S.
Was a little disappointed with the food, but the service trumps everything else. My wife and I celebrated our 5th anniversary here and were expecting a specatcularly 5 star dinner. I had been here for drinks and apps before with colleagues, but never dinner, though I had heard lots of rave reviews for their entree's. It was packed, and the only reservation we could get was an 8:15 dinner seating. I let them know before hand it was a special night, and the front-desk did a nice job of making a special table on the upper deck available for us. Our waitress was warm and friendly, and the runners were attentive - we never had to ask for water refills or bread. Drinks were a little slow, but given the summer crowds, that's understandable, besides we were happy to enjoy each other's company. Apps arrived promptly, however, and were pretty good. Oysters are a no-brainer down there, as is there house specialty pineapple vodka! My wife ordered the redfish and I ordered the scallops. We were both pretty disappointed with our meals - the fish was pretty bland and didn't have the kind of flavor profile you'd expect at a high end restaurant. The scallops were scorched - over-cooked, rubbery chunks of flesh. I tried to eat a few (it was late and we weren't going to wait for a second round of food), but just couldn't bring myself to finish the plate. I let our waitress know, nicely, that our food didn't really meet our expectations. She was apologetic, and after offering us dessert (which we politely declined), she spoke with her manager and adjusted our bill - removing my meal entirely and comping us a round of drinks. While the seafood was disappointing - especially since it's a waterfront property - the service was great. That experience alone would bring me back to give them another shot... this time though, I might stick to a steak.
(4)Lynne K.
Amazing wine selection, almost overwhelming! Dinner was fantasic, though the mac n' cheese is a little too rich. Loster fritters were not that good. I wish they had a bigger menu, especially dessert!! Overall, it was a lovely venue, but a little too busy for my taste.
(3)Jennifer W.
Wow, not sure I have ever paid more for a meal I couldn't eat. The staff certainly didn't care a bit that the meal was untouched by most of our table. We started with the lobster soup, which was brown and thick like gravy. Had a very strange after taste as well as a gross texture. Main meal was ok, but certainly not work the spend. None of us could touch our deserts. Please if you go, don't pass on the bread. I will at least fill you up a little. Salad was also full of sand.
(1)Janet C.
We were here for an anniversary celebration. We had drinks while waited for a promised "primo" table. The bar is nice, service was terrific. We were shown our table, which had a fabulous view of...the dock. Nope, no water views, just dock...not exactly primo. That was a bit puzzling, but we had an awesome waitperson, so we moved on to enjoy our evening together. The food was delightful. I had local oysters with a divine mignonette, my husband had bacon wrapped scallops...glorious. We had lobster...perfectly done. And they treated us to creme brûlée with a candle for our anniversary...lovely. The bill was pretty steep, but we greatly enjoyed ourselves. Awesome food, awesome service...thank you for making our anniversary memorable!!
(5)Katrina M.
This place has a nice location and pleasant environment. It's sort of in tourist-central, but holds a classier feel then some of the surrounding restaurants. It effectively isolates you from the hustle of the crowds and enables you to slow down and enjoy. The food is good and reliable, but more classic then cutting edge. You'll end up paying a little more then strictly necessary, especially when it comes to wine; their selection is extensive, but a little high in price. The service is good, but a little casual - think professional until a friend sits at the table next door or a customer on the phone is less then clear - all in all, I'll go back, but there are some other places I'd go first.
(3)Angela N.
The service and the view were great. What started out like the perfect dinner night turned out to be a bit hairy!. There was HAIR in one of the appetizers I ordered!! The manager as very apologetic and she did not charge for the appetizer and the wine. However, both my friend and I had a very bad reaction to the same appetizer. Very surprised since I have been there many times and had a very good experience.
(2)Tony P.
Dined at the restaurant on 8/12/12. Outside dining near dockside. My entree was one of their specialty dishes, the Grilled Tuna with a Chili Glaze, and Noodles. I like sushi, so I asked for the tuna to be rare. The entire dish was fantastic. The tuna was lightly seared, the glaze was great. The wasabi paste was a bit spicier than I would have expected, so go easy there. But the dish was 10 out of 10!
(5)Marianne M.
Went for lunch. Excellent kale salad! Friends loved their lobster roll and scallops. Very accommodating for gluten free.
(4)Blake N.
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.
(4)N R.
Ate here for the first time recently, and it was fantastic! The service was absolutely great. I'm afraid I can't remember our waiter's name, but he was Greek I think? Very nice, personable guy. The food was excellent. I had a filet and on a hunch, ordered it medium. In most places I order medium rare, because so many restaurants seem to think that medium = brown all the way through. It came out exactly as I hoped, a perfect medium. We were a big group, so we ordered a lot of sides and they were all good. I believe there was mac and cheese, mashed potato, spinach, and asparagus on the table, all devoured. This place is quite expensive, but I'll definitely be keeping it in mind for special occasions. We went in the winter, so we sat inside, which was very nice. I'm sure in the summer it is even nicer to sit on their porch by the water.
(5)Abby O.
A bit of a tourist trap... we had terrible service at the outside bar, 22B. All the waitress did was talk to her friends at the next table and ignore us. Then went over to the main restaurant for dinner where the service was great but the food was mediocre at best. Maybe ok if you're just going for steak but we had the Stuffed Portabella app, the Tuna app and the Chopped Salad all of which had no flavor. If I'm going to drop $50 on dinner I want it to taste like something.
(2)Yi H.
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.
(4)Sean M.
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.
(4)Rick L.
Average food, average atmosphere, average service at very expensive prices. The $50 steak had no flavor at all. There are many other options in Newport. Do yourself a favor and look at other options.
(2)Jeff H.
They have decent chowder, but I would more recommend this as a place to have drinks - at least their outside patio bar is. I didn't actually go into the restaurant - my girlfriend and I sat at the patio bar by the water. This is another nice place to have a couple beers while on vacation - and a good place to watch the sun go down.
(3)MS P.
Came here without a reservation on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed at 7pms so I sat at the bar. Place is pretty pricey but the food is good. Had the clam chowder which is pretty good. Also had the Shepard Pie which is really good. Split the porterhouse steak with the bf and it was very juicy and tender. The Mac n cheese wasn't that good so nothing to rave about. But yea the bill came out to be pretty high because as u can see, I like to eat a lot and at the end, I was too full to even move. Will be back. It's a yummy place
(4)Ben P.
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.
(3)Lelian O.
Ambiance of this restaurant was romantic type of feel, perfect for a date or a night out. The food was good. I ordered the beet salad and the braised beef short ribs and those were delicious. The clam chowder and mac and cheese were just OK. The service was great but my only negative would be parking is really hard for an SUV and very limited. I can't imagine coming here during the summer months when Newport is busy. I would suggest parking somewhere else.
(4)Meesh K.
In the summer you can't beat the view from the outdoor bar. Its great for people watching, to relax and have a drink during a day of shopping, or just meet your friends. They have good beers on tap, an ok wine menu, and they even serve a limited menu outside. Inside however isn't worth the price. The food is just ok and I am being nice saying that. Stick with the drinks outside and during the winter skip it all together.
(3)Amanda S.
I've been wanting to visit 22 Bowens for a while now, so when restaurant week came around, I decided to put them on my list. I made reservations for lunch with two of my friends and was running a bit late so I called 10 minutes before my reservation to ask if we could push it back a half hour. They were kind enough to allow us to do so, and when we arrived they were actually telling people that there was a half hour wait. We were seated immediately and perused the restaurant week menu. Our waiter was a bit pushy, and took our order for all three courses at once. I started with the clam chowder, which was good but not the best I've ever had. My entree was fish and chips which was good, but very salty. Dessert was chocolate mousse, which was the best part of the meal. We were in and our very quickly, nothing fancy. Not sure if I'll go back.
(3)HyunJoo K.
Just the place I always want to be! My boyfriend took me out there last year as a surprise for my birthday! It was actually the first time in Newport, RI as well! It is a beautiful place with the Cliff Walk and Mansions. There is plenty of boutique shops, but keep in mind tax!!! I am not used to taxes on anything! Anyways, 22 Bowen's has indoor and outdoor seating, and my boyfriend purposely chose outdoor seating, knowing that I am not a big fan of loud public places - I like a more private intimate setting. It is also facing the Newport Harbor which is a lot of fun to watch the boats go in and out of the port. The food was absolutely amazing. We started with Bacon Wrapped Georges Bank Scallops- Macadamia Nuts, Mango Micro Green Salad, probably the best I ever had, and then I had the 22 bowen's signature special, Grilled Filet Mignon over Roasted Shallot Mashed Potatoes with Wild Mushroom Demi-Glace and Whipped Great Hill Blue Cheese. (Yes, those are not by memory, I had to go back to the website to remember the exact dish title). Then at the end, they came out with a simple small circle shaped bread pudding with a single candle - simple and sweet! I think that was the most memorable birthday I have had. I hope to go back there for some more filet mignon! Oh, the inside of the place is very clean and dim light setting, but I found it to be a little too loud? Well, it would be great too for some special occasions or company events. Also, they supposed to carry a good wine list, but I am not fond of alcohol, so I couldn't really tell you in that aspect. Well, go check the place out, while I am imagining being there :D
(5)Nik H.
I took my clients here based on a number of referrals. I thought the food was very good but nothing special. The steaks that we all ordered were properly prepared and the sides were all plentiful and tasted great. Ordinarily, this would earn 4 stars but a couple of things occurred that removed one star... 1. They had a cocktail on the menu which was a Blantons manhattan. It was $14. I received it, took a taste and it was NOT Blantons. When I asked the server, she got huffy and I am not a fan of huffy servers. She reluctantly checked with the barman and found out I was correct. He made an ordinary Manhattan. 2. The same server made an error on the bill and rolled her eyes at me when it was pointed out. Really? Great food is found everywhere. When you charge this type of money, you need to be in a truly separate class; if food is the sole differentiator. More often, it is the overall experience- cocktails, food, atmosphere and service that differentiates high end restaurants. I for one was disappointed with the overall experience. Doubt I will go back. There are too many other good places in the same general area.
(3)Nick S.
I have been 4 times before and had incredibly poor meals. Went back with a gift card and sat at the bar. Barman was great. We shared the blue crab app which was great in its simple ness . Fresh lump crab and good. We split the big ribeye medium rare and they did not overcook it for once. Did not go near side dishes are they are very poor. Steak quality was excellent. If you go, stay simple and order one degree below where you like your steak done. Wine is good and so is glassware.
(3)Tamera R.
Beautiful atmosphere and great and friendly service. Came here during restaurant week and don't think I would go back if it weren't. My duck was a a little over done, and my dates brûlée tasted a bitter because it was over done with the torch. Sounds like they might need a little work in the kitchen. It wasn't horrible by any stretch, but if you're spending $100 for dinner, you can expect better than this.
(3)Molly R.
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.
(4)Bradford O.
22 Bowens gets two stars for ambiance, but that's about it's only saving grace. The ingredients are of decent quality but the chef is without talent. Caesar salad was bland and unimaginative. Both of the two pieces of fish we ordered were badly over-grilled. Mac and cheese was criminally bad. The Brussels sprouts were also overcooked. Bread was stale. Total for two salads, two pieces of fish, two sides, and a $35 bottle of wine came to $175 including tip. I have no intention of ever returning.
(2)Jenn K.
When we're in Newport (and we try to be in Newport often!), we always head here for drinks and appetizers. They have a great chopped salad, a really nice and spicy calamari, and a delicious mojito. It's great to sit at the outdoor bar and watch the boats come in and go out. Enjoy!
(4)Laurie M.
Amazing. The food was wonderful. The prices are a bit high but we knew that when we made a reservation. Suggested by a local and would do it again. The waitress was so friendly and helpful. I had the shrimp with lobster sauce and pepper, great. My daughter has the salmon, the best and my boe has the lobster pot
(5)Rose L.
Appetizers: Petite Cassoulet with duck confit, clam chowder. This was our first time trying cassoulet, and it was delicious. The duck was seasoned well, and the beans were soft, creamy, and tasty. The clam chowder was also very good - it had a lot of big, chunky pieces of clam in it and wasn't as thick and creamy as most other places, which I enjoyed. After such yummy appetizers, we were really excited for our entrees to arrive... Entrees: Grilled Ribeye with rosemary Worcestershire glaze, bacon and cheddar mashed potato-stuffed popover, sauteed fall mirepoix and Greater Omaha Choice Sirloin with grilled rosemary gorgonzola bread pudding, sauteed fall mirepoix, green peppercorn demi-glace. Don't they both sound amazing? Unfortunately, the descriptions were the best part of the entrees. The grilled ribeye entree was okay, but the sirloin was god-awful - so bad that it had to be sent back...the first time I've ever sent back a meal. The steak was so burnt it was inedible (okay, so I asked for medium well...but I ALWAYS order my steaks medium well and I've never had this happen. Not to mention, if "medium well" meant "burnt," the waitress should have warned us, imho), the bread pudding was poorly seasoned and REALLY dry and burnt, and even though "sauteed fall mirepoix" sounds fancy and delicious, it resembled those frozen vegetable medleys (you know - where the carrots are chopped into little cubes?). Not impressive. The worst entree I've ever had in Newport. Dessert: fig gelato and chocolate bread pudding. The fig gelato was deliciously figgy...enjoyed it very much. It's actually very rich and strong-tasting, so I was surprised they gave 3 big scoops of it. The chocolate bread pudding, on the other hand, was very dry and tasteless. Overall, the place had a lot of potential, but very hit-or-miss in terms of taste and quality. For the price, I expected more from both the food and the service.
(2)Julie N.
With a bunch of money to spend on a girls getaway weekend, I picked 22 Bowens for dinner for our first night. I had gone to Salve Regina and remember always hearing amazing fancy things about 22 Bowens but never had the opportunity to eat there. I made a reservation for five people on a busy Friday night at 9:30pm but we showed up at 7:30pm. I checked in with the hostess and let them know we were really early but wanted to check on tables. They graciously sat our party right away upstairs in the bar area and we were all thrilled by that gesture. Then things went downhill. Our waitress was probably the most miserable person I have ever met in my life. She made it know that she did not give half a sh*t and did not want to go once inch above just taking our orders and taking off. We were about to spend a LOT of money and we were all a bit pissed at this situation. After our appetizers were delivered I went to speak to the manager about our waitress and he was more than apologetic. He asked if we wanted a different table and I said we would just prefer a different waitress. He sent a new waitress and she turned out to be sweet as pie. The food. Well, the caesar salad was completely inedible. I mean like one bite and you push it away in disgust. I understand anchovies in a caesar, but when the entire salad reeks of the ocean it that just doesn't work. My scallops wrapped in bacon were undercooked (both the scallops and the bacon), the filet was average for the hefty price tag, and most of my party said their food was just okay. It just wan't good. Would I ever go back? Absolutely not. For a menu with prices that high for subpar food and an air of superiority, 22 Bowens needs to check itself.
(2)Vince D.
Food was delicious and the service was great. They take reservation on opentable which is a plus. We ate outside in a good atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)Patrick B.
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
(3)Alexandra C.
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.
(4)Dan B.
This tourist trap tries but fails to deliver. We sat upstairs where they simply couldn't adjust AC all night -- they don't seem to own a thermostat. Our entrees (one costing 47 dollars) were not served hot and had to be sent back. No towels in one of the two one-person bathrooms-- which for a restaurant of this size were really too few. I always am wary of these MBA-driven restaurants. Despite its cool location, it will set you back alot. Key lime pie was very good, in the restaurant's favor (not offered gratis, despite all our problems that night.)
(1)Melissa R.
Nice outdoor seating - the waitress did a decent job for being busy, but service was slow. However, she did get snappy in front of us by scolding another waiter for calling her Becky instead of Becca The disappointment came from the Chef's inability to cook any of our burger's correctly. Medium Rare came out Well Done. Medium came out Charred. Good thing we didn't order the overpriced porterhouse! Pretty sad ending to a wonderful Newport Weekend.
(2)Sam D.
We went here on our second night to Newport. I'm glad we did. Not only does it have an amazing wine menu but the steaks are the best I've had outside of NYC. You have to try the Six Peppercorn Sirloin with cognac cream sauce. My girlfriend had the steam lobster. Both entrees were delicious. Dessert didn't wow us. The service was great. Our waitress Beth was very attentive, friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend coming here.
(4)Judy G.
Upscale place in a beautiful location. The Delmonico was very good; cooked perfectly med-rare. Everyone in our business group of 7 loved their meal from the shell fish tower appetizer, soups, salmon, sides, coffee, everything!!! And the service was excellent (thanks Joan).
(4)Matt L.
This was my second time eating at this restaurant and the first time I really liked it, but for a romantic night out, there are quieter places in Newport to go!! I had just gotten engaged at the Breakers that night and wanted to treat my new fiance to a night out that was special. the upper level of this place had a Xmas party going on and it was loud and people were obnoxious and yelling! We had to basically scream over the noise!! I couldnt believe it that a place this pricey would have that much going on like a fraternity party! I would highly recommend looking elsewhere to eat out in Newport if your looking for a romantic time out!! this place lost its touch...
(3)Edward A.
Good Steak. Went for Dinner.
(3)Christie C.
Never disappointed by 22 bowen's. Our dinners were exceptional, as was the service and drink list. We each had a filet, one was a nightly special and the other the 22 B filet. Same cut of meat but totally different flavors and wonderful culinary experiences. Made for a delightful night in Newport.
(5)Michelle L.
22 Bowens is definitely a bit better than your run of the mill "seafood shack" type restaurant that you normally find down by the waterfront in most tourist towns. The decor is very tasteful and inviting. They have both indoor and outdoor seating - the main indoor dining room offers a wonderful view of the harbor. This was part of the reason that my husband and I chose it for one of our dinner destinations on our recent vacation in Newport last month - along with the fact that we are wine lovers and figured the name speaks for itself! They have a great wine list - so many good selections, including some wonderful dessert wines. For appetizer, my husband and I shared the crispy calamari with three pepper mint relish. The calamari itself was very good, but the portion was huge! Far too much for the 2 of us to polish off by ourselves and still be expected to eat our meals. For our main course, I had the baked stuffed lobster and my hubby had the seared scallops. Both were good, but not great. I guess we expected more from a place that is well know for it's great steaks and seafood, not to mention that I expect my meal to be of a certain quality when I am paying a certain price. My lobster was average and not very flavorful - definitely more along the lines of something you would expect from your typical touristy seafood shack. My husband liked his scallops, but found the accompanying risotto to be bland and flavorless. Dessert was no more impressive. I went with the key lime pie, which again, was enormous - to the point where it was a turnoff to see such a giant lump of unappetizing pie on my plate. It was not very flavorful and did not taste fresh. My husband opted for plain old ice cream since nothing on the dessert menu appealed to him. All in all, we were not impressed with anything besides the wine list. Our server was nice, but she literally focused all her attention on me and barely acknowledged my husband. This earned her a 15% tip rather than the 20% we normally leave. I'm from NYC, so I rarely get sticker shock when I look at a menu and I'm willing to pay good money for good food. But for the prices here, we just expected much, much more. At least our wine and dessert wine were really enjoyable!
(3)Brian K.
Awesome, great salmon, nice wine, sat outside, professional staff, we would absolutely go back.......
(5)Supek, L.
So there's A on the patio on the water, and then there's B, indoors. We went for drinks and an appetizer on the outdoor patio, until our 9:30 reservation was ready. Drinks were good, service was friendly, even bought my brother in law, a birthday beer. The view of all the boats was great! Then we went to our table indoors. The place is pricey, but def worth it for a birthday dinner! My sister and I split the special of the day, Parmesan crusted sirloin with Lobster and sausage rigatoni.... two words...... OMG YUM! The sides we got were awesome!!! sweet potato fries, lobster mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, and asparagus with red pepper.... Loved every one of them! They even gave the birthday boy creme brule for dessert on the house! Service was super friendly, if you go, ask for the pretty Colombian server (can't remember her name). Would come back here again and again, if we lived near Newport, or if we had a summer house!!!! We hope to one day!
(5)Kate C.
