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The Holmes's Steakhouse Guide is concerned primarily with the meal, in particular the steak. Given the prices that are going to be involved, I believe the food is the number one aspect by which Steakhouses (or any restuarant for that matter)should be judged. Service and Decor are nice, and generally only effect the overall rating in one direction or the other if they are exceptionally good or are quite poor.
This guide is a review of the steakhouses that I have been to over the last few years, and represents my often times single judgement of the restuarant. Where I have been to a restuarant more than once, I also begin to judge its consistency.
The following are the criteria that I
use to judge Steakhouses, in loose order:
401
(410) 263-1617
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A+ |
The best cuts of meat available |
|
Other
Food: |
A+ |
The best crabcakes and
cheesecake |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Large and reasonably priced |
|
Value: |
A |
Compared to other steakhouse, a relative bargain |
|
Service: |
A |
Adequate - nothing flashy |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Reflects the more casual atmosphere of |
|
Consistency: |
A+ |
The meals are always the same - perfect |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Top quality steaks, seafood and deserts |
Menu needs to cycle some new items through |
|
Big Wine & Drinks List with reasonable prices |
Small bar area is crowded and slow |
|
Consistency, consistency, consistency |
|
|
The absolute best Filet Mignon you can have |
|
|
Summary |
|
When you are more concerned about the food than the
ambiance, then Lewnes is hands down the best
steakhouse in |
Rated 5/16/2003
(202) 466-8811
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A+ |
The best cuts of meat available. Very tender, very
flavorful. |
|
Other
Food: |
A+ |
Everything we had was amazing - bisque, potatoes,
cheesecake, even the bread! |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Large and procey - most were
over $100/bottle |
|
Value: |
A- |
Mixed - the filet was $30, but many of the other items
were pricier, esp. the wine |
|
Service: |
A |
Top notch |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A |
This is the most formal of all the steakhouses - Jacket
and Ties are required. The decor is quite formal |
|
Consistency: |
A+ |
The meals are always the same - perfect |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Top quality steaks, seafood and deserts |
Wine list could use some more alternative is the $60-$90
range |
|
Big Wine & Drinks List |
|
|
Decor makes dinner feel special |
|
|
Summary |
|
An all around top notch steakhouse. Superb food, formal
atmosphere, excellent service. |
(202) 737-6200
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(703) 448-3900
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(858) 661-6061
See more at SignonSanDiego.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A |
Very high quality cuts. Clean, good char, could stand a
little bit more flavor, but still among the best |
|
Other
Food: |
A- |
Excellent salad, but the dessert was a little lacking in
flavor |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Huge wine list |
|
Value: |
A |
Slightly less expensive than some of the others on this
list, but only by a little bit. |
|
Service: |
A |
Tuxedoes waiters were on the beck and call |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A |
Very lavish interior - dark wood abounds. Fantastic bar
area, including a Havana Lounge for cigars |
|
Consistency: |
N/A |
Only one data point |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Steak is very good, excellent cut and big |
SLightly less flavor
than I would expect |
|
Huge wine list |
The menu is really limited to steak and only 3 non-steak
items. This is not a concern for me, but may be for guests. |
|
Summary |
|
An overall execllent stakhouse. Fantastic setting matched with top notch
service. |
(202) 293-9091
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A |
Very high quality cuts. Clean, good char, could stand a
little bit more flavor, but still among the best |
|
Other
Food: |
A |
Very good. Lobster bisque is phenominal |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A- |
Nice wine list - good size and variety |
|
Value: |
A- |
One the high end of the price scale (along with many
others) |
|
Service: |
B+ |
Not up to par with the other top steakhouses - not bad,
just nothing special |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Loud, loud, loud. The tables are tightly packed into one
main room. Good to go with a big group. |
|
Consistency: |
A |
Been here several times, always an excellent meal - the
cuts of meat are almost always top notch. |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Steak is very good, excellent cut and big |
Service is a bit below par for this listw |
|
Good side dishes, decent sized menu |
The decor is not for an intimate meal - it is a loud,
raucous NY steakhouse |
|
Summary |
|
A solid and consistent player. I have never been
disappointed at either of The Palms. Recommended. |
(703) 917-0200
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Rated 2/14/2003
(202) 639-9330
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Angelo & Maxies is a small chain this is priced a step below the major steakhouse players. Instead of $34 for a Filet, expect $26.
