I love this place! :-) I work very close and if they had delivery I would eat here everyday . Hometown feeling with a upscale restaurant menu superb superb superb !!!!! 10 stars by far
(5)
Jay B.
My wife and I used to love this place. But the last trip did it in for us. Not sure what happened, but the quality of the food was decent, the price seemed like it went up a lot. (2) 4oz crab cakes were listed on the menu as "market price". Turns out they were $29! My wifes steak was the same price. Maybe next time we'll go for just drinks and appetizers.
(3)
B H.
Valentine's Day Dinner Did a Search found on yelp! Picture of pork chop got us. Awesome valentines day event hooked us to try it. We are new to the area. Shrimp appetizer with dipping sauce was amazing - best part of the dinner I had double pork chop - wife had shrimp and scallop scampi - both very good. Good drinks - Great Jazz - cool atmosphere We will go back and try some more def. Thanks for a great valentines day!
(4)
Nancy A.
How in the world does this place have 4-5 stars? The good: Cutesy place, cute location. Would have loved if this place could have been a off-the-beaten-path treasure. The bad: It took 15 min to get water and 35 min to get our food. We were literally in this place for 2 hrs in total. The wait service left a lot lacking, not to mention our waiter was sweating profusely. The food was awful. My baked potato was old and microwaved. The side salad was old and not fresh. Won't be returning. Too bad.
(1)
Mike D.
Love OBTG. Great Food, Great Service, and always has good bands.
(5)
Sandra L.
Attended a surprise birthday party here in their event room on 2nd floor. Service was great, staff was very attentive & friendly. Food was brought out quickly and tasted very good. Would definately recommend this venue!
(4)
Mady J.
I have seen this bar for years and finally decided to try it out last night. It's on the way to and from my house in old town bowie. The food was very good! had a great meal here.The bartenders were entertaining and friendly during our long wait. The service is impeccable, attentive and friendly without hovering, and food is consistently excellent. Awesome late night dining experience. The hosts were professional and very friendly. The servers were knowledgable, efficient & responsive. It is a beautifully designed space, eye catching & exuding warmth. Side note: Old Bowie Town Grille is tucked in a corner so it can be had to find it at times.
(4)
Puff P.
First, let me start of and say we (sexy couple) love dive bars. As new to Bowie residents, we decided to check out the Old Bowie Town Grille. We were excited to go for their Saturday happy hour, but arrive too late for the specials (too much tickle and winks). As we pulled up, we saw a few people standing on the upper deck and got excited, only to find out that a party had booked the upstairs portion. I guess we were a little surprise that there were a few "day after" Halloween parties taken place. We enter and the place was very nice, with a dark wood cabin feel. The bar area was very small, but it worked for us, because we were able to get seats at the bar. Seems that the bar has an Irish theme or owners, and they got a high five from us for having "Smithwicks"! The staff was very nice, and in costume. Our bartender was dressed as a police officer, which added a weird element having a cop serve you countless drinks. The patrons were very nice with a lot of the being "seasoned" regulars, and the bartender knew they all by name. That is what we look for in a dive. They had no real drink/food specials (5:30pm Saturday), however the Irish Red was $2.50 a bottle. We did think it was kind of odd that the apps were the same prices as most of the regular food. This definitely made the overall tab get pricey quick, especially when you are like us, and love dives. The drink sizes were normal, without any monster glasses (which we like). Seating was a little tight in the bar area, with very limited standing/eating space, unless you are bellied up to the bar. Cozy and comfortable, if you are not antisocial or weird and don't like people but you like bars. The crowd was "older/seasoned" and filled with locals. Nothing wrong with that, however that day we were there, it didn't offer us the "mmmmm yes" type of people watching we enjoy. With them setting up the upstairs for the next party, the moving furniture above was loud and clear.
(3)
Andrew L.
When I asked at the Bowie railroad museum where to have lunch, the nearby Old Bowie Town Grill was the answer. A good recommendation. The decor is dark wood in the paneling and the booths and tables. Various photos of old Bowie are on the walls. The restaurant has a varied menu, including salads, hot sandwiches, burgers, soups, and main dishes. I ordered a Big B Post Roast sandwich with French fries. The sandwich, on a baguette, was ample. Big B indeed! Tender pot roast, but could have been tangier. Iced tea to drink. Quick and friendly service and not crowded on a Saturday afternoon. WiFi was available.
(4)
Pierre B.
We were seated in the first floor and were greeted with boisterous chatter from all the other diners. The place had a dim, cute quaint folksy feel. The service was inconsistent. We asked for water. Ten minutes later our server didn't come with the water but told us water was on the way. We started with the spinach artichoke dip. The bread was good but the dip tasted defrosted. The people who ordered cream of crab soup enjoyed the soup but the salads not so much. I ordered the filet of cod. One filet was solid, the other undercooked. The fish was garnished with dried-up slices of lemon and orange as well as wilted greens. I had asked for malt vinegar and we were given literally three teaspoons in a big ass bottle. Our server tried his best but he was sweaty-faced and spent more time telling us things were on their way instead of giving us the food. He meant well, as did the lady who checked up on us and offered to refill our drinks but things were just too inconsistent and the food was not satisfying.
(2)
Roo B.
