Q: positive

A: Went here last week with a friend who is wild about sushi the way I love burgers...and we are soooo fans! I found out about Cowfish from a friend who started working there, and he wasn't exaggerating. We perused the menu online, and decided to give it a go. Since they had been reviewed by Creative Loafing right before, I was expecting heavy traffic, but a 40 minute wait at 8 PM on a Tuesday night was unreal! Be prepared to wait for seating, or sit at the bar. We started with the edamame with some really good draft beer; then build-your-own sushi apps for her (she likes eel), a caribbean roll for me... and on to the main course! Burgers and sushi were excellent, and the creme brule' was incredible too. I really liked the beer selection, and that was a definite plus. My only gripe was the cold draft from the often-open door that has no vestibule. Nice that there was a hostess to open said door and greet us; bad that so many people decide to linger in the open doorway on a cold night. I'll bet the same issue will occur on hot, sultry nights with the AC in the summer. Maybe they will be able to address this. Maybe next time I will sit as far away from the door as I can!

Q: negative

A: Never again. Last $ Danny's get from me! Land Rover Dealership oil change = $50. Danny's oil change = $90. #lasttime

Q: positive

A: Oh upstream how I love thee. Why am I writing yet another update with the same rating as the ones before you ask? So I can tell you about the brunch of course. This brunch is a monster of a buffet and tapas menu combined all for the low price of $25! Hold on you might be balking at the hefty sticker tag on this brunch but let me tell you about all the stuff you can well...stuff yourself with and you'll be singing praises too after you try this joint out. This being one of my last weekends in Charlotte the boyfriend and I went with a yelpy crew consisting of Travis W., Melissa B., Chad E., And Denise. First off you walk in get greeted and led to your table and handed a nice tapas menu. They could've charged $7-10 for most of the items on this tapas menu and made a killing but nope they're giving it to you as part of the buffet, score! I tried the scallop risotto, crab benedict, belgian waffle, and some other things all excellent! But wait it doesn't stop there you walk into the bar area and BAM! you're hit with a massive buffet of brunch items. You want some smoked salmon and mushrooms folded into your freshly made omelet? No problem. Add some excellently carved prime rib onto that you got some good eats. I was so full before I even got halfway through working on this buffet. This place has met my expectations for lunch, dinner, and now brunch. Hopefully I am back in Charlotte soon to give it another whirl. Though dinner is a bit expensive and they do need to tell you the prices of the specials lest you order a $45 bento box like I did, the staff is incredibly accomodating and attentive to your needs. Hell they even remembered my name and how I like my tea for lunch after the second time I was there! Give it a try, you can thank me later.

Q: negative

A:
I have been in search of 3 things in this town. 1. Good Service 2. Better tasting food then my friends or I can cook at home. 3. And a final bill that is in line with the entire experience. After eating at Oscar's Steakhouse on Wednesday I can say I'm still looking! I'll start with the service. We arrived just before 6pm and were quickly seated in the main room with an amazing view. We were in a booth that sat a little higher then the tables so it really made us feel special. However, looking back I can't imagine being sat anywhere else because...we were the only people there. In other words the entire restaurant was ours! Before my bottom was on my seat our waiter (Frank) and his helper (David) were right at our service asking if it was our first time at Oscar's. As we tried to remove our jackets and find a comfortable position in the booth Frank kept charging on with the history of the restaurant and his long and distinguished service career as a waiter. As my arm was coming out of my jacket I found David waving the menu in my face for me to look at. Two seconds later Frank was ready to take our order. After stepping over Franks conversation about him working during the Johnson administration, I found my self raising my voice to notify him that we would like to look over the menu first for a while. Once he finally left the table we couldn't help but laugh about the amount of excitement we must have brought to the place. It was like we were the only people to eat there in days. Franks willingness to drop by our table and "chat" about his many travels as a waiter never seemed to tire. As it stands Frank has to go down as the kindest, pushiest waiter I've ever had. I took the time to put our most memorable interactions with him below. 1. Frank "You ready to order". My girlfriend "Just a few more moments please" Frank "Well you have to order now because I'm going to get busy soon" My girlfriend "Oh" 2. Frank "What would you like miss"? My girlfriend "I'll take the flank steak" Frank "You sure"? My girlfriend "Yes" Frank "Do you know what a flank steak is"? My girlfriend "Yes" Frank "So you know it's chewy" My girlfriend "Chewy"? Frank "Ya Chewy and hard to eat" My girlfriend "That's not a good way to describe a steak" Frank "Well it's the truth" Now for the food After being forced into it my girlfriend got the filet mignon ($32) and I tried the veal ($40). We also decided to get a side of asparagus($9) and another well poured martini ($17). Once at the table it became apparent that the kitchen was also in an unnecessary hurry. Because the presentation was terrible. Her steak was alone on the plate and my veal was just the opposite, it was pouring over the plate! On top of my extra large portion was a pound of greens that sloppily covered the breaded veal. As I fished down the forest of greens to cut a bite I got lost and ended up cutting a bite of fat. Once in my mouth I quickly noticed that it wasn't meat so I spit it out on the plate. Then I took another bite....it tasted exactly the same as the first!! It seems that the breading was so thick that all you could taste was the grease that it was cooked in. Needless to say, I could cook veal better myself, My girlfriends steak was small but good. However, she can definitely cook a better steak at home as well. Nothing about the food was worth going back for. About the bill To sum it all up...this place is in need of some direction and managment to get a handle on what the kitchen is putting out and control the service staff. It feels like they spend more time on the name of the dishes then anything else. The food is tasteless, the presentation is comical, and the staff is pushy. They have a great name, great location, and amazing potential but it's obvious that repeat business is not a priority. Here is my free advise: First step, lower the prices. The food is not better then what my friends or I can cook at home so don't charge more then $17.00 for your most expensive meal. Second, drop the a la carte crap and include some sides with each meal. Finally, add a table wine that won't break the bank so people can have fun and let loose without spending their paycheck on drinks.