Bywater is a highly popular restaurant that has the notoriety of being a James Beard semi finalist. We were very much looking forward to an excellent dinner with the family. They have a daily menu, and I've had some friends suggest this place as their favorite restaurant. We parked blocks away due to the lack of adequate parking. Once we walked in, we were greeted with pleasant smiles from the staff. The menu was short, which we attributed to a focus on quality. We ordered a French onion dip and a littleneck entree as an app for the table. We were served with lukewarm water, neither cold nor hot. The apostle John might have been somewhat disappointed (Rev 3:16). The dip was decent but was somewhat lacking in great onion flavor. But nothing to complain about. The little necks were served in a small bowl and lacked a bit of salt. Rather pricey for $26, but this place charges $6 just for bread and butter, so maybe it's just inflation? Enter the entrees. They apparently were short on chicken legs so they asked to substitute chicken breast. Two of us got burgers. First the $20 burgers, which were served with an aioli with no offer of ketchup or other condiments. In short, both burgers were terrible. Far worse than we make at home. It's always a disappointment when you realize you're paying all this extra for food you can make better at home. The buns were shockingly flat, like someone smashed them by hand. Or in a McDonald's box. Come to think of it, the flavor was similar, though overall the hamburger was somewhat bitter, salty and lacked an appetizing flavor. Wow. We all agreed they were terrible. The fries were also burnt and over salted. My daughter quit on her $30 chicken, so I tried it. The sauce wasn't bad, and it was served with a decent brocollini. But the chicken was some of the driest I've had in a restaurant, with no crisp skin and a uniformly poor texture. No wonder no one finished their entrees. And I hate wasting food. So, as much as we would have wanted to give this place a great rating, we just won't be back. The service, although with a smile, was slow and terrible. Our candle burnt out in the middle of dinner. It was never relit. Our glasses were empty halfway through dinner. No refills on the tepid water. The entrees took an hour and a half before they came out (we were warned the chicken could take 30 min). Generally a very disappointing experience. Hard to explain the rave reviews but our Saturday dinner was a sad bust. The cold wet madeleines they provided in a doggie bag didn't do anything to help. Oh well. Hope y'all have a better experience if you go here. read more

Bywater, we will be back! Warren, RI has some great restaurants and I was surprised since I don't frequent this area much. But after this past weekend, I know I want to come back. We were having a lovely dinner in Warren and stopped into Bywater for a quick after-dinner drink. It was a bit cooler out but since they had no seats in the extremely limited bar area, we took the plunge and sat outside near their fire pits. They did not have many wines to choose from BTG which was disappointing. The one I had which was Cinsault was just ok. I had to dump out most of it since I did not enjoy it but that was my fault since sampling it I thought I liked it. My friend had the bartender make her a cocktail with grapefruit since they did not have pineapple. She was looking for a French martini but seemed to enjoy what they made her. My husband's espresso martini was very good I thought and light but could've used some bailey's. We already had dessert so we did not plan on anything else but I know I am interested in returning for dinner. The restaurant is very small inside but I loved the warm lights and decor. It was a very sexy and attractive vibe! If you are ever in Warren I highly recommend coming here for either drinks, dinner, or both. Dress warm if you plan on heading outside to sit near the fire...it does not give off that much heat! Cheers! read more

See all

A new favorite in Rhode Island- Bywater is an innovative, unpretentious, upscale dining experience. We scored same day 7:15pm reservations via Resy for a last minute birthday celebration for four. We tried basically everything on their seasonal, constantly changing menu, including: - Four Crudos - Cheese & Olives - Lamb Tartare - Black Bass Collars (like fish chicken wings) - Daikon Radish Salad - Squid Cacio e Pepe - Steamed Little Necks - Whole Fluke Portions range from small to enormous- with plenty of options for fish lovers. The ingredients were so fresh and the service was fantastic! We will definitely be coming back to try the outdoor dining in the summer! read more