A little late in writing this review, but I want to thank this place for coming to the rescue and saving our company Christmas party back in December. These people went above and beyond in accommodating our last minute party when The Newton White Mansion and Catering by Uptown screwed us over the day of our event. What a neat place and friendly people here! They had our casino tables set up before we arrived, and made our musician feel right at home. Everyone loved the food and festive atmosphere! Will definitely be back....thank you for the hospitality!
(5)
Desi W.
Great neighbor spot.
(3)
Dan N.
I have yet to find a better burger and fries in Bowie. I usually order an extra side of fries, they are that addicting. I also recently was talked into trying their Garlic Parmesan wings, which I avoid at places because they are usually seasoned with tons of garlic powder, but these wings have a garlic parm sauce that puts them in my top 5 for wings! You won't regret ordering them.
(5)
RedHoney B.
The food was very good. The live band made it even better! Will go back. The only thing negative was the lack of parking.
(3)
Matthew R.
This place is fairly nice. The staff has always been very friendly and attentive to my girlfriend and I an the food is rather good. If you go to the bar for something to munch on and a drink, then get the nachos. It is a simple appetizer but they are oh so yummy or ono as we say in Hawai'i. The only down side I can find to the place is the ceiling tile. Yep, you read that right. The ceiling tile grid appears to be working fine. It is the cheap tile in the grid showing signs of age by it's sagging appearance. The tiles with the speakers in them appear almost ready to fall out of the grid. My recommendation? Go in for a visit. Lunch, dinner, or late night drinks. This place is good for them all! Just don't look up! Or if you can't resist the urge to look up after reading this, then wear a hat. The food and service are good and great respectively. I do recommend this place. It is a solid 4 stars.
(4)
Michie C.
The food here is consistently good and the atmosphere is very friendly. Lots of regulars. We love the soups and salads in particular.
(4)
Rhonda J.
My husband and I have lived in Bowie for 2 years.. he has wanted to eat here for a long time, so we finally tried it last night while my mother-in-law was in town from California. This restaurant is deceiving because it has a cute, small-town homey feel, but the food and service do not live up to the atmosphere. The good: Super friendly hostess (she looked like the owner), cute atmosphere, convenient location. Good cream of crab soup. Fair prices. The bad: Terrible service.. it took 45 minutes to get our food, and the waiter never came back to ask us if everything was OK.. then, he did not clean our table, so we sat there with dirty plates for 20 minutes. When it came time to pay the check, we sat there for another 20 minutes, trying to locate our waiter. When I needed more dressing and sour cream, my mother-in-law had to get up and walk around the restaurant to find someone. It was some of the worst service I had in a long time. The food was also mediocre at best. My husband and I split the salmon plate, and the salmon was dry and overcooked. I ordered a house salad that was limp with brown lettuce. I barely ate it. The friendly hostess/owner also made the rounds to every table except ours.. she was loudly chatting with the other customers, and we were ignored. It didn't make for an inviting atmosphere. We also had to shout to talk over her, because her voice was so loud. The other thing that we found bizarre and disappointing is that for an Irish pub, they have NO IRISH FOOD! My husband wanted corned beef and cabbage or bangers and mash, but they didn't have anything like that.... spinach and artichoke dip and salmon? Hardly Irish food. They should change their name and image, or add some Irish items to the menu. Overall, we will not be returning. It's a shame. We really wanted to like this place, but it was a no go. We often go to Simple Pleasures for ice cream, and I suppose they will be the only reason that we will return to Old Bowie.
(2)
Tim T.
great local bar, with great service and great food. the price is very reasonable, and they often have entertainment with live bands and music on the second floor.
(5)
Gerard C.
Great food. Good people. Fun entertainment upstairs area - we recommend the lucky few. BBQ shrimp is a great special. Bayou shrimp appetizer a must try.
(5)
Rae M.
I went back for dinner in the restaurant and I liked it even more. The food improved, or perhaps their was a different cook working that evening, either way it was an improvement from the other 2 times I came to this place. Attentive waitress, excellent drinks and pretty good food....it's won me over.
(4)
Tanya Z.
This was my first visit to this restaurant. Right away when we walked in we were greeted by staff. Our waitress was friendly and on top of it. We ordered burgers and they were tasty. They don't skimp on the size of the burger or the toppings. Fries were good too. Overall a pleasant visit with friendly staff, decent prices, and good food!
(4)
Jasmine D.
The food and staff are great. It felt like I was at home with a bunch of family and friends. They also have live music sometimes in the upstairs bar. I had the create your own pasta with the New Orleans Alfredo and added chicken. You definitely get your money's worth because I could barely finish the pasta. I would go here again.
(4)
Ken M.
I love this place because it's a little off the beaten path and it's never been super crowded. The food is very good and the service is friendly and attentive. I understand they have music upstairs most nights but I've only been there for the dining experience and it's always been good. I highly recommend it to anyone for a nice quiet meal in a pleasant atmosphere. I'd have given it five stars except that it is a tad pricey.
(4)
Tom I.
OBTG - what can I say. I really wanted to give you guys five stars. I've been here a few times now - and each time has been about the same - nothing too memorable. I know - what do I expect from a small local restaruant - well honestly I hope to find at least something to entice me back. Yes - the food is ok. I do think if they were to focus on being higher end which they seem to try to portray - or simply stick to the local bar/hang out feel - can't seem to do both. While there one night - I tried the steak special - was a thinly cut ribeye w/sauteed veggies. When I asked if the veggies were fresh - was told they were. NOPE! Standard frozen Birds Eye/Green Giant brand. This is my point - had they 1) not mis-represented what it was, 2) had they served actual FRESH sauteed veggies - that alone would bring me back. The steak was cooked as requested - and had great flavor. I also enjoy the variety of music that I've seen there... I will have to go back from time to time in order to keep checking them out and holding out hope that they choose what they want to be.
