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Blue Cow Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Canadian (New), Bars [Edit]
350 S Grand AveLos Angeles, CA 90071
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(213) 621-2249
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
107 reviews for Blue Cow Kitchen
107 reviews in English
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Review from Harmony P.
Hawthorne, CA
There is a Vietnamese salad that everyone should try! It is crispy, colorful, festive, and the chicken is very moist!
Parking is hectic - if you find a place that a validates..let me know!
Right next to a post office, around the corner is famima, around the other corner is starbucks and panda express. -
Review from Cassandra C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/19/2012
I love this place!
the curry duck wings are a must!!!!!!
the decor is awesome, the staff is equally amazing. -
Review from Martha W.
Los Angeles, CA
5/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
preface: PLEASE START DOING BRUNCH!!! YOU WOULD DO IT SO WELL!!!
This place is the s**t!
The tacos bahn mi (sp!?) are awesome as are the duck wings.
For my taste the cocktails are a little hit or miss. I love the spirit of using home made ingredients and having everything custom and fancy but I find their whiskey a teensy bit sweet, but if you like sweet then I imagine you'd enjoy it.
Head's up on their manhattan: they serve it up but in a high ball glass and it's brown because it has some kind of coffee infusion as a twist. I enjoyed it as an after dinner drinky but I hadn't read the description and I was a bit confused.
The kale caesar salad is an awesome meal, super filling and tasty. Next time I would ask for slightly less dressing as it was a bit heavy handed and tended to soak through the croutons but overall loved the dish.
The service. Lemma just tell ya. Everyone who works there is attractive and as far as I can tell very good at their jobs.
Been there a bunch but want to give a special shout out to my first two waitresses who were so awesome: Brittney and Amanda. They were accommodating, friendly, enthusiastic about the food and drink and attentive. Amanda eve helped out when some rogue drinkers stole our table while we were still drinking. She (I'm sure with help from the awesome hostess) upgraded our table to a large cozy couch table meant for a large group. That's just how they are. When you walk through the door everyone there is committed to your overall dining experience.
Bottom line: I go for the adventurous gastro-pubby food and the amazing service. -
Review from Hannah L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
this is a review of their happy hour. i am a huge fan of mendocino's so i expected great things, especially given all the glowing yelp reviews. this place was super average!
we ordered:
*root chips'n dips (crispy roots & raw carrots w/ sour cream onion whip) - $3
*crudite (cucumber, carrots, etc. w/ walnut hummus and tzatziki) - $6
*baked then fried potatoes - $4
*rum manhattan -$7
the root chips were just thin vegetable chips. super boring and kinda greasy. i liked the sour cream onion dip with it though. the success of the crudite depends on the dips and they both fell short. the hummus was not actually hummus...? and the tzatziki was nothing special. the baked then fried potatoes were yummy but i don't see how anyone could mess that up.
my drink had a syrup-like consistency and looked dirty. the glass was only about a third full but i had to stop after about 2 sips. the wine is only $6 during HH so i'd recommend going that route instead.
their happy hour was pretty disappointing but i hope to try this spot again and just stick to their main dishes next time. i miss CASA! -
Review from Monica H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/24/2012
I give Blue Cow 4.5 stars. I love the casual yet trendy ambiance it gives off. We were seated on the outdoor patio area, comfy and spacious. We ordered the Vietnamese salad, mendo steak sandwich and steak frites. The salad was light and refreshing, yet has a good tangyness to it. Sandwich came with crispy pieces of bacon and very tender pieces of steak. I was very impressed with the service there, our server Brittany was great! Very very attentive and sweet.
Went on a Monday night, plenty of street parking right by the California plaza (tho a bit pricey, $4/hr for meter)
Would def come back. -
Review from Joy B.
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Like a blue cow in a field of neutral colored cows, this baby is out of place.
You would not expect such a pleasant surprise tucked into this corporate-y California Plaza, surrounded by office suites and the like. But alas, there's it lives. That sky colored bovine, where a lively atmosphere, enthusiastic service, & fun delectable shareables await.
I'm a big fan of "thingies." That's what I call shared plates. We literally got all of the items under the "snack" column, and then like one or two from the veggie column.
A few of my favorite picks:
*Pork Belly wrapped in crepes - the airiness of the crepe wrapper was nice!
*Pink eggs & ham
*Duck wings
*Country fried chicken rolls - rolls as in Hawaiian King rolls. Um..yum.
*BBQ Brassicas - comes to you in a small brown paper bag. Fun presentation and tastes just like summer!
If you enjoy an adult beverage with your meal, go for the fortified lemonade..vodka, lemon, orgeat, bee pollen (which, is said to be a natural aphrodisiac, according to our server..which I then googled, and she wasn't foolin').
Loved the fun atmosphere. They have a bunch of old farmer contraptions, like udder milkers and the like, which adds to the rustic charm. The staff is so welcoming and pleasant. Great, knowledgable service with a smile.
At the end of your meal, your check comes tucked inside one of those little notebooks that you can jot down whatever thought or compliment or anything your little heart desires inside for future patrons to see. Such a fun touch.
Go here. You'll be glad. Not blue. Promise. -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
***Blue Cow Kitchen is from the Mendocino Farms owner, but it expands upon Mendocino Farm's gourmet sandwiches concept with small plates and entrees; the food was kind of a mixed bag with the entree being the most disappointing***
Blue Cow Kitchen is from Judy Han (who started the gourmet sandwich spot Mendocino Farms). I am not a big fan of Mendocino Farms. I have definitely had good sandwiches there, but I've also had several just average ones. I can see the allure of Mendocino Farms, but I've enjoyed the sandwiches at La Brea Bakery, Huckleberry, Joan's on Third, Langer's, and Bay Cities more.
Mendocino Farms is a gourmet order-at-the-counter spot, but Blue Cow Kitchen has table service (as well as a bar area). Blue Cow Kitchen sits in the lower level of the Two California Plaza. Close to the Wells Fargo Center and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, it is in a great location (it is an interesting place to visit for a weekday lunch since the plaza is brimming with Downtown LA professionals).
The restaurant has a nice outdoor area, which is next to a gushing fountain and with a view of some skyscrapers. The inside area has a dark decor that is not too bad, but the room itself is a little disjointed. The room does not have a good flow to it and the tables are scattered (the poor placement of tables makes the room feel cluttered and disorganized). I think a lot of it has to due with the space they took over (and the constraints there), but the layout could have been more well thought out.
