We went to the RARE HAPPY HOUR tonight! We had a lovely high top table facing the beautiful Capital building. The windows fill the entire wall, providing a fun view. The ambiance is cozy, intimate and luxurious. Our waitress MICHELLE was outstanding. She offered suggestions, great descriptions and was appropriately attentive, perfect but not too much. The drinks and food were delicious and very well priced. We will be back and will take our friends. It was a perfect 10 experience. read more

We love coming to Rare for a special date night. The restaurant is so beautiful with dark woods, dark ceiling and ultra-cozy booths. We discovered their wonderful bone-in pork chop on a prior visit, so we ordered one dish to share in addition to soup, salad and sides. We still had pork to take home! Totally recommend the lobster bisque and wedge salad, both were outstanding! The pork chop was fabulous and arrived carved into tender slices. I typically am not a fan of pork, but this dish is truly special. Our two sides of mushrooms and green beans were nice, but probably will skip the mushrooms on future orders. Service is always very good at Rare. read more

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Last night was my first time going to Rare, and wow am I impressed. The great first impression started with our table Captain Guinevere; she was very attentive, knowledgeable, and had a wonderful and upbeat attitude. My food was incredible, but the lobster bisque and sweet chili shrimp stole the show. To die for. The ambiance is rich and comfortable, albeit just a tad too dark, making it a little tough to read the menu. I will absolutely go back to Rare again, and will be requesting Guinevere. read more

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The food was absolutely unreal so great. Had guys get wagyu American and other got Japanese. I got the bone in ribeye. We all got different things and tried each others and it was amazing all of it. One guy said you don't even need teeth to eat the wagyu. It does melt in your mouth. Sides we had the cream spinach best spinach I ever have eaten. We had oysters east coast and west coast. The service was excellent Susan And Olga and the crew were so sweet. The ambiance is a high end steak house in the back and a bar and patio out front. So if you're on a date out with the crew you have a nice spot for either. Cannot recommend this highly enough. Thank you so much to all the staff. Cooks Waitstaff and managers. Sorry folks didn't get a picture of the food. read more

Always a treat to return to Rare! Decided to treat the kid & his girlfriend for his birthday. The surrounding are best described as "early Scorsese" or dark lighting with burgundy leather banquet seating. Cool vibes. Waitstaff, mostly college age, all in formal attire. Classy. Y'know? Greeted warmly & professionally by our server, Ashton, who informed us about the foie gras special & took our drink orders. My shaken Hendricks martini with a twist was delivered shortly thereafter & scratched the itch! Ashton then took our order of sweet chili shrimp with lime, the foie gras special with roasted apple, Caesar salad, bone in ribeye, New York strip, brussel sprouts and creamed spinach. The ribeye was cooked perfectly & tender. The NY strip was medium (mid rare was the target temp) and was swiftly refired and served. Shockingly fast too! Delicious. The sides were excellent as well. Somehow he had room for dessert. He ordered the bananas foster (made table side & always a fun show) & the espresso creme brûlée. Ashton kindly served a super smooth chocolate mouse cake square with graham crust topped with whipped cream and a candle. Nice. Just a lovely night all around. If you're craving steak & professional service in an old school setting...I suggest a reservation at Rare! read more

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You will not be disappointed if you order the Manhattan to accompany the charcuterie and tuna tartare boards and jumbo shrimp cocktail. Next order a cab to compliment your medium rare capitol cut with a side of mushrooms. Drool over your dinner companions menu choices of scallops and halibut and make a note to order those next time. The private dining room and exceptional service topped off the wonderful meal. read more

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The place where we celebrated our wedding ceremony with family and friends! We've been visiting from now on for our special occasions. I usually get their new york strip which is great!! And never skip cream brûlée because I just love that desert ‍ read more

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Hubby treated me to Rare for my birthday! The food was superb and the overall experience made me feel fancy. We started off with the sweet chili shrimp followed by lobster bisque. The hubby tried the japanese A5 wagyu which is a rare find for a Wisconsin restaurant! He absolutely loved it! The texture was not for me. I enjoyed my perfectly crisp and tender filet mignon and our side of lobster mac & cheese. Follow me on Instagram at yelpershawn for more reviews! read more

