The Elusive Cow Cafe
519 Fairfield Ave, Bellevue, KY, 41073
The Elusive Cow Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
519 Fairfield Ave
Bellevue, KY, 41073 - Phone (859) 291-0269
- Website https://theelusivecow.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
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.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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Mark F.
The king of the Bellevue strip!!! No, No. KY!!! This place is great!!! Love the variety on menu, sauces are some of the best in the city. The music is jazzy and relaxing along with the casual decor. Phenom service. A must go spot. I can wait to come back. It will be a new downtown and Northern Kentucky spot. Doug Elliott is literally one of the best service people I've ever met. I would buy stock in him and the chef/owner Jim Fisher in a heartbeat. These guys are awesome.
(5)Jess B.
Major disclaimer: I have several friends who vehemently disagree with my opinion on this restaurant but here goes.... I'm super "meh" on this place. And it's a bummer because I LOVE the concept of the restaurant. It's in a really cool old building that's been renovated beautifully. It's a great local bar/restaurant. It serves fresh and healthier food with vegetarian options. It looks awesome from the outside. Need I say more? I always get myself excited about coming here. I tell myself I'm gonna eat really healthy, I might even eat a vegetarian dish, and all the while I'll be supporting a local business. And then I get to the restaurant, order something, and I am totally bummed. I just don't think the food tastes all that spectacular. They have a great selection and everything sounds really good. I just end up not enjoying what I've ordered essentially every time I've come. Now I will point out that by some happenstance, I always end up eating here right after a break up or a fight with my mother or something that definitely has put me in the bad mood. Perhaps my taste buds change in situations like that. So I'm not saying don't try it...clearly a lot of people really like it. I'm just saying that maybe you just wanna order the onion rings. Cuz those rock.
(2)Jeff G.
We found this place using the Yelp app while running around in Cincinnati. Its just across the river so we decided to give it a shot. It's in a cool old building. They have done a nice job renovating it. It's a shame they didn't have room for a nice patio. That would be a great compliment. We sat at the bar. The bartender said he is famous for his Bloody Mary's so I had to try one. It was decent. My wife got a glass of wine. They have a good selection on the menu including vegetarian options. I got the Bison burger and my wife got the smoked chicken nachos. Again, decent. My burger was an obvious frozen patty and my wife's nachos were a bit sad. The smoked chicken was really good though. I had hand cut fries with their house made ketchup. I am not a ketchup eater but it was good. The fries could have been cooked a little longer but still tasty. If we were in the area I would eat here again but it wouldnt be a place I make a special trip for.
(3)Alyssa H.
"The Elusive Cow" just has a ring to it that makes you want to step inside and explore the mystery. I was pleasantly surprised by what The Elusive Cow holds. Although there is not much seating for busy nights, the older building is a perfect setting for this restaurant. The food was top notch, at pretty reasonable prices! I was happy with the abundance of vegan options, because I for one am not used to the variety while eating out! We had pretty decent service for a Thursday night, but it was a bit crowded so I'll give them credit! Definitely check it out, I know I'll be back to explore the elusiveness.
(4)Maggie B.
The concept is great and the food quality is good but the flavors are lacking. Everything is house made down to the ketchup and most of it is farm fresh and local. A good start but it doesn't come through in the dishes. We had the gazpacho to start. It was like a recipe for vegetable soup that was not cooked instead of a recipe for soup that was meant to be cold. The ingredients were very fresh but the combination was bland. Salt helped some. We had the wings and onion rings and bison burger to share. The same problem in all of the dishes. Wings were meaty but the sauce was very runny, more of a dressing than a wing sauce. The onion rings were large and made fresh but with no seasoning. Burger was the same. The price was decent and service was good. I can't say I would recommend it but if you like your food on the plain side then this might be a place for you.
(3)Jonathan R.
While visiting the Cincinnati area we went with a friend to his local spot, The Elusive Cow, and from the start this place was very charming and welcoming. The atmosphere and the vibe was mellow and I really felt like I've been to this bar a hundred times, the first time there. They had one of my favorite beers, AllDay IPA by Founders brewery so hat off to this establishment!! They have a great selection of drinks, there's a little something for everyone here! The food was above and beyond fresh from the so good organic ketchup with handcut fries and their burger was Excalibur what I needed after a long day running around town. I would recommend this cafe for any one visiting this area, I would like to go again and try all the great things there menu had listed, even though the burger was one of the best I've had in a while!!! TL; DR. Eat here it's Awesome! Great beer!
(5)rick k.
I really like this place. They make all of the food from scratch. The wings are the best wings I have ever had. They are huge, but kind of pricy. I will be going there more often.
(5)PJ L.
My girlfriend had a beef burger with smoked gouda and I had a bison burger plain. The burgers were just OK. Her burger came out without the cheese on it, but they took it back and threw a piece on. I think that $1 for cheese is a bit expensive, especially when the burger is $10 to begin with. Someone else on here mentioned the ketchup- we also had a hard time getting ketchup! I think it is homemade, so maybe they are stingy with it. But the ketchup was really good, as were the pickles, fries and kale. Great beer selection, six good beers on draft and a bunch of bottles. But overall, I felt like the food menu was too limited and the portions were too small for what they were charging.
(3)Michele G.
Yummy! I have been here twice for lunch and enjoyed both times. I am glad to see another place in the neighborhood that is non-smoking that my daughter and I can walk to. I had wings the first time I visited and they are dry rubbed and tasty. I usually prefer wet and sloppy wings. The second time I visited I had a burger and kale as a side. Both were delicious. The service is friendly. They greet you when you walk in and answer any questions without an eye roll. I got to taste a beer before ordering which is awesome. I have not been here at night but I have a feeling I will be visiting this place often.
(4)Corey T.
Everything here is local from the local beers to the organic local food all made fresh in house. Best hidden gem in Newport!!!
(5)Matt G.
Wife had a falafel and I had the pork chops. Both were excellent. Service top notch. Salad very fresh with good variety. House vinegrette excellent. Recommend trying the kale.
(5)T R.
Great beer selection, great all natural food selection. Awesome place for lunch/dinner and drinks. I had the Cuban and the girlfriend had the turkey sandwich; we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Must say they have the best vinegarette dressing I've had.
(5)Melissa G.
Atmosphere was warm and subdued. Pretty art on the walls and sitting by the front windows offers a good view of the avenue. The food was delicious and fresh. I loved the unique menu, the chicken salad is to die for. Definitely will return to try other stuff from the menu.
(5)K D.
Great rotating beer selection, best choice in NKY for vegetarian options.
(5)Kyle E.
This is a very much needed addition to the Bellevue strip! Make sure you try out the chorizo burger...delicious and unique!
(5)Sarah D.
Love this place! My husband and I have decided to make ourselves try a new restaurant each week and this happened to be our first stop on this little adventure. We went at around 7:30 on a Saturday and didn't have any trouble finding a parking spot on the street right next to the restaurant. You can sit wherever you want, don't stand in the doorway wondering whether you're going to be seated like we did. Maybe they should get a sign. Anyway, they have a great selection of beer but were out of the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel I wanted. The waitress brought me a taste of Ommegang Witte, which they had just gotten in, and I found it perfect. Nice save! I ordered the cod sandwich on kaiser and my husband ordered the burger. He always judges a new place by the burger. We both got fries on the side. I have to warn that the cod sandwich was really good but I found it really messy, so if you're on a first date you might want to order something else. My husband's response to the burger was, "It was the perfect amount but I want more." I think that's about as good as it gets. So yeah, this place is definitely worth trying out.
(5)Bryson M.
Good food with a great atmosphere... Great decor, my boo loves it! Good beer selection... Nice bar, open Sundays... Very clean bathrooms!! I got the house salad with chicken... Very good! Also in the heart of great historic Belevue!
(4)Stacey L.
Had a 5-star experience here last night! Was invited by a friend to their weekly Wednesday specialty cocktail night... and last night really was the Bee's-knees (which was the cocktail). Howard is their amazing mixologist/bartender for these events and he didn't disappoint. The drink went down way to easily. Owner Jim spent a good time chatting and sipping wine with us. He spoke passionately about his restaurant and asked us for genuine feedback and suggestions to make it better. I got to try several different things that came out of the kitchen and was overall incredibly satisfied. The red-pepper sauce on the spaghetti squash was great. My friend spoke highly of the turkey burger. The fries reminded me of those at Penn Station. The only meal that was a slight let-down was the veggie burger. Definitely a place I would return to!
(5)Nathan F.
I had an amazing 5 star experience here!! Howard is a great bartender and every Wednesday he mixes up a new delectable concoction. This week's specialty was the Bees-Knees and it most certainly was. Very delicious and went down way too smooth. While sitting finishing up our food (I had the turkey burger and it was delicious) we noticed a bottle of wine that we had to try. It was Pimpin' Penguin riesling, can't pass up a glass of that. The owner, Jim, poured us a glass and spend the better part of the evening talking with us. He loves what he's doing and is very passionate about it and eager to make the Elusive Cow the best place it can be. I have to agree with Stacey, "The red-pepper sauce on the spaghetti squash was great." It needs to be a topping on a burger......come to think of it, it would have been amazing on my turkey burger. The fries were similar to Penn Station, only better. I would have preferred them a little crispier but still delicious. If Howard (Bartender for those of you who may have forgotten) keeps up his Wednesday mixes I may have to make this my new Wednesday hangout!!!
(5)D M.
Great concept needs better execution. Service I walked in and seated myself in the back. It doesn't seem to have a host/hostess. It took a while for a server to notice me... I had to flag him down. He was very nice though. My table had been bussed, but not very thoroughly. Some debris remained. My drink (Manhatten) was well prepared, but I was never offered refills on my water. Ambience This is the best part. The decor is very nice, especially for Bellevue, KY but they need to dim the lights to get rid of the cafeteria feel. Menu Sadly, the daily menu was a crinkled print out. I was impressed by the gourmet items on the menu and the extensive drink list with very reasonable prices. It was a let-down though that the drink list was not at all accurate concerning availability and prices. I was excited to try the kale with sauteed mushrooms. I understand it's brined, but DAMN it was salty! My burger came without the cheese or the bacon I ordered. I ordered it on a kaiser roll, but what I got was a cold, supermarket white bread bun. It's a pity, because the meat was actually nicely seasoned. No ketchup on the table? No ketchup on the side? No ketchup offered? Overall I really want this place to do well. I live in Bellevue, and would love to have a middle-of-the-road bar/restaurant to take friends, family, and dates to. EC could become my favorite neighborhood bar/restaurant, but they need to tighten up the ship.
