The Sunday brunch buffet is freaking awesome. Tones of breakfast and lunch choices. They are serving up some of the best dang on ham. Let me get 3 plates of that alone. My favorite dish next to the ham is a shrimp dish that's served in a cream sauce over dirty rice. This dish alone is worth the price of the brunch, which is reasonable for all that available. Be sure to make reservations. Brunch runs from 10 am- 3 pm. The bar area has open seating so if you just trying to pop in you can pull up there. read more

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The food was amazing! The service was excellent! The server was friendly and efficient! The ambiance was warm and inviting! read more

Chef is top notch. Food is fresh and of excellent quality. Service is great. Plenty of room at the bar with seating. Soft crabs were great.

There are numerous restaurants in the Baltimore area that claimed that they have the world's best crabcake or that it's a famous crabcake. We can tell you that the Bowman restaurant on Harford Road does have a fantastic crabcake. My husband and I went there for lunch ion a mid-week afternoon in April. The restaurant was relatively busy considering the time of year and the economy. Our server was prompt and very professional. He knew the menu inside and out. He suggested that we get the crabcake rather than the other choices we were thinking about. We were not disappointed. The single crabcake was FULL of jumbo lump crab meat is served with hand-cut boardwalk fries and side of cole slaw. It was delicious! The restaurant has a bar area with high tops as well as booth seating. There's also an outdoor area that you can dine in during the warm weather. It's a comfortable cozy kind of place. We think we're gonna try going to the comedy club in the next several months AND get another crab cake. read more

The Bowman - The delicious 5 oz. Lump crab cake with boardwalk fries and coleslaw. So good! - American Near Me - Parkville, Maryland

We had the best bartender tonight!!! Krystal was amazing! The specials were sooo delish! She recommended the Avocado crab & wowwwww!!! It was so~~~ good! The swordfish...yummmm! I had the chicken risotto special except it was shrimp they accomodated me & made the night perfect date night! The owner & CHEF both made an appearance & were very awesome as well! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND thus establishment! read more

Took Mom for lunch on Wednesday, May 28. We had a delightful waitress at a booth by the front window with Harford Road traffic, braving the rain and creating tidal waves as they drove through the huge puddle at the curb. Mom was very pleased with her lump crabcake sandwich, and my delicious Reuben was served on toasted marble rye. I mistakenly ordered a salmon appetizer, which is served cold. When I realized my error, my waitress removed it with apologies and no charge! She and the hostess were gracious and welcoming; we'll be back. read more

The Bowman is a excellent for date night for the grown and sexy. The ambiance is exceptional and the food is very flavorful. The service is untouched and very pleasant. This restaurant is real pleasure for romantic people read more

Customer retention hinges on employee demeanor. When a customer inquired about my readiness, I was seated at a table, not the bar; therefore, I did not shout my order. Her eye-rolling demonstrated a lack of attentiveness, prompting me to cancel my order. Ultimately, her negative attitude resulted in lost business. read more

Ate several times on our trip to Maryland. Great service and delicious food. We had a blast each visit. Strong drinks read more

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Food was ok. Service was fair. And ambience is eclectic . Was disappointed compared to the earlier years. But ok value for the price

My friend, who invited me says the place hasn't changed in 30 years. I wouldn't know as I've never visited the Bowman in all my years. That said, there's a first time for everything. Including visits to this Carney mainstay. We arrived at 12:30 for lunch, seated ourselves and were greeted promptly by our friendly server. She was also efficient and professional. The menu, which is relatively limited (not a bad thing) assisted with our quick decision on what we wanted. We started with unsweetened iced tea. My friend ordered their oyster stew and a chicken salad sandwich. I ordered cream of crab soup and fish and chips. Soups were delivered quickly. My friend loved the stew and the cream of crab was good though reminiscent of she crab soup popular in Hampton Roads. Chicken Salad Sammie, accompanied by potato chips, was rated "excellent." My fish and chips? Well, uh, the fries were hot, greasy and soggy. The fish? More of the same. Edible, but... As mentioned, the house hasn't change in decades and for a town where folks like things static, that's a good thing. I may need to try something different next visit. read more

