Sorry, I know this place has great reviews, and that's why I went, but I have to keep it real. My companion and I wanted the beer flights, turns out more than half of the beers are not available for flights. Ordered the wings (bbq-harissa style), the flavor was good but could have used more sauce - like, any sauce- and maybe a dipping side sauce. Companion ordered the poutine, the meat was very fatty, like globs of fat and little meat. I don't blame the server for the slow service, I do believe she was doing the best she could as the only server. Buuut, she didn't give me the itemized bill and I waited to get her attention but after five + minutes just left. The place inside has a charm and ambiance and the cocktails look 100% legit. read more

Pretty good bar in the area. Drinks are good and the ambiance is nice but there a few things holding this place back from a better rating. One, while the bartenders are nice, it takes for-freakin-ever to get a drink at this place. Two, there is a lack of tables, even standing ones, at this place. Makes it slightly annoying to know that if you're not one of the lucky ones to find a place to rest your drink, you're going to be holding on to that thing for the rest of the night. I'd say you should come here to give it a chance but good luck. read more

Beer list was really good lots of random craft beers. Good drink list. Seasonal menu was interesting and different. Service was good. Clean. We will go back. read more

Really enjoyable vibe here at Cowan's. I look forward to their new location in Clifton as well. I really dig the rustic and chill feel of it. They provide a lovely beer selection with thorough descriptions. The food has never disappointed either. I've tried the delicious deviled eggs, kale salad, and fries so far. But have mainly indulged in the beers! Definitely check it out! read more

Finally! A non sports/non guido bar option in the Nutley area. The beer selection is pretty expansive and their mixed drink menu is well curated. The food selection is also pretty tasty (try the Mac&cheese) Good local option for when you don't feel like trekking to NYC or jersey city. read more

My husband and I decided to go here with my brother and sister in law on a Saturday night. Clearly not the best choice. We got there at 6:40pm and said we wanted a table for 4. We were told we could not be seated until our entire party was there (totally understandable!) I expressed that the other couple would be there by 7:00pm. My brother and sister in law arrived at 6:55. I informed the hostess and she stated that there would still be a wait. WE WAITED OVER 90 minutes - we had some cocktails at the bar (which were great- and an appetizer because we were starving). We were eventually seated at 9:00pm. Over 2 hours of waiting ... We all ordered immediately as we had so much time to look over the menu. I ordered a salad with chicken- which came out with NO chicken. ... the food took over 50 minutes to arrive. We watched numerous other guests get up and leave out of frustration. The waitress and hostess and bartenders were all courteous enough- but I will never go back. The food was lackluster and certainly not worth the 3 Hour wait- especially since I didn't even get what I ordered! In spite of our inconvenience we spent to over $200 on food and alcohol- we were never offered a drink or round - this place as potential but was a complete disappointment and disaster... except for the company - my husband, brother and sister in law are so wonderful (and all felt the same way about the service) very disappointing... read more

This is a really cool bar. First off, the beer selection is pretty good on tap. They had the Funnel cake beer from forgotten boardwalk that I have been looking everywhere for. The bartender was extremely friendly and a great host. When you walk in the bar it feels like a nicer prohibition style bar. The drink menu seemed to be refreshingly different, with quality ingredients being mixed. Also the food looked and smelled amazing, I am going to have to come back to taste it. read more

The service was excellent. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. She had 4 table while we were there 3 two tops and a 4 top and she handled it like a pro. The food was mediocre and overpriced for the quality. Stick with appetizers as they seem to be more manageable. I wish the server had asked me if everything was OK when she saw that I had only eaten 4 bites of my totally unseasoned skirt steak. The drinks were not as special as the server had advertised. They were fine, just not great. The owners of Cowans recently bought AKB in Verona, which is what Cowan's is trying to be. However, without chef Duarte (AKB) and her partner Michael running the ship, Cowan's just isn't as good and I worry neither will their new restaurant. read more

Been here many more times now, tried more food, drank more drinks, and I keep falling more in love with this place. All of their food has been great, but the drinks are really the stand out to me. Fantastic cocktails and beer taps that rotate so often with good beers that you'll be wanting to come back the next day. That's not to mention the great events they have - bottle releases, tap takeovers and more. The staff are friendly and passionate about their craft. Do yourself a favor, go out of your way to come here. read more