We started with a few small plates and these were good. I really liked the deviled eggs. The beet marinated hard boiled eggs were filled with a good egg yolk mixture that was creamy and had a great tangy flavor from a good mustard. The little starter was completed with crispy but still meaty and thick bacon and candied jalapenos, which gave the egg noticeable but not overpowering heat. This little starter would make a good amuse bouche because of the great combination of flavors (smoky, salty, tangy, sweet, spicy) and textures (soft and crispy).
I also liked the baked then fried potatoes. Similar to the big fries at MB Post, these were huge potato wedges with crispy outsides and soft potato insides (not as soft as MB Post though). I prefer the ones at MB Post; in addition to the softer insides, they were better seasoned (the ones at Blue Cow were a tad bland). Still, the dipping sauces were good and helped out. I really liked the horseradish ketchup, which had a very noticeable horseradish flavor.
We also had the caramel popcorn with citrus and chili roasted pecans, walnuts and almonds. The caramel popcorn was sweet and good--maybe a little too squishy, which gave it kind of a stale feel. The nuts were good and crunchy (I really liked the almonds). This was supposed to be a sweet and salty combination, but it was almost completely sweet, which made it something that would work better after the entree and not before it.
For my entree, I had the steak frites, which came with prime bavette steak, baked then fried potatoes topped with cheese and such and an arugula salad. The quality of meat was good and it was nicely cooked and tender. The plate looked like it had a lot of flavors going on, but it was actually kind of the opposite. The steak was good, but it felt like it could have used more seasoning.
The same could be said for the fries. There was cheese and a jus on the fries, but the fries did not really have a great flavor. They could have used more salt or something because the other ingredients did not add much to the dish; they were there, but the kitchen did not really get the flavors out of them (they just made the dish greasier and messier).
Service was good. The food came out at a good pace and the staff (from host/hostess to server) was personable and attentive.
Prices were reasonable. They have several sandwiches that are in the $15 range and the entrees are below $20.
I enjoyed the starters at Blue Cow Kitchen and I liked the location as well as the reasonable prices (for the area). The entree though was disappointing (and my friend's burger looked dry and just okay). I may consider coming back for happy hour, but it is not likely that I would be eager to try them again for dinner.
Blue Cow Kitchen validates parking if you park in the plaza's underground parking structure (free for the first two hours with restaurant validation). -
Review from Tiffany Q.
Pasadena, CA
5/10/2012
Loved the ambience and the food was good but the salad I ordered had too much dressing and I couldn't finish because the flavor was too strong. Ordered the Seared Albacore Nicoise salad and also tried the Baked then Fried Potatoes, Shroom Toast, Pink Eggs and Ham and Pitman Farm's Duck Wings. REALLY liked the Farm's Duck Wings and the my one bite I took from my friends Vietnamese Salad was pretty darn good too. Actually, everything was pretty good except for the Seared Albacore Nicoise salad having way too much dressing. All the ingredients were fresh and tasty and I couldn't have asked for a better Friday evening with friends.
Our waitress was super helpful and nice. I think her name was Kate but I could be wrong. She helped us choose drinks and food items, as well as accommodating my friends request to say hello to the chef whom she knows through work.
All in all, a nice place to sit, drink and eat with friends while enjoying the atmosphere of downtown Los Angeles. Parking was a bit of a struggle to find but we ended up valeting the car, which is located right in front of the restaurant on Grand Ave. There's also a paid parking structure connected to California Plaza with an entrance on Olive St. -
Review from Cyrille K.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/1/2012
We celebrated my daughter's birthday here before heading over to the Ahmanson for a play. I like that you can park in their garage and get validated (save a few dollars...) and then walk down to the Music Center. I think parking for the whole night cost us under $8.
The food here is terrific! Loved the roasted beet and (not) burrata appetizer/salad, and the short rib sandwich was scrumptious. The root veggie chips and dips were also a big hit. I tried the pork and ham sandwich with the fried egg on top but probably wouldn't order that again as it was too salty. The house-made pickles that came with several of the dishes were especially tasty!
We told them we were celebrating a birthday and they brought us a free dessert, which I thought was a nice gesture. The waitress even lit the candle twice when my daughter blew it out the first time without waiting for me to have my camera ready.
The wine by-the-glass selection isn't that great, and everything (including the mediocre wine) was just a little pricier than I thought it should be, which is why I am not giving 5 stars. Also, we told them we were going to the theater when we arrived, the waitress even confirmed this with us, and they took FOREVER to bring us our check, which was a little stressful, especially after the food service had been so quick so our expectations were raised on that front...oh well! We still made it to the show in time. =) -
Review from Heejin L.
Los Angeles, CA
my tribute chicken was pretty yum
came here for lunch and had the tribute chicken.
the chicken was flavorful and the mashed parsnips were very creamy and buttery. they almost tasted like mashed potatoes. the haricot verts were pretty yum. you can;t go wrong with those; they were crispy and almost raw.
the dish was $17, which isn't cheap but not too bad.
i like the decor even though it is a tad too dark, too blue inside.
the service was really slow. the server barely came to check up on us.
they tried to personalize your experience by putting a typed note with the server's signature, saying how they appreciate your business in your doggie bag.
must come back for dinner. -
Review from Jessica Y.
Glendale, CA
I think I had huge expectations for Blue Cow because I absolutely trust the owner of Mendocino Farm (same owner with the same great sandwiches).
The food was generally good, but either a little too salty, a little too saucy, or too sweet. Blue Cow Kitchen's service is top notch and decor is quite modern, not to mention the mesmerizing display of what life entails (haha) http://instagr.am/p/Ji...
What I consumed:
- The Country Fried Chicken Rolls - Tasty slaw in these chicken rolls and decently seasoned fried chicken in uninspired bread rolls. Yes, not too far a stretch of mini chicken sandwich from a certain fast food colonel.. :-X
- Pink Eggs & Ham - Beet-marinated deviled eggs with bacon, really good! Food should always be colored pink with beets, just sayin'.
- Duck wings - Flavorful & pretty generous serving, but salty
- Pork Belly banh minis - Taco-like pork belly in crepe folds. The crepe got really
soggy in seconds and there was so much slaw sauce on the bottom to make it a too saucy/difficult to eat. I'm still dreaming about my experience @ eating Black Hogg's pork belly tacos, which was freakin' fantastic and this doesn't compare.
- Lamb lavish - Probably my favorite thing that night, so glad we decided to finish off with this dish. Lamb and picked peppers were wrapped flat bread, tzatziki sauce dripped with every bite.
I also rarely ever order cocktails (beer&wine only gal), but decided to get the Fortified Lemonade, a vodka drink. I noticed some powder on top and I was notified that it was bee pollen powder, pretty delicious and easy to drink.
