I stopped by Black Cow for a solo dinner during happy hour, and it ended up being one of the best meals I've had in Charlottesville. I ordered the steak frites, and every bite was fantastic. The steak was cooked perfectly, the fries were crisp and flavorful, and even the horseradish crème fraîche was incredible. I'm usually not someone who gets excited about dipping sauces, but this one complemented the meal so well. The bartender was also outstanding. He recommended the chocolate mousse, saying he "could bathe in it." After trying it, I completely understood what he meant. It was rich, silky, and hands down one of the best chocolate mousses I've ever had. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Excellent food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere made this an easy five-star experience. I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in Charlottesville. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Chocolate Mousse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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My first visit to Black Cow Chophouse left me with mixed feelings. The ambience is beautiful and has a great upscale atmosphere, and I really appreciated the staff accommodating our request to move inside after we had originally reserved outdoor seating. The service was excellent throughout the meal. Our server, was absolutely lovely. She was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made us feel welcome. She was one of the highlights of the experience. We started with the steak tartare. It was decent, but a little saltier than I would have preferred. My biggest complaint was that the accompanying bread wasn't brushed with butter or olive oil, which made it feel a bit dry and out of place alongside such a rich dish. One thing that was disappointing was the portioning of the shareable sides. The menu describes them as serving 3 to 4 people, but in our experience they were much more realistically sized for about two people. That was frustrating, especially given the overall price point. For our entrees, we ordered the ribeye, bavette, and New York strip. All of the steaks were cooked well, but I found them to be good rather than great, especially considering the price point. They just weren't particularly memorable. The ribeye, in particular, leaned a bit too far toward fatty rather than beautifully marbled, so there was more unrendered fat than I would have liked. The steak sauces were enjoyable, but they also didn't stand out in any significant way. They were well made, but nothing especially unique or memorable. Overall, I enjoyed the evening, the atmosphere, and the exceptional service. However, for a steakhouse at this price point, I expected to be more impressed by the food. Everything was solid, but nothing really wowed me or left me thinking, "I can't wait to come back." It is disappointing to have buyers remorse from such a nice restaurant. read more

Wow, they did not disappoint. A busy Sunday waiting list for a bar seat, seated quickly. Bartender was A+ service. The Chateaubrian was top shelf steak. We shared the roasted Brussels sprouts with a great Ceasars salad. Cannot recommend enough. Calamari was nice App. read more

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Ambiance was great, our bartender was amazing, entertaining and attentive and the food was excellent!! Thanks Josh for the wonderful service we received. read more

Delicious!! A sizable portion with a variety of sauces to choose from. My steak was cooked perfectly (medium well) and I liked how they put the salt on the side. Some steaks at restaurants are much too salty for me. For sides, we got the brussel sprouts and smashed red potatoes. Both were excellent but the brussel sprouts are a must-have. Our server was super polite and timely; he also knew a lot amount the steaks and where they source their meats. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Fried Brussels Sprouts - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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One of the best happy hours in Charlottesville: get the steak frites! However, it is busy so you will either need a reservation, or to arrive well before they open to snag a seat at the bar (no reservations at the bar). The burger is also a delicious and cost effective option, but I'm also partial to the salmon. Add on some delicious sides (like the Brussels) and a drink (the cosmo is my cocktail of choice), and you have a fantastic date night or girls night spot. It's a pretty good sized restaurant with a great patio. Staff is always friendly and efficient. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Black Cow Burger - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Never have had a bad meal here! LOVE a well-cooked steak and Black Cow does it perfectly! Opted for the red potato smashers instead of mashed potatoes this time and they were phenomenal. Great service, great atmosphere, great time! read more

