Cowboy Cafe
4792 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA, 22207
Cowboy Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4792 Lee Hwy
Arlington, VA, 22207 - Phone (703) 243-8010
- Website https://www.thecowboycafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live, Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
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Travis W.
You know those hole-in-the-wall joints that don't look impressive but end up blowing you away with their quality? Cowboy Cafe is one. I just moved to the DC area and was looking for Chicken Fried Steak. After reading some reviews here, my girlfriend and I went to the Cowboy Cafe for dinner, only to find CFS not on the menu. Matt, one of the owners, was also our waiter. He said that the CFS had been taken off the menu a while ago, but they made one anyway. Oh my God it was good! I hear it's hard enough to find a CFS in this part of the country, much less a good one. Everything at Cowboy Cafe is made from scratch and this steak was no exception - I haven't had a chicken-fried steak this good since Threadgill's in Austin, TX. The veggies were also perfect, and my girlfriend's pork/jalapeno/something was excellent as well. The staff was friendly, the music was great, and the margarita I had to top it off was surprisingly good. I can't say enough good things about this place. I will definitely be back.
(5)Big B.
My favorite dive bar in Arlington. A true laid back atmosphere, wait-staff, and decent food at decent prices. Some times can get a bit boisterous, but hey, it's a bar and to be expected. Tuesday's half price burger deal can't be beat in terms of price or quality. Very good burgers and fries.
(4)Corinne T.
Never going back. Went on saturday with my girlfriend and felt like we were imposing on the waitress the entire time. We had to ask her for menu's after we'd been sitting there for a few minutes with no drinks (as if it wasn't obvious) she dropped off our drinks and then ignored us the rest of the time. We waited and waited but she wouldn't come back to us. I could understand her behavior if it was packed but it wasn't, she was simply too busy socializing with friends/regulars at the bar. The other waitress was more focused on finding a lighter so she could take a smoke break, and showed no interest in working either. We watched her literally give good customer service & be an attentive waitress to everyone else but us, which is still a mystery to me. My gf had to go up to the bar to try to get change so that we could just pay for our drinks and leave, and the waitress dragged her feet for that too. Everything took longer because she was socializing. Overall its a very unprofessional place, with obnoxious patrons and even more obnoxious staff. Oh, and it looked pretty dirty too, and cramped. Don't go there!
(1)Ashley R.
This place was recently sold and it is terrible. The food has declined in spite of maintaining the old menu. The wait staff is down right rude and seems to hate the customers. I have been going here for years but sadly, I have had my last visit. There are many other places in Arlington where you can have a pleasant experience.
(1)Zach F.
Usually a fan of CC, but had to alert the presses of a massive string of black hair found in between my halved breakfast burrito. Easily visible too. On the other hand, the bloody Mary was well done.
(1)Heather B.
Even though gone through quite a transformation I still enjoy this place. Still has delicious half-price burgers on Tuesday, GREAT new brunch menu (completely different than before). I really like how the transformation has brought a ton of new people to the place but my ultimate favorite part of this bar is going in late night when they have live music and no one is there. I know that is every bar and bar musicians fear of having no one show up, but it has been two visits late night on a Thursday that I have seen this one guy with a guitar I don't know if he's actually miserable or just really sarcastic but hands down funniest musician I've ever seen. Stopping mid song to crack a joke or making up his own country song, or shouting out to a complete stranger across the bar. It's moments like that that keep their "small town bar" appeal which is something I hope they never lose. It's the best of both worlds kind of bar.
(5)B. S.
Good food. Good beer. Good people. Love it for casual drinking and hanging out. Also, don't want to blow up the spot too much, but there brunches are awesome. (except for the horrendous bloody mary's and mimosas). In general, great place to grab a burger and a cold beer without having to deal with the pretentiousness of most arlington establishments.
(4)Tatiana w.
I love Cowboy and think it is going to be even better now that there is no smoking..sorry smokers. We catered an event with them and the food was fantastic! The Burgers are tasty! It's a great place to grab a quick lunch in Arlington without a thousand toddlers running around...rare in Arlington.
(4)Seth M.
pretty damn good. lots of stuff on the menu went for brunch. got the cowboy combo. pretty good. brendan, the bartender, is the man.
(4)E E.
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(4)Melissa M.
Went here once and I really can't remember if the drinks were good at all. My friends saw the bartender finish a couple of random people's drinks, floaters and all. Really, they would turn around to leave, then she'd pick up their drink and finish the rest. Gross. We spent the rest of the time there staring, waiting for her to do it again.
(2)Lynn T.
Brunch? Fantastic. All from scratch. Hash - so good. French toast was really yummy too. One small thing - the cook doesn't understand that a poached egg should be runny in the middle. Dinner? The Cowboy Reuben is WOW. The house smoked pastrami is unreal. Can't wait to order it again. But the real star? The homemade tater tots. I can't even find words for them. Just incredible.
(4)Krissy R.
I went here with high expectations, but was pretty disappointed by the end of my meal. The service was great and the atmosphere was pretty cute, but the food was really not good at all. I ordered a spicy chicken sandwich (I think it was the special of the day) and it was no good and loaded with salt. No one enjoyed their food either, and it was a unanimous decisions that we didn't want to go back again. Two thumbs down for the Cowboy Cafe, sadly. I really wanted it to be good!
(2)Mike S.