The Bowman - First visit. - American Near Me - Parkville, Maryland

Came here because a friend invited me. Wouldn't be a place I would try normally but you guys know how we helpers do, we'll go to a place of someone invites us. I was not trying to be more critical because of it either that I had looked at previous pictures and reviews. I had a good idea of what I already wanted. I was with a big party so it took a long time to receive anything. When the waitress did come to take my order I ordered food and also drinks since I I wasn't offered anything since I had sat down. The waitress came back and told us they were completely out of oysters so half of us have to change our orders. I asked for the stuffed mushrooms and creme brulee. She informed me that the creme brulee was peppermint flavor SMH. I declined and ask for the mushrooms only. Their description sounded really good but there were no pictures of them so I was not sure what I was going to get, but hopeful. My drinks didn't come so I had to go to the bar to order them. I let the waitress know when she came back and she still didn't have them she said she understood and she wouldn't charge me for the drinks that she had for me she was bringing shortly. Everyone's food came out but my appetizer still had not and I was waiting for a long time. My drinks finally did come and they were correct status please about that. The waitress came back to inform me they had brought the mushrooms out the first time but was taken to the wrong table. I was afraid they would bring me the same one but it took some time for them to come out again and they were hot. I cut into them and I realized they were canned mushrooms. I was not excited at all but as I took the first bite, all I taste it was mustard. It was stuffed with a crab cake with cheese on top. I immediately pushed it away for me and waited for the waitress to come back. She didn't return for some time so I just went ahead and ate them. I didn't want to be a person at the table not eating their food although others were not happy with their dishes either. I had not eaten all day and decided just to eat them and take note. It would have been a hundred times better if they would have just used fresh mushrooms. It wouldn't be hard to put that on a portobello mushroom cap and it would have been awesome. Or maybe even sauteed the mushroom first to give it some flavor but canned mushrooms? I am not a fan of all the mustard in the crab cake but at least I could tell it was real crab meat. I was informed the steak was good and the sauce was very tasty as well. read more

The Bowman - Benny - American Near Me - Parkville, Maryland

Food and Service has always been great that is why we return over and over again. We had reservations and there was a very large party as well but we were well accommodated and never felt ignored. read more

My family have been going to The Bowman for Thanksgiving for the last 6 years, or more. The food and service has always been excellent, until last year. Last year (2023) we had a reservation and arrived on time. We were told it would be about a 20 minute wait, so we ordered drinks at the bar and waited. The 20 minutes, plus had passed. I asked the Hostess about our table and she then told me we had to check in with another Hostess just inside the door leading to the back dining area. This was unacceptable, but not to make a scene I let it go. When we were finally seated, we waited for at least 20 to 30 additional minutes before I finally asked the Hostess if we could get some service. The server arrived shortly after, but was very rude and acted as if we were bothering her. The food was subpar also. Even though we had a bad experience, we decided to give The Bowman another try this year (2024). Again, we had a reservation and arrived early. We were seated immediately, there wasn't very many people in the front room, where we were seated. The server showed up right away. We requested waters and cocktails. The cocktails arrived and I had to ask for water again. The server was obviously inexperienced in waiting tables. He lacked any etiquette in serving, He didn't introduce himself, he asked things like "What do you want?" instead of "Is there anything else I can get you?" "Have you decided on what you'd like?" and such. After we received our food, he was nowhere to be found. The next issue is not his fault. We all ordered the Filet Mignon meal. The steaks were all cooked improperly. I requested medium rare and it was rare, my sons ordered medium and his was medium rare, my daughter asked for well done and got medium. The corn was bland canned corn. Neither my son nor I ate the corn. I couldn't eat my steak, so I took it home and cooked it properly for the next evening. What is unsettling is that the entire time my plate with the corn and untouched steak lay on the table and our server never once asked if there was something wrong. I have to say that the drinks were not bad, the mashed potatoes and the cream of crab soup were good also. To say the least, it was a unanimous decision that we won't be back. We are sad to have lost a good dining spot. read more