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Well, I wish I had pictures for the awesome and delicious meal I had but it was too good to take pictures of. The food was amazing. In case you have never been they offer steaks that are cooked in a brick fire oven. AMAZING I ordered the VA sirloin which was cooked to perfection (medium rare) with creamed spinach and potatoes. The creamed spinach and the potatoes were very delicious and flavorful. I also ordered the fried oysters which were great. Not overly fried and still maintained the texture and flavor of a typical oyster. The service was impeccable. Our waitress was very entertaining and helpful. She was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. She ensured that wanted for nothing. The ambiance was great. I loved the cow theme as well as the signage that stated "no well done steaks". It was a great touch. Overall, I had a great experience. If I am in Charlottesville again I will definitely visit. read more

Ok we arrived with no reservations so we decided to stay and eat at the bar after about 15 minutes avoiding the manager Tony came out and said you know I've got a table for you guys so we had a seat and a great table. We started with the shrimp cocktail and it was so good. We had a second one then we had the roasted Brussel sprouts with garlic. They were absolutely delicious. Then we had some Caesar salads, which were they were all right. Then we had a Châteaubriand with Bernaise sauce. We also got some of the four-day demi-glaze and it was all great. The Steak was made to perfection. Our waiter. Todd was great. He took very good care of us and all in all the place was great. We had a great time. The food was awesome. I would highly recommend coming here if you ever in Charlottesville, Virginia. sorry about the photograph, but we ate our food so I forgot to take pictures so the empty plate will have to suffice. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Empty plates - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Mine and my boyfriend's all time favorite steak house. Not just locally but probably ever. The brussel sprouts are perfect. Honestly every side we've gotten has been amazing. Definitely our go to date night spot. Service is good as well. read more

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Came here for a birthday celebration and had the best time! Very cozy, great service, and great food. I got the chateaubriand because that was new to me and the meat was very tender. My partner got the bone in ribeye and if I'm honest, that one was tastier. The kitchen was also nice enough to warm the steak back on the grill. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Chateaubriand - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Following an appointment at UVA, we were able to stop by and get a table for an AMAZING meal here at the Black Cow! Such a cool spot. Indoor and outdoor seating, nice bar area. Waitstaff was super friendly and informed. Emily was great! Excellent menu and choice of cuts. Tonight, we got the Caesar Salad, Steak Frites, Crab Cakes and summer squash. All were delicious!! Same owner as Public Fish and Oyster House and they know how to do this!! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Black Cow Chophouse did not disappoint but my very first visit was truly outstanding thanks to Thomas and Julie. From the moment we were seated, their service was nothing short of superb--attentive without being overbearing, knowledgeable about the menu and pairings and genuinely welcoming. They went above and beyond to make the evening special. The star of the night was the porterhouse. Cooked to absolute perfection, it had the perfect balance of tenderness and flavor--easily one of the best steaks I've ever had. The presentation was elegant, and every bite reminded me that Black Cow is such a gem in Charlottesville. The combination of incredible food and top-tier service from Thomas and Julie made this a 5-star experience all around. If you're looking for a truly memorable steakhouse experience, this is the place to be. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I loved this restaurant! We were in town for a concert and did not make a reservation. We took yelp's advice and waited in line at 4:30 for a seat at the bar. The bartender, Josh, was fabulous. We had cocktails to start and a Barolo with our meal. I had a medium rare filet, I was a tiny bit too rare for me but still delicious. The salad, ribeye, mushrooms and key lime pie were perfect. I wish I lived in town so I could visit again. Go. You won't regret it. My pics are terrible. Don't judge. read more

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Sat at the bar and enjoyed service from Josh & Steph. Had their sirloin and frites with a salad at an incredible price of $21 during happy hour (4:30 pm - 6 pm)! Old fashioned ($9) was quite tasty. Great atmosphere! Free parking in back. read more

