I had a gift card to check this spot out. 3.5 stars. It's a nice restaurant located in the quaint town of New Preston. A short walk to shops, a candy store, and even a waterfall. Since it's a wine bar, there were plenty to choose from. The service was good and we dined at the outdoor patio. We started off with some cocktails which were ok. The pizza was also just ok, I did like the pepperoni on it but the crust and sauce wasn't as flavorful. I also had the mango and tuna nachos which were 4/5. The star of the show was their charcuterie board 5/5. read more

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Super disappointed in our experience here. The pour for my more than $15 glass of wine was essentially 3 sips. The pizza was so tiny, more like a pizzeta, way smaller than even a personal size pizza. It should be acknowledged on tbe menu that the serving size is appropriate for one person and it is extremely overpriced for what you get. There was maybe a tablespoon of sausage on it. We enjoyed our watermelon feta salad (at $16) but everything else was extremely overpriced for what it was. We ordered takeout when we got home. Two stars for the salad and young, somewhat green, but pleasant staff. It was also deathly hot there and just a couple tables inside. read more

Cute location in a small downtown! Beautiful enclosed area that they open up during the warmer weather which I'd love to return and check out. The food was excellent! Everything we ordered was great - the pizza, meatballs, lasagna, burger, sliders - they all tasted homemade. A must visit! read more

The location is lovely, situated in a great little spot in an idyllic downtown setting. I really wanted to like it here. Unfortunately, the food and the menu were lacking in flavor and creativity. I was disappointed by the limited options they had for lunch, so I went with the Owl Cobb salad with the addition of shrimp. If the menu had specified that the additional cost for the shrimp included only 3 of them, I would have changed my order. Also, they forgot the avocado, which is a central component of the Cobb. If you're charging $26 for a salad with limited ingredients, I expect it to be made correctly. My husband had the Bee Sting pizza and wasn't impressed with the taste, the lack of cheese, and the fact that it was undercooked, as in still doughy. The size was also tiny. To avoid leaving hungry, you'll need to order an appetizer before your meal. Luckily, we did, and it was the dill dip with crudites. So, despite what you've always been told, fill up on the bread before your meal comes. read more

So cute! The food was delish. We sat on the covered patio and it was comfortable even though it was cold outside!!! I would definitely go back!!! read more

Our group of 5 randomly ended up here after a hike. After trying the 2 other restaurants in the area, we were refused service because we had 2 dogs. We called ahead and the owner answered and made us feel welcome right away. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted and sat outside. The owner immediately turned on the gas heaters and brought us all the blankets we needed and we were so comfortable. We were then greeted by our server who was one of the best waiters I've ever had. The drinks and food were so great. We even sat and chatted with the owner for a while. They brought us dessert on the house after we ordered several menu items, cocktails and wine. We really didn't want to leave. The owner, Ryan and our server Tyler, truly made our experience above and beyond. I highly recommend this spot if you are in the area. read more

Want to like it here I really do! Food is pretty good but I'm always disappointed in the service. read more

Just moved to the area and decided to try this place out. Ambiance is nice but if you want to get food here I recommend not even trying. I tried the salmon sliders and it was lacking any seasoning whatsoever. My husband got the shrimp tacos and definitely could've been passed up. Drinks are okay if you're aiming for a night cap. For the price paid definitely didn't live up to expectations. read more

Guess the lovely owner John brought in a partner who lectured me on what he perceives to be the current state of affairs from his fear based perspective. This I did not appreciate and it ruined my afternoon respite. No one really ever needs to spend $20 on some wine on a whim if it's not going to be pleasing and you are going to be lectured on someone's limiting beliefs and views. We do not all live in the same reality and it honestly is more scary to not have independent thinkers vs. those willing to latch on to whatever the popular topics du jour may be. Despite this, The Owl's lovely physical presence remains and it absolutely fills a niche in New Preston since Oliva left us as the closest neighborhood gathering spot. Menu has expanded to pizzas, salads and some charcuterie. read more