See all

Had a really amazing sea bass fish collar here last year, plus these simple but delicious radishes with butter. Simple but elevated. I can't wait to come back here. read more

I have been blessed to eat in over 40 countries and this is one of my favorite restaurants for the food, vibe, drinks and the incredible management. Unpretentious but sophisticated, cozy and delightful. Thank you Katie and Brian for this jewel. read more

Bywater - Bywater outdoor patio - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

Crudo ($12 each): We got black bass, which was covered in this amazing peach (?) blanket thing and also had a touch of bone mayo. Absolutely delicious. The scup was also amazing. It had a really rich and almost fermented-tasting topping. Really nice pairings all around. The fish tasted very, very fresh. Oysters ($10/6): Normally, a half dozen oysters is $20. Luckily, we visited on half off Monday! This was such an amazing deal. The oysters were huge. They were so smooth. The hot sauce and the fruity jam they gave us were both A+. Wild Harmony Pork ($31): The pork was DELICIOUS. The seared exterior was extremely rich and flavorful, melting perfectly into the layer of exquisitely rendered fat, melting perfectly into the rest of the meat. Flavor upon flavor upon flavor. I love the creativity with the turnip/cara cara/horseradish. I've never tasted something like this pairing, and yet it works so well. The cara cara really complements the flavors in the pork. The horseradish really complements the texture of the cara cara, adding a little crunchiness to the softness of the cara cara. Finally, the turnip provides a base to bring it all together. Cookie Sandwich ($6): A great way to end the meal. You get 2 cookie sandwiches per order. I loved the infused shortbread and the filling. $6 is a pretty fair price for this. My favorites were the oysters and crudo. The pork came in a close second. The dessert was good, but not a must-have. Lastly, their service was fantastic. The servers were very attentive. We were sitting outside by a fire pit, and not many other tables were seated outside since it was a cold day. The servers still made sure to come by very frequently. They truly hit 5* in every aspect. read more

See all

We had to visit Bywater after seeing that they received a James Beard nomination for Outstanding Restaurant. The space is quite small, yet quaint and intimate. While waiting for our 7pm reservation on a Friday, several parties came in as walk-ins and wee unfortunately turned away because how busy they were, so make a reservation! The menu is small, but well-curated. There wasn't anything we had that we did not like. My personal favorite dishes were the crab dip and pork. read more

See all

This place is incredible! I've been here once before for oysters but regret not coming back since then. The menu is limited and simple, yet each dish is exquisitely made, tastes so fresh and has so much flavor. We got the falling for sours and the old fashioned drinks. The former was light and refreshing. For food, we got the pickled vegetables, the beet salad and the fluke. They also have their own sodas for 6$. The pickled vegetables were pretty good; def interesting and different. The beet salad was made beautifully. Loved the addition of yoghurt along with the fennel seeds for crunchiness. We also got a complementary plate of crudo which was amazing. The freshness of the fish along with the olive oil/lemon dressing was marvelous. The best was kept for the last, which was the charcoal grilled fluke. It was easily one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. The fish was cooked perfectly and everything in the dish complemented the fish so very well. Overall, really good experience. Would recommend coming here if you're in the Warren area. The menu definitely leans predominantly towards seafood. Also, it took a little while for the food to come out but the wait makes the food better somehow. read more

Bywater - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

See all

Creative, fun environment, absolutely amazing high-quality food with great service Cozy in the winter, but great when it's warm outside by the fires read more

This was one of the best meals I have had in a very very long time. All of the ingredients are sourced locally, which makes the food even more delicious! The menu rotates frequently, so I can't guarantee all of these plates will be available when you go!! However- You cannot go wrong with any of the crudos. We did the black bass it was delightful. Cucumber salad came out next, the flavors were ridiculous. Then we did the squash and crab, and the whole roasted fluke. You have an option to get shishito peppers with any of the roasted fish and I highly recommend you do so. If you can get there ASAP- order the Japanese cheesecake- it has husk cherries which are only in season for a short period of time. It was spectacular. I am usually not a fan of cheese cake but when I saw it on their Instagram I could tell it would have more of a flan like texture. It was so freaking good. I was so full by the end of it all but I could have eaten another it was that good. In summary... don't walk- run to Bywater. It is that good. read more