I have to echo some of the complaints... bread was stale and entrée was miscooked with little flavor. That is unless you count the bitter char on the meat's exterior. Bernaise sauce was bland, over thickened and cold. Brussel sprouts were undercooked and under-seasoned. Came here with a group who gave us high hopes saying we could order anything at all but their filet mignon is the best you'll ever have. For me and my husband - it was an expensive let down. I felt badly because it was disappointing for the friends who boosted it as their favorite restaurant. It is also the location of their wedding rehearsal dinner next summer so we were anxious to check it out. The ambience is nice and our waitress was friendly. But our friends admitted that they dinners weren't especially good and this was a big change from their usual experience here. When we mentioned our overcooked filets we were approached by a very rude manager. He whipped around to our table and said "How's it going, what did you guys have tonight, what seems to be the problem?" - literally all in one giant annoyed breath. When we explained that three of our filets were overcooked he said that there have been no changes whatsoever to the menu and they use the same seasoning and ingredients in their dishes...completely missing the point but okay. Minutes earlier our waitress did admit a new chef was hired this summer - bingo. Instead of addressing our concerns he made us feel badly for presenting any issue. After he was done drilling us with questions and after our friends mentioned their upcoming rehearsal dinner he said he'd like to offer us dessert on the house. Some of us ordered desserts and some dessert cocktails. Only the actual desserts were comp'd - understandable but still the final note to a very uneventful dining experience. Ironically, when we were given the bill we noticed that the 12oz filet which was listed at $48 was charged to us at $56 - perhaps one of our "free" desserts worked back into the bill? For what we paid I would expect much more - better food and management service. I'm just glad my next (and last) trip here will be paid for by the wedding, lol.
(1)Heather B.
The hostess here is a huge _____ (fill in the blank). Really snooty for no good reason. We tried to go for a late lunch and some drinks and she really turned us off to the restaurant before we went inside. They think they're a classy place but from the looks of it, they're not. Went to Clarkes Cookshop instead, much better choice.
(1)Emily B.
I didn't actually eat in the restaurant, but my boyfriend and I spent quite a lot of time at the outside bar. We came here for drinks in the middle of the afternoon, and were both pleasantly surprised that they had Leinenkugels on tap. At 5 o'clock they started serving a light menu so I had 6 oysters and some clam chowder. Very tasty. Not the best chowder I had in Newport, but the oysters were good. We came back here that same night after dinner for more drinks. We sat right at the bar, and the bartender was very attentive and friendly. I would like to try the actual restaurant next time I am in Newport.
(4)Sabrina D.
The food was okay but the waiter was a little rude and looked that we were bothering him to do his job. Have been coming here for years. Will not ever come back after this experience.
(2)Ms. S.
We were seated quickly for lunch and our server was sweet. My fiance had the oysters, which he said were great. I had the cream of broccoli soup (okay) and the salad with goat cheese and roasted figs. It was fine, not great, not bad. Nice, spicy Bloody Marys and a good chardonnay. Lobster roll on a croissant lacked flavor. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Ashley S.
My favorite place for filet mignon or steak in Newport (when my wallet allows me to afford it). I enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, and I've always received great service. My filet mignons are always cooked how I asked, so no complaining there! The portions are decent. The cocktails on are on the expensive side. I do enjoy grabbing a martini or margarita at their small outside bar from time to time when the weather is nice. I could probably go somewhere else and find the same drinks for a cheaper price, but view is nice. I do understand that this is a business, and that Newport has a tourist season, which they can use to their advantage to generate income.
(4)Rahul M.
Went there on Christmas Eve since it was one of the few places open. My date ordered the chopped salad (very good) and I got the rib-eye steak, the least expensive steak on the menu at $24. The steak was good, but the bleu cheese bread pudding and pearl onions that came with it were forgettable. The (extra cost) side orders of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were inedible: the potatoes were dry and pasty and the spinach's cream sauce had too much flour. The bill came to $77, including a glass of wine and tip, which I found utterly overpriced for the quality. Would not recommend, except maybe for the special dinner for two and a bottle of wine for $65.
(2)Therese Z.
Great place. Nice wine list and steak was cooked to perfection. Took a star away for the side dishes. Creamed spinach is not "creamed", it's wilted with Parmesan cheese on top and asparagus in lemon oil was bitter. Other then that it was a great dinner. Save room for the apple crostata!
(4)Lauren C.
Ate here tonight, what a lovely place. I started with the house salad, which was sweet and flavorful-- the croutons were made out of pumpkin bread! Then the steak tips, which were served on a bed of pine nut rice pilaf-- oh my god, heavenly. I don't normally enjoy red meat, but this was absolutely to die for. As a last course I had the mango sorbet-- which was pretty creamy (for a sorbet), but since healthy desserts never actually satisfy, I took a bite of my boyfriends brownie sundae. Dear God, never have I tasted anything better in my life. I attempted to take another bite but he swatted my hand away-- I nearly fought viciously back for just one more bite of that deliciously moist delight, but I remembered both that I was in public, and that one more bite would probably add three pounds to my hips, and held back. Hands down, best brownie I have ever had. EVER. My only complaint was the volume of people there, and how tightly they had us packed in! Our waitress was wonderful, friendly and helpful without making you want to swat her away like an annoying fly buzzing around your head. I did enjoy it immensely, but I'm not sure it was worth the usual prices-- 30$/person was pretty much ideal. Great though, would make a wonderful expensive date venue!
(4)Marissa E.
We came during restaurant week on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and were able to sit down immediately. Our server was very kind and helpful. He explained the menu in full detail and offered many suggestions. She stopped over several times to make sure everything was ok. The food was incredible!! We were so full that we had I take some home! The only downside about the meal was the clam chowder-it separated before reaching the table, not very appealing. All in all, we had a wonderful experience. Very pricey though-would come back for restaurant week.
(5)Alex M.
After coming to Bowen 22 three times in the past 6 months and being disappointed each time, I am finally throwing in the towel. Being new to the area, my boyfriend and I decided to venture to Newport and wanted to have a nice lunch on the water. It was a beautiful day and Bowen 22 seemed to fit what we were craving perfectly. However, we were sorely mistaken. The hostess was extremely rude and off putting but we decided to ignore her and hoped our waiter would be friendlier. Again, not the case. He was just as rude as the hostess but our food was delicious so we decided to try it again. The second time, we decided to have dinner before a concert in Newport and again we were met with horrible service and I even had a full glass of water spilled on my lap. Again, I brushed it off because i REALLY REALLY wanted to like the restaurant since it was in such a beautiful spot and the food was good. The third time, I brought my best friend who was visiting from NYC. The service we received again was horrendous, but beyond anything I have ever experienced. We overhead our waiter talking to another waiter telling him to get his customers out of the restaurant so he could fill their seats with people who would be able to tip better. Then, a bus boy spilled water all over a baby in a high chair a few tables over. Our waiter had no idea what the specials were when we asked and when he found out, he just said "steak sandwich" without telling us anything else about it. When we asked for the bill, he didn't come back for about 20 minutes, and when he did he said he couldn't remember what we had and could we please tell him so he could get our bill. Even after we TOLD HIM what we ate, he still came back with a bill that had 2 more beers on it that we did not drink. After speaking with the manager (who i am not sure was even the manager) I was so upset that I did not leave any tip at all. The manager offered to take the beers of the bill (WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE) and a free appetizer. WHAT A JOKE. I will never be back, and will make sure to tell everyone I know what a horrendous place Bowen 22 is.
(1)D. B.
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.
(2)Karen C.
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.
(5)Angela C.
A clean, nicely presented restaurant in the midst of restaurant row and tourist walk right on the front pier. While I have previously dined for dinner, we ate lunch on the open air dining patio this past weekend. In spite of being very busy, the hostess was more than happy to accommodate the stroller and 5 month old baby. Or waitress was prompt, informative and extremely kind. The outdoor dining can get warm as the forest green awning and lack of ocean breeze can make the air quite sticky. The food was quite delightful as my companions and I enjoyed fish tacos, a clamtastic platter and a simple salad with grilled chicken. While the prices are comparable to other establishments, the drink rates are quite high so enjoy the meal, linger and have a good time for the bill fleet what you ate and drank.
(3)Lo-an L.
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.
(5)Scott K.
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.
(3)Sharon D.
Awesome food! great location and great service!
(5)Crystal M.
Went here this past weekend to celebrate my and my husband's 1st year anniversary. We had a great time here. We were seated promptly and the entire staff was very polite and attentive. The food, while pricey, was delicious. The big downside is that for the price I really think a side should be included in the entrees. The entrees are a good size, but a side is usually standard and it was a bit annoying that they don't include one for the price. My husband had the petit filet mignon and is was cooked perfectly. I have the salmon and it too was delicious. We also had the bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer. Also delicious. They have a good selection of wine and beverages. I had a glass of Beringer and we both had a light and stormy. Our Light and Stormy's weren't very consistent though. My husband's had a prominent ginger beer flavor, but mine was a bit too heavy on the rum... not that I minded - I was out to celebrate afterall! :) I topped the night off with a glass of 10 year aged tawny port and an order of the creme brule. My husband had a slice of the Key Lime Pie. Again, everything was delicious. We had a very good experience here and we definately hope to get back again.
(4)Sarah S.
My husband and I went to 22 Bowen's in mid-August and had an excellent experience. Great food and service. We had a very different second experience on September 21. After we ordered our food, we barely saw our server. Our water glasses were empty most of the meal. My husband ordered a steak, but wasn't given a steak knife. The server didn't come back to check on us until almost the end of the meal. When the server finally brought the knife, he didn't apologize or ask how our food was. We had a Dinner Club card and did not realize it wasn't valid at this restaurant until Oct 1. The manager explained this to us and after I conceded I was wrong about the dates, he abruptly left. No "thank you for coming" or "please come again" or even "have a nice evening." I have worked in high-end restaurants and know what kind of service a restaurant of this calibur should provide. It was sorely lacking. The food is excellent, but based on the service, we will not be coming back.
(2)Julia R.
Went to 22B for an anniversary dinner with my boyfriend a few weeks ago and it was lovely. The upper, front deck (where we sat), is a quiet intimate area that's secluded from the rest of the restaurant; perfect for a romantic dinner with a view of the water. As an appetizer, we had the Sea Scallops which were topped with a delicious cauliflower purée. For my main course, I had the Sage Roasted Statler Chicken and my boyfriend had the Grilled Swordfish. The chicken was very good; cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the Grilled Swordfish was amazing. During our dinner, I told my boyfriend I was going to run to the bathroom and that I'd be right back. However, my real plan was to find our waitress so that I could pay for the meal as a little anniversary surprise. After peaking around a bit, I couldn't seem to find her anywhere. Out of luck, I stopped one of the busboys and told him my situation. He told me not worry and that he would bring my card to the waitress himself. As the night was winding down, we were both surprised to see our waitress walk over holding an adorable, candle-lit, dessert plate, complimentary for our anniversary. It was such a sweet and thoughtful little detail that really made our night special.
(5)Dani S.
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!
(4)BlueCat P.
We had the best service ever at 22 Bowens. The server's timing was superb, she was friendly and top notch. Granted, we got there early, but often early diners are overlooked because the workers are setting up. The food was wonderful. We had the Delmonico - cooked perfectly might I add - asparagus, a couple of lovely salads, and pork belly. I was stunned that what looked like a so so restaurant was so excellent. Loved it.
(5)Felecia W.
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.)
(5)Kellysue H.
Good location, pretty good food and ok service.
(3)Ross D.
I've wanted to try this place the last couple times in Newport, but never quite worked out. Review only for drinks and an appetizer, and for the outside dining part on the wharf. First, location is great, right by a couple of the big charter sailboats. I like the look of the outdoor bar, too, although we sat at a table. Server was very friendly, but disappeared a few times for overly long stretches. Drinks: they have a nice list of cocktails. Wife had the red sangria, which she liked. I had the Blueberry Thyme Shrub, which was very refreshing and interesting. Decent list of wines by the glass, so we each had a glass of New Zealand Sav. Food: the menu isn't super extensive (strange, since the size of the menu book itself is strangely enormous), but is pretty cha-ching. We only ate the "Bucket of Clams" which was a decent amount of mussels, littlenecks, and a couple of giant clams--all steamed and served in a "natural broth" (think white wine and garlic). Very tasty dish, although I would have liked a bit more broth in the bucket for dunking the one piece of garlic toast and rolls. Extra points for the basket of 3 rolls--2 regular dinner rolls and 1 cranberry roll; those were all tasty. I don't think I'd choose this spot for dinner, but it's certainly a place I'd visit again for a drink and a small bite on a nice Newport afternoon or early evening.
(3)Jacqui L.
Our waiter was the best waiter I have ever had. Seriously. Amazing. This is a restaurant that we go to for special occasions because of the price. The steak is outstanding. We asked that it not be served new York style so as to avoid the char. It was phenomenal. The wine list is epic. The yellowfin tuna was cooked perfectly, and the a la carte sides were great. I love this place, just be willing to drop a few bucks!
(5)Jacki L.
REALLY REALLY GREAT FOOD ... We shared everything they didn't mind and it was a lot of food at a decent price! Bartender got slammed, messed up the order BUT it didn't matter he was a lot of fun very enjoyable!! Food came when it was ready and thoroughly enjoyed everything... I think sometimes we all just forget to sit back and enjoy... AND WE DID. SO GOOD
(4)Neena C.
We walked in here on a saturday night (party of 2) and it was packed, now granted we probably should have made a reservation, but wishful thinking. Immediately, the interaction with the hostess was odd. She asked if we had a reservation, we said no and she said well the earliest we could seat you is 1015, a 2 hour wait. We looked around and realized there were a lot of empty tables and I glanced at her screen and could see very few reservations listed in that 2 hour timeframe. She said we could try the bar downstairs or upstairs. but did not offer to put our names down. I said we would try the bar, but if she could please put our names in and she grudgingly did. As my boyfriend visited the bathroom, I decided to check open table and see what it said. They had multiple reservations listed starting in 15 min throughout the supposed 2 hour gap that they didn't have anything...strange. The bar downstairs was packed, so we checked upstairs and I was about to make a reservation via open table when a couple was finishing up and offered us their seats. Besides the less than accommodating hostess, who I believe took her "power position" a bit far, this place still deserves 4 stars. It has a great ambiance and decor and our bartender was fabulous! My bf started with the clam chowder which was up there as one of our top favorites, wonderful smoky flavor. I had the seared feta, which I have never seen before, but had to try. It was out of this world. It was a thick piece of feta with a great seared crust on top of a baguette with heirloom tomatoes, arugula, avocado, and finished with balsamic glaze. Highly recommend! As for the entrees, mine was a bit disappointing. Don't order the tagliatelle...pretty boring/bland and the combination of asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and supposedly wild mushrooms, but I think I had maybe one or 2 in there with arugula pesto didn't work. The tagliatelle was also not cooked properly and too sticky. My boyfriend however ordered right. He had the ribeye with shallot porcini butter which was one of the best steaks I've ever had and I'm not much of a red meat eater. The brussels sprouts were delicious and cooked perfectly. The mashed potatoes were boring and a bit gritty I would stay away from those and maybe go for mac and cheese next time. The people next to us ordered the swordfish and scallops, both looked amazing and they cleaned their plates. Overall a pleasant experience and we will definitely be back, but next time I'll make a reservation with open table ahead of time and choose more wisely in my ordering.
(4)Virginia T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Newport. The food and cocktails are great, and you are right on the wharf which has a nice view. They have an extensive wine list, and the atmopshere is cozy.
(5)Jennifer M.
Our server Nils was really the highlight of our visit. My boyfriend and I came here for lunch and the food, wine and atmosphere were all terrific. Nils was above average though. Really made us feel like VIPs even though we were only here for a casual lunch.
(4)Tricia M.
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.
(3)Codi E.
I've been to 22 Bowens for a couple of special occasions and I am always pleased with the food, the service, and the atmosphere alike. The filet is out of this world, and since I knew what we were getting into, the price was right in line with my expectations. The service was good as I recall, nothing out of this world but GOOD. I'm okay with an unmemorable wait staff! What I like about the atmosphere is that as fancy as 22 Bowens can be at night, it's completely comfortable. In a world where most of us don't formally dine every night, it can be unnerving to go into a fancy place, but not here! Only reason this is 4 stars instead of 5 is because it IS pricey, not somewhere we can go every Friday night ;-)
(4)Arlynn B.
Great Steakhouse! My friends took me to 22 Bowens to celebrate my birthday and we had a fantastic time! Great service and food! Birthday celebration = lots of conversation. The staff was very understanding, we took forever to decide weather to have wine or cocktails, we finally decided we wanted wine; we then took forever to decide what to eat...as I said, the staff accommodated us with no fuss. Service was very good and smooth and the food was delicious! I had the Prime New York Sirloin and it was a dream! I also heard my friends raving about the Grilled Yellowfish Tuna and the Filet Mignon. Special thanks to Alex for the amazing service!! Totally recommended for special occasions!
(5)Dan G.
Bit expensive but huge portions and great wine list. Bit too dark for my tastes as I like to see the people that I am with and the food that I eat. I am spoiled with some of the best food and restaurants in the world by living in DC. Not with the prices but good food.
(3)Sergio A.
Good food and great service! One of the many places to check out when in Newport! Pricy though, but worth it!
(4)Carlen M.
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!
(4)Sarah D.
I adore this restaurant. I went once with family when I was a bit younger and thought so highly of it that when I recently traveled to Newport, I just had to revisit it. It was fantastic. The oysters on the half shell are irresistible - so irresistible, in fact, that I had to restrain myself from ordering a second platter. The food there is just delightful and incredibly fresh. My only complaint is that the place can get quite loud. If you'd like a romantic evening, make sure to ask about seating in a less crowded area of the restaurant. If not, just tune out the noise and let the food make up for it because it most certainly will.
(4)Brandon R.
The prime delmonico was fantastic! Wow. So much flavor. Truffled Tator tots weren't our thing. The clam chowder is great. Not sure if it's better here or at the Black Pearl. I'll have to keep trying!
(5)Michelle R.
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.
(4)Kelli P.
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!
(4)Ron N.
we came here to celebrate our anniversary. We had a very friendly reception from the receptionist. We were given a lovely corner table upstairs with a view of the marina. The waiter has been helpful and friendly. The bread is warm. I ordered the roast cod clambake.. And it was perfect. Lots of mussels, clams and fish, and have for lobster tail perfectly cooked. All in a very flavorful broth. And covered with roast Corn that clearly was fresh sweet corn straight from the cob. In all, it exceeded every expectation.
(5)Chris R.
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.
(4)Art C.
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.
(5)Dan G.
My family and I went here during Newport's restaurant week hoping for a nice lunch. The atmosphere was pleasant but everyone in family felt let down by the experience. To start we ordered our apps entrees and desserts along with the clam and mussel bucket for the table. We waited a half hour for the apps to arrive and when they came they were not what we ordered. The mushroom crustada was cold the chowder was delicious but unfortunately lukewarm.. Thankfully the corn and shrimp fitters had a healthy portion, so we could share. But the worst was yet to come.. The clams in our mixed shellfish bucket smelled like low tide enough that it ruined our appetite for the rest of the meal. At this point we wanted out but still had to wait for our entrees and desert and although portions were generous the flavor lacked. Dessert was the only saving grace, and to be honest getting the bill was everyone's favorite part of the meal.. Sorry guys but there is a lot of work to be done in proper execution of restaurant week.. Better luck next fall..
(1)Thomas S.
Celebrated with 5 others last night. Our waiter, Stephen was excellent. Appetizers were fantastic. The steaks were delicious. Only complaint we had was a side dish of potatoes was cold. Nice touch by the restaurant to bring over a dessert on the house for my father-in-laws b-day. We will be back!
(4)Reg Z.
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
(4)LuAnn H.
Food was excellent, but for some reason my husband and I were invisible to the servers. Never filled water or iced tea glass, did not ask if we wanted a wine refill, no coffee or desert! For the price, the I attentive service made the experience awful.
(2)Stefan N.
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.
(3)Jade L.
Although the food is good, I would not return due to the horrible service. It is also quite over priced for the quality of food you are getting. I went to the restaurant with friends oin Saturday July 27th. The waiter was rude, inattentive and incompetent. He did not bring out the proper silverware for the seafood, it took him a long time to bring out the drinks, nor did he tell us the specials. When we asked he told us the one special they had. He did not describe the special. It is hard to believe at a seafood restaurant on a saturday in Newport that they would have one special which wasn't even seafood. We also heard our waiter tell another waitress to close out her table so the customers could leave and he could have it. When we asked him at the end to split the bill. He came back after 10 minutes to ask us again what we had ordered. After over 15 minutes of waiting for the bill, it was incorrect when we received it. After having such a negative experience we asked the hostess if there was a manager we could speak with. She was rude and reluctant to have us speak with the manager. When we finally did speak with the manager he seemed disinterested and disengaged. He did not seem to care at all about our experience. Only eat at this restaurant if you like terrible service, rude waiters, high prices, and good but not excellent food.
