STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: Salza (Stavanger, Norway)

Built toward the end of the 18^th century, a quaint neighborhood of 173 white, wooden houses comprises what is known as “Gamle Stavanger” or “Old Stavanger” – definitely a nice place for a summer stroll before an evening meal in Norway.  On the outskirts of Old Town, especially toward the harbor (Vagen), you can find several very nice restaurants including Salza, one of the top-rated steakhouses in the city. 

THE FOOD: C-  

As with most meals, we started with the bread.  Bread rarely makes much of a difference in the overall meal for me, but at Salza they served the bread with a tomato and cheddar spread which made it a little more of an experience. 

For the main course, I ordered a personal favorite of mine – the rib eye.  It was a good thing it's a favorite of mine too - because on this particular night it was one of only two cuts on the menu (NY Strip was the other cut).  Both cuts were sourced locally, which was great, but the lack of variety was bad news for my girlfriend who very strictly sticks to the filet mignon.  

One important thing to keep in mind when ordering steak outside of the U.S. is that they measure weight in grams, not ounces.  I had to choose between 180 grams or 300 grams of rib eye, and while I didn’t know exactly what the conversion was I had a feeling that I could handle the 300 gram steak – it had been a full day of hiking earlier up Pulpit Rock so I figured I had earned it… it turns out the 300 grams equates to about 10 and a half ounces – certainly manageable when you have a good appetite.  For my steak the cut was good and it had little fat that needed to be trimmed, but the steak was a little overcooked to be considered medium-rare. 

The potatoes that came with my steak were unlike any I have encountered at other steakhouses, and were quite good.  It was almost as if they mashed the potato, pressed it into a flat sheet, and layered the sheets into a nice cubed shape.  

My girlfriend ordered the breast of ox glazed with brown sugar and Jack Daniels sauce – which turned out to be a big mistake.  It was her first time trying ox, and maybe ox in general is a dryer, more bland meat, but the cut that she was served was not at all worthy of being served in a nice restaurant.  If you can imagine smoking a beef brisket for about twice as long as you need to until all the moisture and flavor is zapped out of it – that’s about what this ox tasted like. 

THE ATMOSPHERE: B

Despite being both a restaurant and a nightclub, the atmosphere at Salza was very nice – crowds can gather later in the evening as the nightclub picks up, but if you’re there during a normal dinner hour you’ll find it to be a rather quiet and low-key environment.   Our table was cozy and had a nice view of the street and harbor outside and the window looked to be an original (or at least antique) frame which added to the character of the place and made it feel like it belonged so close to the “Old Town” neighborhood. 

THE SERVICE: C

The wait staff was courteous, as you would expect.  They got a few bonus points when they continued to bring out bread even after the meal so we had something to munch on while we finished our wine, but lost a few points because they couldn’t tell me much about how the steak was prepared.  Overall there wasn’t very much from a service perspective that set Salza apart from any other restaurant. 

Overall I would give Salsa a C+ rating.  Perhaps I’m just biased toward domestic steakhouses in the U.S., but if you're visiting Stavanger I would recommend trying another restaurant near Old Town instead.

STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: Murray's (Minneapolis, MN)

As a steakhouse touted to be in the top 20 in the United States (#18, to be precise according to TheDailyMeal http://goo.gl/s7YjSM) , I had very high expectations when I entered Murray’s Steakhouse in my hometown of Minneapolis for the first time.  Murray’s slogan is “the home of the silver butterknife steak” so the “butterknife steak for 2” was clearly what I needed to order. 

THE FOOD: (A) Let’s just say the butterknife steak highlighted in Murray’s slogan is there for a good reason – it does not disappoint!  For a guy who is used to having ribeye or filet mignon at these types of establishments, a strip sirloin was a significant (but welcome) change up.  The presentation and tableside carving of the steak was a really nice touch as well.  Your waiter will slice the entire sirloin for you, dividing it up between you and your guest, and then drizzle the juice over the top of the steak before presenting it to you.  The only downside about eating a steak for two is you cannot cook it two different ways for different tastes so I was forced to allow them to cook my steak to medium instead of my usual medium rare.  While I might normally let this slip from an A to and A-, the fact that we got two sides and a soup or salad included in the price really bumped up the value.  The green beans with shaved almonds were the seasonal side when I was there which was delicious.    

THE ATMOSPHERE:  (A-) Immediately when you walk into Murray’s you’ll notice that it’s not your run-of-the-mill steakhouse.  As you walk past the coat room you’ll arrive at the host stand and be seated in a much smaller than normal dining room.  The smaller size and overall layout creates a much more intimate atmosphere – great for quiet conversations with that special someone in your life.   With regard to décor, I felt very comfortable and relaxed in Murray’s, and maybe it’s because I didn’t take enough time to soak in my surroundings, but I didn’t notice anything that was particularly memorable to distinguish the interior of Murray’s from other steakhouses in my mind. 

