Over in the Historic Places to Eat Topic, some of us seemed to wander off topic talking about our favorite Steakhouses. So rather than completely hijack the topic that JRCX originally intended to talk about, I thought it better to start a separate topic where we could discuss our favorite steak houses.

My favorite is SPARKS . Their steaks are excellent, their lamb chops are the best that I've ever eaten, and their lobster is to die for, not to mention the great job that the waiters do taking it out of the shell for you. The service at Sparks is impeccable!

I also love the THE OLD HOMESTEAD once again. Years ago it was one of the top steak houses in NYC. Then for a while there it declined somewhat in quality. Several months ago I was invited back there by a couple of friends. The quality of the food has come back to what it once was. The steak was superb, the cold king crab & colossal shrimp appetizer tower was fantastic, and the broiled lobster plater was simply delicious.

I haven't been there yet, but I hear that UNCLE JACK'S STEAKHOUSE is very good. Anyone ever been there?

How about Sizzler???

I agree with a lot of the comments in the other thread... Spark's is a very decent place, as is The Old Homestead. Ben Benson's ain't what is used to be, though, and Peter Luger's is DEFINITELY way too "full of itself".

Ruth Chris's is another place to pass by now, btw.

Hey, how can I forget. I really must include Shula's in Chicago as one of the favorites that I've ever eaten at.

That was a class A restaurant, food wise, service wise, and company wise , all the way.

And who could forget TIS eating what looked like a side of beef?

BTW SC, you mentioned Sizzlers. Do you remember a steak house chain of restaurants called "Rustler's Steakhouse?"

Me too DC, how can I forget Shula's?

Probably because it's so much more than a steakhouse. My favorite is the one in the Yankee Trader Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. When I'm in Delray Beach, it's usually on top of my "places to eat" list. The Fort Lauderdale location is also where I joined the 48 oz. steak club.

Again, is it any wonder I have the bowels of an old lady?

Yeah, but you weren't with the class of friends that I was with when we had dinner at the one in Chicago! Not to mention that a complimentary bottle of fancy wine was sent over to our table by the one and only Frank Vincent.

And the entertainment at the table next to us, by "Gigi Cestone" and the 6 foot blond lady was just priceless.

Ruth's Chris in downtown Indy is really good.

There aren't too many real steakhouses around here, I'd have to go to Chicago. Sounds like I need to try Shula's.

My favorite is the Tuscany Grill in Somerset, NJ. They have the best Steaks and chicken and the desserts are to die for. The service is great also. I can't wait to go back there.

Mama, you just won an all expenses paid week at the Somerset Doubletree Hotel icluding free breakfast, lunch and dinner at The Tuscanny Grill!

Can I bring a friend?

Rustler's! Wow, now that's a blast from the past. Remember Ponderosa as well?

Remember the Rustler's commercial?

"We want the green stuff!"

We have Ponderosa's - YUCK

I love almost any steak. I like sizzler, I liked the Ponderose and Steak & 4 from years ago in Michigan. I assume you all are talking a little more expensive places though. You'd have to mess up my steak pretty badly for me to refuse to eat it.

Just off the top of my head, and because I've been there most recently, the Road House comes to mind. Their steak is wonderful, cooked as you order it, to perfection, and melts in your mouth. Not only that, the Roadhouse also serves baked sweet potatos with butter and brown sugar that are to die for. I think the potato alone is a half pound.

The prices are really not too bad and the atmosphere is friendly and family oriented.

I see there are a few NY locations, along with a few other states. Maybe some of you are familiar with it.

TIS

Road House

Edited to add:

Oh, and here's another restaurant. I have only been to it once or twice, but really liked the steak.


Cask 'n Cleaver

I love the Palm West. Excellent steaks, and the hash browns are great (if that doesn't sounds stupid).

Although it wasn't technically a steakhouse, the Cite Grill in NYC had the best prime rib and steak tartare I have ever eaten. Plus, they would serve some wonderful wines with the meal, all included in the price of their wine dinner. Our mutual love of Cite was the first bond that Plaw and I shared.

I think TIS and Lori split an order that night.

They ordered half a cow!!

Then they split a gut!

I think I'm with TIS on this... there's plenty of wonderful meals out there w/o spending a whole week's allowance.

I've over-paid plenty for meals in the past, and I've also had even BETTER meals for much less.

There's a little hole-in-the-wall pizzeria close by me that has GREAT food!! (And I think I said it once before, their pizza sucks - but - their entrees are GREAT!!!)

I wouldn't hesitate taking a date there.

There are only a handful of places in my area I could say that about.... and [insert DMC "date" joke here ]

I'd much rather take a date to a place that has good food over a place thats just fancy.

Speaking for myself, I'm much more relaxed in a less fancy place, and good food goes hand-in-hand with good conversation.

And she'd like you to return them!

Signor V.

The heck with the steak. I want to know what they did with the zucchini.

Bethie, you have no idea how big of a sport you've been since that dreadful night! Love all around!