6/8/16 Update - I tried it again because I was in the area and I really wanted to like this place. The funny thing is the server recognized me and said she will make sure the burger is cooked correctly this time. Unfortunately once again it came out well done. I wonder if the problem is either the meat is too lean or handled too much as it was just dense and dry. At $12 they just HAVE to get it right. I didn't have time to wait for another so I said I would just try the dressed up hot dog. Sadly it was nothing special with the roll dominating the whole thing. The other thing I found disappointing is that I really like Goose Island Honkers Ale and they had two other types of Goose Island on the menu so I asked the server to ask the bartender if any of those are close to Honkers Ale. She returned apologizing that the bartenders said neither were even close. So that's it no other suggestions? I just told the bartenders what I liked you would think they could stop playing with their beards long enough to offer an alternative! So that's twice with the same result, I suspect it is not a fluke. I will be the lone wolf and drop the food another Star which puts its overall closer to 2 Stars in my book. There don't seem to be many options around the area which may explain some of the good reviews. When did hipster get so expensive? Atmosphere/Decor **** As been said by others from the outside you would not want to go in but once you do it is a great looking and super cool space. The crowd was surprisingly well dressed and the staff mostly had hipster beards. It can get very loud so don't expect an intimate experience. There is street parking only and not much of it. Service *** It is mildly confusing when you walk in as there is no host stand and I think you pretty much just sit wherever you want. Our server was friendly enough but drink service was slow. Food *** A smallish menu but with very interesting sounding dishes such as a super dressed up hot dog along with burgers and sandwiches. My smallish burger could have been better if it wasn't cooked to medium well, it was ordered medium rare. My son ordered the hot dog stripped of all the fancy toppings but it was big and deep fried which he loves. Value * Unfortunately this is where Cowan's Public really fails, this place is outrageous for what you get. The $12 burger is really small and doesn't even come with fries. The hot dog while large is $11! Adding a side of plain fries cost $4 which seemed reasonable but $7 for draft beer did not. Overall *** A cool looking place that I really wanted to love. Food was pretty good but not at those prices. I wouldn't return but it is probably worth stopping by for a drink just to get your hipster vibe on. read more

Cowans is a lot of fun, seating is limited in the bar area but tables are generally available within 20-30 mins in the next room, if you prefer a more quiet and comfortable ambiance. The staff is very friendly, Ive only had good experiences there and really enjoy their ever changing beer list and creative menu items. read more

This spot is the shiznit! Amazing food, friendly service, craft cocktails. What more could you ask for? The pickle chips are off the hook. Great options for vegetarians & carnivores alike. read more

If the word "hipster" makes your stomach want to expel itself from your body in ways that would make Wes Craven giddy, you need to bid your stomach farewell and make the decision to step into this establishment anyway. Because every single one of the reasons you'll label this place as a "hipster" bar is exactly why you'll want to come back - regardless of whether or not you were too cool for that word to begin with. From its throw-back decor (the WC on the bathroom door stands for Water Closet), to the tap selection and its collection of liquor, to its foodie-minded menu of eats, it's everything you'd expect out of hipster nightlife, but executed to the nines. And it turns out when the hipster vibe isn't just a cheap gimmick meant to draw the 20-something crowd in, but instead serves as a passionate guideline for recreating everything that made drinking establishments in the movies from the golden age of Hollywood seem so cool, you wind up with a really great bar. This place has the atmosphere, the drinks, the food and the friendly service that provide a great evening. I've been into craft beer for over 10 years now and they managed to bring in beers on tap I haven't tried before. The food was very good: edamame hummus, grilled cheese with fancy cheeses, succulent bacon and some kind of snap pea spread that was a welcomed surprise. And the service was very good. We felt welcome the entire time, even after my friend accidentally spit water in the bartender's face. (Don't ask) In the end, this review is probably a bit too "try hard" for some, and I'm sure there will be those that see Cowan's Public in the same light. They'll toss it aside as just another obnoxious hipster hangout. But quite frankly, I really don't care. It just means there's one more seat at the bar for me. To the bartenders at Cowan's: Cheers. Thanks for a great evening. read more

