Like Ebisu Sushi, I had not been to Cowboy Star in more than 5 years. When a friend come into town and wanted to go there, I was excited to finally return. It was a Friday night so we had made a reservation, just to be safe. Even at 9pm, there seemed to be people waiting to get in so I was happy to have had our reservation confirmed. I waited at the bar and recognized Garth, a long time bartender here at CS! I got a perfectly made gin gimlet while I waited for my friends! Once they arrived, we were seated fairly promptly. The room is a welcoming, comfortable space. Our server came by quickly to get beverages for my friends and explain a few specials. One of the specials was a foie gras 2 ways that I knew that I had to have!! As Cowboy Star is a steak house, we all got different steaks for our main course. The foie gras arrived quickly and offered a beautiful presentation! But it tasted even better than it looked, if that was even possible! It was a seared piece of foie gras and well as a torchon, a type of pate. They were both outstanding and the strawberry rhubarb jam was an excellent compliment!! An awesome way to begin my meal!! There was a bit of a gap between my appetizer and the arrival of our steaks. We were happy to relax and enjoy our drinks but some people might think it was a bit slow between courses. When the main dishes arrived, my steak was perfect medium rare with a nice char! It was simply accompanied with garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini. I had ordered a dry aged ribeye, which was a thick cut and very well marbled. It seemed simply seasoned, with its flavor and the quality of the meat being the focus of the plate! The mashed potatoes were pureed and creamy, with a nice amount of garlic. Often broccolini is a bit bitter but this was delicious and rounded out an amazing plate!! I would absolutely order this exact dinner again if I returned to Cowboy Star!! Highest recommendation for, not only an outstanding steak, but an amazing overall experience at CS!! Make a reservation or be prepared to wait for a table! If you have to wait, the bar area is relaxing and their bartenders are very professional and friendly. As it is a steakhouse, it is expensive and definitely more of a special occasion restaurant. That being said, the experiential quality is very high and worth the cost absolutely! Not only is it one of the best steak houses in San Diego but possibly one of the best steak houses I have ever enjoyed! Have a great day!!
