Visited some friends this weekend and this was a miracle pop up bar for Christmas. SO cute! They had a special drink menu and festive cups. The drinks were amazing. The bar as decorated really cute. They also had special food menus for the pop up. The food was good just wish the servings were a bit bigger... we wanted to share some apps and it didn't go very far. If your in the area I would def check it out. read more

Cowan's Public - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Hipster place! Decent vibe, decent food, everything is good but nuthin to write home about. If you're local and need a decent meal you'll be ok. read more

Cowan's is a must-visit for any celebration or even just to reconnect with friends. Visited last night with family to try Chef Frank's new menu items and WOW. Frank's food is not only delicious but you can feel his passion and adoration come through in the variety of dishes we tried. The cheese curds with basil aioli were outstanding (in usual Cowan's fashion) and a great twist on a classic. We can never not order fried pickles, these were fresh and not overdone or greasy and you could literally drink the siracha ranch, it's that good. The tiger shrimp were cooked perfectly with a generous spoonful of horseradish on top of the cocktail sauce. We also had the hummus which was fresh and light and a great dip to break up the fried dishes. The ambiance of Cowan's is always incredible no matter what season. Adorned in warm decor, it's a fresh step away from the usual bar scene. Great food, great beer and drink options, great service and overall, one of our favorite places! read more

Cowan's Public - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

This place yum. Came here on Superbowl Sunday for dinner, so it wasn't crowded at all. Atmosphere: Like a fancy pub. Spacious, dim lighting. Food: Ordered the Buffalo Chicken Poutine to share. Man, is this dish plentiful. They pile on the fries, loads of shredded chicken marinated in buffalo sauce, and torched blue cheese. They probably shouldn't call it poutine since there isn't any gravy in the mix. But if you like buffalo sauce, this is a good dish. It is tangy and has a small kick to it, and the fries are really nice and crisp. To make up for the artery clog that is the delicious buffalo chicken poutine, I got the harvest salad for dinner, with added grilled chicken. Very light and tasty! There could have been a bit more vinaigrette, but I did enjoy the blend of all the ingredients. However, the Parmesan crisps/tuiles were a little too chewy and not crisp enough. My friend got the shrimp basket, and the fried shrimp was super warm and crunchy and had a nice cajun flavor to it. Service: A little slow, but friendly nonetheless. I plan to come here again to try all the other yummy stuff on the menu, and maybe give in and get a drankkkk. read more

Cowan's Public - Buffalo chicken poutine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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It's nice in here. My only issue is that on FOUR separate occasions, the waitress would completely forget my orders. That's with both food and/or drinks. It's personally not worth it when there are better spots not far away. read more

While they offer a pretty solid sized menu this is a high-quality cocktail bar. Their drinks are the best in the area along with their sister locations period. The food is hit or miss but it's all about the ambience and drinks. A+ thoughtfully inspired cocktails. read more

Cowan's Public - Western Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Frank is the absolute best chef. He is so passionate about each dish, you know he loves what he does. The atmosphere for Christmas is unmatched - the decorations are great! I can't say enough about the food! read more

My boyfriend and I came here for brunch a couple of weeks ago and we are definitely coming back. We also tried stopping by here on a Friday night before since I've heard they have great drinks and is owned/managed by the same person as Barrow House, but it was crazy full. Since we LOVE Barrow House we thought we'd also give this place a try. The ambiance is the best! It's just as amazing in there during the day. Staff are nice and friendly. We got seated immediately and was helped by a very nice lady. I had this ginormous meal, called Nashville Hot Chicken - Crispy fried chicken, spicy chili sauce, buttermilk ranch, pickled vegetables, white toast. It tasted pretty good, very crispy despite being drenched with sauce, it goes really well with ranch, but there's just a lil too much breading for me. It definitely has a kick but it isn't too bad. My boyfriend had The Brunch Burger - 8oz charbroiled burger, Vermont white cheddar, fried egg, bacon, seeded brioche bun. And we had Homemade Tater Tots on the side, which is my new fave! It has jalapeño and roasted corn. The mimosas were also great! Wish they were bottomless! Lol. read more

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Amazing place, live in the area and been going for years. Highly recommend! Really good food and drinks and they're super nice. We love the dimly lit ambiance! read more

This is everything I've ever wanted in a brunch spot... cool ambiance, takes reservations, delicious food, and lots of craft beer on tap. We had a group of six coming for brunch and I was able to easily make a reservation on Yelp. We showed up and were seated right away and holy cow, the front room and bar area are beautiful. The place has a rustic aesthetic, complete with a fireplace. Cowan's has a quality selection of beers on tap that frequently rotates with seasonal beers. They also have many signature cocktails and a huge whiskey selection. The brunch menu isn't huge but there's definitely something for everyone, whether you want breakfast or lunch food. I went with the shrimp and grits and loved it. Portions are a bit small but that's my only complaint. read more

