+1 860-238-4999
Located in the heart of Winsted, CT, Rowley Grill and Tap is an inviting American restaurant and bar & grill that has quickly become a beloved destination for locals and visitors craving hearty, flavorful comfort food with a creative edge. Whether you’re stopping by for a casual lunch, a lively dinner, or catering a special event, Rowley Grill and Tap’s diverse menu masterfully blends classic pub favorites with elevated twists that excite the palate and satisfy diverse cravings.
Step inside and you’ll find an atmosphere that balances the buzz of a vibrant neighborhood hangout with cozy charm. While some visitors have noted the lighting could benefit from a softer touch, the friendly and attentive staff more than make up for it, providing service that feels genuinely warm and welcoming. The atmosphere strikes a comfortable, laid-back vibe — ideal for shouting out your favorite team on the big screen or savoring a relaxed meal with friends and family.
The culinary offerings here are a true feast of flavors. Start your meal with the addictive Fried Pickles — crisp, golden, and perfectly seasoned — or dive into Rowley’s signature Rowley’s Nachos, piled high with chili, cheddar, sour cream, and fresh guacamole, creating a harmonious explosion of creamy, spicy, and crunchy textures. For entrees, the Black & Blue Burger stands out with its blackened Cajun-spiced patty topped with sharp buttermilk blue cheese, delivering a bold and smoky punch that lingers in a delightful way. Burger enthusiasts will also rave about the Mac Daddy, a juicy patty crowned with slow-roasted BBQ pulled pork and velvety macaroni & cheese — a decadent indulgence that feels like a celebration of comfort food at its finest.
Those seeking something lighter won’t be disappointed by the thoughtfully crafted salads, such as the vibrant Chopped Salad with black beans, avocado, and a zesty jalapeño-lime vinaigrette, showcasing a refreshing balance of crispness and creamy richness. The menu’s variety continues with hearty mains like the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies, or the Mahi Fish Tacos, which combine tender seafood with fresh accompaniments for a burst of coastal flavor.
Desserts at Rowley Grill and Tap are a sweet finale not to be missed. Treat yourself to a Brownie Sunday or the Hombre Cake drizzled with raspberry — decadent, comforting, and crafted to perfectly round out your meal.
Customers consistently praise the combination of quality food and approachable, friendly service. One diner affectionately noted, “Easily the best garlic parmesan wings I’ve ever had,” while another appreciated how even their dogs were treated with care — a testament to the welcoming environment. The menu’s standout dishes like the Old Smoky Mac & Cheese with smoked gouda and beef brisket or the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich invite repeat visits and enthusiastic recommendations.
While the occasional chill from the door opening in winter and some lighting choices might benefit from a tweak, the overall experience at Rowley Grill and Tap is deeply rewarding. The authentic flavors, generous portions, and heartfelt hospitality create a memorable dining outing that keeps guests returning time and again. If you find yourself in Winsted yearning for deeply satisfying American pub fare infused with flavor and character, Rowley Grill and Tap deserves a prominent spot on your list.
Contact Information:
19 Rowley St, Winsted, CT 06098
Phone: +1 860-238-4999
Stopped on Tuesday for lunch. Nice clean place. Looks like it might be nighttime hot spot. It was quiet on Tuesday. Had a burger with a side salad. It was very good and I enjoyed it. Wait staff was proficient and friendly.
Server was friendly and took care of us amid the hustle (even brought water for our dogs without my asking). Easily the best garlic parmesan wings I've ever had, amazing 'parisian' burger. I doubt we could have stopped off anywhere better.
The first time we came here, we got the fried pickles for the appetizer, and I got the bacon wrapped meatloaf, which is served with mashed potatoes and the seasonal vegetable. Will come here again!