This rating is based on the food and atmosphere. I feel rating on the service could kill a business if someone is having a bad day. That said. The server was personable and very friendly, just the kind of a server I would like but it will not be in the rating. Plenty of parking, but it does fill up on the really busy nights. Outdoor dining is nice but today was over 90. So we went inside. For the food I ordered the Austin Beef Sandwich $13.00 Thinly-sliced prime rib with fried onions, fried mushrooms and pepper jack cheese served on a focaccia roll. What they didn't mention was the au jus on the side. TBH it was delicious, but I was envious of the sandwich my daughter and wife ordered. Baltimore Chicken Sandwich $15.00 Juicy grilled chicken breast, topped w/ our creamy crab dip, tomato and bacon and served on a toasted kaiser roll. Comes w/ fries. The fries were all they would let me sample, but they were shoestring fries with herbs and tasty to boot. See what I did there... From this visit I will say, I am interested in going back, I am looking forward to the patio. 4.25 stars! Nice place! read more

Needs new decor, more salt and flavor and a clear entrance. It feels like the 90s in there.

To start the New Year off we attended the Polar Bear Brunch for the Harley Owners Group at The Bowman Restaurant. We were delighted to see the hall decorated for the holidays. It was so welcoming and festive. Steve and his staff bent over backwards to make our event just perfect. Their attention to every detail was superb. The coffee was hot and fresh. They had an array of fresh juices along with the tea and coffee. The buffet started with an assortment of fresh fruits and pastries; followed by English muffins, scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, sausages, French toast pudding, pancakes, and biscuits. The staff never let the serving trays get empty. They were at the top of their game. To complete our brunch, Steve came around with an assortment of Fenwick Bakery Christmas cookies, which was a sweet ending. Thank you so much for a wonderful brunch, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! read more

Always enjoy going to the Bowman!! Excellent food, service and the overall atmosphere is great!!!

Paid the live entertainment 1/2 of what was promised! Who else are they screwing, not paying or where else are they cutting corners. Never will they get one penny of my business. read more

I wanted to try this local restaurant. It was definitely crowded on a Friday night around 6:00pm. We had to wait about 40 minutes to get seated. I thought well it must be a great place so I decided to stick it out. Took a bit to get a waiter's attention. We ordered the Maryland crab soup and also the Cream of crab soup. Looked good at first but honestly both lacked enough crabmeat. I kept fishing in my bowl for lump crab meat; none was found. Disappointed to say the least. We decided to order appetizers because it had gotten so late and couldn't eat a large meal. We ordered the wings and the steamed shrimp. They both had great presentation. They were hot and delicious. Great sized wings and shrimp. We had no complaints with those appetizers. I know it was a busy night because staff was all over the place. Unfortunately we were the quiet ones and didn't get the attention that was desired. It definitely was loud and our party couldn't hear each other. Parking was also tough leaving. We got blocked in from those who decided to make parking spots across the handicap parking. I was honestly looking for some great soup and didn't feel we got it so that is why the rating isn't better. read more

Super quick and tasty carry out.. never disappoints! Thank you, Steve for bringing this out to my car :) read more

The Bowman - Crab cake, mashed potatoes, and Max&cheese. Never disappoints coming from The Bowman!! - American Near Me - Parkville, Maryland

Been coming here for years. The food just keeps getting better and better, The crab dip and stuffed mushrooms, favorites of mine wherever I go, are the best I have had ANYWHERE...including places which charge 3 times what they are here! Also love their meatloaf. Pure comfort food. Do wish they would bring back their Chicken Chesapeake. It was superb. Their Rockfish Chesapeake special is also about as good as seafood gets in Maryland, which is known for its many fine seafood places. I should have taken pictures of the presentations of these dishes~ Next time! read more

