Red Cow

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  I had the opportunity to eat at Red Cow this past Monday (3/4/13) And it was awesome. Normally I would expect a few issues from a newly opened restaurant as they iron the kinks out, but that was not the case. My server, Amy was absolutely one of the friendliest and most helpful servers and the whole experience was smooth and flawless. The wine selection is top notch - I was amazed at the variety of wines that are available by the glass - one of the best lists in town. The menu is creative and diverse. I don't eat beef so I was worried about options but quite the opposite, my issue was wanting to try so many things and making a choice!
  The environment is comfortable, clean, and approachable. I will definitely be back!

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  Posted on 03.06.13 Victoria E.

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  Great selection of burgers and appetizers, even have root beer on tap.  Great meal

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  Posted on 03.05.13 JT H.

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  The great service put Red Cow over the top for us. Our server gave wonderful recommendations and was very attentive. Our burgers, fries and cheese curds were creative and tasty. Great wine selection and a good beer list. Check it out. We will go back for sure.

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  Posted on 03.05.13 Amy H.

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  We were first told it was going to be an hour wait, after an hour the manager came up to us and said they were just clearing the table now. A half hour later they walked us up to our two tables. They just assumed it was OK to separate out party of eight. We ordered our food and one of the people that we were sitting with received his burger with mayo on it. No where did it say it included mayo. He asked to receive a new burger because he doesn't like mayo. They took it back but just wiped the mayo off and brought it back! Again he showed the mayo on the burger and asked for a new burger. Never once an apology.
  
  Bug er places are EVERYWHERE now, find some place else! The burger was good but not any better then Blue Door, Nook, 5-8, Matts, Smash burger, My Burger, etc,etc.

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  Posted on 03.03.13 Jeremy H.

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  Recently opened and completely packed on a recent Thursday night.  Great selection of local brews, burgers were yummy (BBQ and Patty Melt were the selections).  
  
  The rock stars of the night were the caramel bacon puff-corn and the truffle fries - both were incredibly addicting.

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  Posted on 03.03.13 Jess J.

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  Fantastic food, great service and cold beer. I had the ultimate burger,  The red cow sauce really made the meal.  others in my group hadnthe elk burger, and two kinds of chicken burgers. They raved about them as well. The sweet potato planks were very good as well but I think the highlight was still the scotch eggs and the ahi chip appetizers. Parking could be an issue but there is plenty of street parking nearby. We are definitely going back.

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  Posted on 03.02.13 Vince L.

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  Had a party of 10.  Fun atmosphere, good service, crummy food.  I had the buffalo shrimp sandwich.  The shrimp (maybe 8 small shrimp) were over-breaded, over-cooked and cold.  The bun was so voluminous and dry that I had to remove the top and eat it open faced.  Had the buffalo wings as an appetizer -- ordinary.  The pork slider appetizer was good...nothing to write home about.  These folks have a great location and a good staff.  Let's hope they bring in a chef who can match the ambiance.

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  Posted on 03.02.13 Edward P.

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  I found out about Red Cow, heard about its interesting takes on burgers, and decided to give it a try over a weekday lunch. It had a small parking lot, but good side street parking. The decor is sharp, modern and appealing--the materials cause the noise to bounce off the walls (a plus or minus depending on the person). It was opened by the former part-owner of the local chain, the Blue Plate Restaurant Company, which is responsible for a number of good though not exceptional restaurants. This fits right into that theme.
  
  I started with one of three versions of "poutine" consisting of beef and cheese (no gravy). It was pretty good (my favorite part of the meal), but I wish restaurateurs would stop calling these dishes something they simply are not. This, or the two other versions described, are nothing like actual poutine. To be fair, I have yet to get a proper, traditional version of the dish in the Twin Cities that doesn't add unnecessary items or, more importantly, understands that the vital part is a high-quality gravy. Still, I'd recommend it.
  