THE SERVICE: (A-) While we made a reservation on OpenTable for dinner, I ended up arriving more than 30 minutes early.  During a busy dinner hour, especially at some of the other steakhouses I’ve been to, I’m used to being welcomed into the bar to wait for my table, however at Murray’s they welcomed us and sat us immediately in the dining room.  Perhaps it was an unusually light night for Murray’s that evening, but it was a very pleasant surprise nonetheless!  During the meal our waiter was very polite and attentive, but there wasn’t much about the experience that was particularly memorable from a service perspective. 

Overall, I would give Murray’s a strong “A-“ – the food is absolutely delicious, the atmosphere and service are at least what you would expect from a nice restaurant, and the value is very good compared to typical steakhouse prices. 

Overall, I would give Murray’s a strong “A-“ – the food is absolutely delicious, the atmosphere and service are at least what you would expect from a nice restaurant, and the value is very good compared to typical steakhouse prices.  

STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: Gibson’s (Chicago – North Rush Street)

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at this particular steakhouse, then I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it is a truly exceptional restaurant.

Walking in the door you’ll immediately notice the floor to ceiling pictures of celebrities who have dined there, the sheer number of 8” by 10” frames makes for really neat décor.  In terms of dining atmosphere, the main dining room is very similar to what you might find at other steak and chop houses, but if you’re looking for a more intimate environment there is a smaller dining room upstairs which I’ve found to be nice and quiet, conducive to intimate conversation.  Or, if you’re like me and you prefer people watching, the “patio” is a must-try.  Not a patio in the traditional sense, it’s completely indoors, but it’s located right on the corner of the street and the large windows allow a lot of natural light and opportunities to watch passers-by. 

The manager of Gibson’s, Frank Spagnolo, embodies the spirit of customer service.  The night I was there didn’t seem slow by any means, and yet Frank found the time to visit our table several times to make sure we were getting everything we needed and having a great time, and even offered to take photographs for us to commemorate the occasion.  Call the restaurant ahead of time (not during busy hours, of course) and if Frank is available, I’m sure he’ll be excited to answer any questions you have and help you plan to make your visit incredible. 

THE FOOD: An “A” – Gibson’s chefs know how to prepare a steak, it’s as simple as that.  I’ve had experiences at other steakhouses where the range for “medium-rare” overlapped significantly with rare, and worse, with well-done.  You won’t have that problem at Gibson’s. 

The night that we visited a chef’s salad was included as an appetizer, which was very nice.  I’m often tempted to just order the steak and side dish (with a little room for dessert) because it’s already a great deal of food, and also it saves money.  But getting a lighter first course helps you enjoy the experience more. 

For dessert, we chose the frozen sorbet, and oh, my, goodness – it was refreshing.  It helps to be there during a warmer month, but this ultra-sweet sorbet is perfect for fruit-lovers. 

THE SERVICE: Aside from Frank, who deserves an “A+,” the service team themselves also greatly exceeded my expectations.  Sitting on the patio where it’s a little quieter perhaps helped provide our waiter with extra time to give us attention, but in all my experiences at Gibson’s I can’t remember a moment where I had a single need that wasn’t met right away.  I’d give the service team an “A” as well. 

Overall, I must say I love this restaurant.  I recommend it to anyone who has an evening free in Chicago. 

STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: Manny's (Downtown Minneapolis)

The second visit to a steakhouse always does one of two things - solidifies in your mind that it is an impecable dining experience no matter what, or makes you doubt whether the first experience ever happened at all or if it was something you had just imagined. 

My second trip to Manny's definitely leaned toward the latter of those two options - but I can't say it wasn't a fun and delicious experience. 

First off, I have to applaud the Manny's staff for honoring special requests that I had made when I placed the reservation.  It was my girlfriend's birthday dinner and I wanted to make sure she had a great time, so I requested a booth (which there are less of at Manny's) and let them know that it was her birthday.  Both the hostess and the waiter wished her a happy birthday as we were seated, which was very nice. 

After ordering, the food seemed to take the ideal amount of time to arrive at the table - enough not to be rushed, but also not to feel to hungry while sitting at the table.  The Lobster Cakes appetizer was DELICIOUS; for those who enjoy seafood I highly recommend it. 

The steaks came cooked exactly how we ordered them, however the outside had much more of a charred flavor than normal, which took away from the overall appeal of the steak.  The loaded mashed potatoes side dish was enormous, but the overpowering bacon flavor turned me off to them after only a few bites.  For bacon lovers this side might be a good choice, but unless you really love bacon (and I mean REALLY) I would order something else. 

After the plates were cleared I was pleasantly surprised to see that the birthday generosity of Manny's continued for dessert - and they could not have picked a better dessert to give my girlfriend for her birthday: A Bailey's Chocolate Mousse Cake.  The flavor was rich, and the chocolate mousse was deliciously creamy - it even arrived wth a candle for her to blow out.