Good thing I come with my own pom poms then. :0

Let me take you down, to Strawberry Fields...

Yes SC, now that you say it, I do remember thew splitting that cow, I mean steak.

Oh I don't disagree one iota. There are definitely some excellent meals available out there that you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on. And I think that almost every neighborhood has a "hole in the wall" type family place that has fantastic food.

I find that more in Italian food than in steak though.

There is a diner here on Staten Island called Andrews**, and I'll put his steaks, lobster tails and most of his food in general up against any fancy restaurant any day of the week.

There is ONE chain steakhouse that I've eaten in where I thought that the steak was just as good, if not better, than many of the high priced fancy New York Steakhouses; HOPS grill and brewery. Great food, a very relaxed atmosphere where you can have a great time with a group of people, a huge selection of their own homemade ales and beers, and their prices are no where near those of a fancy smancy restaurant.



** Just Lou, if you're reading this, Andrews is very close to where you now live. I highly recommend it.

Shula's. Oh yes, I forgot. Absolutely wonderful. Best half cow I've ever eaten. I was amazed at the portion. It was absolutely wonderul!!!



TIS

I guess while you're sitting in Shulas you can't remark, "Don't have a cow man".

I just tell everyone not to be messin' with my cow or I'll break their legs!!!

You would have loved the place Beth. It was very nice.


TIS

Or a Zucchini!

Let me just say this regarding steak. As I said, I am not real fussy, but I DO prefer charbroiled as opposed to broiled. I just notice and like the taste better. Same with hamburgers. I'll prefer a place that char broils them.


TIS

They don't have a microwave?

A couple of years ago, while driving down to Georgia, I ate at a place called The Angus Barn in Raleigh, North Carolina. I had forgotten all about it until this thread came up. It deserves at least an honorable mention as far as the best steakhouse I've ever eaten in. Talk about southern hospitality! Those cranky old bastards from Peter Luger's would be fired in five minutes down there. Well, if you're ever in the neighborhood...

I'm sticking with Luger's. I understand some people think the staff is rude, and I suppose that may be the case, but I've seen ruder at the Palm and other places as well. I vote for Luger's because it is sui generis. They have not sold out, they are not a chain, and they look down on anyone who orders any beef other than a porterhouse.

For a chain, the best is Flemings, which is only about five years old, and has maybe 8-10 locations in the U.S. None in N.Y.
Overrated and places I will never pay to go are Shula's, Ruth's Chris, and Smith and Wollensky's.

When looking at what makes a steak house truly great, you have to look at several things other than the steaks. For me, who eats lamb every other time I go to a steak house, the true measure of quality is whether or not they have great lamb chops as well as great steaks.

Next is the potatoes. Here I would give the edge to the Palm for his has browns, but Luger's is so close that it does not tip
the balance. Personally I am a baked potato man, with sour cream, chives and lots of butter (no cholesterol there).

Next is the creamed spinach. This is required eating imho.

Salads, Deserts, and Drinks must all have been created no later than 1945. A wedge of Iceberg or a caesar is fine, mixed organic baby arugula with organic oak leaves and balsamic vinegar has no place in a decent steak house. For desert, likewise. Ice cream, Key Lime Pie and Cheese Cake are fine, kiwi fruit composte drizzled with hazelnut chocolate sauce is a no no. For drinking, a huge wine list is appripriate and it needs to include a variety of after dinner drings...cognacs, caalvados, port etc. Cocktails need to be very limited... no cosmopolitans, no pomegranite infused vodka with blood orange syrup served in a chilled glass. Cocktails need to be the basics. Scotch, Bourbon, Vodka Gin, Rye and maybe rum, maybe not.

The wait staff should be courteous but not friendly. They should wear all white..white shirts and white floor length aprons. They should not do the "Hi, I'm Troy and I'm going to be your server tonight, can I start you out with a drink?" And there should only be seasonal specials... certain oysters or clams, maybe shad roe in the spring... but otherwise the menu has to be predictable.

I HATE waitstaff that wants to be your best friend!! I don't need any new friends, I just want you to bring me my damn food! At a good restaurant, they'll walk that fine line.

As in the way the waiter at La Veranda handled himself. Was very warm, friendly, but yet remained professional the whole time. He never crossed that fine line. Same with the matr'd at Panicos.

You'll usually find that in most upscale restaurants.

However if I frequent a local restaurant in my neighborhood, I want the waiter or waitress that usually serves me to be a bit more friendly than normal. I almost invite them to cross that line a bit. I think it's more acceptable, and somewhat expected when you frequent a local restaurant.

Absolutely!!! It depends on the place. If you're a regular, then you should be treated like one. If you're not, then don't tell me your name, your favorite color or anything else that doesn't relate to the menu!

The waiter at La Veranda was superb. He knew exactly what to say and when to say it. He kept to the food, he was friendly, but always kept his distance. When the meal was over, and he saw that we were a very relaxed and friendly group (and very, very full, too!), he chatted with us a bit. The perfect blend, our friend Franco!