(1)Mary Z.
Hardly the best restaurant in Newport..or anywhere else. The food was so-so, the server was pretentious and the wine was fair. I was anticipating a lot more for the amount that we paid. Sorry, won't be back.
(2)Kate J.
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.
(1)Ben I.
Nice view from the upstairs decktop, watching visitors stroll past. Lobster salad app was great, redfish wrap and fries were good. My wife liked her chicken portabello sandwich. Service was nice. I would go back.
(4)Robert D.
Great place to grab an outside table during the boat show and order my annual lobster grilled cheese on Texas Toast and and Ice cold beer! Spectacular way to kick off the afternoon. If you aren't into seafood the French dip is so good it will make you weep! Dinners are great steaks excellent and servers work very hard to know their menu and accommodate every guest! Great memories for many years!
(4)Steve S.
Super good. Staff did fantastic job of serving us with somel special requests. Definitely recommend. Doors were opened onto Bowen Wharf. The Seafood stew was fantastic.
(5)Nicole B.
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!
(2)Daniel L.
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.
(4)Maureen M.
We had a beautiful view from indoors of the boats in the harbor. The scallops were delicious, the service was excellent! Beautiful place for dinner!
(5)Julie Y.
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..
(4)Patricia P.
We celebrated my birthday here last night and the food was awesome. The staff was terrific. My friends had steak and I had baked stuffed lobster and it was all really good. The wine list is also very nice. Enjoy!,
(5)Mark P.
I was in the area for a business meeting and this was the location chosen for my sales team to eat dinner...so I didn't choose it. I am impressed! The appetizers were great, the location is nice, but what really impressed me is how they handled our large group. We had 10 in our party (which usually means a 3 hour dinner) but we ate in less than 2 hours with desert...amazing! EXCELLENT SERVICE!! I had the Filet and it was cooked exactly as ordered with a unique herb butter dip. The rolls were excellent and the desert was outstanding (they don't make it themselves but they picked some great tasting small sweets! Looking for a nice dinner with good service - this is your place!
(4)Casey H.
I came here today for lunch with my 2 sisters. First, we asked for a drink menu, and the waiter asked us if we were over 21. I am in my 30's and my sisters are in their twenties. We told him our ages (I thought it was weird he didn't just card us) and he just came back with the drink menu. We each ordered a burger and a beer, I ordered wine. A few minutes later, the manager comes over, introduced herself (Kathy?), shakes our hands, looking us each in the eye, and asks us what we're doing in Newport, but not in a friendly way, it was more probing. We told her we just came down for the day from MA. She says to enjoy our lunch and walks away. Now, the waiter comes back and asks us where we are coming from. Again, it was more probing than friendly curiosity. My sisters and I are looking at each other like "What is going on here?" Meanwhile, the manager is talking to another server and staring at us. The manager didn't go over to any other tables, just kept looking at us, and at this point we are all really uncomfortable and wish we went somewhere else. The food was fine but I have never been questioned like this in a restaurant. If they had a question about our age (if that's what it was), they should have just carded us. Shame on them. Very awkward experience. Would never come back.
(1)Toby T.
Great food, perfect location (right on the waterfront in downtown Newport), fantastic wine list, and a very on-point staff. Great for anyone that loves a quality steak and seafood house.
(5)K M.
My husband and i went here for the first time last night. We were early for our reservation, but headed upstairs to the really cool loft bar to wait. When we told the manager that we were celebrating our 17th anniversary, he directed the bartender to give us complimentary champagne. Then he located a great table and we were seated early. The food was amazing - from the chef's special swiss veal app (which the chef personally brought to our table) to the PEI oysters to chopped salad and the delmonico steaks. Also the bar prepared great cocktails - my husband's dirty martini was perfect. I tried a [several] pineapple-infused vodka martini that was delicious in its simplicity (they infuse the vodka in house). Creme brulee, brought with a candle and congratulations, for dessert was crispy on the top and creamy inside, and teh right amount for 2 to share. Service was extremely attentive and thorough. The views of the wharf contribute to ambiance, which was rich and dark but elegant. Even with a large party of 20 or so seated near us, we had our own space. I think we found our new go-to place for special dates. We will definitely return for dinner, and also just to the bar again.
(5)Kristi T.
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)!
(4)Kyle C.
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.
(4)Lilly C.
Wow, rarely is it that I find myself nodding in agreement with review after review after review. 22 Bowen has an excellent wine list. We've been lucky to receive thoughtful recommendations on what to pair with our order, and have found old favorites and unexpected offerings on their substantial menu. Like others, we have had a few inexperienced servers when it comes to wine service, but they've always been pleasant and have more seasoned coworkers assist. The bar is huge and has everything under the sun. More often than not, though we always have reservations, we end up grabbing a drink at the bar during the inevitable wait to be seated. Most recently, I had some drink that was the product of soaking lemons in straight vodka. Just two simple ingredients - that also happened to make a lovely decorative statement as well, since it was being "brewed" behind the bar - with an end result of pure, smooth sunshine and smiles. The only reason I know the cocktail contained what they said it did is because of how I felt after drinking a few. Main point: Get drinks, get dessert - the creme brulee, my goodness! Do not share yours, you will regret it! Yes, they have too much red meat, but the filet is so good! Yes, you do order sides separately and they are enough for 2 people. Yes, it's ABSOLUTELY FREEZING at all times no matter the time of year. No, it's not really a great place for your children. No, it's not very casual, so please dress accordingly. Oh, and I hate to pick on any staff in particular, but the hostess this past summer was sort of clueless. As in, sort of insufferably bad at her job. Maybe it was just a bad week, but after several encounters that resulted in either being ignored or having a really confused look coming my way, my patience ran out. Perhaps a longer training period for staff should be considered?
(3)Devon D.
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.
(4)Vinny D.
I have been to Newport several times. This was the first time at this restaurant. The hardest part of the experience was deciding whether to eat indoor, or outdoors. We decided on indoors. The interior decor was both rustic and elegant. A difficult look to pull off. Our server was both friendly and curt. At this time, there was a $22 deal where you receive 2 meals for $22. We had both ordered the fish tacos with the soup of the day. The soup was a lobster bisque and the fish tacos were full of fresh fish and other finely diced vegetables. The flavors worked really well together. The service was quick and the food was excellent. Upon leaving we used the restrooms. They were very clean. I would recommend this establishment to any Newport newcomers that are looking for a quick bite during lunch to break up their day and enjoy the rest of Newport!
(4)Yary M.
Service was below par. Waitress couldn't describe dishes. Chef Failed to get lamb chops done right even after 3 attempts. Kept getting it well done and not seasoned. Wouldn't recommend. I waited almost 2 hours to get entree.
(1)Sha L.
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.
(3)Alex R.
Good lobster. Lousy everything else. Salmon dry (even though we asked for it medium rare.) Tempura cold. Fries too salty.
(2)Terri k.
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!
(4)G B.
Food was great! I had the fried clam sandwich that came with chips and Cole slaw. Hands down the best fried clam sandwich I've ever had. The atmosphere was nice and the service very good. The chairs were uncomfortable but overall I would highly recommend this restaurant for lunch.
(4)Ben A.
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.
(5)J J.
First of all the wine list was fabulous! They are in wine spectators top 100 restaurants. The wine bar and decor were totally inviting. The food was great! I had the crusted tuna and people in my party had the chicken, scallops, pork and salmon. All were good, but not special given the price of the food. The kicker for this 3 star review was the fact that they sat us in a freezer box room. It overlooks the harbor which is great but they made no attempt to adjust the temp for us despite our requests. Finally during our desert we left to the bar area to finish our meal. Even though it was Sue's b-day and our discontent with the temp, they did not offer any compensation. Waiter was a little cheesy...partially to be expected in Newport. Would return but only sit in the wine bar.
(3)J M.
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.
(4)Melissa P.
I really think this place is best suited for a lunch spot however we did have a very nice yet slightly over-priced dinner during our stop in Newport. When we arrived in the evening the bar was dead and filled with young servers talking about where they were going to party that evening. Sort of a buzz kill for me but we persevered considering it was our 1st wedding Anniversary. I have to start off with the one mistake our waiter made. We ordered the 2005 Paraduxx for around $85 and we know the wine well since we belong to the club. Our waiter came to the table carrying a different bottle of wine and said that he only had a 2006. I jokingly asked him if that made it cheaper since it was a different vintage. He proceeded to tell me that wine, like cars, get more expensive the newer they are. Hmmm, maybe he needed to know a little more about wine before working at a place that had "Wine Bar" in the title. However he did redeem himself with his very professional and outstanding service. Nothing special about the food. Your usual steak house fare. We each had an 8oz Filet Mignon which was very good along with 2 sides: mash potatoes and creamed spinach. They knew it was our Anniversary so they brought out crème brulee with a candle which was a very nice touch. All in all a decent meal with a view of the Wharf. Next time I would definitely come back for lunch and sit outside!
(3)Kim P.
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.
(4)Amanda G.
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.
(3)Donna S.
Loved this. I had 20 guests in the private room upstairs and every thing went well. Service was top notch!
(4)Bridget K.
22 Bowens is one of the more upscale restaurants in Newport. The atmosphere is lively, the decor is beautiful and the food is good, though offensively overpriced. Because they are one of the few restaurants in Newport with a good menu and quality food, they can get away with charging what they do. I would recommend 22 Bowens for a special occasion or for out of town guests.
(3)Jill A.
A tradition into have their 22 Doli cocktail :) can't beat house infused pineapple vodka for a drink. Each year I sit outside at bowens wharf for a drink and food. This year they changed the menu outside which was upsetting. Less food options and not good ones. That is the reason I didn't give five stars. Same kitchen same restaurant bring back the full menu for all to enjoy!
(4)Ralph A.
While local Rhode Islanders may be familiar with the Newport Restaurant Group (Boat House, Castle Hill Inn, Hemenway's, The Mooring, Smoke House, Trio, Waterman Grill) I can only review based on my one dining experience. 22 Bowen offers a more casual outdoor seating area and the main dining room which also has an outdoor dining table. We sat outside the dining room and felt our server and service overall was what you might expect from a high end establishment. For starters we had the bay scallops (3), and lobster corn fritters (9). I didn't particular notice any lobster but the fritter and side of sauce was at least filling compared to the scallops. For entrees we had a Veal Chop, Filet Mignon, Asparagus, and Mashed Potatoes. The sides are good to share with 2 or 3 people but unfortunately didn't taste or offer anything that made you say wow this is good. The meats were okay, disappointing for the price you could say. I'm surprised given the wide range of upscale tourist on yachts that this restaurant didn't over deliver.
(3)Alison F.
I was highly disappointed in my dining experience at this restaurant. The hostess sat us next to a screaming baby when there were plenty of other tables available, which admittedly soured the rest of the meal. We were outside and the view of the warf was good for people watching, but not especially scenic. Our waiter seemed insincere and bored. It was like we were inconveniencing him by existing. In general, the food was good, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's great. The clam chowder was the best part of my meal. The crab cake and salmon were not especially memorable. Since our eardrums were bleeding at this point, we didn't stick around for dessert. Overall, I would skip this place. There are many other options nearby that have much better bang for your buck.
(3)Mark F.
I'm not sure I've ever given a five star rating, but it is a solid rating here. We sat outside. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner, with a lovely Pinot Noir. But, one of the most pleasant surprises in a tourist-packed locale was our waitress, Britain. She was an absolute pro and fun to dine with.
(5)Brad S.
Food was decent but when I spend $40 for an Alacarte steak ( veggies and potatoes extra) I expect top shelf food and service that just wasn't there. For the two of us with one drink each the bill was $135.00 ( without the tip) much better out there for the money.
(2)Andrew S.
Like its counterparts in the "newport restaurant group" 22 Bowen is on the higher end of the dining spectrum. Do not expect to walk out of this place without droping some serious cash. That being said I do think this place is worth the dough if you have it. The service at this place is usually very good and the food even better. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is sometimes I feel the food selection is lacking. Located right downtown in newport you couldnt ask for a better location in terms of convience, however do not expect an amazing view. Although it does provide some opportunities for people watching some of the best views in Newport can be found elsewhere in the same price range (Inn at Castle Hill/Hyatt on Goat Island/41 North). Not much more to say here ---- I'm a fan
(4)Erica P.
We were walking through Newport hungry and we walked into 22B. The hostess asked if we had a reservation (we did not) she told us she'd be able to get us in 15 minutes. When we went to sit at the bar to get a drink we noticed the reserved sign after we took a seat. I apologized to Craig the bartender and he said not to worry, he took the reserved sign away and let my husband and I enjoy a drink at the bar. So nice of you Craig! The hostess came to get us 15 minutes later to seat us. Where we met our waiter Manny. He was so personable and friendly! He described the specials and also would point out other dishes that were served to other guest so we got an idea how they looked. Bread was served, our appetizers were served immediately. Very impressive! Jumbo shrimp was fantastic. We the ordered our main courses. Steak (a la carte) and swordfish. The steak was by far the best steak I've ever had! Swordfish was grilled to perfection. Such a fantastic experience. Two thumbs way up, If I had a third you'd get that too! We will be coming back!
(5)George K.
We had a great experience here today. We rushed inside while lightning was crashing around. The service (Sarah) was wonderful. There is an enormous wine list. We actually had numerous appetizers and they were all marvelous. Kale salad, cheese plate, flatbread, poached shrimp cocktail, braised short rib - we were so stuffed from the fantastic appetizers that we couldn't order an entrée.
(5)Meghan B.
One of the best meals I have ever eaten. I got the Grilled Swordfish and my boyfriend got the filet with scallops both were delicious! We ordered the cookie dough dessert and that was deadly! Waitress was very nice. I did wait about 10 minutes for a beer refill but other than that it was great!
(5)Mike F.
When in Newport this is the place to go. Whether you just have a burger or have a gourmet meal this place is fun. After walking around Newport we stopped here for lunch. I had a mixed drink that was made to perfection and a burger.My wife had a sangria and a chicken pesto sandwich. Both sandwiches were fantastic. You must start off with a bowl of their clam chowder. We usually do not have desert but we ended our meal with the key lime cake with sorbet. Our server, Carol was right there with great service and even took our picture. I highly recommend 22 Bowens Wine Bar & Grille. It may be a little pricy but you are in the heart of Newport. I can sit here and people watch all day.
(4)Shari A.
A really fine dining experience from start to finish. Having limited options on a Monday evening prior to high season, I opted for this place based on some convincing reviews here on Yelp and on trip advisor. I took my cousin here for a nice meal and it did not disappoint. Our server was very nice and made some thoughtful recommendations. I had a glass of beautiful Pinot noir and my cousin ordered a Hendricks and tonic. Perfect. We decided to forego appetizers in favor of some delectable side dishes but next time I will certainly sample something in the way of a seafood or raw bar preparation. Had the seared scallops which were caramelized to perfection. My cousin had the lamb served medium rare and he was very pleased. The highlights were definitely the Brussels sprouts with bacon and grilled asparagus. Yummmm.... We skipped dessert but will definitely be back. For top notch service and a wide ranging menu, a beautiful and lengthy wine and cocktail list and food to match, you cannot go wrong with this steakhouse/fine seafood restaurant. The setting is elegant, not stuffy, and the views of the water really scream Newport!
(4)Nikki I.
I just visited here to try out the winter prix fixe menu that is being offered and it did not disappoint. I was able to get a wedge salad, perfectly cooked filet and dessert all for $30. Usually prix fixe menus can leave you feeling hungry or that you did not get the best of what the restaurant has to offer...but this was not the case here. The portions were generous and the food was cooked perfectly. On top of the $30 weekday promotion, house bottles of wine are only $15 when you choose the prix fixe menu. If you live close and can take advantage of this deal on a cold week night, do it!!
(4)Andrea P.
This restaurant was highly recommended by a few friends who had visited previously. So it seemed like the perfect place to have my pre-birthday dinner. This entire weekend is about treating myself, and treat myself I did at 22 Bowens! First off, the service was incredible. Our server was kind and funny. Her recommendation was on point and her knowledge of wine in general was impressive. Not to mention, she brought out a slice of cake at the end for my 29+2 birthday, which was sweet. I started off with a few of their oysters. I tend to like west coast oysters but their selection was delicious. Not too big but with a big flavor. Then came out their masterpiece - the filet! Oh my! It came out perfectly and tasted incredible with the fois gras butter. The brussel sprouts were on point as well!
(5)Arthur C.
As in my other reviews, service is important to me. That being said, we went in there for dinner on a weekend. We had a waitress named Holly, she was excellent! And I thoroughly enjoyed my apps and the seafood tower. On the downside, my friend's filet was well done instead of MR. If we are paying 40 bucks for steaks without sides, they better be perfect. So, for that main reason, I would've ranked dinner 3 stars, but the service was so good we did not care. The next day we sat at the outside bar and, again, the service was the best. We had multiple bartenders that day and they were all GREAT. I was much more impressed with my lunch. The lobster roll was great, the chowder was delicious, the braised rib was one of the best I have had in a long time. If you are going there, you will be treated great by the well trained staff, but bring your wallet, cause it is not cheap.
(4)Nina-Marie C.
I had dinner here last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sat on the upstairs deck. It was a little chilly that evening, but one of the waitresses was kind enough to pull down the plastic awning for me. I had the scallops for my entree and they were fantastic. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu items.
(5)Mike E.
Profoundly disappointed. Back in town with my wife for our third anniversary. We came here for our honeymoon and second, and had dinner at 22 Bowens both times. And both times it was excellent, thus our return. Tonight, not so much. Steak was tough and not good. Previously phenomenal. Same could be said of the sides; unremarkable. Waiter was courteous. Wine was not quite what we ordered from the list but still a good choice; the change profoundly changed the value quotient. Overall, it seems the place has downgraded. We may come back to Newport next year but will try elsewhere for our special dinner.
(2)Vasily K.
1. Service was not overly friendly. They were reluctant to move us to a table in the shade. Our waitress wasn't friendly. 2. Clam chowder for $9 -- very mediocre clam chowder. Three fried scallops for $16, I can easily cook better at home. Overall doesn't worth it.
(1)Mike P.
On Monday, we had a table upstairs with a view of the pier and it was fun watching the boats going in and out. Lovely decor, lovely server named Elizabeth and a lovely menu. I had the beef carpaccio and the Caesar salad. My friends had the fritters and the risotto and everyone was happy. We split the sticky bun dessert which was amazing .
(5)Jinyoung S.
The food price is not expensive and taste was good. It was so nice to sit and have lunch outside. Good looking intrerior
(4)Paul L.
Fine dining, expert service, gracious servings and a killer wine list. A must stop for those who enjoy pleasure dining
(5)Rose F.
I went with a party of 4. My friends Salmon was way undercooked took them forever to get back to her. The rest of us got sirloin and there was so much fat it in...thickly marbled throughout the entire piece..for all 3 of us. Our server however was wonderful.
(2)Naomi G.
High up there on the fancy scale. I didn't feel like dressing up so my husband and I sat at the bar and it was perfect. The Bartender and Front of House Manager was very attentive to us and answered a lot of questions we had, because it was our first time there. I had steak and my husband had swordfish steak and it was unbelievable. Cooked perfectly and juicy. They allowed us to split a salad between us and I ordered a baked potato, but consider yourself warned, the potato is huuuugggeee. I recommend splitting it two or maybe even three ways. So far, hands down, this is the best food in all of Newport that we have had. All of our out of town guests will be coming here with us. Paid parking, cash only. The attendant will direct you to the nearest ATM.
(5)Tim C.
We were in Newport for a wedding and ate here the first of a three night stay. This is the nicest and best restaurant that we ate at during our entire stay and it was certainly the best in terms of atmosphere, location and selection. We arrived after a long day of travel with no reservations and they were able to quickly make adjustments to accommodate us. The food was fantastic. I had one of the best Bone-In Filets that I have ever had. Great selection of appetizers, scotch and wine. The staff was ultra friendly and accommodating and we simply loved our visit. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area to enjoy a meal here.