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I cannot say enough good things, def 10/10 recommend it to anyone I talk to. not only does the atmosphere really put you in the holiday spirit, the service & food is unmatched. Frank the chef is amazing and you can tell in his food that it's made with love and everything he cooks is delicious. can't wait to go back! read more

The manager and server were absolutely fantastic. This is the only reason I am giving an extra star for my review, otherwise I would have given a 1/5. They offered a gift card, but we definitely would not eat there again (drinks, maybe) - very friendly staff. I can't speak to the drinks, and I'm assuming the ratings are based on delicious drink options and ambiance. If you are hungry and are looking for food options I would stay away. The pictures of reviews are outdated (which I know is not the fault of management). We ordered a decent amount of food, all of which was much, much smaller in portion. 1) Mini pretzel. This should be called a micro pretzel. Pictures show a pretzel the size of a place. Ours was cut into pieces. We pieced it together which appeared to be taken apart by hand. For $16 (we were charged $11, but menu shows $16). The pretzel was about the size of my fist and I have small hands. A wetzel's pretzel cost $5 for comparison. You get approximately 900% more pretzel at a mall vs what we were served. We were also served a tub of cheese. Cheese was delicious, but whats the point of a tub of cheese w/ a micro pretzel? I gave this some thought... the cheese has to cost more unless the pretzel is purchased outside instead of made in-house. They would be losing on margins. The pretzel wasn't all that bad, but im assuming the cost of purchasing it outside is high bc the cheese can't be that cheap. DO NOT ORDER MINI PRETZELS UNLESS YOU ENJOY THROWING AWAY YOUR MONEY. 2) Bao buns. pictures from 1-2 years ago show 3 pieces. We got 2 but this was not reflected on the menu. my daughter said it tasted ok atleast. $7 per bun is a bit too high, especially for a non-asian restaurant. 3) Chicken sandwich. No complaints this was good as well as the fries 4) Caesar salad. only complaint were the rock hard, likely expired croutons. I would check these before each service Overall, if the drinks are good - why not! We only had the house beer which was very good. If you are hungry and want decent food, don't eat here. I wouldn't say the food was bad per se, just extremely deceptive. Hard times I guess? read more

Good food. Great atmosphere. A few vegan options. Some things seemed a little over priced for the amount served. Staff was hardworking and attentive. Came here on a whim one night and was pleasantly suprised. read more

Loved the steak sandwich and the pulled pork. Fried green tomato sliders also excellent.

Great cocktails, great food, good service, reasonable prices for the quality of the place. One star off for a very limited menu. To start with the worst part: the menu is, as I mentioned, limited. I guess I should have expected this given the restaurant is New American food, but the fare is extremely heavy. Mac and Cheese made with cream cheese. Fried chicken. Etc. It's not a good place for a vegetarian to go, or even a person who wants to eat anything lighter than meat and potatoes. I won't say that there was no salad or vegetable option on the menu, but I was looking for something semi-light to eat for dinner and I came out of there with fried chicken. That being said, the fried chicken was great. They must slow cook it before breading and frying the meat, because the chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender. And the breading was wonderfully crisp, with a sweet-and-spicy sauce on top. I was really happy with it. The cocktails are also excellent. I ordered a spicy tequila drink, a great gin-based tea cocktail, and a whiskey-based drink as well. I was hesitant about that last one: I like drinking whiskey neat or on the rocks, but am not a fan of an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. But this drink was great. And the server who helped me select my cocktails (after I gave him my preferences) did a great job with his recommendations. I'll look forward to coming here again! And the prices were reasonable for the quality of food and drink. read more

This place is soooo good. Not only is their food amazing but service is impeccable. They are very kind. Waiters on point. One time I came here and they didn't have the drink I wanted and they made it anyway... loved that! They also have been taking great precautions with the pandemic. They have a great beer selection and the pulled pork grilled cheese is BOMB !! read more

My boyfriend grew up in Nutley and often disses the town in the most loving way. I am guessing we all have a love/hate relationship with the place where we spent the most of our childhood. Centre St, or even Franklin Ave, obviously isn't NYC Broadway, but walking on these same streets he took every day to school makes me grateful that this town exists and is a place we can always come back to. Cowan's Public was never around when he was a kid, but it is something we get excited about now before every weekend we spend there. They have a rotating cocktail menu and we can't come here enough to taste everything, but every drink I've had is nothing but strong, smooth and refreshing. This bar is a destination in its own rights, and I'm the most lucky that it's only a 10-minute walk from the bf's childhood home. read more

