NYC=Steak Houses
 

As others have said, SPARKS is one of the best places around for steak in NYC. I also enjoy the Palm Steak House as well as Smith and Wolenskys(not as good as SPARKS but still very good)

Peter Lugars in Great Neck is better than the one on Brooklyn(IMO) because they serve Lobster.

Dan

It has reopened, and it is still excellent :cool:

My vote goes to Coles Chop House in Napa - was about 4 years ago, but I am still to better it :D

I like good steak very rare (blue as we say in Europe). When I was in Houston a while back, kanebear suggested Churrascos which was absolutely superb. They don't give you steak knives - the steaks are so tender that the edge of a fork can cut them Highly recommended.

I can attest to Churrascos, too ... great place. South American style. Terrific restaurant. And virtually next door to one of the best wine shops in Houston, too.

Kincaids
 

I'd like to recommend Kincaids in the Twin Cities. There is one in downtown St. Paul and another in Bloomington. There might be others, but thats all I know of .... food is to die for!

Visit www.kindcaids.com

- Brian

No question that El Gaucho was probably the dining experience I havae talked about the most in the past year -- and I was dining there with the VP Marketing and Regional Manager from Morton's!

Bern's is incomparable

A recent discovery was Shelly's Steakhouse in NY. Awesome prime aged steaks and a great raw bar

And Morton's is consistently great. Once did a night-after-night comparison of Morton's, Ruth's Chris and the Palm (believe it or not, this was work-related!) and there was no question the steaks at Morton's were better quality...at least that week.

Hawk's Landing -- Orlando, FL
 

I was originally a filet mignon eater but have evolved into a ribeye man. However, the best filet I'v ever had was at the Hawk's Landing restaurant that's adjacent to the Marriott World Center in Orlando. It was fabulous!

How appropos of this thread to pop up again!

I have a whole strip loin of Australian grass fed beef that was delivered today sitting in a cooler container outside my office. :)

We have been ordering from places like Niman and a few other places that have grass fed or at least not animal bioproduct fed beef. We had a Australian whole ribeye a few weeks ago that was spectacular. Cooked most of it on the grill after cutting it into a bunch of steaks.

Kincaids in DC and every Mortons I have ever been to is excellent!

Here's the steakhouse that probably serves the most complicated food:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/14/dining/14REST.html

username: flyertalk
password: flyertalk

It's a shame that it got such a poor review, because M. Vongerichten other restaurants, especially his top end one at the Trump Hotel and Jo Jo are outstanding.

FYI -- For sites with registration you can always find a PW at http://www.bugmenot.com/ Pretty neat, eh?


As far as the steak is concerned, for the prices the places at the Time Warner Center charge they ahd *better* be good! I liked this paragraph best:I think I'll pass on this one...

The NYT has now reviewed three restaurants at the new TW building. Two have been duds: Asiate and V Steakhouse. One has received glowing reviews which was the very expensive $300 prix-fixe Japanese restaurant.

I'm looking forward to the review of Per Se.

This food critic at the times is relatively new. He did national political coverage for the Times before that I think. Given that, I am unsure that he has any more qualifications as a restaurtant critic than, oh maybe lets say, one of my cats. Not saying he is wrong, just that until I get a better idea if his restaurant reviews are any more reliable than I believe the political coverage from the Times is, I wont be following his advice, but rather critiquing him. On the other hand, he could be a great restaurant critic, as could everyone at the national affairs desk at the times but they dont know jack about politics. That would be possible to in my opinion. Caveat emptor in any case. I have been to all of Vongerichten's NY restaurants I believe and while I wouldnt necessarily say they are the best of their genre (excepting possibly Vong) in NY, they have all been very, very good. This new place serves Niman beef and it is pretty hard for me to believe someone who is as great a chef as Vongerichten wouldnt make some great meals with that.

Now that we have read a few of Frank Bruni reviews, I think I actually prefer Amanda Hesser's reviews. I miss William Grimes.

After reading this review of V Steakhouse (is it called "V" or Five?) I ask -- why should a steak dinner be so complicated?

Basically I think steak lovers (like myself) like it simple:

*Opening drink.
*Nice appetizer (for me Lobster Bisque)
*A big slab of beef
*A nice wine to go with the beef
*A nap afterwards if the desert is not tempting.

Steak should be served at the lover's preferred temperature (for me medium well) When you are hungry you don't have time for shows or fancy staff.

