Red Cow Reviews

We went to the Red Cow in Madrona last week for dinner on a Saturday night and it was basically OK. After reading many of the reviews I thought I would be more impressed. First I would recommend that they do something to deaden the noise level. When it is busy the noise just bounces off the ceiling and makes it nearly impossible to talk without shouting. Not a very intimate setting. Just some panels on the ceiling to keep it a bit more muffled would likely help. That aside, I ordered some oysters and the Hang Steak. The oysters, from northern CA that evening were excellent. The steak, which I opted for med-rare with a red wine reduction was cooked correctly but a bit tasteless. Considering this is a steak place I was a bit disappointed. It comes with plenty of yummy fries which I think is good and that help redeem the disappointing steak to some extent. My girlfriend ordered a bowl of soup which was a special that night (which she really liked) the same steak except she got horseradish cream sauce with her's. She said the same thing I did about the steak. OK but not very impressive. I am willing to say this may have just been a bad night - it happens. Will probably try again some day when we want to eat locally.

We had been to the Ethan Stowell restaurant Rione XIII, so we were excited to try his French restaurant , Red Cow , in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle. We were not disappointed. The service was right on. We had a main server but she had lots of back up and we felt very well taken care of. We sampled the olives, bread and butter, fresh greens salad, fresh cheese and the mussels before our entrees- the bacon cheese burger. The frites with house made aioli were out of this world! The burger's bun was a little too hard, but otherwise, it was great. We just deconstructed it and found the flavors very tasty. Next came the iced decaf and coffee ice cream profitarols. Yummy! This experience was fantastic and my husband and I highly recommend it!

Enjoyable vibe. The hamburger was gigantic. The mussels and frites were a full meal. They had a good beer and wine list. Wednesday was half-price wine, and Tuesdays, we learned, is BOGO on the hamburgers (we shall return).

The meal started well. My daughter and I ordered and enjoyed a charcuterie plate and steak tartare But then we moved to the main course. We were both drawn to this restaurant by the lure of steak frites. But what I expect is a thinnish slice of entrecôte with a nice dollop of beurre maitre d'hotel on top, regular French brasserie food. Instead the menu offered a variety of America steak cuts, ranging from quite expensive to really expensive. I chose the skirt steak but when it came it was almost cold, and did not have the nice grainy texture one expects from this kind of 'butcher's cut". This is quite an expensive restaurant, and over all I would have expected better, not to mention a real steak frites!

I like the feel of the place. It is loud from the chatter and not music so, it's fine. The food was ok. We did the restaurant week menu. The service was sub-par considering you pay 20%. They were not exactly warm and friendly. Received the meal before the wine or cutlery. Got the wine tastings for pairing the the courses. The wine was super disappointing! She didn't seem to care either. oh well, a pile of money gone but i know now not to return.

We ordered the Pâté de Campagne followed by hangar steak frites then a 16oz boneless ribeye (sous-vide cooked and succulent) with a side of cremini mushrooms and Parisian gnocchi (with a fried egg, spinach, gruyer and bacon). Very tasty and the service was impeccable.

The wife and I decided to try something different. We ventured out into the night, headed to Madrona, a mysterious place we didn’t even know where it was in Seattle, although we’ve lived here most of our lives. But always heard that Ethan Stowell restaurants were amazing. We’ve been to that Goldfinch Tavern downtown, but only for appetizers and a cocktail. We found this little place, a very traditional French menu, to be pretty doggone amazing. Both of our entrées were perfectly prepared, the service was incredible, the cocktails and beer selection were really good. We plan to go back to another. Ethan still restaurant, as soon as we feel ambitious, and want to venture out. Make sure you make reservations, and any seat in the restaurant is a good seat.

Great food. A cozy bar space. Excellent seasonal offerings like soups. Frites are great, especially with their aioli. Consistently my absolute favorite spot for fillet mignon. Also one of the best burgers in Seattle. Catch happy hour for some of their best dishes at very reasonable prices. Personable, attentive and well informed service. Definitely a restaurant to add to your short rotation.

