Not going back. Over priced for what they have to offer. First off, it was a Friday night and we were a group of 15 with reservations. They gave us the new guy. He couldn't even uncork a bottle of wine...well couldn't uncork two of them. He had to take the first bottle to the back to finish it. Sketchy. The meats. The bacon wrapped chicken was so dry and dense it was not etible. The lamb lacked flavor and was gamy. I am a medium rare kind of gal so for red meats that was all I tried. I remember the rib eye being tasty the first go round, but when it came back through, it just tasted blan and bloody. The garlic steak did not taste good and the rest was not memorable. Everything was either too salty or blan. Salad bar. This was the highlight of the restaurant. There were many selections of salads, cheese, hot sides and shrimp cocktail. After our desserts and coffee had been consumed for sometime, we had to ask for the bills. After 40 minutes, and him coming back twice to verify who had what drinks, we finally received our bills. Being a Texas De Brazil fan, this place cannot compare. The building outside, and in, is lack luster. We were seated two feet from the salad bar. The ambience was noisy and it was just too small of a restaurant for the many they accommodate. They charge way too much for what they have to offer.
(1)
Michelle L.
Absolutely delicious dinner with my love. Service was great and the food was superb! I don't think I have ever had better bacon wrapped fillet in my life! The Gauchos were very friendly and stopped by quite often. We did go on a Thursday night, not a crazy busy time.
(5)
J K.
Food was good however we would have enjoyed our meal more if our waitress wasn't rushing us the whole time. She presented us with dessert right after we started eating. Made it really uncomfortable and awkward.
(3)
Chris S.
There are only two Brazilian steakhouses in Columbia, SC and after having been to both, Cowboy tops the list. The experience is always the same, and predictable awesomeness never gets old. The staff are always accommodating to me and I can always find a meat selection for any mood I might be in. Have a vegetarian friend or family member in tow? No problem, the salad bar is chock full of delicious pastas, salads and cheeses and fruits in addition to the traditional salad bar offerings you might expect. When out of town guests ask for dining suggestions, Cowboy always makes the cut. I do recommend a reservation as seating becomes very limited. Be prepared to walk a bit as on-street parking is at a premium.
(4)
Gunter L.
Been here for lunch three times so far and every time the food and service was great except for the last time. The waitress asked me if I needed change when I handed her my money for the bill. A server should never assume a tip. I was actually planning on tipping her more had she not asked me that.
(3)
John L.
Very delicious meats, beef, sausages, chicken , lamb etc, cooked to perfection, served by very friendly gauchos! Great salad bar, but why eat salad when there are so much meats available? We will surely come back for more!
(5)
Tim J.
Went for lunch, had party of about 30 people, not that that matters. Salad bar was well stocked with a variety of things but $11.95 for a salad is ridiculous for a salad. Meat was ok, wasn't impressed with meat quality and nothing was cooked correctly for 2 out of the 4 in the group i brought to the soiree. Was not impressed!
(2)
WanderLustinDani P.
The food, flavor, atmosphere was very pleasing, much to be desired, presentation of the food was Excellent. A host of items on the menu, offering something for the whole family. My husband enjoyed the homemade beer choices. The shop was both clean and tidy, having plenty seating. The hostess/ waitress was attentive at all times. Staff members there greeted us in/ out when we left. The food was more than filling, loved all the dishes thus far. Lots of meat to choose from, salad bar excellent. We will certainly be returning soon and would recommend this facility. My husband and I loved this place.
(4)
KeiKei B.
Lunch at this spot is amazing! They have a buffet that is bar none and it even includes collard greens that are spiced, seasoned and amazing! The only thing not on the buffet is the meat. But you can order those separately for $5 at the most. My cousin had the lamb and I had the steak, med well. What amazing meat and how fantatically cooked it was! I ordered the shrimp as well and it was perfect. But the veggies and all the salads available made this a lunch well worth the $20 price tag. They also served my Amaretto Sours! Cannot, cannot wait to go back for dinner when I am back in town!!!
(4)
Tina L.
If people say this is the best Brazilian Steakhouse in the area, I'm scared to try the other places. Yes, they offered many types of meats. But we had to specifically ask for the ribs, sausage and filet. Never saw the filet at our table although they offered it to tables behind us. When the sirloin came around, I couldn't believe how raw it was. It wasn't even warm. I thought the server was cutting off an uncooked, fatty piece so he wouldn't have to serve it but instead placed it on my plate. The salad bar and desert were the only saving qualities. This was our second trip here and we were equally disappointed both times. Plus, we both woke with stomach pains in the middle of the night. Servers were friendly, place was clean, but the meat was either overdone (ribs) or raw (most the steaks). I will not be eating here again!
(1)
T G.
Holy meat lovers Batman! This is a house dedicated to carnivores...and the meat is seemingly endless. Awesome food, awesome service! The meats were delicious and flavorful and the salad bar has the best chicken salad in town. If you have $100 to spend on a date night for 2, I'd definitely recommend. The only downside is the lack of parking around the restaurant but its cool because you can probably use the walk back to your car after stuffing yourself.