A friend recommended to us the Old Smoky Mac & Cheese with beef brisket and smoked gouda. Much better than the Plain Jane. Beef Brisket Tacos were tender, warm and flavorful. The Buffalo Chicken sandwich well worth repeating. # Rowley Grill and Tap deserves more business. Great service, food and drinks every time. # 1/22 we were glad to hear staff would serve after 8pm. Service was friendly and the kitchen crew sent out well prepared meals when they thought they were done cooking. Wings, bacon wrapped meatloaf, chicken cordon bleu and ginger salmon with dinner salads were all enjoyable. # Three of us dined here again for a mid-afternoon lunch. Service was a little slow with only one wait staff on hand and a good amount of tables in use. She had to make the drinks from the bar, too, and she made us a great "Painkiller" and "Negroni." Our third party had unsweetened ice tea. We had nachos for our appetizer and three hamburgers, the classic, black and blue with add-on bacon and the Parisian with crispy cauliflower. All good. The chili in this order of nachos was more prominent than last time and improved. My partner did not detect any Cajun spice flavor in his black and blue, but it was juicy and cooked to his specifications. The classic was medium rare and juicy. The Parisian was not juicy, but cooked rare as requested. My suggestion to the chef would be to warm or toast the rolls. We ordered a side of plain mac and cheese to see what it was like. It was okay. Maybe the two other mac and cheese dishes with different recipes are better. # Revisiting here, I could have easily reordered the Parisian burger I had here last time, but we decided to try different menu items. My partner came specifically for the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. I had the Mahi Fish soft tacos with red cabbage and chipotle mayo sauce. For apps, we chose the Beef Barbecue Tacos and the nachos with added guacamole. We each upgraded our side to Brussel sprouts again. A tad overcooked, their presentation was dark in color, but they tasted great. The beef taco had nice flavor. The nachos were plentiful and rich with toppings though I did not see any benefit taste wise from the chili. Seasoned ground beef or pinto beans is preferable for me. The mahi fish tacos was a light entree with a small portion of mahi in each. A good light choice for diners. The Buffalo chicken sandwich was heartily enjoyed by my partner, and in his view the best of the four dishes. The standout from the kitchen, which came by mistake instead of onion rings, was the crispy cauliflower with an Asian dipping sauce. We will only choose this dish as one of our sides in the future. Light, crispy but cooked through, it melts in your mouth and the dipping sauce is delicious in itself and the perfect accompaniment. A nod to the bartender, as their special menu drink, a bourbon mint julep in a mule, was the best I've ever tasted of any bourbon drink. Perfectly balanced. The bourbon was mixed right into the cocktail without the bracing flavor that usually dominates any drink with this liquor. # If there was a four and a half star choice this would be my rating. The cocktails had good pours and some local distillery choices. We had no reservation but were seated right away on a busy Saturday night. Burgers come with the option of pink or no pink and both of ours came to the table as ordered. They also have fine dining items as specials including a filet mignon on mushroom risotto and grilled swordfish. The hamburger selections have some unique toppings. We enjoyed the Parisian and the Texan. The fried Brussel sprouts for an extra dollar side choice were exceptional. Perfectly cooked tossed in a soy sauce. A free appetizer coupon in the mail brought us in the door and we'd been meaning to try this place anyway, so we chose the cheese quesadilla. It was also good, but because we switched from a table to a booth, the wait staff got thrown off and brought the starter with our dinner so we only each ate a slice. The wings are the only app not available if using their coupon.
Really good pub food, bangin’ burgers and steaks, but can’t eat there in the winter. Every time the door opens there’s a gust of wind and chill. And the lighting is the worst offender. LED light rings like it’s a teen boy’s bedroom. Cold atmosphere. No warmth. The middle row of tables feels like you’re in purgatory out in the middle of nowhere. For God’s sake, get a designer and do a makeover! Or take a road trip to The White Horse Tavern in New Preston and bring in some character. The food is too good but the experience is absolutely bland!
Mature sports style bar, but it’s mostly table seating. I actually forgot that I had gone here, it is the eating that I recall more than the environment. The local’s who dine here & the bar staff were happy to make recommendations and have conversation. Intimate setting with the tiny bar and one TV. My meats were technically cooked to order but they were delivered in a way that I decided it best to not overwhelm my stomach. The flavors were great but I was concerned about being able to process the style of rare that was delivered. All in all would recommend being very specific about color and temperature because this chef takes that request quite literally
We had an overall awesome experience. The “plain jane” mac and cheese was so cheesy, a big portion and I loved the bread crumbs. My fiancé got the Mac Daddy burger which has pulled pork and mac and cheese on it, he loved it. What really made it such a good experience was our waitress. I have never had such an attentive, polite, and friendly waitress before. The moment we finished our glass of soda she was there asking if we would like a refill. We just moved here and some of our experiences with the local restaurants were really lack luster, so we’re so happy we found a place that we would return to. Thank you!!