See all

Nice variety of wine to choose from and the prices are reasonable.... We had great service that was friendly and helpful. We also enjoyed the ambiance and thought this was a great place to spend some time enjoying wine and some appetizers with some conversation.... Definitely coming back!! read more

Downright fantastic. Bywater is destination-worthy for anyone in New England. Cocktails to start are very meticulously and expertly crafted, and they have plenty of interesting wine offerings (including one of my personal favs in Martha Stewman). The space is quite intimate and lowly lit, but service was a little slow to start (although extremely friendly). I am a sucker for housemade pickles; I'll order that anywhere, and I was very pleased with Bywater's. You cant go wrong with any of their crudos, but the belle of the ball was the spicy crab pasta. My mouth is watering just thinking back about it. It was seasoned well, spicy, crunchy, and briny - divine. read more

Our meal at Bywater was incredible. The staff are accommodating and kind, and the interior was intimate and chic. Our oysters are some of the best we've had in RI, and the crab dip toast was insanely good. The James Beard nom is well deserved. read more

Bywater - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

See all

I was recently thinking and I came to the conclusion that bywater might just be my favorite restaurant.....in the whole world! {mind blown} Yes, there have been some changes (RIP brown bread) but that's ok, change is good for us and they still consistently check all the boxes: great atmosphere, creative dishes with an emphasis on local ingredients, completely crushable cocktails, perfect for a small group celebrating a special occasion, a romantic date spot for two, or a solo YOLO treat yoself late night dinner. My most recent experience was a solo outing. I was graciously welcomed like an old friend and seated at the bar. The conversation with the bartender was just the right mix of friendly but also respecting that maybe I just wanted to sit and quietly enjoy my experience. As for the food on this night - the tautog crudo was perfect, the Squid Cacio e Pepe left me so full but also wishing I had ordered the full portion so I could have leftovers for my midnight snack - I'm still thinking about it weeks later. To cap it off, I had the Creme Fraiche Tart with CLAM CARAMEL. No, that is not a typo, and the tart was expletively delicious. One million stars for forever to infiniti! read more

Snobby at best... We walked in , 730 place is quiet . No reservations. Can we get a drink? We'll be quick... Ok. Snubbed by bartender. 2 friends join in. Wouldn't acknowledge them. Gave a check for 2 drinks like that's all u get. Had no change for a 50 bill. Gave the wrong beer.. just wow. They sucked read more

Went back. Strong coffee, croissants were delicious (but also seemed a little crispy) and the rhubarb, chamomile coffee cake was more of a muffin, but wonderful nonetheless. Staff was very friendly and the cafe has indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Bywater - Sourdough baguette, spice roll and gingerbread muffin - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

This review is for the Bakeshop @ Bywater. Today I had my first spice roll. It was Dionysian delight with high quality cinnamon, subtle notes of peppery adjacent bite and the tang of citrus. The naturally leavened pastry dough is flaky lightness without the heavy doughy texture of flour and chemical enhancers. You close your eyes and dream of that morning along the Seine in your imagination as you peel it apart and slow yourself down while eating. Like many things Bywater, it is the best cinnamon roll in the East Bay. Order using their square site via the Insta account. Order early. This is a special treat not to be missed! read more

