The Bountiful Cow

Good steaks in a nice gastropub. Ronseal really. The T Bone special is really good. The free wine that came with it tasted free, but salad and fries were on the money and the steak was good quality and well cooked. i'm definitely going back.
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Tony Cavaldoro
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

I have been to the BC quite a few times as I work round the corner. On the upside the meat is very good. I think they get it from the butcher on Theobalds Road who has a good reputation. Also you get a fair slab of meat for your money. On the downside they are liable to overcook it. I have one friend who refuses to go there as they have over-cooked his steak every time and he is sick of sending it back. If you like your steak medium or well done this is no problem. If you want it rare then give very explicit instructions to the waiter (even then my experience is that they will probably overcook it). Given the pricing (£15 I think for a steak) its a shame if they ruin it.

This place is really a grillhouse and I wouldn't expect any sophistication in the other items on the menu.

The decor on the ground floor is ok. One of the curious aspects of the place is that when the grill area downstairs gets really smoky then smoke starts coming through the bottom of the banquette seating above.

In the basement it is a bit grim and you can tell they have spent b*gger all on decor.

It gets quite busy on Fridays, when it is usually full upstairs and downstairs.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Friday, March 28, 2008

despite some of the discouraging reviews of this place, I went to Bountiful Cow last night and I was not disappointed at all. The portions were large and tasty (prob the best burger I've ever had and that's saying something), the atmosphere was good - most tables were full and the service was top notch. I would agree with others about the wine though. The house wine at £12.95 wasn't great but to get the "next one down", would have cost us £17.95 which is a pretty big jump. May well have been worth it though.
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Kate Woolley
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Good honest pub food. We were a group of 10 and all of us were impressed enough to return again. Huge, delicious burgers, steaks all cooked as requested, the sirloin was particularly tasty. Service was good. Can't see why so many people have a problem with this place; I have paid more for far worse in London. Generous portions so make sure you're hungry. The chips were cooked from frozen but they still tasted alright, the important bit - the meat, was excellent. It wasn't very busy as we were there for an early lunch but the set up was comfortable. Value for money was good, and with the 30% discount was suberb. Good selection of beers and lagers, house red was drinkable and there was a decent list available. Will try a better wine when I return.
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Debbie
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, August 30, 2007

OK, so maybe this restaurant isn't exactly aimed at non-meat eaters like me, but I was distinctly underwhelmed by it. 0 marks for atmosphere, as the ground floor, where we ate, was pretty grim (downstairs was completely empty). A temperature several degrees too low, hard wooden furniture and a fug of smoke hardly make for the kind of inviting restuarant where you want to linger. The food itself wasn't exactly bad, but certainly wasn't good, and is rather expensive for what you get. The presentation is uninspired, and the salmon dished up for my main course should have been taken off the grill several minutes earlier. And the toilets were really quite nasty - no soap in the ladies (sincerely hope some is available elsewhere for their wait and kitchen staff...). The only good thing about this place is the gorgeous bengal cat that roams the pub - though even he won't tempt me to return.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Thursday, May 03, 2007

Wonderful! OK not the best location, but once you're inside who cares? The t-bone steak is just proper food, v.good quality produce,well cooked. Staff friendly, beer great, wine fine; what more do you want?
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Tony
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, November 17, 2006

You either do or do not like Roxy B's style of restaurant.

The Bountiful Cow is a bit self conscious at the moment: trying a bit too hard to be both cool and laid back. Like the Seven Stars it is staffed by waitresses trying to cast themselves in the mould of Roxy B. It's a bit hackneyed to be honest.

I have been going to the Seven Stars for years and the food there is much better than at the Bountiful Cow. The menu was limited and the steaks were distinctly uninspired. You wouldn't see food of such poor quality at the Seven Stars, so I don't know what the explanation can be for it being served up here.

Good wine though and well priced.
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Stephen
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Thursday, June 29, 2006

Distinctly average. The decor, apart from the odd interesting print and photo, is awful and looks like a failed project by an art-school student. Upstairs was smoke filled and uninviting, downstairs better but still devoid of any atmosphere.

The service was comically inept - we could see our food on the waiter, as could the waitress, but we had to ask her to fetch it for us. They also tried to add another person's drink's tab to my bill.

Steak was average and the chips - at £2.95 a pop - tasted cheap and nasty (from forozen?).

Give it a miss
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Dave - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Thursday, June 01, 2006

I had my first meal here yesterday after walking past it on my way to work every day for two years. I didn't go there with great expectations. It wasn't much cop as a pub before, a wee bit run down and frequented by scary looking regulars.

After it opened with its new look it seemed worse, garish, gaudy, tacky and too brightly lit. The cow theme seemed to be everywhere with pictures, skulls and even milk bottle shaped ashtrays. After reading their fabulous review in the Evening Standard a few weeks ago I was very sceptical. But now it has settled down and matured, rather like their steaks arf arf.

Last night I had the best burgers I've ever eaten, great meat, chips and presentation. The service was fantastic, the house wine was good and my companions pickled herring was a delight as was the greek salad starter. In a word it was faultless.

I’m looking forward to the next time, though make sure you go when you’re hungry as the portions are large!
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Nicholas Huddart
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 18, 2006

Great great great!

This stylish, relaxed restaurant / bar is pretty new, from local character Roxy Beaujolais (landlady of The Seven Stars - great food there too btw).

Went for the first time last week. I had burger and chips - one of the best burgers i've ever tasted. And my dining companion had steak sandwich. Amazingly tender, juicy steak!

Wanted to try the desserts but didn't have room (which is very unusual for my gluttonous self).

Will definitely be back - daytime or evening.
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Douglas Hauser
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 27, 2006