(5)
Rick T.
Man my friends love this place, but I not into it all sadly. The cuts of meat just weren't worth the price that we paid that night. Great location and all but it's just not for me and that's my opinion it doesn't have to be yours. Portions and portions of cheap cuts to me.
(2)
Tim M.
Awesome! I would definitely recommend. Great atmosphere and fantastic food! If in South Carolina you should definitely try this place!
(5)
Alice W.
Oh my goodness, I don't think I have enough words to describe how delicious absolutely everything was. We decided on a whim to have dinner with friends and every single thing we had was delicious. Our server was great and the meats were delicious. Flank steak, filet mignon, ribeye, and the bacon wrapped chicken were the best! 10/10 would recommend, totally worth the price!
(5)
Jared M.
We have tried many Brazilian restaurants in South Carolina and Atlanta this by far was the worst experience in a Brazilian steakhouse we have had the meat was severely undercooked or overcooked and dry we were seated at the rear of the building and were the last to be served any of the skewers of meat so by the time they got to us all of the good cuts were gone in fact we were not offered lamb chops at all we had to ask for beef to be brought to our table because all they offered us was sausage and chicken over and over actually five times before any beef was offered to us the salad bar was excellent the water was good the service was less than average and a cold gust of wind came through the rear of the restaurant every time someone walked in the front door we will not be back
(1)
Ron W.
Great food liked everything I ate. Everything from salad bar to mash potatoes to collard greens and endless meat choices
(5)
Teri M.
Cowboys restaurant is a great experience. We visited on a Sunday night. The salad bar was excellent & the Gauchos came around at regular intervals to continually offer great cuts of meat. Everyone was friendly, including the owner who stopped by our table to ask if we were enjoying our dinner. Dessert was delicious!
(5)
Don D.
We went to Brazilian Cowboy for the first time tonight and enjoyed it very much. I lived in Rio and have visited Brazil and Argentina many times and like the concept of rotating waiters with meat on skewers coming to the table. The Ciaipirinhas were very authentic, and delicious. The Wine list is impressive and not over priced. The salad bar was very fresh, varied, and good. We loved it and will go back soon.
(5)
Anna R.
Three of us had lunch at Cowboys today. We skipped the meat option. Everything on the salad bar was fresh and perky looking, and everything we tried was excellent. I especially liked the chicken salad and potato salad. My favorites were the hot items, the black beans and rice, the mashed potatoes, and especially the mushrooms. I lived in Brazil for a couple of years, and like Cowboys' version of the cuisine better than I did the food in Brazil. It was all very good, the service was attentive, the place was attractive, and we look forward to returning.
(5)
Lisa M.
This was my first Brazilian steak house - north of the border. It was not as good as the reviews seemed to indicate. Every cut of meat was over-done and the chicken was dry. The lamb had an odd taste. Maybe it was a bad night for lamb. The dining room is cavernous. More suited to a cafeteria. Not a romantic, intimate experience. But then maybe what you're looking for is a place to get a lot of protein, fast, and not picky about cut or quality of meat, like you're feeding a football team (or just the linemen - at $35 per dinner, this is not cheap) then this is the place for you. In summary: If you want quantity of meat instead of quality then this is the place for you. However, it's not the place for me.
(2)
David G.
Now this is how I like to eat. The salad bar was well stocked with some items that seemed more like a side dish than it did a salad ingredient or enhancement. It could have made for a satisfying meal on its own. In fact, you can choose to purchase access to the salad bar only, if you wish. Even though it was very nice, the salad bar was not what made it so enjoyable to me. It was the many different meats, cooked in different ways and I didn't have to choose just one. You can try all of their meats as if dining at a buffet, but not really in a buffet setting and it was all hot off the grill. There are a few servers walking around with different meats that you can accept or decline. They are constantly on the move, travelling from the kitchen to the dining room, cycling through the many different and always tasty cuts. You never feel rushed to eat and get out. In fact, they recommend that you take your time and try everything, even if you have to relax a while and start eating again. I have never been to a place that served in this manner and I liked it. I would love to say that I would be a regular customer there, but being that I live in San Diego and this place is in South Carolina, all I can do is salivate every time I think about meat. At first, I was a little surprised by the cost of the meal, $20.00 for the salad bar only and $34.00 for both the meat and salad bar, but after tasting the food, I think it was worth it. I know, I know, $34.00 may not be expensive at all to some people, but since living alone, I tend to hit up the taco shop and other fast food places soooooooo.... Anyway, this I liked the service, the food, the venue and the price. Yes, I know the only negative comment I made was about the price, but I didn't pay for it. I just had o get the prices in here somehow.
(4)
Rebecca A.
