I loved watching Bowen on MasterChef and so I just had to visit his restaurant!!! His food did not disappoint. I came with my boyfriend on a date night and it was the right call - each dish we ordered was flavorful, and presented beautifully. Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kenneth Burdzinski
Ate at Bowen Bistro Saturday evening and had a wonderful dining experience. The food was exceptional, including the Lobster Risotto, and beautifully presented. Chief Bowen was also responsive to accommodating a food allergy when advised in advance while making our reservation. This is a small intimate setting establishment. The music is soft so you can carry on a conversation with your dining guests. We did invest two hours in our dining experience and it was worth every minute. We had the opportunity to savor the flavors of each course without feeling rushed. We will definitely go back again. This is not a restaurant focused on how many tables they can turn in an evening and the menu prices are reflective of that. If you’re concerned about price, check out the menu on line and if the item is marked market price, ask before ordering. If you’re not willing to eat at a relaxed leisurely rate, go somewhere else, this isn’t the place for you.
Erlu
I will give zero if I can. The food does not match the price, drinks are directly from the can, and the restaurant is just like a Starbucks. If you want a fine dining, just go to Bistro 501. If you want the same food quality, Texas Roadhouse is better.
Matt Carlson
Wow, everything was amazing. So glad to have such a high-end chef here in our town. We had a great anniversary dinner in several courses. Not everything on the menu was available but everything we had was amazing.My steak was so very tender and somehow the searing was the best I've ever tasted. Tarot ice cream was a great finisher. Really it was all great.It's pricey of course but I felt the meal was appropriately elegant. We found out that it will probably not last until the fall of 2022. Sounds like the chef is headed off to New York. That's a loss for our town.If you have the time and the money be sure to catch it before they leave, it was a great dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Lu Zheng
Top notch restaurant in West Lafayette! Food was amazing and we had a great dining experience there. Looking forward to another visit.
Storme Stover
Very disappointed. I understand the intimate setting, but The lack of staffing made the dinner a multiple hour event. The food was wildly overpriced for what it was. Both seafood dishes I had were way overcooked. Both the calamari and the lobster were tough and rubbery. The lobster risotto at MV was 70 dollars an entree. After explaining to Bowen that the lobster was completely inedible, we received a mere 30 dollar gift card in compensation. I found this disrespectful and honestly absurd. We will not be returning. 300 dollars for a 5/10 meal is outrageous, considering the multiple other cuisine choices in the Lafayette area that have better service, and exponentially better food. They need to reevaluate their menu, reevaluate their pricing, and reevaluate their understanding of what a “fine dining” experience should entail. Unbelievable.
Mallory Sauer
From the beginning to the end, the dining experience and food was superb! The cookery of each dish was excellent and the flavors were complex! We drove quite a ways to get there and it was totally worth it! You should definitely order the coconut panna cotta; you won't regret it!Thanks Bowen Bistro for making my birthday so special!
Kim B
Bowen is amazing! A true Masterchef! My favorite place in Lafayette Indiana! Run don’t walk to Bowen Bistro❤️
rickb1Indiana
This is a smaller restaurant run by a very good young chef who prepares Asian fusion food. The menu is a limited one, but my wife and I found it was excellent. We both had the wegu (sp) and it was terrific. Appetizers are also very good (we had the potstickers served with a spicy soy sauce and loved it. Now be advised that this place isn’t cheap, but we loved the portion sizes and the personal attention we got from the kitchen staff. FYI, the chef has beef a contestant on Master Chef and did well. We highly recommend this restaurant.
TheDevildog1991
I love watching Master Chef, so of course I had to visit a place where a Master Chef contestant cooks the food!Bowen provided excellent service and the food was indescribably delicious. My wife and I both had the wagyu filet mignon and I’ve never had a more delicious steak in my life. The appetizer and dessert were also excellent, and the drink selection was nice (I went with a bourbon barrel ale).I’d eat dinner at Bowen Bistro every night if I could. Highly recommend it!
