I decided to try something new for date night and ended up here for dinner. Upon arrival, parking was somewhat easy to find even though they were packed. We checked into the outdoor hostess stand. Due to the sun, we asked for shade and was advised there will be a 15 minute wait. I gave her my number in order for us to receive a text when our table was ready. Not sure how long we waited, but we did finally receive our notification and taken to our table. Was not totally happy since the hostess sat us still in the sun. There was more shade near the hostess stand area. I had to play musical chairs just to avoid the sun and poor hubby ended up sun burned after our dining experience. There was a long wait before our server greeted us and take our order. Here is what we ordered: Me- Cup of Cream of crab soup and the broiled crabcake with sautéed spinach and roasted rosemary potatoes and for dessert crem brulee. Hubby- Pork Chop (medium rare) with spinach and sweet potatoes. It was weird when she asked hubby how he would like his pork chop cooked. Food was not bad, but had some complaints. My soup was more creme than crabmeat and my creme brulee sugar coating was burnt. And these two items I know how to prepare because I make them all the time. The sweet tea was overly sweet, which I had to water down. Overall the music was a whole vibe, and they have live music Fri- Sun. The band was okay, but would have preferred the music they were playing. Was not thrilled when a patron walked through from the water park nearby smoking past our table, also there was a wait to use the ladies room since there was only two stalls for an indoor/ outdoor restaurant. Thank God for the sweet lady who helped me out while we both utilized the men's restroom. I was happy it was clean enough to use because I could not hold it long enough. I would return but either make a reservation if the evening is very sunny to get a decent shadey view if we dine outdoors. read more

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While sitting outside was a nice experience, the food was not. Soft shell crab sandwich lacked taste but the shrimp salad wrap was ok. Service was terrible. We were charged for an item that we did not order. An order was to come with fries, but they were omitted and we had to ask for them. The server was not attentive at all and cleared plates before we were done eating. Water glasses were not refilled, server never checked to see how things were or if we needed anything, after waiting forever, we got our bill from someone else. Since our gratuity was added automatically because of the size of the party, the server still got a very nice tip so I doubt the server will even care unfortunately. read more

I went there for a happy hour. The decor was really nice. I wish I would've come in the summertime. The drinks were great and decently priced. The staff was very nice. I ordered the Poké bowl with salmon. It was a very nice presentation and really flavorful. I felt like there should've been more rice and wasn't sure about how fresh the salmon was however, I am willing to go back and try something else. read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Salmon Poke Bowl - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Read Your Bill Carefully - "For Your Convenience" Comes at a Cost! This dining experience was utterly disappointing, not just by the poor service and incorrect food, but by what felt like a deliberately misleading billing process. To start, concerns were raised immediately upon meeting our glazed glassy-eyed forgetful server. Sure enough this was followed by abominable service that was delayed, inconsistent, and incorrect, throughout the night. Three of the four meals were incorrect. Items were substituted without notice or explanation. One guest ordered a plain hamburger and instead received the more expensive option of a burger topped with a crabcake. Another dish was unrecognizable when it was brought out since two of the three components, were changed entirely without warning. To top that, my meal never came out!! The runner determined that the order was entered incorrectly. Our server came back and asked why I refused my meal when it was brought out. Nope. Not what happened. We clarified, nothing had been brought out and what the original order was. Same server came back a second time and asked me again what was the issue with my order that I never received. Okay this is craziness. An apology was offered, and I was asked if there was anything I could be offered in the meantime as my companions were finishing their dinner. Thank you, I'll have a glass of wine. When the check came, I noticed that a 20% gratuity had already been automatically added in the total owed amount with additional tip suggestions printed on the receipt as if no tip had yet been included. Nowhere was it clearly explained upfront that this would happen -- it was buried in small text on the menu. What made this worse was that the quality of service did not come close to justifying a standard tip, let alone one that was automatically added without proper disclosure. When I asked to speak with the manager, I was met with multiple stall tactics -- being told he was "too busy" to come to the table. As we waited our above mentioned server twice came by and asked to pass along our concerns to the manager, (unusual?inappropriate?). Eventually, someone who I seriously doubt was the actual manager arrived, explaining he was very, very busy as a reason for his delay. He gave vague excuses about "IT issues" causing the double-tip suggestions. He did agree to remove the automatic gratuity, but only after I specifically challenged it. The takeaway: Read the fine print. REVIEW YOUR BILL CAREFULLY. This restaurant's policies and presentation of charges feel intentionally confusing and, frankly, dishonest. Adding a 20% gratuity automatically is one thing -- misleading customers into tipping again on top of it is another. It's not just bad service; it's a system designed to quietly take advantage of customers who aren't paying close attention. I left feeling not just frustrated, but taken advantage of -- and that's not something any restaurant should leave its guests feeling. Epilogue: I was charged for the wine. read more