I come here every time my parents come into town to see me. This is a pleasant place for a nice dinner. Steak is not my thing, so I get the salad bar instead. There's a pretty decent selection of salad items and other foods. They also have a few hot dishes like black beans, rice, and mashed potatoes. They've got a vat of soup as well in case you want some. Don't waste your time with the dinner rolls found in the salad bar, they're simply not good. They're dried out and taste a little like raw dough. My parents love the picanha steak and also the cinnamon pineapple. My favorite are the little dishes they bring to the table, which are the fried polenta, the fried bananas, and the pao de queijo. You can ask for more of these and they won't charge you for extra! I hear they have a lunch salad bar for $10, which sounds to me like a great deal. If you like steak you'll love this place, and if you're not a steak fan like me you'll still have a nice dining experience.
(4)
Drew E.
You will go. You will eat. You will get the meat sweats. You will hate yourself for the next two days. You will like it a lot.
(4)
Abby R.
Went to Cowboy for a well overdue girls night out on a Saturday evening. I make an online reservation because I did not want to wait with crowd since Saturdays are usually busy days for downtown Columbia. Parked my car in the free valet spot and this wonderful experience was up to a great start. We were seated right away I was happy because we were all hungry. Our waitress took our drink order explained how it all works if you wish to have just a salad bar or unlimited choice of meats. Wow! All the meats I had were tasty and tender. The only one I did not like was the lamb but to be fair am not really a fan of lamb. It just didnt have enough flavor for me. The meats just kept coming and they are not cheap with portions if you want more or less just tell them they will be happy to go get another person with your favorite meat,cut or cooked preference. We were there from 6:pm until 10:00 and never felt rushed the drinks were filled twice but we had to ask our waitress. She was friendly but the only thing that would have made it perfect would had been if she came over more to check on us but in all honesty when we flaged her down she came and took care of our needs quickly. The desserts come in a sample platter, I ordered the Key lime pie, my friends ordered the cheese cake, chocolate cake and flan. We shared all the desserts . It was all soooo yummy. The meat servers were awesome! Everyone was very friendly and eager to please us we will definitely return.
(5)
Scor P.
This is the place for you to visit if you like meat. I took my wife here a few months ago and we both enjoyed it. There's a good choice of vegetables and such to graze on while you're waiting to turn your attention to the main fare. The experience was one of those things you should do once. Overall it was a good time. I'll be back in a few months.
(4)
Kaye S.
Best kept secret for lunch!! It is great for dinner too, but I love the salad bar for lunch... great healthy alternatives. Love the area too!!
(4)
Karen S.
I have to give credit to Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse for being original. There is nothing else like it in the Columbia area. For me, I am not able to justify paying $30 for both the meat and salad bar, for the amount of meat you may or may not get during your vsist. During our visit, one person in our party had asked for a particular piece of meat, but the person who was serving this meat, did not make it to our table. I only did the salad bar portion of the meal, and again, $15 is a lot for what you are able to get for your money. The one major downfall was the lack of customer service we had when we dined here. There was a group of four people that sat down initially (at a four person table). Another person in our party came in late. Thinking we might be able to combine the table we currently were sitting at with an empty table next to ours, the manager (or another one of the high ups) had told us this was not possible, since the two person table (that was vacant) was already reserved for another party. He was not too particually interested in us trying to squeeze another person on our already full four person table. We were able to squeeze our additional person in, but again, the customer service could be improved.
(3)
Elizabeth L.
We have been here several times and have always had great service and great food! Our only complaint is that the food seems to come out 5-6 at a time and then none for a while. Delicious and can not wait to return!
(4)
John F.
Very disappointed. You might call this place Faux-go De Chao. It is very clearly trying to emulate higher quality Brazilian steakhouses, but is not pulling it off. The salad bar had great variety, but the didn't seem very fresh. For the main attraction, I was extremely disappointed. The Gauchos with the meat Skewers came by the table very infrequently and in almost every case had low quality cuts of steak (Sirloin, Flank Steak, Beef Ribs, Chicken) and every kind of lamb you could imagine. If I hadn't paid top dollar for this dinner I might have considered it a blessing that I sat for long periods of time staring at an empty plate. Most of the meats were served very rare to the point of being bloody and not very appetizing. Even the fliet mignon (the highest quality type of meat they had) was pretty chewy and not very good. Overall, nothing looked very appetizing in terms of the main courses and I felt ripped off. To top it off, the deserts we got were sub par too. I wasn't even aware that it was possible to mess up creme brulee and flan, but they managed somehow. Tasted like the stuff you buy frozen in the grocery store and heat up. If it were half the price I'm still not sure I'd recommend it. If you are going to spend this kind of money, there are a lot better options. The final straw: The Valet took like 20 minutes to return with my car after taking my ticket. Ugh. I could drive to the edge of town in 20 minutes in this small berg. The only bright spot was our primary server. She was very friendly and welcoming.
(2)
Jason M.
Went there on a date and was expecting great stuff for $32 dollars a plate. But man the rice was awful not cooked and watery, I'm never returning there and if you like rice you should reconsider! Other than that it was great tho, just had a bad experience.