OMG what a cute spot! We sat in their outdoor covered space and enjoyed amazing food, great wine and a super friendly, hospitable server, I was very very pleased! We started off with their mole spiced nuts, which were THE best nuts I have ever had. They should package them and sell them in retail stores! Seriously though, they were nice and warm and delightfully seasoned - I was quite the fan! We also did their marinated olives which had a unique orange zest and rosemary flavor to them. Yum. For dinner we split the beet salad, and two pizzas: the bee sting and the Shelby. Both were excellent. I loved the combination of sweet and salty on the bee sting & the fresh veggies on the Shelby pizza. I asked for a little side of olive oil and that was incredibly delightful too (do you guys make this in house?) And who can go to a wine bar and not order wine (and how does someone not drink in the this horrid year 2020...) The wine was great. We ordered Pinot Noir, but the waiter recommended another similar red, which was very good. We also did a glass of Chenin Blanc. CT is so beautiful in the fall and this was the perfect stop in the most adorable town! read more

Owl Wine Bar - Yay to wine and safe outdoor (ish) dining!! - Wine Bars Near Me - New Preston, Connecticut

I've been to The Owl many times over the past six months, and it has quickly become my favorite spot in the area. The team is consistently warm and welcoming, creating an atmosphere that feels both cozy and effortlessly chic. The food is always fantastic--thoughtful, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Oh, and they make a mean gluten free pizza - no small feat. I'm very fond of their wine list and cocktails, with a special shoutout to the blood orange cosmopolitan, which is perfectly balanced and dangerously good. I can't wait to go back and to bring out of town visitors there. read more

This is an amazing restaurant! Ryan and staff are incredible! The atmosphere is lovely. The perfect environment any season of the year.

Parking is a little rough, but the service and food are excellent. I live a few minutes away & it's great to have an option close to home. The croissant bread pudding, the burrata appetizer, the ani salad, and any of the pizzas are to die for. read more

Owl Wine Bar - Croissant bread pudding - Wine Bars Near Me - New Preston, Connecticut

My brother and I stumbled past this place one day and decided to go for dinner. What a great decision that was! It looked really cool so we just had to try it, it looked kinda fancy and we were worried we'd be underdressed (we had just finished a hike) but that wasn't the case. The staff was great and the food was fantastic. We each got a pizza, I got a white potato pizza and he got the meatball parm pizza (I think). They have a small menu, but they do it well! It's a menu of pizzas (personal sized) and some sharables that are big enough to be an entree. We sat outside and really enjoyed the setup. We can't wait to go back and try some other stuff because it looked so good as the waiters and waiter were being out the food to the other tables, especially those gargantuan meatballs! read more

Good food. Decent service. Think the waitress may have been having a bad day but it wasn't a horrible experience. Restaurant was clean and the menu selections were decent as were the prices. read more

You will have few better evenings than enjoying a glass of wine outside at sunset. The Owl is very chill. staff is very kind and the food is exceptional. read more

Great little spot - with a nice vibe - sat right next to roaring fireplace. The location near Lake Waramaug is nice and The food was decent. The bar is small and they make the most of a limited drink selection... worth the visit read more

The owner Ryan is a disgrace. I have never been treated like this in a restaurant and I have worked in hospitality for more than 15 years. He made my four year old cry for drawing with chalk on slate ground outside (that was given to her by the lovely waiter). This was my first meal dining out with postpartum, and one I had been looking forward to. The food was subpar (meatballs were inedible) and the owner is in the wrong industry - truly a nasty human being. You could not pay me to return. Our waiter Doug could not have been more gracious and kind. read more

Been going to the Owl 3-4 times a year over the past years. A nice spot with good food and beer/wine. Over time, today noticeable, the portion have gotten much smaller (Caesar Salad) and the prices have gone up. A bit pricy for a small lunch and one drink each. On a side note, have had to send 'hot' tea back numerous time to heat it up when delivered Luke/warm. I did notice the online menu and actual menu are a bit out of synch. However, a nice place to visit when in the area. read more

My wife and I absolutely love it here!!! We came in for the first time for the pride celebration, and the atmosphere, privacy, friendliness of the staff, the service, as well as the food was amazing!!! The pizza is hands down the best! And I've had a lot of pizza in the past!! It was perfectly cooked, and the drinks were iced cold. The prices were great! If you are ever looking for a nice romantic date night spot, definitely come here! You won't be disappointed! read more

