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    Cow By Bear

    4.5 (147 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSteakhouses, New American
    Closed 8:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Cow By Bear Photos

    COW BY BEAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cow By Bear

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    Sirloin
    Erica C.

    A super fun experience! Meet at Nolita Hall and get picked up by a bear! They will walk you across the street to a cute dining room where you will sit with strangers who become friends by the end of the night. (Make what you want of it.) 5 courses and 5 drink pairings with a friendly host. A fun date night for sure! We enjoyed the food 8/10 overall and the experience was a 9/10.

    Toby P.

    Recently, I was lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy dinner at cow by bear. What a fun, memorable night it was. It really feels exclusive and like you are in on a big secret that few know about. After you make your reservations through a provided website and pay in advance, you get a confirmation stating they will let you know where to arrive prior to the event. I got my notification on a Tuesday before the Friday that I was set to have dinner. That gave me plenty of time to plan because parking can be a challenge in the area. My friend and I arrived at the meeting spot in Little Italy, about 45 minutes early. We were escorted into an area reserved for attendees and offered cocktails, wine or beer for an additional fee. As we sat there, other parties joined us. We got to introduce ourselves and chat a little bit before bear and her handler came over to get us. It was a wide mix of people, including several influencers. Bear led us across the street into the location where we were having dinner and her handlers explained the process. We walked in to a beautiful room with 2 ornately set stunning tables. 20 people, some of us acquainted, found our way to seats at the tables. We were welcomed with an amuse Bouche consisting of a crab hush puppy and refreshing cocktail. As we chatted with those all around us and snapped photos the dishes began to arrive. Each course of wine & food was explained in detail. First course was a squash dish with spiced pepitas and tahini . It was quite large and filling. It included a glass of Chardonnay I don't usually love Chardonnay but I enjoyed this one. Music filled the background as we ooohed at the presentations, chatted with each other and sipped our wine. The second course was a beautiful pasta dish with so much flavor and delicateness. It was porcini mushrooms with a Parmesan truffle cream sauce. My favorite dish of the night. It was paired with a glass of white wine. The third course was what they called a lamb cigar. It looked like an egg roll but inside were shreds of lamb. There was a dipping sauce, lemon to squeeze on it and fresh herbs. It had a lot of flavor. This was paired with a glass of red wine. The fourth course were two beautifully cooked pieces of filet mignon with pink peppercorn sauce, accompanied by 2 asparagus shoots and half a baked potato. All of it was flavorful and well seasoned. Paired with a glass of Cabernet. The final course of dessert was a spice cake with a pear cider on top and a lovely whipped cream. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and very delicious. It was paired with a cocktail that I enjoyed very much but I was very full at that point. Between courses, we got to know our table mates, had a lot of laughs and even some commonalities in friends and otherwise. It was a nice group of people, it seemed we all enjoyed our dinner and conversations. All in all, I had a really nice time and I would love to do it again in the future and bring other people to experience it. Plus the menu changes and I'd like to try other things too.

    The finale!
    A H.

    Ideal for that special occasion!! A great pairing, 5 fun different courses with 5 carefully chosen wines. Service on point, Ambiance fresh and reflective for an early summer night. Add a whimsical play list and fun conversation with strangers! The food: It was that one of a kind experience, my inner carnivore ready to snarf in a few bites. Alas, better to enjoy; bite, sip, bite, sip which took some discipline. Loved the adventure and looking forward for an occasion to return.

    L H.

    AMAZING!! We celebrated our 10 year anniversary and booked the entire evening for family and friends. We could not have been happier. Everything was perfect.

    Winter menu
    Hannah N.

    I love an intimate dining experience and Cow by Bear was just that! Definitely a pricey dining adventure but I honestly loved every second of it. They have all of the guests meet at a location across the street prior to dinner and then the host and chef bear met us and walked us over to a location for the dinner. The table was absolutely stunning, I wish I could replicate it! The menu sounded amazing and I really loved every bite of food that we got. It was 5 courses total along with wine pairings for each. I really loved getting to be apart of this experience and the Spring menu looks amazing so I may have to splurge and do it again! I could go on and on but I will let it be a surprise for those who decide to join in on this intimate dinner.