A bit out of the way, but worth the visit to one of Seattle's lovely older neighborhoods. Take your Uber through the arboretum, enjoy the varied architecture of the homes in the area, and then top it off with a great steak frites meal. We also really enjoyed the starter chacuterie plate. I thought the food was excellent, well served in good portions. I also enjoyed the vibe - it was noisy, but vibrant. I felt very comfortable and truly enjoyed the neighborhood feel to Red Cow.

Nestled in a Lake Washington neighborhood is a well run French style eatery with stainless steel tables and well versed staff. The high tax on liquor pumps up the coat of cocktails but no more than other restaurants in the state. The special frites are a must experience.

Went here the day after Valentine's Day to avoid the crowds. Was quiet but busy, with an attentive staff in a relaxed atmosphere. You could dress up or come as you are here. The bone marrow appetizer was the top thing we ate, quite delicious. We also liked the pate and beef tongue on the charcuterie plate. The steaks were appropriately cooked, but for the price you could get a much better steak elsewhere. We ended the night with the creme brûlée, which I'd recommend. Good cocktails and affordable wine. We'll be back, but only to skip the steaks.

Went to Red Cow with a group of people. It's a smaller, bistro style restaurant, with a pleasant atmosphere. We ordered a selection of pates and cheese to share as appetizers, all very good. For main, I had the boneless rib eye, which was very nice as well. No gourmet cuisine, but high quality food. The service was friendly, quick and competent. Prices are not low, but reasonable, considering the quality of food and service. If you are looking for good, no- nonsense food in a casual setting, the Red Cow is a good choice.

I love Red Cow all year round, but summer offers outdoor dining, with a great happy hour menu. Even the house wine does not disappoint.

This is an Ethan Stowell restaurant and other good one. This time it is French with an emphasis on Steak Frites. Housed in the old/former Crement restaurant this restaurant is a fine addition to the Seattle food scene. I found it to be quite a bit too loud. We arrive at 7:00 pm on an Wednesday and it was about half full and the din made everyone talk even louder which made it all the loader. Otherwise our steaks were quite nicely prepared and the salads were good and a bit different. this is worth a trip out to the Madrona neighborhood.

Came here for a birthday celebration with 6 people. Got there early so went to the bar to wait. The woman bartender was not friendly and very short with us. She acted irritated that she had to serve us so we got up and waited by the door for our table. Once seated the mood and service got much better! The waiter was very attentive and made great suggestions that we used. The food was fabulous, especially the bone marrow. All in all, a great time celebrating with friends.

Our group of six had dinner recently at Red Cow. It was a first visit for all of us. The food was excellent. Three had steak and frites. The fries (frites) are definitely a "must try". The remaining three of us ordered only the smaller appetizer plates, sides and a salad that we shared. I really liked the smoked lamb tongue on the charcuterie plate. I enjoyed the "Little Gem" salad although I thought it had a little too much dressing for my taste. I wasn't a big fan of the lamb tongue with the potatoes and frisee as an appetizer but I thought it was well-prepared. The ratatouille and mushroom sides were very good. The halibut appetizer was very good as well. The service was excellent. I appreciated the fact that they have small plates, sides and salads for those that don't want a large steak and they do have other entrees. It's an expensive restaurant so I will definitely be back but not too often given the pricing.

This is definitely a meat eater's place. There are a variety of cuts on the steak frites section of the menu. We ordered the hangar steak frites. It can sometimes be a bit tough if not prepared well. This hangar steak was so perfectly cooked and was almost the texture of a filet. So delicious. The smoked trout appetizer was a great starting dish. The service was fantastic. Great wine list. We will definitely be back.

Great location and decor, however, the tables are way too close together. We were there for date night but felt like we were sitting with the family of four next to us! The tables were so close that we were in on their conversation the whole night. Not fun for us trying to enjoy a date night. The food was mediocre. Great bread, grilled asparagus and wine but the steaks were not worth the price paid. Sadly, this was not up to the Ethan Stowell standard we’ve come to expect.