Went there for a Saturday lunch and sat outside under their large tent. Had Aperil Spritz cocktails that were fine but expensive $16 each) and the Elote salad that was very disappointing. Not enough of the citrus and cilantro came through the créma and the corn was starchy and lacked the grilled taste and look one would expect. Then had the portobello mushroom on rye sandwich which held a scant amount of mushrooms on toasted rye that somehow seemed soggy. The side was potato chips that seemed store bought and not homemade. Bantam bread so that was good and the mushrooms were tasty but at $15 this was way overpriced for what probably cost the restaurant a buck for the ingredients. Servers all seemed to be on their summer jobs which was fine but I doubt we'd go back any time soon given the mediocre food. read more

Monica and I had the pleasure of going to The Owl yesterday afternoon. It is a very short drive from Watertown. The leaves are starting to change color so it was a pretty ride in the country. Excellent wine, try the Lucie Chardonnay, and of course John's food always exceeds any expectation. We miss you in Watertown John but will definitely be back to see you at The Owl . Thanks for a wonderful experience. read more

I love this place. The Service is really good (waiters are very kind and accommodating), and the pizza is so good (bee sting is the best). There is also a nice chill vibe with relaxing music. read more

Visited a few weeks ago. Food was great and worth the cost. Great location across from a cool store and perfect place for a fall dinner. One of the owners, I believe his name is Ryan, is a little creepy and made us uncomfortable. Food good though. read more

Our family adores The Owl and the owner, Ryan who is one of the kindest and most authentic humans we are fortune to have met since moving to the area post COVID. Excellent food and service. We bring all of our out-of-town guests -Shane WN read more

Very good casual wine bar with excellent pizzas and small plates. Can get a bit crowded in the summer but it's worth the wait. (Plus it's open on Wednesday when many other places are closed). Owners & staff are friendly and accommodating . A great resource for the area., read more

Great food, drinks and vibe!! What more could you ask for in this charming spot that specializes in artisan pizza's and high quality food. A nice selection of drinks and thoughtful selection of local beers adds to the overall appeal to this great local restaurant read more

On a beautiful mid-summer's afternoon, looking to kill some time before a reservation somewhere else for dinner, Finance Friend and I decided to try this little wine bar to kill some time. I programmed the GPS and set off, driving past it a few times before we realized it was in a house on a little hill across from a small shopping district. We found someplace to park and trekked up the walk to the very inviting outdoor patio. We peeked inside the bar, which was dark and foreboding, and found a table outside. Far beyond the control of the establishment, there were four other tables occupied: One by two women, and three by youngish children and a dog. We sat for a bit, waiting for the server to notice us, not that she had much time to do that as the other tables were making demands on her. One of the things that annoys me the most at restaurants are free-range children, and while one of the tables had two tweens who spent most of their time on their phones, the younger ones were running back and forth from their tables to their moms and back, the dog dutifully following their every move. Like I said, not the fault of the restaurant, but this didn't add to a perfect experience. By the time the server noticed us, we asked for her recommendations for wines by the glass, as there was a board with some of the daily special varieties. Her response was to show us the wine menu and offer to let us taste before we made a decision. We both picked our choices, and she soon returned with our wine, offered us food menus (which we declined) and ran off to help another table that just arrived, narrowing avoiding a collision with the dog, who was interested in the new couple and ran to greet them. We admired the view, mostly watching the people in the shopping area across the street, and amazingly discovered our glasses were empty. We managed to get our server's attention and ordered another round, which was brought out promptly, and which was drank just as quickly. Settling our tab was easy, but the annoying "do you want change?" question was asked (which, in my opinion is worse than screaming kids). All things considered, for a brief lazy afternoon stop, it was acceptable. It's a lovely locale with a beautiful view. If we had planned to stay longer, the din of the children would have driven us away, but as it was, we managed to survive. I'm rarely in that area, but if I were to find myself close to the Owl, I would make it a point to try it again. read more

Lovely atmosphere and wine list, and some of the better pizza in Connecticut. The staff is very knowledgable and welcoming, it is especially fun to eat here on weekend nights. NYC prices and some appetizers are better than others. Overall a great date night spot! read more

