As far as burgers go, Cock’s & Cows is probably one of, if not the best place to grab a juicy bite in Copenhagen. It’s a very cosy, rather small place on the basement level with a couple of tables put outside in the warmer months. Situated on Gammel Strand, it offers a nice view of Thorvaldsen’s Museum (when it’s not enclosed by the fence).
Don’t let the name confuse you. It’s not a place of questionable purposes. It’s a great bar to eat a burger (cow) and wash it down with a cocktail (hence the cock!).
The food is truly fantastic. The side-orders are varied and will meet the expectations of both the strict fast-food enthusiasts and the greens-eating crowd: there are onion rings and chips and different salads and other greens with a selection of sauces and garnishes.
The main stage, however, belongs to the burgers, obviously. So far, there are eight types available on the menu, plus a speciality of the house that is changed every three months. Eight might seem like a small amount, but honestly how often does one go to a burger joint? Plus, the burgers are so delicious that you just stick with your favourite and enjoy the ride. Everything from the bun to the meat is fresh and aromatic. The veggies are crunchy and juicy. C & C’s cooks don’t use any shady, sub-quality products. The very sight of the burger is a lovely picture, add the olfactory factor and your mouth starts watering like Pavlov’s dogs.
The burger is eaten Danish style: with a fork and a knife. It is a silly and funny way to do it, but with these giants (like the Governator, a two cutlet monster tower of a sandwich) there is simply, in the immortal words of Blur, no other way. Eating it the traditional way would probably end up in a huge mess, with sauces flowing everywhere and veggies decorating your trousers and the floor. Using cutlery is simply a much cleaner, albeit strange, affair.
All the burgers at Cock’s & Cows are brilliant and different from one another. The majority have a standard beef cutlet with different garnishes and veggies, making it stand apart from the others. If you crave a chicken fillet in your sandwich, Marco Polo offers that choice splashed with mango chutney. There is the obligatory Miss Veggie vegetarian version and a pork chop one: the Bohemian Pork Rib. So to each their own. Everyone will find something to suit their tastes. The prices may be a bit steep, but it’s nice to indulge yourself once in a while.
The cocktails are a separate item on the menu. They are also varied, but all of them cost 70kr (at least until the menu changes). The latest scoop, a piece of confirmed information, is that there are changes in the shaker as we speak, concerning widening the range of cocktails and the way they are served. The plan is to suggest a cocktail to fit each burger, so that the eating experience is enhanced. Whether the customer will choose to take it or not is entirely up to them, naturally. New and improved menus will be available shortly, the staff at the Cock’s & Cows assure.
Taking a spontaneous trip to C&C might end up badly. Getting a table in the evening, if you didn’t book, is nigh impossible. Particularly on the weekends, but don’t be surprised if you walk into a full house even in the middle of the week. Booking two to three days in advance, therefore, is a comfortable and secure way to ensure a table, especially if there’s more than two in your party. Cock’s & Cows offers takeaway, if you’re really set on getting that burger though.
All in all, Cock’s & Cows may not be the cheapest place to get food, but the food you do get is brilliant and well worth it, at least from time to time. The staff are friendly, the place itself is cosy and the food is great. What else does one need?
Cock’s & Cows
Gammel Strand 44, 1202 Cph K; 6969 6000, cows@cocks.dk
Open: Mon-Thu 11:00-24:00, Fri-Sun 11:00-02:00
Cuisine: Burgers
Top Dish: Any of the burgers
Price Range: 78-118kr per burger, 70kr per cocktail
www.cocksandcows.dk