(2)Juliane S.
This is a surprisingly good place to eat! I went on a Saturday which has a special guest bartender and ordered a Bees Knees. Very refreshingly cocktail! Ordered the turkey soup and scallop appetizer - really quite outstanding. Love the small bar atmosphere and I hope they can get a small string quartet or jazz ensemble to play in the balcony. Lovely place and we will be back!
(5)Caren T.
They've taken one of our old favorite bars, Skinny Legs, and cleaned it up really nice. I like that they are non-smoking and, somehow, they got all the smoke smell out. They have a great selection of beer and wine. BUT, I have eaten there twice and both times the meal was a huge disappointment. The first time, they had just opened and I ordered the chicken sandwich. It was OK and nothing more. I thought, well, they just opened. We stopped there last week and they have really expanded the menu. I ordered the pork soft tacos (the special). They were so bland, it was like I had opened the fridge at home and threw some left over pork, some lettuce and chopped tomato. No seasoning at all. I mentioned this to the server and asked for some salad dressing to add some flavor. Now, they did take the tacos off the bill. But, I was still very disappointed because it was simply a tasteless meal. So, if you want a nice place to have a beer or drink, go. If you want a meal, I hope you get something better than I did. Personally, I will not go back for dinner.
(2)Carly S.
Awesome atmosphere and great drink prices, but the server offered my sister the kid price burger for her kids, but when the check came, she charged her for a regular priced burger. After my sister brought this to her attention, she refused to adjust it. The food is not very good. I had a burger, and it was so dry, I couldn't finish it. Would definitely recommend this place for drinks, but nothing else.
(1)Jeremy M.
Cute little place, with a fine beer and wine selection. Love the bison burger and the grilled chicken. very friendly service every time I've been there. Parking is the only problem with dining there as it's all street parking and even that is limited.
(4)Chris H.
Attempted to have lunch there yesterday. As with other posts here, was greeted and seated, but after 15min of waiting, with no acknowledgement from server we left. Menu looked interesting and food we saw at other tables looked good, but if you aren't going to staff appropriately for service.....?
(1)Samantha W.
FOOD Bison Burger w/Gouda- Delish!! I've been looking all over the place that served bison burgers and I finally found one. The burger was cooked perfectly (I.e. I asked for it to be medium and it didn't come out over/undercooked). The bread was amazing as well. They said they order their bread from a local bakery and their veggies are from Finley market. Brownie points for supporting local businesses! Hand Cut Fries- The fries were thicker cut and good too but that made some of them a bit less crunchy and some that ended up being soggy. And honestly I don't think anyone likes soggy fries. I tend to like skinny fries and secretly wished that they were slightly thinner... which I believe would probably have made them crunchier as well. Onion Rings- These are some of the most delicious onion rings EVER. I'm usually more of a french fries girl but these were SO good. I would definitely order these over their hand cut fries. Not sure how they did the batter but I've never tasted anything like this before. It tasted like fried chicken wrapped around the onion rings (which, thank goodness it wasn't...you know, for the sake of my waistline...I mean, heart. BUT it sounds delicious, doesn't it?!). Not sure how else to describe it so go try it for yourself. Beer- I'm not a big beer drinker, but they seem to have a good selection of beers. ATMOSPHERE/STAFF I was there during lunner time on a weekday so, it was pretty low key and relaxing. There is a dining area and sports bar area with flat screens playing the most important sports of the moment. The waiter was extremely nice and knowledgeable about the menu, which I definitely appreciated as a first timer there. OVERALL I would definitely be back for their bison burger and of course, their onion rings.
(4)Frank B.
Good beer selection. Dinner quality food at gourmet prices. Poor service with no response for complaints about food.
(2)Aaron B.
I wish they had a way on Yelp to provide two separate rating scales - one as a bar and the other one as a restaurant. As a bar I give ECC five stars mainly because they have a great draft selection for a smallish neighborhood joint. As a functional restaurant it only gets 3 stars. I greatly respect what they're trying to do with the locally sourced and everything homemade concept, but the dishes are still lacking the wow factor for me. However, I've not completely given up on ECC and neither should you. I still stop in to belly up to the bar for a cold craft brew or two. The staff is always friendly and laid back and it's just the pace I expect/want from my local neighborhood watering hole. As of late, the food quality has improved as I think they're making some adjustments. Just had the breaded Freed Range Chicken sandwich the other night and it was definitely tastier than I remember. Although it could have just been my beer hunger talking. ;-)
(3)Sherry T.
Meh. I've experienced better is an understatement. Paul and I were looking forward to our dinner at The Elusive Cow Cafe and walked away incredibly disappointed. Although the setting and atmosphere were nice, food and service ranged from bad to okay. Food took an eternity to arrive, and once it was there, it was mostly not worth eating. I ordered one of the specials, the vegetable lasagna, along with a cup of mushroom soup. The soup would have been tasty had it not been for the heavy-handed use of salt, and the lasagna would have been very good had it not been topped with a sauce that looked and tasted like dense tomato paste. Paul originally ordered a special, the bison sirloin, but our server returned to let us know they were out of it. He ended up opting for the shrimp/crawfish po' boy with onion rings and broccoli. The po' boy was po' in every imaginable way--bland shrimp and crawfish that reminded us of something that came from Sam's Club served on stale, tasteless bread. The broccoli was also a loser; it seemed to have been steamed and then fried. If the onion ring batter had been seasoned, the rings would have been very good, but alas, they were bland too. Paul asked if they had some kind of sauce to dip them in and our server responded, "I usually dip them in ketchup." Okay. You would think we would have learned our lesson at this point and avoided dessert, but we decided to go for it. A bourbon chocolate "tort" and key lime pie that almost certainly came from boxed desserts that were once frozen and thawed. Not good. Our server seemed like a nice enough young woman, but she had no idea what she was doing. She never refilled our drinks (but the bartender did), she didn't know anything about the food, and she charged us for the elusive bison sirloin that we did not receive. When we asked for boxes (plural) she asked us if we wanted one box, because clearly everyone wants their vegetable lasagna mixed in with a po' boy sandwich, onion rings, and broccoli, right? Geez. There is nothing in this world that makes me feel as grouchy as a bad meal. I simply hate wasting calories and money. Blah!
(2)Dawn W.
A small, friendly, casual atmosphere offering a unique menu with lots of vegetarian options. I love the concept of using local and organic meats and ingredients as well as offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. I ordered a bloody Mary and a burger with fries and was a little disappointed to find that they season their ground beef. It wasn't terrible, just not what I was expecting - I'd prefer to season my own. Other than that everything was delicious. The fries were excellent and appeared to be fresh cut. I'll definitely be back to try some of their other menu options.
(4)Justin R.
Sure would have been nice to try the food, but you need to be acknowledged first. Last night, around 8 pm, the bartender happily welcomed us and told us to grab a seat. The server came within feet of us but didn't say a thing. We gave it ten minutes and walked out.
(1)Adriana R.
Our first experience at this restaurant left a lot to be desired. Since however, they've gone above and beyond to improve. Our Visit 7/5/14 was excellent! Service was fast & friendly. Food came out quickly and was delicious and fresh! Glad we went back
(4)Sharon E.
We found this little gem quite by accident while driving the area. So happy we found the PERFECT spot for dinner. Our server was so incredibly nice and owner, Jim, made us feel very welcome. The decor of this restaurant is cozy and clean which was an added bonus. The menu is very reasonably priced and the food is AMAZING! We shared probably the very best onion rings I've had in my life. No grease, just wonderful flavor with thick organic ketchup on the side. I enjoyed a house salad with smoked pulled chicken and house vinaigrette dressing. My salad ingredients tasted so fresh I'd swear there was a garden out back. My better half enjoyed his caprese flatbread pizza which was also tasty and fresh. All topped off nicely with a local MadTree Sol Drifter brew on tap. Jim mentioned many ingredients on menu come from nearby Findley Market - go figure, also one of very favorite haunts while visiting Cincy. We will DEFINITELY return to the Elusive Cow!
(5)Damon W.
The first time I went to The Elusive Cow I heard the story behind the name, and being new to northern KY and Cincinnati I appreciated the recent somewhat history lesson. Jim and Dawn make The Cow feel like a home away from home. The food is above par, the service is always spot on and personable, and the atmosphere is always friendly and inviting. This is everything that a neighborhood bar should be and more.
(5)Charles S.
I ordered a simple meal of pulled pork sandwich on a kaiser bun, fries and a beer. The sandwich was good and the fries were exceptional. The beer selection looked pretty weak. The atmosphere was really nice and it just felt like a good neighborhood place to grab a beer and a bite to eat. I sat at the bar and the customer service was really exceptional. I saw someone's mozzarella, tomato and kale slaw sandwich and it looked really delicious. The photo on here doesn't do it justice.
(4)Jim F.
The Elusive Cow is a great place to eat. I've eaten there many times. Good, fresh food and always a good beer or two on tap. The owner and help are friendly and the service is good. I just read a negative review someone posted and I cannot understand where the writer is coming from, she should stick to Applebee's perhaps.
(5)Laura A.
I love the mission of this restaurant, its atmosphere, and its menu items. I really wanted to love it, and was encouraged by the reviews here. Unfortunately, it was a very average meal. Because of the higher price, I will give this 2 stars instead of 3. The food wasn't offensive, but did not stand out at all. The trout meal was fairly small for over $16. I can never finish a meal when I eat out, but I finished this. The trout had a lovely sear to it, but it was a very thin filet, so it was over cooked by a good 2-3 minutes. The seasoning was so-so. The French fries were a nice serving size, but were very thick cut and as a result mushy. They needed another dip back in the deep fryer. The side salad was very fresh and an appropriate serving size. I would recommend that they serve it on a larger plate, though. My salad overflowed off of the small plate onto the table. The side of stewed kale was the best part. It was maybe a tad over seasoned but it was still very good and nicely cooked. I loved the onions and mushrooms in it. I would like to give this place a second chance based on other reviews, but for the higher price I would rather go to Virgil's Cafe.