    Chef Bear and Friends
    Mayra G.

    If I could give them a 100 star review I would. This was hands down the best dining and culinary experience I've ever had. Brought my husband here for his birthday and he was over the moon! Our host Melissa was phenomenal and explained every course and pairing so well. Chef Bear is a true talent, every dish we had blew our minds. We made new friends and had the best time. I can't recommend this place enough, if you're on the fence just do it! It's such a special place and a beautiful environment to dine in. I look forward to future visits here.

    Love this tomato and stone fruit burrata salad with chili and arugula dressing
    Isha C.

    What an amazing dining experience!!! We had no idea this place existed until we accidentally came across it on Tock while looking for sushi reservation. $195 for 5 course with wine pairing is really an excellent deal! Below were my favorites that night: Tomato and stone fruit burrata salad - so simple yet so delicious! Love that they use locally sourced ingredients. The whole dish tasted very fresh and summary. Flavors were well balanced with a nice kick from the chili. Halibut ceviche - my absolute favorite dish of the night! I like ceviche and orders them whenever I go. However, this is definitely one of the best I've had! The coconut milk is light, creamy and not over powering at all. Duck confit ravioli with ricotta filling - I mean... who doesn't love a homemade ravioli topped with lemon purée sauce and pecorino? SO who claims he doesn't like Italian food ate all of his and stole half of mine. They did a great job with the wine pairing as well! Instead of having one large communal table like they did in the past, they've now separated the groups into 3 different tables. We sat with another couple and had a great time throughout the night. Can't wait to go back again and try their fall menu! Thank you Chef Bear for a wonderful dinner!

    Hushpuppy on goddess aioli

    This was a fun & intimate experience. Was really interesting to dine with other strangers who are also foodies! Service was great, staff were very friendly & personable & the setting was beautiful, sunset, outdoor space with Photo Booth & the atmosphere was very welcoming. But the food!! Everything on the menu along with wine pairings were impeccable. To start we had a hush puppy amuse on top of goddess aioli paired with Riesling. Then we had the garden watermelon salad, which offered a variety of different textures which I really appreciated, paired with rosè. Then we had ricotta raviolo with asparagus & peas paired with Chardonnay. Then I had a squash roulade on top of forbidden rice paired with Pinot noir. (I had the vegetarian option, but the offered dish was chicken & pork roulade). Then I had the mushroom steak with potato pavè paired with bordeaux. (Again, vegetarian option so the offered dish was ribeye). Then for dessert we had panna cotta paired with a delicious drink-matcha milk punch. 10/10 would highly recommend & will definitely be returning for another dining experience!

    Fifth Course: Carlsbad Strawberries, Basil, Honeycomb, Condensed Milk, Pecan Praline. And a confetti popper to celebrate our anniversary!

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    Such a fun and unique experience! Food was great, service was awesome, and the ambience was perfect. 10/10 recommend!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cow By Bear

    How do I make a reservation? I'd love to come and experience everything you have to offer and I'll only be in San Diego for a few days for my birthday!

    Hey Alexis! You can snag tickets at our website cowbybear.com. If you don’t see the dates you need, shoot us an email at info@cowbybear.com and we can probably sneak you in for some earlybird tickets. Would love to have you in!

    Does the new Germany theme mean that the menu will be German inspired? There isn't a lot of detail on the website.

    Hi Heather! Thanks for the question. Yes, the German-inspired dinners will be made up of German-inspired food courses along with sommelier pairings with fine German wines. This is the same for all the different Food by Bear regional dinners -- if it… Read more

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    C Level - C Level patio

    C Level

    4.3(5.5k reviews)
    2.3 km
    $$

    Such a goooorgeous location! Opted for outside dining with the best views of San Diego! They've got…read moreheat lamps above the tables! Service was great and everyone was kind! Shout out to our server (didn't get his name) but he was amazing and helped us with recommendations. Got the Skirt Steak Salad and they kindly split it! Might I say, the salad was so delicious! Definitely give it a shot! (server recommendation) Lobster n Fotina BLT was stuffed generously and SPECIAL. It was absolutely amazing. The lobster was nice and tasty, and the cheese complimented it so well. Perfect sharing portion since it is HUGE. I see myself coming back! Thank you C Level!

