Let's hear personal favorites; independents and chains; just great steaks and interesting places/scenery/people. Especially interested in any lessor known places that are not necessarily in the biggest cities.
Independents:
Peter Luger - Brooklyn, just amazing steak, simple old time steakhouse atmosphere. The Porterhouse should be on every steak lovers bucket list.
Nick & Sams - Dallas, great steaks and the talent can be amazing. It is a see and be scene place that you will likely notice someone famous. But the food absolutely carries its own weight.
Bern's - Tampa, Fabulous steaks of every possible cut to your weight and thickness choice. Impecable service. Plan on five hours. After the steak a tour of the spotless kitchen and wine cellar are on the way to the dessert room upstairs, where among many other things, ordering a Cognac from the 1800's is not out of the question.
Jimmy Kelly's - Nashville, a lessor known gem in an early 1900's house. Great steaks and great service. Still family owned, one of the owners is usually at the bar and visits each table. Simple menu and reasonable prices, the bone in Ribeye is as good as it gets.
Doe's - Greenville MS (the original). now this is off the beaten path an you will feel like you are in the 1950's. They have opened up several others in La.and Ar. You go in there not to impress anyone, but to get a delicious steak. I have been told that they have some kind of unique oven, don't know but it just works. The sides are decidedly simple southern classics.
Chains:
Smith & Wollensky - Everything is great, the sides are an event of their own. IMO, the best Truffled Mac & Cheese anywhere. Always a great experience and typically have an interesting clientele.
Ruth's Chris - I know alot of people knock them because they are a largely cookie cutter chain. But for me, when on business travel to mid size cities you are never going to go wrong if you don't know the best local places. And the steaks are just consistently good, the NY Strip and Cowboy Ribeye never disappoint.
Independents:
Peter Luger - Brooklyn, just amazing steak, simple old time steakhouse atmosphere. The Porterhouse should be on every steak lovers bucket list.
Nick & Sams - Dallas, great steaks and the talent can be amazing. It is a see and be scene place that you will likely notice someone famous. But the food absolutely carries its own weight.
Bern's - Tampa, Fabulous steaks of every possible cut to your weight and thickness choice. Impecable service. Plan on five hours. After the steak a tour of the spotless kitchen and wine cellar are on the way to the dessert room upstairs, where among many other things, ordering a Cognac from the 1800's is not out of the question.
Jimmy Kelly's - Nashville, a lessor known gem in an early 1900's house. Great steaks and great service. Still family owned, one of the owners is usually at the bar and visits each table. Simple menu and reasonable prices, the bone in Ribeye is as good as it gets.
Doe's - Greenville MS (the original). now this is off the beaten path an you will feel like you are in the 1950's. They have opened up several others in La.and Ar. You go in there not to impress anyone, but to get a delicious steak. I have been told that they have some kind of unique oven, don't know but it just works. The sides are decidedly simple southern classics.
Chains:
Smith & Wollensky - Everything is great, the sides are an event of their own. IMO, the best Truffled Mac & Cheese anywhere. Always a great experience and typically have an interesting clientele.
Ruth's Chris - I know alot of people knock them because they are a largely cookie cutter chain. But for me, when on business travel to mid size cities you are never going to go wrong if you don't know the best local places. And the steaks are just consistently good, the NY Strip and Cowboy Ribeye never disappoint.
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