All you folks who rated this place above 1 star were never at the CBC in it's hay-day or you have dining expectations, even for local watering holes, not much above a McDonald's. When there were 2 locations, the food was excellent and, while the service was SLOW, it was friendly. NOW, with the 3 brothers in charge, the place seems more like it's aspiring to be a biker-bar with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward the food than a friendly restaurant (let alone "family" friendly). We went to 1/2 price burger night on Tuesday -- for the first time in 2 years and for the first time since ownership changed -- and sat at the bar. We were waited on by one of the brothers/owners who was training a new bartender/waitress who looked like she just fell off the back of a Harley (nothing against biker-gals or Harlies). He was about as friendly as a deaf-pitbull and, well, she was trying to compensate for him -- made for a very awkward situation. It took us about 5 minutes to even be acknowledged by either of them, even though they were standing right in front of us the whole time. There was no "hey, welcome to the Cowboy Cafe, what can I 'get cha," or "hey, it's 1/2 price burger night, guys...just FYI..." No, just menus plopped in front of us after 5 minutes. After I got over my fear, I asked what's on tap and I got a snarly answer from the owner. When it came time to order the food, the waitress-in-training had no clue and had to turn around and ask the owner questions. "Can they have onion rings instead of fries?" "Yea" was the reply. I ordered a chili burger. When it arrived, only a drop of dried up chili. And, as one of the other commentators noted, there was crunchy mystery meat in my burger. Being that you can see right into the kitchen and watch them make the burgers (a sight best left unseen), I checked to see that the cook/s all had their fingers. ...they did. Moving on...when the people next to us got their burgers, they had pickles on their plates -- which used to come with ALL burgers. Ours did not. Consistency in food guys? Then the poor woman asked the owner/bartender for water...glass plopped in front of her, water from the drink tap shot in. That was it. No "sure, thing," or "can I get you anything else?" Just an attitude like he was being bothered. By that time, I, and the couple next to me, were ready to get out of there. Best part of the experience. According to a framed article inside the door, the place was recently purchased by 3 brothers; 1 a former Marine, the other former Army (?) and don't recall the other brother's background. From the presentation we got, I don't think they (or at least the one that waited on us) could be more unsuited for the job of working with the public, especially in such a competitive industry as food service. They're not friendly, the food is not exceptional, and the atmosphere is not unique. Having worked in the service industry for years, the three-brothers need to remember that by the mere fact they advertise and turn on the "OPEN" sign, that every person walking through their door is there at THEIR invitation -- so treat 'em like you would a guest in your home...a PAYING guest. So, bottom line, if you're looking for the old CBC, forget it. It's gone. If you're looking for a bar struggling for an identity, and leaning toward a biker-stop, they CBC is your place.
(1)MARIA G.
I ordered take away for lunch and got the Duke. The wait was a little long and the burger was aight. I noticed shrimp and grits on the menu so I am willing to give it another try but sit and eat next time.
(3)Chris C.
Half price burgers on Tuesday. Great staff! Loved this place since I was a kid. Great Food for a great price.
(5)Matt C.
Love the Cowboy Cafe'. Since new ownership/management moved in over the past year, you get more home-made and creative menu items. I go hear about once a month and have been satisfied with all the specials from homeade Kielbasa to the Catfish tacos. Great draft beers too, ranging from PBR - Starr Hill - to Abita. Turbo Dog is the best!
(4)Stephanie M.
I ate here last Saturday, I got the chicken fried steak (white gravy the way I like it), mash potatoes, grilled veggies and Texas toast. First off it was a lot of food. It was passable, the gravy could have probably used more pepper, the meat should have been salted before applying the batter, but overall a great experience. What made it great,....the people. The waitress we had was nice, chatty and friendly. The place is clean, full or regulars. The menu was abundant and the beer cheap. I think my mistake was I should have gotten a burger. Oh and a extra bonus was they have their own, small, parking lot.
(3)Fred B.
My girlfriend and I stopped at Cowboy Cafe on the way home from holiday shopping. The place was empty except for the neighborhood regulars hanging at the bar. Only one server was waiting on tables and she evidently was also the bartender. The place was cold and drafty, so we took a table in the bar area to keep warm. While our server was nice and friendly, the overall dining experience was miserable. First, we waited forever to get our fried pickles appetizer, then waited some more for our entrees. It looked like we were the only ones eating there at the time. My girlfriend ordered a medium-well hamburger which was overcooked, and I ordered the brisket platter. One of the worse meals I've ever had. The meat was bone dry, tasteless, and even charred in places. While you might ask why I didn't return my meal for something else, I waited so long for the food, I was famished and didn't want to wait another 20 minutes for something else. I did complain to our server once she asked me how I liked the meal and, to her credit, she comped the meal. I would have given Cowboy Cafe one star, but the server was sweet, so I gave her the other star. I don't think I'll be returning, unless I have a craving for more fried pickles!
(2)Wanita N.
Cowboy Cafe knows its customers. Flip-flops, ratty shorts, and mismatched accessories are all A-OK at the the Cowboy Cafe. Check out the half price burger, cooked to order and juicy goodness every Tuesday. Or $.30 wings on Wednesday, tangy and fried. My favorite part though, live music Thursday, Friday and Sat. in the TINY bar area. sometimes blues, sometimes rock-n-rock you never really know what you'll hear, but cold beer and bacontastic potato skins will be by your side. One note, along with the tiny bar, there is a tiny parking lot. Usually it's easier ot grab a street spot.
(4)Kristine M.
it is what it is. The bar also has a tiny side room that families, older couples, and high school kids all crowd into on half price burger night. There's only one server/waitress for the room so be patient.
(4)Darwin Y.
I have been going here for ten years. I miss the old one, for sure. It had so much more charachter and the remodelled one feels alien and sterile....but i guess that's to be expected with some new owner. The food is great, though, and burger night can't be beat!
(4)David C.
Well that was gross! We apparently made the mistake of going for 1/2 price burger night. My wife and I both ordered burgers cooked medium. We ordered a basket of sweet potato fries which never came. When our burgers arrived, they were grossly overcooked. Both sides of my patty were almost completely black. You may be asking how I knew what both sides looked like since it was theoretically a "chili" burger, so one would assume that there was a big mess. There wasnt enough chili to cover even half the burger patty--sort of a teaspoon full right in the center of the burger, and completely covered with cheese, which isn't saying much because there wasn't much cheese either. I feel bad complaining because it was half-price burger night, but this food was completely inexcusable at any price. I know they can make good food because I've had it before. But this was so bad it was disrespectful.
