The Bowery Bar — Restaurant in Boston

READ THIS IF UR BLACK OR POC: I planned a nice day for my boyfriend on Saturday and I planed for our day to end with dinner at the Bowery. We got there at 10pm and took our seats in the dining area. At 10:30 after being there for 30 minutes and nobody approached us to hand out a menu or anything, I tried to get the waitress’ attention and so I waived at her, let me tell you! The girl looked me straight in my eye & turn her back to me. I thought I was tripping so I told my boyfriend to try and get her attention, he was ignored as well.

We called out to another waitress who came over with an attitude, the whole time I’m talking to her, her head is facing in the opposite direction. Then she asked us if we want to move to the bar which was full but there was a booth in the corner which is where she wanted us. I asked if the seats we chose were reserved and she said no but we agreed to move to the corner anyway. She sat us down and never returned. After a while, my and my boyfriend got up and left it was 10:50pm. I planned this dinner a week in advance and we wasted almost an hour at this place and still left hungry. It was damn near 11pm and we didn’t have the energy or time to go anywhere else. Mind you, we both recently turned 21 so we bought out ID’s to get our first drink there.

I’ve seen reviews from other people of color who say the staff here are racist. It makes me sad to type this but I actually believe we got mistreated because we’re a young black couple. A white lady who got there after us was immediately approached and her order was taken. I literally watched the lady sit down across from me. The waitress ignored me and walked to the other lady’s table. When I left the white lady had her plate of food so do what you will with this information. 95% of guests in there are white anyway so as soon as I walked in, I felt so noticeable bc we stood out for sure but we were completely ignored. We couldn’t believe how we were treated.

We talked about the experience all night. I was so embarrassed b/c I chose the place. He says he’s never coming back and neither am I. It’s 2023, black people are paying customers and should be treated with respect just like everybody else. The Bowery is not the only place with racist staff, I’ve noticed most places in the lower mills have racist tendencies when it comes to servicing poc. It speaks volumes that none of the staff I’ve seen at the Bowery were black or poc. If anybody that I encountered the other night reads this, y’all ruined an important night for me....

So, wow. My girlfriend and I came here a few months ago for drinks and we had an absolutely amazing time. We decided to go back tonight. She has Celiac's disease (really, blood work done and everything) and was really excited about their menu.

I got there first and was seated at a table next to the window. I honestly didn't even think twice about it, because I honestly don't care where I sit, but it was a little colder over by the window than I was expecting and asked (VERY POLITELY, I promise) the hostess if I could move. She was incredibly hesitant to accommodate me, even though the restaurant side of the bar was mostly empty. She eventually did accommodate me and I thanked her.

45 minutes later, my girlfriend had arrived about 15 minutes earlier and we still hadn't seen a waitress. We had to flag down a separate waitress and the hostess before our server (who was happily serving other tables while we were waiting) simply asked us what we wanted.

My girlfriend tried to order the lobster Mac n cheese which is CLEARLY MARKED GLUTEN FREE MODIFIED on the menu. The waitress told us that it wasn't available gluten free, despite the menu clearly marking it as such. My girlfriend, far more patient than I at this point, said she needed another minute before deciding what her order would be.

The entire reason we went to The Bowery this evening was so my girlfriend could try their lobster Mac n cheese.

The waitress then returned a few minutes later and tried to explain to us why the meal my girlfriend chose was not gluten free despite it being marked as such. I was so upset by the A: Total lack of service B: total miscommunication about their menu C: we were out to celebrate a new job and A and B happened, that we ended up leaving and going elsewhere.

I hate that I'm writing this review. I just don't complain about service or restaurants because I understand the pressure people in the service industry are in. But this damn near ruined a night out my girlfriend had planned for a while.

Also, we watched our server give FULL SERVICE to other tables that arrived after us. There were able to order drinks and apps before we even got water. Also, almost all of this would have been acceptable if the restaurant was packed, but it just wasn't. It...

(Visited, 3/2/2025)

I booked this cute experience for a group of friends and me to enjoy a cozy brunch — and it ended up being so much more than I expected. I had heard the food was great, so I trusted that part, but I was really looking for a private, comfortable space where we could relax and connect. This setup delivered on both fronts.

Despite the cold weather outside, the space was warm and inviting. It was beautifully decorated and thoughtfully arranged, making it feel both stylish and intimate.

Our server, Ana, was incredible — attentive and patient the whole time. Since our group didn’t all arrive at the same time, she stayed on top of things, making sure everyone was served seamlessly as they joined.

We kicked things off with the nachos, adding chicken. It was a good appetizer — enough for all eight of us to get a taste, but if you’re looking to start with something hearty, you might want to order an extra plate.

For my main dish, I had the Steak and Eggs Bowl. The eggs were cooked perfectly (I asked for hard scrambled), and the steak was tender and juicy. Every bite was packed with flavor.

A few things to know before you go: • Reservations: They require a deposit to book, which gets applied to your final bill. • Minimum spend: There’s a minimum spend per group, based on the yurt’s size. • Parking: Street parking was easier than I expected — no issues finding a spot.

I’d absolutely come back. The food, the ambiance, and the meaningful, candid conversations we had in that cozy little space made this an...