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We were looking forward to a great steak dinner here. The restaurant is very beautiful inside and we were seated at the high top tables at the back of the restaurant by the open kitchen area. The high top tables are very close together. My friend gave me her big bag since there was nowhere to put it other than the booth like seating next to me. The host would seat people and was very rude to my friend and I about the bag. Eventually we put it on the ground. As for the food it is lackluster. We ordered steaks from the chalkboard (my friend always goes with the rib eye while I tried the NY strip.) then two sides to go with our steaks (asparagus and mash potatoes). I ordered my steak medium rare while my friend ordered hers medium. The bread/whipped butter came out with our very lightly dressed salad. Bread/whipped butter was pretty good. Salad was too lightly dressed for my liking. The steaks and the sides came out next. My steak was overcooked and was more medium/medium well. My friend's steak was a medium rare. Not sure if its the kitchen's fault or the waitress wrote down the wrong cooked. My steak was seasoned well but alittle burnt. very disappointing. Both sides were just okay. At the end I did order creme brulee and it was burnt at the top and not that appetizing. Overall disappointed we paid a lot for a mediocre meal. :( read more

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We dropped in at opening and this place is hoping. We got the last two seats at the bar for their amazing happy hour featuring the Steak Frites with Belgian fries for $18. They ask pink or no pink. Go no pink, this is quality meat. We added a side salad for $3. The happy hour drinks are fabulous. We loved the atmosphere. I wish we had time to stay for their full dinner. Must try. read more

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Everything was great at Black Cow Chophouse - the service, ambiance, food. We got a reservation for 8:15 and showed up at 6:30 hoping for a seat at the bar. We were well taken care of by the hostess and bartender who got us to the bar around 7:30 after we opened a bottle of wine on their outdoor lounge. The bar was cozy and the servers were attentive and warm, but the food was exactly what I needed that day! They cook their burgers "no pink" or "pink" and I assume "no pink" is closer to medium and "pink" is medium rare to rare. We ordered a bacon bleu burger "pink" and were really happy with it. Typically I like my burgers medium so I might try taking my chances with the no pink next time since I can't see them cooking it over with their "no well done" policy for the cuts of meat. The fries, Brussels sprouts, and Mac and cheese were delicious, especially with the garlic aioli. I think after the burger, the Mac and cheese was a favorite. I don't usually go for lobster Mac and cheese, but this one was exceptional. You could actually taste the lobster stock throughout the sauce as well as the cheese. read more

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I take my wife here every Mother's Day! Food is always good and service is great!! Love the atmosphere will be back soon!

We visited Black Cow when we were in town for the weekend with dear friends. It was hard to get a reservation here, but we managed to snag one at 8:45pm. Despite it being later in the night, the food or service didn't miss a beat. Atmosphere was fun and lively. We ordered the lamb and ribeye! Both were cooked to perfection. Book early! read more

An absolute gem of a steakhouse! The beef is locally sourced, cooked to order, and seasoned to perfection--truly some of the best steaks I've ever had. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance of classic and hip, making it both comfortable and stylish. Service is top-notch--friendly, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. A small spot with big flavor and charm--definitely a must-try! read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Drove into Charlottesville, VA from Baltimore, and went to the Yelp app to look for a dinner venue. The Black Cow looked interesting, and we were ready for red meat. The venue is cool. It appears to be an old service station that has been decorated in a bovid motief. It has a nice bar, not very large, seats about 10. Outside dining is available We did not have reservations, and the wait was about an hour, so we chose to eat at the bar. Good choice! The bartender (Noah) was excellent. The bourbon selection was also excellent. I had my first pour of Woodford 121.2. Really enjoyed it. The salads were good. Warm bread was served. We both had the New York strip, and they were nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. Ratings: Venue 4/5. Found the barrel bar stools uncomfortable. Service - 5/5 Food - 5/5 Cost - $$$ Overall, we had a very good experience. read more

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Happy hour is anazing! Steak frites are cooked perfectly and the beef varies. The atmosphere is relaxed and there's heaters in the outside porch. Highly recommend because the service is lovely. Be sure to make a reservation! read more

