Bidwell Tavern

Had a wonderful lunch with my family this afternoon. I haven’t been here in over a decade. They are famous for their delicious wings. You can sit yourself upon arrival in the bar area. Jessie was our server and she was great. We started with the garlic pepper dry rub wings with hot buffalo sauce and ranch on the side. They were seasoned perfectly with the garlic pepper rub. Crispy outside and moist and cooked inside. It honestly didn’t need any sauce but my guys love dipping. The mozzarella sticks were lightly battered and crispy. The cheese pull was great. The mozzarella sticks were served with delicious marina sauce. The shrimp taco was mediocre. The shrimps were on the smaller side and heavily battered. It was served in a soft flour tortilla, cut romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onions and on their delicious coleslaw. It came with a side of tartar sauce which was tasty. The coleslaw definitely saved this dish. I wouldn’t order it again. The tuna melt with cheese and tomato on rye bread was phenomenal! I opted for the coleslaw instead of fries and I’m so glad. The coleslaw is lightly tossed in a mayo base but very refreshing. It has a nice bite to it. I would definitely order this again and would love to try other sandwiches. The cheeseburger was okay. Not the worst and not the best. Cooked medium as requested and their French fries are delicious. Casual tavern ambiance. A bit loud because of the bar but they also have patio dining and a restaurant area in the back. I would definitely return to try more dishes.

I can still remember the first time I came here, in 1992. A pint of Guinness and a tavern of wings. I never thought any of us could eat 36 in a sitting, but we were all up to the task (except Doug). It became a Monday night ritual, $2 pints of Guinness and a tavern of wings. The dark, colonial vibe could not be beat, and we never once had a bad visit Almost every week until I left for the bright lights of Boston in '98... 28 years later and I finally got the opportunity to come back. Wings are split in 10s instead of dozens, but most of my favorite flavors are all still here. I ordered Santa Fe hot for my dry rub, mustard horseradish for my special sauce and complicated for my buffalo. Still as awesome as I remember it, and if you like spicy, complicated does not disappoint. But now that I'm in my 50s, I shared a few. 24 still feels respectable. I coulda done 12 more easy. At least that's what I told the table. I will not wait another 28 years for another go.

It actually pains me to write this because I’ve always told everyone that Bidwell has the best wings in CT. Unfortunately, tonight was really disappointing. The wings were extremely dry, almost inedible, which was surprising given how incredible they used to be. The nachos were also underwhelming, just plain tortilla chips with a few slices of melted cheese and some lettuce, tomato, and onion on top. I’ve loved this place for years and wanted it to be our go to date night spot, but based on this experience, I’m not sure we’ll be back. It’s sad to see the food quality decline because it truly used to be out of this world.

This was a recommendation from a couple of friends mentioning a really good wings. Love Coventry due the market and motorcycle rides, so, I planned to stop in this place for lunch. When we arrived the places give you the impression of a 1800 building, lol, and yes, has been there for a while. The decoration it is traditional American. We ordered wings because was the recommendation on the place and so far it have been probably best wings so far in CT, if not wrong they sauce and refried the wings something that love it, perfect crisp, perfect temperature, and a lot of flavors, we order mexican spicy and the green giant (I believe was the name), we sayed that well take some left over to home but we end the plate. If you dont like wings the menu is pretty big, I saw salads, burgers, wraps and more (gumbolaya). I do recommend this place 100%

Best wings in CT now that I’ve tried them all. This place is historic and delicious. Nachos were also on point! I can’t recommend this enough. 10/5 stars actually. Honey hot bbq will be my go to forever.

Ordered their bone in wings with three different flavors. I’ve always been a fan of this place and their wings but the last few times I have gone they haven’t been great. They’re not bad, but not great especially for the price. Not super saucy and kind of dry and over cooked. Not to mention the bad service when going in to pick up our take out order. I could’ve had a nice sit down meal for the price of just these wings.