Cowans Public is pretty awesome. I came here with my girlfriend and we had a really great time. I often go out in the Montclair area but this was the best place I've been in a long time. I got the pulled pork sandwich and an Old fashioned. Both were delicious. I'm a harsh critic and I can easily say that not only was my meal great, but my drink (or 3) were high quality. The staff was great too. We had friendly service and they were attentive but not annoying. In fact, after we left my girl said "what a great date place. Let's go there again" and she hates everything. Highly recommend this place and I'll definitely be back again soon!! read more

I heard good things about this place (Christmas decor) but it was really crowded on a Friday night and they have a small bar. The crowd was on the younger side (I was carded at the door even before I entered so think really young). The staff was friendly and helpful trying to get us a table but we decided not to stay as the noise level was through the roof. We may try again but not on the weekend! read more

Five stars. Burger is out of this world! Wings ridiculous! Beers are constantly rotating! Cocktails are second to none! High end spirits! Knowledgeable and passionate staff makes all the difference. Don't forget brunch on the weekends! read more

Cutest bar ever. We barely ever go out in bars in butter since we're from JC and I love this place. They have great drinks, awesome atmosphere and prices for drinks aren't bad. I had the mulled cider that's warmed cider with Jameson and it was delicious! My friends had their variety of beers and the tequila cocktail that tasted like a fresh margarita without the sour mix. Highly recommend this place. read more

Absolutely amazing. This place is so not what you expect in Jersey. The craft beer/drink menu is impressive and extensive. The servers are super knowledgeable and sweet. Our waiter took his time and explained everything. Our food was just as amazing...brisket poutine, shrimp in this amazing spicy sauce, chicken tacos, corn black bean tacos and a delicious kale ceasar salad. Only down side is that I live so far, if not I'd be there on the regular. This is hands down onr of my favorite places in Jersey! read more

Went there with a friend a couple of nights ago. This makes no sense, but it was like, a nice hole in the wall. Like, I've never heard of this place, you'd drive right past it but the inside is cozy, comfortable and pretty nice. The wings and fried pickles were delicious. I had a whiskey sour and my friend a Manhattan I think and both tasted good with a decent pour as well. I would definitely come back here if friends wanted to go. IG: diningwithpyt Email: diningwithpyt@gmail.com read more

I want to give this place 5 stars, but after going a handful of times it's hit or miss. Cowan's is actually a pretty awesome place, but man can it get crowded. We're talking crowds out of proportion with the size of the small-ish bar, fighting to get a chance to get in visual distance of the bar so that you can yell your drink order at the bartender. Of course it hurts doubly when this is the type of place that doesn't just make drinks, it sends them through "mixology" school. All in all, victim of their own success I guess you could say. Those who say this place has a Brooklyn feel are not wrong. The place screams hipster, right down to the bow tie and suspender wearing bartenders. This does have perks though. Craft beer, all of it - no Budweiser in this house. Food all served with a twist - i.e. Disco fries with white gravy/sauce and cheddar cheese? Sure. And again, fancy hipster-y drinks made to order. Those looking for a quiet(er) meal can head to the "restaurant" section which is off of the main room. The small room is lined with tables and is general quiet enough to have normal conversations. In short, this place is definitely straight out of NYC/Brooklyn cashing in on a niche (or cliche) that is not frequently found in NJ. read more

I enjoy and love going to NYC for handcrafted cocktails, but sometimes the idea of crossing a bridge or a tunnel gets a tad bit tiresome especially at rush hour. So, I thank my cousin for bringing me here one random Monday evening. What I love is the quality and taste of the cocktails (the food is great too), the relaxed ambience and decor (even in the bathroom), and the exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Definitely worth a visit if you ever happen to be in the neighborhood. read more

It is really atmospheric and reminiscent of old times bars. Their menu is unique so that a fussy older person would not enjoy it as much as a more adventurous eater. Drinks are incredible. read more