(2)Devon C.
It is tough to find good vegetarian options in Cincinnati. Let me preface this by saying that I am not a vegetarian, but that many of my friends are, and when we go out to dine, it is often difficult to find places to eat. I've been to the Elusive Cow Cafe twice now for lunch and have had really great experiences. The service is good, but the food is amazing. They have a ton of options, and many vegetarian options for those of us who are not carnivores. In my previous experiences, I've ordered the Bison Burger and the Meatball Sandwich, as well as sampled their soups and onion rings. Other people I've been with have ordered the Cod Sandwich and the Vegetarian Burger. All of them were really delicious. At the end of your meal be sure to try their desserts, they are all made fresh and are oh-so-sweet!
(4)Holly A.
I've only been in a few times, but every visit has been an exceptional taste and personal experience. I have always had friendly and knowledgeable service from people who are willing and EXCITED to tell you about the food and drink menus. I love the fresh, local, organic options on their menu and prepare myself to have leftovers. They do not scrimp on portions and prices are reasonable. I will say some of their flavors and spices tend to stray from the norm, but that is just another aspect that will keep me coming back for another taste. There are plenty of "safe" options on the menu with some sprinkles of adventure that are definitely worth a try!
(4)Sarah F.
The restaurant was fairly empty on a recent Friday lunch visit and the server was friendly, but seemed very novice. I got a bison burger and onion rings. I was going to get some add-on toppings for my burger, but just couldn't bring myself to pay $1.75 extra for some grilled onions! The food came out fairly quickly and our server kept our drinks full (good iced tea, by the way). I ordered my bison "medium", but unfortunately came out pretty well done which made it rather dry. Nonetheless, the multi-grain bun and fresh toppings (the free ones: lettuce, onions and pickles plus house made ketchup) were nice complements. The onion rings had a very nice crunchy cornmeal batter, but were cut too thick, which meant that the softness of the cooked onion overwhelmed the crunch of the breading; also they were very bland. A thinner cut onion and some additional salt/spices in the breading and I think they would have a winner. Overall, I liked the feel of the joint and the food showed promise (unfortunately not fully realized on this particular visit). It's A-OK for now, but hoping for even better things on a future visit. Also, the beer list looked phenomenal!
(3)Janie H.
Awful. Promising menu but after waiting over an hour after ordering, finally checking on our order, I got major attitude from the server (who I think is the owner?). Very nasty and acted like I was in the wrong, and I was being overly polite (sorry- had somewhere to be!). I did get my mushroom stew and was disappointed by that (tasted beefy and very salty, bland). I do NOT recommend this place!! The attitude and nastiness that I got from the server was the worst part of it! Poorly run place.
(1)Ben B.
I was sad to see Skinny Legs go, as it was always a great place catch a game, have a few beers, and just be comfortable in my neighborhood. After two visits to The Elusive Cow I feel it's a welcomed addition to the strip. The menu obviously is one that has a lot of thought put into it. The quality of the ingredients and the flare for originality has me impressed. Since my initial visit I have seen or tasted the bison burger, portobello burger, the flat bread pizza, and the wings. My fave so far have been the wings as they are quite meaty, and the spice factor is certainly pleasing. They aren't covered in red hot sauce, but rather spiced with rub. I'm putting them up for possible best wings in the city. Pricing for these items seems to be right in line too. With a beer selection that would make any guy happy and a spirit collection centering around some great bourbons, the bar is a fine place to sit and watch a game in a great atmosphere and truly enjoy the company that you are with and meet some new friends as well. Top everything off with great and friendly service, the Cow is a new favorite. Welcome to the neighborhood!
(5)Ann L.
Many people had asked if we've been to ECC - so I bookmarked it in Yelp. Then on FB I saw a few photos from their page - one of Brisket & Onion Rings and one of a Falafel (deep fried chickpeas). Images of food can be quite persuasive. So we went. First off, I like Bellevue, lived here years ago, so it's always good to visit. The owner greeted us at the door and treated us great the whole visit. I sat by the window to watch all the walkers and street life. Even saw one gentleman who was walking his dog, go out of his way to pick up a piece of litter, then dispose of it properly. I guess he cares that the city looks clean. Good to see. I ordered the falafel and onion rings, why, because those dang images were embedded in my head, not to be removed until eaten. It was all soooo good! Absolutely loved the falafel and the onion rings were the best I've ever had. The onion rings have a spicy crunchy batter. The music was very pleasant, all jazzy and romantic for me. The place is clean and cozy.
(4)Sheri W.
I love what the owners are trying to do, use local and organic ingredients whenever possible, feature vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, occasional stand up comedy and live music nights and love the weekly $2 pull and pray beer night! These are the reasons we have tried Elusive Cow as many times as we have and I hate to say this, but the flavour of the food is just not good. They seem to want to reinvent which herbs and spices work well together and the burger seasoning does not work! Side dishes like cucumber salad fall completely flat and as happy as I was to see kale on the menu, I was sad as soon as I tasted it. Now that is not to say they couldn't fix their seasoning issues very easily and their quality is very much appreciated. Maybe they could look at California's Veggie Grill for inspiration on how to use really healthy and high quality ingredients in well seasoned dishes for meat eaters and meat free-ers alike. The made in house desserts are really good and everyone who works there is really nice, good atmosphere like a local hangout should have. As soon as the spice guru stops trying to reinvent the wheel, we'll be in there all the time!
(3)Anna H.
Since deciding to try to become vegan (meaning I've had success with about 90% of all meals being vegan, and keep trying), eating out has been difficult to say the least. Enter The Elusive Cow. I'd been here once, a couple of years ago, but hadn't made it back, despite living a mile away. I've now been back several times in the past few weeks and SO enjoyed salads (the house vinaigrette is AMAZING), as well as the falafel, various vegetable based soups, and the chicken sandwich, when I just need some poultry. The great thing is that my fiancé also loves coming here, and loves the burgers and delicious fries. It has definitely become our go-to place, and I'm so happy for an option like this so close to home! We've always had great service, and also enjoy the great selection of beer and wine. I loce The Elusive Cow!
(5)Samara A.
The name is awesome, the food was incredibly fresh, and the desserts come from a local baker...so good! They had a couple Kale-inclusive side dishes and were balanced perfectly with other veggies and sauces. Chicken was not the most flavorful, but they gave us all the house sauces to eat with--the sauces were great! Green beans on the side were also not really spiced well, but they were crunchyy Peanut butter pie? *drools*
(5)Randall R.
Everything here is very fresh. Clearly someone here understands food in depth. They combine surprising ingredients and complex flavors in ways that you just don't expect in Bellevue Kentucky.
(5)Linnea L.
We picked this restaurant randomly from Yelp, simply based on its unique name. Just across the river in Bellevue, KY from Cincinnati, it was nice to happen upon the cute little town and this eclectic restaurant after a trip to the Krohn Conservatory. Burgers and sandwiches and vegetarian options were all yummy and on great bread. The food is locally sourced. The waiter was great about recommending great local brews to go with. I'd go again and will definitely venture to this quaint little burg to see what else it has to offer. We passed many interesting places on the way to this one.
(4)Christine M.
We had a staff party here on a winter evening. The atmosphere reminded me of home (the amazing Pacific Northwest) with warm wood, lowered lighting, and a menu that was able to accommodate various diets and appetites. I went for the bison burger, but went against the advice to have it cooked medium. I wouldn't normally take this route, but wasn't willing to risk undercooked meat at the time. Had I gone with this selection I'm sure the texture (a bit crumbly when cooked medium well due to low/no fat) would have been slightly improved, but with a little avocado and jack cheese, it was still pretty good. The bun was a bit imposing- large, dense, cold- and I would have opted for something other than the 'whole grain' or similar selection. The kale salad was a great side dish. As appetizers I enjoyed a bit of onion ring and sweet potato chip. Both very tasty. Beer was enjoyed by most and the service was very friendly. I'd easily come back for another meal here. It was nice to see what Bellview has to offer!
(4)Cory Z.
In town for the weekend and gave this place a try on a Saturday night. Service was excellent and friendly. Didn't have a long wait. The food was very good. The sweet potato chips and the onion rings are to die for. The fries weren't bad either, but not as good as the chips. I don't know where the one star reviewer talking about crazy expensive beers went, but it's not this place. Most beers here are under $5 / glass which is pretty normal at this sort of place. Really had a good time here. Would be happy to visit again next time I'm in town. Price for a nice meal for two including a beer each and an extra side because we wanted to try them was $35. Not horribly expensive for what we got.
(4)Lucas C.
Eaten here twice and both times the burgers were phenomenal. Highly recommend. More of a gourmet style burger joint.
(4)Christiaan T.
now this place has a great atmosphere. The owner is very friendly. Food was great. I wanted to climb up and sit in the window table. But getting my food would need a rope.LOL. go and you will see what I mean. We had a great time.
(4)Alex H.
Delicious vegan and veggie options! Must come back when we are eating meat again. Try the tempeh sliders with "bacon"! Very fresh and flavorful ingredients.
(5)Carol K.
This gem offers organic free range chicken, and organic salads. Kale slaw is marinated with cider vinegar which I definitely prefer over oil. They even have gluten free buns. Portions are huge and price is reasonable. Wish we had one of these in Cali.
(5)J. Paul A.
Closer to 3.5 than 4. Service was nice, but slow. Onion rings were very good. Portions were on the small side for the price. (As always, eating healthy is more expensive and less filling.). Bison burger looked small on the kaiser roll.
(4)Paige M.
Honest, good-for-you food nestled right in the heart of Bellevue, one would never expect to find such delicious organic meals in Northern Kentucky. Elusive Cow has become one of my regular hangouts, especially with their craft cocktail night on Wednesday evenings. Each week, bartender Howard recreates vintage recipes like the Bee's Knees, Pimm's Cup, Singapore Sling, White Lady, and more. Of course, there are also dozens of craft beers in the cooler and on tap if hops are more your thing. For food, the cod sandwich is a must-have. The filet is so big it's swimming off the bun! The breading is crisp and fresh, more like breadcrumbs than battered. Served up on challah bread, it's hard for me to order anything but this sandwich when I stop in. Other delicious dishes include the Bison Burger, mix n' match tacos, falafels, and Italian flat bread. Two of my favorite sides are staples on the menu : sauteed kale and green beans. Soups rotate daily with everything from vegetable to butternut squash. Best of all, Elusive Cow serves up local meats and produce, as well as seasonal meals. If you've been searching for a restaurant that brings both omnivore and vegan bliss, this is it! Got questions? Jim, the owner, is always on site and loves chatting with the customers. Price per person: $15.00
(5)Karen D.