Bywater - Spice roll - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

See all

Personnel: Hostess Jules absolutely amazing I just flew in from San Diego and found this spot. She was able to squeeze me in at the bar and even recommended a few items which were amazing. Jeff bartender took my drink orders and food orders. He was super busy but attentive and got the orders in quickly. And attended to my drink orders instantly. Other customers to left and right of me started conversations with me. Customers that come seem very friendly and welcoming like the staff. Location: Small location Great atmosphere. Not too loud. I would say it's good for couples or groups of 4. I would say always book a reservation but especially with a group 4-8 hit definitely need reservations. Drinks: To drink I had 2 different white wines Forgot to write these down. But both very good. The mixed drinks I saw Jeff make looked amazing and reactions from other customers looked very pleased with what they got. Defiantly will try when I am back. Food: Ordered the oysters and clams Very fresh plump. Clean and tasty. Ordered the mushrooms and onions Rich soup many layers of flavor. Kept saying wow every scoop. Must get!! Squid Cacio e Pepe Amazing thinly sliced squid mixed in with the pasta. Amazing umami of flavor. For me or I would say to share a half order is good. Definitely need to add other dishes to try. Everything here has been an absolute hit. I don't think you can order anything bad. ( definitely want to try the lamb Carpaccio and the steamed little necks next time.) Crudo amazing each plate has its unique taste. It's a plater of flavors . Very fresh local fish. Fluke Tilefish Scallop Mackerel To finish: Desert was amazing with like a sponge like cake topped with nuts. Not overly sweet but packed with flavors My first time in RI and this place has set the bar really high. I will definitely be back here again read more

See all

This review is for the Bakeshop. Cute space and nice to sit in the restaurant seating area. Their pastries are really special and high-quality. We enjoyed the sunflower frangipane croissant, which was really nutty and had a nice not-too-sweet sunflowery filling. Their savory everything knot was good too, it had a lovely sour-cream/cream cheese filling. Coffee is top notch. Very aromatic and well-brewed. read more

Bywater - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

See all

I love this place. I booked a seats at the bar for 4/4, far too easily, suspiciously so. Called a number of times in days prior. No one picked up. Finally was told the rez was good, come in. Problem is, the place was nearly empty at 7:15, they were seriously short-staffed, and the menu was too limited, just two entrees and an assortment of shared plates. Lovely, if slow, service as always. At the rather hefty price, tho, it felt like a bit of a ripoff, like not a good feeling. It felt like a soft launch. Meant to be a constructive review... read more

We'e has two amazing takeout meals from Bywater, and previously dined in person. Our affinity and love for this restaurant has only grown over time. Their duck tacos are extremely popular for a reason - tender duck and amazing flavor. Their takeout during COVID has been outstanding and convenient. Great wine selections including some off the beaten path surprises. Looking forward to being back in person in the future, but for now this is a great option for high class takeout. read more

This will be my new favorite spot to eat me and the hubby went here for the first time and won't be the last ! friendly staff, good food

Wonderful menu. Really quaint atmosphere. My granddaughter's wedding was held there last night. We'll be back!

Last nights dinner was a tasty experience. Friends and I had the most delicious dinner! The sea Bass was so fresh with a bed of spinach on top a a tasty sauce poured over at the table. My friends enjoyed a bucatini with a cheese cream sauce and fresh muscle over toast. Fresh brown bread was brought to the table with a whipped butter. Bread was baked that morning. Amazing ! Service was incredible. It's a quiet and cozy spot. Decor is adorable as well as there lol cafe open during the day. My first time there but definitely not my last. read more

Have only been once but it was incredible. Love the raw seafood options, all the local meats and veg. Servers were educational and fun

I was driving by one afternoon and saw their adorable outdoor setup and seeing as how I am a total sucker for any place with a good aesthetic, I knew I had to try it. I learned they had buck-a-shuck on Monday's and decided to go one Monday evening for dinner with my mom. I had seen the glowing reviews ahead of time, so I had pretty high expectations and somehow my experience far exceeded them. I can honestly say this was one of the best meals I've had anywhere in a long time. Everything from the cocktails, to service, to food was impeccable. You can clearly see how much thought has gone into curating the menu and space and it really pays off. I can't stop raving to all of my friends and family about how good it was and I can't wait to return. 15/10 recommend a visit to Bywater - I promise you will not be disappointed! read more

See all

I can only speak for the cafe / breakfast portion of the restaurant. We ordered two sandwiches and a chocolate croissant. After a 30 min wait the sandwich came out burned. 30$ for 1 burned sandwich 1 slightly burned sandwich and a chocolate croissant. read more