(5)Stephen V.
Took my mom out for brunch ,we had lobster salad, blaaach, terrible, I think it was ground up uncooked fish
(1)Alex H.
Eh...the location is great. They have an abundance of outdoor seating, but the food was eh. It was generic, mediocre food at best. The steak sandwich tried to be fancy with arugula and "truffle goat cheese," but it ended up being a sloppy mess of what seemed to be leftover steak bits. To be honest, it just wasn't good. The fries were typical fries, nothing special. The waitstaff was friendly, however. I'll give them that. Our waitress was friendly and the food didn't take forever to come out. Overall, I would go elsewhere in Newport for a meal. There has to be better food somewhere around there.
(2)Kristen T.
Food is very good but service was slow. I made the reservation three weeks in advance yet we had the worst table in the restaurant. For the price and service I would probably go somewhere else.
(3)Jeff M.
Booked a table here on a lark, Valentine's Day and I had waited too long for a reservation at my favorite spots. Coming in with very low expectations, and on a hard night for fine dining, totally came away impressed. Large, salty whole anchovy fillets topped an otherwise rudimentary Caesar salad to start my dinner. But the star of the show was a perfectly cooked, generously cut Prime Veal Rib Chop. Soft and succulent, and dressed with a dollop of a decadent and rich Porcini mushroom and Shallot butter. Equally impressive, the award winning wine list and its especially strong selection of vintage and fine Champagnes. Twenty plus choices is about as good as you'll find anywhere, heck I find many places have trouble with 1. And further, that eight or nine of them were under $100 bucks, good enough for me. I really didn't want to have such a good time, or great dinner. I had done some work for the previous management, and left without such a high impression. But I can't take anything away from them, it was a fine night out. Well done, A-.
(4)Fred G.
Service was very good. Everyone enjoyed their meal, the mussels were excellent, some of the other, such as the seafood pasta, items could have used more seasoning. Portions were large and well presented. The atmosphere was appropriate, with outdoor seating available.
(3)Nikki K.
Just finished an amazing dinner at 22 Bowen. Kale salad and onion soup were our starters and both were delicious. Hubby got a Delmonico and I the veal chop. Both were prepared just as a top steak house would prepare. Perfect crust and temperature of meat. We sat outside and Mike took great care of us! We will be back soon and will be sure to save room for dessert!
(5)Lori C.
Pappardelle with seafood was delicious! Also enjoyed the clam chowder! Will definitely return! Place was busy but we had great service!
(5)D H.
I had the seafood parpardelle and we had the mussels as an appetizer. It was fine but not really anything more. It's a nice restaurant. We showed up and there were oodles of empty tables but they wouldn't seat us, saying all of them were reserved. So we sat in the bar area, which apparently has the same menu. It was fine, don't know that I would go back.
(3)Margie S.
I enjoyed a great night at 22 Bowens last night with good friends. The food was amazing from the chowder to the entree . The waiter Dave was exceptional. The atmosphere was beautiful and festive for the holiday. They have a open kitchen where you can see your food being prepared downstairs or upstairs they have more seating surrounded my windows so you have view of the wharf. There is a extensive menu to choose from along with a dinner special. The steaks seem to be the choice at our table this evening. They were perfectly cooked. The waiter explained exactly how the cook them in a 1500 degree oven to sear in the flavor. A must try experience! I highly recommend.
(5)Kitti O.
Located by the Bowens shops in the far right corner. The atmosphere was nice and upscale yet relaxed. My server was nice and recommended the Kale salad with Seared Tuna. It came out fast and considering I'm no fan of Kale it tasted great! The Tuna was nice and rare and the Kale was covered in cranberries and spiced pecans. Overall it all seemed average Considering the very high price tag.
(3)Rich F.
Absolutely fantastic dining experience last night. Was seated for our reservation immediately and had a great table out of the way. We had a shrimp cocktail and lobster cocktail appetizer which was amazing. Also recommend the scallops and seafood pasta entree. Probably the best seafood/pasta dish I have ever had. I was floored. For dessert we split the cookie dough tarte which just sealed the deal. I don't have a bad thing to say about this place at all. Our server manny was amazing. Great sense of humor, personable and was just extremely attentive and was a pleasure to have. Can't wait to come back here!
(5)Rob S.
Spent a few days in Newport for my birthday. Found this place by accident, looking for another restaurant which has since closed. Had a wonderful lunch, and a very charming waiter who made us all laugh. Then returned for dinner a few days later. I must say this place knows how to prepare seafood. Had one of the best seafood pasta dishes I ever had. The staff is great also, even though the restaurant was packed I had made reservations for the wrong evening via Opentable. The hostess was very understanding, we had to wait about 10 minutes but she found us a table even though they were clearly booked. Thanks 22 Bowens for a great evening. When I'm back in Newport I'm certain to return.
(4)Ashley J.
My boyfriend and I went here today and had a wonderful experience. We sat outside near the bar by the dock. We each had a cocktail and a salad. The food and drinks were delicious! Our waitress was absolutely phenomenal! She was quick, super friendly and very knowledgable about the area. We told her we were hopping around and she gave us great suggestions on how to continue on our evening. Her name was Britton and I hope she gets recognized for her great work and personality!
(5)Christina S.
Lovely atmosphere and attentive service. The overall experience here is wonderful. Make sure to reserve a table outside for added ambiance. Cocktails were delicious and we only needed one to get us through the meal. The bucket of clams was awesome...tender clams and mussels with crostini bread and delicious broth to dip. Husband got the filet mignon. He said it was good, but has had better in ny where we live. For the price it should have been comparable. I got the yellowfin tuna a la carte so I got a side of asparagus. Again for the price, it was good, not amazing. A little too salty and dry for my taste. Go here for a fine dining experience, but you are paying for it with Newport pricing.
(4)Nina F.
Came here for my boyfriend's birthday. Service - 1 or 0 star. Perhaps I am giving 1 because the host was nice enough to take our photo as it was my boyfriend's birthday. For the server, I give 0. He was unfriendly, very slow and impatient. Did not check on us at all and we had to keep asking other servers for water, etc. In the end, he came by to give us the check. Tip? 15%. Food...Eh. 3 stars. For a place with pricey food (total was about $180 for two), you would expect a delightful meal. Steak (ribeye) was mediocre (I agree with the other reviewer that it lacked seasoning) and the lobster was ok. Nothing special. I would not waste $70-100 per person at this restaurant, especially with awful service. Go somewhere else.......
(2)Sydney K.
The day before going, I made reservations on Open Table. I went at 6:00 on a Thursday night with three other people; we were sat immediately and with a great view of the wharf. Moreover, the service throughout the entire meal was great. For instance, my mother is a rare breed that likes her steak medium well; when she thought her seek was too pink, it was immediately remedied. In addition, when the manager noticed my mom hasn't truly devoured the steak after this, she came over to inquire whether everything was alright (which it was, my mom just over did it on appetizers and sides). I also had steak (NY sirloin), which was great. The a la cart sides are big enough to share with another person (maybe even more). Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert! However, well worth it!
(4)John W.
Service... 1 star. I witnessed a waiter actually eat food off a guest's plate while in the window!!! In addition, our waiter was very slow and inattentive. Bright spot was the personable bartender while we waited for a table. Food... 3 star. Lobster fritters, still looking for the lobster, although generous portion. My steak (delmonico ribeye) was good, lacked some seasoning. My wive's steak (specialty filet) was excellent, although it was overcooked. Such a shame at a steakhouse. Will try again...
(2)Mary Laird G.
22 bowens came recommended by both our hotel receptionist and a friend from work who used to be in the area. We went to grab a drink at castle hill prior to (highly recommend) and got to 22 bowens around 7:15. Seated in a quieter area of restaurant which was nice and had a great waitress. She allowed us to taste a few wines before ordering. (Largest pours ever) She was very knowledgeable regarding the wine and food and gave great Recs. did not hover but was also very attentive. Menu is expansive enough to give options but small enough that you aren't overwhelmed and know they like to do things well. We usually like to split 3 or 4 items so we ordered 2 oysters on half shell (husband loved these), the crab cake, chopped kale salad and swordfish entree. First crab cake was pretty burnt but they fixed quickly. Kale salad was delicious. Very hearty and they split for us. The swordfish was also done very well. They split this as well. Accompaniments were a great add. Overall, meal was a great pick. We skipped dessert because we were more set on the self serve pinkberry down the street. Two glasses of wine plus oysters, kale salad, crab cake and swordfish was $108 including tip. Pretty reasonable for the service, wine pours, and quality/portions of food. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Michael L.
22 Bowens is the best steak house in RI This time I enjoyed the Leg of Lamb. Hmmm We look forward to the next time
(5)Julie G.
I will keep my review for 22 Bowen's as short and sweet as possible. First, the food and service here are always fantastic. However, it is one of the pricier options around town so I tend to only go in for their yummy lunch (seating outside in warmer months!) or when there is a seasonal deal. Of course this place is known as a steakhouse, but there are also lots of other great options... Even the vegetarian grilled cheese was insanely good and wonderfully priced at $12 for lunch with tomato soup and fries. So if you are looking to stay reasonable on price - there are plenty of options. On the other hand, if you are looking to impress a special someone or have a fancy evening in Newport... 22 Bowens Dinner service certainly doesn't disappoint. The food, service, and great wine list will be sure to make your evening special (just be ready to pay for it all!). *Parking is extremely limited at Bowen's Wharf, especially in the summer. Walk if you are close enough and able. *There is outdoor dining once the summer hits. An outdoor Bar "22 Portside" opens up as well offering a separate outdoor seating area and menu service... which is fantastic for early cocktails and small bites. *Check their website for seasonal menus and deals. Restaurant week here is always pretty great.
(4)Nicole F.
Great food, friendly staff and beautiful outdoor views. My 12 year old son and I went here for a mom/son night. We both loved it. Service was somewhat slow, but I attribute it to a busy Friday night. The food was fantastic! I went with a chicken salad with sangria and my son had fish and chips. We sat outside and took in all the yachts around us.
(4)Matt V.
We had done the Newport Mansion tours and were reading the menus outside several establishments. This one just sounded like the ticket so we went in and were seated right away on a Sunday early evening. Dark wood, linen table cloths and a sumptuous menu. First thing we noticed was there was a busboy being trained. We noticed because our table had not been set with bread plates and after the bread basket arrived we were trying to get his attention to bring some, but he ignored us, possibly out of embarrassment. Our waiter was a pro. Easy going and covered all the specials and made sure we had everything. I like nice restaurants where the seasoned wait staff actually keep an eye on their tables and are there when they see you might need something. Like I say, he was a pro. I had the Atlantic Salmon with gnocci and asparagus. It was pan seared and a healthy portion. I had a caesar salad and for the life of me I can't remember what anyone else had except the crispy calamari, which got a thumbs up. I was happy with my fish and we all were happy for the most part. Now for the downside on the meal: My salad was not properly dressed since the lettuce was not coated with dressing. The lettuce was in fact dry with a teaspoon of dressing on the bottom of the plate. To their credit another member of our group said that her caesar had ample dressing. Prices were not out of line for a seaside restaurant. I've eaten at many, east and west coast. What we got for the money was just average in terms of taste and quality. When we got back from dinner and mentioned where we ate, I was asked, "Why didn't you eat at The Black Pearl?" Maybe next time I should.
(3)Skippy J.
We chose 22 Bowens as the destination for our family Thanksgiving meal this year. Salads were very nice and the kale salad was a big hit with several in our party. I had a great sirloin au poivre and a delicious baked potato with rosemary sea salt and a bacon creme fraiche. Mike our server was very friendly and attentive and the overall atmosphere was very warm and inviting on a cold and rainy Thanksgiving. I will definately be back when in Newport.
(5)Adam L.
I am in complete agreement with all the other reviews. The steaks were good, but the service left a lot to be desired. Our server seemed more interested in watching the basketball game than attending our table. It was slow coming on the initial taking of the order and the wine, no refills on water after the check arrived. They also really pushed the most expensive items, which were some nice steaks, but I feel I got a better value with the prix fixe. HOWEVER, there was a wire from a brush in my dessert. The manager came by and comped my after-dinner drink, which already had been a replacement when what I wanted they were out of. In my mind, a tiny piece of metal in the food is more than comp a drink and good to go. This place had nice food but was far from running smoothly.
(2)Chrissy S.
Last weekend was the First time I have ever been to newport and I stumbled upon this beautiful restaurant set right on the water! Inside the ambiance was great and the service as well. My boyfriend and I both did the preset 3 course dinner for $29 each. We got the mussels and clam chowder as our appetizers which both were amazing. For the entree we got the short rib and the hake which were good as well. For dessert we got one creme brûlée and one choc lava cake. Definitely would recommend this place for a nice dinner or even to come just for a drink. Place started to get busy as we left after 7ish!! GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, and not too pricy!
(5)Sarah C.
Food is pretty good here. Great atmosphere. Only con is seating times/reservations. Went at 5 to make a res and earliest time available was 10pm but plenty of empty tables.
(4)Stuart B.
Great atmosphere better than all the nearby places however one boisterous buffoon was bantering belligerently with the bartender.
(3)Eileen R.
shared the cheese platter and requested extra of cheddar since we don't like blue. Alyssa the bartender was very accomodating. The salmon entree was the best we've had in Newport!!! Also, Joe the batemder was entertaining with NY stories (we r from NY)!!
(5)Anne M.
My friend from the DC area came up for the weekend & I took her on a whirlwind your of Boston & Newport. We decided to have dinner at this place after walking around a bit that day shopping. The outdoor restaurant aesthetics & a the menu selections piqued our interest. The restaurant is in the Main Newport Marina area. It's located on one of the small Piers off the Main Street overlooking the boats. As you walk up is a there is a lovely outdoor patio area with umbrellas as well as an inside 3 Season dining area that has large windows that open out to the Patio. The upstairs had the 3 Season dining space also. The Bar fronted the Kitchen. The entire place was spacious but had friendly, intimate spaces. Both the lighting, layout & decor created a very nice inviting ambiance. My friend & I started with the Clam Chowder which was good. It was 9:30 pm & they were putting it away in the Kitchen apparently. It should've been warmer but hey. It was late. My friend ordered te Kale salad which she loved. I had a piece of grilled swordfish which was cooked fine although I would've preferred it to be a much thicker cut & less time on the grill. It was $26 just for the fish. Their steaks & most of their mains are on the ala carte menu. Not something I encourage restaurants to do UNLESS the steak or main is a large thick portion. I didn't feel the piece I had warranted the $26 price tag. The wine & drink menu was extensive & priced fairly I thought. The service was efficient & our server was very pleasant & helpful. We did not have dessert or coffee. We really enjoyed ourselves because of the ambience & we would def go back but I will order either 2 appetizers or salad OR pick a selection from the Main Meal Entrees bc I think the portion/price ratio is more appropriate.
(4)Holly S.
Upstairs bar is where it's at, ended my night having a yummy red wine and hot toddys for my friends that were so strong! Yay!! So cozy up there. Loved it
(5)Timothy M.
Amazing once again! Our second time here and our second great experience at 22 Bowen's! Great food and amazing service! To start, my wife and I shared the mussels and their clam chowder. Both were delicious. For entrees my wife had the grilled cheese with Brie and blue cheese. She enjoyed it, however she thought it may have been a bit much with the cheese. Maybe adding something to cut the richness of the cheeses like arugula? I had the steak and cheese. This was pretty good but seemed to be missing some extra flavor. French fries were done to perfection. I enjoyed a Mary Ann's Spiced beer which caught me off guard by being absolutely awesome. We both had desserts which were included because of the Restaurant Week menu. They were both done very well. Overall great experience! We will be back!
(5)Shannon W.
My boyfriend booked this place for dinner for our first night in Newport. I'll start off with the ambiance. It's very uppity/slightly snobby, but the servers were nice and attentive. While I have no complaints about them, in order to match the snottiness of the restaurant and the extremely high prices we paid, I did expect them to be a bit more on par, knowledgeable about the menu, and more enthusiastic, but then again, it's not like I was in NYC. We started with the scallops. They were delicious. Then we had the calamari. It was very tasty, but not out of this world. We had the scallops as a main dish too (the scallops app was tastier) and brussels sprouts on the side. The brussels sprouts were not that good at all. We had chocolate cake for desert, eh I've definitely had better. At the end of the meal, the server then accidentally put an extra entree on our bill that was meant for another table. She apologized and it was totally fine...but I'm so happy my boyfriend caught that mistake. I mean, c'mon now! It just seemed unprofessional to me, esp at such a high end place. In conclusion, the prices are just very high for the quality of the food and service, then again, it's Newport, so I expected high prices.
(3)Peter W.
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.
(4)Susan W.
Sat at outside bar. Had soup and salad. Food good. Great to sit outdoors and enjoy the view which was totally destroyed by a bunch of filthy mouthed guys F this and F that reliving their high school and college days and obviously had too much to drink. Other women at the outside bar and nothing was done to contain their inappropriate behavior. Couldn't waif to get out of there.
(1)Nicolette B.
This place has to be the most overrated restaurant in Newport. We went for restaurant week--THANK GOD--because I would have been PISSED if we'd paid full price for a very run-of-the-mill dining experience. Menu was uninspired--basically the same combination of protein, starch and vegetables that every other restaurant in Newport is offering. We ordered the chowder and the lobster fritters and I will give the place this...the fritters were ON POINT. Very flavorful, packed with large, distinguishable pieces of lobster and served piping hot. The rolls they bring to the table are also excellent and served with room temperature butter (its truly amazing how many restaurants overlook this important nuance!) The chowder was MUCH thicker than I expected it to be, especially since the menu indicated that it was made with "light cream". Believe me, there was nothing light about it! It tasted good but just be aware if you prefer a thinner chowder. My boyfriend got the Pan-Seared Atlantic Salmon and I got the Bistro Filet. The salmon was dry and the filet was not cooked evenly (some parts were medium, others were medium-rare.) My boyfriend enjoyed the salmon but I thought the filet was bland and ended up grabbing the salt shaker and going to town on that dish. Don't get me wrong...the ingredients were of good quality and looked nice on the plate but the dishes themselves were not seasoned or prepared in a way that justifies the insanely high prices. Service was slow but friendly. Our waiter was knowledgable about their craft beer selection and helpful when it came to making recommendations (we loved everything he suggested.) There was a long lag between the appetizer and entree course but the desserts came quickly after that. In sum, its not a bad restaurant, its just overpriced and not worth what they are asking for on the every-day menu. If you much try this place, I recommend that you wait for restaurant week.
(2)Terry K.
We had the hamburger and steak sandwich for lunch the flavor,presentation, and quality were well worth the price. The Fried Calamari was great if you do not like hot peppers ask for them on the side they give a good amount......my error I did not but my girlfriend enjoyed them.
(5)Jon J.
The food here was decently okay. Nothing to write home about, but who writes home about food anyways? The service was unacceptable. I ordered salmon saying I wanted it "very well done". The first time it came, I have suspicions it was still swimming. When I asked if they could cook it for a little longer, it came back still woefully undercooked, not much different from the first time. Then, when the waitress came back with my change, my bill was $xx.25, and the waitress shorted me the 75 cents. I'm not so much concerned about the money, but the principle. It is not at the waitress' discretion to not give me back some of my change. Great restaurants give you the change. It's not rocket science.
(2)Sharon E.
Last Evening we had the pleasure of dining at one of Newport's finest restaurants, 22 Bowen's Wharf. From the minute we arrived , my guest and i were treated like Queens. We were seated at a window seat, where we could watch the Beautiful Sunset. We had the pleasure of having one of the best Servers in Newport, HIs name was Hamilton. From the minute we sat down he could not accommodate us enough! To begin with he worked with us to find the most hearty, palatable Cabernet in our price range. Our table looked like we were at a wine tasting. The bottom line was through his expertise he was able to satisfy our taste buds. He was very attentive and charming. And the Food ! OMG......to die for. I always indulge in the Wedge salad , which is made up of a very good blue cheese and a fine smoky bacon made in house. I asked the chef if i could have a few chopped kalamata olives put into my Roasted Garlic Beurre Blanc , which would accompany my Melt in Your mouth Filet Mignon and before I blinked an eye, it was done! My guest chose the delectable 16oz. Prime Veal Chop fit for a King. Charred too perfection. While i can's say enough Great things about this restaurant or it's wonderful staff, i feel the so called "Sides", you order to accompany your meal need to be kicked up a notch. They are a little boring. The portions were so generous that i had no room for dessert, but the dessert menu did look very very tempting, especially the Pumpkin Creme Brulee! A good Brulee is hard to find, but I'm sure that there's would be one of the Best! But the overall experience was a "10"! I would highly recommend this restaurant to my Family and Friends. Kudos for a Job well done and a very Special Thank you to Hamilton. Sharon E.