Best restaurant around the Lafayette area. Every dish is well cooked. Love the unagi and crème brûlée. The Grilled Unagi was very rich but the flavor was well balanced. The crispy texture on the crème brûlée was amazingly good. My friends had the lobster risotto and they liked it as well. The chef is friendly and he is going to participate the all star master chef next month!
Jenny Zz
I had my birthday dinner here. Great food! Chef is full of passion of cooking and culture. Birthday Cake is delicious!? You guys have to visit at least one time before chef is moving to bigger city
TR26
My wife and I enjoy dining at restaurants operated by celebrity chefs when we travel, and a bit of web searching for the afayette area turned up Bowen Li. Is he a full-fledged celebrity chef yet for having competing for 2 seasons on Masterchef? I can say this: his food stands up against the fbest we've had. The decor of rhe location is modest--it's on the end of a relatively new strip mall, evidently near to Purdue U. The focus here is on rhe complete experience. They do one seating per night so that guests are not rushed, The sound system delivers a mature selection of jazz classics. The short menu changes twice a month, and the wine list is respectable. We began by sharing the escargot appeizer. These are prepared traditionally in herbed garlic butter and served in shell along with a couple of Madelaines to serve as bread. The Madeleines are the creative touch here, one might not expect garlic butter to pair well with the sweet buttery pastries, but so it does. My wife;s entree was the Miso glased salmon, which showcased Chef Bowen's creativity. He explained to us that he'd started preparing crispy skin salmon, which is the fasion in fine dining currently, but the diners of West Lafayette didn't think it attractive and would remove and leave the skin. So he developed this recipe, where a filet of salmon is marinated for 24 hours in red miso, sake, and other ingredients, then cooked with a glaze of the marinade. Ite's served on a mushroom risotto. My wife noted that the salmon and the rice individually were superb but together they were awe-inspiring. I dined on the wagyu filet mignon. I cannot recall when I've had a better steak! It came on a potato puree with some oven-roasted cherry tomatoes on their vine, and a few baby asparagus spears--and demi-glace, poured at table to preserve the finish on the beef, Our final verdict is that this was one of the best meals in several years, and it's a major incentive for us to visit this part of Indiana again. I hope the producers of cooking shows recognize this chef and showvase hime, people of West Lafayetttte understand what an asset they have, and that those residents can learn how to enjoy crispy salmon skin.
Ember Shen
Caution: do remember to make a reservation! I was super lucky that Bowen gave us an exception to dine in.Folks, there is now no need to travel all the way to Chicago for fine dining ambience and Michelin-star equivalent food. Nondescript from the outside, Bowen Bistro has a really gorgeous and intimate setting inside. We were dressed super casually on a hot summer day and luckily there was no dress code imposed.The young and bright chef was friendly and recommended tuna tartare, escargot and prawn cocktail. My friend and me were not adventurous eaters so we were scared to try raw food. The prawns were huge, juicy, and succulent.The piece de resistance has to be the grilled unagi. As a fan of unagi, i have tried many, including Michelin bib gourmand ones. I have to say Bowen's rendition was just right. The slab of unagi was THICK, generous, and not overly charred but just crispy enough. The sauce was a balanced taste of sweet and umami.Unfortunately we were too full and had no space for desserts.We told the friendly Masterchef that we HAD to visit (before i graduate) because of Masterchef and he announced that he will be competing in the All Stars season soon! All the best, fellow Boilermaker!
Tina Tao
Disappointed.I have a reservation at 8 pm, the server asked us to wait more than 20 minutes and there was no space to seat at the start. Finally when we had our table, only one menu on Valentine’s day without other options.The soup was okay but it went cold fast because the restaurant was cold at night. Perhaps the owner should check out the air conditioner. I like the appetizer and it’s shape of heart was innovative. To be honest, the steak cannot choose to cooked well-done, which made my stomach painful after eating. The bread was too salty. The desert contained too much sugar…In the end, we paid approximately 300 dollars for the meal. Comparing the service and food quality that I had in other restaurants, I could tell the big difference. Hope they can be better next time.In a word, the meal was not worth the price, the waiting time, and our expectation.
