Blue Cow — Restaurant in Big Rapids

So arrived at the restaurant by myself. After looking over the menu I decided I just wanted to have a few different appetizers as my dinner. I ordered french onion soup, escargot, there's a pizza thing, and brussel sprouts. I've had a lot of years experience in the restaurant as both a chef and a server in fine dining restaurants. Typically the first thing I would ask if someone just was ordering appetizers is, in what order would you like them to arrive at the table? Now if you're getting in a group you bring all the appetizers together. But I would always ask if somebody was by themselves. And even if I didn't ask I would always bring the soup first and then the other dishes. But this server brought everything at one time. French onion soup which is served hot with the cheese melted on top of a crouton, what should have been sizzling escargots in garlic butter serve with Toast wine and a hot pizza. I personally would have brought soup and then escargot and then I would have brought the pizza and the broccoli together. I explained to the server that how am I going to eat the soup before getting cold if I have to eat the escargot hot. And this type of soup should be eating.. so basically I finished the escargot which was excellent and then I moved on to the soup which was hot enough, but the flavor was Bland.. it didn't taste like a rich french onion soup that I'm used to. The cheese wasn't melting over the top. Was just basically a few croutons with some cheese floating in the middle. I took a bite of the pizza it was very soft and not crispy and it was definitely cold. I put the slice back I didn't finish it. I tried to brussel sprouts they really were lacking flavor and they were very overcooked, almost to the point of being mushy. It had something called drunken cherries which I don't know what they are but whatever it was it did not work well with a dish. All in all I was very disappointed I paid for everything even though I left the pizza I left the brussel sprouts and I left it most of the soup. I did enjoy the escargot. I know it's a dish that people are sometimes afraid to try but I highly recommend it. Train the wait staff and how to recognize when things need to come out in different order than normal. All in all I was very disappointed but I will tell you the majority of that could have been avoided if the food would have came...

Used to be a good choice for dinner. We were here for dinner on September 5, 2019. We were greeted within a minute at the host stand and seated quickly. A trainee waitress quickly brought us water and asked what we’d like to drink. I said we’d need a few minutes. When the (primary) waitress appeared we were told that all we wanted was water. I then asked for the wine list. After a few minutes, we ordered our appetizers - ceasar side salad with anchovies and escargot and I ordered a bottle of wine. The wine bottle arrived at the correct temperature but the waitress had opened the bottle prior to arriving at the table. About 10 minutes after this the appetizers arrived and we ordered our entrees. There was no bread on the table or with the escargot. The waitress said that the bread would be out in a few minutes. My husband then graciously indicated that I should enjoy my salad while he waited for the bread. The salad was quite tasty. The waitress cleaned the outdoor dining area. No bread. The wine was also tasty. No bread. Then, prior to my salad being finished or my husbands appetizer being started, our entrees arrived. Then the bread. We were then asked how everything tasted when it was obvious neither of us had started our entrees. My husband then ate his appetizer while I finished mine. The table was quite crowded at this point. Once we started our entrees, other problems became apparent - the risotto that accompanied the fish was a strangely congealed, yet dry, gloop; the string beans were tough, my husbands potatoes dauphinois were seasoned correctly but were not under the broiler long enough to bubble and brown the cheese. My fish was okay as was my husbands steak. Once we finished, we were quickly presented with the bill. When we inquired about dessert, we were informed that the kitchen was closed.

It would be nice to have been told before the kitchen closed that if we were thinking about dessert, we should make a choice as the kitchen is closing. Or better yet, perhaps you should stop seating people an hour before the kitchen closes and keep the kitchen open until the last table decides on dessert.

The meal was disappointing in both terms of taste...

Was recommended this place by my father who frequents the area. He said I wouldn't be disappointed and he was absolutely right! The food options are plenty and diverse, there really is something special for everyone's taste. High quality ingredients, out-of-the-box combinations and interesting mixes, but all extremely appetizing. I have the Cold Water Atlantic Salmon and the girlfriend had the Lamb Gyro. Both we incredibly tasty, fresh, well seasoned, cooked to perfection and serve at a fast rate.

Prices are pub/tavern cheap but the food reflects the higher quality and there wasn't one thing on the menu I thought was overpriced.

Dessert was another favorite as well, Bananas Foster with a flambee presentation at your table. Rum and Tahitian Vanilla Gelato with melty bananas put us into a mild food coma (but it was very much welcomed).

Atmosphere is what I'd call "Dual Luxury". You have the interior which feels like a rustic Italian wine tasting cellar tucked away in a beautiful hill sides overlooking Naples. It's a bit dark inside, but I'd imagine it's mainly used for night time dining instead of day time dining like what we did outside on their terrace. It juts into the sidewalk quite a bit and offers great views of the downtown area while being fenced off from people passing by.

Server Collin was a joy and really went above and beyond for us, attentive, fast, and funny. Great ambassador for the restaurant/brand.

5/5 Stars, and no doubt we'll be back for more when in...