Unearth The Voyage
There is a burger spot in Minneapolis that has quietly earned a reputation for doing something most places only talk about: combining beef and bacon into a single, unforgettable patty. The 60/40 burger, a blend of 60% beef and 40% bacon, is the kind of thing that makes you rethink every burger you have ever eaten.
This is not a place that coasts on a gimmick, though. The menu is stacked with creative options, the cheese curds are the stuff of local legend, and the atmosphere hits that rare balance between casual and genuinely cool.
Whether you are a first-timer or a regular, Red Cow on 50th and France delivers a meal worth planning your day around. Keep reading to find out exactly what makes this place so hard to stop thinking about.
The Story Behind Red Cow and Its Burger Philosophy
Red Cow was built on a simple but bold idea: that a burger should be an experience, not just a meal. The name itself hints at the brand’s commitment to premium beef and a no-shortcuts approach to cooking.
What really sets Red Cow apart from the average burger joint is the 60/40 patty, a proprietary blend of 60% beef and 40% bacon ground together into one patty. That means every single bite carries the smoky, savory depth of bacon without needing a separate strip on top.
This philosophy extends across the whole menu. Buns are toasted, toppings are fresh, and you get to choose your doneness level, which is a detail most casual restaurants skip entirely.
Red Cow treats burgers like a craft, and the result is a menu that feels both approachable and genuinely exciting for anyone who takes their food seriously.
Finding the Place: Address, Location, and Neighborhood Vibes
Red Cow 50th and France sits at 3624 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410, right in the heart of the popular 50th and France shopping and dining district in Edina, just on the Minneapolis border.
The neighborhood has a lively, walkable energy with boutique shops, coffee spots, and restaurants lining the streets. It is the kind of area where you could easily spend an entire afternoon browsing and then cap it off with a proper sit-down meal.
Parking is available in a small lot attached to the restaurant, but it fills up fast, especially on weekends. Street parking along 50th Street is a reliable backup option.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, with weekend hours starting at 10 AM, making it a solid brunch-to-dinner destination. Monday is the one day the kitchen takes a breather, so plan accordingly.
The 60/40 Burger: What Makes It Different
Most burgers stack bacon on top as an afterthought. The 60/40 at Red Cow takes a completely different route by grinding the bacon directly into the beef, creating a patty that is rich, smoky, and deeply flavorful from the inside out.
The result is a burger that tastes sweet, savory, and slightly spicy all at once, depending on how it is dressed. The fat content from the bacon keeps the patty incredibly juicy, and because you choose your own doneness, you can dial in exactly how you want it cooked.
Regulars describe it as one of those bites that makes you pause mid-chew just to appreciate what is happening. It is not a subtle burger.
It is rich, indulgent, and worth every calorie. If you only try one thing at Red Cow, the 60/40 is the clear answer, and it is not particularly close.
The Cheese Curds That Locals Cannot Stop Talking About
Cheese curds show up on a lot of menus across the Twin Cities, but the version at Red Cow has developed a reputation that goes well beyond the average bar snack. They come out golden, crispy, and perfectly salted, with a molten interior that stretches in all the right ways.
The secret, according to people who have tried curds all over Minnesota, is in the batter and the fry temperature. These are not greasy or heavy.
They are light enough to eat a full basket without regret, especially when paired with a side of ranch dressing.
Ordering them with ranch is practically a house rule at this point. The cool, creamy dip cuts through the richness of the fried exterior and makes the whole thing feel balanced.
First-timers should order these before anything else, because they set the tone for everything that follows.
Menu Highlights Beyond the Signature Patty
The 60/40 burger gets most of the attention, but the rest of the menu holds its own without any help. The Blues burger brings bold flavor through blue cheese and caramelized onions, while the Barcelona burger offers a Mediterranean-inspired twist that surprises people who expect a standard lineup.
The Breakfast Burger is a fan favorite among regulars who love unexpected combinations. It comes with peanut butter as one of its toppings, which sounds unusual until you try it and suddenly understand why people keep coming back for it specifically.
Beyond burgers, the Nashville Stix and chicken wings both deliver on crunch and seasoning, with juicy interiors that hold up well against the crispy coating. The tuna appetizer is another standout that has earned genuine praise from people who did not expect a burger spot to nail a seafood starter so cleanly.
Fries, Truffle, and Sweet Potato: The Side Dish Situation
A great burger deserves great fries, and Red Cow takes its sides seriously. The truffle fries come dressed with shallot ketchup and a house-made aioli that turns a simple side into something you will be thinking about on the drive home.
Sweet potato fries are another strong option, and they have a texture that feels almost baked rather than deep-fried, which makes them feel lighter than expected. They hold up well without getting soggy, which is a common problem with sweet potato fries at other places.