(3)
James A.
I typically try to visit a place a few times before I write a review, but I just can't resist sharing how much I enjoyed my visit to Cowboy's tonight. I'm in SC visiting family and we decided to splurge a bit tonight. This was my first time at a Brazilian steakhouse. We arrived around 6:30 tonight and were promptly seated. Our waiter, Aaron, immediately came to our table to present himself and share the concept of the restaurant. He was very thorough and attentive throughout the evening. The salad bar was impressive, but I knew I need not fill up there. They have over 30 options, but I just had a small mixed green salad. I could see the delicious meats making their way out of the kitchen and they had my name on them. The concept here is simple. You have a token on your table. One side is green and the other red. When green is up the meat will come... red and they stop delivering. The gauchos, meat servers, were all great. One in particular, Joey, was extremely personable and really informative about all of the selections. This is a meat lovers paradise, and I am a meat lover. In fact, I often tell people that I would eat anything that had a mother. They have 15 different meat options here. My favorites were the house special Picanha and the Pork Parmesan. All of the meats I had were well seasoned and well cooked. We really enjoyed our trip and I look forward to visiting again.
(4)
Russell C.
Absolutely terrible!! Went there for a friends birthday. The meat, when it came, was all terrible. It either had way to much garlic or was so overdone it was almost unedible. Alot of money for low grade meat soaked in garlic. STAY AWAY!! To bad because it sounds like cool place.
(1)
Augie M.
Everything about this place was amazing. I've been to many Churrascos but only one really impressed me before I came here (Rey Do Gado in downtown San Diego). I can honestly say the salad bar and sides were far better. The down side, there isn't much of a variety of meats but that is not a big deal because what meats they do have are excellent. I think we paid $30 per person (Rey Do Gado in 2007 was about $55 per person) so you really can't go wrong. I've recommended to as many people I come in contact with and everyone who took my advice were pleasantly surprised and happy.I know I am liberal when it comes to giving a 5 star rating on Yelp, but when you come across a good thing why play the quota game?
(5)
Jason M.
Pretty great value for lunch nice salad bar and good beef soup, both pasta salads were cooked perfectly!! Butter balls for the bread were the perfect size and soft so easy to spread. Prefer my chicken salad without raisins but once they were picked out it was tasty too. Love that you can order meats as you want instead of a $25 lunch.
(4)
Scott T.
Only giving this place 1 start because I can't give it -5. Service was marginal, bar was typical. Meats were of poor quality an seasoned poorly. The salad bar was typical of any Ruby Tuesdays. Definitely won't return and will steer others away
(1)
Lisa N.
Holy happy fat kid. Random date night out. Walking down Main Street and caught a whiff of gloriously roasted meat. First time at a Brazilian Steakhouse. Ah-may-zing. 15 or so different meats, amazing salad bar filled with sides and plenty of filling non-meat options for everyone. Little baby cheese biscuits were to die for and the surprise winner of the night for awesomeness was grilled pineapple sprinkled with cinnamon. It was a nice light dessert to top off the meat bowling ball in mah belly. $20 for salad bar only, $34 for the full gamut. Drinks were pretty cheap too. Glass of house cab sav for $5. Would definitely come back hungrier than I arrived this evening.
(5)
Brandy B.
A few years ago I'd heard about Brazilian steakhouses in Charlotte from a few people and they only had good things to say. I've passed this restaurant numerous times since its joined in the efforts to revitalize main st., and I've always thought the aesthetics from the outside were nice. Recently I've had the pleasure of meeting a few employees of Cowboy (they attend a gym I worked at), they all have been so polite and personable which really encouraged me to stop in and check the place out! Despite the fact that I recently stopped eating meat, I still thought it would be worth a try for a few reasons (I love the staff I've met, my bf is a carnivore andddddd they've got a 30 item salad bar - even though buffets usually gross me out!!!). We went in on Friday night around 7:30pm, without reservations and were sat immediately (the hostess did ask if we had reservations). Our server came, introduced herself, and went over what to expect. We ordered our drinks and helped ourselves to the salad bar/hot bar. She also brought a small plate of 3 items (no clue at all what they were - maybe baked cheese, French fry looking things and deep fried bananas). I got caesar salad, asparagus, apple salad, broccoli salad, potato salad, tabouli, gouda (most favorite cheese ever), tomatoes & fresh mozzarella, cucumber salad, and a dinner roll, my bf got a few items as well to go along with the meat the gauchos were bringing around. He ended up trying every cut of meat (except the sausage) they brought out and let me have the warm cinnamon pineapple :) which was delicious. We made 2 trips to the salad bar (gotta get your bang for the buck). My bf had no complaints about the meats (his favorites were the Parmesan crusted pork, and maybe some flank steak (not sure the cut). His meal was $34 for meat/salad bar and mine was $20 for just the salad bar. All in all it was a good experience and I recommend anyone who hasn't been to a Brazilian steakhouse to at least give it a try!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jessica T.