Hands down without exaggerating the BEST WINGS IN THE STATE!!!🔥 I've brought friends that lives in SC and TX and both have said that they were the best wings they've ever had...real grade A premium chicken with numerous delicious flavors to choose from. Mix and match with dry wings like the Ranch(one of my favorites) to wet wings like the Honey mustard or dozens of others to choose from. Has that cozy local restaurant feeling with a wooden fire place, Live bands that play there, and don't even get me started on their massive amount of draft beers to choose from which makes it tough since they have so many amazing kinds. Hands down my favorite is Sam Adams Cherry Wheat with extra cherries(lol I know my friends love to crack jokes when I order it lol). I only have it unless I'm at the Bidwell. Nothing compares to having it straight out of their fresh kegs. Highly recommend you go there. Earlier the better because it does fill up quickly.. Ask about "Rocks and Wings" that's a special that they do on Wednesdays

Absolutely use to be are go to for wings they absolutely sucked way over done appetizers wings and drinks was $120. Bartender was absolutely disrespectful spilled the drink on my wife didn’t apologize didn’t give her napkins. Pretty sure I’ll never go back here again.

Had a wonderful lunch with my family this afternoon. I haven't been here in over a decade. They are famous for their delicious wings. You can sit yourself upon arrival in the bar area. Jessie was our server and she was great. We started with the garlic pepper dry rub wings with hot buffalo sauce and ranch on the side. They were seasoned perfectly with the garlic pepper rub. Crispy outside and moist and cooked inside. It honestly didn't need any sauce but my guys love dipping. The mozzarella sticks were lightly battered and crispy. The cheese pull was great. The mozzarella sticks were served with delicious marina sauce. The shrimp taco was mediocre. The shrimps were on the smaller side and heavily battered. It was served in a soft flour tortilla, cut romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onions and on their delicious coleslaw. It came with a side of tartar sauce which was tasty. The coleslaw definitely saved this dish. I wouldn't order it again. The tuna melt with cheese and tomato on rye bread was phenomenal! I opted for the coleslaw instead of fries and I'm so glad. The coleslaw is lightly tossed in a mayo base but very refreshing. It has a nice bite to it. I would definitely order this again and would love to try other sandwiches. The cheeseburger was okay. Not the worst and not the best. Cooked medium as requested and their French fries are delicious. Casual tavern ambiance. A bit loud because of the bar but they also have patio dining and a restaurant area in the back. I would definitely return to try more dishes.

The tavern and town were quaint, has a cozy hometown feel. The staff were courteous and helpful, the beer selection was various and had something for anyone . We ordered the tavern wings to share with everything , hot honey bbq, and mild . Texas skins (add bacon!) . Pasta with red sauce for the boy and chicken egg rolls for an appetizer. We enjoyed the appetizer, beer , entertainment, and the pasta was apparently "yummy". The potato skins were a bit dry and possibly made too far ahead The wings were juicy but off , also feeling a bit past prime, the bones broke fairly easily which is not a good sign, the everything wings were actually everything bagel seasoning, and the blue cheese was - meh. Don't bother ordering any desert - they taste straight out of the freezer Tried the leftovers today and the skins were much better today - wings inedible Hopefully this place gets itself back on track with fresher product and higher standards because it's a lovely atmosphere.

Such a nostalgic place for me. Both parents are UConn Alums so every time we visit the campus, stopping at Bidwell is a must. Interior creates such a cool vibe, I love sitting in the bar area. We of course had to get the wings, half buffalo half parm everything. Great, crispy, flavorful wings. Waitresses were all very nice and attentive. I love when we stop here.

I heard these wings were some of the best in the state, and they did not disappoint. We got the mustard horseradish, jerk bbq, and buffalo ( complicated). All the wings were great but the mustard horseradish was my favorite- I've never seen that flavor combination before. I also got an apple cider Moscow mule that was phenomenal as well. The service was really good- we ordered 30 wings and they came out pretty fast. The vibe of the place is really cool. Love all the historical decor. I definitely would come back again to try other flavors.

