Wow, there are some long reviews for Bywater. I'm going to be short and sweet. We've gone there maybe ten times since this opened last year and will continue to go there. The cocktail list is great, the food is excellent and we love the quaint atmosphere. Highly recommend. Katie has done a fantastic job! read more

Went here for my wife's bday. Our server,Janet, was terrific. There were maybe two tables seated when we got there, it was near full when we left. The service was personable and professional the whole time. She was knowledgeable about all menu items and wine list, 5 stars for her. The food was excellent!! Cantaloupe soup was the most creative cold soup I've seen in a long time. Oysters were top notch. We ordered many other items to share, each dish was totally enjoyed. Will definitely return. read more

Amazing meal at this sweet little place. The martini with oyster shell infused dry vermouth was lovely and the Shellfish Bourride was hearty and packed with gorgeous flavors. Our server Madeleine was the best! Check out this gem!!! read more

Bywater is so cute and quaint! The staff was really friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. Definitely a great choice for a date night. read more

I usually don't write reviews but I'm giving this place two stars because the food was good. However, I didn't have great service at all. I would hate to explain a person by the way they look but I didn't get her name so pardon me. The waitress was a bit pudgy, kinda short with dirty blond almost reddish hair and she was behind the bar. I went in and sat at the bar alone, she made me feel like I was a complete weirdo and very uncomfortable as if I was an inconvenience from the time I walked in. I did the 3 course meal which was very good however not attentive at all like she didn't want to serve me I asked for drink recommendation and she flat out said she doesn't know whatever they have on the list . She was talking to the other customers all night I had to ask the other waiter to grab her attention because she had forgotten my dessert. When I had paid the tab I tipped in cash and asked to charge the tab onto my card like I usually do. But again because she wasn't listening she deducted the cash and charged the remainder on my card leaving me no cash to tip. Tipping on a card is one of my biggest pet peeves. I'm the type of person who enjoys grabbing dinner alone, I'm not picky and I love meeting new people and love experiencing places that makes anyone feel comfortable but I didn't feel comfortable or welcomed here at all. read more

Bywater is a fantastic place! Loved the food - started with the oyster and had only small plates - brilliant cape cod mussels, beef tartare and the special if peach on baguette - everything was exceptional! Especially loved their special. Also they give some really delicious bread and butter to start - it was so good we asked for more! We started with the oyster plates that came with some nice sauces. Ended with an affogato of house made vanilla ice cream topped with turkish coffee - absolutely yum!!! They have great service and lovely decor as well - the lighting is romantic against the grey walls. Overall a brilliant new find - will surely go back. read more

Awesome little restaurant I stumbled upon while in town after a long stead away from home. Fresh oysters were delicious and can't beat the buck-a-shuck Monday night special we happened upon. Friendly staff and excellent ambiance made the evening that much better. read more

Love this place from the relaxed beach vibe, the phenomenal food and oysters, and the terrific staff. Ordered the oysters 2x, shrooms, and watercress salad. All of which were excellent. read more

We had our rehearsal dinner at Bywater and it was an incredible experience! We worked very closely with the owners to customize our food and drink menu for the evening. They were fantastic to work with and had lots of good ideas. The food was absolutely outstanding and all of our guests raved about it all weekend! So many of our guests plan to come back on their own. The Staff at Bywater was so friendly and accommodating and truly felt like friends by the time we left at the end of the evening. (A special shout out to the incredible bartender, Andrew!) They were kind and celebratory and we are grateful to them for treating our guests so warmly and kindly! The atmosphere at Bywater is cozy and inviting--everything is well-thought-out and intentional. From the location to the decor to the menu to the Staff, it was an incredible experience for us and our guests. Thank you, thank you Bywater! read more

This is a destination dining spot for us. The food is really innovative and tasty. Decor warm and inviting, small and intimate..Well done, except for the noise level. Invest $ in some acoustical panels/decorative baffles on the ceiling and on the walls (It will add to the ambience and visual if done correctly)-Otherwise, guests are yelling at people at their table to have a conversation-which is exhausting by the end of a meal. Return special request phone calls PLEASE. We had a birthday that went unnoticed because no one returned our messages..Its awkward the night of the event to ask the waitstaff a question.. and too late. No excuse. Read your reviews. Service is friendly but can be a bit slow. We figure on 2 hours for dinner on a weekend, with a reservation- maybe a bit longer with friends, drinks and dessert. Three hours and we're waiting around for your staff to take note. Step up the service a bit, check back right after guests have cut into their steaks, make sure the gourmet dessert coffees are not loaded with "Grounds", yes, really. AND please pour water frequently on hot summer nights.. Little things add up to a lot, when you are traveling to get here and there are many other fine eateries on the way..Capitalize on a great thing and make it better..thank you. read more