Ted, a friend of Jim, who is a great friend of mine that I often dine with, suggested lunch at The Bowman Restaurant on Friday. Jim asked me if I wanted to attend. I asked Jim if it was the Bowman on Harford Road just north of I-695. He replied that it was indeed. I told Jim that I did not realize that the establishment still existed. My last memories of The Bowman were when I was an underage teenager, sneaking past the doorman with a fake ID, with all my friends, to party downstairs while drinking and dancing all night. Before going to lunch on Friday, I read the reviews for The Bowman Restaurant on Yelp. First, I noticed the overall three-and-a-half-star rating and then I began to read the limited reviews. There were two reviews from 2018 and the remaining reviews dated all the way back to 2009. Most of the review star ratings were weak at best, and the comments were underwhelming. I went to lunch anyway because I wanted to meet Ted, see Jim, and out of nostalgia. I ordered a Cîroc Martini, up, with three olives. The server returned and told me they did not have whatever I was ordering. Then she asked me if it was vodka. I told her that it was, then she told me she would go to the bar to ask what type of vodkas they carried. She returned and named two specialty vodkas that I never heard of which I suspect victuals to a younger crowd. I told her to forget it and that I would like a Grey Goose Martini $9, up, with three olives. She returned with a half-filled Martini glass with three small pimento-stuffed olives. Jim ordered a cup of the Maryland Crab soup $4.50 as an appetizer. I ordered a bowl of the Oyster Stew $12 (Plump Oysters in a Buttery Heavy Cream Broth). Ted and Jim ordered the Bowman Crab Cakes - Single $17 (Our Famous Crab Cake (5 oz.) All Jumbo Lump Crab Meat, Broiled), with two side items as their entrees. I ordered the Blackened Ahi Tuna $14 (Seared RARE; Served Sliced with Pickled Ginger, Seaweed Salad & Wasabi-Soy Sauce) as my entree even though it is an appetizer. The server asked if we wanted dinner rolls with our meals. Jim and Ted indicated that they wanted some. About 15-minutes later, the server returned with the appetizers. I looked at Jim's cup of Maryland Crab soup and immediately noticed that it did not have the distinct red or orange hue of traditional Maryland Crab soup. The broth's color was translucent brown. I asked Jim to describe the soup to me. He said that it was good. I asked him how the seasoning tasted, and he replied that it needed more seasoning. My bowl of Oyster Stew was huge. I saw about six medium-sized oysters bobbing around in the white broth that had a few spots of yellow. I scooped-up an oyster onto my spoon and realized that the broth was extremely thin; a watery consistency. I ate the oyster which was mostly absent of flavor as is most oysters eaten raw without any condiments; however, the broth had no flavor whatsoever; no seasoning, no salt, no cream, no garlic, no black pepper, no oyster juice. It was apparent that the chef used something to make the broth white in color, perhaps milk, but absolutely not heavy cream, as described on the menu, or Half-and-Half. I ate the oysters and then pushed the bowl of white-colored liquid away from me. After another 20-minutes, our entrees arrived at the table with two dinner rolls. Ted and Jim were served their Bowman Crab Cake, coleslaw, and a baked potato for Ted. Jim's two-colored squash arrived when he was halfway through eating his meal. I asked Ted to describe the small crab cake to me. He said that it was mostly crab meat with minimal filling and tasted good. I asked him if it had Old Bay Seasoning in it or another blend and if he could tell the difference. He replied that he did not think there was any seasoning in it at all. Jim agreed. The server placed a small square plate in front of me containing my appetizer, the Blackened Ahi Tuna. I frequently order Ahi Tuna as an appetizer when dining. The Bowman's representation of the appetizer was a complete failure. The seven small, rectangular slices of tuna were poorly blackened and seared. Again, and at no surprise, the tuna was not crusted with sesame seeds, spices, or marinaded to enhance the flavor. The Seaweed Salad is a misnomer. Its name should be a few strands of Seaweed. The parsimonious serving of pickled ginger made for a congruous dish. That is not a compliment by any means. Each item occupied its own section of the plate akin to an old-fashioned TV dinner. The Bowman Restaurant's decor requires a severe facelift, review of the menu, the portion sizes and pricing, and a chef who understands the subtleties of flavors and spices. Perhaps The Bowman Restaurant has outlived its time and is just hanging on by increasing their prices. Regardless, I would not recommend the restaurant for drinks, lunches, or dinners. read more

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We've lived in Parkville my whole life yet I had never gotten food from Bowman's. One night it popped up as an option to order from on UberEats. So I decided to try their Cream of Crab Soup , their Crab Dip, their Broiled Stuffed Shrimp, and the Chocolate Mousse Cake. Ok, so for starters, there was no crab meat in the soup. Plus it tasted sour. Totally inedible. The crab dip would've been better had they given soft bread slices to dip and eat it with rather than hard pita chips. I was most disappointed in the Stuffed Shrimp. The Imperial was NASTY. It had a bitter chemical-like taste to it. And the shrimp itself was very chewy. So there went my dinner. I then attempted to eat the chocolate cake. *sigh* It was stale and hard like it had been left out in the air. So I tried to eat the soft parts to attempt to salvage it. Anyway, this meal ended up being a total waste of $82. I won't be back nor will I ever recommend this place to anyone. read more

