In the Spotlight: Holee Cow

November 2017 saw the opening of Holee Cow, a new addition to Cheltenham’s already buzzing foodie scene - and the past nine months have been little but buzzing for this Clarence Street based burger restaurant. 

The first thing to understand about Holee Cow is that it’s incredibly uncomplicated. Their website promises a fuss-free dining experience, and that’s exactly what you get. From the placemat menus to the exposed brick walls surrounding you, there’s very little that can go wrong with this venue, but perhaps that’s why it works so well.

The Menu
For a burger restaurant, you would probably expect more than six burgers on the menu, but Holee Cow cover all the bases with their choices - from traditional beef burgers to more exotic lamb kofte patties, each cleverly named to match their description.

Alongside the choices of Piggy In The Middle and The Lamburghini reads an extensive list of Sides. If loaded macaroni cheese bites and buffalo chicken wings don’t tempt you, then perhaps their truffle cheese fries will - the choices are seemingly endless, and its extremely hard to pick just one!

The drinks menu is fairly priced and has a decent selection, but what really makes it stand out is the choice of milkshakes. Holee Cow put the standard chocolate milkshake to shame with choices such as Apple Pie and Custard and Strawberry Meringue, enjoyed in a generously-sized metal cup. 

In addition to the standard menu is a specials board, enthusiastically explained by the friendly staff. The latest ‘Special’ Burger features fried chicken sandwiched between a chorizo & jalapeño waffle, with streaky bacon, a fried egg and smoked cheese sauce… check out their Instagram to see it in all its glory - the photo alone will make you hungry!

Though originally opened as a great place to enjoy a lunch or dinner, Holee Cow has recently widened its offerings, now serving breakfast every day from 8am-11am (9am on Sundays) - and the breakfast menu is just as tasty. Alongside traditional choices such as pancakes or French Toast is the ‘Brunch Burger’, a great unique addition.

The Decor
The stripped back interior is something a little different from what you’d expect the Regency town of Cheltenham to offer, but it’s somewhat refreshing to be sat in such a relaxed restaurant just off the rather flashy Promenade.

Iron tractor stools stand side by side under some tables, taking the name of the restaurant literally, and corrugated iron and exposed brick work make up the walls, while huge strings of dangling bulbs hang from the high ceiling.

Though an open kitchen is often either an eye-sore or a disturbance to dining, the open hatch at Holee Cow is anything but - it adds to the buzz of the restaurant and it’s great to see members of staff enjoying themselves while they construct the burgers.
The tableware is both neutral and trendy; you’ll receive your burger served on a tin tray with sides in a matching tin ramekin. Everything is somewhat simple, yet so cleverly thought out at the same time - resulting in a really enjoyable and relaxed dining experience.

The Future
Though they haven’t even been open a year yet, the team behind Holee Cow already have big plans. Their newest restaurant, Holee Clucker is set to be opening soon in Cheltenham. Their social media has been teasing followers with photos of what is to come - promising all things chicken!

Though an opening date hasn’t been released yet, it’s sure to be a sound success judging from the popularity of their existing restaurant. We look forward to seeing what the next few months will bring!

This article was brought to you by Cheltenham Champion, Mara West.