(5)Miryam Y.
This is one of those restaurants I had wanted to try for a while and finally got to during Newport Restaurant Week. Came here for dinner with a group of 10. Appetizer+entree+dessert = $35. Everything was amazing and I thought that the restaurant week dinner price was beyond reasonable for a place like this! We got a whole variety of things, including clam chowder, lamb, and filet mignon. We were all pleased and would love to come back here! The service was great and good location too :)
(5)Nicole R.
Came to 22 after a Sunset Cruise. Sad to report this place is highly overrated and completely disorganized. Fritters were great. But the Cod was way oversalted and there was "confusion" over a baked potato. Really? Sad we wasted a dinner on this place.
(2)Joe R.
Ambiance is fair. We sat next to a service door to an outside patio being wafted with cold air. Service was very good but not excellent. Server seemed to have too many tables or not enough untermenschen or untermedchen. Food presentation was very good. Portion sizes were large. We shared entree and used a veg dish as our sides. Preparation was very good but not excellent. They recognized our occasion. We shared a dessert, key like pie, which was excellent and light-this from non dessert eaters. Price was high for comparable establishments.
(3)N P.
Not worth it for prices charged.... My girlfriend and I visited the restaurant during the holidays last week. The place was busy, the peopel at the front desk nice.... and everythign else medioacre.... I ordered a steak, medium... and ended up getting a not so good quality steak that was almost well done... I told our waitress,a nd her replyt was... I will send someome over... not sorry, is there anythign i can do.. or anythign else that would imply customer service... Well, someone showed up, we had the same conversation and he left by saying sorry.... So for food... and food service, i would not consider this as a classy joiont... Now lets discuss service... I had to wave down our waitress a few times to ask for drinks, even though she cam by and didnt even look at our table and empty glasses... Verry impersonal and unpleasant... Bottom line... I would not go againa nd would not recommend this place to anyone for the prices charged.. Management and staff not preoperly trained...
(2)Joe M.
I love 22 Bowens, best steak in town! I always order Beef Carpaccio, and the NY Strip. Try the Bordelaise sauce on the steak as its great.
(5)Tom M.
Had a great sunset dinner last night, with spectacular food, but the real focus of this review is on the service. Steven was one of the best servers we have ever had, anywhere. Knowledgable, attentive, and very friendly. He made our dinner memorable, and deserves every compliment I can give him. Well done, Steven.
(5)Shelby F.
This place is great! I've been to many of Newport's restaurants and this place is awesome! My boyfriend got the lobster roll and it was the best lobster I have ever seen and tasted. It was so flavorful and there was so much lobster in it. I got the fish and chips. Fish and chips can be a bit flavorless sometimes but WOW, their fish and chips was amazing. We then got the blueberry lemon creme bulee, it was so delicious! I loved the food and the portions were great for the price. Not to mention they have nice outside seating and a nice outside bar. Also the service was great. I am definitely coming back again and would recommend this to everyone!
(5)Laurie M.
Amazing. The food was wonderful. The prices are a bit high but we knew that when we made a reservation. Suggested by a local and would do it again. The waitress was so friendly and helpful. I had the shrimp with lobster sauce and pepper, great. My daughter has the salmon, the best and my boe has the lobster pot
(5)Lelian O.
Ambiance of this restaurant was romantic type of feel, perfect for a date or a night out. The food was good. I ordered the beet salad and the braised beef short ribs and those were delicious. The clam chowder and mac and cheese were just OK. The service was great but my only negative would be parking is really hard for an SUV and very limited. I can't imagine coming here during the summer months when Newport is busy. I would suggest parking somewhere else.
(4)Emily H.
My boyfriend and I came to Newport to celebrate our anniversary. We decided on 22 Bowen's for dinner solely because of the reviews and location. We walked in and were greeted almost immediately by a cheerful and gracious host who led us to a table in a small room by the window. Not much of a view, but I'm assuming in warmer weather they open the windows and take advantage of the fresh air. We were handed menu's even though we already knew we were going to order the prix fix menu. Even though we're both adults, we decided to skip drinks with dinner. I think that shocked the waiter when I told him. Don't get me wrong, I understand we were at a wine bar, but my license had expired and I didn't want to risk being turned down a drink just for not having an up to date license. After ordering our meals, everything felt a tad rushed. When we ordered the chowder appetizers, they were brought out almost immediately. We were in and out of the restaurant in under an hour on a Friday night. Maybe if we had ordered drinks we would've lingered longer, but our meal was so rushed we felt strange sitting around. I will definitely return, however, for the wine and cocktail list. My meal of pan-seared salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked. The char of the jumbo shrimp really put the dish over the edge. My boyfriend ordered to bistro filet, only to be told they had run out of the filet and was asked if he'd like the hangar steak instead that they serve with fries for $19.99. He said it was fine, but on a Friday night, running out of a main dish ingredient like filet is almost inexcusable. We both work in the service industry as well (I'm a concierge at a luxury apartment building in Providence, and he is a Line Cook at a fine dining restaurant) so we understand that slip ups can happen. Overall, 4 stars for service and food.
(4)MaryAlice R.
I felt like royalty at this place. The service was fast and enjoyable. We got the calamari which was amazing! I ordered the pan seared salmon, it was wonderful. I might have had a little better at other places, but still delicious. My dad got the ribeye and I had a taste... Melted in my mouth! For desert we shared 2 creme brûlée's.... Best I've had and the presentation beautiful!
(5)Julie Y.
I came here this past Sunday for Newport Restaurant Week. We were able to still catch the lunch menu since it was about 3:30pm. I had the shrimp and sweet corn fritters, apple and bacon melt and lemon olive oil cake. My boyfriend had the mushroom and ricotta crostada, kale salad and chocolate budino dessert. The food was delicious and very flavorful. And the portions were great for lunch, I was happy to not leave feeling stuffed. I can't wait to come back when it's a bit warmer and enjoy their other options!
(4)Nick R.
Our server was great she ran down the special brought us the bottle of wine we ordered which was great we had a second bottle 2011 Malbec Argentina! For apps we had crispy calamari with hot peppers this was a hit! The seated feta and heirloom tomato wasn't that good! The Feta was cold and the tomato hard! Clams in broth was really good! My scallops for dinner were seared perfectly! My wife lobster wAs also really good!
(5)Evan M.
Probably the best restaurant in Newport. Everything from the location, the service, to the food is top-notch. The restaurant is situated right by the water on the wharf, and you can choose to sit at their outdoor bar, patio, or either of their 2 indoor levels. If you want a quick bite and a drink I would recommend the outside bar. If you are looking for the true experience, sit inside. Ask for Shane, the best bartender in Newport. This isn't a place you go for a quick burger, or a plate of nachos. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place. The menu here is mostly steaks and seafood, but you can't go wrong with any choice. The porterhouse is amazing (but then again for $54 is should be). The restaurant is relatively expensive, but you are paying for superior food and service. So know this before you go in, or take a look at a menu before sitting down. It's a good place to splurge, and expect to spend about $100 per person for dinner/drinks. If you are in Newport and are looking for the best, this is where you should be.
(5)Nik H.
I took my clients here based on a number of referrals. I thought the food was very good but nothing special. The steaks that we all ordered were properly prepared and the sides were all plentiful and tasted great. Ordinarily, this would earn 4 stars but a couple of things occurred that removed one star... 1. They had a cocktail on the menu which was a Blantons manhattan. It was $14. I received it, took a taste and it was NOT Blantons. When I asked the server, she got huffy and I am not a fan of huffy servers. She reluctantly checked with the barman and found out I was correct. He made an ordinary Manhattan. 2. The same server made an error on the bill and rolled her eyes at me when it was pointed out. Really? Great food is found everywhere. When you charge this type of money, you need to be in a truly separate class; if food is the sole differentiator. More often, it is the overall experience- cocktails, food, atmosphere and service that differentiates high end restaurants. I for one was disappointed with the overall experience. Doubt I will go back. There are too many other good places in the same general area.
(3)Tamera R.
Beautiful atmosphere and great and friendly service. Came here during restaurant week and don't think I would go back if it weren't. My duck was a a little over done, and my dates brûlée tasted a bitter because it was over done with the torch. Sounds like they might need a little work in the kitchen. It wasn't horrible by any stretch, but if you're spending $100 for dinner, you can expect better than this.
(3)Bradford O.
22 Bowens gets two stars for ambiance, but that's about it's only saving grace. The ingredients are of decent quality but the chef is without talent. Caesar salad was bland and unimaginative. Both of the two pieces of fish we ordered were badly over-grilled. Mac and cheese was criminally bad. The Brussels sprouts were also overcooked. Bread was stale. Total for two salads, two pieces of fish, two sides, and a $35 bottle of wine came to $175 including tip. I have no intention of ever returning.
(2)Julie N.
With a bunch of money to spend on a girls getaway weekend, I picked 22 Bowens for dinner for our first night. I had gone to Salve Regina and remember always hearing amazing fancy things about 22 Bowens but never had the opportunity to eat there. I made a reservation for five people on a busy Friday night at 9:30pm but we showed up at 7:30pm. I checked in with the hostess and let them know we were really early but wanted to check on tables. They graciously sat our party right away upstairs in the bar area and we were all thrilled by that gesture. Then things went downhill. Our waitress was probably the most miserable person I have ever met in my life. She made it know that she did not give half a sh*t and did not want to go once inch above just taking our orders and taking off. We were about to spend a LOT of money and we were all a bit pissed at this situation. After our appetizers were delivered I went to speak to the manager about our waitress and he was more than apologetic. He asked if we wanted a different table and I said we would just prefer a different waitress. He sent a new waitress and she turned out to be sweet as pie. The food. Well, the caesar salad was completely inedible. I mean like one bite and you push it away in disgust. I understand anchovies in a caesar, but when the entire salad reeks of the ocean it that just doesn't work. My scallops wrapped in bacon were undercooked (both the scallops and the bacon), the filet was average for the hefty price tag, and most of my party said their food was just okay. It just wan't good. Would I ever go back? Absolutely not. For a menu with prices that high for subpar food and an air of superiority, 22 Bowens needs to check itself.
(2)Alexandra C.
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.
(4)Melissa R.
Nice outdoor seating - the waitress did a decent job for being busy, but service was slow. However, she did get snappy in front of us by scolding another waiter for calling her Becky instead of Becca The disappointment came from the Chef's inability to cook any of our burger's correctly. Medium Rare came out Well Done. Medium came out Charred. Good thing we didn't order the overpriced porterhouse! Pretty sad ending to a wonderful Newport Weekend.
(2)Judy G.
Upscale place in a beautiful location. The Delmonico was very good; cooked perfectly med-rare. Everyone in our business group of 7 loved their meal from the shell fish tower appetizer, soups, salmon, sides, coffee, everything!!! And the service was excellent (thanks Joan).
(4)Christie C.
Never disappointed by 22 bowen's. Our dinners were exceptional, as was the service and drink list. We each had a filet, one was a nightly special and the other the 22 B filet. Same cut of meat but totally different flavors and wonderful culinary experiences. Made for a delightful night in Newport.
(5)Brian K.
Awesome, great salmon, nice wine, sat outside, professional staff, we would absolutely go back.......
(5)Kate C.
I have to echo some of the complaints... bread was stale and entrée was miscooked with little flavor. That is unless you count the bitter char on the meat's exterior. Bernaise sauce was bland, over thickened and cold. Brussel sprouts were undercooked and under-seasoned. Came here with a group who gave us high hopes saying we could order anything at all but their filet mignon is the best you'll ever have. For me and my husband - it was an expensive let down. I felt badly because it was disappointing for the friends who boosted it as their favorite restaurant. It is also the location of their wedding rehearsal dinner next summer so we were anxious to check it out. The ambience is nice and our waitress was friendly. But our friends admitted that they dinners weren't especially good and this was a big change from their usual experience here. When we mentioned our overcooked filets we were approached by a very rude manager. He whipped around to our table and said "How's it going, what did you guys have tonight, what seems to be the problem?" - literally all in one giant annoyed breath. When we explained that three of our filets were overcooked he said that there have been no changes whatsoever to the menu and they use the same seasoning and ingredients in their dishes...completely missing the point but okay. Minutes earlier our waitress did admit a new chef was hired this summer - bingo. Instead of addressing our concerns he made us feel badly for presenting any issue. After he was done drilling us with questions and after our friends mentioned their upcoming rehearsal dinner he said he'd like to offer us dessert on the house. Some of us ordered desserts and some dessert cocktails. Only the actual desserts were comp'd - understandable but still the final note to a very uneventful dining experience. Ironically, when we were given the bill we noticed that the 12oz filet which was listed at $48 was charged to us at $56 - perhaps one of our "free" desserts worked back into the bill? For what we paid I would expect much more - better food and management service. I'm just glad my next (and last) trip here will be paid for by the wedding, lol.
(1)Sabrina D.
The food was okay but the waiter was a little rude and looked that we were bothering him to do his job. Have been coming here for years. Will not ever come back after this experience.
(2)Ashley S.
My favorite place for filet mignon or steak in Newport (when my wallet allows me to afford it). I enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, and I've always received great service. My filet mignons are always cooked how I asked, so no complaining there! The portions are decent. The cocktails on are on the expensive side. I do enjoy grabbing a martini or margarita at their small outside bar from time to time when the weather is nice. I could probably go somewhere else and find the same drinks for a cheaper price, but view is nice. I do understand that this is a business, and that Newport has a tourist season, which they can use to their advantage to generate income.
(4)Therese Z.
Great place. Nice wine list and steak was cooked to perfection. Took a star away for the side dishes. Creamed spinach is not "creamed", it's wilted with Parmesan cheese on top and asparagus in lemon oil was bitter. Other then that it was a great dinner. Save room for the apple crostata!
(4)Marissa E.
We came during restaurant week on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and were able to sit down immediately. Our server was very kind and helpful. He explained the menu in full detail and offered many suggestions. She stopped over several times to make sure everything was ok. The food was incredible!! We were so full that we had I take some home! The only downside about the meal was the clam chowder-it separated before reaching the table, not very appealing. All in all, we had a wonderful experience. Very pricey though-would come back for restaurant week.
(5)Alex M.
After coming to Bowen 22 three times in the past 6 months and being disappointed each time, I am finally throwing in the towel. Being new to the area, my boyfriend and I decided to venture to Newport and wanted to have a nice lunch on the water. It was a beautiful day and Bowen 22 seemed to fit what we were craving perfectly. However, we were sorely mistaken. The hostess was extremely rude and off putting but we decided to ignore her and hoped our waiter would be friendlier. Again, not the case. He was just as rude as the hostess but our food was delicious so we decided to try it again. The second time, we decided to have dinner before a concert in Newport and again we were met with horrible service and I even had a full glass of water spilled on my lap. Again, I brushed it off because i REALLY REALLY wanted to like the restaurant since it was in such a beautiful spot and the food was good. The third time, I brought my best friend who was visiting from NYC. The service we received again was horrendous, but beyond anything I have ever experienced. We overhead our waiter talking to another waiter telling him to get his customers out of the restaurant so he could fill their seats with people who would be able to tip better. Then, a bus boy spilled water all over a baby in a high chair a few tables over. Our waiter had no idea what the specials were when we asked and when he found out, he just said "steak sandwich" without telling us anything else about it. When we asked for the bill, he didn't come back for about 20 minutes, and when he did he said he couldn't remember what we had and could we please tell him so he could get our bill. Even after we TOLD HIM what we ate, he still came back with a bill that had 2 more beers on it that we did not drink. After speaking with the manager (who i am not sure was even the manager) I was so upset that I did not leave any tip at all. The manager offered to take the beers of the bill (WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE) and a free appetizer. WHAT A JOKE. I will never be back, and will make sure to tell everyone I know what a horrendous place Bowen 22 is.
(1)D. B.
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.
(2)Karen C.
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.
(5)Angela C.
A clean, nicely presented restaurant in the midst of restaurant row and tourist walk right on the front pier. While I have previously dined for dinner, we ate lunch on the open air dining patio this past weekend. In spite of being very busy, the hostess was more than happy to accommodate the stroller and 5 month old baby. Or waitress was prompt, informative and extremely kind. The outdoor dining can get warm as the forest green awning and lack of ocean breeze can make the air quite sticky. The food was quite delightful as my companions and I enjoyed fish tacos, a clamtastic platter and a simple salad with grilled chicken. While the prices are comparable to other establishments, the drink rates are quite high so enjoy the meal, linger and have a good time for the bill fleet what you ate and drank.
(3)Lo-an L.
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.
(5)Scott K.
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.
(3)Sharon D.
Awesome food! great location and great service!
(5)Crystal M.
Went here this past weekend to celebrate my and my husband's 1st year anniversary. We had a great time here. We were seated promptly and the entire staff was very polite and attentive. The food, while pricey, was delicious. The big downside is that for the price I really think a side should be included in the entrees. The entrees are a good size, but a side is usually standard and it was a bit annoying that they don't include one for the price. My husband had the petit filet mignon and is was cooked perfectly. I have the salmon and it too was delicious. We also had the bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer. Also delicious. They have a good selection of wine and beverages. I had a glass of Beringer and we both had a light and stormy. Our Light and Stormy's weren't very consistent though. My husband's had a prominent ginger beer flavor, but mine was a bit too heavy on the rum... not that I minded - I was out to celebrate afterall! :) I topped the night off with a glass of 10 year aged tawny port and an order of the creme brule. My husband had a slice of the Key Lime Pie. Again, everything was delicious. We had a very good experience here and we definately hope to get back again.
(4)Sarah S.
My husband and I went to 22 Bowen's in mid-August and had an excellent experience. Great food and service. We had a very different second experience on September 21. After we ordered our food, we barely saw our server. Our water glasses were empty most of the meal. My husband ordered a steak, but wasn't given a steak knife. The server didn't come back to check on us until almost the end of the meal. When the server finally brought the knife, he didn't apologize or ask how our food was. We had a Dinner Club card and did not realize it wasn't valid at this restaurant until Oct 1. The manager explained this to us and after I conceded I was wrong about the dates, he abruptly left. No "thank you for coming" or "please come again" or even "have a nice evening." I have worked in high-end restaurants and know what kind of service a restaurant of this calibur should provide. It was sorely lacking. The food is excellent, but based on the service, we will not be coming back.
(2)Julia R.
Went to 22B for an anniversary dinner with my boyfriend a few weeks ago and it was lovely. The upper, front deck (where we sat), is a quiet intimate area that's secluded from the rest of the restaurant; perfect for a romantic dinner with a view of the water. As an appetizer, we had the Sea Scallops which were topped with a delicious cauliflower purée. For my main course, I had the Sage Roasted Statler Chicken and my boyfriend had the Grilled Swordfish. The chicken was very good; cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the Grilled Swordfish was amazing. During our dinner, I told my boyfriend I was going to run to the bathroom and that I'd be right back. However, my real plan was to find our waitress so that I could pay for the meal as a little anniversary surprise. After peaking around a bit, I couldn't seem to find her anywhere. Out of luck, I stopped one of the busboys and told him my situation. He told me not worry and that he would bring my card to the waitress himself. As the night was winding down, we were both surprised to see our waitress walk over holding an adorable, candle-lit, dessert plate, complimentary for our anniversary. It was such a sweet and thoughtful little detail that really made our night special.
(5)Dani S.
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!
(4)BlueCat P.
We had the best service ever at 22 Bowens. The server's timing was superb, she was friendly and top notch. Granted, we got there early, but often early diners are overlooked because the workers are setting up. The food was wonderful. We had the Delmonico - cooked perfectly might I add - asparagus, a couple of lovely salads, and pork belly. I was stunned that what looked like a so so restaurant was so excellent. Loved it.
(5)Felecia W.
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.)
(5)Kellysue H.