After a failed attempt at dinner nearby we ended up here and I'm so glad we did. The space is lovely- understated and inviting and all around charming. We snagged two seats at the end of the bar and got to enjoy the gentleman shucking oysters all evening. Everything we ordered was great- oysters were fresh and nice selection of local ones, the coconut soup was so flavorful and delightfully spicy (even if I thought my bf was crazy for ordering on a hot summer night), duck tacos were amazing and not at all heavy or greasy (and the grilled tortilla gave a great flavor) and the steamed littlenecks were outrageous, as was the broth they were in. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable and made us feel very welcome. Excited to come back as I believe the menu changes regularly. read more

We recently had a pre-wedding rehearsal dinner at Bywater, and it was excellent and exactly what we imagined. We met with one of the owners, Katie, twice beforehand to discuss menu options and pricing--and were thrilled with the results! We had eaten there a few times before, so we knew the food would be great. Everything we have ever had there has been fab, so it was a delight to be able to share it with our families. We ended up having several family-style shared appetizers, including a corn/tomato/bacon/aioli salad that was freakin' delicious, and then four entrees to choose from. Everything is fresh and tasty, and the service is excellent. We loved the vibe for our gathering, it is comfortably casual but elegant as well. There was a sweet congratulatory sign outside and menus printed specifically for our party of 20. We appreciated that we were really able to keep the price within our expected budget ... and we also appreciated the chef's gracious accommodations for some of the pickier younger folk in our party ...! Thank you so much for our wonderful evening!! It was perfect for our wedding weekend. We'll be back soon for a smaller dinner, and recommend Bywater frequently to family and friends. Chloe & Matt read more

Exquisite dinner and warm and efficient service (Bridget). Lots of fresh oysters. The soup was perfect on a chilly Dec. night.

Food is alright. Service is good. Place is clean. Kinda expensive and the menu is tiny.

Loved it! Went on a Friday night whim, but came early enough that getting a seat was not a problem. The outdoor seats were in full sun on a hot night so we chose to eat inside. We grabbed seats at the bar just based on how appealing it looked. The windows and doors were open, blowing the curtains around, and it was cool & comfortable inside. The cocktail list looked interesting but I cannot resist rosé on tap! And especially not at $6 a glass. They put some fantastic brown bread in front of us with nice soft butter, and the frites arrived quickly. SO GOOD. I would have liked to try more dishes but we both wanted the summer risotto, so no sharing tonight. We both loved it and will definitely be back. I really wanted to give 4.5 stars but couldn't quite see myself giving five. For that I'd need an awesome outdoor patio and service that's a bit more attentive. But it's a really great neighborhood spot. read more

You may walk into Bywater thinking its not worth the wait, but just stop. Sit down, have a drink and wait as long as you have to. This is the best place hands down I have been to in a long time. Their early spring menu is perfect. We had the delicious Irish brown bread with creamy butter, oysters that were accompanied with the perfect cocktail sauce, the cheese plate which has a cheese for anybody's taste, and the za'taar chicken that melts in your mouth. The owners are kind and caring. Even though it was busy we were checked on frequently while waiting as well as dining. The alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic drink selection is plentiful. A nice Turkish coffee finished the night. If you have been searching for so long as I have, this is the gem in the coal mine. The feeling of this place is classy, casual, and contemporary on all of the best notes. I am so thankful that I waited to eat here as I now know where my favorite place is. Thank you Bywater for being the best restaurant. read more

Been back quite a few times since my tussle with the chicken wing appetizer and I felt compelled to update. One complaint I had was I could never get the same beer twice. And what seemed like an ever changing beer list, gladly every time I have been back Yuengling has been available. Can't get enough of the steamed littlenecks, easily top 3 I have ever had. Only problem is I could never have enough bread for that delicious broth. Also the hanger steak is a great flavorful entrée. Then there are the frites, I could have 3 orders of these things and still not have enough. On new years eve they had a special of lobster poutine with these fries, wish it was on the menu every night. Service certainly has improved, and my only complaint now is I can't always get a seat. read more