What a pleasant surprise on a Friday night. A friend and I were checking out the Shop Bellevue!, where all of the businesses stay open late on the first Friday of the month. After our shopping we were looking for a place to eat, we looked at their menu in the window and what a variety of fresh local food. We grabbed a table inside the front door to the right where we also had a window seat to people watch. We were waited on right away, good selection of craft beer on draft and in bottles. I'm always up for trying whats new on draft and tried Brooklyn Scorcher #366 - a brewmaster's reserve and my friend went with Bell's Oberon. We took some time to review the menu, there were a variety of choices I had a tough time deciding. My friend went with the Bison burger from a local farm and from our waitresses recommendation I went with the mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwich. Our food arrived pretty quickly and my friend enjoyed her bison burger and I my sandwich, I ended up taking half of it home & enjoyed the leftovers the next day. I'm looking forward to coming back soon and checking out more of their menu. My only negative note, as in previous reviews, it can be tight and you hear everyone's conversations plus one guy who was standing just opposite our table at the bar kept on backing up into our table just about knocking over our drinks and our food real so note the lack of personal space.
(4)Stephen G.
When I first heard about "The Elusive Cow" I couldn't believe that someone had named a restaurant after the nickname I gave so many of my ex-girlfriends. My wife has wanted to try this place since she saw the vegetarian options on their eclectic menu so we winged our way there one weekend, finding easy free parking on the street almost outside the front door. The premises is split into two halves, a lengthy bar with a few tables one one side and a relaxing corridor 'nook' on the other. We sat in the nook, realizing that we were perhaps a little too close for comfort to our table neighbors. We could hear their conversation (mainly revolving around how one woman thought the other woman would benefit from having her hair colored) which meant they could also hear ours (about how many times I had been to the bathroom that morning). If you want a totally private meal, you may be better off sitting in the bar half. Away from people like me. We were served quickly and efficiently. We took time to pore over the extensive (VERY extensive) beer list. The missus ordered the falafel pita, I ordered the Cuban sandwich off their 'new additions' menu. When the food arrived, we were amazed how huge the pita looked. The missus declared it an instant hit, tasty as well as value for money. I was less lucky. The Cuban sandwich looked good but was too dry and smoky for my taste, the french bread tough to bite through without a lot of effort. The accompanying hand cut fries were also a let down. Limp, quite greasy and clearly not cooked long enough. Shame. We both had high hopes we would find a new 'go to' restaurant that we could both thoroughly enjoy visiting from time to time, but this initial experience only satisfied one of us and I am going to take a lot of persuading to visit again. As always though, your mileage (and luck) may vary! (Star rating an aggregate of my and my wife's enjoyment levels)
(3)S W.
Great vegetarian options and meat options too. This is a place we'll visit again. A good compromise for us. It's a small place, quant. Nicely put together. The service was helpful and friendly. The lentil soup was uniquely good. The gumbo was excellent, hearty, meaty. We both ate cooked kale and it was well prepared. I had a beef burger, 6 on a 10 scale. They offer beef, bison, lamb, veggie, portabelo, and maybe more. The build your burger the way you like it is nice. (btw, they do have ketchup despite the other review, in fact in may be gourmet). They have many nice dinner options on the menu.
(4)Ben P.
Great food and a great bar. Mostly burgers and all that I've had were great burgers. Would happily return. A bit on the crowded side but not uncomfortably crowded.
(5)Belle K.
I love this place. Great good. Great wine! Non smoking! I always have a great experience.
(5)Elly V.
Unimpressed. We waited 30 minutes for food for the fries to be not fully cooked. Only one cider, crispin in a bottle and the burger patty is significantly smaller than the bun. The server was nice, but continued to touch us on the shoulder and once on the knee. Won't be back.
(1)Red P.
Only in Bellevue Kentucky would you find a place called the Elusive Cow. I love the name and the concept. They promote locally sourced, high quality, organic and natural ingredients in a fun, bar atmosphere. I have been here several times and I really want to love it but each time I am a little less impressed. I had just left Newberry Bros. Coffee (they serve wine and cocktails in addition to coffee) where I had an amazing experience because the people there were so inviting and offered such genuine service. I had the opposite experience at the Elusive Cow Cafe and it made me appreciate how important people are to this business. The server who took care of me couldn't offer me a suggestion on the wine ( I wanted to know which Chardonnay was less Oaky) and she said she didn't know because she didn't drink wine. Not a good answer in my opinion and overall she seemed very disinterested in taking care of us. The owner was behind the bar and we were asking lot's of question about the place and he never came over to say hello or check in on our experience. I ordered a chicken sandwich and onion rings, and the rings as always hit the spot. The sandwich was average at best. The food overall was fine but without the layer of service the Elusive Cow Cafe is not a place I will rush back to again. It's a shame because the place has a lot of potential so I hope the owner takes note and puts some effort into the service. The ambiance could also use a little help in creating a more warm and inviting atmosphere. I would love to see a couch/sitting area in front bar along with a long communal table to invite people to hang and mingle. Dim the lights and add some good music and that would help. Just a thought from the Red Pearl
(2)Travis C.
My girlfriend took me here on her birthday and the food is Great. The service was great too. I had the bison burger with hand cut fries and jerk wings and I was more than pleased. Even the ketchup was not only organic but I felt like the made it in the back. It was super fresh and no sugar added. Our server was really nice and knowledgable. I
(5)Andrew S.
Stopped in last Sunday and loved this place! Good food. Good beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good service. We only had a few apps, but the chicken wings were delicious and we will definitely be back again!
(5)Jay F.
Good food....good prices.....they need better HVAC....if it's hot outside it is hot in the restaurant...lamb burger was great and their onion rings are a great side.....bar also has a good beer selection.....
(4)Marie A.
Terrible place! Pieces are so high and unfair. $8.50 for a pint of beer?! Pass on this place again. So boring. Needs music or something going on in this place.
(1)Heather Y.
Awesome food that's locally sourced. I love the attentive staff and wide beer and bar selections. Bellevue is growing more and more in quality shops and restaurants each day!
(5)Monica W.
So my friend and I had talked for a while about going here, we were referred by a friend who highly recommended this place. We had very high hopes and unfortunatly we were TOTALLY let down. So I will start with the fact that I was really excited about the fact that I had heard that this place has a great burger and I had also heard that this place uses local meat as well. But unfortunately they were out of the burgers this night...actually they seemed to be out of everything that my friend and I tried to order. So I settled instead for the Cuban sliders and my friend settled for a chicken sandwich. We also ordered loaded nachos which were the only thing that I thought were decent. I felt like everything was just kid of "half-assed" if you will. Not a fan of our waitress either. I had to ask her 2 times what the specials were verses her volunteering the information. She also did not even seem to acknowledge my friend that I was with at all! She didn't even ask him if he wanted to order a beer! This place is cute and very clean I must say and the bar seemed to be pretty lively. And they seemed to have a huge beer selection. I probably won't be back here to eat again but I might give the bar a chance.
(2)Jeff D.
I visited the Elusive Cow on a Friday evening. After a short wait at the bar we were seated promptly. Megan the bartender was very prompt with service and menu recommendations. Drink prices are very reasonable and the beer selection is fantastic. Our waitress was Lisa and the service was exceptional. I found the food a little on the pricey side but well worth the money. The Elusive Cow is definitely worth visiting.
(5)Anna H.
Ugh. I haven't had a worse experience at a restaurant in a long time, which makes me sad because I had heard this place was really good. When we came in, we were told to pick a seat. Our waitress came over and immediately it seemed like she was high, stoned or drunk - She didn't greet us or ask how we were and could barely put a sentence together. She knew nothing about the beers on the menu, which is fine, but knew nothing of the menu or the details of the items on it. She forgot drinks, or brought out three of the four drinks and not the last one until later. She didn't know when to take our order and when she did, had to come back several times to ask again what our sides were and what kind of buns we wanted on our sandwiches. She also asked what condiments we wanted - they are super stingy with the ketchup here which I found annoying for a burgers and fries place. The worst part was - as we predicted - our order was completely messed up. My husband didn't get his wings at all and the waitress barely apologized. Then, when our bill came, we were overcharged by $6 for two of the beers he had and the third wasn't on the bill, which we thought was to apologize for the wings but it wasn't, she just forgot to put it on and when I told her about being overcharged for our beers, she went ahead and added it on. If she was just new and made these mistakes, we would have been completely understanding, but the nurse friends we were with were convinced she was on some kind of drugs. She was so incredibly spacey and just didn't care about anything. In retrospect, we should have talked to the owner, but didn't want to be total jerks about things and just left. To top things off, in her ''apology'' she said : 'I know I screwed up a lot and forgot his wings, but come back anyway' Uhhh, no thanks.
(1)Smokin Dave C.
Went with my girlfriend for lunch today. We ordered the flatbread and a bison burger. Both were delicious! The server suggested we try the kale as a side for the burger and it was awesome! Don't think they have it everyday but if it is offered get it!
(4)Sue W.
My husband wanted to find a place that served hotdogs but didn't want to spend $15 for a hotdog nor did he want a nasty, cheap convenient store dog. I decided to search on Yelp. The list that came up included this restaurant and after reading the reviews decided to give it a try. This is a great little restaurant in a great little town. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual, the waitress is friendly and helpful (I had a few questions). The menu didn't have a hotdog on it but that was okay because we already liked it. I had the mozzarella, tomato, pesto sandwich with Kale slaw. Delish! (The kale slaw is more like a salad). I never had kale before but now am going to be buying it for my family! My husband had the pulled pork and fries. That was good too. I think the ketchup was homemade, not too sweet but I didn't really like the BBQ sauce. It's very smokey. The pork by itself would've been fine though. Using local suppliers and organic when possible are a big plus!! I will bring my friend here next time (she doesn't eat anywhere that doesn't serve organic food). I can't wait to come here again.