    I booked C-Level for a work dinner to celebrate our top performers and it could not have been a…read morebetter choice. We had a party of 15 and from the planning process to the actual dinner, the restaurant made the entire experience feel special and seamless. Our employees absolutely loved it. The views are honestly second to none. Watching the San Diego skyline and water during dinner created such an incredible atmosphere. The service was outstanding from start to finish and the food completely lived up to the hype. I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was unlike anything I've ever had. Rich, flavorful, and worth every bite. Then dessert happened. Our server insisted I couldn't leave without trying the peanut butter brownie ice cream dessert and now I fully understand why. Unreal. I think I need about seven more of them immediately. Highly recommend for celebrations, group dinners, date nights, or anytime you really want to impress people.

    Photos
    C Level - Skyline views

    Skyline views

    C Level - Hawaiian Ahi & Salmon Poke

    Hawaiian Ahi & Salmon Poke

    C Level - Steamed Mussel Pot

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    Steamed Mussel Pot

    Common Stock - Charred Brussels -- love!

    Common Stock

    4.7(1.2k reviews)
    2.3 kmHillcrest
    $$

    I am honestly surprised I have not written a review for this place yet, I found this place in 2021…read more I bring visitors here all the time, and it has become my ultimate comfort food spot. I tend to keep it simple and order the same items every time. My go to is the crispy Brussels for $14 and the chicken sandwich for $16, and I usually rotate in the parmesan fries for $10. While they do offer other dishes that are worth trying, these favorites always keep me coming back. The service and ambiance are consistently great. It is located in Hillcrest, so the area is always lively, which adds to the overall experience. The energy, combined with the quality of the food, makes it a reliable choice whether I am dining with friends or hosting out of town guests. Parking can be a bit challenging, but that is typical for Hillcrest. I usually plan ahead and look for street parking nearby.

    3 stars for the food, 5 stars for the drinks, so I gave em 4 stars. Got the brussels sprouts and…read moreartichoke hearts and they were doused in far too much sauce and insanely salty. I love the vegetables for what they are and want sauce and seasoning to enhance them, not be the star of the show. Got the hot honey chick and pork belly bao buns which were pretty good, nice and fluffy. Drinks wise, I got the blueberry bramble as well as the berries & cream (both vodka drinks). they were fantastic, so refreshing. Old fashioned was also top notch! server was wonderful and kind. the ambiance is amazing and is a great spot for a date or cozy evening with friends.

    Photos
    Common Stock - Espresso martinis!

    Espresso martinis!

    Common Stock - Roasted Carrot & Parsnips

    Roasted Carrot & Parsnips

    Common Stock - Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

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    Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

    Trust - Milk and Cookies

    Trust

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    2.8 kmHillcrest
    $$

    I have been wanting to come to Trust for so long and when my friends had suggested we had our…read morebrunch date I said yes. We came on Easter Sunday and was a lucky that I live close enough and had my husband drop me and friends off. To start we got their season sticky bun which was their carrot cake and we each ordered a cocktail, we got an order of espresso martinis which were little but mighty, they were so smooth and flavorful too. For my meal, I got the fried pork cutlet, whenever I see a porkchop I always order it. First, the carrot cake sticky bun, is INSANE that was the most delicious sticky bun I have ever eaten and just looking at the photos on my phone I am absolutely craving it. Sharing it between three girls is ideal but I would have definitely ordered my own. My porkchop was perfect, it comes with a sunny side eggs and potatoes. The porkchop was so incredibly tender and flavorful and that gravy is just perfect. I want that for my dinner tonight, I also tried my friends Albacore tartare which was pretty flavorful and was just refreshing for how warm it was. Definitely would like to come here for dinner with my husband!