We used to live in Washington so me and the family take a drive out that way a couple times every year. This time we decided to try a new place for lunch regrettably. Initially, the hostess was quite rude. Then, after being sat, I expressed my discomfort with being directly next to blasting music. "Well that's why I tried to get you to sit over in the other area." First of all, how rude and second, ya never did. We asked to be sat somewhere else and she rudely replied that it's not allowed there. 10 empty tables on an outdoor patio but we couldn't move!? She then said, "well I heard you don't like anything on the menu so maybe you should just leave." I have never been spoken to so rudely. Yeah, all they have are very basic salads and pizza. Their beers are greatly overpriced, 400% mark up on the can. There is nothing else, no hand helds which is what I wanted; a simple sandwich for lunch, excuse me! If it wasn't for the kids being so hungry, we would have just left. Well, turns out the twit sat us directly in front of the speaker and that's why the music was blasting on us. After the food came out we were being harassed by a yellow jacket. We finally did switch tables and everyone there was incredibly disrespectful and ignorant to the fact some people are allergic to bees, and kids generally don't handle being stung so well, never mind it's unnerving to constantly have one harassing you. Never have we been told we cannot switch tables and treated so disrespectfully. Then the check comes and a mediocre Caesar salad is $22! They charged an $8 salad sharing fee! Who does that? Just offer a larger salad for a few extra bucks. Again, I would have left right way but the kids were hungry and I would have never paid that $8 but my sister did with a vow to never return and spread the word on what an awful establishment this is. Save yourself a miserable experience with nasty people, and your money... avoid this place! read more

friendly and efficient staff. lovely setting. on busy weekend best to sit on terrace area in back rather than patio with nearby road. we had salads which were ok. fried shrimp added were cold( maybe thats intended) . beet and arugula salad had only purple beets, missed the golden beets mentioned by waitstaff. there is not a full bar so cocktails are bottled and canned. my old fashioned was not good at all and canned lemonade/ vodka the same. its a wine bar so the wines and beers are fine. stick to them. it was pleasant experience overall. read more

Both Ryan & John have made us newbies feel so welcome in a very awkward time. Both owners have come to greet us by name. This is a family friendly and everyone friendly spot on the lake in a picturesque setting. Full on 10 for casual relaxed friendly environment. We were nervous to bring our pets and youngsters but were welcomed with opened arms. ~~~~ the negatives our friend said there was only one bathroom. Maybe at one time but there are two when I went. Totally recommend. Easy and casual fun! read more

Very nice relaxed wine bar in New Preston center. Very reasonable. Nice ambiance. Outdoor seating in warm weather. Fireplace. Wonderful snacks: buffalo popcorn, mole nuts, cheese plate of locally produced cheese. I hope this new place is successful. It has a nice sophisticated vibe. Worth revisiting. read more

Great place for a winter rainy Saturday afternoon or any time Great wine selection , delicious Barbecue and very friendly patrons Will be back soon read more

Nice vibe. Excellent service. Good small plates. Extensive wine list. What's not to like?

Super cozy wood burning fireplace, perfect patio for leaf peeping and a darling sommelier - can't wait to come back read more

Owl Wine Bar - Great selection of reds and snack pairings - Italian dried olives with orange peel were a perfect compliment with my Spanish Grenache - Wine Bars Near Me - New Preston, Connecticut

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The first time I visited Owl, during a snow storm with a friend, we sat by the fire, the only 2 venturing out on such a cold evening. The wine suggested by our hostess was perfect for the night. We snuggled into sheep skins, ate spicy nuts and olives, and felt as though we had found the best kept secret ever. Within a few weeks I returned for a larger gathering to celebrate a friend's birthday. We ate delicious small plates, trying one after another, enjoying the warm hospitality of John, the incredible host and chef. While more crowded, Owl had lost none of its charm. Not able to stay away even a week, I returned for a double date. Once again the great wine, fantastic small plates, amazing hospitality and warm, intimate atmosphere did not disappoint. Owl is the kind of place you want to share with your best friends and loves. read more

Hidden gem!! Wine selection was great!! The food was absolutely delicious! The staff were so inviting! Everyone here was so friendly and really made our dining so great! Really enjoyed our experience here! read more

Adore the Owl Wine Bar and not least of all because they served one of the most delicious roses I have had in, well, ever. The hose made olives are delicious and sitting outside, watching part of the world pass by the shops in New Preston, is a wonderful way to pass the afternoon. Owners and staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and warm. read more

Food is great as well as the service and ambiance. Had s feeling like you're sitting in Europe. Highly recommend this place.