I loved watching Bowen on MasterChef and so I just had to visit his restaurant!!! His food did not disappoint. I came with my boyfriend on a date night and it was the right call - each dish we ordered was flavorful, and presented beautifully. Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ate at Bowen Bistro Saturday evening and had a wonderful dining experience. The food was exceptional, including the Lobster Risotto, and beautifully presented. Chief Bowen was also responsive to accommodating a food allergy when advised in advance while making our reservation. This is a small intimate setting establishment. The music is soft so you can carry on a conversation with your dining guests. We did invest two hours in our dining experience and it was worth every minute. We had the opportunity to savor the flavors of each course without feeling rushed. We will definitely go back again. This is not a restaurant focused on how many tables they can turn in an evening and the menu prices are reflective of that. If you’re concerned about price, check out the menu on line and if the item is marked market price, ask before ordering. If you’re not willing to eat at a relaxed leisurely rate, go somewhere else, this isn’t the place for you.
I will give zero if I can. The food does not match the price, drinks are directly from the can, and the restaurant is just like a Starbucks. If you want a fine dining, just go to Bistro 501. If you want the same food quality, Texas Roadhouse is better.
Wow, everything was amazing. So glad to have such a high-end chef here in our town. We had a great anniversary dinner in several courses. Not everything on the menu was available but everything we had was amazing.My steak was so very tender and somehow the searing was the best I've ever tasted. Tarot ice cream was a great finisher. Really it was all great.It's pricey of course but I felt the meal was appropriately elegant. We found out that it will probably not last until the fall of 2022. Sounds like the chef is headed off to New York. That's a loss for our town.If you have the time and the money be sure to catch it before they leave, it was a great dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Top notch restaurant in West Lafayette! Food was amazing and we had a great dining experience there. Looking forward to another visit.
Very disappointed. I understand the intimate setting, but The lack of staffing made the dinner a multiple hour event. The food was wildly overpriced for what it was. Both seafood dishes I had were way overcooked. Both the calamari and the lobster were tough and rubbery. The lobster risotto at MV was 70 dollars an entree. After explaining to Bowen that the lobster was completely inedible, we received a mere 30 dollar gift card in compensation. I found this disrespectful and honestly absurd. We will not be returning. 300 dollars for a 5/10 meal is outrageous, considering the multiple other cuisine choices in the Lafayette area that have better service, and exponentially better food. They need to reevaluate their menu, reevaluate their pricing, and reevaluate their understanding of what a “fine dining” experience should entail. Unbelievable.
From the beginning to the end, the dining experience and food was superb! The cookery of each dish was excellent and the flavors were complex! We drove quite a ways to get there and it was totally worth it! You should definitely order the coconut panna cotta; you won't regret it!Thanks Bowen Bistro for making my birthday so special!
Bowen is amazing! A true Masterchef! My favorite place in Lafayette Indiana! Run don’t walk to Bowen Bistro❤️
This is a smaller restaurant run by a very good young chef who prepares Asian fusion food. The menu is a limited one, but my wife and I found it was excellent. We both had the wegu (sp) and it was terrific. Appetizers are also very good (we had the potstickers served with a spicy soy sauce and loved it. Now be advised that this place isn’t cheap, but we loved the portion sizes and the personal attention we got from the kitchen staff. FYI, the chef has beef a contestant on Master Chef and did well. We highly recommend this restaurant.
I love watching Master Chef, so of course I had to visit a place where a Master Chef contestant cooks the food!Bowen provided excellent service and the food was indescribably delicious. My wife and I both had the wagyu filet mignon and I’ve never had a more delicious steak in my life. The appetizer and dessert were also excellent, and the drink selection was nice (I went with a bourbon barrel ale).I’d eat dinner at Bowen Bistro every night if I could. Highly recommend it!