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Came here for my anniversary. I wish I could remember my waitress' name. She was amazing. She even bought us a complimentary dessert. We were brought out champagne for our celebration and our waitress actually chose our champagne, which we happened to love! It was very sweet and we ended up getting a bottle of that same drink. The food was not a disappointment. I had the NY strip and it was so juice and tender. My partner had the captain cut which was great as well. We got the truffle fries on the side which came with a good sauce. The ambiance is very nice, it's dim lit and it has an intimate vibe with music. I was impressed. Keep in mind this restaurant is very expensive. We only got two entrees, one side, a bottle of wine and it was $200. The price was definitely worth it. read more

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I took my husband here for his birthday while visiting Madison. He got the Capitol Cut and the steak was cooked perfectly and of such good quality that it didn't need any dipping sauce (yes, we always need the A1). I ordered the duck, which was on top of polenta and equally as good. The real show stopper for me was the brussel sprouts side. It had onion and butternut squash mixed in and the way it was seasoned was very good. Our server was excellent and the place was one of the nicest that I've visited. read more

We are not steakhouse people but Rare has one great happy hour. This review is about their happy hour since we are very unlikely to dine here given the price of their steaks are $50 to $190!!! We'd need a lobbyist's expense account to afford dinner here... The happy hour is weekdays 4-6pm. We arrived on a Tuesday during the holidays and grabbed seats at the bar. Within 30 mins the bar area was pretty full. Many others taking advantage of the deals. They have a selection of mixed drinks and wine at half price. Their old fashioned was well made and worth it for $6. They have a number of appetizers that looked tempting but we opted for their steak frites and their burger for our happy hour dinner. Both items were in the $12-$13 range and included fries. The serving of steak frites was small but at 1/2 price not bad. It was very good - medium rate plus. My burger, medium rare, was excellent and leaned a bit more rare than medium rare which they cautioned us about - it was perhaps the best burger I have had in town. With the fries a bargain these days. We will definitely be back for happy hour! read more

Went during their happy hour. Service was quick and polite. Happy hour deals are great, but don't get the steak--it's a tiny, tiny little thing. It's a bit dark inside the restaurant, but there are nice candles that add a flair to the environment. Overall, good happy hour spot. read more

Rare Steakhouse - burger and steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is absolutely delicious! I loved everything I consumed, the service was top notch, and it's a nice relaxing setting! My favorite thing was by far the tableside made bananas foster with a little "history" lesson of the dish! I highly recommend checking this place out especially during their weeknight happy hour 4-6 for half off quite a few menu items! I believe I served was Damian, he was incredible and very attentive! 10/10 will be back! read more

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Fantastic experience for my 1st visit to Madison. I chose the medium-rare Filet which tasted very good. Watermelon with mint makes the salad refreshing! People are friendly and caring, excellent service! A good place for date with others! read more

Rare Steakhouse - Filet (wet-aged) and watermelon salad:) - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We decided to dine at Rare Steakhouse for our wedding anniversary, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. We arrived to our 7:30PM Saturday reservation 20 minutes earlier. We were greeted enthusiastically by three staff members at the host table, and were seated immediately, along with greetings of "Happy Anniversary!" We were seated in a cozy and large booth, and were served complimentary champagne to celebrate. The restaurant was darkly lit, which we loved, and each individual table had its own candle. The dining room gave off a sophisticated and cozy ambiance. Luciana was the most attentive and kind waiter. Before we ordered, Lucy made sure to go over the menu highlights in great detail, and shared the daily specials with us. At one point in the evening when she was making a banana foster for a nearby table, she made sure to send over another waitstaff to check on us and deliver the dessert menu. She also warmly wished us a happy anniversary throughout the evening. Luciana helped us decide on our steak order: two 8oz rib caps, and they were cooked perfectly to our medium request. I asked for additional au jus on the side, but the steak was already so juicy, I barely touched the saucière. The mashed potatoes (with the cooked skin included) were the best restaurant potatoes I've ever had! They melted in your mouth, and were light enough not to dominate the steak. My only food critique is the complimentary bread basket with honey butter that's served at the beginning of the dining experience. The bread was extremely tough and chewy, and did not taste fresh. We had some of the best food and the most incredible service in Madison at Rare Steakhouse, and we're excited to dine with the staff again. All the little details and warm hospitality made our visit perfect. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary so special! read more