    Came here for Mother's Day brunch and had a nice experience. They have indoor and outdoor seating,…read moreas well as a bar. We were seated inside with a view of the kitchen. Service: Our server was friendly and attentive. Food: we ordered the stuffed French toast, baked eggs and simple breakfast. The French toast was not actually stuffed, as I expected, but topped with apples and toppings. It was a think piece of brioche bread and the dish was tasty and not too sweet. I was disappointed in the baked eggs, as I really didn't get much egg out of it. I shared it with my husband and while it did have a lot of flavors, it was overwhelmingly chickpeas and tomato sauce for me. The sourdough bread was crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. We ordered the simple breakfast with bacon for our son because they don't have a kids menu and it was perfect for him. I do with we ordered the ultimate sticky bun, which is their speciality, but will have to try that another time. Parking is a real challenge as there is only street parking. There was also a Sunday farmers market going on, which likely contributed.

    Photos
    Trust - Interior

    Interior

    Trust - Bacon chop

    Bacon chop

    Trust - Roasted Carrots

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    Roasted Carrots

    Shorebird - Fluffy hotcakes served warm at brunch in San Diego, finished with butter and syrup for a classic start.

    Shorebird

    4.3(144 reviews)
    2.1 km

    Perfect spot for happy hour and located in Seaport Village!…read more You'll get a clear view of the ocean, while enjoying your drinks + food. Each day, there's a happy hour cocktail special. I got the Paloma cocktail (Monday) and it's very reasonable for the price ($10, regularly $18). Also, 50% off sushi rolls! I got the Catalina Roll (yellowtail, crab mix, pickled resno chili..) -so good. Service is friendly and quick. Really can't complain about anything here. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

    Such a cool spot to have lunch. This was my first time but it won't be my last. The upstairs dining…read moreis awesome and gives you a great view of ocean. Absolutely beautiful. Lets get into it. Food: We had a few options like always. I mean why not right! We started with * Tempura Rock Shrimp - this was crazy good. I did not expect the flavors to punch me in the mouth like it did. Crispy, light batter, the glaze and toppings really made it a phenomenal appetizer. I would highly recommend this dish. It is small in quantity but if feeds 2 people easily. * Crab Cakes - the crab cakes are good they do have a nice crispy texture on the outside but the inside is tender and packed with your normal Crab Cakes flavors. Not a bad choice. It was fresh and the portions are above average. * Balboa Rolll - somehow this roll with so many different flavors and textures went so well together. Cuddos to the chef for this one. The scallions on top changed the entire roll. I really loved this one. Would definitely order it again. Portion size was larger than the average roll. * Overstuffed Bacon & Eggs - this one was crazy!! It's literally a tower of deviled egg yoke with bacon, bits of celery and paprika on top. This was my least favorite only because the amount of yoke compared to the actual egg you get didn't add up. Once the egg is gone you're left with a mountain of egg yoke. It's way to much for my taste. The yoke also seemed a little dry and pasty. For deviled egg lovers this is a dream come true. * Skirt Steak & Eggs - wife said it was really good and the red chimichiri complimented the steak just right. The portions were large, the steak was juicy and cooked perfecrly to her request. With skillet fried smahed potatoes and toasted buttered bread. Very good option for steak lovers. Service: The staff was great from the check-in booth to the waiter everyone did such a great job and was so polite. I couldn't help notice that everyone was smiling and super helpful. This is a great team working at that restaurant. Bar tenders were on top of drinks which was nice to get your drink shortly after ordering. Atmosphere: It's an ocean side restaurant or should I say on the ocean restaurant with wall to wall windows showing the ocean and the beautiful San Diego landscape. Really enjoyed the area and activities. Price: The appitizers were above average prices but hey!! Totally worth it. It ranged from $16-$30 per dish, its really not too bad for the quality of food and service. Location: It's located in Seaport Village which has so many different places to try and plenty of businesses to walk and find some really cool things. Parking: It's a pay to park lot but we found parking fairly easy but it is pricey to park there. I think we paid $24 for a couple of hours.