Restaurantji Recommends
Best restaurant around the Lafayette area. Every dish is well cooked. Love the unagi and crème brûlée. The Grilled Unagi was very rich but the flavor was well balanced. The crispy texture on the crème brûlée was amazingly good. My friends had the lobster risotto and they liked it as well. The chef is friendly and he is going to participate the all star master chef next month!
I had my birthday dinner here. Great food! Chef is full of passion of cooking and culture. Birthday Cake is delicious!? You guys have to visit at least one time before chef is moving to bigger city
My wife and I enjoy dining at restaurants operated by celebrity chefs when we travel, and a bit of web searching for the afayette area turned up Bowen Li. Is he a full-fledged celebrity chef yet for having competing for 2 seasons on Masterchef? I can say this: his food stands up against the fbest we've had. The decor of rhe location is modest--it's on the end of a relatively new strip mall, evidently near to Purdue U. The focus here is on rhe complete experience. They do one seating per night so that guests are not rushed, The sound system delivers a mature selection of jazz classics. The short menu changes twice a month, and the wine list is respectable. We began by sharing the escargot appeizer. These are prepared traditionally in herbed garlic butter and served in shell along with a couple of Madelaines to serve as bread. The Madeleines are the creative touch here, one might not expect garlic butter to pair well with the sweet buttery pastries, but so it does. My wife;s entree was the Miso glased salmon, which showcased Chef Bowen's creativity. He explained to us that he'd started preparing crispy skin salmon, which is the fasion in fine dining currently, but the diners of West Lafayette didn't think it attractive and would remove and leave the skin. So he developed this recipe, where a filet of salmon is marinated for 24 hours in red miso, sake, and other ingredients, then cooked with a glaze of the marinade. Ite's served on a mushroom risotto. My wife noted that the salmon and the rice individually were superb but together they were awe-inspiring. I dined on the wagyu filet mignon. I cannot recall when I've had a better steak! It came on a potato puree with some oven-roasted cherry tomatoes on their vine, and a few baby asparagus spears--and demi-glace, poured at table to preserve the finish on the beef, Our final verdict is that this was one of the best meals in several years, and it's a major incentive for us to visit this part of Indiana again. I hope the producers of cooking shows recognize this chef and showvase hime, people of West Lafayetttte understand what an asset they have, and that those residents can learn how to enjoy crispy salmon skin.
Caution: do remember to make a reservation! I was super lucky that Bowen gave us an exception to dine in.Folks, there is now no need to travel all the way to Chicago for fine dining ambience and Michelin-star equivalent food. Nondescript from the outside, Bowen Bistro has a really gorgeous and intimate setting inside. We were dressed super casually on a hot summer day and luckily there was no dress code imposed.The young and bright chef was friendly and recommended tuna tartare, escargot and prawn cocktail. My friend and me were not adventurous eaters so we were scared to try raw food. The prawns were huge, juicy, and succulent.The piece de resistance has to be the grilled unagi. As a fan of unagi, i have tried many, including Michelin bib gourmand ones. I have to say Bowen's rendition was just right. The slab of unagi was THICK, generous, and not overly charred but just crispy enough. The sauce was a balanced taste of sweet and umami.Unfortunately we were too full and had no space for desserts.We told the friendly Masterchef that we HAD to visit (before i graduate) because of Masterchef and he announced that he will be competing in the All Stars season soon! All the best, fellow Boilermaker!
Disappointed.I have a reservation at 8 pm, the server asked us to wait more than 20 minutes and there was no space to seat at the start. Finally when we had our table, only one menu on Valentine’s day without other options.The soup was okay but it went cold fast because the restaurant was cold at night. Perhaps the owner should check out the air conditioner. I like the appetizer and it’s shape of heart was innovative. To be honest, the steak cannot choose to cooked well-done, which made my stomach painful after eating. The bread was too salty. The desert contained too much sugar…In the end, we paid approximately 300 dollars for the meal. Comparing the service and food quality that I had in other restaurants, I could tell the big difference. Hope they can be better next time.In a word, the meal was not worth the price, the waiting time, and our expectation.
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