I think I would be back to only catch their happy hour, but I wouldn't be back for their regular priced items. I'll stick to Mendocino FarmsListed in: DTLA
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Review from Daisy P.
Los Angeles, CA
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
So I leave the Firm and when I come back to visit my old co-workers, Casa is gone. All my memories... all the good food... all the good times... but now in its place is Blue Cow! I had high expectations - the ambiance was still very cute, same owner, just different experience - and I still love the waiters - all very nice and very timely with refilling my water - but the food was just okay. I would pick Mendocino over this place even though it's the same owner - I guess you're paying for the sit down environment and all the associated overhead that comes with that. The fries are baked and then fried and those were good - but the sandwich I got, the curry one, was just okay. The chicken was a bit dry and I wouldn't go back for the price I paid.
Come on Blue Cow, what's up now?! -
Review from Nova P.
By the time I found parking for this location, I was definitely up for a drink! Note, that if you are driving, parking for the restaurant is on 350 S. Olive not Grand. They do validate, so bring your ticket.
Blue Cow Kitchen has awesome outdoor patio seating surrounded by sky scrapers and nestled far away from the street traffic to enjoy company, food, and awesome plaid wearing servers. Happy hour prices are really reasonable with good menu selection. Happy hour plates are good to share, but need to order a few as some of their sandwiches only come in pairs.
At first, I thought we could have been on some candid camera because they tried giving us three orders of the bahn mi (which btw way was really tasty), and of course I was honest and said we ordered only one. Somehow the server kept accidentally adding it on to our order, and gave an extra order anyway... oh yeah!
We also tried the little fried chicken sliders topped with pickled slaw on Hawaiian rolls, baked then fried large potato wedges (these were okay, as I'm a skinny fry kind of girl), and gourmet popcorn. I was ogling items that patrons at surrounding tables ordered and everyone seemed to be enjoying the perfect weather, ambiance, and food.
I'm glad my buddy informed me that the bathroom doors were camouflaged, as I would of walked right past them, though it looks really cool how they painted the walls & restroom doors!
I loved my experience as this place, and will come back again! -
Review from tae k.
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Do not get the chicken rolls. (or ask for them sans slaw). The chicken and the hawaiian rolls were tasty but the slaw they put in the sandwich did not work at all. The slaw was gross and did not complement the chicken. Rather it overpowered everything and not in a good way. Not enough chicken and too much bad slaw made for a bad appetizer. Someone should taste this stuff before they try and sell it to the general public.
The pink eggs and ham was good though.
The ice cream sandwich was also disappointing.
Overall not a bad experience. Service was friendly -
Review from Katy L.
4/17/2012 3 photos
"EAT"... "HAPPY".... Shines brightly across the wall of Blue Cow.... definitely describes my experience after I eat at Blue Cow Kitchen.
Blue Cow is a new restaurant that is the same owners of Mendocino Farms. Since I am a huge fan of the Mendocino Farm restaurant. Blue Cow is modern interpretation of a upscale, full-service New-American restaurant serving innovative sandwiches and small plates and entrees that showcase local farming and artisan products.
Ambience- Love the multicolored wooden panels with the chalk writing on the wall and the bright bulbed lights of word "EAT" and "HAPPY." I love the big open space with the long different cream colored booth and the open kitchen where you see all the food action that is taking place. The blue spotted cow is very cute and I also like how the theme is also reflected on the waiters' clothing in terms of the "farm" theme. I would say its definitely described as FARM CHIC.. who knew farm themes can be so trendy and cute?!? LOL!! BUt yes, I was definitely digging the blue jeans the blue plaid and shirt look.
Let's talk about the Blue Cow Kitchen FOOD:
Pink Eggs & Ham- Uh.. who doesn't like pink?!? I heart pink and I thought these pink deviled eggs were so pretty and cute to eat! Almost.. too pretty to eat but of course I made the sacrifice. =) The beet marinated deviled eggs with Mendocino Mustard, double smoked, bacon & candied jalapenos were DELICIOUS. You couldn't really taste the beet in the deviled eggs but you could definitely taste the saltines of the bacon and a little kick from the candied jalapenos which makes it such a happy family!
BBQ'd Brassicas- The waitress brings out a paper bag and opens up the bag in front of you to let the smoke out. Nothing crazy happens but I guess they think its kinda kool to do it in front of the guest. But anyways, first thing I noticed about these little mini trees were the charcoled and smoked flavor. It is basically char grilled Weiser Farm's broccoli & cauliflower with BBQ spices in a smoking bag, served with spicy apple cider. The smokey flavor is not bitter at all but it definitely gives the cauliflower and broccoli another level of flavor I never had before. I think the BBQ spices fits perfectly with the smokey flavor and it is seriously addictive! All of us couldn't stop eating this dish!
French (Onion Short Rib) Dip- Braised short rib, cave aged gruyere & roasted mushrooms on Dolce Forno soft roll with horseradish crème fraiche & caramelized onion au jus. Seriously tender tender tender meat! A love the braised short rib, not too salty, and with the dip of the au jus is just HEAVEN. Definitely a must got at the restaurant!
BSB's Country Fried Chicken Rolls- Buttermilk fried Mary's chicken with mustard pickle slaw on 2 King's Hawaiian rolls. Good flavor of the chicken roll, meat is not too dry and I like the contrast with the crunchy pickle slaw.
A Cuban marries a Madame- If you are looking for a really rich and savory dish, then you should definitely get this dish. If a cuban and a madame marries, you will get a Cubame?? The sandwich includes honey cured ham, Cuban roast pork, aged white cheddar, housemade pickles & Cuban mojo sauce with a fried potatoes. It is a rich and heavy dish because there are two different meats and the aged cheddar just melts over the sandwich which is delish and a very interesting and modern take to the normal cuban sandwich. Definitely a sharing sandwich for those who are coming with a group.
Overall, delicious meal and great and fun ambience! Even writing this review on Blue Cow makes me want to go MOOOOOooOOOO nOW!!! MOo for Blue Cow Kitchen!! (:
*Tip: Forget valet service! Definitely plenty of street parking. =)Listed in: OHHHh why you make me so HAPPY…
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Review from Wendy P.
Santa Monica, CA
5/17/2012
It's OK, but nothing amazing. Lots of people seem to go for happy hour, but the drink menu is very limited. As is the menu. The blistered green beans were pretty good, but I just wasn't impressed with anything.
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Review from Eugene Z.
San Marino, CA
4/19/2012 2 photos
Delicious across the board. I came here after receiving a yelp's new restaurant roundup newsletter and was pleasantly surprised by how good the food and drink were.