Great atmosphere! Staff is friendly. Service is ok, better off sitting at the bar. Food is mediocre, but the Smokey scent of the large wood burning parlor stove and radiant heat during the winter months is a great feel if you're just kicking back for a couple of drinks.

Tavern or dining room deck side. Tavern side is open seating. Wood fired stove heats the room. Plenty of televisions. Lots of old photos. Service staff are friendly. Not loud at all. Music in background is not intrusive. Conversations are at normal level. We ordered clam chowder and large wings - hot honey BBQ sauce and Santa Fe dry rub. Soup and salad came out first - well spaced. Wings were excellent! Meaty, juicy, and really well seasoned. They lived up to the hype!

Not impressed. Haven't been in years because of a bad experience - not better now. Vegan burger was not cooked enough - had to send back and toppings very sloppy. French fries were weird and not tasty. The hamburger my husband said was good. Service good. Won't go back.

Im sorry. But I am not impressed by anything that I have tried here. The wings are the best thing they have and to me they are overrated. I cant stand the little salad bowl that your salad comes in as you cant even mix it without spilling it all over the table. The meatloaf was hospital cafeteria grade and the frozen not fresh veggies were the worst bland tasting vegetables I ever ate. This is the nicest restaurant in the neighborhood but thats not saying much as it's nothing but fast food around it, but I think that what keeps them busy but this is not somewhere I will return.

Great lunch with a good friend. Of course we had to order the wings . They did not disappoint. We went with garlic Parmesan and they were tasty. I loved my bowl of chili. It was spicy and full of chunks of meat. The only downside was the salad. It looked better than it tasted. Amber was a friendly waitress who checked in on us often!

Cute pub and restaurant in the center of Coventry. The tavern has a vintage vibe and some cool stained glass. The service was also great. The pork tacos were okay, the flour tortillas were not warm and there was quite a bit of fat in the pork for my liking. I would probably try some of their wings or a burger next time!

Driving out to Bidwell Tavern in Coventry, we saw a Bald Eagle. Very neat! We should come out this way more often Have been going to Bidwell Tavern for many years. 2 of our kids went to UCONN & it was always a good place to take them for an off campus visit/meal. There is a nice restaurant/sunroom space. However, on a cold day in January, the main/bar area with the wood stove is where we wanted to be. The tavern dates back to 1822, and it's a great place to have a drink and eat some wings. Their wings are wonderful - I think better than most other places. You pick a flavor/sauce, there are a lot to choose from. We had the mild buffalo this time. Served with not enough carrot & celery sticks (we asked for more and got a huge platter that they charged extra $1.50 for - worth it.). Also - good ranch & blue cheese dressing on the side. I had a Mexican coffee that was delicious. We also got some sodas and because this is a bar, they do charge for refills (we expected that). Nice place to hang out in on a cold winter afternoon.

Back again for their delicious wings. I had the traditional mild buffalo and they certainly were just as good as last time. The place was not busy for a late lunch but the wait time was long. It didn't matter though as we enjoyed the beautiful weather sitting outside.