Cowan's Public - Out of print and #vodka - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Located on a side street in downtown Nutley, Cowan's public is an unexpected gem. From the outside the place doesn't look like much, but when you walk in for the first time you will be impressed. This bar is pretty hipster - speciality cocktails, craft beers on tap, and a menu that is always changing. They have a great assortment of craft beers. I recommend getting a flight of a few if you want to try a few. We live right down the road from this bar and we always find ourselves taking a walk over. Note that they don't have desserts on the menu, but can make you a dessert cocktail. ;) read more

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Limited menu. Too crowded , tables too close together. Very cute inside, has a bar... need more gluten free and vegan options

Nice local hangout spot. atmosphere is warm & cozy, bar food menu, drinks are on point. Price is moderate. parking can be a problem. Definitely needs a second look. read more

Cowan's Public - Bar resto area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Delicious food, great staff, and hell of a bar. Every time my wife and I have gone to Cowan's it's been spectacular. We even did our rehearsal dinner here back in 2019! read more

The ambiance is the same as Barrow House. Their Mac and cheese is THE BOMB. The drinks are great as usual. This is a place that won't have TVs on (which I love) especially if you're trying to get to know someone. Great chill spot! read more

Have been going here for years and the decor is awesome, the atmosphere great, the staff lovely. One of the things I've always liked about Cowan's was the seasonally rotating menu, but over the last year and a half or so every time I've gone the menu has been almost exclusively full of high calorie comfort food. They used to have a great mix of healthy options and less healthy delicious options. They seem to have gotten rid of most of the healthier vegetable options. Last night when I went I was shocked to see that the only thing on the menu outside of the appetizers, the tacos, and a few salads that were overloaded with unhealthy stuff was a bunch of sandwiches -- you used To be able to order healthy entrees here. I also really miss the delicious speciality hot sauce they used to have, not sure why that was phased out. read more

I absolutely love the ambiance at Cowans. As my second visit to Cowans, my girls and I went for a late lunch shortly after they opened without making any reservations. We seated ourselves at a table by the bar and enjoyed the setting. Our server was patient and polite as our party consisted on myself - a vegan, a gluten allergen, a vegetarian & pescatarian. I was hoping to order a few items that I saw on their menu during my first visit but we were informed that their menu changes every season and that it was just changed the day proir... Also making it difficult for or servee to give us recommendations. For starters, we opted for the broccolini (vegetarian/gf) due to the butter & the tempura cauliflower tacos and veganized it by omitting the cream sauce; thanks to the help for our server! It wasn't easy to notice that service was a bit slow since we were occupied in conversation but other than his help with ordering we didn't quite see him again as our empty glasses & plates sat at the table for some time. The rest of the food was ok but didn't quite leave me impressed. I do appreciate Cowans for their dietary variety and will return when they bring those Brussels sprouts back onto their menu lol ! read more

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Aside from being sat all the way in the back the drinks, food and vibe of this place is pretty good. I would recommend visiting this location for a date or even just to grab some drinks and appetizers with friends. read more

I really wanted to like this place. I truly did. Every friend that I have whose went here has raved about it for days afterward. For me, it was one of the most disappointing meals I had at a restaurant. The atmosphere is cool - they're definitely going for an eclectic speakeasy. But the quirky décor can't make up for incredibly underwhelming food. I came with a group of friends around Oktoberfest, so they had a special menu. I will only comment on what I ordered for myself or tasted. Unfortunately, a couple of things that were on the special menu had already sold out, even though we were there pretty early in the night. To start, my boyfriend and I got the pub pretzel because, yay Oktoberfest! I've had incredibly good pretzels at bars and restaurants before, this was not one of those. Pretty similar to just a frozen pretzel you throw in the microwave. For dinner he got the bratwurst and didn't finish it. He said it was just okay. I got a burger with herbed havarti, sweet onion, roasted cubanelle pepper, and garlic aoili. It wasn't a bad burger at all. The sweet onion was the best part of it. For dessert we got beignets to share.I was very excited to try these, and shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. They didn't taste like anything at all. The drinks at Cowan's are decent, the decor is fun, but man. The food is just straight up boring. It's not that the food tastes bad, it's just so bland. What's the point in going to a restaurant and spending $60 on food that you can make SO much better at home? Won't be back. Sincerely cannot understand the hype over this place. Visited October 2019 read more

Changing my review. Not sure what happened with their food but since they changed their menu the burgers are so dry and flavorless, nothing compare to the first time we try this place. I think They might have changed the chef or the cooking staff. Old review--------------------- We stopped in here for a quick valentines dinner and some drinks. Hubby and I order the house burgers and the *cheese board* which was really good! Staff helpful and friendly but a little forgetful =/ . Overall Great food, awesome atmosphere and people. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Cowan's Public - Valentine's Day with my hubby at Cowan's- Good food, good service, good music and excellent company. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

