Holy Cow, It’s Barbecue Done Right With Top Quality Fixings
Angelenos have no need to go to Austin anymore simply to indulge in amazing Texas barbecue. Holy Cow serves up slow smoked goodness at two convenient locations, in Culver City and in Santa Monica– and more are in store due to its smokin’ hot popularity in Southern California, despite all the other competition.
Holy Cow opened in 2014, and its wide-ranging menu items have one thing in common: they only use the finest ingredients, whether it’s the best cuts of meat and poultry or the recipes for the variety of signature sauces, which are made from scratch daily.
Our recent visit found us wanting to try just about everything, so we got the barbecue plate with a choice of three meets – brisket, tri-tip and BBQ pulled chicken.
Other meats available include pulled pork, hot links and baby back ribs. You can order just one selection, or up to four on a plate which includes your choice of coleslaw, potato salad – which was fabulous – collard greens or beans.
We got the BBQ chop salad to start along with sides of corn on the cob and mac & cheese, which is made of aged Vermont, two different types of cheddar, Monterey Jack and béchamel. That was one tasty concoction.
There are so many other sides, with portions large enough for two, three or even four people to share, like the flavorful Texas toast, cornbread, onion rings and loaded taters, made with smoked bacon, aged cheddar, sour cream and chives.
If you’re not salivating yet, you’d also be missing out on the choice of delicious sandwiches available featuring the barbecued meats—and a hamburger made of USDA choice ground chuck. All come with a choice of sides, with prices ranging from $10.95-$12.95.
We were warned to save room for dessert, and managed to accomplish that by packing up some of our meals to go. Are you ready for something called “Elvis in a Jar?” It’s a play on a banana split – a decadent treat served in a jar with vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge, peanut butter and the topper, in more ways than one, a strip of candied bacon. If that’s too much for you, there’s also a big chocolate chip cookie, chocolate bread pudding, a peach crumble and banana cream to top things off in a very sweet way.
Reese Witherspoon, Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg are among those who have popped into the Santa Monica location to eat in or take out. Eating in means friendly, efficient service and a choice of adult beverages (beer and wine) to accompany your meal, along with sodas, iced tea and lemonade. Holy Cow does a booming take-out business, as well as catering.
The restaurant’s signature sauces, which include the original “Q”, Texas red, Carolina mustard, Kentucky vinegar and smoky ketchup, are also available to take out, in sizes ranging from half a pint to a quart ($4.95-$13.95.)
Holy Cow features beef ribs on weekends only. Because they run out. We can’t wait to run back for more, with the delicious and tender tri-tip calling out to us.
Holy Cow, 264 26th Street, Santa Monica and 4130 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City
