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Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop
Elevated steakhouse meets premium butcher shop in San Diego's rustic-chic dining destination.
4.6(5 reviews)
restaurant
$$$
Elevated steakhouse meets premium butcher shop in San Diego's rustic-chic dining destination.
Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop offers a unique fine dining experience in San Diego, blending a high-end steakhouse with an on-site butcher shop. Specializing in expertly prepared steaks, including dry-aged ribeye, filet mignon, and A5 Wagyu, we serve premium cuts in a dark, romantic atmosphere with a saloon-inspired vibe. Our menu features classic American fare, craft cocktails, and an extensive wine list, perfect for dates, celebrations, or business dinners. With a focus on quality and hospitality, we provide exceptional service and a cozy, upscale setting that transports guests to a bygone era of elegance.
No photos available
Enjoy premium steaks like ribeye, filet mignon, and Wagyu, cooked to perfection in a romantic, upscale setting with full bar service.
Purchase high-quality, dry-aged meats and specialty cuts directly from our butcher case for home cooking or special occasions.
Host gatherings in our private dining room or main space, ideal for celebrations, corporate events, and intimate parties.
Savor expertly crafted cocktails, mocktails, and an extensive wine selection to complement your meal.
Order premium steaks and sides for takeout or catering, bringing our fine dining experience to your home or event.
Stopped in last night as a party of four on a rainy December 27 evening and I am happy to report that we all had a wonderful meal. Half of us have been here quite a few times and the other half it was their first time. Cowboy Star is unique to San Diego in that it is an elevated country themed steakhouse. Imagine something you would see in Austin Texas or somewhere along those lines and almost has a saloon feel to it. Inside is very dark and romantic, and not very large which really adds to the coziness of it. They don’t have any dedicated parking or valet so it will be a pay lot or street parking, we were able to find a street spot a block away, so it wasn’t too bad, luckily we had umbrellas. In the front of the restaurant is a large full bar with tons of wine and cocktail options. It’s a great place to stop in just for a drink or if you’re in the mood for dinner, the second half of the restaurant is filled with booths, tables, counter seating at the kitchen, and a large private room in the back. I love how dark and styled it is inside and it’s really a sort of place that you want to spend many hours. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out pretty fast. They have a fairly large menu so there are a lot of great options on it, but their specialty is steak and cocktails. I started off with the Steak Tartare and really enjoyed it. It had some very hearty flavors and the portion size was nice, it was not too large or too small. We also ordered the Bone Marrow, which wasn’t as good as I usually get. This version was a bit too buttery, but it still had some nice flavors, I would just go easy on the butter in the future. For my entrée, I chose the 8oz Filet Mignon with a side of Peppercorn Sauce and honestly really liked it. The steak was cooked perfectly, seasoned well, and I really appreciated the side of broccolini and mashed potatoes. After all this, we were too full for dessert, but they had a lot of great options on the menu, if I had some more room in my stomach, I would’ve got the Bread Pudding. Overall, I would say this is in one of the top 3 best steakhouses in San Diego. Steak 48 is still king, but this is a wonderful option and would be fabulous for a date, dinner with friends, or a work function. Cowboy Star is much better than Born & Raised in Little Italy, which shouldn’t be as popular as it is. I would highly recommend and plan to be back more times in the future and would happily send any friend or acquaintance here, knowing that they would have a great meal.
Cowboy Star came with rave reviews from friends, so expectations were high. It was a very busy, fully booked night and we didn’t have a reservation, but we were still seated near the meat case upon arriving. We were greeted with a complimentary lobster amuse-bouche, followed later by a ginger–pineapple palate cleanser after our salad—light, refreshing, and a thoughtful touch. Bread service was a standout: super buttery, with whipped butter that was incredibly light and airy finished with specks of Hawaiian black salt. Another highlight was the strawberry–pineapple–lemon mocktail. Pineapple-forward with subtle strawberry notes and a bright citrus zest finish that hits the roof of your mouth—surprisingly complex and well-balanced for a mocktail. The creamed spinach missed the mark—too salty, not creamy, and not fully wilted—but it was comped, which was appreciated. Mashed potatoes were inconsistent and a bit grainy, while the mac and cheese was excellent. Caesar salad portions were generous, and I liked the crumbled croutons for even texture. Unfortunately, the biggest issue was the ribeye. We ordered it medium rare, and it arrived nearly blue rare. The server checked in immediately upon delivery—which is why we don’t have a photo—but after sending it back, the ribeye returned unevenly cooked, with some parts medium and others bordering on well-done. Compounding the issue, the plates were extremely hot, causing the steak to continue cooking at the table, which is likely why it ended up fully well done by the end of the meal. The steak was comped, which was absolutely appropriate. Regardless of price point, a steakhouse should know how to execute steak temperatures correctly and consistently. The wagyu skirt steak, on the other hand, was much better. I really liked the bite and it wasn’t overly fatty for a wagyu. Our server mentioned it was crossbreed of a Japanese wagyu cow and an American breed, which made sense given how balanced it was. We asked for medium and were told it would come out a bit rarer (a little confusing). The final cook landed closer to medium-rare. It paired beautifully with both the bordelaise and peppercorn sauces. Service overall was friendly and knowledgeable. While the ribeye cook was unacceptable at this level, I hope the management team takes the feedback seriously and improves things for a future visit—if we do decide to give it another try, given how close it is to where we live.
The customer service at this restaurant is outstanding! My daughter and I enjoyed Manhattans at the bar and then dinner seated with more family. Our steaks, the ribeye and filet, were delicious! Yes, there's a vegan steak that was thoroughly enjoyed. My only gripe was that the mashed potatoes tasted like they came from a box and the baby broccoli was very chewy. Also, our server said there was crab on the $120 Tower, but there wasn't. No big deal. It was fabulous still. A Very romantic place with very high standards. I will return.
What a beautiful restaurant, the ambience felt like I was in the past but with elegance. Service was superb and the food was phenomenal. My family loved it!!! We had the Porterhouse for 2, Mussels, 2 oz A5 Wagyu (melter in our mouth) and the dry aged rib eye. Every single one of the dishes was so delightfully good, it melted on your mouth. Perfect seasoning and perfect cooking on how we wanted our steak. Thank you.
We ordered the bread service of course and then our entrees were ribeye with green beans almondine and mashed potatoes and the pork chops with braised cabbage and potatoes dauphin. The food was delicious. Potatoes crisp outside fluffy inside. Beans buttery and garlicky and both meats were perfectly cooked. The staff were so kind and generous. Chef gave us amuse vouches with a whole lot of ingredients but basically broke down as vegetable soup in one bite. Restaurant is beautiful and highly recommended.
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