22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grill

Can a steak house be romantic? If it’s 22 Bowen’s it can be. A waterfront setting with great views, soft lighting, small dining alcoves, beamed ceilings, white linens, sparkling crystal, with great food and an amazing wine list, all add up to a superb experience.

I love the Bubbles & Oysters to start with six market oysters, hackleback caviar, lemon-chive créme fraïche, 1/2 bottle Lanson Rosé Champagne. The Clam Chowder with potato, bacon, light cream and dill is wonderful, and unusual for a steakhouse, you’ll find Escargots with RI mushrooms, tarragon-white wine cream, puff pastry.

For entrees, their prime steaks and chops are fantastic but it is the non-steak items that set this place apart; Murray’s Chicken Fricasee, RI mushrooms, pearl onion, carrot, fingerlings, garlic-mustard cream sauce; Duck Duo, duck breast, confit leg , baked white beans, guanciale, pomegranate gastrique; Pork Tenderloin, braised greens, cannellini beans, bacon, onion, port wine demi; Lobster Thermador, shrimp, scallop, crab, sherry cream sauce, choice of side

There is an extensive (@25) list of wines by the glass and reasonably priced. The regular wine list, a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, numbers 250 labels. There are nearly 30 half bottle selections which is a wonderful option. This is an exceptional wine list that is very fairly priced. Lots of good choices under $50 and even the higher quality wines are good values.

ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High

WHAT OTHERS SAY…
Wine Spectator – Award of Excellence