Had the old fashioned from tap, while my friend had the rum manhattan. I guess they barrel-age their old fashioned? Pretty cool.
We started off with the crudite, shroom toast, and pork belly banh mi. The walnut hummus that comes with the crudite was something I had never encountered before; it was nice and smooth, had a hit of acid, but you could still get a hint of the walnut in the background. The shroom toast was good although the toast tasted a little stale to me.The pork belly banh mi was amazing. Super moist meat with bright vegetables. It's served on small crepes that are folded so it looks more like a taco. I then finished the meal with the cuban marries a madame. It's a cross between a cubano sandwich and a croque madame. Plenty of pork, cheese, and pickles served open faced with an egg on top. A massive portion of food for sure. -
Review from andrew g.
4/13/2012
What a refreshing experience. I'm still tripping.
Yeah, downtown is weird, and you're sitting basically at the foot of a skyscraper, which can feel kind of contrived, and the whole place feels like it caters to boring MBA types...
But the truth is that BCK has what is important -- namely customer service, FOOD and DRINKS -- completely on lock. Everything feels creative and fresh, and everything is presented with a little wink. Not the annoying spend too much time on the internet kind of wink as you'd find at (balls) Starry Kitchen, but an actual good sense of humor.
Our server Katie (and I say this sincerely) was not only a perfect server -- she was captivating as a human being. Super knowledgeable and passionate about the menu, she finished each interaction with this endearing smile. When they were out of the daily special Tuna Burger, she came back with a menu and a little presentation about her suggestions for what we get.
We got the Merguez appetizer, which was perfectly rendered, and it came out in less than 10 minutes. Maybe closer to 5. Their on-tap Old Fashioneds were complex and perfectly chilled sans ice, if a little sweet.
Steak Frites was lovely, the steak a perfect rare, the frites huge and delicate, crunchy and tender inside. Chicken Tartine was sophisticated and richly flavored.
And at the end of the meal, Katie brought us out a complimentary slice of cake to apologize for being out of a few things! Ace!
We'll be back for sure. What a gem. -
Review from Catherine K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/10/2012
I am one of the biggest fans of Mendocino Farms. I hiked 5 blocks just to eat their scrumptious sandwiches on a weekly basis because it is THE best lunch place.
When I heard Blue Cow Kitchen was opening, I was incredibly excited that the Mendocino family was opening another restaurant, and I wanted to try their new items ASAP!
I finally got to go to Blue Cow's Happy Hour last week, and I was mildly disappointed :(
Happy Hour here is not meant for a poor student's wallet! When I saw the menu online and saw the popular french dip on the happy hour menu, I was drooling with excitement.
But in midst of my drooling, I guess I didn't pay attention to the "mini rolls" description. All I saw at the moment was braised short rib, cave aged gruyere, and roasted mushrooms. I was sold!
When the plate came, I just stared at it in my hungry state...what, 2 tiny sliders for $8?! :( No bueno for my poor self and poor student friends.
My friend was so hungry he ordered another burger off the regular menu for $14...so he spent $8 sliders, $4 fries, $14 burger...ay caramba! (where is all this spanish coming from...)
I got the FRENCH (Onion Short Rib) DIP, PORK BELLY BAHN MI SLIDERS, BSB'S COUNTRY FRIED CHICKEN ROLLS, and PINK EGGS & HAM to share with one other friend.
Surprisingly, my favorite was the chicken rolls! I'd say pass on the deviled eggs, even though I usually love deviled eggs!
Nonetheless, the service was great! The burger took a while to cook because it was 8-ounces...YES, an 8oz burger! So they gave us complimentary root chips and dip mmm interesting!
I will give it another go during normal lunch or dinner hours. Happy Hour is limited to only their happy hour menu, so I will be back to try the other items.
TIP: Park at 350 S. Grand parking structure for VALIDATED PARKING WHOOHOO!
TIP#2: Come here if you want a nice, casual outdoor seating atmosphere! -
Review from Joyce R.
Los Angeles, CA
Blue Cow is definitely a new favorite!
We had our weekly date night here and my boyfriend and I both loved it. In fact, while we were inhaling our food, he said, "I think my love for you just grew for picking out this place." Haha! I mean, THAT good! Plus... our waitress, Blake, was adorable and very charismatic.
We both had their Allagash Beer Cocktail. Man, oh man, you can taste the whiskey! Allagash Beer is aged in whiskey barrels so I guess I should have known it'd be extra strong.
The duck wings fall right off the bone and just melt in your mouth!
Pink eggs & ham sounded strange but we just had to try it... and I'm SO glad we did. It's not your average deviled egg, that's for sure. And for $3?! How can you go wrong?
BBQ Brassicas totally lived up to the Yelp hype. MUST TRY.
Pork Belly Banh Mini was flavorful but is served in a crepe that got extremely soggy very quickly.
Fried Chicken Rolls were tasty but simple. Just fried chicken on a roll.
The cookie sandwiches were okay. Would have been 1,000 times better had the cookie been warm and gooey.
We WILL be back. Like, really soon! :) -
Review from vivian p.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2012
Love the casual cozy ambiance.
Shroom toast: really good. marinated mushrooms with a sunnyside up egg
banh mi tacos: good but a bit overhyped
french dip: too salty but good flavor
lamb lavash: delicious, my favorite plate on the table.
albacore salad: prettiest salad I ever ate. Also really good flavor
The waitress was very attentive. The bartender however, looked like she just worked a double shift and anything might make her snap. Set down my drink so hard it spilled all over the counter. Charged the wrong bill to our credit card. Angry bitter looking face. not very pleasant.. -
Review from Clara L.
I kind of don't want to write this review seeing as there arent even 100 yet...that means this place is still somewhat of a hidden gem...hidden from those pesky damn pseudo groupies that always manage to overrun and demolish a place.
I was dying to try blue cow for awhile and when my two good food loving besties came up from orange county I knew we had to peep it out.
Located in the huge tacky pepto pink California plaza, our jaws dropped when we noticed parking was $12...damn, the food BETTER be good is what we muttered amongst ourselves walking over.
A lot of young professionals, most likely all the slaves working at pwc (one my gfs included)...slightly booche vibe but in a good way. We opted for a seat outside and it was really nice to relax on the comfy couches and gaze up at the skyscrapers while noshing on the
AMAZ-bleep bleep BLEEP-ING food.
Beet-whipped mozzarella-pistachio pesto salad: omy-eff! I can't even describe what this tastes like. I would offer up my firstborn for the pistachio pesto. Ask for some crostini, they'll give you a swipe of walnut hummus if you're lucky and throw it all together for an orgasmic experience.