I was in Seattle for a conference and had dinner at the Red Cow. The food was delicious, the service was great and the atmosphere was perfect. I recommend checking it out!

They have a a great happy hour and the steak and fries for 10 bucks is an incredible deal! I would recommend it to anyone! The only downside is that the bar is small, haven't been to the patio yet.

This is a great place for steak and frites. They have some creative cocktails too. Meat was perfectly cooked to my specifications. Really quaint neighborhood-y feel to the place and the part of town it is in. Note: they automatically add in 20% tip. We did not mind this because we would have given it anyways.

This restaurant is part of a large chain of Seattle "concept" restaurants; corporate culture hits fine dining. Everything is designed, from decor to menu, and it's just bla. It's primarily about big, expensive steaks, cooked sous vide, broiled to finish. The wines are marked up a bit over a conscionable level, and the corsage is steep. The service is lovely. The chairs are uncomfortable, the surfaces are hard, and the room is loud. It's really a neighborhood place, but it does attract visitors taking Uber/taxis from downtown. Consider one of several chef-owned restaurant down the street as a better alternative.

I just moved to Seattle about six months ago and eat out for dinner a lot. This is one of my favorite places (admittedly I mostly eat at restaurants in the east side of the city like this one, nearer to where I live and with easy parking) and I've already been several times. They consistently serve the best fries I have ever tasted. They have great flavor and just melt in your mouth. So yummy and you should not go here without getting an order of them. The burger is also delicious. They recommend it medium rare and it is juicy and flavorful. We've also had a couple of their steaks, the salt cod appetizer, salads, and a few other items and everything has been great. We typically go during the week, when it's easier to get in without a reservation and easy to find parking on the street within a block or so. I can imagine that there would be quite a wait on weekends without a reservation. The service and ambience are both nice and friendly, but nothing super special. The price is not cheap, but you really get what you pay for.

It's a small restaurant with a great atmosphere. It isn't fancy. It has an incredibly well curated menu. The steak was divine and perfectly prepared. I would recommend making a reservation if you are a large party due to the size of the place. We had a group of nine and our reserved table was set and ready as soon as we got there.

Ate at Red Cow for the first time last night and loved it! We have become pretty consistent fans of all of Ethan Stowell's stops, and this one did not disappoint. It sells itself as a French Bistro for Steak Frites. So we all (went with the Fam) had... Steak Frites! The steak was perfect. We all the béarnaise sauce so I can't tell you how the rest are - but Chef Wil does provide a number of choices. We also ordered a side of the asparagus and it comes with some spicy aioli thing that is just superb. So, big A+ for the Asparagus. Best part of the night - the service. We sat in the main dining area, which is not large BTW and I am betting can feel pretty cramped on a busier night. Our server was... Garrett. Three huzzahs for Garrett: Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! He was candid that he thought his talent was "sales" but I gotta say: he's pretty dang good at serving. He knew the menu, knew the wines, gave good recommendations, was attentive, funny, and just a darn good representative of a fine hospitality establishment. Would that it were always so. So.. Ask for Garret. Oh and have the cream puff with ice cream dessert. Ask for two more napkins and eat it with your fingers for Pete's sake!

This is my go to spot in Seattle if I'm feeling steak frites. They've got a number of different cuts to choose from so you'll find something you like. Grab a table in the bar area, its got a more fun feel.

Cheery service and accommodating staff added to a wonderful evening. Two of us (we were 6) had craft cocktails although sadly, I cannot remember the names. Both were gin based, one with Aperol so it was red and had the slightly bitter tasted associated with that apertif and the other had a violet infused liquor in it. We recommend them both! The salad starters were good, my beets could have used a little more umph, they were a little bland. The steak main courses were terrific and my vegetarian option with mushrooms and haricot vert was w tasty option.