Regular fries are solid and consistent, but the truffle version is where the kitchen really shows off. One thing worth knowing: burgers and sandwiches do not automatically come with a side, so you will need to add fries separately.
It is a small detail that catches first-timers off guard, but the sides are worth the extra order every time.
The Atmosphere Inside: Casual, Rustic, and Lively
The inside of Red Cow has a rustic-meets-modern feel that works well for both a casual weeknight dinner and a slightly more intentional night out. Wood tones, warm lighting, and an open layout give the space a relaxed energy without feeling generic or forgettable.
It does get loud, especially during peak weekend hours. The dining room fills up fast, and the bar area buzzes with activity.
If you are sensitive to noise, a Tuesday or Wednesday evening visit tends to be a bit calmer while still feeling alive.
There is also a heated patio that has been used as overflow space during busy periods, which adds a nice outdoor option when the weather cooperates. The overall vibe is somewhere between a neighborhood gastropub and a proper sit-down restaurant, and that balance is exactly what makes it work for such a wide range of diners.
Dietary Accommodations and Gluten-Free Options
Red Cow takes dietary restrictions seriously, which is not something every casual burger spot can say. The kitchen operates with segregated systems for guests with specific dietary needs, meaning cross-contamination is actively managed rather than just vaguely acknowledged.
Guests with Celiac disease have reported that the team goes out of its way to communicate clearly and make substitutions when needed. There have been cases where the kitchen flagged a potential issue with an online order and called the customer directly to sort it out before the food was prepared, which reflects a level of care that goes beyond the minimum.
The menu also includes options beyond beef, including turkey burgers and salads with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The salad greens are crisp, and the dressings are house-made and flavorful.
For a burger-centric restaurant, Red Cow does a solid job of making sure non-burger eaters feel just as welcome at the table.
Brunch Hours and Weekend Visit Tips
Saturday and Sunday hours at Red Cow start at 10 AM, which opens the door for a burger-forward brunch that is genuinely different from the standard eggs-and-pancakes routine. Getting a 60/40 patty before noon might sound indulgent, but it is absolutely the right call.
Weekend visits tend to get busy quickly, especially after 11:30 AM when the brunch crowd really picks up. Arriving close to opening time is the easiest way to snag a table without a long wait, and the parking lot is much easier to navigate early in the day.
Reservations are not required, which makes last-minute plans easy to pull off. The restaurant has handled walk-in birthday parties and spontaneous group dinners without much friction, which speaks to how well the floor team manages the flow on busy days.
Coming in with a group of four or more on a weekend? Aim for right at 10 AM.
Pricing, Value, and What to Expect at the Register
Red Cow falls into the mid-range price category, with burgers starting around fifteen dollars for a more basic option and climbing from there depending on what you build. It is not a cheap-burger destination, and the restaurant does not pretend to be one.
The value is real when you factor in the quality of the ingredients, the care in preparation, and the overall experience. Buns are toasted, patties are cooked to order, and toppings are fresh rather than pulled from a bag.
For that level of attention, the pricing feels reasonable rather than excessive.
One thing to keep in mind: sides are not included with burgers, so a full meal with fries will cost a bit more than the burger price alone suggests. Kids’ menu items are priced more accessibly, which makes family visits easier on the budget.
The overall spend for two people typically lands in the thirty-five to fifty dollar range before tip.
The Patio, Parking, and Practical Logistics
The heated patio at Red Cow adds a seasonal bonus that the 50th and France location handles well. It works as both overflow seating and a standalone dining area, and on a clear evening it is one of the more pleasant outdoor dining spots in that part of Minneapolis.
Parking is the one logistical challenge worth planning for. The attached lot is small and fills up fast during dinner hours and weekend brunch.
Street parking along W 50th Street and the surrounding blocks is available and usually manageable, but budget an extra five to ten minutes if you are arriving between noon and 7 PM on a weekend.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays, so if you are building a weekend itinerary around the 50th and France area, Tuesday through Sunday gives you the full window. Weekday evenings tend to offer the smoothest experience from a wait-time and noise-level perspective.
Why Red Cow Keeps Drawing People Back
Repeat visits to Red Cow are not accidental. The consistency of the food is a big part of it.
Burgers come out juicy, buns stay toasted, and the cheese curds hit the same high note every time. That kind of reliability builds loyalty faster than any marketing campaign could.
The atmosphere plays a role too. The dining room has an energy that makes a meal feel like an event without being pretentious about it.
You can come in wearing jeans and feel completely comfortable, which is not always the case at restaurants with this level of food quality.
There is also something to be said for a menu that rewards exploration. The more dishes you try, the more you realize how much thought went into each one.
From the house-made shallot ketchup on the truffle fries to the peanut butter on the Breakfast Burger, Red Cow keeps finding small ways to make familiar food feel genuinely new.