Pink eggs and ham: such a cute concept and the flavors melded together perfectly. The soft and fluffy slightly sweet deviled egg yolk, the subtlety briny egg white turned pink by beet juice, the salty and crispy bacon and the perfect crunchy spicy jalepeno. Your tongue will flip out at all the different flavors
Root chips: okay the one thing we ordered that didnt knock my socks off...but if you see everyone ordering it and want something crunchy, get it!
Pork bahn mi (mini tacos): yum! I didnt really like the "tortilla" which was very thin and crepe like...kind of like a super thin porous pancake. But the pork and tangy vegetables were delicious!
Berry salad: my girlfriend got this and I tried a bite of it...very fresh and healthy lol
Barbafaux torta: vegan sloppy joe. my other girlfriend order this and tried a piece. after a really bad experience with seitan once, i've never been a fan so i wasn't too thrilled with this sandwich. my gf who ordered it also said while it was good, it just tasted mostly like bbq sauce.
a definite must try if you're in the area. oh, and blue cow offers validation for parking so GET IT so you dont pay $12. -
Review from Caroline K.
Buena Park, CA
4/11/2012 4 photos
I had heard about their opening a couple of months ago and was curious about it as it sounded like fresh food. Then I found out it was owned by the delicious Mendocino Farms, so I got even more excited. We got there too early, so we wandered around DTLA and when they opened, we snagged a table right away.
-Country Fried Chicken Rolls - Came with two small Hawaiian rolls w/ crispy chicken and pickled slaw on top. Hawaiian rolls make everything taste better, and this was no exception. A good appetizer choice.
-Mendo Steak Sandwich - Not as good as Mendocino Farm's other sandwiches, but it was still a solid sandwich. The bacon was super thick and not quite as "candied" as I thought it would be. It was more like thick semi-crunchy bacon.
-Salad - I can't recall the name of the salad but it was very pretty! It contained a lot of roots that were sliced. It looked like a garden on a plate! It was not the Roots & Kale salad. My friend really enjoyed it.
-Baked Shortbread w/ Strawberries - This was divine! The parts that caramelized from the baking were absolutely delicious. I was glad we ended up ordering dessert. Mmmmm...
Prices aren't cheap but they are definitely more affordable than other restaurants in the area. The food is also probably much better - it was simple yet good. Nothing fancy. Our server was also friendly and nice. She gave us a moleskine notebook to write a note in, which I thought was cute. I'd recommend this to anyone in the area or as a place to eat before/after a show nearby! -
Review from Rasien I.
Blue Cow Kitchen, how I wanted to Love you...but Alas, I was disappointed.
I love and I mean LOVE Mendocino Farms and when I heard they opened a restaurant with a bar, I was amped on trying it out. I came here for the first time last week and here's what happened:
- The atmosphere: pretty great space, seating and decor. Sadly, this place filled up with a ton of douchebag looking guys in no time!
- The service: We were seated quickly, but waited about 20 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were waiting on service. I mean this waitress with these hipster coke bottle glasses walked by our table and served all the other tables around us, but blatantly bypassed my friend and I even though we still had our menus out and tried to get her attention. Horrible! Just as we were about to get up and leave, another waitress comes up to us and takes care of us.
- The cocktails: My friend and I had the "fortified lemonade" and it was one of the best cocktails i've ever had!
- The food: My friend said she enjoyed her steak sandwich off the full menu. I wanted to try a bit of everything so I opted to get a few of the smaller items off the happy hour menu:
* Pink Eggs and Bacon: I could make better deviled eggs at home. Hype!
* Pork Belly Bahn Mi slider: Over Salted and I couldnt even enjoy the flavor or texture of the pork belly.
* Chicken Biscuit thingy: A soggy mess! Probably from the slaw. What a disservice to hawaiian bread!
* Baked then fried fries: The best thing I had all night. These were tasty, the horseradish ketchup...amazing...
SOrry Blue Cow, I'd rather pick up a Mendo Sandwich and show up here for a drink. -
Review from James M.
4/16/2012
We read an article about this place so decided to go try this place out.. The set up of the outdoor area as well as the interior are really chill.. TVs all around and the decor creates a really relaxed atmosphere.. The staff is very welcoming and very helpful...
Although I would like to give them 4 stars, it's kind of hard to because when I ordered a steak sandwich at the recommendation of our waiter, they forgot to put in the steak.. Which basically made it a BLT.. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt since it was a late lunch and I'm sure they were winding down from the busy lunch rush they had.. Their fries are something different... It's like a quartered potato wedged baked then fried.. So you have the crispness but the soft baked potato consistency.. Not a big fan since I tend to like my fries really crispy.. Interesting but just not for me..
Might be a good spot for happy hour.. I will definitely give them another try.. -
Review from Angela C.
4/1/2012
This restaurant is located in the California Plaza at the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The Blue Cow Kitchen radiates the cool laid-back but posh vibe with both an indoor and outdoor seating. Normally, I don't really care about atmosphere. However, if I worked in downtown L.A., this would be THE place to go for happy hour.
Apparently, Blue Cow Kitchen has only been open for about 1 month, but they have chosen a great friendly staff that seem to love working there. The General Manager, Scott, definitely made rounds to all the tables to make sure that the customers were happy. Apparently the Executive Chef used to work at the restaurant, "Church and State", and created this current menu from scratch. They were thoughtful enough to create a variety of Vegan dishes also.
I absolutely fell in love with their menu. I ate their delicious Vietnamese salad which the waitress described as "an opened Vietnamese spring roll on a salad". I have to say, that this salad was much better than any Vietnamese spring roll that I have ever tasted! Fresh crisp vegetables with moist chicken pieces blended well with a sweet dressing and a slight kick of jalapeno and fried garlic. I never liked mint in my food (reminds me of chewing gum while eating a meal at the same time); However, the hint of mint in this salad made the vegetables seem even more refreshing. It was a wonderful combination of sweet/savory and crispiness/moistness. Highly recommended salad dish from my point of view!!!!
The curry chicken pita was also delicious with well cooked, moist chicken with a yogurt sauce contrasted by some pickled vegetables.
The marinated short rib beef french dip sandwich falls apart in your mouth. Again, a delicious contrast between the slightly bitter red wine sauce with the sweetness of the melted cheese/ onion topped with a perfectly baked bread (barely crispy on the outside and soft on the inside).