(4)Laura A.
I love the mission of this restaurant, its atmosphere, and its menu items. I really wanted to love it, and was encouraged by the reviews here. Unfortunately, it was a very average meal. Because of the higher price, I will give this 2 stars instead of 3. The food wasn't offensive, but did not stand out at all. The trout meal was fairly small for over $16. I can never finish a meal when I eat out, but I finished this. The trout had a lovely sear to it, but it was a very thin filet, so it was over cooked by a good 2-3 minutes. The seasoning was so-so. The French fries were a nice serving size, but were very thick cut and as a result mushy. They needed another dip back in the deep fryer. The side salad was very fresh and an appropriate serving size. I would recommend that they serve it on a larger plate, though. My salad overflowed off of the small plate onto the table. The side of stewed kale was the best part. It was maybe a tad over seasoned but it was still very good and nicely cooked. I loved the onions and mushrooms in it. I would like to give this place a second chance based on other reviews, but for the higher price I would rather go to Virgil's Cafe.
(2)Jeremy M.
Cute little place, with a fine beer and wine selection. Love the bison burger and the grilled chicken. very friendly service every time I've been there. Parking is the only problem with dining there as it's all street parking and even that is limited.
(4)Chris H.
Attempted to have lunch there yesterday. As with other posts here, was greeted and seated, but after 15min of waiting, with no acknowledgement from server we left. Menu looked interesting and food we saw at other tables looked good, but if you aren't going to staff appropriately for service.....?
(1)Devon C.
It is tough to find good vegetarian options in Cincinnati. Let me preface this by saying that I am not a vegetarian, but that many of my friends are, and when we go out to dine, it is often difficult to find places to eat. I've been to the Elusive Cow Cafe twice now for lunch and have had really great experiences. The service is good, but the food is amazing. They have a ton of options, and many vegetarian options for those of us who are not carnivores. In my previous experiences, I've ordered the Bison Burger and the Meatball Sandwich, as well as sampled their soups and onion rings. Other people I've been with have ordered the Cod Sandwich and the Vegetarian Burger. All of them were really delicious. At the end of your meal be sure to try their desserts, they are all made fresh and are oh-so-sweet!
(4)Holly A.
I've only been in a few times, but every visit has been an exceptional taste and personal experience. I have always had friendly and knowledgeable service from people who are willing and EXCITED to tell you about the food and drink menus. I love the fresh, local, organic options on their menu and prepare myself to have leftovers. They do not scrimp on portions and prices are reasonable. I will say some of their flavors and spices tend to stray from the norm, but that is just another aspect that will keep me coming back for another taste. There are plenty of "safe" options on the menu with some sprinkles of adventure that are definitely worth a try!
(4)Juliane S.
This is a surprisingly good place to eat! I went on a Saturday which has a special guest bartender and ordered a Bees Knees. Very refreshingly cocktail! Ordered the turkey soup and scallop appetizer - really quite outstanding. Love the small bar atmosphere and I hope they can get a small string quartet or jazz ensemble to play in the balcony. Lovely place and we will be back!
(5)Anna H.
Ugh. I haven't had a worse experience at a restaurant in a long time, which makes me sad because I had heard this place was really good. When we came in, we were told to pick a seat. Our waitress came over and immediately it seemed like she was high, stoned or drunk - She didn't greet us or ask how we were and could barely put a sentence together. She knew nothing about the beers on the menu, which is fine, but knew nothing of the menu or the details of the items on it. She forgot drinks, or brought out three of the four drinks and not the last one until later. She didn't know when to take our order and when she did, had to come back several times to ask again what our sides were and what kind of buns we wanted on our sandwiches. She also asked what condiments we wanted - they are super stingy with the ketchup here which I found annoying for a burgers and fries place. The worst part was - as we predicted - our order was completely messed up. My husband didn't get his wings at all and the waitress barely apologized. Then, when our bill came, we were overcharged by $6 for two of the beers he had and the third wasn't on the bill, which we thought was to apologize for the wings but it wasn't, she just forgot to put it on and when I told her about being overcharged for our beers, she went ahead and added it on. If she was just new and made these mistakes, we would have been completely understanding, but the nurse friends we were with were convinced she was on some kind of drugs. She was so incredibly spacey and just didn't care about anything. In retrospect, we should have talked to the owner, but didn't want to be total jerks about things and just left. To top things off, in her ''apology'' she said : 'I know I screwed up a lot and forgot his wings, but come back anyway' Uhhh, no thanks.
(1)Smokin Dave C.
Went with my girlfriend for lunch today. We ordered the flatbread and a bison burger. Both were delicious! The server suggested we try the kale as a side for the burger and it was awesome! Don't think they have it everyday but if it is offered get it!
(4)T R.
Great beer selection, great all natural food selection. Awesome place for lunch/dinner and drinks. I had the Cuban and the girlfriend had the turkey sandwich; we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Must say they have the best vinegarette dressing I've had.
(5)Melissa G.
Atmosphere was warm and subdued. Pretty art on the walls and sitting by the front windows offers a good view of the avenue. The food was delicious and fresh. I loved the unique menu, the chicken salad is to die for. Definitely will return to try other stuff from the menu.
(5)K D.
Great rotating beer selection, best choice in NKY for vegetarian options.
(5)Mark F.
The king of the Bellevue strip!!! No, No. KY!!! This place is great!!! Love the variety on menu, sauces are some of the best in the city. The music is jazzy and relaxing along with the casual decor. Phenom service. A must go spot. I can wait to come back. It will be a new downtown and Northern Kentucky spot. Doug Elliott is literally one of the best service people I've ever met. I would buy stock in him and the chef/owner Jim Fisher in a heartbeat. These guys are awesome.
(5)Jess B.
Major disclaimer: I have several friends who vehemently disagree with my opinion on this restaurant but here goes.... I'm super "meh" on this place. And it's a bummer because I LOVE the concept of the restaurant. It's in a really cool old building that's been renovated beautifully. It's a great local bar/restaurant. It serves fresh and healthier food with vegetarian options. It looks awesome from the outside. Need I say more? I always get myself excited about coming here. I tell myself I'm gonna eat really healthy, I might even eat a vegetarian dish, and all the while I'll be supporting a local business. And then I get to the restaurant, order something, and I am totally bummed. I just don't think the food tastes all that spectacular. They have a great selection and everything sounds really good. I just end up not enjoying what I've ordered essentially every time I've come. Now I will point out that by some happenstance, I always end up eating here right after a break up or a fight with my mother or something that definitely has put me in the bad mood. Perhaps my taste buds change in situations like that. So I'm not saying don't try it...clearly a lot of people really like it. I'm just saying that maybe you just wanna order the onion rings. Cuz those rock.
(2)Jeff G.
We found this place using the Yelp app while running around in Cincinnati. Its just across the river so we decided to give it a shot. It's in a cool old building. They have done a nice job renovating it. It's a shame they didn't have room for a nice patio. That would be a great compliment. We sat at the bar. The bartender said he is famous for his Bloody Mary's so I had to try one. It was decent. My wife got a glass of wine. They have a good selection on the menu including vegetarian options. I got the Bison burger and my wife got the smoked chicken nachos. Again, decent. My burger was an obvious frozen patty and my wife's nachos were a bit sad. The smoked chicken was really good though. I had hand cut fries with their house made ketchup. I am not a ketchup eater but it was good. The fries could have been cooked a little longer but still tasty. If we were in the area I would eat here again but it wouldnt be a place I make a special trip for.
(3)Maggie B.
The concept is great and the food quality is good but the flavors are lacking. Everything is house made down to the ketchup and most of it is farm fresh and local. A good start but it doesn't come through in the dishes. We had the gazpacho to start. It was like a recipe for vegetable soup that was not cooked instead of a recipe for soup that was meant to be cold. The ingredients were very fresh but the combination was bland. Salt helped some. We had the wings and onion rings and bison burger to share. The same problem in all of the dishes. Wings were meaty but the sauce was very runny, more of a dressing than a wing sauce. The onion rings were large and made fresh but with no seasoning. Burger was the same. The price was decent and service was good. I can't say I would recommend it but if you like your food on the plain side then this might be a place for you.
(3)Jonathan R.
While visiting the Cincinnati area we went with a friend to his local spot, The Elusive Cow, and from the start this place was very charming and welcoming. The atmosphere and the vibe was mellow and I really felt like I've been to this bar a hundred times, the first time there. They had one of my favorite beers, AllDay IPA by Founders brewery so hat off to this establishment!! They have a great selection of drinks, there's a little something for everyone here! The food was above and beyond fresh from the so good organic ketchup with handcut fries and their burger was Excalibur what I needed after a long day running around town. I would recommend this cafe for any one visiting this area, I would like to go again and try all the great things there menu had listed, even though the burger was one of the best I've had in a while!!! TL; DR. Eat here it's Awesome! Great beer!
(5)Justin R.
Sure would have been nice to try the food, but you need to be acknowledged first. Last night, around 8 pm, the bartender happily welcomed us and told us to grab a seat. The server came within feet of us but didn't say a thing. We gave it ten minutes and walked out.
(1)Adriana R.
Our first experience at this restaurant left a lot to be desired. Since however, they've gone above and beyond to improve. Our Visit 7/5/14 was excellent! Service was fast & friendly. Food came out quickly and was delicious and fresh! Glad we went back
(4)Frank B.
Good beer selection. Dinner quality food at gourmet prices. Poor service with no response for complaints about food.
(2)Linnea L.
We picked this restaurant randomly from Yelp, simply based on its unique name. Just across the river in Bellevue, KY from Cincinnati, it was nice to happen upon the cute little town and this eclectic restaurant after a trip to the Krohn Conservatory. Burgers and sandwiches and vegetarian options were all yummy and on great bread. The food is locally sourced. The waiter was great about recommending great local brews to go with. I'd go again and will definitely venture to this quaint little burg to see what else it has to offer. We passed many interesting places on the way to this one.
(4)Samantha W.