Great service, and consistently great food! Been coming here since for over 30 years and have never been let down. Just enjoyed a fine dinner here last night with my family. The Cream of Crab soup had the most lumps of crabmeat out of anywhere else I've had it. The Bowman never disappoints. read more

I liked the food and service here a lot. I ordered the stuffed shrimp (loved), my brother and dad got the scallops (they loved them and said the scallops were super tender), and my sister-in-law got the crabcake (kind of small, but she enjoyed it). We had brought a cake for my dad's birthday, and they not only put candles on it, but brought it out at the right time and plated it nicely. I recommend sitting in the formal dining area for a nice dinner experience, but be warned that you can't get the sandwiches there. read more

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My wife and I had never been to the Bowman, but have always heard good things. It's a bit of a drive for us - around 50 minutes-- but we were in the mood for good Seafood and decided to give it a shot. VERY glad we did. Arrived about 8:00 last Saturday night and decided to sit on the bar side instead of the dining room. Place seemed to be filled with regulars, many seeming to know each other and having fun. We sat in the back next to a nice fireplace, and drew one of the owner's daughter as our server. She was very helpful and pleasant when we asked for suggestions. We decided to go pretty much with seafood staples and everything was consistently excellent. The rolls were warm, crusty, and buttery flavored. My wife's French onion soup had plenty of melted cheese, my cream of crab was delicious with lots of big sweet chunks of crab. The crab cakes were some of the best I've had ...... and that's saying something when you've lived in the Baltimore area for a long time! Baked potato cooked perfectly, Cole slaw very good. My stuffed flounder once again was just covered with a very generous portion of large chunks of sweet crab in a delicious sauce. What makes it even better is that the crowd of locals were apparently there to see a band, so we stuck around for over an hour to listen. Jill Black and the Panic Attack ROCKED!! All in all a fun experience and we will certainly put the Bowman in our rotation as our go-to Seafood place. read more

I've been back... a 1/2 dozen more times. The Bowman has become our go-to "we don't feel like cooking, we don't want to get dressed up and go to the City, we just want some simple good food & drinks" place. I don't know what else to say - if that's what you're looking for, the Bowman provides. Aside from that birthday party I mentioned in my previous review, we haven't sat in any dining room - so we don't have experience with the wait staff. We prefer the bar top. The bartenders are great. The orange crushes are amazing - Sky Infused Vodka and fresh squeezed oranges. We're a 20's/30's couple and we're really out of place here... but I think that's why we both like it. The menu does have some more of the typical upmarket options (crabcakes, steaks, seafood, etc). We actually did swing by on Christmas Eve and discovered they had a prepared dinner menu. We hadn't intended to, but we ended up getting the crabcakes which were pretty good (decently lumpy, not too stringy or liquidity). read more

The Bowman - Chicken Breast Sandwich (blackened) with fries - American Near Me - Parkville, Maryland

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I Hosted my Book signing event in one of the private dinning rooms . What can I say? The staff was amazing!!! I did not have to ask or want for anything. My guests really thought I went all out for them and that is partly due to the humble wait staff and manager on shift that day. The food- excellent as well, great parking, no worries and a night that I will never forget. Thank you, Shynia- Author of Let's Get Matched read more

Wow, I can't believe I'm just now getting to my review which is from Thanksgiving of 2009. Anyway, my family came here for Thanksgiving dinner last year and it was extremely disappointing. Service was friendly but it was dreadfully slow, the room was obnoxiously loud and crowded, and the tables were packed so close together that there was no atmosphere. For a place that tries to come across as almost fine dining, nothing but the prices lived up to that. The Thanksgiving menu consisted of a choice of several main entrees, several sides, and several desserts. It really didn't matter what any of us picked because it was all slightly above cafeteria quality. For an attempt at a nice family dinner, this was a complete failure. It really felt like they were just trying to cut corners by packing everyone in and selling mass produced crap food at a premium since it was a holiday. Maybe coming here for a regular meal is better but I really have little interest in returning to find out. read more

Ate there with wife, daughter and daughter's S.O. Crab dip and Crab and Avocado appetizers; Pork Chops, Ahi Tuna, Horseradish encrusted steak, and Veal scaloppine entrees; Bread pudding and some sort of brownie/ice cream for dessert. Bread pudding was OK - rest was out of this world. Service top notch. Waiter was attentive but not overbearing. All in all a wonderful meal. I'll be back. read more