Good location, pretty good food and ok service.
(3)Ross D.
I've wanted to try this place the last couple times in Newport, but never quite worked out. Review only for drinks and an appetizer, and for the outside dining part on the wharf. First, location is great, right by a couple of the big charter sailboats. I like the look of the outdoor bar, too, although we sat at a table. Server was very friendly, but disappeared a few times for overly long stretches. Drinks: they have a nice list of cocktails. Wife had the red sangria, which she liked. I had the Blueberry Thyme Shrub, which was very refreshing and interesting. Decent list of wines by the glass, so we each had a glass of New Zealand Sav. Food: the menu isn't super extensive (strange, since the size of the menu book itself is strangely enormous), but is pretty cha-ching. We only ate the "Bucket of Clams" which was a decent amount of mussels, littlenecks, and a couple of giant clams--all steamed and served in a "natural broth" (think white wine and garlic). Very tasty dish, although I would have liked a bit more broth in the bucket for dunking the one piece of garlic toast and rolls. Extra points for the basket of 3 rolls--2 regular dinner rolls and 1 cranberry roll; those were all tasty. I don't think I'd choose this spot for dinner, but it's certainly a place I'd visit again for a drink and a small bite on a nice Newport afternoon or early evening.
(3)Jacqui L.
Our waiter was the best waiter I have ever had. Seriously. Amazing. This is a restaurant that we go to for special occasions because of the price. The steak is outstanding. We asked that it not be served new York style so as to avoid the char. It was phenomenal. The wine list is epic. The yellowfin tuna was cooked perfectly, and the a la carte sides were great. I love this place, just be willing to drop a few bucks!
(5)Neena C.
We walked in here on a saturday night (party of 2) and it was packed, now granted we probably should have made a reservation, but wishful thinking. Immediately, the interaction with the hostess was odd. She asked if we had a reservation, we said no and she said well the earliest we could seat you is 1015, a 2 hour wait. We looked around and realized there were a lot of empty tables and I glanced at her screen and could see very few reservations listed in that 2 hour timeframe. She said we could try the bar downstairs or upstairs. but did not offer to put our names down. I said we would try the bar, but if she could please put our names in and she grudgingly did. As my boyfriend visited the bathroom, I decided to check open table and see what it said. They had multiple reservations listed starting in 15 min throughout the supposed 2 hour gap that they didn't have anything...strange. The bar downstairs was packed, so we checked upstairs and I was about to make a reservation via open table when a couple was finishing up and offered us their seats. Besides the less than accommodating hostess, who I believe took her "power position" a bit far, this place still deserves 4 stars. It has a great ambiance and decor and our bartender was fabulous! My bf started with the clam chowder which was up there as one of our top favorites, wonderful smoky flavor. I had the seared feta, which I have never seen before, but had to try. It was out of this world. It was a thick piece of feta with a great seared crust on top of a baguette with heirloom tomatoes, arugula, avocado, and finished with balsamic glaze. Highly recommend! As for the entrees, mine was a bit disappointing. Don't order the tagliatelle...pretty boring/bland and the combination of asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and supposedly wild mushrooms, but I think I had maybe one or 2 in there with arugula pesto didn't work. The tagliatelle was also not cooked properly and too sticky. My boyfriend however ordered right. He had the ribeye with shallot porcini butter which was one of the best steaks I've ever had and I'm not much of a red meat eater. The brussels sprouts were delicious and cooked perfectly. The mashed potatoes were boring and a bit gritty I would stay away from those and maybe go for mac and cheese next time. The people next to us ordered the swordfish and scallops, both looked amazing and they cleaned their plates. Overall a pleasant experience and we will definitely be back, but next time I'll make a reservation with open table ahead of time and choose more wisely in my ordering.
(4)Virginia T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Newport. The food and cocktails are great, and you are right on the wharf which has a nice view. They have an extensive wine list, and the atmopshere is cozy.
(5)Jacki L.
REALLY REALLY GREAT FOOD ... We shared everything they didn't mind and it was a lot of food at a decent price! Bartender got slammed, messed up the order BUT it didn't matter he was a lot of fun very enjoyable!! Food came when it was ready and thoroughly enjoyed everything... I think sometimes we all just forget to sit back and enjoy... AND WE DID. SO GOOD
(4)Jennifer M.
Our server Nils was really the highlight of our visit. My boyfriend and I came here for lunch and the food, wine and atmosphere were all terrific. Nils was above average though. Really made us feel like VIPs even though we were only here for a casual lunch.
(4)Tricia M.
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.
(3)Codi E.
I've been to 22 Bowens for a couple of special occasions and I am always pleased with the food, the service, and the atmosphere alike. The filet is out of this world, and since I knew what we were getting into, the price was right in line with my expectations. The service was good as I recall, nothing out of this world but GOOD. I'm okay with an unmemorable wait staff! What I like about the atmosphere is that as fancy as 22 Bowens can be at night, it's completely comfortable. In a world where most of us don't formally dine every night, it can be unnerving to go into a fancy place, but not here! Only reason this is 4 stars instead of 5 is because it IS pricey, not somewhere we can go every Friday night ;-)
(4)Arlynn B.
Great Steakhouse! My friends took me to 22 Bowens to celebrate my birthday and we had a fantastic time! Great service and food! Birthday celebration = lots of conversation. The staff was very understanding, we took forever to decide weather to have wine or cocktails, we finally decided we wanted wine; we then took forever to decide what to eat...as I said, the staff accommodated us with no fuss. Service was very good and smooth and the food was delicious! I had the Prime New York Sirloin and it was a dream! I also heard my friends raving about the Grilled Yellowfish Tuna and the Filet Mignon. Special thanks to Alex for the amazing service!! Totally recommended for special occasions!
(5)Dan G.
Bit expensive but huge portions and great wine list. Bit too dark for my tastes as I like to see the people that I am with and the food that I eat. I am spoiled with some of the best food and restaurants in the world by living in DC. Not with the prices but good food.
(3)Sergio A.
Good food and great service! One of the many places to check out when in Newport! Pricy though, but worth it!
(4)Carlen M.
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!
(4)Sarah D.
I adore this restaurant. I went once with family when I was a bit younger and thought so highly of it that when I recently traveled to Newport, I just had to revisit it. It was fantastic. The oysters on the half shell are irresistible - so irresistible, in fact, that I had to restrain myself from ordering a second platter. The food there is just delightful and incredibly fresh. My only complaint is that the place can get quite loud. If you'd like a romantic evening, make sure to ask about seating in a less crowded area of the restaurant. If not, just tune out the noise and let the food make up for it because it most certainly will.
(4)Brandon R.
The prime delmonico was fantastic! Wow. So much flavor. Truffled Tator tots weren't our thing. The clam chowder is great. Not sure if it's better here or at the Black Pearl. I'll have to keep trying!
(5)Michelle R.
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.
(4)Kelli P.
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!
(4)Ron N.
we came here to celebrate our anniversary. We had a very friendly reception from the receptionist. We were given a lovely corner table upstairs with a view of the marina. The waiter has been helpful and friendly. The bread is warm. I ordered the roast cod clambake.. And it was perfect. Lots of mussels, clams and fish, and have for lobster tail perfectly cooked. All in a very flavorful broth. And covered with roast Corn that clearly was fresh sweet corn straight from the cob. In all, it exceeded every expectation.
(5)Chris R.
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.
(4)Art C.
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.
(5)Dan G.
My family and I went here during Newport's restaurant week hoping for a nice lunch. The atmosphere was pleasant but everyone in family felt let down by the experience. To start we ordered our apps entrees and desserts along with the clam and mussel bucket for the table. We waited a half hour for the apps to arrive and when they came they were not what we ordered. The mushroom crustada was cold the chowder was delicious but unfortunately lukewarm.. Thankfully the corn and shrimp fitters had a healthy portion, so we could share. But the worst was yet to come.. The clams in our mixed shellfish bucket smelled like low tide enough that it ruined our appetite for the rest of the meal. At this point we wanted out but still had to wait for our entrees and desert and although portions were generous the flavor lacked. Dessert was the only saving grace, and to be honest getting the bill was everyone's favorite part of the meal.. Sorry guys but there is a lot of work to be done in proper execution of restaurant week.. Better luck next fall..
(1)Thomas S.
Celebrated with 5 others last night. Our waiter, Stephen was excellent. Appetizers were fantastic. The steaks were delicious. Only complaint we had was a side dish of potatoes was cold. Nice touch by the restaurant to bring over a dessert on the house for my father-in-laws b-day. We will be back!
(4)Reg Z.
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
(4)LuAnn H.
Food was excellent, but for some reason my husband and I were invisible to the servers. Never filled water or iced tea glass, did not ask if we wanted a wine refill, no coffee or desert! For the price, the I attentive service made the experience awful.
(2)Stefan N.
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.
(3)Jade L.
Although the food is good, I would not return due to the horrible service. It is also quite over priced for the quality of food you are getting. I went to the restaurant with friends oin Saturday July 27th. The waiter was rude, inattentive and incompetent. He did not bring out the proper silverware for the seafood, it took him a long time to bring out the drinks, nor did he tell us the specials. When we asked he told us the one special they had. He did not describe the special. It is hard to believe at a seafood restaurant on a saturday in Newport that they would have one special which wasn't even seafood. We also heard our waiter tell another waitress to close out her table so the customers could leave and he could have it. When we asked him at the end to split the bill. He came back after 10 minutes to ask us again what we had ordered. After over 15 minutes of waiting for the bill, it was incorrect when we received it. After having such a negative experience we asked the hostess if there was a manager we could speak with. She was rude and reluctant to have us speak with the manager. When we finally did speak with the manager he seemed disinterested and disengaged. He did not seem to care at all about our experience. Only eat at this restaurant if you like terrible service, rude waiters, high prices, and good but not excellent food.
(1)Mary Z.
Hardly the best restaurant in Newport..or anywhere else. The food was so-so, the server was pretentious and the wine was fair. I was anticipating a lot more for the amount that we paid. Sorry, won't be back.
(2)Kate J.
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.
(1)Ben I.
Nice view from the upstairs decktop, watching visitors stroll past. Lobster salad app was great, redfish wrap and fries were good. My wife liked her chicken portabello sandwich. Service was nice. I would go back.
(4)Robert D.
Great place to grab an outside table during the boat show and order my annual lobster grilled cheese on Texas Toast and and Ice cold beer! Spectacular way to kick off the afternoon. If you aren't into seafood the French dip is so good it will make you weep! Dinners are great steaks excellent and servers work very hard to know their menu and accommodate every guest! Great memories for many years!
(4)Steve S.
Super good. Staff did fantastic job of serving us with somel special requests. Definitely recommend. Doors were opened onto Bowen Wharf. The Seafood stew was fantastic.
(5)Nicole B.
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!
(2)Daniel L.
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.
(4)Maureen M.
We had a beautiful view from indoors of the boats in the harbor. The scallops were delicious, the service was excellent! Beautiful place for dinner!
(5)Julie Y.
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..
(4)Patricia P.
We celebrated my birthday here last night and the food was awesome. The staff was terrific. My friends had steak and I had baked stuffed lobster and it was all really good. The wine list is also very nice. Enjoy!,
(5)Mark P.
I was in the area for a business meeting and this was the location chosen for my sales team to eat dinner...so I didn't choose it. I am impressed! The appetizers were great, the location is nice, but what really impressed me is how they handled our large group. We had 10 in our party (which usually means a 3 hour dinner) but we ate in less than 2 hours with desert...amazing! EXCELLENT SERVICE!! I had the Filet and it was cooked exactly as ordered with a unique herb butter dip. The rolls were excellent and the desert was outstanding (they don't make it themselves but they picked some great tasting small sweets! Looking for a nice dinner with good service - this is your place!
(4)Casey H.
I came here today for lunch with my 2 sisters. First, we asked for a drink menu, and the waiter asked us if we were over 21. I am in my 30's and my sisters are in their twenties. We told him our ages (I thought it was weird he didn't just card us) and he just came back with the drink menu. We each ordered a burger and a beer, I ordered wine. A few minutes later, the manager comes over, introduced herself (Kathy?), shakes our hands, looking us each in the eye, and asks us what we're doing in Newport, but not in a friendly way, it was more probing. We told her we just came down for the day from MA. She says to enjoy our lunch and walks away. Now, the waiter comes back and asks us where we are coming from. Again, it was more probing than friendly curiosity. My sisters and I are looking at each other like "What is going on here?" Meanwhile, the manager is talking to another server and staring at us. The manager didn't go over to any other tables, just kept looking at us, and at this point we are all really uncomfortable and wish we went somewhere else. The food was fine but I have never been questioned like this in a restaurant. If they had a question about our age (if that's what it was), they should have just carded us. Shame on them. Very awkward experience. Would never come back.
(1)Toby T.
Great food, perfect location (right on the waterfront in downtown Newport), fantastic wine list, and a very on-point staff. Great for anyone that loves a quality steak and seafood house.
(5)K M.
My husband and i went here for the first time last night. We were early for our reservation, but headed upstairs to the really cool loft bar to wait. When we told the manager that we were celebrating our 17th anniversary, he directed the bartender to give us complimentary champagne. Then he located a great table and we were seated early. The food was amazing - from the chef's special swiss veal app (which the chef personally brought to our table) to the PEI oysters to chopped salad and the delmonico steaks. Also the bar prepared great cocktails - my husband's dirty martini was perfect. I tried a [several] pineapple-infused vodka martini that was delicious in its simplicity (they infuse the vodka in house). Creme brulee, brought with a candle and congratulations, for dessert was crispy on the top and creamy inside, and teh right amount for 2 to share. Service was extremely attentive and thorough. The views of the wharf contribute to ambiance, which was rich and dark but elegant. Even with a large party of 20 or so seated near us, we had our own space. I think we found our new go-to place for special dates. We will definitely return for dinner, and also just to the bar again.
(5)Kristi T.
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)!
(4)Matt M.
Great food, but you definitely pay for it. Nothing outstanding about it. But overall, a nice place with high quality food and drinks. Got some a great statler chicken breast and yellowfin tuna steak here. Both were excellent cuts and were cooked perfectly. The truffled mac & cheese was by far the highlight. We also got "The Wedge" salad (iceberg, bacon, bleu cheese) which was fantastic. I was also seriously impressed with their Scotch selection. Lots and lots to choose from, with a great description of the various regions on the menu itself.
(3)Kyle C.
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.
(4)Lilly C.
Wow, rarely is it that I find myself nodding in agreement with review after review after review. 22 Bowen has an excellent wine list. We've been lucky to receive thoughtful recommendations on what to pair with our order, and have found old favorites and unexpected offerings on their substantial menu. Like others, we have had a few inexperienced servers when it comes to wine service, but they've always been pleasant and have more seasoned coworkers assist. The bar is huge and has everything under the sun. More often than not, though we always have reservations, we end up grabbing a drink at the bar during the inevitable wait to be seated. Most recently, I had some drink that was the product of soaking lemons in straight vodka. Just two simple ingredients - that also happened to make a lovely decorative statement as well, since it was being "brewed" behind the bar - with an end result of pure, smooth sunshine and smiles. The only reason I know the cocktail contained what they said it did is because of how I felt after drinking a few. Main point: Get drinks, get dessert - the creme brulee, my goodness! Do not share yours, you will regret it! Yes, they have too much red meat, but the filet is so good! Yes, you do order sides separately and they are enough for 2 people. Yes, it's ABSOLUTELY FREEZING at all times no matter the time of year. No, it's not really a great place for your children. No, it's not very casual, so please dress accordingly. Oh, and I hate to pick on any staff in particular, but the hostess this past summer was sort of clueless. As in, sort of insufferably bad at her job. Maybe it was just a bad week, but after several encounters that resulted in either being ignored or having a really confused look coming my way, my patience ran out. Perhaps a longer training period for staff should be considered?
(3)Devon D.
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.
(4)Vinny D.
I have been to Newport several times. This was the first time at this restaurant. The hardest part of the experience was deciding whether to eat indoor, or outdoors. We decided on indoors. The interior decor was both rustic and elegant. A difficult look to pull off. Our server was both friendly and curt. At this time, there was a $22 deal where you receive 2 meals for $22. We had both ordered the fish tacos with the soup of the day. The soup was a lobster bisque and the fish tacos were full of fresh fish and other finely diced vegetables. The flavors worked really well together. The service was quick and the food was excellent. Upon leaving we used the restrooms. They were very clean. I would recommend this establishment to any Newport newcomers that are looking for a quick bite during lunch to break up their day and enjoy the rest of Newport!
(4)Yary M.
Service was below par. Waitress couldn't describe dishes. Chef Failed to get lamb chops done right even after 3 attempts. Kept getting it well done and not seasoned. Wouldn't recommend. I waited almost 2 hours to get entree.
(1)Sha L.
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.
(3)Alex R.
Good lobster. Lousy everything else. Salmon dry (even though we asked for it medium rare.) Tempura cold. Fries too salty.
(2)Terri k.
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!
(4)G B.
Food was great! I had the fried clam sandwich that came with chips and Cole slaw. Hands down the best fried clam sandwich I've ever had. The atmosphere was nice and the service very good. The chairs were uncomfortable but overall I would highly recommend this restaurant for lunch.
(4)Ben A.
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.
(5)J J.
First of all the wine list was fabulous! They are in wine spectators top 100 restaurants. The wine bar and decor were totally inviting. The food was great! I had the crusted tuna and people in my party had the chicken, scallops, pork and salmon. All were good, but not special given the price of the food. The kicker for this 3 star review was the fact that they sat us in a freezer box room. It overlooks the harbor which is great but they made no attempt to adjust the temp for us despite our requests. Finally during our desert we left to the bar area to finish our meal. Even though it was Sue's b-day and our discontent with the temp, they did not offer any compensation. Waiter was a little cheesy...partially to be expected in Newport. Would return but only sit in the wine bar.
(3)J M.
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.
(4)Melissa P.
I really think this place is best suited for a lunch spot however we did have a very nice yet slightly over-priced dinner during our stop in Newport. When we arrived in the evening the bar was dead and filled with young servers talking about where they were going to party that evening. Sort of a buzz kill for me but we persevered considering it was our 1st wedding Anniversary. I have to start off with the one mistake our waiter made. We ordered the 2005 Paraduxx for around $85 and we know the wine well since we belong to the club. Our waiter came to the table carrying a different bottle of wine and said that he only had a 2006. I jokingly asked him if that made it cheaper since it was a different vintage. He proceeded to tell me that wine, like cars, get more expensive the newer they are. Hmmm, maybe he needed to know a little more about wine before working at a place that had "Wine Bar" in the title. However he did redeem himself with his very professional and outstanding service. Nothing special about the food. Your usual steak house fare. We each had an 8oz Filet Mignon which was very good along with 2 sides: mash potatoes and creamed spinach. They knew it was our Anniversary so they brought out crème brulee with a candle which was a very nice touch. All in all a decent meal with a view of the Wharf. Next time I would definitely come back for lunch and sit outside!
(3)Kim P.
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.
(4)Amanda G.
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.
(3)Donna S.
Loved this. I had 20 guests in the private room upstairs and every thing went well. Service was top notch!
(4)Bridget K.
22 Bowens is one of the more upscale restaurants in Newport. The atmosphere is lively, the decor is beautiful and the food is good, though offensively overpriced. Because they are one of the few restaurants in Newport with a good menu and quality food, they can get away with charging what they do. I would recommend 22 Bowens for a special occasion or for out of town guests.
(3)John K.
Really quality outdoor seating makes this place worth going to, right on the wharf. Had a sausage that was average to salty, but crab avacado salad was excellent. Great date.
(4)Roseann C.
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 Saturday 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.
(3)Amy W.
Have been to 22 Bowens twice now, and was quite pleased each time. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive, tables spaced sufficiently so that we weren't on top of the next diners, food reliable and as described. The first time, I had onion soup as an app, and loved it - but I won't get it again, as the size of the portion was way too large for an appetizer. No, I didn't have to eat it all, but somehow...I did. The steak I ordered was terrific, a perfect medium rare, and side of baked potato was enough for three people. That would lead to my only complaint with 22 Bowens - portion sizes are crazy big. I'd gladly get less food and pay a little less, though since I live here I don't mind getting a doggie bag and having lunch the next day included in my night out. Friends had lobster that night & shared a few bites - it was delicious. Steak again the second time around, though my husband and I shared the special, a 28-oz delmonico for two. After appetizers (I had a cassoulet app, which was great, though too heavy for then having steak, but that was my mistake, not theirs) we waited...and waited...the waitress came around and told us that our steak had come out too well done and she made them cook another more rare. Fair enough, thanks for doing that - I'd rather wait than have it too well done, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. The steak when it did appear was perfect. So bravo. Neither time have we been able to order dessert, not being able to restrain ourselves at the entree. Good wine list, and we got good recommendations. A little too pricey to be the casual, 'hey, let's go out' kind of place, but a good go-to for when we want something better than the run-of-the-mill.