    Photos
    Shorebird - Shorebird located in Seaport Village in San Diego offering coastal cuisine in a modern, airy setting with views of the ocean....

    Shorebird located in Seaport Village in San Diego offering coastal cuisine in a modern, airy setting with views of the ocean....

    Shorebird - Hotcakes fresh off the griddle, stacked high and ready to be served during brunch service.

    Hotcakes fresh off the griddle, stacked high and ready to be served during brunch service.

    Shorebird - At SHOREBIRD RESTAURANT

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    At SHOREBIRD RESTAURANT

    Werewolf - Forgot the name, but it had jalapeños and pineapple, and the sweet potato fries were amazing!

    Werewolf

    4.5(6k reviews)
    1.7 kmGaslamp
    $$

    We stopped in for breakfast before we head to the airport. The staff was so sweet and amazing. The…read morerestaurant was half fall when we first got there but completely full including bar seats by the time we left. There were so many choices and we both ended up with BISCUITS AND GRAVY * Scratch made sausage country gravy - two biscuits - cheesy chive scrambled eggs - breakfast potatoes. Huge. Delicious. Wonderful experience overall.

    On a Wednesday evening, we stopped by Werewolf for dinner. While I'm a vampire, I was willing to…read moremake an exception to check out this highly-rated bar. Located in Gaslamp, street parking is your best bet. For most spots, you have to pay metered parking until 10 p.m. I was able to find an exception to the rule around 8:30 p.m. Ambiance (3/5): Werewolf is a pretty laid back bar. Which is right up my alley. This happened to be karaoke night. This may be an unpopular option but I'm not a fan of karaoke. If you are, you're golden. I would've enjoyed the ambiance a bit better on a standard night. We sat at a wooden booth in the back of the restaurant. Service (3/5): You order at the bar (both food and drinks). They were fairly busy on a Wednesday and only two bartenders were working. As a result, service was a bit slow. After placing my order, I closed out. Their cocktail list doesn't list prices. Not a fan of that. I asked the bartender how much some particular cocktails cost, and he didn't go. Not a good look. Drinks (4/5): Werewolf has an interesting list of craft cocktails. Plus a full bar. Just list your cocktail prices on the menu! Food (4.5/5): The food is surprisingly quite good. I went with the wings appetizer (and made them sticky for a dollar extra). Sweet with a little kick. The wings were fried just right with a crispy exterior and juicy inside. Finger-lickin' good! I also couldn't say no to papas balls lol. This appetizer is their version of hushpuppies. Taken to a higher level. Stuffed with mashed tater, bacon, cilantro, cotija, and drizzled with house sauce. Normally, papas balls would scare me, but these are scrumptious. The two appetizers combined were filling for a full meal.

    Photos
    Werewolf - Service with a smile

    Service with a smile

    Werewolf - Pork belly benedict

    Pork belly benedict

    Werewolf - Blubbery lemoncake

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    Blubbery lemoncake

    Juniper and Ivy

    Juniper and Ivy

    4.1(3.6k reviews)
    0.6 kmLittle Italy
    $$$
    Wheelchair accessible
    Private events

    My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at Juniper and Ivy. Delicious food impeccably presented with…read moreoutstanding service. Truly, our service was what one always hopes for in fine dining for but so rarely receives these days. Our primary did an excellent job helping us select our meal. She was attentive, supportive and a pleasure to talk with, yet also discreet. Plates were well-timed. Our water glasses always seemed to be full although I rarely noticed it happening. All of our entrees were delicious. Favorites? Probably, first, the Hokkaido Scallop starter. The scallops themselves were huge, perfectly cooked with a crusted chili crunch topping and served with a delicious miso butter sauce. Not overly spicy, the flavors meshed perfectly. I also loved the Miso Black Cod (especially because it's a dish one can rarely find near the East Coast where we live.) Any misses? Not really, although the Pâté de Campagne was prepared as very rustic. It was tasty but I found it difficult to eat with the bread, Overall, I recommend Juniper and Ivy as a great place to celebrate an event, enjoy a date, or just have an excellent evening dinner away from the house.

