Bowden's — Restaurant in Tallahassee

We had the misfortune to try to lunch there on Saturday, March 23. To give credit where it's due, the space is really cool. But how the food at this place gets good reviews is beyond my comprehension. We ordered mozzarella sticks for an appetizer. The sticks that were brought to us, despite looking good on the outside, were completely frozen inside — not just cold, but frozen. Obviously, we sent them back. When our server brought a replacement order, all the sticks now were … even worse than before — they were burnt on the outside and yet totally frozen inside! I still don't understand how that's even possible. Obviously, we sent it back again, and also obviously we told our server that we are not going to try our luck with mozzarella sticks anymore. Half of our company (and there was about 10 of us) changed their minds and decided not to eat anything, seeing how their "cooks" can't do something as simple as warming up mozzarella sticks. Do I need to tell you that we were quite frustrated at that point? I requested some compensation for our troubles and our ruined lunch, and we were given a complimentary order of buffalo shrimp, which were good — but it was too late to save this shameful fiasco of a lunch. Oh, wait a minute. After we had told our server to take away the second order of sticks and while we were still waiting for the replacement appetizer, another guy from the kitchen showed up at our table with a third order of mozzarella sticks — something we didn't ask for, as by now we were waiting for a different appetizer. Of course, we weren't going to try this again (you know, fool me once, fool me twice, but third time would've been too much), and we told him so. He smirked at us, as if we're being unreasonable! How can you offend your clients with your "food", and then show your contempt for them? On the positive side, our server was really nice and she seemed genuinely sympathetic with our troubles. She's not too good at her job, as it never crossed her mind to provide napkins with finger food, but at least she was nice. Fortunately, we were there only for a conference visit, so don't have to consider this place for our future meals. But whenever I find myself in Tallahassee again, I'll make sure to go literally anywhere else for my lunch. It's one thing if you make a mistake; but it's a whole different level of incompetence if you persist in being so bad at...

Disappointing!

10 months ago, I wrote: I enjoyed this venue for what it had to offer. The chicken tenders were yummy, and I enjoyed the live band on a Saturday night.

After last night’s experience, I am disappointed and I no longer stand by my original 5 star review. One of us ordered a Cobb Salad which lists mixed greens, and egg. There was only iceberg and no egg. Two of us ordered a meal that came with waffle fries, we received regular style fries. Meh. The buffalo chicken wrap had no bleu cheese. I was tired of raising my concerns before I could even bite into my food when it started with my daughter’s nachos coming out with barbecue sauce. When I told this to the waiter, he says “oh yeah, that’s the garnet sauce”. Garnet sauce is not mentioned anywhere on the menu or website. He takes the nachos away, brings them back and as my daughter is eating the new ones brought out I grabbed a few to munch on. I kept taking some even though I found them to be tasteless and then suddenly a burst of flavor. Was it BBQ sauce? I look, I don’t see it and I take another bite… honey mustard. There was honey mustard on the nachos. I immediately ask to speak to the manager who takes it off our check (they took the salad off, not the nachos which were more expensive but again I was done and didn’t bother nickel and diming with my complaints but come on). I appreciated him taking off the item (that he never removed from our table or asked if he could replace it) and then I appreciate the additional 10% taken off but this all completely threw our server off. I want to give him credit because he tried but the place was too packed and be was frazzled. He didn’t remember me ordering another beverage. I had to remind him. Then, he brings out the wrong one. I ended up keeping it because I shouldn’t have to keep on a server, a manager or their cooking staff. I hope you get it together soon because I really enjoyed Bowden’s my first visit 10 months ago. It was also way too crowded for a restaurant. They allowed one too many kids to hang out for the bar that you had to squeeze through to get to the restroom with a long line of about 15...

I wish I could give a proper review on this place, but each time my friend and I have attempted to try this place we never even speak to a server. The first time was a regular busy Saturday afternoon and the place was packed to the brim. We waited 20 minutes to put our name on the list (yes we waited 20 minutes in a line going out the door) and was told the wait would be 20-30 minutes which was fine with us because we really wanted to try the place. After about 15 minutes we get a text that our table was ready... along with about 5 other different parties of people, which led to a pile up at the "host stand" (really just a random table close to the door). The poor host was seemingly the only one scheduled that day to host AND buss tables as she was doing it all and running back and forth so we decided to go someplace else and try it on a day after the semester ended. We tried again yesterday and were sat outside immediately by the polite hostess (the only thing good about this place from what I've experienced) as it was fairly empty. We were the only people seated outside vs our first attempt with the patio being completely full. We waited THIRTEEN minutes and was still not greeted by a server. At that point I was really really upset because I have served for almost 5 years and never took that long to greet a table. We assumed our business wasn't wanted and went across the street to Coosh's where we had much better service and a delicious lunch. Our suspicions were confirmed when we looked across the street a minute after leaving our table to see the menus and waters they give at the door had been swiftly snatched up and cleared. Perhaps we weren't the right color to receive proper service or who knows what exactly their issue is, but I will not be giving them...