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We loved our dinner at Black Cow! We were only in town for two days and didn't have dinner plans our second night, but we had walked past this place earlier in the day and decided to come back that night - so glad we did! It was pretty full, even at 8:45 when we got there, and the vibe was great - simple and modern aesthetic, laid back feel, friendly staff, good wine list - checked all the boxes! We shared the bone-in KC strip and the whipped golden potatoes for dinner. The steak tasted great - we ordered in medium rare, and it almost looked closer to rare, but I'll take that over a steak being overcooked any day. I liked the confit onions & garlic and the generous pile of sea salt on the plate with the steak, too - really brought out the flavor! The whipped potatoes were a treat as well - they had some of the confit onions and garlic on them too, and they were a great compliment to the meat. Would definitely recommend Black Cow to anyone looking for a great steak in Charlottesville - it was lovely! read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Great steaks and that is what we were there for. The waitress was super friendly and helpful with suggestions for side dishes and combos. Not pushy but went with the flow and made our experience very enjoyable. The restaurant itself was inviting and fun.... Not too loud but you could tell the clients were enjoying themselves. If you're looking for a steak place I think this is it! Great selection of different cuts and they an explain the types and steer (get it) you in the right direction depending upon your tastes. read more

The bartender has the worst customer service I have observed at a higher end cocktail establishment. Tonight I left the hotel, Hampton Inn, at 5:10pm in a Lyft, probably got there no later than 5:20. Finally left at 6:22pm when we waited over 20 minutes for cocktails that never came. When I asked for the check, he actually said. "I thought we were having drinks tonight?" I actually emailed the restaurant while we sitting at the bar to explain how bad the service was. After Black Cow response: Feel free to show my wife and my second drink tonight. When we spoke on the phone, you said your bartender recognized us from our previous visit. I tried to give the place a second chance. Instead of your bartender trying to showcase his abilities, he obviously chose to spite us with more poor service. How sad for your business. Thanks for the call. Could you give the audience the time between us asking for a cocktail and the time we finally left. Your move. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - My empty drinks for over 20 minutes. - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

great food and service for dinner! i love the updated cuts of meat each night, and the sauce options are so good! really a stand out resturant around here read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Petite Tender - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

What a cool place! We were able to get a spot at the bar which was highly coveted at 5pm on Thursday! I tried a martini and the fried oysters. I don't like fried oysters but they are popular around here so I had to try them. They were actually quite good. Good texture and flavor. For my entree, I had the NY Strip and the famous Brussel Sprouts as well as the asparagus. The steak had a nice crust and flavor. The Brussel sprouts were some Of the best I have had. The had a nice happy hour wine offering as well. When you are in Charlottesville, try Black Cow! read more

Best steak I have ever had in the US! Our server was amazing as well. Recommend the fillet.

Visited for our 27th Anniversary. First timers. Bring your wallet, but this place is AMAZING and you won't regret. I would go back in a heartbeat. I don't think I've ever had a steak this good. We shared the Chateaubriand medium rare with butter on top. It was wonderful. We also got side of red potato's and a few drinks. Service was impeccable. Make reservations. The place is small but charming. Keep up the great work Black Cow! read more

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it was amazing, the food the service and the wine , don't miss out on this gem thank you to Thomas and Stef and the Chefs for such a great experience, we will be back! Gypsy read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

VERY mediocre meal for a huge price tag. We had high expectations due to all the reviews, but this place was a huge disappointment. Crab bisque had one dime sized piece of crab, fried oysters were just ok, burgers tasted gamey, creamed spinach tasted bland and looked like soup, filet mignon and strip were very, very bland. Honestly, one of the worst steak meals we have ever had. Save your money. The service was A+. read more

From the food to the waitstaff and location, this place deserves 5 stars. We can on a whim hoping that we could get a seat without reservation, while they were full and we got waitlisted the staff still waited on us while sitting outside patio furniture. The waiter did an incredible job with breaking down the menu and had excellent suggestions on what meats worked best with what temperatures. The food was cooked to perfection. Can't recommend or commend the owner and staff of this restaurant enough. Well done . read more