Their pink eggs and ham was a slightly pickled devil egg topped with crispy bacon. I cannot help but admire the contrast between the sweet pliable egg with the hearty, crunchy, salty goodness of the bacon
The only negative of this place is the "dainty lady" portion sizes of everything. The beers and entrees were smallish for the price...which is not unexpected for a restaurant at the expensive California Plaza area. But, I am a person who chooses high quality over quantity, so I highly recommend you Yelpers to try this place. I can't wait to come back and, yes, I cannot help raving because Blue Cow Kitchen was a great find! -
Review from Joshua B.
South El Monte, CA
4/7/2012
We went to Downtown L.A. to celebrate a birthday. We came to this place to start off the night and It couldn't of been more perfect. We started off with a round of shots. They some kind of lemon drop shot for our group and everyone thought it tasted really good. They let me taste their Herradura Anejo "House Barrel Aged" Cocktail it I loved it. If you like the taste of Tequila, this drink is for you. It still has a strong taste of tequila, but the mixes in this drink mellows out the harshness very well. The server let me have a taste of it and I was hooked.
Our food came out rather quickly. we ordered the Pitman Farm's Duck Wings appetizer and they were great. They had an excellent taste to them and is perfect to share with two to three people. its something a little out of the norm too, which is always nice. We also ordered the Baked then Fried Potatoes, which were good as well. I'm sure I've had better somewhere else, but for 5 bucks, not a bad price at all. And enough to share with two to three people.
I ordered A Cuban marries a Madam, which is a sandwich with honey cured ham, Cuban roast pork, and aged white cheddar. Served with an egg on top of it. It was a extremely good sandwich. The ham on it was idiotically good and the pork was excellent. It went together really well, so if your a ham or pork lover, this is definitely something worth having. It tasted really great and I enjoyed each bite of it.
The food, is really good, but the only thing that beat the food was the service. I'm not sure if I caught it on a good night or what. But the service was excellent. Our server let me taste their "House Barrel Aged" cocktail before I ordered it (twice). The bartender gave our friend an extra shot because it was her Bday. Our server also brought us a free appetizer. He brought us the BBQ'd Brassicas . Which is BBQ cauliflower, and broccoli and it tasted really REALLY good. Our server took really good care of us, and that really made a good start for a night of Bar hopping in LA.. So if your looking for a place with good food, good prices with good service (hope the service wasn't a fluke). I say this place is where to go. -
Review from Clara K.
3/26/2012 1 photo
This may be my new favorite spot in DTLA! We made it in time for happy hour (ends at 6:30 pm on a weekday) and snagged a spot outside.
Here's what we tried, all off the HH menu except the desserts.
Pink Eggs & Ham: beet marinated deviled eggs with Mendocino mustard, double smoked bacon & candied jalapenos. YUM! All of the flavors worked together in perfect harmony. I loved these and will order them every time I go.
Pitman Farm's Duck Wings: confit & then grilled with an aji amarillo glaze, Japanese cucumbers & sesame-ginger dipping sauce. I'm not sure if these are really wings -- they seemed more like drumsticks, but whatever you call 'em, they were tender and flavorful and delicious, even for someone who doesn't really love duck.
Baked then Fried Potatoes: These potato wedges are extra crunchy and come with a yummy sour cream dipping sauce and housemade horseradish ketchup.
BSB's Country Fried Chicken Rolls: buttermilk fried Mary's chicken with mustard pickle slaw on 2 King's Hawaiian rolls. These mini chicken sandwiches are inspired by Bakesale Betty's in Oakland. I really enjoyed Blue Cow's rendition of the classic, almost as much as the original.
French (Onion Short Rib) Dip: braised short rib, cave aged gruyere & roasted mushrooms on 2 King's Hawaiian rolls dipped in caramelized onion au jus. This was slightly underwhelming. It sounded better than it was, although it was by no means bad.
Gooey Butter Cake (not HH): 5 out of 5: the BEST DESSERT that i've had in a long time. There was something magical about the crisp yet delicate shell that gave way to a moist crumb, topped with a dollop of creme fraiche and macerated strawberries. It was divine and I think I would have been happy to consume 3 or 4 of these and then pass out in a carb- and sugar-induced coma. :)
Butterscotch Bread Pudding with caramel sauce: I could have skipped this one, especially since the other dessert was sooo amazing. It is a large portion though, if you're still hungry after dinner.
Parking is validated in the California Plaza parking structure, at least for dinner.Listed in: DTLA, Deliciousness in Los Angeles
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Review from Michael C.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/22/2012
Things that make me happy...
1) making out
2) dancing til I'm a hot sweaty mess
3) making out while dancing LOL
4) bumpin top 40, dance hits, and hip hop while I'm cruisin down the freeway
5) blasting the heater at night while the windows are rolled down
6) meeting new people and trying new things
7) outdoor seating under the stars
AND most recently...
8) HAPPY HOUR AT BLUE COW KITCHEN
I must say that Blue cow is my new favorite place in DT for dinner and drinks. The food is amazing, the service is spectacular, and I'm just in love with the wonderfully decorated and super comfortable outdoor seating area. In fact there isn't much room for improvement considering that EVERYTHING about my recent visit was quite PERFECT including the company ;-)
We arrived exactly at 6:30 and opted for outdoor seating in their beautiful open air patio. Luckily for us they observe a 5 minute grace period for HH (4:30pm-6:30pm M-F) so we were able to order off their awesome HH menu which was a plus.
Our server greeted us with a smile and was super friendly. She also offered insights on the menu items, which we took full advantage of. Definitely a 5 star joint when it comes to service.
As far as the food is concerned we ordered the following, and had AMAZING meal, so I suggest you do the same. Dessert was not included on the HH menu but I couldn't help but end my meal on a sweet note so we got a couple of desserts per the suggestion of our wonderful server. BEST DECISION EVER!
1. Pitman Farm's Duck Wings: 4 out of 5
2. Baked then Fried Potatoes: 4 out of 5
3. Pink Eggs & Ham: 5 out of 5
4. BSB's Country Fried Chicken Rolls: 5 out of 5
5. French (Onion Short Rib) Dip: 4 out of 5
6. Gooey Butter Cake (not HH): 5 out of 5
7. Butterscotch Bread Pudding (not HH): 5 out of 5
This place is AMAZING and I have no doubt that I'll be back for more even if its for a drink or two!
APPROVED!Listed in: Diamonds in the Downtown Rough
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Review from Joey K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2012
Decided to take a few friends here for dinner mid last week. The food was excellent. Especially my steak sandwich. And I love that they have Racer 5 on draft. Always a plus.
The service was excellent UNTIL the weirdest thing happened. After complementing my food to the server, she asked if she could have my email to thank me after. I thought maybe it was just a weird forward request from her until the table next to us closed out a bit later and their server asked the same thing.
Isn't that weird?
