The Brazen Head

"Brazen Head is probably the only place in town where you can roll in at 11pm, and gobble up perfectly charred NY pepper steak, some cheesy french onion soup, and marinara-drenched meatballs that are the comfort equivalent of Lenny Kravitz’s blanket-scarf. The Cow Hollow steakhouse has no signage out front and everything we want in a late-night spot that looks like an 1800s Scottish pub: paintings of bearded old men, velvet curtains, a dim red glow, sports bobbleheads for kitsch, and strong cocktails that pair well with stories that begin with, “Back in the day...” No wonder Brazen Head’s been firmly rooted here since 1980." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"When your day involves oversleeping, a hot coffee burn, and accidentally screen-sharing inappropriate Slack messages during a company-wide all-hands, retreat to Brazen Head. The late-night steakhouse in Cow Hollow is perpetually lit in a dim red glow, so no one will see your lip quivering. The order: a pepper steak, french onion soup, and an extra dirty martini." - julia chen 1, patrick wong

"It's routine behavior to roll in to Brazen at 11pm and gobble up charred NY pepper steak, some cheesy french onion soup, and marinara-laden meatballs that are the comfort equivalent of Lenny Kravitz’s blanket-scarf. The Cow Hollow steakhouse has no signage out front and everything we want in a late-night spot that looks like an 1800s Scottish pub: paintings of bearded old men, velvet curtains, a dim red glow, sports bobbleheads for kitsch, and strong cocktails that pair well with “back in the day...” stories. No wonder Brazen Head’s been firmly rooted here since 1980." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, lani conway

"Brazen Head is probably the only place in town where you can roll in at 11pm, and gobble up perfectly charred NY pepper steak, some cheesy french onion soup, and marinara-drenched meatballs that are the comfort equivalent of Lenny Kravitz’s blanket-scarf. The Cow Hollow steakhouse has no signage out front and everything we want in a late-night spot that looks like an 1800s Scottish pub: paintings of bearded old men, velvet curtains, a dim red glow, sports bobbleheads for kitsch, and strong cocktails that pair well with stories that begin with, “Back in the day...” No wonder Brazen Head’s been firmly rooted here since 1980. Food Rundown photo credit: Erin Ng New York Strip Pepper Steak Could this steak use more salt? Sure. But that shouldn’t deter you from passing on this perfectly cooked piece of meat with nicely charred edges and perfectly light jus. Buttery green beans and mashed potatoes complete this hearty dish. Caesar Salad This salad is roughly 50 percent shredded iceberg lettuce and 50 percent cream dressing, with some tiny croutons throughout. Unless you failed to meet your vegetable quota for the day, there’s no need for this. Lobster Ravioli Feel like gobbling down carbs and cream? You’ve zeroed in on the correct dish. These generously stuffed ravioli are drenched in thick herb sauce. photo credit: Erin Ng French Onion Gratinee We love this dish. Light yet flavorful broth, rich carmelized onions, and funky gruyere come together to create a cheesy, salty, and sweet moment. photo credit: Julia Chen Dirty Martini The unwritten rules of Brazen Head: turn your phone over, ask for free garlic bread refills, and always order a martini—extra dirty, for the brine-inclined. photo credit: Julia Chen Cheesecake Looking for a way to saturate your blood with sugar and even more cream? End the night with this dense, highly satisfying New York-style slice of cheesecake." - Lani Conway

"Brazen Head is absolutely not a flashy downtown steakhouse experience; it’s more like the village pub of Cow Hollow. Nevertheless, regulars (many of whom work in the industry) have been coming back to this cozy wood-paneled dining room for more than 40 years. The house special is the prime rib, cooked however you like it, and served simply with a baked potato, green veggies, and caramelized shallot jus." - Lauren Saria, Eater Staff