I cannot believe just a hip retro pub/restaurant hides behind just an unassuming exterior! Love the old fashioned feel of it, and love that such a cool place is in the town I call home! The husband and I went about 2 weeks ago for an early dinner and really enjoyed it! We sat in the dining room. Service was friendly and fantastic. We really liked our waitress! Menu options are interesting, not your run of the mill pub food by any means, except for the burger..which was delicious! We also loved the "French disco fries". Cannot remember their actual name, perhaps brisket potage? Anyway, great fries topped with brisket and gravy and bechemel...really amazing! Great drink menu, and their wines change seasonally. I had a lovely light refreshing Lambrusco which I have never had outside of Italy, so I was very pleased to find it on the menu. My husband enjoyed his beer selection, too, from their ample choices. We will definitely go back, next time without the kids. Ah yes! We went with our 7 and 9 year olds who we have trained to eat well and behave well in any restaurant situation. The wait staff was extremely welcoming to them, and no problem having them in the dining room. They ate the burger, but if your kids are picky eaters this is not the place for them. No kids meals! So we could go back with them...but we prefer to enjoy the old fashioned bar without them next time! We really liked it. Look forward to going back for cocktails and those fries! read more

Bartender is very welcoming and knows how to serve patrons. Food is great, a rare quality for many bars. Selection is wide enough to fit most occasions at night. read more

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Solid food, excellent cocktail list / solid beer list. Really unique space but (street) parking was tough. Prices inside are on the expensive side compared to the geographic location of the space. read more

Looking over my Yelp reviews I realize I only go on here when I'm stoked. More bad reviews to come just so you believe what I say. This place is nearly unimaginable. An outpost in the 'burbs that outdoes its urban competition, makes you reconsider everything: wait a second, if the 'burbs were scattered with places like Cowan's maybe swapping apartment life for a house, a garden, and a garage would be worth it! Cocktails, food, beer, service, ambiance, all top notch. Wine culture is a struggle in the 'burbs even in the hands of these masters so the compromise is that you'll find wine to drink on the list, but rarely something that knocks your socks off. That being said, I believe these guys push every envelope they can and will continue figuring out ways to up the game wherever possible. read more

This place is adorable. It's so unique for Nutley, from the decor to the menu to the beer on tap. It's a fun place for drinks and some small plates - especially loved the hummus and grilled bread. They have beer flights, so we gave that a try to sample a fun of the different beers on tap. Wish there was more seating, perhaps some high top tables in the big empty space in the middle of the room. Seems like wasted space. read more

Cowan's Public - Lovely little beer flight! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

I've been here on numerous occasions for dinner and just for drinks. I love the ambiance of the bar area. They have a decent variety of craft beers. The craft cocktails are delicious and so is the food. I've had the burger, wings, Mac and cheese, fried pickles, and garlic fries. Seating in the bar area is very limited. If you haven't been I suggest checking it out for yourself. read more

I can't even tell you how excited I am that Cowan's opened in Nutley. My boyfriend and I live about 5 minutes away and having great craft beer and delicious food that close by is awesome. We have tried just about everything on the menu thus far and you really can't go wrong. We did try their brunch one morning and I will say that we weren't blown away - but that's okay because they're a pub, not a renowned brunch spot. Their beer list is fantastic and it's always changing. If you get there before 8pm you can order flights which is always fun. The service is good and almost everyone is friendly and super helpful. The decor and ambience is super cool. We probably go once a week for at least appetizers and beers, if not a full dinner. It has certainly become our regular haunt. If you are in the area and looking for great food and beer, Cowan's is your place! read more

Haven't had a meal here but drinks and service are awesome. I recommend coming during the holiday season in December to try special cocktails and admire the impeccably festive decor. It'll get very crowded on the weekends during that time but it's not too bad read more

I don't know where to begin. At first the front appearance throws you off but you walk inside to this amazing place!!! The ambience is soooo great!! I went for dinner with a friend! The cocktails are so yummy too. I'm a girl who loves to try out a good cocktail place and they delivered as well. The food was fantastic. I had the fried eggplant blt and my friend had the pulled pork. We devoured it. Not to mention the staff is super friendly. Our waitress Jen was so sweet and accommodating every time we asked for her opinion on food and drinks. Lia, the GO, was amazing as well. We had such a wonderful time and great conversations. I can't wait to go again!! read more

Interesting menu, great drinks., and great beer list. loved the atmosphere. A simple but good menu. For an appetizer i had a good sized plate of tasty wings and fried pickle chips. We had an awesome salad with shrimp as an entree, and tacos. (, I didn't love the tacos). My Cowans, bourbon old fashioned was the shit though. Great space, worth a return visits. Quite a transformation from a quaint Nutley pub to a local one of a kind hangout right in the center of Nutley. read more

Came for cocktails and they were seasonal and delicious, will definitely come back to try the food!