(1)Paige H.
oh how i love a deal! nothing makes tuesday nights better than 1/2 price burgers at Cowboy Cafe! packed in this tiny restaurant (seriously, only about a dozen tables) is a great little pub/bar/restaurant. on tuesday nights all of the burgers are half price. combine that with a happy hour special on tap and your tip and you've got a great meal for under $10...and probably more like $7, depending on how much you drink. my recommendation is the blue moon or the duke (w/bacon). and while the CC on Columbia Pike has the pool table, this location has the malt vinegar. parking is a bit of a pain though, so be careful. the lot is small and there are many surrounding businesses that would love to invite the arlington tow-truck companies to tow your car. my advice is to park by the hardware store across the street.
(3)Justin M.
Checked it out for 1/2 price burger night; the biggest indicator of a quality burger joint is whether or not they cook your burger the way you actually ask for it. My girl ordered well-done, I ordered medium rare - like most subpar joints, they both came out gray and dried out through and through. The bun was soggy the minute it hit the plate and the fries were of the frozen McDonald's skinny variety. Pass.
(2)Frank R.
We have been patrons for brunch for many years, we especially liked the original menu. We were good with the change of menu (new owners) especially since they kept a few of the favorites. However I regret to say that after this mornings visit we are crossing it off our list of local spots. The service was very slow because the side room had only one waiter who was having a hard time coping . The food was mediocre at best, dry eggs, crispy, crumbly waffles and forgotten items. Our guess would be they had one person in the kitchen and that person wasn't a cook.
(1)Jack K.
The reasons to come to the Cowboy Cafe are many: Its a classic neighborhood establishment where everyone know each other, the beer is good and they have plenty of live music. I don't usually come for the food, though, because this is a bit hit or miss. We liked our sampler appetizer platter--the tater tots were especially good, though the wings were only ok. My wife's California burger was excellent--I wish I had ordered that instead of the fried chicken, which was overcooked and a bit too crisp on the outside.
(3)Evan V.
This is one of my old haunts from high school, and a staple for any Arlingtonian, but until this weekend I had never eaten brunch there. I always loved the burgers (especially on half priced burger Tuesdays) and was equally impressed by their Cowboy hash. The chorizo was delicious, the eggs well poached, and the whole combo was perfect. I'm not sure whether it was the heaviness of the dish, or the ridiculous amount of vodka in my bloody marys, but afterwards I was in a severe food coma. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the bloody Mary if you have to drive, but if you like 'em strong, these are definitely potent.
(4)Travis P.
Since my last post (years ago) they have had many changes, mostly for the better, and it's back to being a great local watering hole/dive bar (which is a dying breed in Arlington). Overall, good people, good food, good specials, and the best bartenders and wait staff in town!
(5)North C.
This review is for Sunday brunch at the Cowboy Cafe. We've had brunch there three weeks running, it's just that good. service We always sit at the bar and we always have solid service. It's clear the bar staff know many of the patrons, which leads to some overly familiar conversation, but it doesn't detract from the service. bar Cowboy Cafe has a Bloody Mary special on Sundays, which is genius planning on someone's part. Unlike the heirloom tomato juice, pepper-infused small batch vodka, garnished with brown sugar-candied bacon Bloody Mary for $12 that you might find some places, the Cowboy Café is a solid, working man's Bloody Mary. I followed my exceptional spicy Bloody Mary with a Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA. I counted at least a dozen taps, with a good craft beer selection. Three IPAs on tap - Fresh Squeezed, Bell's Two Hearted and Lagunitas. food I always order the great dish, Cowboy Hash. Plenty of meaty chorizo and fried potatoes, topped with three perfectly poached eggs, crowned with jalapeno hollandaise. I use eggs benedict as my bellwether for brunch; Cowboy Café's eggs and hollandaise are top-notch. You'll have more than enough left-overs for breakfast during the brutal work week ahead. My wife always orders their country fried steak and eggs. We're from the Midwest and this CFS stacks up against all competition. Be like my wife and substitute a biscuit for toast.
(4)Rob A.
Cool place with a great burger! I had just spent 10 days in India and was really jonesing for a good burger for lunch. I had the chiliburger which fit the bill perfectly. The homemade pickle is really good too. Plus I lucked in to half-price burger Tuesday! Couldn't ask for more. I'll definitely be back to check out the game time or night scene.
(4)S S.
I love this place! !!! It's totally a dive but the food is awesome. Get the Sliders half bbq and half burger...the relish and pickles are homemade! I was excited when the waitress asked how I wanted the burger cooked. ..medium...and it came out perfect. The Brisket Sandwich was yum. The half order of nachos was huge. We added chili and loved it. Nice and spicy. But the real star was brunch...yes I went back less than 12 hours later. And was not disappointed. I had the chicken and bacon hash. .I know. .right???? Poached eggs atop chicken potato bacon "cakes" smothered in jalapeño hollandaise served with half a grilled tomato. The cowboy combo was an enormous amount of food and worth the price. Throw in 1/2 price mimosas bloody Mary's and screwdrivers and you cannot go wrong.
(5)J M.
My wife and I have been here a few times now (including today) and have always left satisfied! Like other Yelpers noted, this is a real dive bar on the bar side. There is also a more family-friendly section away from the bar and televisions. We've always had great service from the bartenders/servers despite their slow kitchen staff. However, good things come to those that wait as every dish we've had we've enjoyed very much! The kitchen staff's slowness has knocked off a star from my overall rating, but will still definitely come back!
(4)Tom M.