  Since the burgers were getting the buzz, I opted to try something unique with their "Elk Wellington". Listed as a burger, was an interesting approach: a large elk patty baked into a puff pastry with an accompanying mustard. It looked much better than it tasted. I got bored with it and didn't finish. The fries it came with are seasoned (if not a tad over-salted), crispy and good. The side of coleslaw I tried was home made but bland and utterly forgettable. Stopped eating after a few bites.
  
  My server was good, competent, and not fake. Overall the service by all staff was very good. The burgers are all a bit north of $10.
  
  This restaurant is a lot like Crave: style, presentation, but average substance. Seems about right for the neighborhood (spending money for the sake of spending money). I wouldn't consider it something worth going out of your way for.

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  Posted on 02.26.13 B H.

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  Lovely dinner with fresh entrees.  Try the Mussels or the Ultimate Burger.  Dee provided over the top GREAT service.  Thanks Red Cow for a lovely dinner.

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  Posted on 02.26.13 Charity C.

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  My husband and I ate here on Saturday for lunch.  We pulled right in to the parking lot and got seated immediately (I was shocked).  Everything from the service to the food was fantastic.  We got the cheese curds and while those were good, we were both totally hooked on the triple berry ketchup (I know - KETCHUP?  Yes, KETCHUP!).  Hubby got the lamb burger and I got the turkey burger - VERY tasty (likewise for the fries).  For dessert we tried the ice cream and red velvet cupcake (from next door at Wuollett's).  Our waitress was super, and at the end of our meal what appeared to be one of the managers came out to see how we liked our meal.  Go to Red Cow if you want a really high-quality sandwich (and don't mind paying a few bucks more thanat one of the chain restaurants).  It's worth it - you get great food, but also are supporting a local business.  The ONLY drawback of this restaurant (and it really isn't their fault) is the parking lot.  They have parking right in front of the building, but a few customers decide that they can just park "behind" these cars, blocking them in.  There is plenty of parking on the street, as well as a parking ramp about a block away (you can burn off what you ate with your walk).  All in all, a great addition to the neighborhood.

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  Posted on 02.25.13 KC B.

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  Jason K. sends me a lot of places to try. This one sounded more urgent than others. I love how beer cheese soup is always available. I thought Tom was being picky, but sure enough it was lukewarm. So now I'll order it crank up the heat, and fill it. Jesus, another 7/8 full cup, and for $4. But I did love the flavor and also the color. The cheese curds were perfect. Now I don't have to go all the way to Wisconsin. I got the grinder. It was very good, but I had to pick out the jalapenos. Basil loved the ultimate burger. I like how they have fresh lemonade on the menu already, that was good too. It's very close to the 50th and France intersection and I think it will give the Edina Grill a run for it's money.  I don't know the story behind the name. It certainly isn't aimed at the boomers or it'd be Black Cow.

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  Posted on 02.24.13 Rhonda G.

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  Knowing that Red Cow had just opened I was trying to wait a while before visiting because I know it would be crazy busy.  When I read more about the restaurant, looked at the menu and saw pictures of the food I was super excited to visit. Then I saw that on Friday they had a fish fry and during Lent I love to try out different fish fries.  That was it; I could not wait any longer.   I called in the afternoon to inquire about reservations, and was informed that they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more.  I inquired about what the typical wait time has been for a table, and was told that at 5:30 it is usually a 15-20 minute wait, and that at 7 PM it gets really crazy.  So we decided we would meet our friends at 5:00.
  
  First thing you need to know is parking is not easy.The restaurant's parking lot is very small and maybe holds 12 cars.   Be prepared to find street parking and walk a bit.  Not a big deal, but in the winter time make sure you are wearing the appropriate footwear.
  
  When we entered the restaurant we were immediately greeted. Our friends were already there so we quickly found them in a very spacious booth.  They said when they got there it was pretty quiet, but it got busy very quickly. 5:00 was the perfect time to show up!  Our waiter showed up quickly and we were able to order some beer.  We were impressed with their selection of beers on tap.  They had several of the MN micro-brews on tap, some our favorites from around the nation, and a couple international brews.
  