And he did a great Tony Montana impression to.

The stuff they serve there isn't really beef is it?

I've always gotten top notch steaks at Morton's.

There is a place that is about a 40 minute drive from me, deep in the country, called the Carsonville Hotel, which was built in the mid-19th century, and with the exception of a modest addition, that had been built about 60 years ago, nothing has changed much. They are well known, however, for their monstrous, delicious steaks. A side of french fries can feed an army.

By the way, are their still Tad's Steakhouses in NY. That was my favorite spot when I was a kid.

I remember Tad's!! I have no idea if they're still around.

Klyd, SB,

Last year I went to a Hockey Game at Madison Square Garden. I was meeting some friends for a quick pre-game dinner at Nick and Stef's Steakhouse. However I arrived about a half hour early. I decided to kill some time and take a walk around the area. I turned up one of the side streets near MSG and sure enough TAD'S was still there!




I've never eaten in one of them but I know that for many years they were pretty popular.

So they ARE still there. Gosh, they've been around forever. My father liked to go there, which is really strange, because he was didn't even like steak.

Thanks, DC. That's good to know.

Went to Mohegan Sun last weekend and ate at Michael Jordan's steakhouse. The steaks were excellent, but the place was very expensive. If I'm going to spend that much on a meal, I want white glove service. Although the staff was efficient, I certainly didn't feel fawned over. If I'm going to spend $125 on a meal, without drinks and dessert, I want some serious sucking up from the staff.

Is that legal in some states?

It is in Nevada. It costs $50 there.

There are some Taco Bells around here who include it in their happy meal.

Dunno why, but if I think about a taco I feel happy.

Y yo tambien!

I'm afraid to ask how you feel if you think of a Steak Taco!

He'd have a full tummy.

Tonight we went to THE OLD HOMESTEAD for dinner. It was my in-laws 50th anniversary. They are up from Florida for the holidays. So we surprised them with a limo and 14 of us went there for dinner.

The food was absolutely fantastic. We had a cold seafood tower for an appetizer. Then my uncle and I split a porterhouse for two as well as a 4 pound broiled lobster, and both platters were just out of this world!

Of course the waiter fixed up a whole bunch of sides for the table.

Everything was just delicious!

After dinner we had a few more drinks down at their bar and then my mother in-law asked us if we would take her to FERRARA for dessert. So we did.

It's still good. Not like it used to be, atmosphere wise that is, but all in all still pretty good. It's become a place for tourists though. No more cappucino / espresso bar where you could stand and have your coffee and dessert. I had some Gelato and a miniature chocolate cannoli. Both were very good.

I was a bit upset at how Little Italy has literally been reduced to a two block area. While it still has that old fashioned feel to it while you walk the streets, it's doesn't grasp you the way that it once did. It's been reduced to almost nothing.

It was a really great evening all around.

Old Homestead was off the charts!

I love The Old Homestead, DC!

Great choice, and a generous gift on your part.

Little Italy is sad though, no?

I still get down there at least two or three times a month, because one of my buildings is on Spring Street, but it just isn't the same. You're right, it's one block by two blocks---Mulberry, between Canal and Grand. That's it! Even there, hardly any of the tenants living in those old apartments are Italian, just the stores and restaurants. I guess that's what happens when the NYU students are willing to live 3 to a studio and pay almost $3,000 a month rent.

At least the Italians who moved away all moved up in the world, we can take pride in that.

That dinner sounds delicious. Congratulations to your in-laws on 50 years.

My wife and I also celebrated our anniversary on that date. Our younger son had an indoor travel baseball game that evening, so we didn't get out, and we had company over last night. We'll go out to dinner this week.

Congrats to you and the lovely Mrs. Klyd.

Had I known, I would have invited the both of you to dinner with us!

Anyone know anything about, or ever eat at Blackstone Steakhouse in Melville, Long Island?

I do, I eat there all the time

Yep. I'm about 20 minutes away. Nice atmosphere, good food. Its been a few years since I've eaten there (with Lori) but I THINK thats the place that has little Kobe beef hamburgers as an appetizer. You know how I love a good filet mignon, and theirs is very good.

A LITTLE on the pricey side.

I love you to SC.

Thank you SC. Friends of ours who live in Farmingdale suggested that we go there with them the next time we travel out to see them.

Sure.... pull a "Geoff". Pass 2 minutes away from me and don't call me to meet ya.

Who said that I wasn't going to call you? We haven't even set a date yet.

Probably the ONLY place that The Sopranos never visited in the Caldwells is the Cloverleaf Tavern (cloverleaftavern.com), its been there for like 75 years and I think its probably the longest-running establishment in the area. They may not be the very best steak house, but the are a local favorite and do make great steaks at a great price. When I want a good steak and don't want to travel, thats the place to go!

I went to Sparks Steakhouse once and got thrown out!