I've only been here once in my life, and upon logging into Yelp! I realize it has been 28 days since my last visit. Clearly - I'm not a regular. But here's why they get 5 stars: I walked in, sat down, and asked for a Woodford Reserve neat. The bartender (who I later found out is named Kelly or Kelli) popped back at me with "1 ice cube, right?" Hello!?!? That's service!! And look, I know servers and bartenders remember this stuff everyday, but not after just one visit and not in someplace that is kinda busy. Tonight the bar is packed - every seat - and most of the tables are full at 10pm. Jalapeño popper app - great! Not from a box! This isn't your "Friday's" frozen popper. Yummy! Crispy on the outside (but it comes with sour cream - ask for ranch dressing if you're like me). Dinner - pulled pork and tater tots. Again, yummy! The pork is moist and smoky, prepared North Carolina / Low country style (BBQ aficionados know what this means - vinegar and spice based sauce, not ketchupy red sauce). A ton of meat on your sandwich. House made tater tots. The only disappointment is the slaw - it has that strong sweetness to it With some vinegar that's not quite balanced - I think it's Sysco's best but couldn't swear to it. Gotta tell you - twice in and twice good. I think it's a good value when compared to the $11 beers a block away at Thirsty Bernie's and the "Triple-D" mark up for mediocre food and less than average service at Metro 29. I'd classify this as a "hidden gem" except that lots of local folks seem to know it! I guess it was just hidden from me. The final analysis: try it out. I'd be shocked if you were disappointed!
(5)Violet B.
Cowboy Cafe is the place to go to run into neighbors. Tons of regulars and they are welcoming to newcomers. We love their burgers!
(4)Philip L.
Great food, some of their specials are a great deal like the wings. The feel is a bit old and rustic, but it's ok for a local bar. The servers are nice too.
(4)Stella S.
No parking, no tables and an hour and a half wait for a cold Cubano and a dry Reuben. Very disappointed. They did proactively comp the bill 25% for the wait, but man was that a bad experience. Too many other options locally to roll the dice there again.
(1)Scott R.
Arlington's best dive bar! The food is great and they have High Life; although they've raised the price to $4 but it's still deal. To first timers, don't sit at the last seat at the bar...that's the Mayor's seat.
(5)Timothy E.
This place rocks. The service is totally awesome, always quick to ask what else can they get for you. Brunch on the weekend is great, love the Cowboy Hash. The Club Sandwich is one of the best I have ever had and the Tortilla Soup is amazing! Anyone that gives them one star is simply unhappy with life. Tim
(4)Victoria L.
This restaurant was not as good as I thought it was going to be. I tried it twice just to make sure it wasn't just a bad night but the second time around was worst. The waiters make me feel uncomfortable because I feel like they hate their job and do not want to be there. They always had an attitude when they served you. The bartenders can be friendly but can overcharge you on drinks. When we ordered the fried pickles one time, I'm almost 99.9% sure they gave us cucumbers because it wasn't even a bit sour like a pickle, it tasted bland like a cucumber! And the color was off like it was really old. The burgers are overcooked, not much flavor and fries came cold. The chili on the chili mac was plain jane, no flavor, and tasted funny. Eh, I say go down the street to Metro 29. It's not worth trying to cram yourself into the small parking place nearby.
(1)G H.
Don't judge this little hole in the wall by its cover. It has a small bar with a few good beers on tap, and surprisingly good food. Perfect spot to drop in and get a beer while sitting at the bar and watching a sports event.
(4)Liz K.
I'd give Cowboy Cafe 3 1/2 stars if possible! Cowboy Hash was a great brunch and the chicken bacon hash, which my husband got was very good (I thought it had a little too much thyme in it) but over all both were very well put together! I had the mimosa and hubby had a gin bloody mary, both very good! This is only the second time we've been here but I think we will come for a third!!
(3)Sam L.
We live in the area and it is almost the definition of a neighborhood bar. If you have a family there is seating with TVs away from the bar. The service is always good and so is the food. The wings are very good, I get them Edgar style, with the sauce on the side. The briskwich is also very good along with their burgers. Trivia night is also very fun. Overall, good food with a nice bar, good place to watch a game. Not as much space or TVs as thirsty bernies but if you're in the mood for better food, this is the place to go.
(4)Eric N.
The ONLY dive bar in Arlington. Galaxy Hut doesn't count thanks to the Clarendon crew. While looking for a decent meal (with alcohol) between classes, a friend and I decided to stop by here since we had the Scoutmob deal. I never noticed it since I drive by his place on Lee Highway all the time, but its very easy to find. This is a real dive bar. Cheap beer and cheap bar food. Both of us sitting at the bar, we order some burgers and a few beers. I ordered the Lojo, which came with some spicy sauce, blue cheese, and grilled onions medium rare. My buddy ordered the schroomer, which came with sauteed mushrooms and swiss cheese. I think the draft beers we ordered (can't remember which) were only $5-6 a pint before happy hour. Not too bad. The burgers were good but mine was a tad bit overcooked (more like medium). However, regular size PBR's are only $2.50 all day and $2 during happy hour. Drafts were $3.50-$4 IIRC and rail drinks only $4. What I loved about this place too was how chill everyone was. Definitely a real dive bar with real regulars just hanging out. The bartender, Erica IIRC, was very cool and laid back. Easily my favorite bar in Arlington aside from TNT. I'm not sure why this place only has 3 stars but easily deserves a higher rating.
(4)Tom G.
It was OK. Not inexpensive for a semi-dive place, but it is Northern Virginia! It was pretty crowded for lunch on Sunday so the service was slow, but.... she didn't charge us for a soda and a coffee to make up. Burgers are good, tables are small, not really a clena feeling to the place. I wouldn't seek it out, but would go there again for a second chance.
(3)Kristen W.
Can we classify this as a yuppie dive bar? I think that's a pretty apt description. The food is pretty good, as bar food goes. The drinks are strong and VERY well priced. The bartenders are nice. It's full of townies that range from grizzled older gentleman to youngish North Arlington moms and couples out for a night on the town. My kind of dive - will definitely be back.
