The highly anticipated dinner at
Cowford Chophouse has come and gone and I'm left incredibly full (even the next day!) and in awe of the breathtaking atmosphere and impressive cuts of meat. There might be a dent in my date's wallet now, but it was so worth a small fortune (in my very humble opinion...) Cowford Chophouse is exactly what downtown Jacksonville needs -
a dining experience and not just a dinner spot.
Atmosphere
The food was certainly great, but I could write an entire blog post about the architectural experience.
Beautiful shades of white and black marble bounce from floor to ceiling in every room on all three floors. Oh yes, there are three floors. The first floor of this early 1900s renovation features a simple entryway with tall ceilings, a gold elevator and enticing stairway. To the right of the entrance is a lavishly decorated modern bar and low tables for more casual dining. Beautiful, sprawling paintings of cows and steers hang behind the black marble bar. Although the place is packed, the elongated ceilings and modern layout leave no one feeling overcrowded.
We decided to arrive about an hour and a half early to fully experience the bar and rooftop lounge. After a couple glasses of Malbec at the first-floor bar, I was eager to see the rooftop lounge as we awaited a call from the hostess. Unfortunately...we were informed the rooftop bar was at capacity. No problem, we simply barhopped to the second floor! More marble, luscious velvet and low house music greeted us at the top of the stairs. Another glass of wine later and we made our way to the rooftop loft. The Jacksonville skyline boasts beautiful views, only improved by the relaxing, illuminated decor and the diverse group of people socializing.
Food
Although the food wasn't
all outstanding, it was certainly impressive overall. We started with avocado crema in the bar area. The smooth, light green dip went a little overboard with the lime juice, making the appetizer taste more like a dessert. Once we were seated in the dining area we jumped right in with our starter, duck fat cornbread. Unfortunately, this too was rather unimpressive. A thin square of cornbread sat atop bland creme fraiche and was finally topped with a simple crab salad. The dish was great in theory but the flavors just didn't blend correctly.
Now, onto the best part. After multiple Google reviews saying the Wagyu beef wasn't impressive, we decided to order a six-ounce filet mignon and a 12-ounce ribeye with a side of sauteed greens and potatoes au gratin. The meat was just incredible; you could've cut my filet with a spoon. I ordered a side of bordelaise with my steak and it was fantastic (at four dollars a pop, it better be!) The cooking technique resulted in a perfectly seasoned and prepared piece of meat, subtly accompanied by a lone clove of roasted garlic. Perfection.
The dessert, cinnamon roll brulee, was delicious. Although, I've never encountered a cinnamon roll I didn't like...so I could be biased. I mean, it's hard to go wrong with an enormous cinnamon roll with a creme brulee center.
I went into my dinner at The Cowford Chophouse with extremely high expectations and this new downtown staple did not disappoint. There were none of the long wait times and sub-par service that are so common with new restaurants. Every inch of the space was impressively thought out and the steak was the best I've had in Jacksonville. Cowford is a true winner and a welcomed addition to the Bold City.
Comments
Post a Comment