This place is pretty amazing. It's a bit pricey but they cook the steak perfect! The appetisers are pretty good! I would definitely come back again read more

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Happy hour review only! Came here for the Happy and we ordered the Steak Frites, Mac & Cheese, Lobster Bisque and the Brussel Sprouts. Wow the Steak Frites is Huge value as is it he lobster mac and cheese. I would definitely come back for the HAPPY HOUR. Very Very Good restaurant with great service right on the main street across from the Quirk hotel. read more

Each and every time we come it is spectacular. This is our go to place if we're looking for a great meal, a date night spot, a good drink, and/or a place to take out of town guests. We even celebrated closing on our house here and it was the first restaurant we visited when we first came to town. Everything is top notch, from the atmosphere, to the cuts of meat, to the sides, and happy hour. Happy hour is the BEST deal in town. A smaller portion of steak (sometimes a great cut of filet) with a sauce of the day and fries for $18, add a salad to that and it's $21. Cocktails from a limited menu are $8. Can't beat it. Some of our other favorites are the hanger steak, filet, Brussel sprouts, and red smash potatoes. The servers are exceptional, attentive, and go above and beyond to get to know you. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Amazing food - incredible services. Expensive for you are paying for the quantity and quality. Well worth the trip great atmosphere friendly staff quick services highly recommend. read more

Black Cow Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Maybe it was just a really off night for the food we were served when we visited the Black Cow Chophouse . They have an amazing sounding happy hour where you can order Steak Frites for $18. We decided to stop in after a long week of work and got there around 5:40 (happy hour of 4-6). The hostess told us we had 5 minutes to order so we hurried to the last two seats at the bar and ordered quickly. I ordered a Moscow Mule and my boyfriend ordered a Margarita. Both were just not good. The Moscow mule had virtually no ginger beer in it. The steak dinners were so disappointing. Everything was SO salty-I couldn't even eat the fries. The one steak was cooked incorrectly (asked for medium rare and it was medium well). Both steaks were warm at best, definitely not fresh. We understand steaks need to rest but these had rested wayyyy too long. The bartender never checked on us. The two stars are for the ambiance of the restaurant. For almost $70, definitely a disappointing visit. read more

John our waiter took such lovely care of us. He was right. This steak (I got the boneless ribeye) was one of the top 10 steaks I've ever had in my life. You can tell the meat here is very high quality. The steak came out with a lovely sear. The flavor was rich and meaty; my steak was very well marbled and fatty. I loved that the steaks were served with flaked finishing salt that you could sprinkle on, yourself. I believe the biggest factor was that David cooked our steaks to PERFECTION. My husband got the NY Strip and he was over the moon. I tried a bite and it was just fantastic. I'm not even a NY strip eater! You can easily mess up a Strip. And yet it was juicy and tender. I personally don't think the steak needed a sauce. As for the appetizers and sides, the bread was excellent and fresh. The cesar salad was very very tasty. The shrimp cocktail was great! But the real show were those steaks. John, our waiter, encouraged us as first time guests to get steak (over the pork chop I was considering), and I'm so thrilled he did. A warm and genuinely friendly waiter, John made the night. I trusted his suggestions, and very happy I did. You can tell John loves his job, and he's good at it. The prices were fair given the quality of the ingredients. The ambiance of the restaurant was somewhat loud but that never hindered our conversations or evening. The final suprise of the night was the desserts. The key lime pie was literally the best key lime pie I've ever had. Was such a perfect touch to a wonderful evening. Kudos to this team. A giant thank you to John for taking such great care of us, and the highest compliments to David and the chefs who prepared the meals. 5/5 read more

The food here was great. Extremely tasty. Very fresh. Service was amazing. The waiter was super knowledgeable about the entire menu and very attentive. I would highly recommend. read more

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