Dewolf tavern, Bristol, RI

[02903]

Despite some recent so-so reviews from friends, we went to dewolf for our anniversary last week since it is one of my wife's favorites.

The experience in general was very mixed. On the pro-side of things the food was prepared well and mostly tasty (though not spectactular). We started with the feta tikka and nan, which was a bit too salty but interesting (the least impressive food item of the night). For mains, I had the baby rack of lamb with beet salad, which was cooked well. My wife had the duck confit, which was the highlight of the night, as it is was perfectly cooked and the sauce enhanced the duck perfectly.

On the negative side, the service and experience were atrocious. They were hosting a wedding out back that night and obviously short on resources in the dining room. Our waiter tried our best but the lack of bus boys was obvious, as water went unfilled, bread baskets were not delivered, and tables sat for hours with dirty dishes after parties had vacated. We also had our meal arrive very slowly and not completely as we had ordered (missing sides, etc). Despite the food being solild, we were so dismayed by the other parts of the evening that we left and went to pastiche for coffee/dessert. I think most everyone in the dining room would have agreed that it would have been better for the restaurant to close for the wedding then to stay open and do a so-so job. I am not sure if we will be going back to dewolf anytime soon with so many other options in providence and the east bay.

[Kitzy]

We went to DeWolf last night and it was terrific. Service was fast and attentive and dinner was excellent. After all the negative press, I was very suprised. Give it another shot.

[Pearl2008]

We went to this restaurant for two reasons: 1. We were interested in holding our wedding rehearsal dinner here 2. We'd heard great things about the food and the ambience and thought it would be nice to treat my dad to a meal for his birthday.

First, 4 emails and voicemail messages I left for their event coordinator over the course of 3 weeks were never returned. When I finally managed to get a different employee on the phone, he was cordial and friendly and we scheduled a meeting for 1:30 on a Saturday to tour the restaurant and discuss menus, so I was hopeful all would go well. We drove down from NH and arrived shortly after 12 PM for lunch. We were one of only 2 parties in the restaurant at the time, but even so, the service was terrible. Our server was very inattentive, and our lunch order of sandwiches took over an hour to arrive, with no explanation of why it was taking so long.

The manager we were scheduled to meet with at 1:30 never showed up. We waited until 2 PM for him, then asked the hostess if someone else could give us a tour of the event rooms. The head chef gave us a tour. While I recognize that the restaurant is in a historic industrial building, the event rooms look like 18th century prison chambers! Very dark, creepy feeling, and few windows. The first floor event room was brighter, but smelled like a nursing home. Our tourguide also introduced us to the event coordinator (the one who never returned my calls or emails). When I told her my name, she said "that name sounds familiar." I said, "that's because I left you several phone messages a month ago." She squirmed and offered up the excuse that she has another client with a name similar to mine. Whatever.

While talking to this event coordinator, my fiance, parents and I all got distinct impression that she was completely uninterested in securing our business and we politely excused ourselves and left.

Long story short, my afternoon at the Dewolf Tavern ranks amongst my top 3 worst restaurant experiences to date and I will never return.

[jim2times]

Food had way too much Curry. Stay clear if you are not huge on Indian Food. The Service was also terrible

[nediner]

So why did you go back if it was so bad the first time?

[cemprov]

I've had mixed experiences there. Dined upstairs on a night when frigid gale winds meant all diners we wearing their coats thru dinner! Downstairs is less pricey and, for me, cozier. No reason to go upstairs in my opinion. I think their duck is absolutely fabulous--the other dishes are really variable.

[OOliver]

Redlefsen's is so much better.

[Bouchon]

If you think Red is much better you don't know food, Reds has never been good, bad owner and a revolving door for chefs. Dewolf is no better but at least it is defiantly better then Reds

[jtaylor]

I absolutely agree with you about Redlefsen's. The last time (and will be the last time) we went there the waitress shockingly rude. When I asked if we could order (I was there with my son for lunch) she actually said no! I thought she was kidding (after all she is a waitress, isn't getting our lunch order part of the job?), but she wasn't. She said she had to enter another request into the computer. She never came back and another waitress took our order. The people next to us ordered five minutes before us and were done with lunch before we ever got served. I thought the sandwich was actually pretty decent, but it was the WORST service I have ever experienced.

[jim2times]

The DeWolf Tavern is an over priced and under experienced waitstaff presentation. The environment is dirty and I didnt even receive butter with my bread before my meal. Then when I asked about it, I got a rude response. The bald headed man at the front was very conservative and not very willing to resolve our issues. I was really dissappointed with my time and money spent at this establishment.

[Garris]

I've been there twice and your experience mirrors my own to a degree. The food was uneven (some dishes great, others average) with disappointing service. I personally didn't care for the ambiance that much.

I do know others, however, who have raved about their meals, so YMMV...

- Garris
Greater City Providence Urbanism Blog
http://www.gcpvd.org