(3)
Linda W.
Nice local place. We come here regularly. To tonight we had crab ball appetizer that comes with both tarter sauce and hot sauce, which is great because each of us likes ones of those better. I had teriyaki chicken with a side of asparagus, very good. B. had fried shrimp and french fries and was pleased. Just what we wanted.
(4)
Jim G.
I love it. We go often and have since they opened. We always feel like family and if anything is wrong,which is rare, it's fixed immediately. I think if I were retired and lived alone I'd eat here every day. We love the staff and the owners.
(5)
Nan G.
This restaurant is located in a small 'antique' section of Bowie. As part of the revitalization of this 'Old Town' area we were given a huge gift. This gift is the Old Town Bowie Grille. You can't miss here. The obtg serves traditional American foods specializing in Steaks and Seafood. They also have a full schedule of weekly live entertainment. The daily specials are not to be missed. I have gone for dinner and sat upstairs when it was Irish sing-a-long night. The mood was festive and fun. The seafood entrees we chose were spot-on. Perfectly cooked shrimp and scallops in a lemon and white wine sauce over pasta; and fresh grilled Salmon. Lunch here is also a big hit. The Bowie Grille (grilled chicken sandwich) is a great choice. The chicken is juicy and tender served with bacon and provolone cheese. It comes with a melt-in-your-mouth honey mustard. It's light and creamy; but so tasty. The Big 'B' is an open faced pot roast sandwich. The meat is very tender and delicious with mushrooms and onions. The toasted baguette in this sandwich was a little too greasy- but once you finish the huge helping of meat, there isn't much room for bread. They also serve a nice selection of juicy burgers. The crispy fries are a perfect addition to any sandwich. Desserts- three words: Key Lime Pie. Words can't begin to describe this luscious treat. It's tart and sweet- the crust is so balanced with almonds and granola and graham crackers; topped with whipped cream. Oh so good. The desserts are sent in from a local bakery. obtg has a full service bar on both levels. Locals can pull up a stool for some nice appetizers, a cold beer and great conversation. When the weather permits, enjoy eating outside on the upper deck. This place has a lot of heart and I wish them great success.
(5)
Laura R.
This is our standby date night place. They have a pretty extensive menu and we've never had a bad meal (Nachos are a favorite of mine here). Service is always good. We also enjoy the bar here, as it is quite cozy which lets you get to know the bartender. One night we were accidentally there for comedy night, which was unexpectedly great.
(4)
Brent F.
Pretty good little restaurant. Excellent service. The crab cakes could use a little less Old Bay, but they were the best I've had since moving to the DC area. (I admit that I'm a crab cake snob.) We really liked the location. Old Bowie. You would have never guessed you were in a major metropolitan area. Great selection of beer, and the menu was rather extensive. We'll be going back!
(4)
K E.
I liked this place overall, but that's because we sat on the rooftop deck which is very charming. The food was great and the service for the most part was very good. We had a different waiter at first who was not very professional, but the other staff who attended to us were great. Fine for a cute lunch on a Saturday, I wouldn't come for a special occasion or anything though and I'd make sure to sit outside, I didn't care for the interior.
(3)
Dick C.
Bar upstairs, dinning downstairs. Bar area serves good food and is where the music is. Great open jam on Wednesday nights. Friendly staff and crowd.
(5)
Brian M.
Expense for piss poor food. The food was simply terrible. Their "specialty" crab cakes were bland. So was the steak. The fries were the best thing going. They do have Smithwicks beer which made the visit to this restaurant tolerable. I would not recommend this at all.
(1)
K K.
Wonderful local pub. Great family owned and operated business, Theresa and Bob. They have good sandwiches and food in general, however their fish dishes are excellent. Good selection of beers and wines. The music is outstanding. There's always an interesting band playing, folk, rock, blues, or something. The music can get loud, so be prepared. The upstairs bar/music lounge gets packed so arrive early. Its great place to spend the evening.
(5)
Craig R.
OTBG is an awesome find. I could leave this review with that sentence and I would be totally happy. However, but I'll explain. A couple friends and I went upstairs to have a few cold ones and just relax from a depressing day of work. OTBG really turned the day around. They started out with an energetic crowd that was listening to a folk band that was made up of two young couples. It's a shame that I didn't get a chance to get their name as they were really good and everyone was enjoying it. Not only was there a great band playing, but the bartenders here are incredibly awesome. They're funny and will engage you and I was entertained for a long long time while we waited for the storm to blow over. They didn't care that the other people sitting at the bar with us wanted to change the channels on the TV. They just gave them the remote and said have a good time! I didn't have any food there, but the atmosphere was great and I will be coming here whenever I get a chance.
(5)
Belinda B.
My hubby and I lunched at OBTG..it was a less than average lunch. We may have enjoyed tastier food at a local chain restaurant. My hubby asked for grilled fish as a substitute for fried fish. He was told that all of the lunch fish is pre-breaded (IE - not fresh!) husband had the crabcake sandwich, ...he described it as bland..I was sorry I suggested the place. the name through us off - GRILL...we assumed they grilled food more than they fried food. I had the turkey club and slaw as a side. Slaw was prepackaged..I used malt vinegar, salt, pepper to remix it at my table. The turkey club was acceptable. No offer of drinks, appitizer, dessert or coffee. We will not be returning. I had to apoligize to my husband.