(4)Drew M.
Great service, Pome and Andrew are super fast, nice and funny behind the bar. Highly recommend.
(5)Tri T.
This is a dive bar that I'll travel to go to. It's quaint and just a fun place to chill. Everyone's super friendly to include customers just chatting with each other. Beer flows from the taps and you're not going to find anything like Miller Lite or Bud Light there but rather tasty IPAs or pale ales. I was last here for a Redskins game and given the irony that we were playing the Cowboys and the place is Cowboy Cafe, the management assure me this has always been a Redskins bar. But let me get one thing clear, everyone's invited whether you like sports or the opposing team. I didn't eat much this go round but as a chicken wing connoisseur, these wings are pretty good and I'll definitely come back for them to include the company.
(4)Timothy P.
Great service I go here for lunch during the school year. Good food, great service, and good atmosphere.
(5)Kat T.
Cozy dive bar with tasty wings and friendly service! They have a tasty grilled chicken wing, cant remember what they call it but it reminded me of the Texas grilled wings from Hard Times. Waitress was super friendly and super quick with refills. Will be back to try more foods and their trivia night!
(4)Michael B.
Best local bar in Arlington , I grew up here and just returned ...my fav place. Good food and bartenders are the best
(5)Grace N.
Riding by my daughter wanted to stop in so it is definitely a dive bar and very small but such a great spot to hang out. If I didn't have my 15 year old daughter with me I probably would have hung out and go to know some of the people. At first when the bartender came in (shortly after we arrived) she didn't look like she was very happy to be there and didn't smile at all...but the waitress was great and friendly and the bar tender warmed up to us and I liked her. But she does need to smile when she comes in the door (but everyone has a bad day sometimes - I kind of wanted to give her a hug she looked so unhappy) But the food was what you would expect of a local dive bar, we ordered nachos and I had a cold beer and for the price and the food it was pretty darn good. Atmosphere was good too and really, truly a dive bar!
(4)Victor C.
I don't what these negative reviews are about. The staff is a great. Pome, Kelly and Sara are attentive and super friendly. The burgers are very good. the wings are tasty and the portions are priced fairly. Personal faves : Edgar wings and the Tnt burger. Yes some nights are a little crazier than others, but what do you expect from a bar about this late in Arlington. I would definitely recommend this place. Either solo for a late night drink or with friends. Eager to try the brunch, heard good things.
(5)Sean S.
When you hear all of those songs about amazing "Dive Bars"... This is the kind of bar they are talking about. The first time you walk in the door, it feels like home. There is amazing service, food, friends and all the in between. One thing I must say though... this is NOT one of those hipster DC bars trying to be a dive bar. So if you are looking for the frat guys and sorority girls that are fresh out of college and still living off of mommy and daddy, this isn't it... go to the Ballroom... HAHA... Cheap Beer, good bar food that you actually want to eat, friendly staff, customers, and regulars. Easiest way to put it... It's like Cheers, but in Arlington... and i'l leave you with the great words of Ben Stiller...... "DO IT, DO IT"...
(5)B W.
Current owners have continued to de-dive bar it. It's brighter and they got rid of the old bar storage making it look more open. Decent bar food good beer choices and occasional live music. Monday trivia is well done and has a solid draw. The place still has some of the old characters but time has moved on and they've faded away except for mr mayor of arlington. 5 stars for the memories
(5)Alex O.
AWESOME burgers.
(5)Allison G.
Good food and good service. Definitely a fun neighborhood spot!
(4)Kris I.
I don't know what everyone else is getting here, but it cannot possible be the "spinach artichoke dip" (I'm using quotations because I'm questioning its authenticity), chicken fried steak or chicken sandwich. Okay, my sandwich wasn't the worst of those three, but there was nothing great about it. It's hard to mess up chicken, cheese, bacon and avocado. But serving it on cold bread and with what tasted like Lay's potato chips is one way to head in that direction. The chicken fried steak looked like they had fried it until the steak disappeared. My boyfriend immediately doused it, and the from-the-box mashed potatoes, with Tabasco, to no avail. I didn't even bother trying either one of them, but was told they were bad. Now to the worst of the worst - that "dip". I'm not kidding, it was horrible. I'm convinced it was cream of mushroom soup, without water added, and spinach. No artichoke flavor whatsoever, and served with those weird thick tortilla chips. Neither the chips nor the dip were even slightly warm. I'll caveat this by saying we didn't send it back, or complain. We ate it, partly because we were starving and partly because, well, I can't think of another reason besides I sort of liked the waitress/bartender and she seemed very busy. That leaves me to my one star. I do think it would be a cool place to have a beer. But only a beer. No food. We actually discussed how is was an ideal candidate for Restaurant Impossible, and I usually wouldn't sic Robert Irvine on my worst enemy. I really wanted to like this place. It's different, and there aren't many places that have that vibe around here. But I was very disappointed. We were still talking about it the next day, and had to go to what I consider one of the best places in the area to get the lingering taste out of my mouth... (see Plaka Grill review)
(1)Jesse C.
We came here on half off wing night. Wings were good, but buffalo sauce was a little too watery for my liking. The jerk wings were awesome though. For the people talking about how cheap the food is I don't agree. It isn't an expensive place given DC norms, but $10.50 for a hamburger and $9.50 for sandwich (pay extra if you want fries) isn't cheap. Between this place and Jay's Saloon I give Jays the edge for the "dive bar" title.
(3)Shelley G.