If your looking for a place to grab a few drinks with food after work this is not it. I ordered a few appetizers just for starters. wings, chicken tacos, shrimp tacos, and mac and cheese. Let's just start off by saying that these are usually the safe appetizers to go with because everyone always knows you can't go wrong. The MAC and cheese was way to dry to even be considered a mac and cheese. I felt like I was having just noodles with some seasoning. The wings were just plan wings and sauces on the side but it was more bone then meat The tacos... well if u just sprinkle 3 shrimps onion and cabbage that is not a taco. The tortillas even came out burnt for both orders. Def. not a place I enjoyed. read more

Cowan's Public - Dry mac and cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Great crowd of young professionals and hipsters. Awesome beer and drink selection. I recommend the Ella Fizz and Funk Citrus IPA!!

An excellent cocktail bar, it reminds me of Brooklyn back in 2008. I think that was a good year for Brooklyn but I guess it depends on your generation. I prefer the less crimey version myself. Cowan's is very good and safe. read more

Loved the ambiance & vibe! Speakeasy style bar with a great COCKTAILS Loved the hot mulled ciders! Food is fairly good & trendy, highly recommend the fish tacos! Only downside is staff does have a tendency to make you feel invisible but other than that great new joint in the Nut! read more

Cowan's Public - Mulled ciders are bomb! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Stopped by this place after seeing it on yelp and it was even better than expected. It had a very trendy industrial interior design to it and was pretty spacious. We arrived when they were still serving brunch and were very satisfied with our order. What's great is that they had one of those 6-shots-of different-beer-samplers which just made my day. I really appreciated this place a lot because they were very trendy and had a lot to offer, which is a nice change from the rest of the spots around here. It's the type of place you might expect to find in the nicer areas of Jersey City. read more

Great beer selections. I normally don't order mixed drinks, but these guys make them right. The burgers are amazing, among with the grilled cheese and tacos. I love that this place is in town, it's our new go-to spot! read more

Cowan's Public - Grilled Cheese with a Victory IPA - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Recently went here with a bunch of friends sans kids. It was riveting. But not so much the experience, but moreso the fact that we are all able to get babysitters and get to hang out together like the good ol' pre-kids days. The establishment itself fronts as a "speakeasy" type bar with no windows in its fascade. At first glance, you would think your walking into an apartment building. However, when entering you are swept back into a mix of 1920's meets the wonderful new wave of 2000 something hipsters. The décor is reminiscent of some of the bars we may have seen in prohibition era movies like The Untouchables or Millers Crossing. But very quickly you realize the era you are in with the sooo many bearded men wearing flannels. Oh the juxtaposition. However, it does not matter the clothes you rock, the hair you wear on your face, or the faux black framed glassed men that may bestow upon you your food and/or drink order. The one thing that this place does right.. and very well.. is craft beer. I have officially found my new beer bar. Granted there are plenty in the area, but Cowans is just cool. The look, the people, the beer. Its just cool. And so there I sat with my sooo non-hipster friends and indulged in some great pretty-hard-to-find-on-tap beers at a really cool beer bar. And I was indulging on some great beer, then came the food. And this was the only hard part I had that did not give the establishment a true 5 star it deserves: the food is just sub-par. There I said it. My friends would disagree but I did not think it was anything special. To start we split a bunch of apps. We got fried pickles, some beer nuts, fries, cheese plate and all 3 buffalo wing styles. They were good. Not great but good. Most of my manly meat eating buddies got the burgers. They said it was fantastic. But its 2016; finding a very good burger these days is not too difficult. I scored poorly by getting the fish and chips. I was told prior "never get fish and chips unless your in London" by someone who's never been to London. Anyways, I always get fish and chips. Its just something I do. But unfortunately it tasted like they forgot to put fish in the batter. Way too greasy. Not a lot of taste. Ok so the food is just ok. But again, the beer is phenom. Just looked at the beer menu and it looks like it changed again. Nice! I highly recommend this place if your into a cool bar with great rotating beer taps, decent prices and ok food, as long as you don't mind the many black-framed flannelled bearded men. read more