(2)
A C.
Haven't been here in a while, and I hope things have improved. But I was never impressed by their fakey-fancy take on the menu, and the crowd at times can be just that - a crowd...a loud, obnoxious crowd, not a gathering of restaurant patrons, respectful of each other's experience. And the food is inconsistent, from bad to blegh. If you want take out, be prepared to wait...and wait...and wait...even if you're the only one there...especially if you're the only one there.
(1)
Sharon N.
Reviewing the upstairs bar are only: Food is marginal, shots are small, mixed drinks are watered down and service is mediocre at best. I consider myself somewhat of a Irish Pub junkie, and this place doesn't come close to other Irish Pubs in the area. I've been to OBTG 6 or 8 times and it never gets better. The Wed night jazz/bluesnight is the best thing about this place to hear some awesome local jazz musicians. If you don't like a crazy tamborine pounding nut leaping through a packed house, with standing room only while a margnial band plays "Old Time Rock n Roll", avoid this place on the weekends. I would go back for the Wed night jazz, but I'll stick to beer and escape to the balcony when it gets too crowded.
(2)
Charlie L.
Another great night at the OBTG! It was the owner's birthday tonight and his band put on a great show! The food is always excellent and the atmosphere is special! Stay away from Corporate restaurants and come to a play where they know your name.
(4)
Julia E.
This is a great mom-and-pop style restaurant for those who live in Bowie. The service is very friendly and everyone is welcoming. They seem to specialize much more in fish than meat. I got a mahi-mahi dinner with chef's veggies as my side. The food didn't really blow me away--probably not worth the $20 price tag. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find they have a gluten-free menu as a few of my friends and family are gluten intolerant. The portion sizes and presentation of the meal also impressed me--everything is very simple, without the fanfare or loaded greasy sides of chain restaurants. I would definitely return and encourage others to try it out as well, especially if the weather is nice as they have outdoor balcony seating.
(4)
Gary H.
Excellent food & service. The Chesapeake crab dip was outstanding. Lots of blue crab in it. The beer was reasonably priced. I had the new Orleans chicken sandwich and my honey had one of the seafood pastas. Both were quite good. The dining room was plain and kind of noisy. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. I would definitely go back.
(4)
L R.
Nice place off the beaten path for a good meal. Great pasta dishes, seafood, and sandwiches. The Bayou Shrimp appetizer is not to be missed. Killer sauce! Good food, friendly service, and live music. Definitely a good place to introduce family and friends to.
(5)
Cindi C.
Old Bowie really needs this place, actually the whole of Bowie needs this place. Its locally owned which I like. I would say the food has a bit of a cajun thing going on. A heavy cajun influence. They have 4 pasta dishes & I would say 2 of them are cajun/new orleans inspired. The grille has a lot of sandwiches at least 8, so you can tell its a casual place. Plus they have a lot of salads, and I really like the spinach, blue cheese & walnut salad. Now about the starters, The scallop martini is served in a martini glass which makes it fun. I like the bayou shrimp starter with bread to sop up the tangy sauce. They do a good pork chop here too. And on an occasion I like the garlicky shrimp & scallops just don't wear your best shirt since the sauce seems to get all over the place. I don't think the desserts are made in house, but they are great. I like this place for drinks and music,. And if you can't get downtown or in to Annapolis for St. Patrick's day the Grille is a fun place to celebrate. In the spring and summer I like to sit out on the roof, there aren't many places to dine al fresco in Bowie so this is a treat.
(3)
Nate A.
Great place, good food. Local grille and close to home. Owners and staff are very friendly. Nice Bands on the weekends
(4)
Ardon G.
I have now been to the OBTG twice - once as a party/bar/music patron and once as a dinner patron. For my money - I will stick to the bar side. Well poured, generous shots, good flavor and selection. All what you expect and deserve in a beverage. The food side is a little confusing. It looks like a fun, casually upscale place on the outside but it is way too dark (for my taste) on the inside. Cardboard cut out decorations would be better in the classroom not what you would expect in a restaurant with these price points.... The OBTG menu can't seem to make up it's mind between pub and fine dining offerings. The prices (and descriptions) say they want to be fine dining but the atmosphere, quality and presentations are definitely pub style. First of all - the service was good. Friendly and attentive. Fairly informative and knowledgeable in an Applebee's family restaurant way, which is fine in a restaurant with $10 entrees. Unfortunately - this is a restaurant with $15+ entrees and very few at that price. Steaks and fish were more like $22 - $24. The other server working the room was a classic - diner or pub experienced - "How are you Hon" kind of gal... Even less "classy" than our young, fresh faced lady. Just an observation - neither good nor bad... Back to the food.... Pasta at $15? Salad at $15? Portions are filling but $15 CAN buy a lot of romaine lettuce. I had grilled shrimp on my Ceasar. The salad was over dressed and a bit too tangy at that. The shrimp were flavorful but undercooked and cool. And weirdly- the decorative 6 small croutons were out of a box. Hard as rocks, stale at that and 5 remained uneaten on my plate. So at the $15 price I was left unimpressed. My friends ordered a House burger and a Ruben sandwich - both looked OK and went down well but our bill was $70-$80 with a beverages and desserts... I am calling a 3 on this one.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Gi W.