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You will not be disappointed, but you will not leave itching to come back. You know what you are getting yourself into price-wise, but you are better off dropping a band at a better steakhouse in the area. Service is mediocre, and my New York Strip was overcooked and not medium rare like I ordered. Drinks were great though read more

Rare Steakhouse - New York Strip - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We recently visited Rare Steakhouse for the first time, and while our server was absolutely fantastic, the experience left us feeling underwhelmed. We ordered a ribeye and a filet, and unfortunately, both steaks fell short of expectations. The ribeye, priced at $106, was tough and lacked the tenderness we hoped for, with noticeable char marks that didn't add to the flavor. For that price, we expected a much more impressive steak. On a positive note, the dessert was a standout. The Bananas Foster was absolutely outstanding, and it was the highlight of our meal. Overall, the meal didn't live up to the hype or the price point. While the service was excellent, I'd hesitate to return given the quality of the steaks. The dessert, though, was definitely worth a mention! read more

I called to move my reservation to 15 minutes later on a quiet night because my wife's flight was delayed. My request was met with a frosty reception presumably because the staff member felt she'd have to work later. The waitresses were pushy on the sales of drinks, way over priced steaks and bananas foster. After 90 minutes and $500 for 3 people ordering the basic steaks, they were in a hurry to bring the check. Great food, great decor, no professionalism. I won't be back. read more

I visited Rare Steakhouse for a work dinner. The food is expensive but absolutely delicious. The service was excellent, we had a pleasant waiter that was knowledgeable about the menu. I appreciated the ambiance and lighting. They were able to accommodate our party of about ten. Really nice place, right on the square. read more

What an excellent dining experience. I'll keep this review straight and to the point: The waitstaff are very kind and knowledgeable, I was amazed that they knew every step in the cooking process that takes place from where the cattle is raised to how it is prepared. I thought I could stump my server with my questions but I was wrong! The ambiance of the steakhouse is very clean and sleek. You can tell a lot of care went in to craft an excellent environment for dining. The food!! Everything on the menu is of the highest quality and cooked to perfection. I ordered a porterhouse steak (bone in steak with a new york strip on one side and a fillet mignon on the other) and I have never had a fillet tase as tender, cooked perfectly and flavorful. Appetizers were also such high quality. Example: we ordered a charcuterie board and I thought I would be able to find a sour/bad grape but every single one was fresh and delicious. If you are looking for a high quality dining experience, this is the place in Madison. read more

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We went for Valentine's dinner, and Rare Steakhouse did not disappoint. The mgr was kind enough to find a booth for us.... So much more romantic. The atmosphere was perfect for Valentine's. Our server was so nice & friendly. Everything was just excellent. The Oysters Rockefellers were perfect. The lobster bisque was so creamy good. The filet was a perfect medium, tender, juicy and full of flavor. It cut like butta. The lobster was tender and sweet. The bartender mixed my Mudslide very well, not watered down. In the end, we left satisfied and looking forward to our next visit to Rare. read more

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let me start by saying ryan was a fantastic server. he was extremely personable and professional. his son was also very friendly. the food was superb. we started with oysters which ryan had recommended and they were great. we split the wedge salad which they split in the kitchen. we also split the bone in ribeye which was outstanding. we finished with the bananas foster which ryan prepared table side. also excellent. overall, between the service, food and atmosphere, this has become one of our favourite restaurants in town. great job ryan and staff. we really appreciate you making this a memorable evening for my wife and i. read more

Happy Hour at Rare is exquisite! The cocktails are yummy, and the food is delicious. We got the Wisconsin Ol Fashioned and Martini for drinks and the Whipped burrata and the Rare Burger for food. The food was scarfed down so quickly because it was yummy to the nth level. The ambiance is very elite and a great place for date night. The staff is very friendly and attentive and the pictures of the walls show a lot of history. 10/10 on this place. read more

