Let me begin by saying that going to dinner at a steakhouse is usually, well, not my first choice. It's the kind of dinner best suited for expense accounts/business dinners trying to court a new prospect, somewhat cheesy and generic outings (anniversary, valentine's day, birthdays) when creativity and imagination have been exhausted and well, a hunk of red meat with some vegetable side paired with some big, heavily-oaked Napa Cab is what one is left with. Being in the industry steak houses get an extra level of scrutiny and critique from me, largely because of the astronomical prices charged for dishes (and wines) I know don't cost nearly that much. Well, traveling through the area (originally from Boston, a city which just got it's 5th chain steak house and I hear we're getting a 6th one soon...) I was skeptical when I saw the eclectic mix of ingredients on the dinner menu. Foie Gras? Fresh, seared and not over $20? Steak tartar with...bone marrow! Ok, they definetely had my attention. Spaghetti Chittara with Octopus? Ahi Tuna Carpaccio? Wow...this wasn't your typical "Wedge salad with dry crispy bacon and..." yawn...sorry, anyway, you get the point. Exciting! Fresh ingredients! Innovative! Upscale! These and many more adjectives jumped to mind (and this was only the appetizer and pasta section) so I decided to commit.
I will say the decor is modern, not over the top opulent or old school leather and wood everywhere steak house style...apparently the building has been renovated and the final product rivals any Boston/Manhattan/Chicago steak house and upscale hotel lounges I've been to.
As I started describing, the menu selection is ample, innovative, daring and delivers on both presentation and flavor! Ingredients one would expect to see in more fusion oriented restaurants (Yuzu, Hearts of Palm, Kind Crab, Medjool Dates) are incorporated into various dishes, adding and elevating the main proteins. Obviously steaks are the focal point of the entrees, but instead of serving "Prime" or "Choice steak" they've gone with single farm sourcing, a commendable and great alternative in time were commodity beef is both, risky in terms of quality and sometimes health and well...really not trying very hard. They've chosen Creekstone Farms Angus cattle, for those of carnivores (or even omnivores like myself) Angus and grass fed beef are second to none...you just taste the difference. The steak was cooked to perfection, I chose the sirloin, as a test to the kitchen (but when I come back, I'm going to order the Dry Aged NY) and medium rare, truly was medium rare! On the first try, perfectly seared with a outer crust of salt, pepper and texture one can only achieve by having a really, really hot, 10,000 BTU's and above stove top...juicy in the middle, with some marbling but with a beautiful cap of fat as one would expect to find in this cut towards the outside. I was tempted to try the house made steak house, but I went with the Salsa Verde (it almost reminded me of a good chimichurri) layers or flavor, starting with roasted garlic and finish with fresh herbs, light enough to not over shadow the steak's flavor but as I said, loaded with layers of flavor. I'm a sucker for steak house cream spinach (there, said it) and this one delivered! I mean, it did have bacon so...
I chose not to have dessert, but the selection was again original and catering to both, chocoholics and fruit people like myself.
The only area of improvement I would focus on is the by the glass wines...I will say, they get major points for having some original and lesser known varietals (I had a glass of Aglianico-if you haven't had a bottle do look it up as it's a major varietal in Italy) which for the money was quite good. The bottle selection is good, but I would have liked to perhaps see a premium Cabernet S, maybe Bordeaux or even Nebbiolo open by the glass as an option...
Overall, very impressive restaurant, especially for a somewhat spoiled industry insider and traveler who's had his share of great meals around both coasts and the world. Keep up the good work! I look forward to coming back soon. read more