  We started with the Wisconsin cheese curds to share.  There were several things on the "shareables" menu that I would like to try but they will have to wait for another visit.  The cheese curds did not disappoint.  The triple-berry ketchup served with the curds, was a perfect flavor combination. The sweetness of the ketchup cut the saltiness of the cheese perfectly.  
  
  Since it was Lent and we came for the fish fry, that is what we all had.  They have fish 'n chips on the menu, but they also have an all you can eat fish fry that Friday.  The waiter was very good about clarifying which one we wanted.  When we received our meal it came in a basket with the fish on top of the fries, and had a side of their Red Cow sauce and their tartar sauce. It looked yummy!  Everything was hot, so I knew that it was made fresh and had not been sitting around.  The fish was nice and flakey, with a lovely buttery taste.   With the all-you-can eat, the waiter would bring out a fillet as you finished an wanted more.  Our waiter was awesome!  He was always asking if we needed more fish and checking on our beverages.  Also even though it was incredibly busy we never felt rushed or pushed out.  We were there for two hours and our service was great the entire time.  
  
  This is definitely a place we will be coming back to.  I think it could become one of our new favorite spots!

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  Posted on 02.24.13 Sara H.

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  I went back again tonight and I LOVED it!  The first time we went it was prime time, Friday night.  This time we moseyed over in the late afternoon to enjoy an early dinner with a couple of drinks and the experience we so much more my style.  Same great  bar service, sans the cranky hostess, one bad bartender and the under seasoned food.  
  
  I drank the same wine (highly recommend the Votre Sante Pinot Noir) and Mr. S sampled  a number of beers.  The evening favorite was the Indeed Midnight Ryder (Mpls, MN) Black IPA although the Deschutes Mirror Pond (Bend, OR) American Pale Ale was a close 2nd... I just love these flavorful dark beers that don't weight a pound.
  
  Mr. S had the Barcelona Burger ($11.50)... the baskets are still there but this time the burger was good enough that we weren't even bothered.  Definitely upgrade to the sweet potato crinkle planks, it's worth it!  I had a delicious Steak Salad ($12.50) that was flavorful, beautiful and had a very generous portion of steak.
  
  During the meal I actually said, "I think we've found our new neighborhood bar."  Can't wait to go back.

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  Posted on 02.24.13 Karla S.

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  We have been excited to try this new restaurant addition to our neighborhood.  Overall we would rate our first experience a letter grade of a B-.  The restaurant space itself is nicely done, however during the busy dinner period, the dining area in the bar turns into the waiting area for those people on the wait list.  We were eating dinner at the table in the bar and a guy actually set his beer on our table while we were eating!  They'll need to figure out the bar situation.  The food was a mixed bag for us.  We started with the caramel bacon puffcorn (it was very good!)...ate the whole bowl.  Next course was the ahi crisps...they were okay but a little akward to eat as the ahi was bigger than the crisp and spilled over the edges.  I recommend you stay away from the house made beer cheese soup.  It was pretty awful.  It had an overpowering bitter beer flavor and it was served lukewarm.   We each had a burger.  The Royale Burger was excellent.  The Patty Melt was...meh.  The bread for the patty melt was dry and crumbly.  French fries were good...cole slaw was average.  Had the sweet and salty ice cream for dessert...was pretty good.  Beers seem a bit over priced...could add a few lower priced options (like a $3-4 tap like grain belt nordeast).  Service was pretty good considering they just opened....if you are only drinking water, beware that the water glasses are the size of a dixie cup!  Be prepared to park down the street and walk.

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  Posted on 02.23.13 Tom L.

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  For a brand new place, the service was good.  The burgers, which are their main item, were average at best. With so many good burger options in the area, they'll need to crank it up a notch as far as the burgers go. The bun is kind of hard and airy, like a standard grocery store bakery bun. The meat had an odd flavor, not bad per se, but different.  The toppings are strange but in theory could work if the get the buns and meat get straightened out. Salut and Beaujos have far and away better burgers in terms of neighborhood joints.