Nice enough place for a quick bite to eat, we went with the hamburger but not the best range of beers on tap which was a bit of a shame. The place was quite empty when we visited for drinks and the staff didn't seem as focused on the customers as they could have been. If you are Madrona it's worth checking out but have to say there are better places to drink and eat in the area. We went across the road to the Bottlehouse and had quite a nice time.

We had a very nice dinner at Red Cow. The food was very good, but maybe a little bit too expensive for what it was. The place is very nice and inviting for conversation and and good cuisine. Worth a visit.

My husband and I recently dined at Red Cow. We started with the roasted marrow bones. They take 20 minutes to prepare, as the menu states, and are well worth the wait. The only issue was the bread. It arrived as a chunk only partially sliced through, and required a fair amount of man-handling to separate off a piece. For entrees my husband went with the brochettes frites and I the moules frites. Although his steak was perfectly fine, my mussels stole the show. The portion was enormous (at least 4 dozen), the mussels were beautifully prepared in a white wine - thyme broth. The frites were excellent. It was well worth the insane Seattle traffic to dine there. I'd definitely go again.

I had dinner at Red Cow a few nights ago. The place was hopping on a Thursday night, but we were seated at exactly the time of our reservation. The menu is fairly limited, but the items are all done well, and there is a lot to be said for that! We enjoyed a charcuterie plate to start, which was delicious and plentiful. The waiter even brought extra bread without us asking. Our salads were amazing, and the recommended frisée salad with bacon and a poached egg did not disappoint. Two of us ordered the burger and one of us the ribeye. All were delicious and cooked exactly to our desired temperature. Service was attentive and friendly, even with a full house. Our waiter was laid back and very knowledgeable. All in all, an excellent experience!

Having just moved to Seattle from NYC, I've been searching for a great happy hour burger to stave off the rainy day blues. While Red Cow does many things well, the burger is perfect, arguably the best burger anywhere in this burger crazed city. The bun is perfect, the meat, when prepared medium rare, is glorious, and the French fries, the perfect companion. To say that the Red Cow burger is the best burger that I've ever had would not be an exaggeration.

Visited on a week night, and found all of the staff to be not only accommodating, but very friendly. Started with the marrow bones and proceeded to the steak. Both were excellent. Chilled soup was a solid choice. Shoutout to the three staff people from Montana!

Situated in Seattle's quiet Madrona neighborhood, this small retaurant serves wondderful steak frites (superb fries) among other delectible dishes accompanied by excellent service. Worth the Uber ride from wherever you are in Seattle.

We love searching out small neighborhood restaurants in Seattle and tried Red Cow on our last visit. It is a bistro-type restaurant that advertises steak dinners as one of their highlights. I had the vol au vent which was is a good selection for a vegetarian and my partner had a filet. Service was great and they were very informative. I would have given this 5 stars but for the fact that the filet which we ordered as medium turned out to be medium well and not as tender as we would have hoped for in a filet. Other than that, everything else was great. Service was very attentive and even though we arrived early, we only had a short wait for a table.

The salmon, however, was perfect. So was the beet salad. I do not eat meat and so at first I was concerned about the scarce alternatives. I went with the grilled salmon and ho lee sheet that was one good piece of fish. My friend had the rib eye which was about the right size for him. Why not 5/5? Desserts were a little vanilla and somehow while some dishes were under salted, others were over salted. Service is super friendly and the outdoor area a treat. Will go back with carnivore guests.

Four of us were looking for a place to celebrate a birthday and decided on Red Cow. Everything was amazing...especially the steak frites! Highly recommend for a special occasion.

Everything we ordered was excellent and the wine list was great. Really cute ambience, good for a romantic dinner or a small group of friends. They also have a good amount of outdoor seating with heaters. What stood out the most was the service, they took care of us. Highly recommend, you won't be disappointed.

