Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar

Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar Restaurant Review:

Like many of downtown’s restaurants, Blue Cow is hidden in an office complex, in this case the mammoth California Plaza. Once inside, the quirky, rustic décor is in stark contrast to the glass towers soaring above. There's a large outdoor patio perfect for when the sun shines, though the interior is bright and features a view into the open kitchen. A simple but fun menu offers shareable snacks like slightly spicy fried chicken with mustard-pickle slaw on sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls, and beet-marinated deviled eggs with smoked bacon and jalapeños. There’s a small selection of salads, but most guests stick with sandwiches --- after all, this restaurant is a venture of the people who founded Mendocino Farms, which revolutionized sandwiches in downtown L.A. Consider a Kurobuta pork bánh mì with fried egg, a marinated steak sandwich, or very respectable nine-ounce burger. A few larger plates, steaks or salmon, are also available. Cocktails are a big focus --- workers pour out of the offices above to take advantage of happy hour --- with two drinks “on tap,” including their version of an Old Fashioned. There’s a tiny, but not uninteresting wine list, and desserts often include house-made ice cream sandwiches.