The wait is finally over for eager customers looking for a new dining experience.
The Muddy Cow in Litchfield, situated off U.S. Highway 12, next to Econofoods, opened Saturday to a steady stream of guests. The new American restaurant and bar, housed in the former VFW building, didn’t seem to slow down as cars packed the parking lot and long lines formed for seating.
With a spacious outdoor patio, pool table, darts and televisions lining the walls, the atmosphere has a familiar sports bar vibe, all while remaining family friendly.
According to Carol Nelson, a server at the Muddy Cow whose first shift didn’t start until Sunday, she couldn’t refrain from stopping in Saturday night to see how opening day was going.
“It was so busy,” she said. “People were just having a great time.”
Nelson, who waited tables at Heroes at the VFW for four years before it closed last August, commented on how much the serving experience has changed. Nelson said “it’s a lot more open and has a lot more space” than what was once available in the former business, but the difference isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The space was gutted and revamped entirely, including a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, resulting in a Cinderella-story transformation. Described as “dark and dingy” by Muddy Cow owner Patrick Conroy, 41, the original layout was not going to suffice for the vision he had for his new restaurant.
When building owner and Conroy’s real estate agent, Jerry Vlaminck, offered Conroy a chance to see the building as a potential location, Conroy said what sold him was a combination of the building and the city itself.
“I fell in love with the city right away,” he said. “I liked the building, and when we started to dig in and look at how (Vlaminck) was going to (remodel) it, I just really, really liked it.”
Since March, Conroy has been back and forth from Litchfield as he prepared for Saturday’s grand opening and to get things in order for other Muddy Cow endeavors.
The Litchfield restaurant is one of several Muddy Cow locations expanding in the Midwest. Along with Coon Rapids and Shakopee locations — and a sister restaurant, the Muddy Chicken, in Burnsville — three more Muddy Cows will spring up in two other Twin Cities suburbs, Cottage Grove and Oak Park Heights, and New Richmond, Wisconsin.
In Litchfield, Conroy said he had hoped to open sometime in April or May, but the push to June 30 was a result of “always having something to set you back.”
Known for specialty burgers, the Muddy Cow’s consistent use of dairy is a popular and suitable theme on the menu. Pizza, grilled cheese and three choices of macaroni and cheese are all included on the menu. Standard pub fare is also available for diners to dive into, including chicken wings, nachos, onion rings and even poutine — a Canadian dish of fries and cheese curds topped with gravy. Not to mention, “the best cheese curds you can buy,” according to Conroy.
The restaurant, open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., offers something for everyone to remain family friendly. Daily specials available cover all bases, including a “kids eat free on Tuesdays” option, and Conroy expressed that the Muddy Cow can be a landing spot for anyone.
“I think the community will be pleased with what they see here, and the value at which they get it,” Conroy said. “We welcome everybody. We cater to families, but we also have a 45-seat bar.”
As for being another burger restaurant in Litchfield, Conroy is hopeful that customers give it a chance.
“They’re established,” Conroy said of other local restaurants. “Hopefully people will come in and enter us into their rotation, but I think the atmosphere and the value will draw people in.”