(4)Damon C.
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.
(4)Dee L.
First the good stuff - Excellent service, nice atmosphere, amazing Lobster spring rolls. The so so stuff... We sat upstairs which was really nice and itimate however there was a large party on the 1st floor which was really really loud. I was pretty shocked how loud they were considering this place pretty much is fine dining. I guess you can't take some people anywhere. I thought the prices were a bit on the high side and everything is ala cart. Got the filet a bit too charred on the outside I know that sometimes happens with filets but at Ruth Chris that never happens. The sides for the extra cost were a bit skimpy. Overall it was a nice experience, would I rush back probably not.
(3)Toni M.
--From April 23 and May13, 2010, sorry for the delay-- I was with a group up at the Naval War College. A few of us professed to be foodies, so we formed an ad hoc supper club. 22 Bowen made the list. As a matter of fact, it was so good we had the 'last su
(5)Lynne K.
Amazing wine selection, almost overwhelming! Dinner was fantasic, though the mac n' cheese is a little too rich. Loster fritters were not that good. I wish they had a bigger menu, especially dessert!! Overall, it was a lovely venue, but a little too busy for my taste.
(3)Jennifer W.
Wow, not sure I have ever paid more for a meal I couldn't eat. The staff certainly didn't care a bit that the meal was untouched by most of our table. We started with the lobster soup, which was brown and thick like gravy. Had a very strange after taste as well as a gross texture. Main meal was ok, but certainly not work the spend. None of us could touch our deserts. Please if you go, don't pass on the bread. I will at least fill you up a little. Salad was also full of sand.
(1)Katrina M.
This place has a nice location and pleasant environment. It's sort of in tourist-central, but holds a classier feel then some of the surrounding restaurants. It effectively isolates you from the hustle of the crowds and enables you to slow down and enjoy. The food is good and reliable, but more classic then cutting edge. You'll end up paying a little more then strictly necessary, especially when it comes to wine; their selection is extensive, but a little high in price. The service is good, but a little casual - think professional until a friend sits at the table next door or a customer on the phone is less then clear - all in all, I'll go back, but there are some other places I'd go first.
(3)Tony P.
Dined at the restaurant on 8/12/12. Outside dining near dockside. My entree was one of their specialty dishes, the Grilled Tuna with a Chili Glaze, and Noodles. I like sushi, so I asked for the tuna to be rare. The entire dish was fantastic. The tuna was lightly seared, the glaze was great. The wasabi paste was a bit spicier than I would have expected, so go easy there. But the dish was 10 out of 10!
(5)A M.
First, expensive. Second, overpriced for what you get, and I truly don't mind paying for good food. Third, very delicious food with a nice view of a pier with boats. The blue point oysters were superb, but at $3.50 each they should be. Steaks were excellent but cooked, it was agreed, one level above what was ordered for the entire table. I order medium rare and got medium, etc. The wine list is very good, and not particularly overpriced. Service was impeccable from both a quality, timeliness, and politeness standpoint. Would go again if money not a question.
(3)Blake N.
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.
(4)Abby O.
A bit of a tourist trap... we had terrible service at the outside bar, 22B. All the waitress did was talk to her friends at the next table and ignore us. Then went over to the main restaurant for dinner where the service was great but the food was mediocre at best. Maybe ok if you're just going for steak but we had the Stuffed Portabella app, the Tuna app and the Chopped Salad all of which had no flavor. If I'm going to drop $50 on dinner I want it to taste like something.
(2)Sean M.
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.
(4)Jeff H.
They have decent chowder, but I would more recommend this as a place to have drinks - at least their outside patio bar is. I didn't actually go into the restaurant - my girlfriend and I sat at the patio bar by the water. This is another nice place to have a couple beers while on vacation - and a good place to watch the sun go down.
(3)Ben P.
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.
(3)Meesh K.
In the summer you can't beat the view from the outdoor bar. Its great for people watching, to relax and have a drink during a day of shopping, or just meet your friends. They have good beers on tap, an ok wine menu, and they even serve a limited menu outside. Inside however isn't worth the price. The food is just ok and I am being nice saying that. Stick with the drinks outside and during the winter skip it all together.
(3)HyunJoo K.
Just the place I always want to be! My boyfriend took me out there last year as a surprise for my birthday! It was actually the first time in Newport, RI as well! It is a beautiful place with the Cliff Walk and Mansions. There is plenty of boutique shops, but keep in mind tax!!! I am not used to taxes on anything! Anyways, 22 Bowen's has indoor and outdoor seating, and my boyfriend purposely chose outdoor seating, knowing that I am not a big fan of loud public places - I like a more private intimate setting. It is also facing the Newport Harbor which is a lot of fun to watch the boats go in and out of the port. The food was absolutely amazing. We started with Bacon Wrapped Georges Bank Scallops- Macadamia Nuts, Mango Micro Green Salad, probably the best I ever had, and then I had the 22 bowen's signature special, Grilled Filet Mignon over Roasted Shallot Mashed Potatoes with Wild Mushroom Demi-Glace and Whipped Great Hill Blue Cheese. (Yes, those are not by memory, I had to go back to the website to remember the exact dish title). Then at the end, they came out with a simple small circle shaped bread pudding with a single candle - simple and sweet! I think that was the most memorable birthday I have had. I hope to go back there for some more filet mignon! Oh, the inside of the place is very clean and dim light setting, but I found it to be a little too loud? Well, it would be great too for some special occasions or company events. Also, they supposed to carry a good wine list, but I am not fond of alcohol, so I couldn't really tell you in that aspect. Well, go check the place out, while I am imagining being there :D
(5)Nick S.
I have been 4 times before and had incredibly poor meals. Went back with a gift card and sat at the bar. Barman was great. We shared the blue crab app which was great in its simple ness . Fresh lump crab and good. We split the big ribeye medium rare and they did not overcook it for once. Did not go near side dishes are they are very poor. Steak quality was excellent. If you go, stay simple and order one degree below where you like your steak done. Wine is good and so is glassware.
(3)Molly R.
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.
(4)Jenn K.
When we're in Newport (and we try to be in Newport often!), we always head here for drinks and appetizers. They have a great chopped salad, a really nice and spicy calamari, and a delicious mojito. It's great to sit at the outdoor bar and watch the boats come in and go out. Enjoy!
(4)Rose L.
Appetizers: Petite Cassoulet with duck confit, clam chowder. This was our first time trying cassoulet, and it was delicious. The duck was seasoned well, and the beans were soft, creamy, and tasty. The clam chowder was also very good - it had a lot of big, chunky pieces of clam in it and wasn't as thick and creamy as most other places, which I enjoyed. After such yummy appetizers, we were really excited for our entrees to arrive... Entrees: Grilled Ribeye with rosemary Worcestershire glaze, bacon and cheddar mashed potato-stuffed popover, sauteed fall mirepoix and Greater Omaha Choice Sirloin with grilled rosemary gorgonzola bread pudding, sauteed fall mirepoix, green peppercorn demi-glace. Don't they both sound amazing? Unfortunately, the descriptions were the best part of the entrees. The grilled ribeye entree was okay, but the sirloin was god-awful - so bad that it had to be sent back...the first time I've ever sent back a meal. The steak was so burnt it was inedible (okay, so I asked for medium well...but I ALWAYS order my steaks medium well and I've never had this happen. Not to mention, if "medium well" meant "burnt," the waitress should have warned us, imho), the bread pudding was poorly seasoned and REALLY dry and burnt, and even though "sauteed fall mirepoix" sounds fancy and delicious, it resembled those frozen vegetable medleys (you know - where the carrots are chopped into little cubes?). Not impressive. The worst entree I've ever had in Newport. Dessert: fig gelato and chocolate bread pudding. The fig gelato was deliciously figgy...enjoyed it very much. It's actually very rich and strong-tasting, so I was surprised they gave 3 big scoops of it. The chocolate bread pudding, on the other hand, was very dry and tasteless. Overall, the place had a lot of potential, but very hit-or-miss in terms of taste and quality. For the price, I expected more from both the food and the service.
(2)Vince D.
Food was delicious and the service was great. They take reservation on opentable which is a plus. We ate outside in a good atmosphere. I would go back.
(4)Patrick B.
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
(3)Dan B.
This tourist trap tries but fails to deliver. We sat upstairs where they simply couldn't adjust AC all night -- they don't seem to own a thermostat. Our entrees (one costing 47 dollars) were not served hot and had to be sent back. No towels in one of the two one-person bathrooms-- which for a restaurant of this size were really too few. I always am wary of these MBA-driven restaurants. Despite its cool location, it will set you back alot. Key lime pie was very good, in the restaurant's favor (not offered gratis, despite all our problems that night.)
(1)Sam D.
We went here on our second night to Newport. I'm glad we did. Not only does it have an amazing wine menu but the steaks are the best I've had outside of NYC. You have to try the Six Peppercorn Sirloin with cognac cream sauce. My girlfriend had the steam lobster. Both entrees were delicious. Dessert didn't wow us. The service was great. Our waitress Beth was very attentive, friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend coming here.
(4)Matt L.
This was my second time eating at this restaurant and the first time I really liked it, but for a romantic night out, there are quieter places in Newport to go!! I had just gotten engaged at the Breakers that night and wanted to treat my new fiance to a night out that was special. the upper level of this place had a Xmas party going on and it was loud and people were obnoxious and yelling! We had to basically scream over the noise!! I couldnt believe it that a place this pricey would have that much going on like a fraternity party! I would highly recommend looking elsewhere to eat out in Newport if your looking for a romantic time out!! this place lost its touch...
(3)Edward A.
Good Steak. Went for Dinner.
(3)Michelle L.
22 Bowens is definitely a bit better than your run of the mill "seafood shack" type restaurant that you normally find down by the waterfront in most tourist towns. The decor is very tasteful and inviting. They have both indoor and outdoor seating - the main indoor dining room offers a wonderful view of the harbor. This was part of the reason that my husband and I chose it for one of our dinner destinations on our recent vacation in Newport last month - along with the fact that we are wine lovers and figured the name speaks for itself! They have a great wine list - so many good selections, including some wonderful dessert wines. For appetizer, my husband and I shared the crispy calamari with three pepper mint relish. The calamari itself was very good, but the portion was huge! Far too much for the 2 of us to polish off by ourselves and still be expected to eat our meals. For our main course, I had the baked stuffed lobster and my hubby had the seared scallops. Both were good, but not great. I guess we expected more from a place that is well know for it's great steaks and seafood, not to mention that I expect my meal to be of a certain quality when I am paying a certain price. My lobster was average and not very flavorful - definitely more along the lines of something you would expect from your typical touristy seafood shack. My husband liked his scallops, but found the accompanying risotto to be bland and flavorless. Dessert was no more impressive. I went with the key lime pie, which again, was enormous - to the point where it was a turnoff to see such a giant lump of unappetizing pie on my plate. It was not very flavorful and did not taste fresh. My husband opted for plain old ice cream since nothing on the dessert menu appealed to him. All in all, we were not impressed with anything besides the wine list. Our server was nice, but she literally focused all her attention on me and barely acknowledged my husband. This earned her a 15% tip rather than the 20% we normally leave. I'm from NYC, so I rarely get sticker shock when I look at a menu and I'm willing to pay good money for good food. But for the prices here, we just expected much, much more. At least our wine and dessert wine were really enjoyable!
(3)Supek, L.
So there's A on the patio on the water, and then there's B, indoors. We went for drinks and an appetizer on the outdoor patio, until our 9:30 reservation was ready. Drinks were good, service was friendly, even bought my brother in law, a birthday beer. The view of all the boats was great! Then we went to our table indoors. The place is pricey, but def worth it for a birthday dinner! My sister and I split the special of the day, Parmesan crusted sirloin with Lobster and sausage rigatoni.... two words...... OMG YUM! The sides we got were awesome!!! sweet potato fries, lobster mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, and asparagus with red pepper.... Loved every one of them! They even gave the birthday boy creme brule for dessert on the house! Service was super friendly, if you go, ask for the pretty Colombian server (can't remember her name). Would come back here again and again, if we lived near Newport, or if we had a summer house!!!! We hope to one day!
(5)Heather B.
The hostess here is a huge _____ (fill in the blank). Really snooty for no good reason. We tried to go for a late lunch and some drinks and she really turned us off to the restaurant before we went inside. They think they're a classy place but from the looks of it, they're not. Went to Clarkes Cookshop instead, much better choice.
(1)Emily B.
I didn't actually eat in the restaurant, but my boyfriend and I spent quite a lot of time at the outside bar. We came here for drinks in the middle of the afternoon, and were both pleasantly surprised that they had Leinenkugels on tap. At 5 o'clock they started serving a light menu so I had 6 oysters and some clam chowder. Very tasty. Not the best chowder I had in Newport, but the oysters were good. We came back here that same night after dinner for more drinks. We sat right at the bar, and the bartender was very attentive and friendly. I would like to try the actual restaurant next time I am in Newport.
(4)Ms. S.
We were seated quickly for lunch and our server was sweet. My fiance had the oysters, which he said were great. I had the cream of broccoli soup (okay) and the salad with goat cheese and roasted figs. It was fine, not great, not bad. Nice, spicy Bloody Marys and a good chardonnay. Lobster roll on a croissant lacked flavor. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Rahul M.
Went there on Christmas Eve since it was one of the few places open. My date ordered the chopped salad (very good) and I got the rib-eye steak, the least expensive steak on the menu at $24. The steak was good, but the bleu cheese bread pudding and pearl onions that came with it were forgettable. The (extra cost) side orders of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were inedible: the potatoes were dry and pasty and the spinach's cream sauce had too much flour. The bill came to $77, including a glass of wine and tip, which I found utterly overpriced for the quality. Would not recommend, except maybe for the special dinner for two and a bottle of wine for $65.
(2)Lauren C.
Ate here tonight, what a lovely place. I started with the house salad, which was sweet and flavorful-- the croutons were made out of pumpkin bread! Then the steak tips, which were served on a bed of pine nut rice pilaf-- oh my god, heavenly. I don't normally enjoy red meat, but this was absolutely to die for. As a last course I had the mango sorbet-- which was pretty creamy (for a sorbet), but since healthy desserts never actually satisfy, I took a bite of my boyfriends brownie sundae. Dear God, never have I tasted anything better in my life. I attempted to take another bite but he swatted my hand away-- I nearly fought viciously back for just one more bite of that deliciously moist delight, but I remembered both that I was in public, and that one more bite would probably add three pounds to my hips, and held back. Hands down, best brownie I have ever had. EVER. My only complaint was the volume of people there, and how tightly they had us packed in! Our waitress was wonderful, friendly and helpful without making you want to swat her away like an annoying fly buzzing around your head. I did enjoy it immensely, but I'm not sure it was worth the usual prices-- 30$/person was pretty much ideal. Great though, would make a wonderful expensive date venue!
(4)Miss C.
Clearly, this establishment rests on its location because its a joke. I could write a long review on how horrendous the service was from our waiter who couldn't be bothered, to the woman helping him bus tables who kept trying to take our food that we waited TWO hours for, only minutes after it was placed down in front of us, to the outright obnoxious manager who seemed like it was a surprise we were underwhelmed. BUT if I did that, I would be giving way more attention to this pig with lipstick joint than we got at our THREE hour meal. Aside from that the fact that the food was horrible, outback makes a better steak, crunchy risotto and on and on. We filled up on bread for $350. Makes you want to go right? Go for drinks and eat somewhere else. Pissed I canceled my Thames street restaurant reservations for this place!
(2)Aaron W.
Excellent food and wine and the service is phenomenal. Great location and atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and stop in if your in Newport!
(5)David D.
Sorry, here comes a bad review. Service ruined our experience. Our waitress's greater us for drinks orders and did not reappear for 10-15 minutes (and then at my request) to take our order. It serious took an hour to get our food. When I, in desperation ask our waitress how long it would be, she said she'd go check and then came back and told us, the order was up now and she just had to get it, but didn't return for another 10-15 minutes. When she brought the order, it was not complete, but we told her not to bother bringing what we had ordered but she forgot. It was a plus that the manger came out to apologize but only said he wouldn't charge us for what they didn't bring out anyway. Then it took another 10-15 minutes to get the check. I felt bad for the water boy, whom I kept going to to try and get some service. The steak I had was very good as was the cold foie gras. Thing is we had a late dinner anyway because we ate after a harbor cruise around 8:30, so the restaurant was not busy. My younger child was falling asleep waiting for the food. It made it worse that those around us who got seated after us finished and left before we even got our food. The service wasn't just slow, it was repeatedly slow, even after asking and asking. The manager did nothing to appease us other than apologize and then disappear again for 15 minutes. One of the worst dining experiences, and the worst we had in a town with MANY great dining options.
(1)Rachel M.
Bryan I believe is the waiters name he went above and veyond. He sung me and my fiance happy birthday and anniversary! Which is why we were in town celebrating. He was very careful with my dairy and pepper allergy so I felt in great hands
(5)Jane S.
Excellent excellent. The muscles were to die for. Highly recommend this restaurant
(5)Jackie S.
Loved it! We came around 8 for dinner. Had a small wait then were seated upstairs. Our server was very informative and friendly. The place was packed for the boat show that was in town but the food came out in a timely manor and was delicious! If I'm back in the area again I'd definitely like to dine here again.
(5)Angelica B.
This place just completely and totally sucks. I hope, if you come here, that you don't like salt...or food that tastes good. That is the only way you'll like this place. Go to The Mooring. It is around the corner, and actually worth the price. The service and wine were the best part of my meal. It's a shame the food didn't match up.
(1)D P.
This place is amazing. I'm leaving this review because the service was the best I've ever experienced. I was amazed by the quality of service here.
(5)Mitch W.
4.5 Stars for me! After a super duper long hike (Cliff Hike), we were looking for a place to eat in the Newport, Rhode Island area and after checking menus at several places, we settled on 22 Bowens. They have a restaurant and two outside seating areas. We opted for the seating area that was closest to the water (and the harbor tour boats). Even though we were very hungry, we aren't big eaters, so we shared the Baby Greens Salad ($8.95) and the 22B Burger ($9.95). We got a vinaigrette salad dressing and both the salad and burger were delicious! Our server was Jessica and she was friendly, helpful and attentive. We told Jessica that we were splitting both dishes and the restaurant evenly split our food and put it on two plates so we didn't have to divide it ourselves. That was very thoughtful and nice! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at 22 Bowens. Please see my pictures. Xie Xie!!
(4)Lisa S.
The place is overpriced. The service was horrible We ordered a bottle of sparkling water, and she pored regular horrible water in our cups where there still was sparkling water. We had to order additional large sparkling water Clam chowder is 3 stars. The server said that salads are pretty big to share, and it was hardly enough for two. The special is too small. We were hungry after eating. The check was over 120.
(2)Steph B.
It was okay. This place is trying a little too hard to be something it's not - was our food cooked correctly? Yes. Was our server nice? Yes. But was our order taken incorrectly twice? yes. Was the bread stale? Yes. So, overall, 3 stars. If you're looking for something very middle of line eat here. But remember, there is plenty better within two feet.
(3)Stefani A.
The price is expensive but I think its worth it for how good the food is. It'll definitely cost a lot so thats why my hubby and I only come here for our anniversary or Valentines Day. Service is great, although last time our waitress seemed a little confused but she might've been new so I'll let it pass. I order a steak every time I go. I like my meat cooked medium rare and at other restaurants I go to, they either cook it medium or really overcook it. Every time, Bowens has cooked my steak PERFECTLY. Always juicy and tender. And the steak sauce is to die for. Absolutely delicious. We usually get the creme brule for dessert and it's absolutely phenomenal. Last year they had a chocolate souffle with pistachio gelato. We don't like pistachio so we got Salted Caramel instead. WOW!! Absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Amanda L.