Then I had people to meet up with at The Varnish after. And one of my co-workers had just tried Blue Cow the day before where the same thing happened to her. She found it equally as violating.
Yes, while I'm enjoying a relaxing dinner at a new trendy restaurant, let me reveal my personal info to you. In case I didn't have enough with The Green Peace people in front of Whole Foods.
Has this been happening to other people? It just seems so Scientology. It almost keeps me from wanting to go back. What if they ask again? Honestly, I get so many bullshit emails, the last thing I want is some restaurant emailing to "thank me."
It's clearly some forced attempt at connecting with the clientele.
Lastly they really need some bussers? Maybe it was just an off night but my server was clearly busy handling us and many other tables, and then I saw her trying to clean tables and clear dishes while my beer sat there empty. For the quality of food here and the trendy vibe they are portraying I'd rather not have the same person bring my drinks as the one that is clearing other people's dirty dishes. Call me a germaphobe.
I was looking forward to this place because it's close to where I work but for now I'll stick with The Gorbals or Mas Malo. At least they have an authentic and unforced vibe. -
Review from Christina K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Got my hopes up too high. Okay, now don't get too distracted by how delicious all the items I tried sound. I recently tried Mendocito Farms (owned by the same group) and absolutely loved it so I was really excited to try their newer establishment.
On the menu for the night:
Shroom toast
Chickem sandwich bites
Bbq brocc/caulif served in paper bag w/ vinegar-ish dipping sauce
Steak and fritas w/ salad
Except for the veggies in the bag, the food was kind of disappointing for me. Dishes seemed kind of bland. The steak needed salt. The only stand out item was the fritas. They come out in big wedges, have a crisp outer layer with hint of cheese on it.
The manager recognized my friend although they had never actually met and brought out two whiskey drinks. That was generous, but I can't sip these kind of cocktails.
Servers are upbeat, bubbly, and friendly. Almost too bubbly where it comes off forced, but I appreciated the quick attention and smiling faces. They bring the check out in a small journal/book with a pen. You can add a comment or draw a picture and peruse what others have contributed.
The star of the meal really was the butter cake with creme fresh and strawberries.
Parking: $3 with validation in the building's garage, but if you don't validate the max daily rate could be something crazy. -
Review from Annie G.
Since I heard CASA was being replaced with a Mendo-inspired gastropub, I've been dying to give this place ago! Upon learning that my new workplace was just down the street, I made plans ASAP.
BCK takes lunch reservations before 11:45 and after 1. I guess lunch time gets pretty busyyy... so my friend and I went for a really late lunch. The place was practically empty, so we snagged a seat on an outdoor sofa. Comfy, eh?
When it came to ordering, I was conflicted! On the one hand, I love lamb! On the other, I hate ridiculously priced small portions. Therefore.... we ended up with the french onion dip sandwich and the BarbaFaux'a sandwich. The latter was veggo. AND my favorite. The french dip was an interesting concept, taking elements from french onion soup and adding it to the sandwich in the form of caramelized onion au jus for dipping and toasted gruyere stuffed in the sammy. I thought the whole ensemble was too salty, but the flavors were all there. I especially appreciated the wild mushrooms...
The BarbaFaux'a was delicious. It had seitan and tofu crumble (instead of cheese?), baked beans, fresh veggies, avocado (love!), a long corn chip (tostada), and some cilantro vegannaise. The whole thing's all smothered in this delicious sweet tangy BBQ sauce. Amazing. I'm not normally a vegetarian sandwich fiend, but given the place's reputation...and gastropub-ness... I figured I ought to give it a shot.
Also, the baked then fried potatoes were a let down. Too thick and not enough crisp! Save yo monies,dude. Unless you're the type to like big soggy fries. Then go for it! The watery sour cream horseradish dip was an interesting idea, but it's got a runny consistency.
The verdict? This place has some good stuff and a great atmosphere. I'd really like to try the steak sandwich next time. And yes, there will deffo be a next time. It's a little more expensive than your average lunch joint, so maybe I'll try happy hour instead next time... -
Review from meg s.
Los Angeles, CA
4/6/2012
Their duck wings are AMAZING! You must must muuuust get them if you're here for dinner. Too bad they don't serve them for lunch. I also tried their Vietnamese Salad for lunch. It was good but overpriced.
They have Intelligentsia Coffee!!!! I've been here several times just to get their coffee. They don't have to go coffee cups but you can ask them to put it in their soup cups! -
Review from Cynthia C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yay another good restaurant I can add to my list of DT restos.
I loved the space, decor and service. It's roomy and perfectly lit. For food, I recommend the fried chicken rolls and duck wings. We thought the crudite was disappointing, and the shroom toast and bbq cauliflower were just alright. Well aware that our orders were just the apps/snacks, so I'd definitely come back to try some of the main dishes and sandwiches especially since I'm a humongous fan of Mendocino's sandwiches.
Other highlights were the service (our waitress was friendly, honest, not pushy) and the Old Fashioned. -
Review from Sonia T.
3/24/2012
Thanks Yelp for helping me find a place to eat before a show at the Ahmanson last minute.
We parked at the theater and it was about a 10 minute walk to the restaurant, very convenient.
I called about 45 minute ahead and got a reservation, although Im not sure we really needed one. There were a couple tables open outside. We were seated right away when we got there and unfortunately just missed happy hour so we ordered off the regular menu.
The service was great throughout, very friendly and enthusiastic.
We had the baked then fried potatos, they were very tasty but I could I have used an extra sour cream dipping sauce, I actually asked for one and they were happy to bring us another.
My husband ordered the French Dip and it was delicious! I kept sneaking bites, it was so good!
I ordered that evenings special, a albacore tuna rueben sandwich, dont get me wrong it very good too, but just didnt compare of the decadent French Dip.
We also got the ooey gooey shortbread cake dessert thing, it was delicious! It tasted liked butter and sugar and all the bad stuff. It was great!
The beer selection was not extensive but they had the good stuff. I will say, I ordered a martini and it came in a regular glass, like a old fashioned glass, instead of a martini glass which I thought was a little weird but no biggy.
My one suggestion to the restaurant would be to offer the Happy Hour items on the regular menu. Some of those items looked really good and I wanted to try them, but they simply arent available outside of happy hour. I would have been happy to pay extra for them outside of Happy Hour.
Next time we are in down town area, we are definitely going back! -
Review from Winnie H.
3/10/2012
Blue Cow Kitchen is the latest restaurant from the Mendocino Farms group. It is located in a nice spot in the Water Court at California Plaza that provides great outdoor seating. Indoor seating is in a space that's modern with dark tones and quirky decor. BTW, if you plan to discuss business over a meal, consider sitting outside. Noise level is high indoors when busy and you end up yelling at each other.