We had a really mediocre experience. Our server basically ignored us the entire time. It took forever for her to come around to take our order and we sat there with empty drinks for most of our meal. The restaurant seems like it has been here forever but it is just dated. Layers of dust and grime and outdated holiday decorations -- strange. It was not super pleasant. The food might have been ok if not for the fact that our service was pretty bad. We were charged $6.50 for a "bowl" of soup of the day that came in the tiniest little cup. I have never had a bowl of soup that size! And it was just awful -- it was supposed to be cream of seafood soup or a seafood chowder but had 2 little chunks of fish in it and otherwise had the texture of mashed potatoes. I only ate it because I was starving but it was the WORST. My shrimp wrap was just ok. We also got a crabcake that was decent but still overpriced for what it was. The food was just average, service was terrible, for a meal that ended up costing $60 -- for the food I mentioned, an iced tea that was never refilled, and 2 drafts. Wouldn't recommend it. read more

Very consistent food, service and drink at The Bowman. I find myself in Parkville at least a couple times a quarter for work and always make it a point to stop in for a drink and a bite to eat. My last visit I had 2 craft beers and the crab soup and the Lobster special with asparagus and it was outstanding. My waitress was very attentive without being overbearing and chatty. I like the atmosphere and it also is a very special place to me as we celebrated my 21st birthday there with several family members who are now deceased. Keep up the good work! read more

Some of the best food I've ever had!!! Service is kinda meh but the food is great!!! Amazing happy hour specials (bar top only).

Hadn't been to the Bowman in years and wasn't sure what to expect. Started out with very gracious attention from the staff. Very nice decor, not elegant but much nicer than chain restaurants. One of the best things is the noise level, no tv, no music - it's not necessary to shout, the atmosphere is relaxed and conducive to conversation. My wife and I both had the stuffed flounder- terrific! The flounder was flavorful and not over cooked. The crab imperial stuffing-fantastic. Lots of lump crab meat with little filler or mayo. One the best stuffed fish dishes ever. Good wine and beer selection and excellent service at a reasonable price. read more

Great food at great prices served by great people. The broiled cake cake was moist, yellow and excellent! The sour beef was nice & tender and very sweet. Give them a try you decide ... read more

Do yourself a favor and try the scallops. Cooked perfectly every time. Used to come w/mashed garlic potatoes (yum) but now w/risotto (creamy & delicious). Cream of crab soup is tasty and full of crab. Friendly, helpful staff. read more

Really nice old school Baltimore dining! Came here maybe fifteen years ago just found it OK- HUGE difference this time! Service was fast, friendly, and attentive. Decor is bar-restsurant casual; nice enough to go out for big occasion, but jeans and t-shirts would not feel underdressed, especially in large bar area. Menu old school with a few nods to trendier dishes (think crab cakes, steak, crab soup, fried shrimp, cream sauce-seafood pasta dishes, with some ahi tuna appetizer-type things). We started with crab dip - amazing! Looked dry and scary - when tasted, devine! More like a thick cheese sauce poured over sweet lump crab; lots of toasted buttery puts points to soak it up! Mmmm... Rye Manhattans were tasty and strong; crab cake and filet delicious, wife's fried shrimp huge, fresh, delicious; son enjoyed rockfish over risotto; his girlfriend had steak and cake too - only quibble kitchen forgot her crab cake but server comped it and gave us a free creme brulee. Crab here is served free of Old Bay- crab meat is clearly Maryland, and the sweetness shines through! Will come here again!! read more

This place is great! Terrific food at a reasonable price. Great service, neighborly atmosphere. Cream of crab soup is delish. Ruben is tasty and greek salad has authenticity. I will be back! read more

My review is specifically about having a private party at Bowman. Everything was perfect. We had a 90th birthday party for a family member with 40 guests. They placed us in their largest room, which was just the right size. I arranged the event with a co-manager named Elena, who was friendly and conscientious. She even arranged to work on the date and time of the event so she could be available to make sure everything went smoothly! The service was great. I think the favorite entree of the guests was the crab cake. It was meaty and broiled nicely. read more