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A |
Very decent cut. Clean, very flavorful |
|
Other
Food: |
B+ |
Solid all around - nothing exceptional. They do pour a huge
mixed drink though |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
B+ |
Decent, moderately priced |
|
Value: |
A+ |
For the money, this place is hard to beat. |
|
Service: |
B- |
Not up to par with the other top steakhouses - expect
nothing more than a regular restaurant |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Pretty decent interior - lots of wood, very open |
|
Consistency: |
A |
Been here several times, always a good meal |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Steak is very good |
Service is a bit below par for this listw |
|
Value - the absolute best value I've seen anywhere |
In general, the Other Food quality is a bit below the
others |
|
Big Mixed Drinks |
|
|
Summary |
|
For the money, this is one of the best places period.
Excellent steak at $8 less than the other places. |
(202) 589-0060
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(919) 833-2888
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658
(619) 232-0225
See more at CitySearch.com
Rated 4/30/2003
(215) 482-3700
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A-/A |
A very good cut of meat, cooked with a good amount of char.
Very solid, one of the top 5. |
|
Other
Food: |
A- |
Didn't get to sample too much, but very solid. Very
large menu. |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Very Large wine list, and a large bar area |
|
Value: |
A |
Compares well with other steak houses, maybe even a
little less expensive than many. |
|
Service: |
A- |
Adequate - nothing flashy |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Depending on where you sit, can be quite or even raucous
if you sit up front late at night. The Piano bar (with corresponding drunks)
either adds or takes away from your experience |
|
Consistency: |
NA |
|
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Very good steak |
Sometimes loud Ambiance may not match your mood |
|
Big Wine & Drinks List with reasonable prices |
The bread was not up to par and made too much mess. |
|
Big menu |
|
|
Out door seating area |
|
|
Summary |
|
A very solid Steakhouse. Good variety, excellent steak made
this restaurant a top notch choice. |
Rated 6/7/2004
(310) 888-8782
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A-/B+ |
The cuts were fair – all three had to leave some
pieces behind on the Filets, which is a big no-no. However, they were very tasty and very
tender. They use a lot of butter. |
|
Other
Food: |
A- |
Solid all around.
Decent selection of appetizers and other courses. |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A- |
Decent wine list – nothing huge but fine. The out front bar was ok. |
|
Value: |
A- |
Prices were in the expected range |
|
Service: |
B |
I think our waiter was new, and I was not
impressed. Wine glasses were not
filled. |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Small room, nicely
decorated. Not quite traditional
steakhouse, but more of an Asian/Californian look |
|
Consistency: |
NA |
|
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Very flavorful steak |
Cuts of meat were not that great – typical but not
what they should be |
|
Good for star watching, if you are in to that |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary |
|
A very solid Steakhouse. Good variety, decent steak made
this restaurant a quality place. |
(512) 474-5911
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Rated 6/12/2004
11582 El Camino Real
(858) 755-1454
See more at Ruth’s Chris page
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A- |
Cut was better than any other Ruth’s Chris’,
but does not deserve an A. It was
tender and quite flavorful however. |
|
Other
Food: |
A- |
Very good appetizers and other courses. Had a good
(but not great) bisque. Cheesecake
was ok. Mashed was excellent. |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Wide array of drinks and a decent rather large wine
list. |
|
Value: |
A- |
On par with other places in this league |
|
Service: |
A |
Our waiter was excellent all around |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Being in SoCal, this location
was less formal than others.