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  Posted on 02.23.13 David K.

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  We were lucky to get in early, before the huge crowds gathered, on a Fri. night so our wait for a table wasn't long. This place is big enough so there is a good turn over of tables, and the bar is also large enough to find a place to wait.
  We brought our daughter along, she's 9, and were happy to see a kids menu. They have the usual kid offerings, cheese burger sliders, grilled cheese, mac n' cheese, corn dog, and probably something else I don't remember. Our daughter had the cheese burger sliders, they came with fries and carrot sticks, and she ate everything, which isn't usually the case. Both of us adults had the steak sandwich, with fries, it was fantastic! The steak was cooked perfectly, there was almost too much of it for the size of the baguette, and the onions and mayo were delicious. The fries come in a metal cup sort of thing, they were skin on and nice and crispy, with just the right amount of sea salt. The portions are generous but not too much, we all finished our dinners, but still opted out of a dessert, maybe next time.
  The beer selection is huge, if a little heavy on the IPAs, but there are so many to choose from you can easily find something else if you want. The decor is fun, the volume was a bit loud but not terrible, and the staff were all great. We had a lovely server from Manchester UK who was so nice and friendly. I am certain we will be back as often as we can get a table, I suspect the Red Cow will be very busy all the time.

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  Posted on 02.23.13 Larry O.

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  We were fortunate enough to attend last weekend's soft opening.  We had fantastic service from the entire front of house, especially our server, D.  This is a neighborhood spot that I think will stick -- something for everyone.  We really enjoyed the Ahi crisps appetizer and the Bison burger.  Fish & Chips are a tough one to pull off but had great flavor.  Extensive beer and wine list and roomy bar are also a plus.  I'd like to come again for brunch or happy hour.  Parking is limited in front, but you can use the Wuollet's lot after 6pm.  Whether you live in the 'hood or have a reason to be near 50th & France, definitely give this spot a try!

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  Posted on 02.21.13 Sarah H.

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  My buddy and I decided to try the new joint in town. I loved the owners previous ventures, like The Edina Grill, so I had high expectations, that were met.
  
  We entered and sat by the window looking out on 50th St. Cool interior with modern lighting and a big bar. Lots of seating, but not a lot of parking.
  
  This revamped Blockbuster has a ton of taps, with awesome beer options. Happy hour is 3-6 and $1 or $2 off beers. Not bad, great beer for $4 a glass.
  
  I would have liked half off apps like the Edina Grill, but our awesome server said that food options were coming.
  
  I ordered a Stone Arrogant Bastard (See, I told you awesome beer) and a Fulton Sweet Child of Vine after that.  We ordered a veggie burger with fries to split. Perfect amount of food.
  
  Our server was so great, checked on us often, but not pretentious, made sure we had beers at all times and made great food recommendations.
  
  The veggie burger is a perfect chickpea based homemade patty with some guacamole on top and a beautifully buttered and toasted bun. They put something in there that gave it a little bit of happy kick.
  
  The fries were of high quality, but my only complaint is that they were a tad soggy. The ketchup dipping sauce had a little extra something in it that made me happy.
  
  Glad to see this place in the neighborhood!

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  Posted on 02.21.13 Jason K.

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  Good food, but definitely service kinks to work out.  Seems as if labor costs were hedged by very inexperience wait staff coupled with experienced staff.  Service was spotty at best, little things like not refilling drinks, forgotten app orders, selective acknowledgment, etc.  Strong wine/beer selection though wine prices a bit over-index even for normal eatery mark-ups.  Hoping round 2 meets the potential.

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  Posted on 02.20.13 Mark M.

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  Friendly and experienced staff, fast service, delicious juicy burger (I went with the staff recommended Royale burger).  The fries are awesome along with the homemade ketchup.  They have a huge draft beer line up including some local favorites.  I'm looking forward to heading back for happy hour...

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  Posted on 02.19.13 Mat I.

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