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This place is romantic and delish! Such a nice place for a date night or a celebration :) we had a great time. I would probably try something instead of the lobster Mac, because it was a little heavy for me. But that's just a personal preference! The staff were SO NICE!! Like genuinely made our date night even a better experience. read more

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If you're like me, Rare Steakhouse is wayyyy out of budget. That's why I love the Happy Hour here! I love dressing up and sitting at the dimly lit bar sipping $6 Brandy Old Fashions or enjoying a half-off appetizer. My favorite app is the fries with aoli or the steak frites. I highly recommended the Happy Hour. It's 4-6pm :) read more

Rare Steakhouse - Brandy old fashioned - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Food and experience were amazing in celebrating our anniversary! Our server Jahar was very welcoming and knew his menu and definitely gave great recommendations and history behind the Banana Foster which was so great to hear. I highly suggest the tomahawk steak and sea bass. The old fashion drink had a very nice presentation and taste. I am definitely coming back and highly recommend this place!!! read more

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Absolutely amazing atmosphere the literal best steak I've had in my life. The service was just wow especially the server named Shelby she was out of this world so kind and funny who talked to us not just like guests but actual people that she wasn't just conversing with to get money. Definitely recommend that server and this steakhouse. read more

I've walked by this place so many times and finally made it in for dinner! This place truly has the vibes of an old school steakhouse, and was a great meal. The staff were friendly, and the food came out freaky fast. I don't think I've ever been at a steakhouse with a kitchen that ran as efficiently as this in a packed house. We got the bone in rib-eye that was cut and cooked to perfection. For sides we got the Brussel sprouts, carrots, and loaded potatoes. The Brussel sprouts were soooooo good, crispy and seasoned perfectly. The carrots were also good and not too mushy. The potatoes were a bit too "sour creamy" for my palette, but still good consistency. read more

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We dined at Rare last night for our last meal while visiting the Madison area. We arrived a little early and sat at the bar with Ken. He was super nice. We enjoyed chatting with him while enjoying our pre-dinner cocktails. We sat in the library room for dinner which was lovely. We tried the shrimp cocktail and whipped burrata with butternut squash for starters. For dinner, my husband had the ribeye cap which was outstanding. The flavor was out of this world. We also had a filet, whipped Mashies, asparagus and creme brûlée. Our server, Cynthia was great! read more

Rare Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This restaurant is beautiful and serves delicious food. Our waiter was amazing and gave great recommendations for dinner and drink options. My husband's filet was perfectly grilled to medium rare, his fries were delicious and my salmon and Caesar salad were spot on delicious as well. The rolls were warm and melted in our mouths with honey butter. read more

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In town for a conference with my coworkers & after a long flight, we were all pretty hungry and a nice steak dinner was on our minds. This restaurant is near our hotel and conveniently with walking distance. This place has a very nice, warm ambiance with its dark wood and soft lighting- definitely gives this place a cozy vibe. Our waitress was Luciana, and was quick to greet us and make some recommendations as well as answer questions we had about the menu. We put our order and shortly after, our bread basket and drinks had arrived and we got lost in conversation. It wasn't long until our food had arrived, smelling and looking delicious! The ribeyes were super thick and nicely done at medium rare. Juicy and seasoned well! My friend loved her New York strip at well done (don't judge). The sides we ordered were a true compliment to our steaks. The Brussels sprouts had a nice roasted crisp to it with some light seasoning. The mushrooms, sautéed just perfectly and seasoned well. The mashed potatoes were nice and creamy. It was a hearty but satisfying meal. Our waitress was very attentive and checked in with us at perfect timing, she was delightful! Our waitress even connected with my coworkers on the subject of pets that lead to a nice endearing and fun conversation. It was a perfect evening to a very long day. I hope if you visit Madison, that you find yourself here to have great dinner experience as we did. Njoy! read more