A hidden gem located on the bay. Beautiful views. Food was mediocre. Crab cake was served cold. Drinks watered down. The service was great. Optinal dine in or outside. Advice: Bring bug spray. We were attacked by bees. Could not enjoy food sitting oustide. read more

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Absolutely love the ambiance and vibe at Bowleys!! Food is your average bar food - nothing to rave about but was overall good! I love the live music and beautiful views. We had great service and definitely will be returning before the end of the summer! read more

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After lunch at a place close by, I wanted to check this place out. Adjacent to a marina, Bowley's has a bit of a country club attitude. Marina, pool, sandy beach and restaurant. The beach had Adirondack chairs scattered about so we could chill while enjoying a cocktail and watching planes take off from Martin State Airport. As much as I like watching aircraft taking off, nothing is cooler than watching A-10's doing the same. Up close, personal and loud. And, Bowley's bar and dining room looks quaint, comfortable, and the whole place appears to be very well run. I know where I'll be getting lunch in the near future. read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Wednesday on the beach. - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

I'm generously giving one star thanks to the atmosphere. It's beautifully decorated and situated on the water. Ambience aside, this is likely the worst food and service I've ever had. My client had been raving about this restaurant and highly recommended that we have a late lunch here. Cleanliness: I overlooked the crumbs on the table and chairs. At least the ladies' room was clean. Food: My bland oyster poor boy looked fine when it arrived. It had a strange consistency almost like it was predominantly batter. My fries were cold. Service: We had to constantly beckon for our server to come to our table to bring more iced tea and for condiments. Our food was placed in front of us without silverware. I asked for malt vinegar to doctor my fries; however, our server insisted they didn't have any. At one point, I had to go inside where our server was congregating with other servers to ask her to please replenish my client's tea. The group of servers acted like they did not appreciate me interrupting their non-work-related conversation. Another server walked by with a beautiful dish comprised of a half-stuffed pineapple. I asked him what it was; he replied, "It's called a pineapple.", and kept walking. My client frowned and tried to get the attention of yet another server to inquire about the dish. This young lady muttered and kept walking. In summation, I will NOT return and will dissuade colleagues and friends from dining here. The restaurant was not busy; we arrived at almost 2PM. read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Mediocre shrimp salad, tasteless oyster poor boy and cold fries - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

This was a hidden gem. It was right on the water you can sit inside or outside with a very eclectic menu with options for everyone. I really enjoyed sitting on the water having the sand in my toes and having drinks with my friend. The staff was very attentive, and the food came fast. The poke bowl was fresh, light, and exactly what I neededwhile eating and drinking on the beach read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Salmon Poke Bowl - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Amazing location and wonderful food. Service is always excellent. Live music is a nice addition read more

Came here for the first time yesterday and have only good things to say! I came here for dinner with coworkers, a group of 10, and we truly enjoyed ourselves. We had a great time and they were very accommodating. Despite our large party, we were able to be seated outside directly near the water and the beach. This is a stunning place during the warmer months, for a date, for dinner or just to see the beauty of Maryland! If you like sand, the beach, and being able to look at boats and see planes landing overhead and nearby, you will love this spot. I highly recommend! There is plenty of free parking and live music. If you are a large party there is automatic gratuity and they can only split the check 6 ways, so be mindful of that. Try to get a reservation beforehand! The food is what you can expect, lots of seafood options, with vegan/vegetarian options too! They have a drink menu and a wonderful dessert menu. I got the grilled pineapple for $27, and a brownie with a scoop of ice cream which was perfect for a hot day! We got the brussel sprouts and truffle french fries as appetizers for the table. Everything was absolutely delicious, I highly recommend the pineapple! You will not be disappointed in coming here, service was good as well. Our table was satisfied with their dishes. One last aside, crab cakes were $32 for one, $52 for two. read more