FOOD Bison Burger w/Gouda- Delish!! I've been looking all over the place that served bison burgers and I finally found one. The burger was cooked perfectly (I.e. I asked for it to be medium and it didn't come out over/undercooked). The bread was amazing as well. They said they order their bread from a local bakery and their veggies are from Finley market. Brownie points for supporting local businesses! Hand Cut Fries- The fries were thicker cut and good too but that made some of them a bit less crunchy and some that ended up being soggy. And honestly I don't think anyone likes soggy fries. I tend to like skinny fries and secretly wished that they were slightly thinner... which I believe would probably have made them crunchier as well. Onion Rings- These are some of the most delicious onion rings EVER. I'm usually more of a french fries girl but these were SO good. I would definitely order these over their hand cut fries. Not sure how they did the batter but I've never tasted anything like this before. It tasted like fried chicken wrapped around the onion rings (which, thank goodness it wasn't...you know, for the sake of my waistline...I mean, heart. BUT it sounds delicious, doesn't it?!). Not sure how else to describe it so go try it for yourself. Beer- I'm not a big beer drinker, but they seem to have a good selection of beers. ATMOSPHERE/STAFF I was there during lunner time on a weekday so, it was pretty low key and relaxing. There is a dining area and sports bar area with flat screens playing the most important sports of the moment. The waiter was extremely nice and knowledgeable about the menu, which I definitely appreciated as a first timer there. OVERALL I would definitely be back for their bison burger and of course, their onion rings.
(4)Sherry T.
Meh. I've experienced better is an understatement. Paul and I were looking forward to our dinner at The Elusive Cow Cafe and walked away incredibly disappointed. Although the setting and atmosphere were nice, food and service ranged from bad to okay. Food took an eternity to arrive, and once it was there, it was mostly not worth eating. I ordered one of the specials, the vegetable lasagna, along with a cup of mushroom soup. The soup would have been tasty had it not been for the heavy-handed use of salt, and the lasagna would have been very good had it not been topped with a sauce that looked and tasted like dense tomato paste. Paul originally ordered a special, the bison sirloin, but our server returned to let us know they were out of it. He ended up opting for the shrimp/crawfish po' boy with onion rings and broccoli. The po' boy was po' in every imaginable way--bland shrimp and crawfish that reminded us of something that came from Sam's Club served on stale, tasteless bread. The broccoli was also a loser; it seemed to have been steamed and then fried. If the onion ring batter had been seasoned, the rings would have been very good, but alas, they were bland too. Paul asked if they had some kind of sauce to dip them in and our server responded, "I usually dip them in ketchup." Okay. You would think we would have learned our lesson at this point and avoided dessert, but we decided to go for it. A bourbon chocolate "tort" and key lime pie that almost certainly came from boxed desserts that were once frozen and thawed. Not good. Our server seemed like a nice enough young woman, but she had no idea what she was doing. She never refilled our drinks (but the bartender did), she didn't know anything about the food, and she charged us for the elusive bison sirloin that we did not receive. When we asked for boxes (plural) she asked us if we wanted one box, because clearly everyone wants their vegetable lasagna mixed in with a po' boy sandwich, onion rings, and broccoli, right? Geez. There is nothing in this world that makes me feel as grouchy as a bad meal. I simply hate wasting calories and money. Blah!
(2)Alyssa H.
"The Elusive Cow" just has a ring to it that makes you want to step inside and explore the mystery. I was pleasantly surprised by what The Elusive Cow holds. Although there is not much seating for busy nights, the older building is a perfect setting for this restaurant. The food was top notch, at pretty reasonable prices! I was happy with the abundance of vegan options, because I for one am not used to the variety while eating out! We had pretty decent service for a Thursday night, but it was a bit crowded so I'll give them credit! Definitely check it out, I know I'll be back to explore the elusiveness.
(4)Aaron B.
I wish they had a way on Yelp to provide two separate rating scales - one as a bar and the other one as a restaurant. As a bar I give ECC five stars mainly because they have a great draft selection for a smallish neighborhood joint. As a functional restaurant it only gets 3 stars. I greatly respect what they're trying to do with the locally sourced and everything homemade concept, but the dishes are still lacking the wow factor for me. However, I've not completely given up on ECC and neither should you. I still stop in to belly up to the bar for a cold craft brew or two. The staff is always friendly and laid back and it's just the pace I expect/want from my local neighborhood watering hole. As of late, the food quality has improved as I think they're making some adjustments. Just had the breaded Freed Range Chicken sandwich the other night and it was definitely tastier than I remember. Although it could have just been my beer hunger talking. ;-)
(3)Sharon E.
We found this little gem quite by accident while driving the area. So happy we found the PERFECT spot for dinner. Our server was so incredibly nice and owner, Jim, made us feel very welcome. The decor of this restaurant is cozy and clean which was an added bonus. The menu is very reasonably priced and the food is AMAZING! We shared probably the very best onion rings I've had in my life. No grease, just wonderful flavor with thick organic ketchup on the side. I enjoyed a house salad with smoked pulled chicken and house vinaigrette dressing. My salad ingredients tasted so fresh I'd swear there was a garden out back. My better half enjoyed his caprese flatbread pizza which was also tasty and fresh. All topped off nicely with a local MadTree Sol Drifter brew on tap. Jim mentioned many ingredients on menu come from nearby Findley Market - go figure, also one of very favorite haunts while visiting Cincy. We will DEFINITELY return to the Elusive Cow!
(5)Damon W.
The first time I went to The Elusive Cow I heard the story behind the name, and being new to northern KY and Cincinnati I appreciated the recent somewhat history lesson. Jim and Dawn make The Cow feel like a home away from home. The food is above par, the service is always spot on and personable, and the atmosphere is always friendly and inviting. This is everything that a neighborhood bar should be and more.
(5)Charles S.
I ordered a simple meal of pulled pork sandwich on a kaiser bun, fries and a beer. The sandwich was good and the fries were exceptional. The beer selection looked pretty weak. The atmosphere was really nice and it just felt like a good neighborhood place to grab a beer and a bite to eat. I sat at the bar and the customer service was really exceptional. I saw someone's mozzarella, tomato and kale slaw sandwich and it looked really delicious. The photo on here doesn't do it justice.
(4)Jim F.
The Elusive Cow is a great place to eat. I've eaten there many times. Good, fresh food and always a good beer or two on tap. The owner and help are friendly and the service is good. I just read a negative review someone posted and I cannot understand where the writer is coming from, she should stick to Applebee's perhaps.
(5)Dawn W.
A small, friendly, casual atmosphere offering a unique menu with lots of vegetarian options. I love the concept of using local and organic meats and ingredients as well as offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. I ordered a bloody Mary and a burger with fries and was a little disappointed to find that they season their ground beef. It wasn't terrible, just not what I was expecting - I'd prefer to season my own. Other than that everything was delicious. The fries were excellent and appeared to be fresh cut. I'll definitely be back to try some of their other menu options.
(4)Sarah F.
The restaurant was fairly empty on a recent Friday lunch visit and the server was friendly, but seemed very novice. I got a bison burger and onion rings. I was going to get some add-on toppings for my burger, but just couldn't bring myself to pay $1.75 extra for some grilled onions! The food came out fairly quickly and our server kept our drinks full (good iced tea, by the way). I ordered my bison "medium", but unfortunately came out pretty well done which made it rather dry. Nonetheless, the multi-grain bun and fresh toppings (the free ones: lettuce, onions and pickles plus house made ketchup) were nice complements. The onion rings had a very nice crunchy cornmeal batter, but were cut too thick, which meant that the softness of the cooked onion overwhelmed the crunch of the breading; also they were very bland. A thinner cut onion and some additional salt/spices in the breading and I think they would have a winner. Overall, I liked the feel of the joint and the food showed promise (unfortunately not fully realized on this particular visit). It's A-OK for now, but hoping for even better things on a future visit. Also, the beer list looked phenomenal!
(3)Janie H.
Awful. Promising menu but after waiting over an hour after ordering, finally checking on our order, I got major attitude from the server (who I think is the owner?). Very nasty and acted like I was in the wrong, and I was being overly polite (sorry- had somewhere to be!). I did get my mushroom stew and was disappointed by that (tasted beefy and very salty, bland). I do NOT recommend this place!! The attitude and nastiness that I got from the server was the worst part of it! Poorly run place.
(1)Ben B.
I was sad to see Skinny Legs go, as it was always a great place catch a game, have a few beers, and just be comfortable in my neighborhood. After two visits to The Elusive Cow I feel it's a welcomed addition to the strip. The menu obviously is one that has a lot of thought put into it. The quality of the ingredients and the flare for originality has me impressed. Since my initial visit I have seen or tasted the bison burger, portobello burger, the flat bread pizza, and the wings. My fave so far have been the wings as they are quite meaty, and the spice factor is certainly pleasing. They aren't covered in red hot sauce, but rather spiced with rub. I'm putting them up for possible best wings in the city. Pricing for these items seems to be right in line too. With a beer selection that would make any guy happy and a spirit collection centering around some great bourbons, the bar is a fine place to sit and watch a game in a great atmosphere and truly enjoy the company that you are with and meet some new friends as well. Top everything off with great and friendly service, the Cow is a new favorite. Welcome to the neighborhood!
(5)Ann L.
Many people had asked if we've been to ECC - so I bookmarked it in Yelp. Then on FB I saw a few photos from their page - one of Brisket & Onion Rings and one of a Falafel (deep fried chickpeas). Images of food can be quite persuasive. So we went. First off, I like Bellevue, lived here years ago, so it's always good to visit. The owner greeted us at the door and treated us great the whole visit. I sat by the window to watch all the walkers and street life. Even saw one gentleman who was walking his dog, go out of his way to pick up a piece of litter, then dispose of it properly. I guess he cares that the city looks clean. Good to see. I ordered the falafel and onion rings, why, because those dang images were embedded in my head, not to be removed until eaten. It was all soooo good! Absolutely loved the falafel and the onion rings were the best I've ever had. The onion rings have a spicy crunchy batter. The music was very pleasant, all jazzy and romantic for me. The place is clean and cozy.
(4)Sheri W.