Beef on plate. Simple as that.

Another thing: Steakhouses really do not need fancy decor. Nice chair with walls of wine bottles and floors CLEAN OF SAWDUST!!!!

Just one opinion.

Speaking of opinions... gadget freak writes:

This food critic at the times is relatively new. He did national political coverage for the Times before that I think. Given that, I am unsure that he has any more qualifications as a restaurtant critic than, oh maybe lets say, one of my cats.

GF: I think your cats would make better critics than some people who call themselves critics. Cats are good judges of a lot of things... like people.

Once I brought home some ribeye from Old Homestead steakhouse. My cats gave it four stars. :)

I tend to ignore the critics and try to find things out for myself (or advise of some Flyertalkers.)

I can attest that I have had several cats adore the remnants of steak for two, very rare, from Peter Lugar ;)

My male cat made it very clear this week that he thought the filets from Costco I had just grilled were infinitely superior to the last steaks purchased.

He also kindly reminded me of portion controls ("you don't really need 8 oz., do you....?)

If you ever come to Worcester, MA (BTW, second largest city in New England) go to 111 Chop House on Shrewsbury St. Outstanding steak and outstanding wine collection. Definitely ranks up there with places in cities you probably have heard of!!!

Here's how I rank the steakhouses where I have dined in the past few months:

1. Del Frisco's, New York (everything top notch)
2. River Palm, Mahwah, NJ (second only to Del Frisco's)
3. Smith & Wollensky's, New York (indifferent service)
4. Ruth's Chris, Parsippany, NJ (disappointing food; noisy)
5. Morton's, Hackensack, NJ (disappointing food at skyhigh prices)

Best steak recently for me has been a ribeye at Del Fisco's in Dallas [north].

As for the Argentine beef, it is good. However, I have found the Uruguayan beef to be better, quality is the same, however I found the restaurants in Montevideo to have much better preparation and service, and without the porteño snobbery ;) . Montevideo is also very clean. It is a smaller version of BA, and just as cosmo, me thinks.

Punta del Este beach resort is just a few hours drive, and also enjoyable in season.

Z

I'm not a big fan of Sparks, but Bern's is top notch! I always leave expecting to be on the streets of Manhattan or Chicago. Hard to believe it's Florida.

Does anyone know when Capitol Grille opens on 42nd Street in New York? Can anyone share experiences of other Capitol Grilles?

My experience with the Capital Grille in D.C. was very good. I don't know when it opens in NYC, but I'm optimistic that the trend towards good food & service will continue.

In Vegas, I've always enjoyed The Range at Harrahs. Great steaks. Fabulous mushrooms. For appetizers, we always get oysters on the half shell served with fresh grated horseradish and Tobasco sauce. Yum. And you've got to try the creme brulee--tableside flaming, very fun presentation. I've never had a bad meal there.

In Chicago tonight. Just had dinner at the Rosebud Steakhouse, next to The Drake Hotel. I thought that was pretty well done (not literally) too.

I love steak....
 

Sullivans in Anchorage (ANC)

529 Wellington in Winnipeg (YWG)

Hy's in Canada is a great chain (at least at the ones I have been to)

This reminds me that our first visit to Berns was on the order of 20 years ago, so the menu was ONLY 6 years old (or so). We were probably more into the wine list than the steak at the time (also the desert room of course). I never had a bad meal there, but sadly we haven't been back in 10 years or so. When I retire and move back to Florida in a year or two, I'll have to try it again and compare it with all of the other Florida suggestions.

Speaking of Anchorage, can you still get a good steak at Club Paris on Fifth Avenue (I think)?

The last time I was through ANC, I did stop in at Club Paris. The steak was okay, but then again I wasn't feeling the best so tough to give a fair assesment.

I walked through the new Westin at 43nd Street and 8th Avenue In New York this morning. How is the hotel's Don Shula's? I noticed on the menu that the steaks were as pricey as Morton's.

My Favs
 

I love a nice lean filet mignon cooked medium... Here are my top favorite places where I've had a delicious filet in order of preference:

1. Nola (New Orleans)
2. Mitchell's (Columbus, OH)
3. Delmonico's (Vegas)
4. Flemings (Austin)
5. Tchoup Chop (Orlando)
6. Sullivan's (Austin, Denver)
7. Morton's (San Antonio)
8. Taste of Texas (Houston)
9. Ruth Chris (San Antono)

I find that Shula's is grotesquely overpriced and overrated. The only one I ever went to, though, was in Baltimore at the Wyndham there.