A long needed and overdue update for my review on this place...here's a revised/updated version of my prior review: - OVERALL - I can't even ballpark how many times I've been here...Yelp says 171, so at least 200? I love this place. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, great beer selection, amazing wings, and some good specials too. They celebrated their Bi-Centennial in 2022, so it's certainly a long-standing landmark in the area. If you haven't visited in 10 years or so, you'll likely notice how the footprint expanded out the back to add a lot more indoor seating, and they added a patio that now goes over the brook. It was definitely needed. Oh, and they added more bathrooms, which were badly needed. You can still visit the "classic" tiny ones that are on the bar side, but the restaurant side has new larger bathrooms if there's a line. - FOOD - The wings are GREAT. Better than just about anywhere I've been, just keep in mind that there are a ton of flavors, and some of them are pretty unique, so there's bound to be some you won't like. There's at least a handful that I don't like. Truth be told, I'm torn up about picking favorites flavors, as there are so many good ones, but I particularly like Hot Honey BBQ, Sweet BBQ Dijon, Sweet Chili, Garlic Parmesan, and Sesame Garlic Pepper (It's better than it sounds and is one of their saltiest wings, but very good...can't believe how many years passed before I tried it!). They'll also do some off-menu combinations - one notable favorite of mine is "Green Mexican", which is a combination of Green Mountain and Mexican Spice. Some of the flavors I'd suggest skipping would be Boom Boom, Lemon Pepper, Ranch, Old Bay and Old Bay BBQ. I do have to note that despite the ridiculous number of times I've visited, I can't really lend much of an opinion on their food other than the wings. They're known mostly for the wings, so if you don't get them, you aren't really experiencing Bidwell. I do like the onion rings, and I always opt for extra veggies with the wings as simply another conduit for their delicious blue cheese. - DRINKS - They have a full bar, and a great beer selection that includes 25 or so draft beers from which to choose. - SERVICE - The Bidwell is great if you know what to expect. This place gets CROWDED, and with good reason. It's a hotspot for the area in general, which includes UConn, and has a lot of regulars. If you go the same night each week you'll start seeing the same people quite a bit. You shouldn't go to a TAVERN expecting a perfectly choreographed & calm sit down meal, just like you shouldn't go to Olive Garden and expect the same jovial, "hang-out and have a good time" that the Bidwell offers to those who have come to love it. The waitresses are often all over the place as they have lots of tables, and the wings fly out of the kitchen. They might need to bus three tables in 3 minutes, so they may walk right by you once, twice, thrice without saying anything. Don't expect long conversation when it's busy, and you may need to flag them down from time to time, but don't be shy, they're used to it! :). - SEATING - The bar side is almost always first come first serve for seating, but talking to a waitress can help too The later you show up on popular nights the more likely you'll be waiting - as the night rolls on the venue can start shifting from typical restaurant table turn-over rate to people tends to turn to people hanging out for an extended stay listening to music, watching the game, and grabbing a pint or six. Can't get a table on the bar side? The restaurant side has a waiting list when it's busy. They're usually good about noticing a new group/couple, but similar to the discussion above, the pace is quick and they might not notice you by the door on a busy night with people standing around and shuffling around. If no one comes us to you, you may need to flag someone down. - PARKING - There's a decent amount of parking, but it can get completely packed when they're busy. We always opt to take our oldest car, as the lot and spaces can get tight. There's a small amount of parking across the street that can be used during night hours when it's busy. It's an unrelated business, but they aren't there that late, and don't tow. Street parking is a thing of the past. There wasn't much to begin with, but what there was went away when the town installed new sidewalks and street lamps. - SPECIALS - Monday nights are the cheapest if you plan on having a few beers. Drafts are $3 from 4PM to close (usually excludes one or two microbrews). Tuesday is Prime Rib, Top Sirloin Steak, Pot Roast or Meatloaf Dinner and a beer for $17.95. Wednesday is "Rocks & Wings." The 30-wing platter comes with 6 free 7oz ponies. They used to be Rolling Rock, but it was Stella Artois for my last Wednesday visit (Sept 2024). There's also live music later in the evening on the bar side (The band will set up in the corner closest to the old wood stove).

Cocktails were good. We got some of the seasonal drinks that they had on the menu while we waited on our food. Generally ambiance was nice but it's not a huge issue for me in general. Biggest issue was the food itself. I got the chicken Bidwell- which ended up being extremely bland. It seemed to intend to have a "wine sauce" but ended up just tasting like frozen watery vegetables and watery noodles with a sprinkle of cheese. Not to mention the tomatoes which looked atrocious. My partner enjoyed their meal though, they got the tavern melt. The soup I got as a precursor to the meal was alright as well- nothing special though. Generally wouldn't come back. There are other, better options in the area.