I love what the owners are trying to do, use local and organic ingredients whenever possible, feature vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, occasional stand up comedy and live music nights and love the weekly $2 pull and pray beer night! These are the reasons we have tried Elusive Cow as many times as we have and I hate to say this, but the flavour of the food is just not good. They seem to want to reinvent which herbs and spices work well together and the burger seasoning does not work! Side dishes like cucumber salad fall completely flat and as happy as I was to see kale on the menu, I was sad as soon as I tasted it. Now that is not to say they couldn't fix their seasoning issues very easily and their quality is very much appreciated. Maybe they could look at California's Veggie Grill for inspiration on how to use really healthy and high quality ingredients in well seasoned dishes for meat eaters and meat free-ers alike. The made in house desserts are really good and everyone who works there is really nice, good atmosphere like a local hangout should have. As soon as the spice guru stops trying to reinvent the wheel, we'll be in there all the time!
(3)Anna H.
Since deciding to try to become vegan (meaning I've had success with about 90% of all meals being vegan, and keep trying), eating out has been difficult to say the least. Enter The Elusive Cow. I'd been here once, a couple of years ago, but hadn't made it back, despite living a mile away. I've now been back several times in the past few weeks and SO enjoyed salads (the house vinaigrette is AMAZING), as well as the falafel, various vegetable based soups, and the chicken sandwich, when I just need some poultry. The great thing is that my fiancé also loves coming here, and loves the burgers and delicious fries. It has definitely become our go-to place, and I'm so happy for an option like this so close to home! We've always had great service, and also enjoy the great selection of beer and wine. I loce The Elusive Cow!
(5)Samara A.
The name is awesome, the food was incredibly fresh, and the desserts come from a local baker...so good! They had a couple Kale-inclusive side dishes and were balanced perfectly with other veggies and sauces. Chicken was not the most flavorful, but they gave us all the house sauces to eat with--the sauces were great! Green beans on the side were also not really spiced well, but they were crunchyy Peanut butter pie? *drools*
(5)Randall R.
Everything here is very fresh. Clearly someone here understands food in depth. They combine surprising ingredients and complex flavors in ways that you just don't expect in Bellevue Kentucky.
(5)S W.
Great vegetarian options and meat options too. This is a place we'll visit again. A good compromise for us. It's a small place, quant. Nicely put together. The service was helpful and friendly. The lentil soup was uniquely good. The gumbo was excellent, hearty, meaty. We both ate cooked kale and it was well prepared. I had a beef burger, 6 on a 10 scale. They offer beef, bison, lamb, veggie, portabelo, and maybe more. The build your burger the way you like it is nice. (btw, they do have ketchup despite the other review, in fact in may be gourmet). They have many nice dinner options on the menu.
(4)Christine M.
We had a staff party here on a winter evening. The atmosphere reminded me of home (the amazing Pacific Northwest) with warm wood, lowered lighting, and a menu that was able to accommodate various diets and appetites. I went for the bison burger, but went against the advice to have it cooked medium. I wouldn't normally take this route, but wasn't willing to risk undercooked meat at the time. Had I gone with this selection I'm sure the texture (a bit crumbly when cooked medium well due to low/no fat) would have been slightly improved, but with a little avocado and jack cheese, it was still pretty good. The bun was a bit imposing- large, dense, cold- and I would have opted for something other than the 'whole grain' or similar selection. The kale salad was a great side dish. As appetizers I enjoyed a bit of onion ring and sweet potato chip. Both very tasty. Beer was enjoyed by most and the service was very friendly. I'd easily come back for another meal here. It was nice to see what Bellview has to offer!
(4)Cory Z.
In town for the weekend and gave this place a try on a Saturday night. Service was excellent and friendly. Didn't have a long wait. The food was very good. The sweet potato chips and the onion rings are to die for. The fries weren't bad either, but not as good as the chips. I don't know where the one star reviewer talking about crazy expensive beers went, but it's not this place. Most beers here are under $5 / glass which is pretty normal at this sort of place. Really had a good time here. Would be happy to visit again next time I'm in town. Price for a nice meal for two including a beer each and an extra side because we wanted to try them was $35. Not horribly expensive for what we got.
(4)Lucas C.
Eaten here twice and both times the burgers were phenomenal. Highly recommend. More of a gourmet style burger joint.
(4)Christiaan T.
now this place has a great atmosphere. The owner is very friendly. Food was great. I wanted to climb up and sit in the window table. But getting my food would need a rope.LOL. go and you will see what I mean. We had a great time.
(4)Alex H.
Delicious vegan and veggie options! Must come back when we are eating meat again. Try the tempeh sliders with "bacon"! Very fresh and flavorful ingredients.
(5)Carol K.
This gem offers organic free range chicken, and organic salads. Kale slaw is marinated with cider vinegar which I definitely prefer over oil. They even have gluten free buns. Portions are huge and price is reasonable. Wish we had one of these in Cali.
(5)J. Paul A.
Closer to 3.5 than 4. Service was nice, but slow. Onion rings were very good. Portions were on the small side for the price. (As always, eating healthy is more expensive and less filling.). Bison burger looked small on the kaiser roll.
(4)Paige M.
Honest, good-for-you food nestled right in the heart of Bellevue, one would never expect to find such delicious organic meals in Northern Kentucky. Elusive Cow has become one of my regular hangouts, especially with their craft cocktail night on Wednesday evenings. Each week, bartender Howard recreates vintage recipes like the Bee's Knees, Pimm's Cup, Singapore Sling, White Lady, and more. Of course, there are also dozens of craft beers in the cooler and on tap if hops are more your thing. For food, the cod sandwich is a must-have. The filet is so big it's swimming off the bun! The breading is crisp and fresh, more like breadcrumbs than battered. Served up on challah bread, it's hard for me to order anything but this sandwich when I stop in. Other delicious dishes include the Bison Burger, mix n' match tacos, falafels, and Italian flat bread. Two of my favorite sides are staples on the menu : sauteed kale and green beans. Soups rotate daily with everything from vegetable to butternut squash. Best of all, Elusive Cow serves up local meats and produce, as well as seasonal meals. If you've been searching for a restaurant that brings both omnivore and vegan bliss, this is it! Got questions? Jim, the owner, is always on site and loves chatting with the customers. Price per person: $15.00
(5)Karen D.
What a pleasant surprise on a Friday night. A friend and I were checking out the Shop Bellevue!, where all of the businesses stay open late on the first Friday of the month. After our shopping we were looking for a place to eat, we looked at their menu in the window and what a variety of fresh local food. We grabbed a table inside the front door to the right where we also had a window seat to people watch. We were waited on right away, good selection of craft beer on draft and in bottles. I'm always up for trying whats new on draft and tried Brooklyn Scorcher #366 - a brewmaster's reserve and my friend went with Bell's Oberon. We took some time to review the menu, there were a variety of choices I had a tough time deciding. My friend went with the Bison burger from a local farm and from our waitresses recommendation I went with the mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwich. Our food arrived pretty quickly and my friend enjoyed her bison burger and I my sandwich, I ended up taking half of it home & enjoyed the leftovers the next day. I'm looking forward to coming back soon and checking out more of their menu. My only negative note, as in previous reviews, it can be tight and you hear everyone's conversations plus one guy who was standing just opposite our table at the bar kept on backing up into our table just about knocking over our drinks and our food real so note the lack of personal space.
(4)Stephen G.
When I first heard about "The Elusive Cow" I couldn't believe that someone had named a restaurant after the nickname I gave so many of my ex-girlfriends. My wife has wanted to try this place since she saw the vegetarian options on their eclectic menu so we winged our way there one weekend, finding easy free parking on the street almost outside the front door. The premises is split into two halves, a lengthy bar with a few tables one one side and a relaxing corridor 'nook' on the other. We sat in the nook, realizing that we were perhaps a little too close for comfort to our table neighbors. We could hear their conversation (mainly revolving around how one woman thought the other woman would benefit from having her hair colored) which meant they could also hear ours (about how many times I had been to the bathroom that morning). If you want a totally private meal, you may be better off sitting in the bar half. Away from people like me. We were served quickly and efficiently. We took time to pore over the extensive (VERY extensive) beer list. The missus ordered the falafel pita, I ordered the Cuban sandwich off their 'new additions' menu. When the food arrived, we were amazed how huge the pita looked. The missus declared it an instant hit, tasty as well as value for money. I was less lucky. The Cuban sandwich looked good but was too dry and smoky for my taste, the french bread tough to bite through without a lot of effort. The accompanying hand cut fries were also a let down. Limp, quite greasy and clearly not cooked long enough. Shame. We both had high hopes we would find a new 'go to' restaurant that we could both thoroughly enjoy visiting from time to time, but this initial experience only satisfied one of us and I am going to take a lot of persuading to visit again. As always though, your mileage (and luck) may vary! (Star rating an aggregate of my and my wife's enjoyment levels)
(3)Sarah D.
Love this place! My husband and I have decided to make ourselves try a new restaurant each week and this happened to be our first stop on this little adventure. We went at around 7:30 on a Saturday and didn't have any trouble finding a parking spot on the street right next to the restaurant. You can sit wherever you want, don't stand in the doorway wondering whether you're going to be seated like we did. Maybe they should get a sign. Anyway, they have a great selection of beer but were out of the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel I wanted. The waitress brought me a taste of Ommegang Witte, which they had just gotten in, and I found it perfect. Nice save! I ordered the cod sandwich on kaiser and my husband ordered the burger. He always judges a new place by the burger. We both got fries on the side. I have to warn that the cod sandwich was really good but I found it really messy, so if you're on a first date you might want to order something else. My husband's response to the burger was, "It was the perfect amount but I want more." I think that's about as good as it gets. So yeah, this place is definitely worth trying out.
(5)Bryson M.
Good food with a great atmosphere... Great decor, my boo loves it! Good beer selection... Nice bar, open Sundays... Very clean bathrooms!! I got the house salad with chicken... Very good! Also in the heart of great historic Belevue!
(4)Stacey L.
Had a 5-star experience here last night! Was invited by a friend to their weekly Wednesday specialty cocktail night... and last night really was the Bee's-knees (which was the cocktail). Howard is their amazing mixologist/bartender for these events and he didn't disappoint. The drink went down way to easily. Owner Jim spent a good time chatting and sipping wine with us. He spoke passionately about his restaurant and asked us for genuine feedback and suggestions to make it better. I got to try several different things that came out of the kitchen and was overall incredibly satisfied. The red-pepper sauce on the spaghetti squash was great. My friend spoke highly of the turkey burger. The fries reminded me of those at Penn Station. The only meal that was a slight let-down was the veggie burger. Definitely a place I would return to!