At first glance I didnt think the menu was all that great, but after being here 2 times I can say its worth the trip deviled eggs are unique and yummy. Shrimp tacos are delish and I never order tacos, the bison burger is one of the best burgers ive had. Plenty of craft beers on tap, too. They run different specials every night, Ive been for trivia and also for beer and burger night thursdays($16 for a burger and tap/craft beer)!! You cant find that good a deal anywhere. Definitely will be back. Also check out their sister restaurant Gus's Last Word in wood-ridge.... And both places do an amazing holiday thing the month of December, check them out for sure read more

Went there on a Sunday night. Place is generally very crowded, especially on weekends and especially during December. Not bad on Sunday though. They have a great beer and cocktail list, but you pay city prices. The food was pretty disappointing. Fried chicken was cooked well but bland. I asked for honey mustard with it and the waitress literally said they have no mustard in the restaurant. How is that possible. The biscuit was a hockey puck and they give you no butter...pillsbury is an order of magnitude better. My friend got the tacos, they seemed fine if boring. I wanted to like it, but the food at the premium price you pay is just not good enough. read more

Solid Craft Beer menu with constant rotation of your favorite NJ breweries. Be sure to order their fried pickles and a burger. If you're a fan of thin patties (think of a fancy Big Mac), you'll love this burger. read more

Cowan's Public - Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Our waitress was super nice and efficient. Burger: A bit of a yawn. Cooked ok but had a funny flavor. Brioche bun was not toasted. Burger came with an egg but nothing else. No pickle, not onion, no tomato, no cheese, no lettuce. Just a tooth pick! Fries: Ok, a bit salty. Bloody: Tasty juice but no vodka! Where was the FKN VODKA? read more

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Love the atmosphere of these restaurants. Good drinks, very skilled bartenders, and Maria was great!

Excellent, not your standard bar food. The cocktails are amazing., a hipsters paradise read more

I'm in love. From the watermarked looking ceiling to the crumbling plaster that exposes the brick over the fireplace to the distressed mirror backing the bar - this place is awesome as it transports you to to the 1930s. It's basically an open floor plan and a moderate sized semi-circle bar and it totally works. I came in on a Friday night and it was decently busy. The beer list immediately appealed to my craft heart. I've been on a mission to drink nothing but new stuff this year and Cowan's will absolutely help me meet that goal. As for food, the menu looks and sounds amazing - skillet mac with Béchamel sauce? Hell yes!! Unfortunately I was here after 11 so my options were limited.I went with the fries and the aioli sauces were delicious. Absolutely loved the basil one. * * * Since drafting this I've been back twice (and had the mac n cheese) and I still absolutely love this place! read more

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Loveee it at Cowan's. Drinks, food, atmosphere! Check out the daily specials. They have it all.

The Cowan's Burger was soooo juicy. Had a nice salty, crusty exterior and the meat was cooked perfectly on the inside. I ordered medium rare and Cowans delivered. I've been burned by overcooked burgers before that aren't juicy and need condiments to overpower its' lack of taste. This burger needs no condiments - I urge you, nay exhort you to eat this sans condiments and enjoy the natural burger flavor. If the burger isn't enough, it comes with a massive pile of fries that are an addictive light, yet crispy texture. I came here for the Firestone Walker tap takeover. Beers were amazing - while they dont always have Firestone, their beer list is very good with many hard to find beers. Great beer, great food, great place. I will be back! read more

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Local establishment with friendly service and good food. Parking is rough but not impossible. Make sure you visit in December!!!! Nice!

Amazing food, service and spirits! Top notch- we def will be back! Wings, burgers & a variety of seasonal options Back again and the Brown rice, edamame burger was delish! read more

Very nice bar and hipster type. We came here for my friends birthday. Honestly you don't expect to see the inside so nice with an outside like that. I thought it was accounting office every time I passed by. Food is great, draft is great. I had the seasonal pumpkin tier very yummy. I had the poutin fries and the fried pickles, which I liked with my beer and their wings are very very good. The bar gets busy and seems everyone knows each other so it's a very local bar. Careful with the parking because Nutley cops patrol the area with full force because it's situated in a residential area. read more

Love this bar. It's always a wonderful hang and ADORE that their TVs aren't openly displayed. One of the few intimate bars around for hanging, dating, or trying some new flavors. Gotta mention that the food is excellent although I notice some food prep losing its elegance over the past year. The current hot noodle bowl is sadly sub-par. All the ingredients-miso, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, tofu-would make you think you were ordering a bowl of ramen or soba. No-it uses, as far as I can tell, dry spaghetti, like what you get at the store. It's surprisingly bland, seeing how dishes here used to really pop and have a well-crafted harmony of flavors and nuance in their preparation. I hope things change for the better! read more