I know I am little late coming to this thread but I think I am about the only person around who really doesn't like St Elmo's. For me on a few occassions, they don't make any attempt at cooking a steak properly.

Shula's on the other hand, I think is absolutely great. It was the first of the Shula's and I went there fairly soon after they started and was impressed and have been impressed every single time I have been back.

I see that as I post this, FlyerTalk has a Ruth's Chris add to the right of my post with a big filet that looked awesome.

I hit up St. Elmo's last night and the food and service was excellent. Especially the shrimp cocktail! I ordered the filet mignon medium-rare and it came out with a dark red center. A tad rarer than I would have liked, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I saw a lady at another table return her steak twice because it was too rare for her liking. Anyway, the staff was very attentive and promptly removed (or brought out) my plates. Another couple placed their order with my waiter right before I did, and I finished my meal by the time their steaks were brought out. They were talking a lot and were obviously looking to have a leisurely meal so the waiter accomodated them appropriately.

In general, Indiana isn't exactly a place where a lot of people like their steaks rare.

As one person who grew up in Indy, I have to disagree. It was there that I developed my never-ending passion for beef as close to saying "moo" as possible -- ah, the Sunday buffett at Highland Golf & Country Club with Chef Bob whacking off slice after slice of RARE prime rib!

You would be the exception rather than the rule. I would say 65% or better of the steaks ordered in this state are medium well or well. No facts to back that up, just a guess.

Happy to report this past Saturday night's 2005 annual visit to the Indy Sullivan's was our best ever. Everything was pure perfection.....well, almost.
Tables seemed jammed a bit close together, but this is a very minor point. Food, drink, presentation, service, all outstanding.

Just as good, there seems to have been an attitude transplant....for the better. I reported last year a touch of arrogance in the restaurant's refusal to take my reservation. Not a problem this time around, and they couldn't have been nicer about it!

Our last "big steak" night was a $300 blowout earlier this year at Bardi's in Toronto....a tiny, easy-to-overlook place, but no slouch when it comes to bigtime steaks. Sullivan's was twice as good for half the price!