I love this place! :-) I work very close and if they had delivery I would eat here everyday . Hometown feeling with a upscale restaurant menu superb superb superb !!!!! 10 stars by far
(5)Jay B.
My wife and I used to love this place. But the last trip did it in for us. Not sure what happened, but the quality of the food was decent, the price seemed like it went up a lot. (2) 4oz crab cakes were listed on the menu as "market price". Turns out they were $29! My wifes steak was the same price. Maybe next time we'll go for just drinks and appetizers.
(3)B H.
Valentine's Day Dinner Did a Search found on yelp! Picture of pork chop got us. Awesome valentines day event hooked us to try it. We are new to the area. Shrimp appetizer with dipping sauce was amazing - best part of the dinner I had double pork chop - wife had shrimp and scallop scampi - both very good. Good drinks - Great Jazz - cool atmosphere We will go back and try some more def. Thanks for a great valentines day!
(4)Nancy A.
How in the world does this place have 4-5 stars? The good: Cutesy place, cute location. Would have loved if this place could have been a off-the-beaten-path treasure. The bad: It took 15 min to get water and 35 min to get our food. We were literally in this place for 2 hrs in total. The wait service left a lot lacking, not to mention our waiter was sweating profusely. The food was awful. My baked potato was old and microwaved. The side salad was old and not fresh. Won't be returning. Too bad.
(1)Mike D.
Love OBTG. Great Food, Great Service, and always has good bands.
(5)Sandra L.
Attended a surprise birthday party here in their event room on 2nd floor. Service was great, staff was very attentive & friendly. Food was brought out quickly and tasted very good. Would definately recommend this venue!
(4)Mady J.
I have seen this bar for years and finally decided to try it out last night. It's on the way to and from my house in old town bowie. The food was very good! had a great meal here.The bartenders were entertaining and friendly during our long wait. The service is impeccable, attentive and friendly without hovering, and food is consistently excellent. Awesome late night dining experience. The hosts were professional and very friendly. The servers were knowledgable, efficient & responsive. It is a beautifully designed space, eye catching & exuding warmth. Side note: Old Bowie Town Grille is tucked in a corner so it can be had to find it at times.
(4)Puff P.
First, let me start of and say we (sexy couple) love dive bars. As new to Bowie residents, we decided to check out the Old Bowie Town Grille. We were excited to go for their Saturday happy hour, but arrive too late for the specials (too much tickle and winks). As we pulled up, we saw a few people standing on the upper deck and got excited, only to find out that a party had booked the upstairs portion. I guess we were a little surprise that there were a few "day after" Halloween parties taken place. We enter and the place was very nice, with a dark wood cabin feel. The bar area was very small, but it worked for us, because we were able to get seats at the bar. Seems that the bar has an Irish theme or owners, and they got a high five from us for having "Smithwicks"! The staff was very nice, and in costume. Our bartender was dressed as a police officer, which added a weird element having a cop serve you countless drinks. The patrons were very nice with a lot of the being "seasoned" regulars, and the bartender knew they all by name. That is what we look for in a dive. They had no real drink/food specials (5:30pm Saturday), however the Irish Red was $2.50 a bottle. We did think it was kind of odd that the apps were the same prices as most of the regular food. This definitely made the overall tab get pricey quick, especially when you are like us, and love dives. The drink sizes were normal, without any monster glasses (which we like). Seating was a little tight in the bar area, with very limited standing/eating space, unless you are bellied up to the bar. Cozy and comfortable, if you are not antisocial or weird and don't like people but you like bars. The crowd was "older/seasoned" and filled with locals. Nothing wrong with that, however that day we were there, it didn't offer us the "mmmmm yes" type of people watching we enjoy. With them setting up the upstairs for the next party, the moving furniture above was loud and clear.
(3)Andrew L.
When I asked at the Bowie railroad museum where to have lunch, the nearby Old Bowie Town Grill was the answer. A good recommendation. The decor is dark wood in the paneling and the booths and tables. Various photos of old Bowie are on the walls. The restaurant has a varied menu, including salads, hot sandwiches, burgers, soups, and main dishes. I ordered a Big B Post Roast sandwich with French fries. The sandwich, on a baguette, was ample. Big B indeed! Tender pot roast, but could have been tangier. Iced tea to drink. Quick and friendly service and not crowded on a Saturday afternoon. WiFi was available.
(4)Pierre B.
We were seated in the first floor and were greeted with boisterous chatter from all the other diners. The place had a dim, cute quaint folksy feel. The service was inconsistent. We asked for water. Ten minutes later our server didn't come with the water but told us water was on the way. We started with the spinach artichoke dip. The bread was good but the dip tasted defrosted. The people who ordered cream of crab soup enjoyed the soup but the salads not so much. I ordered the filet of cod. One filet was solid, the other undercooked. The fish was garnished with dried-up slices of lemon and orange as well as wilted greens. I had asked for malt vinegar and we were given literally three teaspoons in a big ass bottle. Our server tried his best but he was sweaty-faced and spent more time telling us things were on their way instead of giving us the food. He meant well, as did the lady who checked up on us and offered to refill our drinks but things were just too inconsistent and the food was not satisfying.
(2)Roo B.