Bywater - Burned sandwich - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

See all

went here with friends for half price oysters on a Monday evening, even though the restaurant was half full, you HAVE to make a reservation, even for the bar. Pretentious! Somewhat odd menu, this restaurant just HAS to add their own unique 'twist' to everything, including pureeing their scallop entree, garnishing a dirty vodka martini w a carrot stick, and giving you hot sauce and a sweet vinegar only instead of cocktail sauce w raw oysters! One shouldnt have to ask for cocktail sauce woth raw oysters around here. the flavor of the food was good enough, they got me my cocktail sauce.....and then double charged us for our happy hour oysters! We didn't realize til we'd left, and i went back the next day in person, and followed up w an email trying to get someone to fix the mistake but they didn't care, or respond. I won't be going back, there are plenty of reasons ther restaurants on water steeet where I'll spend my money instead. read more

Bywater is my favorite place to go for a date with myself. Or someone else. But mostly myself. Their outside patio is adorable, cozy and quaint. It feels fancy but not in a way that is unapproachable or awkward if you're just wearing a sun dress after a dip in the water. I'll bring a book and listen to their impeccable and unique music selection that is bound to make you think that you're in enjoying the last few nights of a relaxing vacation in Europe. Their staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Andy is my favorite! The raw bar is usually my go-to, and the selection of wine along with the aperol spritz is on point. I've had their fries, selection of cheeses + pate and a entree or two and I've never ever even been close to disappointed. It does tend to be a tad on the pricier side, but it is well worth it. read more

Bywater - My favorite guys enjoying the raw bar!! - New American Near Me - Warren, Rhode Island

First visit - think it was an off night. We were seated on the patio by the front door. Soon after we arrived, the front door lock failed resulting in less-than-good service (as wait staff had to use a side door) and until they put a sign up (at our request) folks came to the front door, thought they broke it, etc. Highly recommended by friends as a gem. We think it does have the potential. Cozy spot. Very noisy indoors. Patio overlooks a parking lot. Limited menu - which we feel is good. "Farm to table" like. We had cocktails (decent at $12 a pop). The wine we ordered showed up as we were finishing our entree (see above on "service"). Their "carrot" special was not a winner - sat on a homemade bread of some sort that was inedible (they gladly comped it). Littlenecks were on par (but what restaurant can't do that? Entrees were the pasta special and fried chicken - both good and well priced ($19, 24). We'll give them another try. Parking can be tough. Damages with tip was $120. Food 3/5 Service 2/5 Value 3/5 Cleanliness 5/5 Noise 4/5 (patio was good but inside would have been a 1/5) Decor 3/5 read more

A true Jewel. Great servers, talented bartender and imaginative and well executed food. Best restaurant outside of Providence hands down. Cozy, romantic and sophisticated without being highbrow. A real fave and go to. read more

Bywater is the bomb. You should go there, period. Ambiance: serene and blue and quaint. Hanging plants, a giant painting of a ship in the sea (I'm in love with this painting), large bar for drink-making and oyster-shucking. There are three outdoor tables and 5-6 indoor tables. Like many other new Warren hotspots, it's intimate, but it doesn't feel too small (ex: North feels small...Bywater feels open, and bigger than, say, Eli's Kitchen). Drinks: Quality selection of beers and wines, and there are ciders! Plus, they have ginger beer and sweet tea soda and some other unique non-alcoholic offerings. I needed hard liquor, however, so I looked to the cocktails. The list is small, but I had a winning "Daily Shrub." [this particular day it was mezcal, apricots, ginger, and lemon. Smokey and sweet and perfect for the conclusion of a Monday] Food: YES, ALL THE WAY. The menu based on what's seasonal, which I appreciate, and every detail is attended to. Monday is $1 oyster night (a big HOORAH for that), so we got 8 of the shucker's choice. FYI I am in love with their Irish brown bread--an authentic recipe that's passed down from the owner's Irish relatives--and their yogurt butter. (see photograph for presentation, which is five-star). I was given a second round of bread because I was so crazy about it. The broccoli croquettes, a surprise from Katie, were a comfort food in the extreme. The mustard sauce was just the right accompaniment. For main dishes, we got the Shellfish Panzella (the cornbread! OMG) and Ricotta Gnocchi (it had smoked chorizo in it--need I say more?). Dessert: ice cream was a good end to the night. Bonus: the owners and staff are THE nicest people. They went out of their way to help my date with his flat tire, and overall improved our experience by their cheerful attitudes and friendly, attentive service. A big kudos to Katie and Brian. read more

