"Downtown Jacksonville's steakhouse in the restored 1902 Bostwick Building, rooftop bar and a $66 bone-in ribeye — book it to impress clients."
About Cowford Chophouse
The bones are 1902. The Bostwick Building sat empty on the corner of Bay and Ocean for decades, one of downtown Jacksonville's grand derelicts, until restaurateur Jacques Klempf gutted and rebuilt it as a chophouse that opened in November 2017. Across four levels of dining rooms, a bar and a rooftop terrace, Cowford Chophouse turned a preservation fight into the city centre's most ambitious steak room, and gave downtown a reason to book a table after dark again.
It is a proper American steakhouse wrapped in a restored landmark. For the rest of the city's tables by occasion, see our Jacksonville dining guide.
The Kitchen
Cowford is a Forking Amazing Restaurants project from Jacksonville restaurateur Jacques Klempf, and the kitchen runs the classic American chophouse playbook: USDA Prime and dry-aged beef over a wood fire, oysters and seafood towers, and a few showpieces. The cut to order is the 16-ounce bone-in ribeye at $66; the crab-stuffed whole Maine lobster tail and the A-5 Satsuma Wagyu sit at the top of the card, with Steak Frites au Poivre the bistro-leaning alternative.
Steaks are à la carte, so a full dinner with sides and a drink climbs past the headline figures, and the bill matches the address. The setting is most of the occasion: arched windows, high ceilings and a rooftop bar overlooking Bay Street. Cowford is at 101 East Bay Street, downtown. For steakhouses ranked on the beef, see our best steakhouses worldwide guide.
The Room
The rooms trade on the restoration: arched windows, tall ceilings, marble and brass, and a multi-level layout that runs from formal dining to a lively rooftop bar. Sound is energetic on the main floor and louder upstairs, the lighting is warm and low, and the tables are spaced for a business dinner rather than a packed turn. Dress is smart; jackets are common but not required. Ask for the dining room for a quiet conversation and the rooftop for drinks before or after.
Best for Impress Clients
Cowford is built to impress clients, because the restored landmark, the Prime steaks and the rooftop bar give a business dinner a sense of occasion without leaving downtown. It doubles as a birthday room when a group wants steak, towers of seafood and a rooftop nightcap. It sits in our Jacksonville dining guide as the city centre's flagship steakhouse.
Not for
Not for a quiet, intimate dinner or a tight budget — Cowford is a busy multi-level steakhouse with à la carte prices that climb fast, loud on the rooftop at weekends.
Frequently Asked
Is Cowford Chophouse worth it?
Yes, as downtown Jacksonville's flagship steakhouse and a restoration story in its own right. Restaurateur Jacques Klempf rebuilt the derelict 1902 Bostwick Building into a four-level chophouse that opened in 2017, with USDA Prime and dry-aged beef, a raw bar and a rooftop terrace. The $66 bone-in ribeye is the cut to judge it on. You pay for the setting as much as the steak, so treat it as an occasion.
How do I book Cowford Chophouse?
Book through OpenTable or the Cowford Chophouse website, and reserve ahead for weekends and for the rooftop bar, which fills first. The restaurant runs Tuesday to Saturday evenings, so check the day before. Ask for the dining room if you want a quieter conversation and the rooftop if you want the Bay Street view. You can also call the restaurant directly at +1 904-862-6464.
What should I order at Cowford Chophouse?
Order the 16-ounce bone-in ribeye at $66, the cut the kitchen is built around, or push the boat out with the crab-stuffed whole Maine lobster tail or the A-5 Satsuma Wagyu. The Steak Frites au Poivre is the lighter, bistro-leaning option. Steaks are à la carte, so add sides separately and start with oysters or a seafood tower if the table is sharing.
Is Cowford Chophouse good to impress clients?
Yes, it is downtown's natural client-dinner room. The restored 1902 landmark, the Prime steaks and the rooftop bar give a business dinner a clear sense of occasion without leaving the city centre. Book the dining room for a quieter conversation and move to the rooftop for drinks. Prices climb on the à la carte card, so it reads as a considered, not casual, choice.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Cowford Chophouse
Reserve via OpenTable or the Cowford Chophouse website; book ahead for weekends and the rooftop. Open Tuesday–Saturday evenings; phone +1 904-862-6464.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address101 East Bay Street, Downtown, Jacksonville, FL 32202
NeighbourhoodDowntown / Bay Street
CuisineSteakhouse
PriceÀ la carte; 16oz bone-in ribeye $66; mains ~$40–70
Dress CodeSmart (jacket optional)
SeatingMulti-level dining rooms and rooftop bar
ReservationOpenTable / website; book ahead for weekends