A little late in writing this review, but I want to thank this place for coming to the rescue and saving our company Christmas party back in December. These people went above and beyond in accommodating our last minute party when The Newton White Mansion and Catering by Uptown screwed us over the day of our event. What a neat place and friendly people here! They had our casino tables set up before we arrived, and made our musician feel right at home. Everyone loved the food and festive atmosphere! Will definitely be back....thank you for the hospitality!
(5)Desi W.
Great neighbor spot.
(3)Dan N.
I have yet to find a better burger and fries in Bowie. I usually order an extra side of fries, they are that addicting. I also recently was talked into trying their Garlic Parmesan wings, which I avoid at places because they are usually seasoned with tons of garlic powder, but these wings have a garlic parm sauce that puts them in my top 5 for wings! You won't regret ordering them.
(5)RedHoney B.
The food was very good. The live band made it even better! Will go back. The only thing negative was the lack of parking.
(3)Matthew R.
This place is fairly nice. The staff has always been very friendly and attentive to my girlfriend and I an the food is rather good. If you go to the bar for something to munch on and a drink, then get the nachos. It is a simple appetizer but they are oh so yummy or ono as we say in Hawai'i. The only down side I can find to the place is the ceiling tile. Yep, you read that right. The ceiling tile grid appears to be working fine. It is the cheap tile in the grid showing signs of age by it's sagging appearance. The tiles with the speakers in them appear almost ready to fall out of the grid. My recommendation? Go in for a visit. Lunch, dinner, or late night drinks. This place is good for them all! Just don't look up! Or if you can't resist the urge to look up after reading this, then wear a hat. The food and service are good and great respectively. I do recommend this place. It is a solid 4 stars.
(4)Michie C.
The food here is consistently good and the atmosphere is very friendly. Lots of regulars. We love the soups and salads in particular.
(4)Rhonda J.
My husband and I have lived in Bowie for 2 years.. he has wanted to eat here for a long time, so we finally tried it last night while my mother-in-law was in town from California. This restaurant is deceiving because it has a cute, small-town homey feel, but the food and service do not live up to the atmosphere. The good: Super friendly hostess (she looked like the owner), cute atmosphere, convenient location. Good cream of crab soup. Fair prices. The bad: Terrible service.. it took 45 minutes to get our food, and the waiter never came back to ask us if everything was OK.. then, he did not clean our table, so we sat there with dirty plates for 20 minutes. When it came time to pay the check, we sat there for another 20 minutes, trying to locate our waiter. When I needed more dressing and sour cream, my mother-in-law had to get up and walk around the restaurant to find someone. It was some of the worst service I had in a long time. The food was also mediocre at best. My husband and I split the salmon plate, and the salmon was dry and overcooked. I ordered a house salad that was limp with brown lettuce. I barely ate it. The friendly hostess/owner also made the rounds to every table except ours.. she was loudly chatting with the other customers, and we were ignored. It didn't make for an inviting atmosphere. We also had to shout to talk over her, because her voice was so loud. The other thing that we found bizarre and disappointing is that for an Irish pub, they have NO IRISH FOOD! My husband wanted corned beef and cabbage or bangers and mash, but they didn't have anything like that.... spinach and artichoke dip and salmon? Hardly Irish food. They should change their name and image, or add some Irish items to the menu. Overall, we will not be returning. It's a shame. We really wanted to like this place, but it was a no go. We often go to Simple Pleasures for ice cream, and I suppose they will be the only reason that we will return to Old Bowie.
(2)Tim T.
great local bar, with great service and great food. the price is very reasonable, and they often have entertainment with live bands and music on the second floor.
(5)Gerard C.
Great food. Good people. Fun entertainment upstairs area - we recommend the lucky few. BBQ shrimp is a great special. Bayou shrimp appetizer a must try.
(5)Rae M.
I went back for dinner in the restaurant and I liked it even more. The food improved, or perhaps their was a different cook working that evening, either way it was an improvement from the other 2 times I came to this place. Attentive waitress, excellent drinks and pretty good food....it's won me over.
(4)Tanya Z.
This was my first visit to this restaurant. Right away when we walked in we were greeted by staff. Our waitress was friendly and on top of it. We ordered burgers and they were tasty. They don't skimp on the size of the burger or the toppings. Fries were good too. Overall a pleasant visit with friendly staff, decent prices, and good food!
(4)Jasmine D.
The food and staff are great. It felt like I was at home with a bunch of family and friends. They also have live music sometimes in the upstairs bar. I had the create your own pasta with the New Orleans Alfredo and added chicken. You definitely get your money's worth because I could barely finish the pasta. I would go here again.
(4)Ken M.
I love this place because it's a little off the beaten path and it's never been super crowded. The food is very good and the service is friendly and attentive. I understand they have music upstairs most nights but I've only been there for the dining experience and it's always been good. I highly recommend it to anyone for a nice quiet meal in a pleasant atmosphere. I'd have given it five stars except that it is a tad pricey.
(4)Tom I.
OBTG - what can I say. I really wanted to give you guys five stars. I've been here a few times now - and each time has been about the same - nothing too memorable. I know - what do I expect from a small local restaruant - well honestly I hope to find at least something to entice me back. Yes - the food is ok. I do think if they were to focus on being higher end which they seem to try to portray - or simply stick to the local bar/hang out feel - can't seem to do both. While there one night - I tried the steak special - was a thinly cut ribeye w/sauteed veggies. When I asked if the veggies were fresh - was told they were. NOPE! Standard frozen Birds Eye/Green Giant brand. This is my point - had they 1) not mis-represented what it was, 2) had they served actual FRESH sauteed veggies - that alone would bring me back. The steak was cooked as requested - and had great flavor. I also enjoy the variety of music that I've seen there... I will have to go back from time to time in order to keep checking them out and holding out hope that they choose what they want to be.