Great wings and starters but man imma feel sick from all the wings I ate and that wasn't that much to begin with. The wings just hit wrong in my chest don't blame me I really love this place because we have history because we went here a fee years ago and I took my Facebook pfp in the bathroom I tried to remake it but couldn't because it looked really bad

waited 20 minutes for server to come to table. We left. noticed other people doing same. Asked the two servers for service both said it was not their table. Management is losing business due to lack of initiative. was looking forward to wings won't be back any time soon. Sad because this was a family fave

Always a great experience! The waitresses are always great! Lately the food on point! Especially the wings! Great tavern, what you expect to see when you are in CT or New England ! Go, just don't ride the horse out front!

My husband first brought me here in 1997 and we've been coming back ever since. Today's wings were spot on; hot and juicy, crispy skin, nice size and full of flavor! 3 of us split the tavern order with hot buffalo, sweet chili and my fav mustard horseradish. We arrived around 11:30 and the place was already packed. By the time we left around 2 there was a wait for tables. Wood burning fire kept us warm on a chilly day. Waitresses were hustling. Always a great stop!

Cute building at one end of the Coventry's 'main street' with a small stream running through the yard and a horse and carriage standing outside. Originally established in 1822, the new proprietor took over from a family member a couple of years ago. Parking is located on both sides of the little stream in their private lot. We've been here a couple of times and sat in the bar area both visits. They also have a big dining room and a good size deck for outdoor dining. It's very low key in the pub area with wooden bench seating along one wall, a few tables scattered about and of course, bar seating. There was the bartender and one wait staff during both our visits. Seat yourself in this area and don't worry if they don't get to your right away. They're juggling a lot. The food is good. Appetizers include nachos, chicken tenders, stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella sticks and so on. They also offer soup, salad, sandwiches, burgers, their 'famous' wings and a few entrees. Something for almost everyone. On this recent visit I went for a taco salad. Plenty of seasoned meat covered in fresh shredded lettuce, onion, tomato, cheese with a side of sour cream and spicy salsa. I enjoy the heat level on that salsa which I mixed into the salad like a dressing. My SO got the spicy chicken sandwich (again). The heat level is nice for him. Not hot enough to make him sweat, but a pleasing level of heat he can appreciate. The coleslaw on the side also had a kick. You can get fries instead if you prefer. We'll definitely stop in again. Nice little local pub to grab a relaxed meal.

The food has steadily gone downhill and no longer makes up for the miserable bartender attitudes

The food was touch and go. The chicken tenders were really good. Fresh and looked to have been made there. The potato skins were ok. I've had worse but I have had way better. The menu was...way too "upscale" for a TAVERN in Coventry. The burger was ok, a little overcooked, a pleasing amount of bacon, but light on the cheese. The fries tasted like fish, so I can only assume they use the same frier oil for everything, glad I'm not allergic. There seemed to be a lot if tables crammed into a space that wasn't quite big enough. The lights were hanging hanging and if my date hadn't been paying attention would have walked face first into them. I liked the antique feel of the decor. The server was nice, but very inattentive. The time between ordering our appetizers and getting them was WAY too long. The time between getting the appetizers and our entrées was maybe 7 minutes, so way to fast. I was very disappointed.

This review is for Bidwell Tavern. We heartily recommend this tavern. Great food, great ambiance, very reasonable. If we lived closer we would be there multiple times each week !!!

Tonight I went with a friend to Coventry for the Tuesday Beef & Brew for $16.95. I was recommended to try this cozy warm restaurant. The meal consisted of beef, vegetable, starch, salad and a beer. What a wonderful deal of the week and I have no complaints. The temperature of the beef was perfect. One of the bartenders Kim has been employed there for 32 years. They must be good to there employees. Will definitely be returning to try their amazing wings.

Large portions for what you pay. Food is alright. Just make sure your flashlight on your phone works so you can read the menu. It's very dark inside.