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Very cool ambiance on the water! Nice and shaded so you don't roast but still get to enjoy the outside. Food was just okay and a bit overpriced. Reasonably priced drinks and a nice menu for that! It was a busy Saturday so maybe the food quality was not up to par because of that but would be willing to give it another shot. read more

My friends and I went here last weekend to celebrate a birthday. The ladies that went had been before, but it was a first experience for us guys. We decided to sit outside by the water and let me just say that you should decibel do the same when you go. It was such a vibe! Food and drink time! I got the Frog Mortar Creek Punch for my drink and the Bowley's Breakfast Burrito Bomb for my meal. Y'all, this was one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever had. So packed with flavor! They put breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheese, and sausage gravy inside. Then they topped it with roja salsa, cheddar jack cheese, sour cream, Pico de Gallo and cilantro for the finish. It's served with breakfast potatoes as well, which were also quite delicious in their own right. Also, these items are on the brunch menu, so if you come after brunch(which I believe goes until like 1pm), it won't be in the menu it'll be their regular menu at that point. I plan to go back during non-brunch hours so I can try some items off the regular menu as I've heard that has some delicious choices too. So go ahead and give Bowley's on the Bay a try and let me know what ya think! read more

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I love a indoor and outdoor with a view situation to finish my weekend. Came here for brunch and was very satisfied with my experience. It was a bit chilly and early so we didn't get a chance to experience the outside area but the view from the inside was a vibe. The staff was very inviting and our server was on top of it. I love how the menu was not overwhelming and the food choices were pretty standard for a brunch menu. I wish they had bottomless mimosas but enjoyed the one I had. French toast sticks is a yummy started dish you can share and the Nutella drizzle was the perfect touch. The Chesapeake Benedict is a brunch staple and I must say it was tasty and executed very well. Follow them on Facebook for updates and events. I will be keeping my eye out and make my way back read more

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It was a nice location however you were served your cocktail in plastic. Our server said chief was an ass hole and could not alter sauce on wings which was fine but weird that she would say that and after the order was taken she was no where to be found throughout the entire meal. There was a 20 percent tip on bill I refused the manager was lovely and agreed to take it off. My bill was 110.00 not cheap for the total lack of regard of customer service. Being in the business for years this was unacceptable when it was not that busy. I did leave a tip but one that was deserved. First time there and probably last. read more

Wait was 90 minutes. Place was packed. People were nice. Hostess wore a mask and asked people to mask up while waiting. Ended up leaving even though they were doing what they were supposed too. In COVID times we opted to Be safer. Will definitely be back when COVID is gone. read more

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I've been here twice and enjoyed or every time. It can get very busy but the wait time passes fast when you enjoy the outside or have a drink at the bar. You can enjoy music and the water during the summer. Good food and good company. read more

6/5 stars all around. Welcomed like we were family and it was my first time in. Standout service letting us know of favorites on the menu. Gave the vegetable ceviche a try and was delightfully surprised by the unexpected combination of flavor and crunch! Fantastic wine selection and specials. Kyle the manager made a connection with everyone that walked through the door. The crab cake was 8 oz of lump crab heaven. Can't wait to go back! read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Crab cake with salad - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

I took my daughter here for her birthday and it was a great experience. 10/10 the server Jordan and Amanda was the best. The food was really good I can't wait to go back. read more

Nice place on the water. I had the grill pineapple. It was amazing. We went there for shrimp and grits but they were out so I tried this instead. I'm glad they were out. Yum! read more

Such a vibe, I love it!.The view, the service, the view & mimosas of course. Brunch picked up fast but we ordered drinks inside until our table on the beach was ready. there is inside seating as well. read more

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So I had the Seafood Pasta, well to start it was so salty that anyone with HBP, would immediately have to take a second pill that day. The paste was a bit more than Al dente. The single scallop was undercooked to the point I could taste the freezer taste. I was so disapointed. Next time I will get some fries and a beer. Service? Well we did not get a set of utensils, the kid that brought us the food asked can I get you somthing else? Dhuuu a fork and a napkin please and left. Never to be seen again. My wife had to get up and go to the waiters station and get us some utensils. The place is lovely right next to the water the ducks. That is what this place is about. Not the food. Did not take pictures I was so salted. read more

This is a really cool spot. I came here yesterday for drinks and I have to say the service was great as were the drinks. It's right on the water and has a really cool vibe. read more

