Bowie Restaurant Project: (82) 19th Hole Bar & Grill

For an explanation of the Bowie Restaurant Project, look here.


For a list of all the Bowie Restaurant Project reviews, look here.

19th Hole Bar & Grill,
7420 Laurel-Bowie Road,
Most Recent Foursquare Check-in: 11/25/2014
Total Foursquare Check-ins: 2
Pre-Foursquare Visits: Don't think so
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bowie has a golf course! With a snack bar. If the snack bar at the skating rink counts as a restaurant, so does this. And guess what? It's a heck of a lot better than the Penalty Box Cafe.

The first time I went here, I felt compelled to participate in some actual golf activity first, so I dropped off the kids at school on Columbus Day and headed over to the course to hit a bucket of balls off the driving range (bring your irons; it's a short range). Then I found the snack bar, where I had a breakfast sandwich (bacon, egg & cheese). It was good; better than what you could expect at Dunkin' Donuts.

The next time, I realized that nobody would actually care if I played golf first, so I just went in and ordered a burger and fries. Again, pretty good for a snack bar. Not up to what you'd get at, say, the Chesapeake Grille, but I left feeling satisfied.

If you don't play golf, I can't really recommend making this place a regular dining stop. But even if you don't, it's not a bad option if you're driving down 197 and have time for something better than Burger King. While you're at it, grab those old golf clubs from the garage, dust them off, and hit a bucket of balls. It's even more fun that you remember.

Bowie Restaurant News

Jimmy John's is still not open at the Bowie Town Center, although I drove past after going to the 19th Hole and saw a lot of work going on.

That means I have three restaurants left to review. Another review should be coming up in a week or so, then I'll have two of the pricier restaurants in Bowie left, so I'll have to find some special occasions (and possibly a babysitter).

The Marketplace shopping center is scheduled to be redeveloped by 2016 (though I don't think it's a completely done deal). Restaurant options will include another Chipotle, Firehouse Subs, and the existing Glory Days Grill. Let's see...one of the reasons I started this project is I got sick of people visiting us at work saying, "We're in Bowie; I guess we'll eat at Chipotle." I don't love Glory Days, and the Firehouse at Waugh Chapel is OK, I guess. So while I'd like to see the place redeveloped (mostly for the Harris Teeter), I'm not excited about its effect on the dining scene.