Shorts were allowed, and the décor was more open and
casual. It is focused on the
sunsets that you can catch through enormous windows. |
|
Consistency: |
N/A |
In general Ruth’s Chris’ vary from place to
place. |
|
|
|
|
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Good steak |
Cut could have been better. Was on par with others though. |
|
Decent menu |
Seeing people in shorts at a $100 a plate restaurant is
hard to swallow, but this is SoCal so I’ll
have to get used to it. |
|
Pretty big wine list |
|
|
Summary |
|
A solid place that I would return to. This is by far the best RC that I have
been to however, so I might as well enjoy it. |
Rated 3/15/2003
(212) 687-4855
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
A- |
Big, clean cut. Very nicely charred. A little dry |
|
Other
Food: |
A- |
Solid all around. God like tomatos
and onions, excellent bread. Potatoes were ok. Very good cheesecake |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
B+ |
Fairly large, runs the gamut. Port selection sucked -
really only available by the bottle or half bottle, starting at $150! |
|
Value: |
A- |
A bit on the pricey side, but it is |
|
Service: |
A- |
Solid |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
B+ |
A bit cheesy and tacky |
|
Consistency: |
|
Unknown |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Quality Steak |
|
|
Very good service |
Cheesy decor |
|
Big menu |
Hard to get a reservation on a weekend |
|
Summary |
|
Pretty decent. Worth the trip back. |
Rated 2/26/2003
(408) 294-2244
See more at their website
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
B+ |
Small cut, little to no char, some fat on it. Also, it was dry aged, making it a
rather dry piece of meat. It did have
good flavor however. |
|
Other
Food: |
B |
OK all around - nothing exceptional. Potatoes were a bit
weak, and the Cheesecake was a little disappointing. |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Good wine list – rather large and a little
vertical. |
|
Value: |
A- |
Solid |
|
Service: |
A |
Our wait staff did a fine job, even if he poured the
good wine to everyone else too quickly! |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Standard steakhouse look and feel. White walls, lots of wood. Nice bar area |
|
Consistency: |
N/A |
|
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Solid meal all around, nothing flashy though |
Steak was decent, but not a top level piece |
|
Good wine list |
The other food items were OK, but not decent |
|
Good bar area |
|
|
Summary |
|
A decent place, but not as good as some might think
based on other reviews that I heard going in. (This is how it usually is). |
Rated 1/10/2003
(212) 581-1170
See more at CitySearch.com
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
B- |
Terrible, fatty cut of meat. Over cooked and dry. |
|
Other
Food: |
A+ |
Unreal cheesecake, excellent Tomatoes (even in January) |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A |
Fairly large |
|
Value: |
A |
A bit on the pricey side, but it is |
|
Service: |
A |
Excellent - among the best |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Solid steakhouse decor, nothing flashy. Very loud inside
- Palm like |
|
Consistency: |
|
Unknown |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Excellent Service |
The Filet Mignon was almost unacceptable for $34. |
|
Big menu for a steakhouse - many steak alternatives (not
that I would ever order one) |
A bit loud, ala The Palm |
|
Unbelieveable cheesecake.
This is NY Cheesecake at its finest. |
A tad pricey |
|
Summary |
|
I would try one of the other places in |
Rated 10/30/2003
(408) 980-6400
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
B |
Lacking in flavor, not a great cut but not overly bad
either. |
|
Other
Food: |
B |
Ok overall -potatoes were nothing special, desserts were
fine |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A- |
Fairly large and well rounded |
|
Value: |
B+ |
Not overly expensive, but its up there with the rest. |
|
Service: |
B- |
For the money, I would expect a little better |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
B |
Decent, but looks a little lower scale than its prices
dictate. A little more class would be nice |
|
Consistency: |
|
Unknown |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Decent drinks list, including a good |
Steak was not up to the top level. |
|
Decent overall menu - more than just steak on the menu |
A bit loud, although a little less than The Palm |
|
Summary |
|
I would keep searching in the area before trying this
one. |
Many Locations
See more at CitySearch.com
(202) 466-1100
See more at CitySearch.com
Rated 2/7/2003
(202) 393-1300
See more at CitySearch.com
The Caucus room generally receives high marks from local steak enthusiasts. I cannot understand how. The pride themselves on service, but both times that I have been there the service has been poor to infuriating.
|
Rating Points |
Comments |
|
|
Steak: |
B- |
Terrible, fatty cut of meat. Small edible portion for
the money. The Filet was USDA Choice, not Prime. |
|
Other
Food: |
B+ |
Everything else was decent. Cheesecake was ok. |
|
Wine
& Drinks List: |
A- |
Fairly large |
|
Value: |
B+ |
OK - the meals were overpriced in relation to their
size. |
|
Service: |
B- |
Terrible. Our waiter was bizarre, didn't know much about
the menu, and overcharged us. |
|
Ambiance
and Decor: |
A- |
Solid steakhouse decor, nothing flashy. |
|
Consistency: |
|
Unknown |
|
Pluses |
Minuses |
|
Decent decor |
Terrible service - this is twice now |
|
|
Terrible steak - only half of it was edible |