My husband and I ate here for Valentine's Day. We always come down to Newport and have for the past 3 years, but this year it fell on Winterfest week, so Newport was a bit busier than it usually is. We made dinner reservations for 6:30pm about a week or so before Vday. We were given a table upstairs overlooking the water. The difference in dress was bizarre, some people very dressed up and some in literal sweat pants... I don't get it! Anyway... Our drinks from the bar were good (Grey Goose Dirty Martini & CC&Ginger's). The bread is very good. We got the Bucket of Clams (Off season and they were "ok") for an app along with the Cesar salads. (Anchovy - yuck! Forgot to ask for no anchovy, but no big deal, still very good.) For dinner we each got a filet and had baked mac and asparagus. My 8oz filet was under cooked (I ordered medium and got rare) Husbands 12oz filet was cooked perfectly, so we switched cause I can't do rare... We had desserts which I believe were pistachio ice cream & carrot cake. Delicious. Overall, I liked the place but it didn't wow me. We paid over $200 for dinner, which is to be expected, but I have eaten at amazing steak houses in Boston (Ruth's Chris, Grill 23, S&W, Capital Grille) and would argue that any of those I just listed are far better than 22 Bowens. Also, if I am ordering a $40 dollar steak, it needs to be cooked correctly. Yes.. I know... I could have sent it back. But that's not the point. You kinda have to get it right the first time around.... Unfortunately we wont be back for a big night out dinner this summer. Maybe for lunch, though!
(3)Amelia S.
I have to say I wasn't overly impressed. We were here for a party with a group of 8 so you can always expect that the wait staff won't love you...but one individual had an issue with her steak and they didn't even seem phased by it. Clamboil was good but nothing to write home about, and the prices were steeper than what I think it was worth. Views weren't as good as other places in Newport. We probably wouldn't be back....
(2)Britton P.
It was fantastic. We ordered apps, salads, and the most beautiful delmonico I've ever seen!! Great girls night!!
(5)Nela D.
Great outdoor spot on the pier with house infused liquors. We had a drink and lunch at the outdoor bar. The food was pretty good (lobster, shrimp, oysters) but the timing was all off. Apps/oysters and salad came out at the same time as main, then my main came out a good 30-40 mins later. Oh well! We were just relaxing outside so not a big deal. The wedge salad was lame - skip it. And there are better oysters at other places nearby. Check it out on a nice day and enjoy a house cocktail.
(3)Chris S.
Always delicious and perfectly cooked steak. Very expensive but if you want to order a meal you know will be good, go here.
(4)Todd B.
I had a great experience at 22 Bowens last night, and I particularly want to thank them for being open when most of the other restaurants in Newport had closed for the January break. A local recommended 22 Bowens, but I was going to try Black Pearl or Moorings instead. Because they were closed, I settled on 22 Bowens, and I'm happy that I did. I had a great experience. I was warmly welcomed without a reservation, and I chose to take a seat at the bar since I was alone. The two bartenders, Joe and Guy, were incredibly friendly and made my dinner a lot of fun. They were incredibly knowledgeable of the menu as well as wine and cocktail options. When I was undecided about the soup, Joe offered two samples so I could make a decision. I chose the Cheddar Ale, which was outstanding. I got into a conversation about bourbons with them, and Guy allowed me sniff a couple. When I ordered a cocktail, it was a large size and not a skimpy cocktail glass. I chose the seafood dinner with baked clams, mussels, lobster tail and Grouper in a red sauce. The sauce, along with the accompanying sourdough bread, was magnificent. The seafood all was hearty and cooked to perfection. Because I'm watching carbs (the bread was an irresistible oops!), they offered sauteed spinach instead of potatoes. It was maybe the best spinach I've ever had. I would recommend 22 Bowens on any night in Newport, and big kudos to such a warm and friendly staff as well as great service. And give Joe a promotion. He deserves it.
(4)May B.
Had some yummy oysters and tried the rib eye which was cooked really well. Good service and a nice selection of wines and beer. I would recommend to go here for a special occasion.
(4)MJ B.
We were driving from Boston back to NYC and decided to stop by Newport to check out the mansions. We had an early dinner and walked in this restaurant. For appetizers, we had the oysters which were fresh and succulent. For the main course, I had the lobster roll which was one of the best I have tried. My friend had the scallops paired perfectly with some greens. Great dinner!
(4)Lisa V.
The drinks are very pricey.... but the staff is awesome! The location is perfect, especially if you are going for a few cocktails before a sunset sail. Also, they will stay open as long as you are still drinking. Had a blast last Monday evening!
(4)Nick C.
Should be better considering it's location and atmosphere. Their chowder is among the worst in Newport. The Mooring and Brick Alley have way better chowder. My salad had rotten lettuce and the lobster meat was definitely canned. Skip it.
(2)Laura M.
Had a great dinner here while vacationing in Newport. After reading yelp reviews, I booked a reservation for 8:15 on a Saturday night. We had a drink at the bar and then were seated within 15-20 minutes. We started off with the clam chowder - might have been the best I had a weekend. I had the tagliatelle with lima beans and string beans, in a pesto sauce. It was very tasty and a pretty large portion. My boyfriend had the steak delmonico - which was really good (and I don't even like steak!). The service was good too - pretty speedy and friendly waitstaff. Only downside was that this place was expensive! Most entrees were between $25-$45. We overlooked this fact only because it was a vacation.
(5)Tammy G.
I just absolutely love it here year after year it is still perfection. I always order steak but last week I ordered a veal chop and I have to say it was over the top. I am still thinking about it. Service is always spectacular even during the summer when it is super busy.
(5)Jeffrey R.
Bad experience. Food was ok. They ruined my day. A manager walked by and asked me what the item was that I had on the table. It was my electric cigarette. He seemed fascinated by it and said it was good that I quit smoking. 3-4 minutes later a different person in a shirt and tie came over and told me I couldn't vape in the out door patio. All during lunch I keep catching some woman peeking around the corner at me to see if I was vaping. They made me feel like a criminal. Ruined my whole day. If patrons can not vape in this restaurant then fine, just please tell me at the door so I can choose a different place to eat.
(1)Dorothy M.
Parking was a challenge. Food was delicious. Service was sub par.
(4)Jennifer C.
Enjoyed a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. Service was great,Hamilton was our waiter and loved the atmosphere. Drinks were good. My husband had a lobster salad roll, it was delicious, price was good, & fries were hand cut...would definitely go back for one. I had the kale salad topped with rare tuna. I could not believe how much I LOVED the salad! The tuna though was not good, though it was cooked perfectly it lacked flavor. It seemed like they just threw it on the grill without seasoning, searing or anything. I had to ask for some kind of sauce to make it SEMI-enjoyable. Would never order that again, very disappointing for a higher end place. I think the chef should do better
(4)Kaila A.
Amazing Valentine's Day dinner! We had delicious Mac and cheese for an appetizer, the steaks were cooked to perfection, and the sides were awesome. We split brussel sprouts and the fried sliced potatoes. For dessert we tried the chocolate chip cookie dough torte which was unbelievable. Overall, the service was great and the food was even better!
(5)C M.
Excellent food, excellent service (sat at bar), great atmosphere, and prices were excellent as well. Would definitely go back.
(5)Shantel S.
The $30 prix-fixe menu was wonderful, but the service was lacking. The portions were very large. The specialty cocktails are amazing.
(3)Regina F.
Though he doesn't eat red meat, mostly for health reasons, and he has mostly abandoned poultry as a food source, my father is of the old-school steak-house loving folk. His idea of the perfect meal is one wherein bread rolls are presented immediately after water is brought to the table, and the table is dressed in a white cloth. Flickering candles must dimly light the room, and the windows of whatever establishment he happens to be in lend a view so spectacular that his eyes receive as much of a treat as his mouth. 22 Bowens is the type of restaurant my father, your father, your in-laws would love. And you probably won't be disappointed either. Proffering standard American seaside meets steakhouse fare, this wharf restaurant offers something for everyone. The crunchy Boston Bibb salad served with presumably house made crispy onions and a slice of creamy, potent blue cheese will satisfy bacon lovers who like to feign healthful eating. The pan roasted Brussels sprouts sautéed with chunks of bacon are served in a skillet, sizzling hot, and deliciously cooked, albeit slightly greasy. As for dessert, try the luscious, almost lascivious, chocolate trio. With gelato, a mousse cake and a giant ball of chocolate truffle, you're sure to roll away with a few more anti-oxidant molecules roaming your system, as well as some glucose and saturated fat globules tossed there among.
(5)Andrew G.
Had a babe from Ireland as our waitress who did a wonderful job. My pork belly app was good as was the chicken I had for my main course. Bit over priced in my Polish opinion but you're in Newport so ya know how it goes. If you're rich go drop some racks yo
(4)Rich M.
Without a doubt my favorite restaurant around. It is not a place for a cheap night out (although the Steak Fritte's night is a pretty good deal), but if you're looking for a high-end steakhouse you've found it. The food is top of the line - been there close to two-dozen times and haven't been disappointed yet. Wait staff is exceptional, restaurant decor is upscale and refined, and the wine list is extensive. You won't get a better steak in Newport, for sure....but the seafood and other options on the menu are equally fantastic. If you're looking to invest in a quality dining experience, look no further - you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ann T.
Very nice restaurant right near the water with a clubby feel to it. We came for the $19.95 Steak Frites, which was very good. It came with a Bearnaise sauce but they let me substitute the braised tomato which was good. French fries were yummy.
(4)Robyn R.
My co workers and I had a delicious meal here! We all agreed it was one of the best meals. I had clam chowder and the salmon entree. I've never been to a restaurant where I could taste the fresh herbs in every dish! The sauce on the salmon dish was declines! The asparagus, gnocchi, and shrimp was perfectly paired with the salmon. The atmosphere was pretty nice also.
(5)Steven A.
There is no way this place deserves only 3.5 stars. Yes, it's not the cheapest, but the quality matches the price. It's terrible that the other reviewers use the star rating to show that they didn't like the price. Service and food was excellent. The tuna tartar was stellar! Both the scallops and tuna were cooked perfectly. My girlfriend got the salmon which was also wonderful! An outstanding place to go with a great wine list as well. Highly recommend.
(5)Emily P.
Excellent! Sure, it's the off-season in Newport, but that didn't take away from our experience, service or the tasty food. My husband and I both ordered off of the pre-fixe menu - $30pp for a three course meal. We were wowed. Great wine selection and the chocolate souffle will have you arguing over who gets the last bite.
(5)Michael S.
Went here while on my bachelor party, had a fantastic time and the food was amazing. The seafood was super fresh and the steaks were amazing. The crowd was a little douchey though, some women had to let us know that we were holding our after-dinner drink glasses incorrectly. Sweet, thanks.
(5)Beth C.
Nothing special, it's in a good location if you want dinner on the warf, but the food is all average. I had a grilled fish and my husband had steak. Both were just average. We won't be going back. There are so many better choices in Newport.
(3)Mike A.
Went here Sunday night . The manager is absolutely horrible . I go for a Filet at least once a week and go to all the best fine steak houses. I ordered my steak medium and it came out almost well done . I'm sorry but when you are paying $50 just for a steak it should be cooked correctly . When I told the manager he took my plate acknowledged the steak was cooked improperly and said they would make me a new one . No big deal it happens but what happened next was a big surprise . He had the audacity to come back out with the original steak and a flashlight , yes you heard correctly a flashlight and proceeded to show me that it had some pink in the steak . If I wasn't a business owner and a gentleman I would of thrown it on the ground and waked out . I was so insulted I will make sure neither I or any of my associates, family or friends ever go to this place again .
(1)Mia J.
Never got to sit down. Very disappointed in the lack of knowledge and shabby treatment by the hostess this past Sunday. Don't even think about bringing your dog...dog lovers beware. After they tell you that you'll be seated ...walk you over to the outside bar area and then tell you to tie your pooch up to a piece of wood in the hot sun, they stand there with a stupid look on their face and don't understand why that's not a good idea. How about just saying " we don't allow you to have your pet anywhere near our service area". Anyway..... It's a no go for me. :( Having travelled extensively in high end dog friendly places...I was just plain wrong to think this was one of them.
(1)Pete M.
This is only based on a single lunch so it's flash perception and I do know other places here well. Overall it's very nice. Very good wine list by glass and bottle - great selections and reasonably priced. Food seems to be very competently handled, great ingredients fresh and top quality. Clean and inviting inside, right near the water as well. Menu is simple, which is fine but perhaps could be expanded a bit and the entrees embellished just a little more with a balance of fresh greens which are scarce unless you order a salad separately. They claim to use organic and local food where possible and I believe that based on observations. Would be nice if they stated which of the choices use organic produce or local seafood - a practice other places tend to overuse. I'd go back with pleasure - would like to taker a deeper dive next time. Btw prices good especially for Newport main tourist district (is there a non tourist area here?). Lunch for two with wine 55.00 and that included sashimi grade tuna and another fish entree. By the way the seared tuna the best I've had because of the superb quality of the tuna. They could have seared it a bit more artfully but beat nine the less. Go.
(4)Andrea I.
We visit Newport every year and have walked passed this restaurant and finally decided to give it a try. The prices were high (and we live in NY) but it is vacation after all so why not. The appetizers were good we never got a bread basket. My husband ordered the salmon which he said was really good. I ordered the 2 lb. lobster for a whopping $59.00 again its vacation. I ordered this back in July and I'm still chewing it. The lobster was so tough and the shell was like rubber so I couldn't crack it. Obviously it was cooked earlier and then put back in the water before serving. It was terrible. When the waitress asked how it was I told her it was really tough. She told the chef who advised her to offer me a glass a wine. Really a glass of wine OK that makes up for the $59.00 lobster. I guess because of the location this restaurant feels it can server sub-standard food. What a joke. We will not be returning.
(2)Reno D.
We ordered the "Aged Ribeye" and asked them to split the steak which they gladly said they would do for us. We waited atleast an hour for our food to come...We asked our waitress at about an hour about our food. The Manager came by to apologize to us for the wait. (Hmmmm, I've always found it more sincere when a Manager comes to us first and says,.... Im sorry were slammed we're behind, opposed to me dicussing our issue with the waitress and all of a sudden he shows up and says, sorry were behind. (Bottom line he's the Manager). Trust me , I wasn't the only one to get my food late or screwed up. We asked for our steak to be "Medium Rare", it came "Rare". My girl sent hers back, I was too hungry to send it back and wait, who knows how long I would've had to wait for it to return cooked right (Med Rare Aged Ribeye Cooks quick on a hot grill 10 mins tops) .... They forgot our "Mash Potatoes", they had to go back and get them...Nothing special about their "Aged Ribeye Steak". Save your money on that one. Manager came by and asked if he could get us some dessert on the house. No Thank You, at this point we just wanted to leave. A hundred dollars for 2 of us (if everything was right or atleast 1/2 right Ok ). No one expects to wait an hour for their food after waiting to be seated. I expected the "Aged Steak" to be alot better than what it was. Maybe I'm spoiled from Los Angeles, but I do know my Aged Ribeye! Especially how long it takes to cook them! I've had many. Well I probably should've tried their seafood, but I was seafooded out, then again I still would've had to wait an hour for my food. Seafood did look good though. Not a fun evening with your friends when your hungry and waiting for your food, and when it finally arrives its wrong, and missing items ordered. Hopefully it was just a bad day for them and your experience will be more enjoyable. . If you enjoy people watching, sit outside...Beautiful little town...
(2)Richard D.
Very nice place awesome food friendly service worth the money
(5)Alexandra L.
Amazing service, amazing food, amazing drinks. Love this place! Went during restaurant week. Chowder was so-so but I don't really enjoy seafood. Short ribs were to die for and the creme brûlée was off the chain.
(5)Karis O.
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.
(4)Erick S.
Was a little disappointed with the food, but the service trumps everything else. My wife and I celebrated our 5th anniversary here and were expecting a specatcularly 5 star dinner. I had been here for drinks and apps before with colleagues, but never dinner, though I had heard lots of rave reviews for their entree's. It was packed, and the only reservation we could get was an 8:15 dinner seating. I let them know before hand it was a special night, and the front-desk did a nice job of making a special table on the upper deck available for us. Our waitress was warm and friendly, and the runners were attentive - we never had to ask for water refills or bread. Drinks were a little slow, but given the summer crowds, that's understandable, besides we were happy to enjoy each other's company. Apps arrived promptly, however, and were pretty good. Oysters are a no-brainer down there, as is there house specialty pineapple vodka! My wife ordered the redfish and I ordered the scallops. We were both pretty disappointed with our meals - the fish was pretty bland and didn't have the kind of flavor profile you'd expect at a high end restaurant. The scallops were scorched - over-cooked, rubbery chunks of flesh. I tried to eat a few (it was late and we weren't going to wait for a second round of food), but just couldn't bring myself to finish the plate. I let our waitress know, nicely, that our food didn't really meet our expectations. She was apologetic, and after offering us dessert (which we politely declined), she spoke with her manager and adjusted our bill - removing my meal entirely and comping us a round of drinks. While the seafood was disappointing - especially since it's a waterfront property - the service was great. That experience alone would bring me back to give them another shot... this time though, I might stick to a steak.
(4)Janet C.
We were here for an anniversary celebration. We had drinks while waited for a promised "primo" table. The bar is nice, service was terrific. We were shown our table, which had a fabulous view of...the dock. Nope, no water views, just dock...not exactly primo. That was a bit puzzling, but we had an awesome waitperson, so we moved on to enjoy our evening together. The food was delightful. I had local oysters with a divine mignonette, my husband had bacon wrapped scallops...glorious. We had lobster...perfectly done. And they treated us to creme brûlée with a candle for our anniversary...lovely. The bill was pretty steep, but we greatly enjoyed ourselves. Awesome food, awesome service...thank you for making our anniversary memorable!!
(5)Angela N.
The service and the view were great. What started out like the perfect dinner night turned out to be a bit hairy!. There was HAIR in one of the appetizers I ordered!! The manager as very apologetic and she did not charge for the appetizer and the wine. However, both my friend and I had a very bad reaction to the same appetizer. Very surprised since I have been there many times and had a very good experience.
(2)Marianne M.
Went for lunch. Excellent kale salad! Friends loved their lobster roll and scallops. Very accommodating for gluten free.
(4)N R.
Ate here for the first time recently, and it was fantastic! The service was absolutely great. I'm afraid I can't remember our waiter's name, but he was Greek I think? Very nice, personable guy. The food was excellent. I had a filet and on a hunch, ordered it medium. In most places I order medium rare, because so many restaurants seem to think that medium = brown all the way through. It came out exactly as I hoped, a perfect medium. We were a big group, so we ordered a lot of sides and they were all good. I believe there was mac and cheese, mashed potato, spinach, and asparagus on the table, all devoured. This place is quite expensive, but I'll definitely be keeping it in mind for special occasions. We went in the winter, so we sat inside, which was very nice. I'm sure in the summer it is even nicer to sit on their porch by the water.
(5)Yi H.
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.
(4)Rick L.
Average food, average atmosphere, average service at very expensive prices. The $50 steak had no flavor at all. There are many other options in Newport. Do yourself a favor and look at other options.
(2)MS P.
Came here without a reservation on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed at 7pms so I sat at the bar. Place is pretty pricey but the food is good. Had the clam chowder which is pretty good. Also had the Shepard Pie which is really good. Split the porterhouse steak with the bf and it was very juicy and tender. The Mac n cheese wasn't that good so nothing to rave about. But yea the bill came out to be pretty high because as u can see, I like to eat a lot and at the end, I was too full to even move. Will be back. It's a yummy place
(4)Amanda S.
I've been wanting to visit 22 Bowens for a while now, so when restaurant week came around, I decided to put them on my list. I made reservations for lunch with two of my friends and was running a bit late so I called 10 minutes before my reservation to ask if we could push it back a half hour. They were kind enough to allow us to do so, and when we arrived they were actually telling people that there was a half hour wait. We were seated immediately and perused the restaurant week menu. Our waiter was a bit pushy, and took our order for all three courses at once. I started with the clam chowder, which was good but not the best I've ever had. My entree was fish and chips which was good, but very salty. Dessert was chocolate mousse, which was the best part of the meal. We were in and our very quickly, nothing fancy. Not sure if I'll go back.
(3)