(3)Linda W.
Nice local place. We come here regularly. To tonight we had crab ball appetizer that comes with both tarter sauce and hot sauce, which is great because each of us likes ones of those better. I had teriyaki chicken with a side of asparagus, very good. B. had fried shrimp and french fries and was pleased. Just what we wanted.
(4)Jim G.
I love it. We go often and have since they opened. We always feel like family and if anything is wrong,which is rare, it's fixed immediately. I think if I were retired and lived alone I'd eat here every day. We love the staff and the owners.
(5)Nan G.
This restaurant is located in a small 'antique' section of Bowie. As part of the revitalization of this 'Old Town' area we were given a huge gift. This gift is the Old Town Bowie Grille. You can't miss here. The obtg serves traditional American foods specializing in Steaks and Seafood. They also have a full schedule of weekly live entertainment. The daily specials are not to be missed. I have gone for dinner and sat upstairs when it was Irish sing-a-long night. The mood was festive and fun. The seafood entrees we chose were spot-on. Perfectly cooked shrimp and scallops in a lemon and white wine sauce over pasta; and fresh grilled Salmon. Lunch here is also a big hit. The Bowie Grille (grilled chicken sandwich) is a great choice. The chicken is juicy and tender served with bacon and provolone cheese. It comes with a melt-in-your-mouth honey mustard. It's light and creamy; but so tasty. The Big 'B' is an open faced pot roast sandwich. The meat is very tender and delicious with mushrooms and onions. The toasted baguette in this sandwich was a little too greasy- but once you finish the huge helping of meat, there isn't much room for bread. They also serve a nice selection of juicy burgers. The crispy fries are a perfect addition to any sandwich. Desserts- three words: Key Lime Pie. Words can't begin to describe this luscious treat. It's tart and sweet- the crust is so balanced with almonds and granola and graham crackers; topped with whipped cream. Oh so good. The desserts are sent in from a local bakery. obtg has a full service bar on both levels. Locals can pull up a stool for some nice appetizers, a cold beer and great conversation. When the weather permits, enjoy eating outside on the upper deck. This place has a lot of heart and I wish them great success.
(5)Laura R.
This is our standby date night place. They have a pretty extensive menu and we've never had a bad meal (Nachos are a favorite of mine here). Service is always good. We also enjoy the bar here, as it is quite cozy which lets you get to know the bartender. One night we were accidentally there for comedy night, which was unexpectedly great.
(4)Brent F.
Pretty good little restaurant. Excellent service. The crab cakes could use a little less Old Bay, but they were the best I've had since moving to the DC area. (I admit that I'm a crab cake snob.) We really liked the location. Old Bowie. You would have never guessed you were in a major metropolitan area. Great selection of beer, and the menu was rather extensive. We'll be going back!
(4)K E.
I liked this place overall, but that's because we sat on the rooftop deck which is very charming. The food was great and the service for the most part was very good. We had a different waiter at first who was not very professional, but the other staff who attended to us were great. Fine for a cute lunch on a Saturday, I wouldn't come for a special occasion or anything though and I'd make sure to sit outside, I didn't care for the interior.
(3)Dick C.
Bar upstairs, dinning downstairs. Bar area serves good food and is where the music is. Great open jam on Wednesday nights. Friendly staff and crowd.
(5)Brian M.
Expense for piss poor food. The food was simply terrible. Their "specialty" crab cakes were bland. So was the steak. The fries were the best thing going. They do have Smithwicks beer which made the visit to this restaurant tolerable. I would not recommend this at all.
(1)K K.
Wonderful local pub. Great family owned and operated business, Theresa and Bob. They have good sandwiches and food in general, however their fish dishes are excellent. Good selection of beers and wines. The music is outstanding. There's always an interesting band playing, folk, rock, blues, or something. The music can get loud, so be prepared. The upstairs bar/music lounge gets packed so arrive early. Its great place to spend the evening.
(5)Craig R.
OTBG is an awesome find. I could leave this review with that sentence and I would be totally happy. However, but I'll explain. A couple friends and I went upstairs to have a few cold ones and just relax from a depressing day of work. OTBG really turned the day around. They started out with an energetic crowd that was listening to a folk band that was made up of two young couples. It's a shame that I didn't get a chance to get their name as they were really good and everyone was enjoying it. Not only was there a great band playing, but the bartenders here are incredibly awesome. They're funny and will engage you and I was entertained for a long long time while we waited for the storm to blow over. They didn't care that the other people sitting at the bar with us wanted to change the channels on the TV. They just gave them the remote and said have a good time! I didn't have any food there, but the atmosphere was great and I will be coming here whenever I get a chance.
(5)Belinda B.
My hubby and I lunched at OBTG..it was a less than average lunch. We may have enjoyed tastier food at a local chain restaurant. My hubby asked for grilled fish as a substitute for fried fish. He was told that all of the lunch fish is pre-breaded (IE - not fresh!) husband had the crabcake sandwich, ...he described it as bland..I was sorry I suggested the place. the name through us off - GRILL...we assumed they grilled food more than they fried food. I had the turkey club and slaw as a side. Slaw was prepackaged..I used malt vinegar, salt, pepper to remix it at my table. The turkey club was acceptable. No offer of drinks, appitizer, dessert or coffee. We will not be returning. I had to apoligize to my husband.