Entered the restaurant and no one who worked there spoke to us - at all. It was instantly clear that if you are not a frequent visitor, they do not care for you. We were rudely told that we could not sit at a table for 2 because another table took a chair away and there were no extras .. Then we went to the bar and sat there. We placed our order and at least 45 minutes later our food came out. I ordered huevos rancheros and was shocked when the order came out. Typical huevos rancheros is made with crispy tortillas, over easy eggs, and southwestern toppings - sour cream, beans, cheese, etc. This was scrambled eggs with flour tortillas on the side. This place needs to edit their menu and use descriptions that actually describe the food. Even though none of the meal was eaten, no one asked why or how our meals were. I will absolutely never go back, even though I live in the neighborhood and will be sure to tell everyone I know to stay away.
(1)Steven B.
Always drove by this place every day. Decided to go in and grab a beer. Great burgers and dales pale ale for $5? Awesome dive bar but very small inside.
(4)Jon W.
I like this place and would give it an extra half star if the rating system allowed me to do so. It has an authentic local feel to it and the service is great and friendly. I have been here for lunch twice so far. My friend raved about his smoked pastrami sandwich the first time we ate there. I think they smoke it themselves. This reminds me of a more authentic local BBQ place that I would find in Texas or in a more rural area. Half of the restaurant is the bar area where they have two mid size flat screen TVs that play sports. The music seemed to range from country to classic rock. I am not sure if this was from a juke box or just what they had piped in or played themselves. Today I went for half priced burgers. It was a great value for the quality of the food. I had an order of yummy fried pickles to go with the burgers. The coffee is really good here too. I would like to come back and try their breakfast sometime. (It is good to note that if you participate in dining for miles you get three miles for every dollar you spend here and double miles at the beginng of the week.)
(3)Kevin B.
Good Dive bar, good food, Erica the bar tender was great. Enjoyed 50c wing day.
(4)James W.
We only went here because my girlfriend had bought a living social voucher. I'll start with the positive. The waitress was attentive and generally provided good service. It would probably be a a decent enough bar. To call it a restaurant though is a not fair to other establishments that use that term. I had seen other reviews on this site and others and held out some hope particularly for the BBQ brisket. I could not have been more disappointed. I could not determine how the brisket was prepared but I can say with absolute certainty it was not smoked. There was almost no favor in the half the serving that wasn't fat. There was no seasoning and the whole meal felt like it came right out of the microwave. Even the corn bread had a foul taste to it. The baked beans were the closest thing to edible but even they were marginal at best. They were so over done they were almost a solid block of paste. The food was so bad that I wouldn't serve it at home so I can't fathom how a business would dare serve it. In conclusion I would say Cowboy Cafe is a decent enough bar with OK ambiance but nearly inedible food. They might be able to cook a burger but I wouldn't count on it.
(1)Jonathan G.
I'd driven by Cowboy Cafe tons of times, and the name alone convinced me I had to try it. And it's not bad. The tater tot appetizers are loaded with cheese, and are best remembered as "pretty good", but not great. The fries are weak, but the burger I had was "pretty good", but not great. The beer selection, you might guess, is "pretty good", but not great. The atmosphere comes off as a wannabe biker bar/military bar, but the area is probably a bit too yuppie for that. The bar area is pretty small, and even the booths don't seem like they'd seat four people. It's not a bad little place at all, but in Arlington/Falls Church/etc., it's one of hundreds of bars, and I can't see recommending this place over many others, even though it's perfectly fine for what it is.
(3)Sara F.
This homie dive bar really has something good going on. Every one wants to have a bar they can go to wearing sweats and be able to chill out. BUT also be able to dress up on a friday or saturday night and jam to live music. The food is great ( I have had almost everything on the menu!) I loveee wing night! Every wednesday I go in and sit at the bar with some friends and seriously grub on some wings! The Edgar style is my most favorite!! Its a dry rub wing with dressing and hot sauce on the side. There half price burgers (tuesday nights) are a steall!!! I also love the california chicken sandwich, nom nom. The girls that work there are always extreamly entertaining. Wheither its dancing or joking around, they always seem to be having a good time, which in turn obviously makes it very easy for us to enjoy the enviroment and food. Its a great place to kick back with good people. I love going to a place and being known by name. And Cowboy makes that an easy fit. Best neighborhood/dive bar I can think of. Go on.. brighten your horizons.
(5)Linda A.
My husband and I went one Sunday in the late morning (11ish). It is a small place, and is primarily a bar. It was packed with an incredibly noisy younger crowd. We were seated next to a group that had been clearly drinking for a while, and the volume of that group & the others in the small dining area spoke to that. The server was trying to be attentive, but they were overwhelmed. We finally got our food, and it was just ok. I had a veggie burger which wasn't particularly hot but not too bad in taste. Given the vast array of good restaurants in Arlington, we won't be coming back to this one.
(2)Judith L.
Ended up meeting some people here before heading to the Redskins game. A few of us ordered some drinks as well as some tater tots and jalapeno poppers and an afternoon football game with some people who I assume were locals/regulars (due to the conversations along the lines of, "oh so-and-so", "____ was in here last night" and all the guys at the end of the bar nodding in agreement or shaking their heads). The tots were big, fried, and filled with a creamy potato and ooey, gooey cheese (basically two of my favorite ingredients in the world). We were warned that the jalapeno poppers would be hot, and me, being Korean was just like "oh wtfever". I cried. I literally had tears coming from my eyes, a runny nose, and all of a sudden my face got really hot. I downed my drink, I got a glass of water (I would have gotten milk like another person in my party, but I'm lactose intolerant so that just would have made things messy)... And for about 20 minutes after I finished one of those things, all I could feel was my lips tingling, burning, and throbbing. The bartenders were super nice, they strike up a conversation, laugh, and joke with you, and on top of that they are hospitable- something that I come across less and less when I go out. They even humored us and didn't laugh in our faces when we said we were going to the Redskins game (and that we still had hope that they might actually win). So far I like this place. I plan on going back to try a couple drinks or taste a few things on the menu, so we'll see if the rating changes.
(4)Brian E.