Some of the worst food/dining experience I've ever had... all of the plates and silverware at our table were dirty, the bathrooms are also filthy and truly the restaurant in general suffered in the cleanliness catagory... When I came back from the bathroom my Ceasar salad was at the table with no croutons, upon searching for croutons I realized that all the lettuce was purple/brown... sent it back... got a new one... hardly any dressing, still some brown lettuce and then halfway through trying to eat it I find a hair at the bottom of the plate... I knew I should have just ask to have it removed from the bill instead if a replacement.... diagusting..... Baja wrap was flavorless and side of mushrooms ordered had a nice mushroom variety but tasted like nothing more than too much salt... would never recommend and absolutely will not come back... what a shame read more

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Bowleys feels themselves worthy of five-star prices for their mediocre food, based solely on being located on the waterfront (near an exclusive marina). At $20-25 for an entree and $15-plus for an appetizer, one expects all of the menu items to be great if not excellent. This was not the case. The house salad, truffle fries, and cauliflower wings were yummy and worth the price. On the other hand, the curry hummus was mid at best. And the $24 cauliflower "steak," their only vegetarian option for entrees, was an unsliced whole cauliflower as big as my head with no discernible seasoning. I stopped at two bites. It was like trying to consume a bag of insanely-priced cotton balls. My wife chose the soft-shell crab, which she reported was mediocre, egregious for a restaurant nestled in the mothership of soft-shell crab. I wanted to eat some clams, but the only option was $22 for an undisclosed number of clams with garlic and lemon. Ridiculous, not worth the crapshoot. Service was cordial but infrequent. Too few servers for the number of guests. Not the servers' fault. The views are nice, but the Trump flags on the boats in the marina and the private pool and private beach within eyesight -- libs and ordinary folks not welcome -- were a turn-off. We are not going back. read more

Want a beautiful sunset? Great place! Hungry? They have mediocre food, and never change the menu. Mixed drinks are just okay and have mostly ice. Food runners rarely know where they are taking food. Kids swim naked and throw rocks at ducks right in front of dining tables. Some dogs are allowed while other dogs owners are told no. People in the pool are wearing thongs and then walking through the dining room. We won't be back. We will be sticking with Hard Yacht. They have better food, drinks, and significantly better management! read more

The ambiance here is amazing. I love that it's kind of a hidden gem. It's a fairly new establishment (2 years I believe) Live music right next to the water. A much more mature and more enjoyable "Sunset cove" . Our waiter was outstanding very attentive and very accommodating. The owner or manager, Kyle, came over to our table to ensure that we had the best service and enjoyed our experience. Very nice guy! We will definitely be returning. The food was delicious! Perfect portions. Well seasoned. On their website they stated that they change menu items every Friday. Sounds like something I will be checking in on weekly :) read more

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I LOVE this place! The menu was great, the environment, and the service 10/10. I had truffle fries, fish tacos and my boyfriend had a pirate burger. You get to eat by the water and have your feet in the sand. There is a tip included in your price but that is fine for what you get! read more

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I ordered the half-and-half crab soup, buffalo/ Thai chili wings, and the poke bowl! Let me just say this: I will be back for sure. The poke bowl was the star of the meal! It was fresh, flavorful, and filled with great texture. 10/10 read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Poke Bowl - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

This was our second time at Bowleys. Again the service was not great. Waited too long to get something needed. And we don't like the automatic 18% gratuity. Also can they please please put shades on those windows. My friend spent the whole meal trying to avoid the sunshine directly in his face---he did not have sunglasses which we saw another diner wearing. Somebody else stuck a drinks menu on the window to try to keep some of the sun off them. This is a no-brainer--for diners' comfort. The thing we do like about Bowley's is the beach. We will return but likely only for drinks in the sand--not inside. read more

This place has so much potential but it is hit or miss. Stopping by for lunch in the bar area is VERY nice. Good ambiance, food, service, etc. Same goes for sitting outside. Whenever I sit in the dining room I feel forgotten about and the environment sucks. It's like an overflow parking lot to dump customers. The last time I was here I took my parents for mothers day dinner and was probably the worst visit I have had. Didn't have enough menus(embarrassing), 30 minutes for my drink order, cream of crab that was otherwise fine but had a lump of cold crab dumped into it that acted like an ice cube, steak overcooked. Overall a bad experience. But the whole experience was made worse by our inattentive waitress who disappeared for 40 minutes. If I was reading this review I would think "it was mother's day they were probably crazy busy, cut them some slack" but nope. I had a reservation and ended up being one of three tables in the dining room. I have been here a half dozen times and even when things go right it feels like poor management or short staffed. It seems fixable so I hope they get their act together since I only live 10 minutes away. The more good beach restaurants in the area the better! read more