See all

Outstanding! The service, food and decor are all top notch. The only minor negative is the outdoor dining space that looks out to the parking space. There is not much they can do about it. You have to decide if you want to sit outside on a warm summer evening, or in the cool comfort of the cool interior. The food that we had were superbly prepared. The pan seared sea scallops and the striped bass were great with wine and beer, finishing the evening very strongly with Turkish coffee and strawberry rhubarb sorbet. A few more trips back to this joint is warranted given the success we had this evening. On the next visit, we will try meat dishes, but the seafood is still is the best bet. read more

See all

So disappointed. Almost no greens or veggies. One salad, and it was a cooked salad. Too many servers, so nobody was paying attention. Tiny drinks, which would be fine if they were special, but they weren't. Limited menu, and execution was ok,!but not worth the $300 tab. If you want a good restaurant,go to Broadway Bistro, or Red Dory. read more

Food is delicious, drinks are well balanced, and service is top notch. Go during Monday for the Buck a Shuck. I'm from Providence so I spent a little extra to get the full experience. Our group (4) ordered the Smoked Trout Pate, House Pickles, Duck Tacos, and 3 dozen oysters. The Smoked Pate was not fishy at all, had a mild smokiness. The house pickles were not too salty and you tasted the freshness of the veggies. The snap peas and brussels sprouts tasted like they were fresh picked. The duck tacos were juicy and flavorful. I ordered the casoulet and my friends ordered the hangar steak each. My casoulet had decent sizes of meat. On the left is the lamb sausage, the right is the pork belly, and in the middle is a perfectly cooked duck leg. Hangar steak was cooked perfect med rare. We ended with the milk and cookies and a pear galette with scotch vanilla ice cream. I 110% recommend this place. I barely use this and a place 25 minutes from home where I spent roughly $150 is definitely worth the money and time. Con: you're looking at a $50 per person night minimum. Pro: It's the best $50+ you'll ever spend. From the service to the food (even the portions) Bridget was amazing read more

See all

I can't stop smiling! Last night we had Bywater cater my birthday party for 65 people in our home. The food and the service were outstanding, Katie, Brian and their team went out of there way to make sure that the menu was personal and diverse and had elements to express what is important to me including a special cocktail in my honor. They made sure I never lifted a finger. Then when they were finished the house looked awesome . Thank you! read more

Small venue, but its high ceiling and large windows make it feel open. Small menu, but the high quality selections are so enticing -especially if you're brave with food selections. Small antique pepper grinders that will make you smile, but don't fret -they'll do their job. Delightful experience. P.S. Loved the duck tacos, yes...duck read more

Fantastic experience all around. From the service to the food to the ambiance. Such a great spot to enjoy a wonderful evening with family or friends. Every dish was very much enjoyed by each of our 6 guests. The Fried chicken was so crunchy and the hot honey added a great touch. The starter brown bread and whipped butter is off the charts good. The steamers were so good and the garlic butter and wine sauce they are drench in was fantastic, I would have drank it if I could have haha. Definitely, recommend for a nice evening out. read more

Delicious. My new favorite restaurant in Rhode Island. Enjoyed 3 crudos, corn and crab app, and squid cacio e pepe.

Outstanding. One of the best meals in New England. Small but great staff and attention to detail.