I hadn't been to Cowboy Cafe since they used to have a location on Columbia Pike. . . so it's been a while. I never thought the food was magnificent, but it was good enough for what it was (sandwiches, burgers, etc). Used to have good music, etc. . . Then yesterday we thought. . . Let's try the one on Glebe to go somewhere different in a different neighborhood (we tried this last week, but there was no parking, and gave up). As a bar, I imagine it's decent enough. They have a decent selection of non-sucky beers on tap, they have liquor, and they have an ambiance that is not typical Arlington (i.e. Clarendon). They get a star for that. . . The food. . . it just wasn't good. We got some sort of "spinach artichoke dip". I don't know what it was made of, but it was somewhere between baby food, and some sort of condensed cream soup that was mixed together, and stuck in the microwave for about 15 seconds to "heat" it up (it must have been 1 degree over room temperature). It was pretty much the second worst dip I've ever eaten. The first would be Chef Geoff's spinach-avocado dip (THAT was terrible). I ordered the chicken-fried steak for my entree as I thought to myself "It's the Cowboy Cafe. . . one would think that a cowboy knows how to fry up some steak". Um, they don't. It was just as underwhelming as the "dip". Two chicken finger sized pieces of breaded steak, a plate of "mashed" potatoes (I think they came from a box. . . and not even the good kind of boxed potatoes), and two pats of butter. Maybe it tastes better than it looks? Not so much, but compared to the appetizer, it WAS slightly warmer. Though I've never actually been to Texas aside from the airports, and having lived in Wyoming in the one non-real cowboy town (Jackson). . . maybe cafe cowboys do things differently than what I'd expect of food made in a place with "Cowboy" in its name? It's "real" cowboy food of shooting something out on the range, and mixing it together with some lint from your pocket, and frying it up in some antelope fat? Actually, that might turn out okay. My lady friend had a chicken sandwich. . . it at least looked better. Though, she said the bread was pretty stale. I was hoping that even if it was just bar-food, that it would be decent enough. It's NOT. It tasted like someone took a Hungry Man meal from the frozen food section and put it on a plate and served it to people. I don't understand how some people are giving it 5 stars unless they're always drunk when they're there. . . or maybe they do have decent burgers, and nothing else? I've had better food in prison. . .and by prison, I mean listening to Johnny Cash sing about life in prison, and eating some road-kill soup with rocks. (It wasn't terrible terrible like rats running around. . .but, I had to eat a bunch of York peppermint pieces thingys, and go out and have a few beers to get the thought of that spinach dip flavor out of my mouth.)
(1)Summer S.
My husband and I met another couple at Cowboy Cafe on Sunday (2/26/12) around noon. It wasn't very crowded (no wait) and not very noisy. They have a small parking lot to the right of the joint. Our waitress was friendly and on-top of things. The food was very good. They offer brunch on the weekends from 9am-2pm. I debated between the Huevos Rancheros (the eggs are scambled with chorizo) and Biscuit & Sausage Gravy (homemade). I eventually opted to step outside of my box (I typically will order biscuit and gravy where I can find it since few places in the area serve it) and ordered the Huevos Rancheros. It was very tasty and filling although not heavy (like b&g would have been). My husband had the California Burger and he thought it was good. Our friends had the Cowboy Hash and the California Chicken Sandwich and they also thought it was yummy.
(4)Carolyn B.
Nothing to exciting but definitely a local spot. Very small but the food is decent. they have sweet potato fries and their burgers are pretty good. The ceaser salad has a bit to much dressing but otherwise I like a hole in the wall pub every once in awhile. Decent beer prices for happy hour!
(3)Scott S.
Updating again... New server is awesome, service is back to great - so 4 stars it is for 1/2 price burger tuesdays, ha.
(4)R S.
I lived walking distance to Cowboy for 2 years and would have loved to call this our local spot. However, everytime I've eaten there, the bald headed owner acts like he's doing me a huge favor when he serves me. Almost everytime I've eaten in his restaurant, myself and my friends are the only patrons in the entire place. This guy should be lucky someone is coming in! The poor service is disappointing because the food at Cowboy is the best bar food in Arlington. In fact, it's better than more than half the restaurants. The brunch menu has changed a bit over the past few years but the Hueuvos Rancheros are amazing! I highly recommend the brisket as well.
(3)Sergio H.
The best dive bar in Arlington, bar none.
(5)Foster R.
The service at Cowboy Cafe seems to be waivering over the past year. I know the management has changed hands and the staff has changed. The menu is the same: tex-mexy american food. Good burgers (and veggie burger) and sandwiches and I love the jerk wings. The buffalo wings are great too! Had a disappointing experience last Friday. The 2 waitresses seemed overworked with a Friday night crowd. It was very busy and we had a problem with a number of our orders. There were 7 of us in our party so I know we were a handful. But, it was a similar experience when we were there last month so I'm losing confidence that it will continue to be the fun neighborhood hideaway that it used to be.
(2)Harvey D.
I have eaten at this place twice for dinner and both times have been great. The service has been fantastic and the burgers are phenomenal. They give you just the right amount of food with the burger and the fries. The waiter has also refilled my soda very quickly and usually before I am completely through with the first one. The only complaint I have is that the noise level can get a bit annoying. I sat in the back room both times which I though might be quieter than the bar area. I was pretty much wrong. The first time a party of ten sat next to me and they were drinking lots of alcohol which makes it worse. The second time was a little better although it still was kind of noisy. Other than the noise factor, this place is great. It's definitely a neighborhood gem! Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!
(4)Denise L.
** Updated: New owners are great, the menu and staff are great! This version of 'The Cow' is worth checking out...again. Go for brunch! (regarding 2nd owners - who, using poorly disguised names, sent me threats after this post.) Be careful of the bartenders - especially at night. They are notorious for over charging your credit cards! Last time I was there, someone gave themselves a double tip! They do NOT deserve a double tip, let alone 15%... It was much cooler before the owners changed.
(4)John A.
