The Bidwell Tavern and Cafe

Bar, Eatery

1260 Main St
Coventry, Connecticut, 06238-3155
United States

(860) 742-6978 | map
bidwelltavern.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.72
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
11
pDev:
12.1%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by begforme4484:
Photo of begforme4484
Reviewed by begforme4484 from North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -18.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2 | food: 3.5
The thing I enjoy about this place, is it's two minutes down the road from me.

If you're looking for craft beer place, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for wings, check it out.

The atmosphere of the place is rustic in and around the bar, very old feel with a wood fireplace and all. Other half of the restaurant, is pretty much a standard restaurant, but the deck is neat.

The quality is decent, I can't really complain for the food.

The service is hit or miss. It all depends on the waitress/bartender you get. I've had great service, and service I've felt the need to complain to management about.

The selection of beer is terrible, although they do have about 10ish taps. It's mostly mid level stuff. The most appealing thing they have is Dogfish Head 60, and they don't carry it year-round.

The food is alright, nothing spectacular except for the wings. The wings are not the best I've ever had by far, but they are the best I've had in Connecticut.

I only visit this place on Mondays, where it is $2.50 pint night and I fill myself up with a dozen wings and 4 pints of 60 min.
Jul 02, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.44 by swierczt from Connecticut

Jul 26, 2017
Photo of JLK7299
Rated by JLK7299 from North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +19.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
amazing wings, best in CT.
Dec 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by grahuba from Connecticut

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by hoppymcgee from Maine

Jan 05, 2014
Photo of fitzy84
Reviewed by fitzy84 from Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I went with a couple of colleagues to this establishment. In my travels around that general area I had a hard time finding a nice, cozy place with a great quality selection. The atmosphere was very nice: cozy, tavern feel. Quite a large place even though it did not feel that way outside. The bar is a right angle area with seats and tables all around it. A more restaurant area is near the back. The place is a very old cabin feel with a wood fire area. There were about 2-3 plasma TVs I could notice, but for some reason a talk radio station was blarred over the bar area. Still, that cozy atmosphere was all I could really feel.

We ordered mostly appetizers but their selection was quite good. Potato skins with jalapenos were a personal favorite but my colleagues raved about their wings which were offered in 30 flavors. On tap were about 20+ beers with Guinesss, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Opa-Opa, etc.

Overall, this place was a gem and if I was more local, this would be my hangout spot.
Dec 02, 2009
Photo of SteveO1231
Reviewed by SteveO1231 from Connecticut

3.33/5  rDev -10.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
So i finally stopped by, first of all Bidwell is in the middle of no where off or rt 31 in the historic downtown area of Coventry.

Very nice little place that was established in like 1822 and I believe it I think Jesus built the damn thing.

Ok first things first WINGS! They have at least 30 different flavors.

If you go here don't even waste your time with the food menu, just go with the wings, they are phenomenal but the regular food kinda sucks!

I went on a friday night, a bit crowded in the bar area that is straight and to the left as you walk in, restaurant seating to the right and in back.

Sat a little booth in the bar section that looks like it was whittled out of logs.

Service was extremely friendly, and I must say i was expecting to see moonshine and god knows what else on-tap, instead i found some surprisingly good beers offered.

Opa-Opa - Redrock
Sam Adams - Light, Boston Lager, Cherry Wheat
Dogfish - 60
Blue Point - Toasted Lager
Sierra Nevada - Pale Ale
Harpoon - Ipa
Otter Creek - SP Porter
Olde Burnside - Ten Penny
Magic Hat - #9

A few others like bud, coors etc.

I had a Blue Point toasted lager first my second beer was a Dogfish 60, which I sent back because it tasted like salt water, I don't know if there lines were fucked or what but it was nasty.

The server replaced it with another no problem but it was kinda wierd.

There was a band rockin' out in the corner of the bar gettin all the local hillbillies excited, and they sounded pretty good too.

For what it's worth Bidwell has great wings and a good tap list.

So, if you are lost in the woods of Coventry and find a log cabin in the middle of nowhere order the wings and make sure your beer is safe before you go slammin it down.

Cheers!
Aug 12, 2008
Photo of BrianCT
Reviewed by BrianCT from Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Bidwells is a staple for many ECSU and UConn students, although it has none of the dreadful amenities of a college bar. Tucked away down route 31, Bidwell Tavern has a quaint, comfortable atmosphere, good service, and an above average beer selection. Their house beer, Old Abernathy, was a favorite of mine for quite some time. Their tap selections aren't extravagant, but they have enough of a varience to keep things interesting. The $2 pint night on Monday nights was a godsend. Their food (mostly typical bar fare) is quite good and they are famous for their wings. The waitstaff is incredibly friendly and is typically good at remembering faces/names of consistent customers. Overall I find that Bidwells is a great place to frequent; one that is affordable and allows you to briefly escape the dreaded college bar vibe.
Oct 26, 2007
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +11%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A very nice place to go grab a drink or a few. Sometimes have bands playing. Really good atmosphere with a lot of different beers that are available on tap. Probably the best selection for beers on tap in the area. All the seasonals and even a house beer brewed by the Hooker Brewing Company out in Hartford, CT.

As for the food, it's really good food at a very reasonable price. Thursday nights rocks and wings are excellent. 30 wings and 5 pony rolling rocks for $15. The wings alone are well worth the money, but the extra beer is good as well. I am not a huge fan of rolling rocks and sort of wish it was maybe less beers of a better quality, but overall a really good deal.

If for some reason you are ever near the Storrs/Mansfield/Coventry area, check this place out if you need a place to eat. The beer selection is excellent and the food is as well, and it won't break your wallet!
Oct 11, 2007
Photo of TrickKnee
Reviewed by TrickKnee from Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
What is amazing is that I am the first person to talk about this little treasure in the corner of Ct. Near Uconn and ESCU, the Bidwell Tavern is known for one thing, WINGS. Now i am not talking about a few flavors such as BBQ and Buffalo, I am talking 36 different flavors with combinations like oriental sesame and garlic as well as ceaser and my god the list goes on. the only one i suggest you dont try is the Green Mountain, it is a coffee flavored wing, i dont know what they were drinking to come up with that. The beer selection is quite good as well, with some magic hat, harpoon, and many others that wet your whistle. I suggest the Stovepipe porter. If you are in the area, you must go, it is worth the trip.
Apr 06, 2006
The Bidwell Tavern and Cafe in Coventry, CT
Place rating: 3.72 out of 5 with 11 ratings