Not going back. Over priced for what they have to offer. First off, it was a Friday night and we were a group of 15 with reservations. They gave us the new guy. He couldn't even uncork a bottle of wine...well couldn't uncork two of them. He had to take the first bottle to the back to finish it. Sketchy. The meats. The bacon wrapped chicken was so dry and dense it was not etible. The lamb lacked flavor and was gamy. I am a medium rare kind of gal so for red meats that was all I tried. I remember the rib eye being tasty the first go round, but when it came back through, it just tasted blan and bloody. The garlic steak did not taste good and the rest was not memorable. Everything was either too salty or blan. Salad bar. This was the highlight of the restaurant. There were many selections of salads, cheese, hot sides and shrimp cocktail. After our desserts and coffee had been consumed for sometime, we had to ask for the bills. After 40 minutes, and him coming back twice to verify who had what drinks, we finally received our bills. Being a Texas De Brazil fan, this place cannot compare. The building outside, and in, is lack luster. We were seated two feet from the salad bar. The ambience was noisy and it was just too small of a restaurant for the many they accommodate. They charge way too much for what they have to offer.
(1)Michelle L.
Absolutely delicious dinner with my love. Service was great and the food was superb! I don't think I have ever had better bacon wrapped fillet in my life! The Gauchos were very friendly and stopped by quite often. We did go on a Thursday night, not a crazy busy time.
(5)J K.
Food was good however we would have enjoyed our meal more if our waitress wasn't rushing us the whole time. She presented us with dessert right after we started eating. Made it really uncomfortable and awkward.
(3)Chris S.
There are only two Brazilian steakhouses in Columbia, SC and after having been to both, Cowboy tops the list. The experience is always the same, and predictable awesomeness never gets old. The staff are always accommodating to me and I can always find a meat selection for any mood I might be in. Have a vegetarian friend or family member in tow? No problem, the salad bar is chock full of delicious pastas, salads and cheeses and fruits in addition to the traditional salad bar offerings you might expect. When out of town guests ask for dining suggestions, Cowboy always makes the cut. I do recommend a reservation as seating becomes very limited. Be prepared to walk a bit as on-street parking is at a premium.
(4)Gunter L.
Been here for lunch three times so far and every time the food and service was great except for the last time. The waitress asked me if I needed change when I handed her my money for the bill. A server should never assume a tip. I was actually planning on tipping her more had she not asked me that.
(3)John L.
Very delicious meats, beef, sausages, chicken , lamb etc, cooked to perfection, served by very friendly gauchos! Great salad bar, but why eat salad when there are so much meats available? We will surely come back for more!
(5)Tim J.
Went for lunch, had party of about 30 people, not that that matters. Salad bar was well stocked with a variety of things but $11.95 for a salad is ridiculous for a salad. Meat was ok, wasn't impressed with meat quality and nothing was cooked correctly for 2 out of the 4 in the group i brought to the soiree. Was not impressed!
(2)WanderLustinDani P.
The food, flavor, atmosphere was very pleasing, much to be desired, presentation of the food was Excellent. A host of items on the menu, offering something for the whole family. My husband enjoyed the homemade beer choices. The shop was both clean and tidy, having plenty seating. The hostess/ waitress was attentive at all times. Staff members there greeted us in/ out when we left. The food was more than filling, loved all the dishes thus far. Lots of meat to choose from, salad bar excellent. We will certainly be returning soon and would recommend this facility. My husband and I loved this place.
(4)KeiKei B.
Lunch at this spot is amazing! They have a buffet that is bar none and it even includes collard greens that are spiced, seasoned and amazing! The only thing not on the buffet is the meat. But you can order those separately for $5 at the most. My cousin had the lamb and I had the steak, med well. What amazing meat and how fantatically cooked it was! I ordered the shrimp as well and it was perfect. But the veggies and all the salads available made this a lunch well worth the $20 price tag. They also served my Amaretto Sours! Cannot, cannot wait to go back for dinner when I am back in town!!!
(4)Tina L.
If people say this is the best Brazilian Steakhouse in the area, I'm scared to try the other places. Yes, they offered many types of meats. But we had to specifically ask for the ribs, sausage and filet. Never saw the filet at our table although they offered it to tables behind us. When the sirloin came around, I couldn't believe how raw it was. It wasn't even warm. I thought the server was cutting off an uncooked, fatty piece so he wouldn't have to serve it but instead placed it on my plate. The salad bar and desert were the only saving qualities. This was our second trip here and we were equally disappointed both times. Plus, we both woke with stomach pains in the middle of the night. Servers were friendly, place was clean, but the meat was either overdone (ribs) or raw (most the steaks). I will not be eating here again!
(1)T G.
Holy meat lovers Batman! This is a house dedicated to carnivores...and the meat is seemingly endless. Awesome food, awesome service! The meats were delicious and flavorful and the salad bar has the best chicken salad in town. If you have $100 to spend on a date night for 2, I'd definitely recommend. The only downside is the lack of parking around the restaurant but its cool because you can probably use the walk back to your car after stuffing yourself.