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My review of Rare is unfortunate, because it truly was only a few small items that lowered my enjoyment. I'll begin by stating that the staff and service are excellent, truly top notch. I felt cared for and attended to the duration of my meal. My drink, the "smoked" old fashioned was served very entertainingly in a puff of smoke, right out the box, and was very good. My appetizers included the Lobster Bisque (maybe the best I've ever had, period) and fresh dinner rolls with honey butter, which were similarly great. My entree is truly the only gripe I have, but it ends up being enough to lower my overall rating all the same. I ordered a 20 oz Kansas City style strip steak with accompanying button mushrooms. While there's some small chance the lighting of the restaurant impacted this, the outside of the steak was nearly black. I have had char on a steak before, and enjoy it on a medium rare steak, but this was bordering on burnt and thickened up the outside crust. Possibly because it was wagyu, to try and focus on the flavor of the steak, it was VERY lightly seasoned. Good enough, but any less and I would assume there was no seasoning at all. This is a small item, but the steak also included a bone, taking up a significant portion of the 20 oz I was promised, and the menu did not indicate it was a bone in strip, like it did for other steak options, marked as either bone-in or boneless. Finally, it seems the mushrooms I received on the side took the seasoning that was meant to land on the steak, and the mushrooms were very salty, to the point that they were the only item I did not finish. Dessert, a peach crème brûlée was good, but it seemed that the peach flavor in the dessert may have largely been coming from some sort of alcoholic source, leaving it tasting less fruity than hoped for. Lastly, other reviews have mentioned it, the price is steep. After tipping 25% as is standard, my total bill for only one person rounded to about $280, so keep that in mind when planning your evening. All In all, I went in with high hopes for a steak, only to be let down a little by exactly that. 3 stars is fair, unless I left immediately before my entree, in which case Rare was well on it's way to a 5 star rating. read more

Rare Steakhouse - Medium rare Kansas City Wagyu (bone-in), side button mushrooms, smoked old fashioned - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The atmosphere is beautiful. The wait staff is very accommodating. Our waitress wore a mask and I'm not sure if it was for our protection or hers, but it was very hard to hear the specials or anything She had to say because it was so muffled. That was very annoying. $309.00 bill for two is ridiculous. They have waaaay too many staff. Two People check you in, to bring soup, clear the table, wrap up take home is nuts. Cut the staff and lower the price. An 8 Oz. Filet should not be $60.00. $22.00 for a glass of wine is robbery. $12.00 for a small serving of soup is mind blowing. Soup was warm. Steak enhancements and potatoes were cold. I don't care how much money I have....this place is Not worth the price. read more

One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The food was amazing, but the service was literally the best I've ever experienced. Genevieve(?) was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and kind. read more

Came here for a valentine's day/anniversary dinner and we wanted to fancy it up a little bit. This was the right spot to do just that. Host was very polite, took our coats, and seated us in the back area. We can a center table and I'm usually more of a booth seating person for some extra cushion, but these chairs were pretty comfortable so no complaints. The menu has all the traditional steakhouse offerings including a nice seafood selection. I was in the mood for some steak and I 100% picked the right place for that! We started with a really lovely menu that read Happy Anniversary on it -- a nice personal touch we enjoyed. Very dim, romantic lighting which doesn't produce great pictures for the foodie in me, but definitely creates a nice mood. To start, I got the sangria and my partner got the whiskey cocktail. Both very good. My red sangria was really refreshing, exactly what I was looking for. The complimentary bread was came out warm and offered traditional butter and herb butter. The herb butter was gone pretty fast. Next we ordered the steak tartare which came with very crunchy crostinis, and a spread of tartar sauce. Personally, I liked the crostinis with the tartare, but my partner wish there were other options because the crostinis were too hard for his liking. The tartare itself was coated nicely in oil and overall was well done. Our next course was the lobster bisque. Probably one of the highlights. We shared 1 serving and they were kind enough to split it into 2 bowls and it was honestly enough for us. The plate comes out with a little center of fresh lobster and then the waiter comes and pours the bisque in the bowl. Add some fresh cracked pepper and this was delicious. Our main course was the 22oz bonein ribeye and we added on the scallops and foie butter on top. The scallops were nice and pump and if you love foie gras, definitely recommend the butter as that flavor really showed out. The ribeye was a perfect medium rare, evenly cooked and juicy with some prominent pieces of fat, which I prefer because it makes it juicier. As a special treat, we were offered complimentary dessert (we chose the chocolate cake) and we were so stuff they were gracious enough to pack it to go for us. The next morning when we opened it for breakfast, it was a huge piece and so decant! Perfect for all my fellow chocolate lovers. The cake was super moist with layers of a chocolate mousse in the middle. The outer was a harder chocolate frosting and then drizzled all over with caramel. It was so good! Rare showed out for this special night for us and we were so appreciative of it. Come celebrate your next special occasion here too! read more