Three-and-a-half stars, but since that isn't possible, I'm rounding down to three. They would've gotten the round-up to four stars, but they served me draft beer in a faux pint glass. You know, the kind of glass that LOOKS like a pint glass, but it has extra-thick glass at the bottom and only actually holds 12 ounces. If I were reviewing just on the basis of drinking, I'd hammer them on that, especially since their drafts were priced like they were actually serving a full pint of beer. Drinkers beware. Anyway, the food was decent, there's a lot of variety on the menu without looking like they're trying too hard, and the service was adequate. I'll go back.
(3)Alex S.
It used to be easily a 5 star rating but has fallen off big time recently. I've come for brunch about a dozen times but after the last couple, it's probably written off for me now. Food is usually better on weeknights but it's just too inconsistent now. On my last visit, I ordered shrimp and grits which is the most expensive brunch item ($15.95). The other couple of times I've had it, it was pretty damn delicious. When my dish came, it was about a scoop of grits and 4 small shrimp. Cost to make this dish would be about 70 cents. I flagged the waiter down to point out that there was no andouille sausage like on the menu. Confused or reluctant, he took the plate back to the kitchen. 15 minutes later it returns, now with more grits and what looks like ground beef. He explains that they didn't have any andouille so they substituted breakfast sausage and that it's all the same. There were plenty of solutions to this problem... The waiter could've pointed out that the item was not available when I ordered. The waiter could've pointed out that the item was not available before serving a half-assed plate of a handful of shrimp for $15. The waiter could've asked if breakfast sausage was OK when I returned the dish. This was an abortion of shrimp and grits, enough to keep me away from here for brunch. I don't know if they change cooks for the weekend, or if it's a new staff but it's too hit or miss to recommend now.
(2)Abbe J.
I have been to Cowboy Cafe four times now and have enjoyed the food and service each time. I arrived with a bigger party and the server rearranged the tables for us. There aren't a whole lot of tables, but we have always managed to get one without waiting. The food is tasty and inexpensive. I especially like the burgers (my favorite is the LoJo) and the beer selection. The only negative I can think of has to do with the small parking lot. But there is a second location for parking just yards away (to the right if you are looking from the street). It seems like it could be a good happy hour spot, although I have never been there for that. All in all, a good place for a meal and a beer!!!
(5)Holly B.
This is our local bar and we love it. The food is good, drinks are strong and service is friendly. What more do we need?
(4)Mickey C.
the Hamburgers are greasy cholesterol bombs to be avoided. Fried pickles were to die for.
(2)Kevin O.
I liked this little place. I thought the bar tender was pretty cool, he traded me an old license plate for a T-shirt. The prices seemed a bit steep until I saw my sandwich, it was huge and worth the price. It had decent flavor to it. I really liked their "home made" pickles, and I'm not a pickle person.
(4)Brian F.
A tale of two visits. My wife and I first visited Cowboy Cafe after seeing the good reviews it got on here. We were shocked by what followed. The service was excruciatingly slow. Close to 30 minutes to receive our food after ordering. My cowboy burger came without the BBQ sauce for whatever reason. We waited almost 15 minutes for our plates to be taken away after were done. We tried the s'mores desert dish, which took about 20 minutes to arrive, and it had plastic burnt to the bottom of it. Then another 15 minute wait for check. Despite all that, the food was pretty good, so we decided we would give it one more shot later on to see if they were just having an off night. The second time, service was much faster. The food came with everything it said that it did, and there was no packaging melted onto the food. And the food was delicious. So based on my experience, it's a crap-shoot of what quality you'll get. My first visit would've rated 1 star. The second visit would've rated 4 stars. IF you do go, just cross your fingers that you're catching them on a good night.
(3)Jason D.
My buddies and I used to go to Cowboy cafe about 10 years ago. We loved hiting it up on Sundays and as I recall, the food was pretty good. However, it seems this place has slid downhill since then. I ate there a few weeks back and was underwhelmed by the food. It's barely average bar food, which is a shame because this place has all the potential to be a great dive bar with awesome food and good live music. If I owned this place, investing in a new menu with scratch, fresh ingredients would be priority #1... there are not that many good restaurants in Arlington to begin with and even fewer on Lee Highway. It's almost shameful what people around here think constitutes for good food. Also the space could use a face-lift... it feels cluttered... it's already a small space and all the stuff makes if feel even smaller. I like what this place is about but there's just a lot of lost potential.
(2)John O.
The Cowboy Cafe has transformed from a great local bar to a top-drawer restaurant and nightclub. The new owners have remodeled, and the ambiance is more open and sophisticated. They have a remarkable chef now (Patrick) instead of a cook, and the new menu is reasonably priced and sure to please. I even like the vegetables, (don't tell my mom)! Some of the D.C. area's best musicians perform at the Cowboy Cafe, ( the Deacons, Doc Reed, 11th Hour, Bob & Jerry and many others), and there is never a cover charge. Whether you're taking the family out to dinner, going out on a date, or just relaxing with friends, the Cowboy Cafe is an excellent choice. If you've been there before, you'll be pleasantly surprised by all the upgrades. If you've never been, come out soon to experience the best food or music that you're likely to find for less than $50 dollars a plate.
(5)Heather T.
I came here once a few weekends ago for breakfast (one of those "I need a bloody mary to get rid of this God awful hangover" mornings) I tried the breakfast burrito...and it was FANTASTIC. ( im kindof sad I missed out with having a huge long black hair in mine though ;))... the tortilla was a little crispy but the eggs were SCRAMBLED (which are my favorite) and it just tasted perrrfect. Everyone else at my table seemed to enjoy theirs too. The bloody mary was DELICIOUS, if you like a bit of spiiicy. I was pleased with what we paid. The atmosphere is laid back and it seemed clean. The service was really great considering we split the bill 12 ways.... I plan on coming back considering its right down from my work!
(4)