(5)Rick T.
Man my friends love this place, but I not into it all sadly. The cuts of meat just weren't worth the price that we paid that night. Great location and all but it's just not for me and that's my opinion it doesn't have to be yours. Portions and portions of cheap cuts to me.
(2)Tim M.
Awesome! I would definitely recommend. Great atmosphere and fantastic food! If in South Carolina you should definitely try this place!
(5)Alice W.
Oh my goodness, I don't think I have enough words to describe how delicious absolutely everything was. We decided on a whim to have dinner with friends and every single thing we had was delicious. Our server was great and the meats were delicious. Flank steak, filet mignon, ribeye, and the bacon wrapped chicken were the best! 10/10 would recommend, totally worth the price!
(5)Jared M.
We have tried many Brazilian restaurants in South Carolina and Atlanta this by far was the worst experience in a Brazilian steakhouse we have had the meat was severely undercooked or overcooked and dry we were seated at the rear of the building and were the last to be served any of the skewers of meat so by the time they got to us all of the good cuts were gone in fact we were not offered lamb chops at all we had to ask for beef to be brought to our table because all they offered us was sausage and chicken over and over actually five times before any beef was offered to us the salad bar was excellent the water was good the service was less than average and a cold gust of wind came through the rear of the restaurant every time someone walked in the front door we will not be back
(1)Ron W.
Great food liked everything I ate. Everything from salad bar to mash potatoes to collard greens and endless meat choices
(5)Teri M.
Cowboys restaurant is a great experience. We visited on a Sunday night. The salad bar was excellent & the Gauchos came around at regular intervals to continually offer great cuts of meat. Everyone was friendly, including the owner who stopped by our table to ask if we were enjoying our dinner. Dessert was delicious!
(5)Don D.
We went to Brazilian Cowboy for the first time tonight and enjoyed it very much. I lived in Rio and have visited Brazil and Argentina many times and like the concept of rotating waiters with meat on skewers coming to the table. The Ciaipirinhas were very authentic, and delicious. The Wine list is impressive and not over priced. The salad bar was very fresh, varied, and good. We loved it and will go back soon.
(5)Anna R.
Three of us had lunch at Cowboys today. We skipped the meat option. Everything on the salad bar was fresh and perky looking, and everything we tried was excellent. I especially liked the chicken salad and potato salad. My favorites were the hot items, the black beans and rice, the mashed potatoes, and especially the mushrooms. I lived in Brazil for a couple of years, and like Cowboys' version of the cuisine better than I did the food in Brazil. It was all very good, the service was attentive, the place was attractive, and we look forward to returning.
(5)Lisa M.
This was my first Brazilian steak house - north of the border. It was not as good as the reviews seemed to indicate. Every cut of meat was over-done and the chicken was dry. The lamb had an odd taste. Maybe it was a bad night for lamb. The dining room is cavernous. More suited to a cafeteria. Not a romantic, intimate experience. But then maybe what you're looking for is a place to get a lot of protein, fast, and not picky about cut or quality of meat, like you're feeding a football team (or just the linemen - at $35 per dinner, this is not cheap) then this is the place for you. In summary: If you want quantity of meat instead of quality then this is the place for you. However, it's not the place for me.
(2)David G.
Now this is how I like to eat. The salad bar was well stocked with some items that seemed more like a side dish than it did a salad ingredient or enhancement. It could have made for a satisfying meal on its own. In fact, you can choose to purchase access to the salad bar only, if you wish. Even though it was very nice, the salad bar was not what made it so enjoyable to me. It was the many different meats, cooked in different ways and I didn't have to choose just one. You can try all of their meats as if dining at a buffet, but not really in a buffet setting and it was all hot off the grill. There are a few servers walking around with different meats that you can accept or decline. They are constantly on the move, travelling from the kitchen to the dining room, cycling through the many different and always tasty cuts. You never feel rushed to eat and get out. In fact, they recommend that you take your time and try everything, even if you have to relax a while and start eating again. I have never been to a place that served in this manner and I liked it. I would love to say that I would be a regular customer there, but being that I live in San Diego and this place is in South Carolina, all I can do is salivate every time I think about meat. At first, I was a little surprised by the cost of the meal, $20.00 for the salad bar only and $34.00 for both the meat and salad bar, but after tasting the food, I think it was worth it. I know, I know, $34.00 may not be expensive at all to some people, but since living alone, I tend to hit up the taco shop and other fast food places soooooooo.... Anyway, this I liked the service, the food, the venue and the price. Yes, I know the only negative comment I made was about the price, but I didn't pay for it. I just had o get the prices in here somehow.
(4)Rebecca A.