Twenty minutes for a grilled chicken sandwich. Order chicken tenders as an appetizer, never got those either. The cook needs to put down his vape. I used to love this place. The place was empty.No need to wait that long. We did watch at least eight takeout orders go out the door. The only time we got attention is when we first got there to order our drinks and our food.

What holds up? That's one of my review themes for 2022. I'm reconnecting with places that I used to love, that I've lost track of. The Bidwell Tavern in Coventry is one such place. The sign out front says Bidwell Tavern was established in 1822. The brick front part of the building is the old part of the premises. There have been one or more expansions through the years, and now there is ample indoor and umbrella-covered outdoor seating. The Bidwell is not fancy, but it has plenty of character. Complete with a fake horse and real carriage watching over a small stream adjacent to the parking area. Seriously. I used to live "East of the River"; now I live West of the River. When I was East, Bidwell was one of the names that came up when you talked about best chicken wings. Now, the Bidwell is a hike for me. I sat on the deck on a recent late Sunday morning, and ordered a Ten Penny Ale (which I haven't had in years) and a small order of "Hot" Buffalo Wings (10-12 wings I think). The deck was a nice place to sit and service was friendly. Now having been to some of the best wing places across CT, I can only say the Bidwell wings are slightly above average. The outside texture isn't as crispy as I like. The Buffalo sauce doesn't hold up against the better places in CT. I will say that one of the selling points of The Bidwell is sauce variety. I didn't count the number of sauce options, but they're well above average. I'm sure there are a few winners in there, but if I'm only getting one flavor, it's Buffalo. The 10 Penny Ale came in a clear plastic cup. That may have been the case when I was last there, but the failure to serve in a glass seems like a miss. I think 10 Penny was on the front end of the CT craft beer movement. I used to order it to support Local, but after trying it again, I prefer a number of other CT craft beers now. 3.5 Stars for the food and drink, but I'll round up to 4 Stars in light of the historical significance of The Bidwell.

Victim of its own reputation. I've lived in the area for years and have heard of the Bidwell Tavern the whole time. I've had their wings at a game night as takeout but this is my first time going in. I was let down from the get go when I looked at the menu. Just a standard diner menu for lunch, nothing I couldn't get everywhere else, which makes me sad I traveled for mediocre. Service was inattentive, I sat most of my meal with an empty ice tea glass and nothing but a distant sighting of my waitress. The chicken orzo soup was decent, the potato skins were bland and tough, the chicken tenders were a real highlight, the Bidwell melt burger was so dry (So. Dry.) and the coleslaw I got with it tasted of horseradish, and the bacon cheeseburger was decent. Ambiance wise, nothing to speak of here, just like so many other restaurants with some old photos on the walls. I can't recommend coming here for any reason unless you like wings and or tenders. Those are the only foods I've had from here that are worth the trip.

While returning our son to UConn, we stopped here for wings. It had been a while but we do remember how good they were. The 3 of us split the "tavern" size. We had lemon pepper, garlic Parmesan and Cajun honey. They were delicious! Very crispy and flavorful. The place is nice and service was excellent. We plan on making many trips here when in the area..

Great location, great food, and great atmosphere! We think our waitress was less experienced, but she got an A for effort. We will definitely return.

Went out to lunch today with my daughter up near where she lives. I had a nice drink and a lovely salmon salad. It was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed it very much and I was able to stick to my diet. My daughter had the French onion, soup and salad and she said she was full and it was very good and everything was very fresh.

Not a great experience.Had to wait over 20 minutes for chicken tenders. As I watched the cook send out to go orders one after another.Slso watched the cook vape in the kitchen and not even wash his hands. Gross.

We've catered from Bidwell Tavern many times over the past few years for our men's college basketball team, and they never disappoint. The food is always fresh, delicious, and a consistent team favorite. The service is top-notch, and the managers are a pleasure to work with. A special shoutout to Greg, who always ensures everything runs smoothly and our needs are met. Bidwell Tavern has become a trusted go-to for our team, and we truly value their reliability and great food.