(5)Nathan F.
I had an amazing 5 star experience here!! Howard is a great bartender and every Wednesday he mixes up a new delectable concoction. This week's specialty was the Bees-Knees and it most certainly was. Very delicious and went down way too smooth. While sitting finishing up our food (I had the turkey burger and it was delicious) we noticed a bottle of wine that we had to try. It was Pimpin' Penguin riesling, can't pass up a glass of that. The owner, Jim, poured us a glass and spend the better part of the evening talking with us. He loves what he's doing and is very passionate about it and eager to make the Elusive Cow the best place it can be. I have to agree with Stacey, "The red-pepper sauce on the spaghetti squash was great." It needs to be a topping on a burger......come to think of it, it would have been amazing on my turkey burger. The fries were similar to Penn Station, only better. I would have preferred them a little crispier but still delicious. If Howard (Bartender for those of you who may have forgotten) keeps up his Wednesday mixes I may have to make this my new Wednesday hangout!!!
(5)Ben P.
Great food and a great bar. Mostly burgers and all that I've had were great burgers. Would happily return. A bit on the crowded side but not uncomfortably crowded.
(5)Belle K.
I love this place. Great good. Great wine! Non smoking! I always have a great experience.
(5)Elly V.
Unimpressed. We waited 30 minutes for food for the fries to be not fully cooked. Only one cider, crispin in a bottle and the burger patty is significantly smaller than the bun. The server was nice, but continued to touch us on the shoulder and once on the knee. Won't be back.
(1)Red P.
Only in Bellevue Kentucky would you find a place called the Elusive Cow. I love the name and the concept. They promote locally sourced, high quality, organic and natural ingredients in a fun, bar atmosphere. I have been here several times and I really want to love it but each time I am a little less impressed. I had just left Newberry Bros. Coffee (they serve wine and cocktails in addition to coffee) where I had an amazing experience because the people there were so inviting and offered such genuine service. I had the opposite experience at the Elusive Cow Cafe and it made me appreciate how important people are to this business. The server who took care of me couldn't offer me a suggestion on the wine ( I wanted to know which Chardonnay was less Oaky) and she said she didn't know because she didn't drink wine. Not a good answer in my opinion and overall she seemed very disinterested in taking care of us. The owner was behind the bar and we were asking lot's of question about the place and he never came over to say hello or check in on our experience. I ordered a chicken sandwich and onion rings, and the rings as always hit the spot. The sandwich was average at best. The food overall was fine but without the layer of service the Elusive Cow Cafe is not a place I will rush back to again. It's a shame because the place has a lot of potential so I hope the owner takes note and puts some effort into the service. The ambiance could also use a little help in creating a more warm and inviting atmosphere. I would love to see a couch/sitting area in front bar along with a long communal table to invite people to hang and mingle. Dim the lights and add some good music and that would help. Just a thought from the Red Pearl
(2)Travis C.
My girlfriend took me here on her birthday and the food is Great. The service was great too. I had the bison burger with hand cut fries and jerk wings and I was more than pleased. Even the ketchup was not only organic but I felt like the made it in the back. It was super fresh and no sugar added. Our server was really nice and knowledgable. I
(5)Andrew S.
Stopped in last Sunday and loved this place! Good food. Good beer selection. Good atmosphere. Good service. We only had a few apps, but the chicken wings were delicious and we will definitely be back again!
(5)Jay F.
Good food....good prices.....they need better HVAC....if it's hot outside it is hot in the restaurant...lamb burger was great and their onion rings are a great side.....bar also has a good beer selection.....
(4)Marie A.
Terrible place! Pieces are so high and unfair. $8.50 for a pint of beer?! Pass on this place again. So boring. Needs music or something going on in this place.
(1)Heather Y.
Awesome food that's locally sourced. I love the attentive staff and wide beer and bar selections. Bellevue is growing more and more in quality shops and restaurants each day!
(5)Monica W.
So my friend and I had talked for a while about going here, we were referred by a friend who highly recommended this place. We had very high hopes and unfortunatly we were TOTALLY let down. So I will start with the fact that I was really excited about the fact that I had heard that this place has a great burger and I had also heard that this place uses local meat as well. But unfortunately they were out of the burgers this night...actually they seemed to be out of everything that my friend and I tried to order. So I settled instead for the Cuban sliders and my friend settled for a chicken sandwich. We also ordered loaded nachos which were the only thing that I thought were decent. I felt like everything was just kid of "half-assed" if you will. Not a fan of our waitress either. I had to ask her 2 times what the specials were verses her volunteering the information. She also did not even seem to acknowledge my friend that I was with at all! She didn't even ask him if he wanted to order a beer! This place is cute and very clean I must say and the bar seemed to be pretty lively. And they seemed to have a huge beer selection. I probably won't be back here to eat again but I might give the bar a chance.
(2)Jeff D.
I visited the Elusive Cow on a Friday evening. After a short wait at the bar we were seated promptly. Megan the bartender was very prompt with service and menu recommendations. Drink prices are very reasonable and the beer selection is fantastic. Our waitress was Lisa and the service was exceptional. I found the food a little on the pricey side but well worth the money. The Elusive Cow is definitely worth visiting.
(5)D M.
Great concept needs better execution. Service I walked in and seated myself in the back. It doesn't seem to have a host/hostess. It took a while for a server to notice me... I had to flag him down. He was very nice though. My table had been bussed, but not very thoroughly. Some debris remained. My drink (Manhatten) was well prepared, but I was never offered refills on my water. Ambience This is the best part. The decor is very nice, especially for Bellevue, KY but they need to dim the lights to get rid of the cafeteria feel. Menu Sadly, the daily menu was a crinkled print out. I was impressed by the gourmet items on the menu and the extensive drink list with very reasonable prices. It was a let-down though that the drink list was not at all accurate concerning availability and prices. I was excited to try the kale with sauteed mushrooms. I understand it's brined, but DAMN it was salty! My burger came without the cheese or the bacon I ordered. I ordered it on a kaiser roll, but what I got was a cold, supermarket white bread bun. It's a pity, because the meat was actually nicely seasoned. No ketchup on the table? No ketchup on the side? No ketchup offered? Overall I really want this place to do well. I live in Bellevue, and would love to have a middle-of-the-road bar/restaurant to take friends, family, and dates to. EC could become my favorite neighborhood bar/restaurant, but they need to tighten up the ship.
(2)Sue W.
My husband wanted to find a place that served hotdogs but didn't want to spend $15 for a hotdog nor did he want a nasty, cheap convenient store dog. I decided to search on Yelp. The list that came up included this restaurant and after reading the reviews decided to give it a try. This is a great little restaurant in a great little town. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual, the waitress is friendly and helpful (I had a few questions). The menu didn't have a hotdog on it but that was okay because we already liked it. I had the mozzarella, tomato, pesto sandwich with Kale slaw. Delish! (The kale slaw is more like a salad). I never had kale before but now am going to be buying it for my family! My husband had the pulled pork and fries. That was good too. I think the ketchup was homemade, not too sweet but I didn't really like the BBQ sauce. It's very smokey. The pork by itself would've been fine though. Using local suppliers and organic when possible are a big plus!! I will bring my friend here next time (she doesn't eat anywhere that doesn't serve organic food). I can't wait to come here again.
(4)rick k.
I really like this place. They make all of the food from scratch. The wings are the best wings I have ever had. They are huge, but kind of pricy. I will be going there more often.
(5)PJ L.
My girlfriend had a beef burger with smoked gouda and I had a bison burger plain. The burgers were just OK. Her burger came out without the cheese on it, but they took it back and threw a piece on. I think that $1 for cheese is a bit expensive, especially when the burger is $10 to begin with. Someone else on here mentioned the ketchup- we also had a hard time getting ketchup! I think it is homemade, so maybe they are stingy with it. But the ketchup was really good, as were the pickles, fries and kale. Great beer selection, six good beers on draft and a bunch of bottles. But overall, I felt like the food menu was too limited and the portions were too small for what they were charging.
(3)Michele G.
Yummy! I have been here twice for lunch and enjoyed both times. I am glad to see another place in the neighborhood that is non-smoking that my daughter and I can walk to. I had wings the first time I visited and they are dry rubbed and tasty. I usually prefer wet and sloppy wings. The second time I visited I had a burger and kale as a side. Both were delicious. The service is friendly. They greet you when you walk in and answer any questions without an eye roll. I got to taste a beer before ordering which is awesome. I have not been here at night but I have a feeling I will be visiting this place often.
(4)Corey T.
Everything here is local from the local beers to the organic local food all made fresh in house. Best hidden gem in Newport!!!
(5)Matt G.
Wife had a falafel and I had the pork chops. Both were excellent. Service top notch. Salad very fresh with good variety. House vinegrette excellent. Recommend trying the kale.
(5)Kyle E.
This is a very much needed addition to the Bellevue strip! Make sure you try out the chorizo burger...delicious and unique!
(5)Caren T.
They've taken one of our old favorite bars, Skinny Legs, and cleaned it up really nice. I like that they are non-smoking and, somehow, they got all the smoke smell out. They have a great selection of beer and wine. BUT, I have eaten there twice and both times the meal was a huge disappointment. The first time, they had just opened and I ordered the chicken sandwich. It was OK and nothing more. I thought, well, they just opened. We stopped there last week and they have really expanded the menu. I ordered the pork soft tacos (the special). They were so bland, it was like I had opened the fridge at home and threw some left over pork, some lettuce and chopped tomato. No seasoning at all. I mentioned this to the server and asked for some salad dressing to add some flavor. Now, they did take the tacos off the bill. But, I was still very disappointed because it was simply a tasteless meal. So, if you want a nice place to have a beer or drink, go. If you want a meal, I hope you get something better than I did. Personally, I will not go back for dinner.
(2)Carly S.
Awesome atmosphere and great drink prices, but the server offered my sister the kid price burger for her kids, but when the check came, she charged her for a regular priced burger. After my sister brought this to her attention, she refused to adjust it. The food is not very good. I had a burger, and it was so dry, I couldn't finish it. Would definitely recommend this place for drinks, but nothing else.
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