I come here every time my parents come into town to see me. This is a pleasant place for a nice dinner. Steak is not my thing, so I get the salad bar instead. There's a pretty decent selection of salad items and other foods. They also have a few hot dishes like black beans, rice, and mashed potatoes. They've got a vat of soup as well in case you want some. Don't waste your time with the dinner rolls found in the salad bar, they're simply not good. They're dried out and taste a little like raw dough. My parents love the picanha steak and also the cinnamon pineapple. My favorite are the little dishes they bring to the table, which are the fried polenta, the fried bananas, and the pao de queijo. You can ask for more of these and they won't charge you for extra! I hear they have a lunch salad bar for $10, which sounds to me like a great deal. If you like steak you'll love this place, and if you're not a steak fan like me you'll still have a nice dining experience.
(4)Drew E.
You will go. You will eat. You will get the meat sweats. You will hate yourself for the next two days. You will like it a lot.
(4)Abby R.
Went to Cowboy for a well overdue girls night out on a Saturday evening. I make an online reservation because I did not want to wait with crowd since Saturdays are usually busy days for downtown Columbia. Parked my car in the free valet spot and this wonderful experience was up to a great start. We were seated right away I was happy because we were all hungry. Our waitress took our drink order explained how it all works if you wish to have just a salad bar or unlimited choice of meats. Wow! All the meats I had were tasty and tender. The only one I did not like was the lamb but to be fair am not really a fan of lamb. It just didnt have enough flavor for me. The meats just kept coming and they are not cheap with portions if you want more or less just tell them they will be happy to go get another person with your favorite meat,cut or cooked preference. We were there from 6:pm until 10:00 and never felt rushed the drinks were filled twice but we had to ask our waitress. She was friendly but the only thing that would have made it perfect would had been if she came over more to check on us but in all honesty when we flaged her down she came and took care of our needs quickly. The desserts come in a sample platter, I ordered the Key lime pie, my friends ordered the cheese cake, chocolate cake and flan. We shared all the desserts . It was all soooo yummy. The meat servers were awesome! Everyone was very friendly and eager to please us we will definitely return.
(5)Scor P.
This is the place for you to visit if you like meat. I took my wife here a few months ago and we both enjoyed it. There's a good choice of vegetables and such to graze on while you're waiting to turn your attention to the main fare. The experience was one of those things you should do once. Overall it was a good time. I'll be back in a few months.
(4)Kaye S.
Best kept secret for lunch!! It is great for dinner too, but I love the salad bar for lunch... great healthy alternatives. Love the area too!!
(4)Karen S.
I have to give credit to Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse for being original. There is nothing else like it in the Columbia area. For me, I am not able to justify paying $30 for both the meat and salad bar, for the amount of meat you may or may not get during your vsist. During our visit, one person in our party had asked for a particular piece of meat, but the person who was serving this meat, did not make it to our table. I only did the salad bar portion of the meal, and again, $15 is a lot for what you are able to get for your money. The one major downfall was the lack of customer service we had when we dined here. There was a group of four people that sat down initially (at a four person table). Another person in our party came in late. Thinking we might be able to combine the table we currently were sitting at with an empty table next to ours, the manager (or another one of the high ups) had told us this was not possible, since the two person table (that was vacant) was already reserved for another party. He was not too particually interested in us trying to squeeze another person on our already full four person table. We were able to squeeze our additional person in, but again, the customer service could be improved.
(3)Elizabeth L.
We have been here several times and have always had great service and great food! Our only complaint is that the food seems to come out 5-6 at a time and then none for a while. Delicious and can not wait to return!
(4)John F.
Very disappointed. You might call this place Faux-go De Chao. It is very clearly trying to emulate higher quality Brazilian steakhouses, but is not pulling it off. The salad bar had great variety, but the didn't seem very fresh. For the main attraction, I was extremely disappointed. The Gauchos with the meat Skewers came by the table very infrequently and in almost every case had low quality cuts of steak (Sirloin, Flank Steak, Beef Ribs, Chicken) and every kind of lamb you could imagine. If I hadn't paid top dollar for this dinner I might have considered it a blessing that I sat for long periods of time staring at an empty plate. Most of the meats were served very rare to the point of being bloody and not very appetizing. Even the fliet mignon (the highest quality type of meat they had) was pretty chewy and not very good. Overall, nothing looked very appetizing in terms of the main courses and I felt ripped off. To top it off, the deserts we got were sub par too. I wasn't even aware that it was possible to mess up creme brulee and flan, but they managed somehow. Tasted like the stuff you buy frozen in the grocery store and heat up. If it were half the price I'm still not sure I'd recommend it. If you are going to spend this kind of money, there are a lot better options. The final straw: The Valet took like 20 minutes to return with my car after taking my ticket. Ugh. I could drive to the edge of town in 20 minutes in this small berg. The only bright spot was our primary server. She was very friendly and welcoming.
(2)Jason M.
Went there on a date and was expecting great stuff for $32 dollars a plate. But man the rice was awful not cooked and watery, I'm never returning there and if you like rice you should reconsider! Other than that it was great tho, just had a bad experience.