Go for the wings and beer but also have a burger! Love the old world charm. Hope you get the happy bartenders (one lady needs to smile bad and be nice) and enjoy your relaxed environment. Always busy so be patient.

Very good french onion soup!! Pretty wide selection of food as well. Service was good, and ambiance was a typical fun tavern

I am a history fan! This place is awesome, established in 1822, very old feeling inside. The menu is pretty big and tasty looking, but we were here to eat wings. I had the it's complicated buffalo wings followed by the Oriental sesame wings. Both were amazing!! The it's complicated are not overly but will make you sweat a bit. Very good taste. The oriental sesame are very good and have a deep flavor. Not spicy at all, just delicious!! I had a taste of the lemon pepper, sweet chili, and the honey Dijon BBQ. All are tasty. This place has a great staff, who were very friendly and provided amazing fast service. I love the building and the benches with the small tables. Water coming in from a copper pipe is also fun! Great beer and drink menu too! Go try this place. It is awesome.

Stopped in for the first time/last with my daughter last Sunday I ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich pictured and my daughter ordered the BBQ grilled chicken sandwich. Mine was a frozen yellow breaded chicken breast - disgusting with an old roll. My daughter took two bites and she was done . I would recommend going somewhere else. I do like the property grounds

The best!!! I'm a nerdy Uconn grad from 12/90. That's December 1990 just in case. I've been eating and drinking at this historic joint since 1987 until now and into the future! I love it and love the food! Beers on tap are awesome and many to choose from and one waitress in particular is the absolute best! Her name is Kim and she is top shelf service all the time! Thanks Kim! You've been here longer than me and you look half my age. Oh well!

During a family weekend we decided to come here. It seems like a lot of people had the same idea as the place was packed. We had a 25 minute wait and once we were seated, the staff was excellent and gave suggestions on the menu. The ticket time was great for the place to be so busy. The food was great and it's on my list to come back for more menu items. Overall, a great dining experience!

I've eaten here a ton, but not since I've been on Yelp so this is my first review. We were staying at Coventry Lake and wanted to come here and it just happened that it worked with our schedule to come on Wednesday for Rocks and Wings. We started with a salad just for some variety which was actually pretty good. Also with the wings we ordered some fries and onion rings which were both so good we wanted seconds. I didn't photograph the wings but since there were 6 of us we split two specials and each picked a flavor. We got honey BBQ, teriyaki, dry rub ranch, honey mustard, hickory horseradish (my pick), and garlic parm. The definite favorite for everyone was the hickory horseradish, followed by the honey mustard, but we had no issue finishing every wing on the platters.

We came here for my friend's 21st birthday at 9:15 on a Thursday night. We were a little worried about going in so close to closing time but the amazing service and great wings made us feel super welcome. Our friend did not know what kind of drink he wanted, be he told the server that he likes orange juice and she made an amazing orange juice cocktail for him. Our server was the sweetest and she really made the experience super special for our friend. I wish I could give her a shout out but I didn't get her name. She brought out a birthday cake shot for our friend as well and made him feel really comfortable and special the whole time. The wings were super crispy and the sauce choices were great. My favorite is the spicy garlic but you can't really go wrong with any of them. The seating in the bar area is super cute with wood finishes everywhere and a very cozy feel.