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Could not recommend this place more for an intimate night. I ordered the Burrata to start, the French Onion Soup, the Truffled Crab Pasta, the Green Beans, and the Whipped Potatoes. I shared most of these with another person, and the portions were almost perfect. The roasted tomatoes on the burrata added the perfect touch of smokiness, and everything else was beautiful. The truffle pasta could have had a little bit more of a complex flavor, but was still delicious nonetheless. Our server was so outgoing and fun, and we loved everything about the restaurant. read more

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Went here for restaurant week and wasn't that impressed. My salmon was over cooked and steak was just okay. The cocktails were very good and the salad was fresh with a good crunch on top (fried onions.) Will maybe give it a second chance but I wasn't to impressed by the food or service. Madison has very good steakhouses and this didn't make the list unfortunately read more

Rare Steakhouse - Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Awesome steakhouse right on capital square! really cool red leather seats, fun bar area, incredible food, and some of the most attentive service I have ever experienced. Our waitress even brought out a complementary wine tasting! My mom was holding up her glass and noticed a crack, not 20 seconds later one of the food runners noticed and brought her a completely fresh glass and drink, without my mom even having to say anything! Hack of the day: go for happy hour! They have an INSANE menu with crazy cheap prices for amazing quality. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. read more

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We came to Rare for an early Valentine's Day celebration! Everything was super delicious. We were seated near a door at first without a lot of room, however, they were very accommodating and moved us to a more spacious table. The dinner rolls with honey butter were so freaking good. The crab cake appetizer was awesome, loved the sauce. I got the filet and it was cooked perfectly and I got entrecoat sauce which was so good - highly recommend. My bf got the New York strip and loved it as well. Sides were great. We did order too many potatoes but I love leftovers so win-win. The creamed spinach was just ok. The lobster mac and cheese was super tasty. Overall, very impressed by the restaurant. I would've given 5 stars, but all of our food was lukewarm and I like my food piping hot. Our server was very sweet, though could've checked in more as well. I'd 100% go back, this is an awesome steakhouse!! read more

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I took hubbs here July 5th for his 60th birthday. We ordered the Foie Gras for our appetizer. At $31, we were expecting excellence. We did not get it. What we got, was some weird paste with fruit in it. Three itty bitty circles of it. Now, I would think that most people ordering Foie Gras in a restaurant as expensive as Rare, have had it before, and know what it is supposed to taste like. That appetizer had not one iota of Foie Gras flavor in it. Hubbs said "if the waitress came and told us she brought the wrong appetizer, I would believe it". Not an awesome start. Very disappointing, especially at $31. Waitress asked how the foie gras was, I said "Was it? Was there any foie gras in it?". Said she'd tell the chef. Whatever. Moving on. For our entrées, I had the filet, Oscar style, and hubbs had the ribcap steak, which we had never heard of before. Sides were creamed spinach for him, shrooms for me. The steaks were PERFECT. Absolutely delicious. Hubbs like his creamed spinach (blech), and my mushrooms? The absolute BEST mushrooms we've ever had at a steak house. I don't know what they did to them, but holy moly were they good! Waitress brought out a free dessert for hubbs, and made sure there was a piece for me too. Very nice. Chocolate tart. Basically, a flourless chocolate cake, but with a salted graham cracker crust. Drizzled with salted carmel. Wow. Fabulous! All in all, we will return, but we will be trying a different appetizer next time! read more