    1/2 Juniper & Ivy is…read morethe kind of restaurant that reminds you why you seek out places like this, the food is genuinely exceptional. It's just a shame the experience came with a few caveats. We requested the patio, drawn in by descriptions of a vibrant, lively porch. What we got was four tables, a persistent wind tunnel, and a front-row seat to the San Diego flight path, meaning every few minutes, conversation came to a full stop for a low-flying plane. No warning from the restaurant, which felt like a miss. Inside next time, without question. The menu itself was a little overwhelming at first, but our server stepped in with confident suggestions that completely redeemed the experience. And then the food arrived. The house sourdough with Mikolich Farm honey butter was the kind of bread course that makes you reconsider every other bread course. The shio tang oysters with mojito foam and cucumber relish were playful and precise. The three cheese tortellini, wild porcini, english peas, aged parm brodo, was the standout of the night: rich, deeply layered, and deeply comforting. The saffron bigoli and miso black cod were both beautifully executed. We paired everything with a Russian River Valley Pinot that was an ideal match for the table. Bottom line: the kitchen is firing on all cylinders. Sit inside, trust your server, and order the tortellini. You won't regret it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Photos
    Juniper and Ivy - Whole Duck

    Whole Duck

    Juniper and Ivy
    Juniper and Ivy

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    Fort Oak

    Fort Oak

    4.2(773 reviews)
    2.7 kmMission Hills
    $$$

    Lots of hype about Fort Oak. Seemed to be busy when we were in the area. Menu is pinch…read moreoff-putting. Wasn't tooooo much looking forward to it, but it fit all the Birthday Dinner check marks and you can't down talk a place if you haven't been there. First. Listen. Everyone's using open table. But Fort Oak, tell Open Table to chill. I used open table to reserve about 4 days in advance, but still got a TON of emails, and a ton of notifications. Including one that, if I didn't respond to it, would cancel my reservation. Then 3 follow ups asking me to review Fort Oak. Haysuse on a pogo stick, that was almost a detractor from the actual dinner. Is this dinner or a past due bill sent to collection agency? I digress. First, our waiter Johny E, phenomenal. Dude knows wine in ways that are supernatural. Spot on recommendations. Second. Put on your Pulp Fiction "5 dollar shake" face about a 50 dollar pork chop. A FIFTY DOLLAR PORK CHOP. Waiter, who had already proven he know WTF was what, simply said "we're known for it, you will probably enjoy, people rave about it". So, I mean, when in Rome. Johny wasn't lying. It's a pretty @#$#ing good pork chop. Color me amazed. You can be skeptical. You might say I was just trying to justify having spent 50 on a pork chop. Try it. Stunning. I don't know if it's the best I ever had, but I can't remember a better one. Over all, they nail the experience, the food, and wrap it up in a bow. It is always busy, so a reservation is best (I'd call vice using that @#$# open table app, I swear). Shout out about Johny - in fact, ask for him to be your waiter, he a star.

    Easily the best meal I've had in a while! We had a reservation at 7 pm and were seated right away…read more Reservations seem like they would be your best bet here, as the restaurant was very lively and crowded. However, we were seated on the outdoor patio which was spacious enough (and dog friendly). The decor was also beautiful! Now for what we ordered: - Ahi Tartare: we weren't planning to get this, but the server recommended. This was fantastic. The crispy shallot added a good amount of crunch, and the brioche it was served with was buttered and toasted to perfection. A standout dish for us - Little Gem Salad: not a must get, but delicious nonetheless. I loved the whipped feta and ranch in this - Goat Milk Cavatelli: soooo good. The sausage in this is really yummy and nicely paired with the charred broccoli. I'd recommend this one - Branzino: delicious. Comes de-boned which is appreciated, and is deliciously flaky. Get this! - NY Strip: ok I know I've said "get this" for basically everything....but seriously get this one. The presentation is beautiful and the squash, bone marrow, and everything else on top were very tasty. This was our favorite dish!

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    Fort Oak
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    Cow By Bear - steak - Updated May 2026

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