My wife and I waited for 2 hours to get seated. The band was good and the drinks also were made well, but that's where I end it. The service once we got seated sucked. After we actually placed our order for food, it was wrong and the waitress just basically was like ok, I will make it again and we waited again. Their is no social distancing, no masks and unless you belong to the private side, no attention. Stay away, u less you like to feel unimportant, neglects, and ignored then I would say you found the place! We will never go again, as a matter of fact, with the COVID issues going on, maybe they will go out of business and someone with a clue would do well. read more

This is a nice place for kids and adults. The wait was 45min for our party size which is why we arrived 1hr before the band was scheduled to play. While we waited to be seated, the kiddos enjoyed the on-site beach and the adults laughed, talked, and had some adult drinks (the drinks were tasty but not strong). After we were seated, we quickly placed our orders. The food took a while to come out but again, it was ok with us because we were just enjoying each other's company and listening to the live band (Unity Reggae Band). Everyone's food was really good but I especially loved the Fried Green Tomatoes with crab meat . They have an automatic 20% gratuity added to all checks but our waitress was excellent. She was attentive, friendly, and communicative even though it was very busy during that time. After the kids ate, they ran back to the beach, collected clams, and sucked at building a sandcastle lol. We stayed to watch the sunset, took some more pics, threw out a ton of "I Love Yous", and headed home. It was a great time in the sun with the family. SN: Plan ahead for a long wait and seaweed in the water. The kids would benefit from water shoes and a change of clothes. Parking is free. Also, they rent jet skis there as well before 4p (I believe it's $85-$90/hr). There's a marina attached that has a pool and splash pad but it's only for people with a boat slip. read more

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went to dinner with all our friends , it was 8 of us . We got drinks at the bar because no one came to our table for over 35 minutes . We ordered appetizers and waited an hour for those to come out, and they were cold . unfortunately, we decided to order dinner . We waited 2 hours for dinner and only seven meals came out . I got a steak was tasty , but again all the food was cold . The manager poor guy was great , gave us a round of drinks and dessert. I got home and was so sick all night with diarrhea, it was awful . I had to write the review because I was so sick . We have eaten there many times and we loved it . The atmosphere is great . But very disappointed and had a horrible night. read more

Bowleys On The Bay - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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Ambiance amazing , views are beautiful from the beach , service average as well as the food

The fried oyster sandwich was disappointing, but the outdoor ambience with the band Beyond Radio performing would bring me back again!!

Celebrated my mother's bday here and we had a really great time. I was a little skeptical because of the mixed reviews but we were not disappointed. Now the service was a bit slow to start but our waitress was extremely helpful, patient and attentive. Our meals came out fresh and were really tasty. Maybe we were lucky and came on a good evening but I would definitely visit again. You can't beat the beautiful sunset views near the water with a nice cocktail in hand. read more

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The atmosphere of this restaurant/bar is very comfortable. We went with two kids and never felt out of place. We sat inside because it was so hot, but walked outside after eating. The kids loved looking at the water and walking on the beach. The drink menu was unique and offered a good variety; although they have a full bar so you can get whatever you'd like. The menu was diverse catering to seafood and non-seafood lovers. The food was good and service was good. My only reason for giving four rather than five stars was that I could tell the chicken on my dish was reheated and not cooked fresh. read more

Bowleys On The Bay - Outside view - New American Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Such a great atmosphere on the water. I was introduced to this spot a couple of weeks ago while working in the nearby Essex community. What a gem! I have tried the crab cakes and asparagus (good!), heard great things about the cauliflower, the drinks (mermaid something and sunrise something) were good summer drinks! The location is AWESOME especially at sunset! I've gone on a Friday the last 2 times and there were live music which adds to the vibe. read more

I'll never be back. They advertise brunch until 1pm on Sundays. Brunch actually ends at 1245. I arrived at 1247. No brunch. Never again.