First time visiting Red Cow, but not one of the ES family of neighborhood dining spots. All are amazing so far, and Red Cow no exception. Arrived ahead of rush, and multiple staff were all attentive and well-versed in the menu. Our orders were mix of regular and specials, and all was divine. A beautiful walk through Madrona neighborhood after the meal sealed the deal on a great night out for locals and visiting family. Lone improvement: Add brewed iced tea

What a great restaurant! The food and service were divine. It's a small place in a residential neighborhood. Save some room after your meal and visit Molly Moon's across the street for the best home made ice cream ever!

This restaurant came highly recommended and it was excellent! We ate outside and loved it. Inspired: the fun atmosphere Service: Sara was excellent Atmosphere: relaxed and local with great food Food and drink: loved the Coulotte and Heirloom Tomato salad Return: absolutely!

We have been here probably a dozen times, and each time, the food is great and their knowledgeable staff recommends different wines and champagnes. Their charcuterie options are the best part of the meal. Awesome place!

Everything we had was perfectly prepared, bone marrow, steak tartare, steak, etc. It wasn't our first visit and surely not our last, get a reservation as it is a smaller restaurant. This may have been our best meal in Seattle.

If I could give this a lower review I would. The item I wanted was only available on Sunday. That should be on the menu. Ordered arugula salad for $20. Do not mind paying for this but was just a bag of store-bought arugal with a couple of toasted almonds. I can do that at home. Plus it was so salty we had to send it back to have them make another one. I ordered the Cassoulet. It was very good, but again over salted. (and I am a senior who loves food over salted so you can imagine). Ordered brussels sprouts, but were never served. Mussels were just ok. French fries similar to Mcdonald's, here again, nothing to want to come back for. My son had steak. I could tell he was disappointed, but he did not say anything. He cooked better on Christmas. I could not recommend this restaurant. Too many other excellent restaurants in the Seattle area.

We have truly loved other Ethan Stowell restaurants but this one was truly DISAPPOINTING. The drinks were measured and uneventful, the only appetizer that was good was the Chicken Liver Mousse. The Beef Tartare was average, the cheese board was minimal and the bone marrow was covered in some sweet mess and impossible to get to based on the way they cut the bones. Our server who should honestly be working at a fast food restaurant knew nothing about everything. She recommended the shoulder cut steak over the filet since she said it had more flavor. It was gross, chewy and tasteless and I sent it back because it was undercooked and in ordered it medium rare. Someone should had the hanger steak and that came out three times just plain bloody... To make the evening perfect the service charge was built into the bill... Please go to How to Cook a Wolf or Market but never go to Red Cow unless you love bad drinks, bad food and truly bad service...

Tried to go for happy hour but the bar was full so we sat in the restaurant. Great steak frites! Not necessarily a great place for a vegetarian but if you are a meat eater go!

A while back on my previous visit I was not over-impressed but this time , for m daughters birthday, it was close to perfect. Excellent steak and frites, interesting selection of wines by the glass, and friendly, professional service. Quite expensive, but worth it for the birthday.

First visit and we will return. The smallish restaurant was full on a Monday night. The service was excellent - attentive, knowledgeable, but not intrusive staff that easily earned the 20% service charge. Cold pea soup was delish (with a kick). The pork and Wagyu beef were tender, moist and flavorful. Side of grilled summer squash was a great accompaniment. Yes, there are $60 steaks, but most entrees are in the $20-35 range. It doesn't have to break the bank.

Dined here at Red Cow November 2018 during impromptu Thanksgiving visit to family. The restaurant was simply decorated, nice atmosphere for dinner. Staff was attentive and friendly. Ordered Marinated olives, Mesclun greens, Chicken liver mousse, Parisian gnocchi, Moules frites (mussels), and steak frites. The cherry compote was perfect pairing with the chicken liver mousse. Fresh mussels were delicious we ordered another. The steak (forgot which cut) was big and perfectly cooked. Since we were full, we shared the profiterols (gingerbread cream puffs) with pumpkin fillings. They did not look that pretty in picture, and the flavor was strange. Overall, a very good meal with good service.