(2)A C.
Haven't been here in a while, and I hope things have improved. But I was never impressed by their fakey-fancy take on the menu, and the crowd at times can be just that - a crowd...a loud, obnoxious crowd, not a gathering of restaurant patrons, respectful of each other's experience. And the food is inconsistent, from bad to blegh. If you want take out, be prepared to wait...and wait...and wait...even if you're the only one there...especially if you're the only one there.
(1)Sharon N.
Reviewing the upstairs bar are only: Food is marginal, shots are small, mixed drinks are watered down and service is mediocre at best. I consider myself somewhat of a Irish Pub junkie, and this place doesn't come close to other Irish Pubs in the area. I've been to OBTG 6 or 8 times and it never gets better. The Wed night jazz/bluesnight is the best thing about this place to hear some awesome local jazz musicians. If you don't like a crazy tamborine pounding nut leaping through a packed house, with standing room only while a margnial band plays "Old Time Rock n Roll", avoid this place on the weekends. I would go back for the Wed night jazz, but I'll stick to beer and escape to the balcony when it gets too crowded.
(2)Charlie L.
Another great night at the OBTG! It was the owner's birthday tonight and his band put on a great show! The food is always excellent and the atmosphere is special! Stay away from Corporate restaurants and come to a play where they know your name.
(4)Julia E.
This is a great mom-and-pop style restaurant for those who live in Bowie. The service is very friendly and everyone is welcoming. They seem to specialize much more in fish than meat. I got a mahi-mahi dinner with chef's veggies as my side. The food didn't really blow me away--probably not worth the $20 price tag. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find they have a gluten-free menu as a few of my friends and family are gluten intolerant. The portion sizes and presentation of the meal also impressed me--everything is very simple, without the fanfare or loaded greasy sides of chain restaurants. I would definitely return and encourage others to try it out as well, especially if the weather is nice as they have outdoor balcony seating.
(4)Gary H.
Excellent food & service. The Chesapeake crab dip was outstanding. Lots of blue crab in it. The beer was reasonably priced. I had the new Orleans chicken sandwich and my honey had one of the seafood pastas. Both were quite good. The dining room was plain and kind of noisy. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. I would definitely go back.
(4)L R.
Nice place off the beaten path for a good meal. Great pasta dishes, seafood, and sandwiches. The Bayou Shrimp appetizer is not to be missed. Killer sauce! Good food, friendly service, and live music. Definitely a good place to introduce family and friends to.
(5)Cindi C.
Old Bowie really needs this place, actually the whole of Bowie needs this place. Its locally owned which I like. I would say the food has a bit of a cajun thing going on. A heavy cajun influence. They have 4 pasta dishes & I would say 2 of them are cajun/new orleans inspired. The grille has a lot of sandwiches at least 8, so you can tell its a casual place. Plus they have a lot of salads, and I really like the spinach, blue cheese & walnut salad. Now about the starters, The scallop martini is served in a martini glass which makes it fun. I like the bayou shrimp starter with bread to sop up the tangy sauce. They do a good pork chop here too. And on an occasion I like the garlicky shrimp & scallops just don't wear your best shirt since the sauce seems to get all over the place. I don't think the desserts are made in house, but they are great. I like this place for drinks and music,. And if you can't get downtown or in to Annapolis for St. Patrick's day the Grille is a fun place to celebrate. In the spring and summer I like to sit out on the roof, there aren't many places to dine al fresco in Bowie so this is a treat.
(3)Nate A.
Great place, good food. Local grille and close to home. Owners and staff are very friendly. Nice Bands on the weekends
(4)Ardon G.
I have now been to the OBTG twice - once as a party/bar/music patron and once as a dinner patron. For my money - I will stick to the bar side. Well poured, generous shots, good flavor and selection. All what you expect and deserve in a beverage. The food side is a little confusing. It looks like a fun, casually upscale place on the outside but it is way too dark (for my taste) on the inside. Cardboard cut out decorations would be better in the classroom not what you would expect in a restaurant with these price points.... The OBTG menu can't seem to make up it's mind between pub and fine dining offerings. The prices (and descriptions) say they want to be fine dining but the atmosphere, quality and presentations are definitely pub style. First of all - the service was good. Friendly and attentive. Fairly informative and knowledgeable in an Applebee's family restaurant way, which is fine in a restaurant with $10 entrees. Unfortunately - this is a restaurant with $15+ entrees and very few at that price. Steaks and fish were more like $22 - $24. The other server working the room was a classic - diner or pub experienced - "How are you Hon" kind of gal... Even less "classy" than our young, fresh faced lady. Just an observation - neither good nor bad... Back to the food.... Pasta at $15? Salad at $15? Portions are filling but $15 CAN buy a lot of romaine lettuce. I had grilled shrimp on my Ceasar. The salad was over dressed and a bit too tangy at that. The shrimp were flavorful but undercooked and cool. And weirdly- the decorative 6 small croutons were out of a box. Hard as rocks, stale at that and 5 remained uneaten on my plate. So at the $15 price I was left unimpressed. My friends ordered a House burger and a Ruben sandwich - both looked OK and went down well but our bill was $70-$80 with a beverages and desserts... I am calling a 3 on this one.
(3)