For lunch, they offer a selection of interesting sandwiches. I chose the French Dip ($15) which is braised short rib, cave aged gruyere and roasted mushrooms on a soft toasted roll. It comes with a side salad but you can substitute with baked then fried potatoes for $2 more. My boss got the 3/9/12 daily special called Blue BBQ Sandwich ($15). It was bbq pulled pork, jack cheese, and jalapeño on three Hawaiian sweet rolls. We exchanged sandwich halves to sample each other's dish. Overall, the sandwiches were not bad but portions are on the small side. This works out well if you're not very hungry or looking for a light meal.
Service was great. The hostess did a good job recognizing every customer on the wait list. Instead of yelling out a name, she would approach the customer to let him/her know when a table is ready. Our waitress was friendly and attentive even though we couldn't hear most of what she said in the noisy dining area. She was quick to refill drinks and stopped by several times to check on us. I would be interested in returning to try the HH Food Deals that run from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm but pass on lunch.Listed in: What's for Lunch in DTLA?
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Review from Katherine W.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 3/28/2012
Been back a number of times since the first visit. Service great every time. I've now tried a number of things on the menu, and everything is really good. But it's still a bit overpriced. The seared ahi dish, which turned out to be a tartine -- I didn't know, from the menu, or I prob wouldn't have ordered it-- was a very few slices of seared ahi, some very good lettuces - good salad, and then the bread. I would have been very hungry afterwards if it weren't for the bread. I felt $18 was just too much for that dish.
So far, I think the only dish I tried that was reasonable for what you get, is the cobb salad. Beautiful, delicious, and I got full. Also love their root beer (real beer) float, esp on special for $5.
The food is really good. Just a little overpriced, which makes it hard to do, esp for lunch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2012
I came for lunch yesterday. I had the Vietnamese chicken salad. It was excellent. Really good… Read more »
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Review from Sandie S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/27/2012 4 photos
I came here the other night and I was SO IMPRESSED with this place. From their friendly staffs to their appetizers, to their happy hour beer selections, to their tasty sandwiches and even their interior, I was just happy that I've found this place. Blue Cow is located inside the California Plaza, and you get to park free for the first 2 hours in the building (with validation) so all of that makes it very convenient :)
I got the chance to yelp a bit before visiting here so I made sure I had all the good food. My friend and I were very hungry so we went through a whole course meal. We got there exactly at 6:30 (when happy hour is over) but the waiter was kind enough to let us still order beer in happy hour prices. So we started off with a beer for each (friend had the Pilsner and I had the Racer 5), then went on to our appetizers: Baked then Fried Potatoes and Pork Belly Banh Mi, and lastly had the French Dip Sandwich and the Mendo Steak Sandwich. We wanted to go for dessert but we were SO FULL that we decided to come back again some other time to try out their desserts.
All I can say is that, ALL of their dishes were delicious-except that the French (Onion Short Rib) Dip was a little bit salty. I would definitely recommend trying the Mendo Steak though. :)
Next time, I'm coming here for happy hour drinks and appetizer/dessert menu with the girls.
**just a little tip on finding their parking lot: the entry is on olive street underneath this bridge-thing. I went around and around thinking that the entry would be on grand ave.. so don't make the same mistake I did! -
Review from Sunny K.
Los Angeles, CA
3/9/2012 26 Check-ins Here
Damn, I love Downtown. It makes living in Hell~A a lil less torturous.
Okay... I'm gonna get all Asian up on this review for a minute.... Here we go..
Food: 4.5 stars. The food reminds me more of a Gastropub. The musts are the thin fries and the pork belly banh mini. Also, I'm not sure if this is on the menu but if you like broccoli and cauliflower, ask for it. It comes charred in a brown paper bag. Weird, I know, but fu*kin awesome. Actually, pretty much everything you order will pack a punch of flavor. The french dip sandwich is also mighty flavorful, made with short ribs. The only negative is their desserts. Skip this.
Libation: 4.5 stars. Well, I'm a gin gal. We all know this. If you are as well, you must try the gin and homemade tonic. Made with Death's Door Gin. An American Gin, I believe from Mississippi. Normally not a big fan of this one. Sipping it on the rocks or neat, it has a strong juniper flavor which makes it taste like licorice and is not as "clean" tasting as Martin Miller's, but with this particular homemade tonic, it balances it out very well. The tonic is a bit sweet. Next time, I think I might ask for a twist of lemon instead of an orange twist which is how it comes at this joint.
BTW... They Have Fernet on tap for 6 bucks.. Wha?? Oh yah... Fernet on tap.. Fernet on tap.. Fernet on tap.... The Man gets a hard on for this.
Service: A whoppin' 5 stars. Cute ass girls that are just as sweet as they look. And the kicker? They're good at what they do, with a smile. Did I tell you they are cute as hell? Yah? Well... Shit... They are.
Location: 5 over the top stars. This was the old Casa. Revamped, Taking away the strange dome booths and turning them into 4 tops. Opening it up to see the beautiful twinkling lights of the very few skyscrapers we have here. The best outdoor dining area Downtown. No crackheads to deal with, no stench of urine, no amateurs puking in trash cans.
The Crowd: Hmm.... 4 stars. Mostly office peeps. Not a big surprise since this is located in the business district of Downtown but I don't mind them. I'm hoping that more Downtowners will start coming up the hill and frequenting Blue Cow. It's worth the quarter to take the lil trolley up, which is cute as hell. Trust me... in 5 inch heels, this is a must. Anyway... the service makes up for the kind of douchy office people.
Well, there you have it. My break down. Definitely on my favorites list.
My big problem now is actually leaving Downtown for something other than Target shopping. I'm afraid I've succumbed to my lil city island and Blue Cow doesn't make it any easier to leave. I tend to get hives when I venture west. I'll have to get some meds for this.
P.S. "Yo Max, whaddup Duke?!! Get on your knees and call me Queen, b*tch!!! You're goin' down!!"Listed in: Dirty Downtowner, My Top 10 Downtown Haunts...
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Review from Reni P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/30/2012
I went with very high expectations, which maybe lead to disappointment, but I found this place just ok. We got the duck wings - probably the best duck I've had, so I was very excited. The salad dressing on the arugula that came with my food was also delicious. The rest of the food though - the French Dip sandwich and the steak, was just ok. It's healthy and the portions are pretty small (I was told the steak would have enough fries to share but it came with about three huge fries). It's close to my work place so I wouldn't mind coming here if it's convenient, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again.