Stopped in for a late lunch today as their menu looked interesting particularly the French onion soup. We were greeted promptly and told we could sit wherever we'd like. Our server provided menus and took our drink order. The menu is pretty extensive with appetizers, soup/salads, burgers, quesadillas, wraps. Etc. We ordered the French onion soup, nachos, and French dip with sweet potato fries. The onion soup arrived piping hot from the oven in the standard crock covered in Parmesan cheese. Soup had plenty of croutons and large pieces of onions. The soup itself was okay but not a great deal of depth in the flavor department. It wasn't the best onion soup or the worst that we have had but it definitely was on the bland side. The nachos and French dip arrived just as we finished our soup. The nachos were right out of the oven as the cheese was nice and bubbly and the plates were super hot. Plenty of cheese covered a good amount of tortilla chips. On the side was a spicy salsa and sour cream. Plenty of jalapeños in the salsa so if you're not into a salsa that is a little higher on the scale of medium you may want to take it easy. The French dip came with regular fries instead of the sweet potato ones. It took a long time to get our server's attention about the error and when she finally got to the table she offered to get the sweet potato ones but by that time the interest in them was gone. Just wanted to make sure they didn't charge me for them (additional $2 charge for sweet potato). The regular fries were also cold by this time so they were left in the basket. Our server did say that sometimes the kitchen misses things on the order ticket. The beef was pretty much a run of the mill deli meat with little flavor and the roll was a hamburger roll, thought it would come on a French roll given the name of the dish. The dipping sauce was pretty much the onion soup broth. Dish also came with a pickle spear. All in all a disappointing visit but may go back to try their chicken wings as that's what they are known for. Would have ordered those but wasn't in the mood for them. Our server was pleasant and helpful with questions that we had.

Went just after the lunch rush. We were disappointed in the offered sides, but overall the meal was well.

The Bidwell has been around forever and always been amazing. I've been many times over the years. My husband and I went there for our second date and that date never ended! The food is amazing. The ambience is terrific. The service is lovely. They didn't even mention to us that we had stayed two hours past closing, oops! Maybe they knew we would marry if they gave us enough time. Check it out. You won't regret it. Also the Bidwell tavern is a nice package store.

Went there for lunch, clam chowder was ok, the potato skins were black, couldn't get a knife through them. and it's always great to see the waitstaff burying their faces in their phones. Not worth another trip.

I was a little hesitant to go to Bidwell....last time I went a few years ago I was pretty disappointed, however, it had improved since my last visit. The food was decent, but the wings were the best part. Everyone I went with was pretty happy with their food with the exception of the salad. As you can see from the picture, it is kind of sad looking. I ordered a cheeseburger which was pretty standard, not bad but nothing spectacular. The fries were super good, nice and crispy with a good flavor. The service was great, our waitress was very nice and attentive. While I probably wouldn't come back for a full meal, I would definitely come back for wings and drinks.

This is an actual tavern so expect bar food but good fresh bar food. I had the Bidwell tavern melt with fries and my wife had the Tuscan chicken salad with a cup of clam chowder. So good and good service.

Ah yes, a staple for UCONN students, alumni and Coventry peeps. We come for the wings. And the beer. Wife and I stopped in for a Saturday lunch, and ordered the wings and a chicken topped garden salad. The mustard-horseradish sauce is as famous as the ghostly tavern itself, and it did not disappoint. The salad was plentiful, and the wings AND the craft local blueberry cider was Gooooood. (So good!) Had a good time and enjoyed the meal and the music... they changed the wings however.. from the large saucy FULLs to basic flats and legs (still GREAT!) (But in college this place had FULL wings (the drumette, the flat or wingette, and the tip.). Not sure when that changed BUT it has.

We all came here for lunch after the graduation CEREMONY at UCONN. Party of 12. Apps were good but a few of them came with the meal instead of before. We all got something different. 2 got the pineapple mule to drink and neither one liked it. I liked my margarita except I asked for a clear rim no salt, got a salted rim on the 1st one. My tuna wrap would of been good if there was a lot less onions in it and more mayonnaise. The wings were very good. Waitress was trying to be friendly but I think she was the only one. Place was packing because of the graduation. So I will try this place 1 more time and see if they are running normal what's it like.

Had lunch there. Wings were gross. They were dried out nasty. coated to hide the fact that they were cooked hours before we got there..The potato skins were gross too. Dried out re heated and served to us. They need a new cook. The mushrooms were also disgusting. I'll never go back there. The food is disgusting.