Cowboy Star came with rave reviews from friends, so expectations were high. It was a very busy, fully booked night and we didn’t have a reservation, but we were still seated near the meat case upon arriving.
We were greeted with a complimentary lobster amuse-bouche, followed later by a ginger–pineapple palate
Cowboy Star came with rave reviews from friends, so expectations were high. It was a very busy, fully booked night and we didn’t have a reservation, but we were still seated near the meat case upon arriving.
We were greeted with a complimentary lobster amuse-bouche, followed later by a ginger–pineapple palate cleanser after our salad—light, refreshing, and a thoughtful touch. Bread service was a standout: super buttery, with whipped butter that was incredibly light and airy finished with specks of Hawaiian black salt.
Another highlight was the strawberry–pineapple–lemon mocktail. Pineapple-forward with subtle strawberry notes and a bright citrus zest finish that hits the roof of your mouth—surprisingly complex and well-balanced for a mocktail.
The creamed spinach missed the mark—too salty, not creamy, and not fully wilted—but it was comped, which was appreciated. Mashed potatoes were inconsistent and a bit grainy, while the mac and cheese was excellent. Caesar salad portions were generous, and I liked the crumbled croutons for even texture.
Unfortunately, the biggest issue was the ribeye. We ordered it medium rare, and it arrived nearly blue rare. The server checked in immediately upon delivery—which is why we don’t have a photo—but after sending it back, the ribeye returned unevenly cooked, with some parts medium and others bordering on well-done. Compounding the issue, the plates were extremely hot, causing the steak to continue cooking at the table, which is likely why it ended up fully well done by the end of the meal. The steak was comped, which was absolutely appropriate. Regardless of price point, a steakhouse should know how to execute steak temperatures correctly and consistently.
The wagyu skirt steak, on the other hand, was much better. I really liked the bite and it wasn’t overly fatty for a wagyu. Our server mentioned it was crossbreed of a Japanese wagyu cow and an American breed, which made sense given how balanced it was. We asked for medium and were told it would come out a bit rarer (a little confusing). The final cook landed closer to medium-rare. It paired beautifully with both the bordelaise and peppercorn sauces.
Service overall was friendly and knowledgeable.
While the ribeye cook was unacceptable at this level, I hope the management team takes the feedback seriously and improves things for a future visit—if we do decide to give it another try, given how close it is to where we live.