(3)James A.
I typically try to visit a place a few times before I write a review, but I just can't resist sharing how much I enjoyed my visit to Cowboy's tonight. I'm in SC visiting family and we decided to splurge a bit tonight. This was my first time at a Brazilian steakhouse. We arrived around 6:30 tonight and were promptly seated. Our waiter, Aaron, immediately came to our table to present himself and share the concept of the restaurant. He was very thorough and attentive throughout the evening. The salad bar was impressive, but I knew I need not fill up there. They have over 30 options, but I just had a small mixed green salad. I could see the delicious meats making their way out of the kitchen and they had my name on them. The concept here is simple. You have a token on your table. One side is green and the other red. When green is up the meat will come... red and they stop delivering. The gauchos, meat servers, were all great. One in particular, Joey, was extremely personable and really informative about all of the selections. This is a meat lovers paradise, and I am a meat lover. In fact, I often tell people that I would eat anything that had a mother. They have 15 different meat options here. My favorites were the house special Picanha and the Pork Parmesan. All of the meats I had were well seasoned and well cooked. We really enjoyed our trip and I look forward to visiting again.
(4)Russell C.
Absolutely terrible!! Went there for a friends birthday. The meat, when it came, was all terrible. It either had way to much garlic or was so overdone it was almost unedible. Alot of money for low grade meat soaked in garlic. STAY AWAY!! To bad because it sounds like cool place.
(1)Augie M.
Everything about this place was amazing. I've been to many Churrascos but only one really impressed me before I came here (Rey Do Gado in downtown San Diego). I can honestly say the salad bar and sides were far better. The down side, there isn't much of a variety of meats but that is not a big deal because what meats they do have are excellent. I think we paid $30 per person (Rey Do Gado in 2007 was about $55 per person) so you really can't go wrong. I've recommended to as many people I come in contact with and everyone who took my advice were pleasantly surprised and happy.I know I am liberal when it comes to giving a 5 star rating on Yelp, but when you come across a good thing why play the quota game?
(5)Jason M.
Pretty great value for lunch nice salad bar and good beef soup, both pasta salads were cooked perfectly!! Butter balls for the bread were the perfect size and soft so easy to spread. Prefer my chicken salad without raisins but once they were picked out it was tasty too. Love that you can order meats as you want instead of a $25 lunch.
(4)Scott T.
Only giving this place 1 start because I can't give it -5. Service was marginal, bar was typical. Meats were of poor quality an seasoned poorly. The salad bar was typical of any Ruby Tuesdays. Definitely won't return and will steer others away
(1)Lisa N.
Holy happy fat kid. Random date night out. Walking down Main Street and caught a whiff of gloriously roasted meat. First time at a Brazilian Steakhouse. Ah-may-zing. 15 or so different meats, amazing salad bar filled with sides and plenty of filling non-meat options for everyone. Little baby cheese biscuits were to die for and the surprise winner of the night for awesomeness was grilled pineapple sprinkled with cinnamon. It was a nice light dessert to top off the meat bowling ball in mah belly. $20 for salad bar only, $34 for the full gamut. Drinks were pretty cheap too. Glass of house cab sav for $5. Would definitely come back hungrier than I arrived this evening.
(5)Brandy B.
A few years ago I'd heard about Brazilian steakhouses in Charlotte from a few people and they only had good things to say. I've passed this restaurant numerous times since its joined in the efforts to revitalize main st., and I've always thought the aesthetics from the outside were nice. Recently I've had the pleasure of meeting a few employees of Cowboy (they attend a gym I worked at), they all have been so polite and personable which really encouraged me to stop in and check the place out! Despite the fact that I recently stopped eating meat, I still thought it would be worth a try for a few reasons (I love the staff I've met, my bf is a carnivore andddddd they've got a 30 item salad bar - even though buffets usually gross me out!!!). We went in on Friday night around 7:30pm, without reservations and were sat immediately (the hostess did ask if we had reservations). Our server came, introduced herself, and went over what to expect. We ordered our drinks and helped ourselves to the salad bar/hot bar. She also brought a small plate of 3 items (no clue at all what they were - maybe baked cheese, French fry looking things and deep fried bananas). I got caesar salad, asparagus, apple salad, broccoli salad, potato salad, tabouli, gouda (most favorite cheese ever), tomatoes & fresh mozzarella, cucumber salad, and a dinner roll, my bf got a few items as well to go along with the meat the gauchos were bringing around. He ended up trying every cut of meat (except the sausage) they brought out and let me have the warm cinnamon pineapple :) which was delicious. We made 2 trips to the salad bar (gotta get your bang for the buck). My bf had no complaints about the meats (his favorites were the Parmesan crusted pork, and maybe some flank steak (not sure the cut). His meal was $34 for meat/salad bar and mine was $20 for just the salad bar. All in all it was a good experience and I recommend anyone who hasn't been to a Brazilian steakhouse to at least give it a try!
(4)