I find that the original Shula’s in Miami Lakes, Florida is the best of what is now a chain.

The last time I was there, however, Shula’s only had three locations, all in Florida.

Has anyone tried the Capital Grille in New York's Chrysler Building yet?

Fortunately, in my neighborhood (Brentwood area of So. California) are several good places to grab a great steak. One standout is: Toscana. They take a big, thick t-bone, throw it on the grill to sear it and then into a wood-burning oven. Steak is then removed from oven, sliced and served with sauteed spinach and roasted potatoes. I guess I know where I'm going for dinner tonight and what I'll be ordering :)

The La Cucina restaurant opposite from the Grand Hyatt in Seoul is an excellent refuge for someone missing Western style steak in Korea. They have a tasty 4-course set lunch with steak & sides as entree. There is a nice view of central Seoul below and it's nearly always packed with Korean and foreign businessmen, media and fashion people.

Best steak in Asia so far has been in a traditional (and well known) Korean "Kobe"-style beef restaurant in rural Damyang in the SW. They serve Korean steak tartare as starters and then Bulgogi type grill-your-own prime cuts as the main dish. According to Korean custom the meat is wrapped in sesame and salad leaves together with garlic gloves, chilies and some soybean paste. The taste is nothing short of Kobe beef and prices are equally steep. But after having the steak meal, some soju and looking at the mountains outside there will be no regrets.

How is the New York Bar & Grill in the PH Tokyo for steak? Have never tried it there.

Mrs. 0524 and I paid our first visit to the new Capital Grille on East 42nd St. in New York. It's another also-ran to Del Frisco's: nice decor, over-eager service and routine chow.

My current rankings:

1. Del Frisco's, New York
2. Craft, MGM Las Vegtas
3. River Palm, Mahwah, NJ
4. Smith & Wollensky's, New York
5. Capital Grille, New York
6. Ruth's Cris, Parsippany
7. Morton's, Hackensack, NJ

Pacman-

Have you been to Austin Land and Cattle Company at Lamar and 12th? (NOT the same as Texas Land and Cattle Co!) This is one of our favorites. We go there quite a bit and have never been disapointed over the years.

Also, a great deal of the Wagyu found here comes from Harrell Ranch, here in Austin, a small, family-run ranch that does an amazing job. We have met the husband and wife (she is Japanese). They have an interesting tale to tell on how they managed to get Kobe cattle from Japan to the US! It's illegal to export the animals out of Japan.

The Harrells have a shop here in town where their beef is cut as it's bought. It's possible to buy 1/2 or 1/4 of a cow there, as well as large combination packs at significant savings. The store is called, appropriately, The Meat Shop. It's one of our hidden gems here. It's also possible to buy online at their web site.

We buy their beef nearly exclusively these days and are satisfied that it's some of the best beef available in the US. There's a fantastic article here that tells more about the ranch.

The Ruth Chris near the Regan National airport is very good and a nice view too.

The best steak I have ever had was in a little "joint" called the 640 Club in Elisabeth New Jersey. It was in a not-so-nice part of town but they served aged beef cut from their own aging room in the basement.
That was 30 years ago! But the memory lingers. hmmmmm.

Omaha
 

The best steak I've ever had was at Omaha Prime in Omaha - nothing has been able to beat it.

I'd have to go, in general, with The Palm, but only certain locations. Dallas, DC (downtown, not Tysons) and Denver. Of the three, DC is certainly the best of the bunch, owing to the extremely long tenure of the manager, who is probably more powerful in Washington than some Democrats these days. ;) The Chicago Palm at the Swissotel isn't bad, either, but there's so much good food in Chicago that it's hard to say anything is really all that bad.

I've tried a lot of the Texas steakhouses in Dallas--III Forks, etc.--but the quality is lacking in the beef, IMHO. Plus, there's Papacito's there and it's hard to get anything but a tortilla chip and salsa in/on my hand in Dallas. :)

I've done a lot of the Ruth's Chris, the Morton's, etc.... but all of the chains have quality control problems at this point due to scale. Then again, it's the little differences that make these chains good--the blackened ribeye at The Palm in Denver is unique for some reason.

Timothy