Near the water at 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, sits the classy steakhouse 22 Bowens.  After going to the restaurant with my family, I think that it was a great experience.

As I entered the restaurant, the formal aroma started to develop. There were slow music and dim lights that created a nice and calm environment. The restaurant was not very crowded, but I suspect that a Saturday night might have been more crowded than the Tuesday night I went. The kitchen is visible from most seats in the building, and the smells coming from it were enticing. Despite its fancy atmosphere, the restaurant is family friendly, and provides a kids’ menu and crayons for any children at the table.

The waiters were very charismatic and it was not difficult to get service. The table was given water and a bowl of bread within minutes of being seated. Both the bread and raisin bread were exquisite, with a soft and easy-to-eat texture. The already great flavor of the bread was complimented by the amazing butter that the restaurant gave.

After ordering appetizers from their list of soups and salads, it only took ten minutes to receive my plate. While most of the appetizers were reasonably priced, they seemed to be lacking in quality. The Caesar salad I ordered was bland and the croutons were too crumbly and tasteless to enjoy.

Their entree menu had a diverse selection of fish and beef, with many options of sides to go with the dish. Even on a slow night for the restaurant, it took forty five minutes to be served after I ordered. Many of the dishes were disappointingly small portion size for the price attached to them.

Some meals I believe were worth their price were the filet and mac and cheese. The filet was phenomenal and provided a firm and enjoyable texture. The mac and cheese was amazing, being just cheesy enough to taste great, without being overwhelming. Not all the dishes were good though, and I found the creamed spinach to taste awful as the cream taste overpowered the taste of the spinach.

After my table finished eating, the bill was received very quickly, and I was very grateful not to be paying it. The food was very filling, but due to the small servings, there were no leftovers to bring home.

I would give 22 Bowen’s four out of five stars for its amazing food, charming atmosphere, and great service. The only things holding it back from a full five stars are the absurd prices for most of its menu items. Although the food is very good, it does not warrant the $60 price tags attached to many of its entrees.

I would suggest 22 Bowen’s to anyone looking for a “special occasion” restaurant where they can spend an arm and a leg on a celebratory dinner and have a great night.