Extremely unfriendly staff! My husband and I stopped in for a drink and to check out the place as a possible dinner option. There was an empty seat at the bar that I took as my husband stood nearby waiting for something else to open up. We were immediately informed by the hostess that she would need to check to see if I could sit there, I was permitted but informed that this was "not actually a seat". We ordered drinks and began to check the menu when two people left there seats at the bar, so we scooted over.... to then be scolded by the bartender that we couldn't take these seat as they were "slated for someone else". We went back to our original position, receiving glaring looks and sighs from multiple wait staff that wanted less interrupted access to the raw bar. Fast forward 15 mins, seats at the bar still reaming empty along with multiple tables and us not willing to patronize a restaurant with such rude staff. read more

Had a family dinner there last week. Overall a pretty good experience. It was very very loud and hard to hear others at the table. We tried many different things on the menu some found some items very salty. The oysters were a hit as was the burrata. Service was good but she did forget 2 of our appetizers. The entrees were good but not over the top. Drinks were very good but the wine list didn't do much for us. We will give it another try and hope things improve. read more

Absolutely fantastic! The atmosphere has a nice nautical modern feel to it with a good size bar. Their cocktail list contains quite a few unique choices and there's a full wine and beer list along with whiskey, scotch and apertifs. The menu, while small, has a mix of seafood and land with smaller plates as well and full raw bar. I had the duck tacos for my meal, which were out of this world delicious. The irish bread and butter that comes first is soft and very flavorful. I high recommend this place and my wife and I will definitely be back! read more

everything about this restaurant is great -- from the relaxed and modern decor, to the attentive and kind service to the delightful cocktails, to the most important thing: the food. . . .which is outstanding. entirely delicious, innovative and fresh, without being pretentious. providence gets all the ya yas, but this is our favorite place to dine. read more

My wife and I went In last night and sat at the bar. It truly was an experience. Every aspect of the operation was world class. The service was attentive and knowledgeable and the atmosphere was quiet, although the restaurant was full. I wish I could have taken home a 5 gallon bucket of their pickled vegetable appetizer which was fresh and made in house. Their Irish brown bread with homemade butter served with cracked pepper and salt showed how much care they put into everything they put out on the table. It was also perfectly baked. My wife has a gluten allergy and of course they had fresh gluten free bread available. The entrees were a whole other experience. It was the best linguini and clams dish I've ever had and my wife said the steak dish was unbelievable. To top it off they brought out 3 scoops of their fresh homemade ice cream. These folks know what they are doing on every level. I never comment or review online and felt this place deserved it. Can't wait to return to dive into the rest of the menu. read more

It's a wonderful restaurant in Warren, Rhode Island. You can actually hear one another talk at your table, which is a plus. And the food. The food! The oysters are as fresh as can be. The cocktails are unique and delicious. The menu is small but delicious and has choices for vegetarians, meat eaters and pescatarians. There is an incredible mural at the back of the restaurant which we were told was painted by one of the owners. The staff was friendly and very helpful with the menu. The chef actually came out and asked how we liked our dinner, something that happens at the fine restaurants we've visited in larger cities, but rarely in a small town. Wish we could go every week, but we will DEFINITELY be returning! You will not be disappointed. read more

Wanted to like Bywater, but was disappointed. They are very close to having a good restaurant for upscale dining, but there are some crucial details that were missed in our Saturday night dining experience 1.) The food: we ordered the chicken wings - skin on the wings was soft and flabby not crisp which is a cardinal sin for wings. Pork loin entree was overcooked and bland, Fried Chicken entree was under seasoned (although the skin on this was crispy and the chicken moist) but not seasoning fried chicken adequately is a big misstep. 2.) Service was inattentive and condescending. Our waitress was brusk often asking "What?" instead of "excuse me" or "pardon me" or something more befitting a nice restaurant. We had to flag a hostess for a wine list who apologized by saying "Sorry, I was in my own world" - being"in your own world" is not a great quality for someone working in the service industry at a restaurant that charges $25 and up for entrees. In addition, I suspect the chef may have been distracted because he appeared to have a large group of EXTREMELY loud friends at a table in the corner. We watched the chef in his apron come behind the bar, pour himself a beer, and chat with this group of friends frequently. He has every right to do this, but there weren't many people at the restaurant at this point and it made us feel as though we were crashing their private party. I suspect also we paid for this lack of attention by the chef in the dishes we ordered which alternated between under seasoned and overcooked. The bill was more expensive than a recent meal at Al Forno in Providence (where we live) so we will not be making the return trip to Warren to give Bywater a second chance. Lastly - I suggest the restaurant invest in some more appropriate cocktail glasses. Martinis are served in martini glasses for a reason they do not belong in rocks glasses, and the other up glasses are far too small to be taken seriously. read more