Overall the experience was a good one - however the steaks did not live up to my expectations from the first visit. 

Manny's Grade: B+

STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Minneapolis, MN

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at one of the finest steakhouses in Minneapolis - Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.  Arriving 25 minutes early, Leah and I were immediately greeted by the friendly staff and told that our table would be ready shortly, and that if we wanted to get a drink at the bar they would come get us there - and they did!  The bartenders were very friendly and recommended a great malbec for us. 

After we got to our table, since it was our first visit, our waitress took us through the rich history of Ruth's Chris.  It was great to get some background on the chain and learn about the original owner Ruth, who had to mortgage her house after splitting up with her husband to purchase her first Chris Steakhouse.  Part of the original deal was that the steakhouse, which had been know to the community as a Chris Steakhouse for decades, had to remain a Chris steakhouse - so she branded it "Ruth's Chris."

The decor of the restaurant was not as impressive as other's I have been to, but there were some nice murals on the ceiling in the main dining room and the layout was such that every table had nice ambiance and space in between the other tables, which allowed for a quieter overall dining experience. 

Leah ordered the filet, and I chose to give the cowboy ribeye a try.  Both steaks were fantasic.  Tonja, our waitress was extremely attentive and engaging - the best waitress I've had in Minneapolis to date.  The steaks wet-aged in their natural juices, and seasoned with only the most basic spices - salt and pepper.  They are prepared in an 1,800 degree broiler to sear the outside as quickly as possible to retain the flavor and juices.  Perhaps even more unique was the fact that the steaks are brought out on 500 degree plates (which they warned us about twice, and meant it).  Ordering the steak medium-rare is recommended even if you like it medium to well-done, because you can cut the steak in half and turn the sides up to continue cooking it on the plate (it really works!).  I didn't use that technique of continued cooking, but Leah tested it out on her filet and what started out as a pink/red center was cooked through in a matter of seconds. 

Overall it was a great first experience, and when we go back we're going to ask for Tonja again. 

Service gets an "A+"
Steak gets a solid "A"
Ambiance being the only lacking quality - gets a "B-"

I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious meal, great service, and a quiet environment to have an intimate conversation. 

STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: The Capital Grille: Midtown Manhattan

Walk into this establishment at 7:30pm any night of the week and you'll know you're in the right place.  Capital Grille gets a solid "A" in my grade book and I'll tell you why: decor, service, quality food, and delicious drinks - it has it all.

We were running a little late for our reservation, but when we called to let the hostess know she assured us that we'd be taken care of when we arrive, and we were.  A new table was being cleared for us but the hostess encouraged us to have a drink at the bar while we waited - a great suggestion after a long day of travel and work.  We barely had time to get our drinks before the table was ready, and the hostess volunteered to coordinate putting our drinks from the bar on our tab at the table so we could get out of the bar, have a seat, and settle in for a delicious meal.

On our way to the table I found myself straggling a bit while walking through the main dining room. The decor was beautiful and the atmosphere truly reflected what I imagine a classic steakhouse to be.  The room was filled with a great mixture of ornately framed works of art (scenic countrysides and farms - nothing out of the ordinary) and mounts of animals - I saw several mounts of deer and a bighorn sheep above the bar.  It was all a very nice mixture of elegance and masculinity that a good steakhouse needs - not to mention the beautifully kept woodworkings.

The experience only got better at the table - our waiter, Matthew Portrille, was one of the best waiters I have ever had.  If you visit this establishment ask for Matthew - I promise you won't leave disappointed. He had all the background knowledge that I would expect to find in a waiter at a place like the Capital Grille; he knew the cuts, the sides, the wines, and was able to make some great recommendations - but what really separated him from the rest of the waiters that I normally find was his charisma.  Every time he came to the table he brought an energy and spirit that made the entire experience even more enjoyable.  Thank you, Matthew... It was a job well done.

Finally, let's talk about the food for a moment.  I started with the crab and lobster cakes which were phenomenal.  For my entree I chose on of my favorite cuts: the Delmonico.  While I was tempted by the filet - which a local had told me they could eat everyday - Matthew did a great job convincing me that the Delmonico was the steak for me, and boy was he right.    Cooked to perfection and served with mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and creamed corn... It was a meal fit for a king.

Capital Grille (155 E 42nd St) was a great experience for me, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who happens to find themselves in midtown Manhattan.

STEAKHOUSE REVIEW: Carmichael's Steakhouse in Chicago

Made it to Chicago last night for a quick business trip and had the opportunity to dine at a steakhouse I had never been to before -  Carmichael’s.   

I was excited for Gibson’s but certainly not disappointed by my experience at Carmichael’s, although I admit that I was a little thrown off by the cheese-whiz-esque beer cheese spread that they had on the table for the bread.  While tasty, I have never seen anything quite like that in a steakhouse before.  When I asked the waiter what it was he told me, and then offered to replace it with butter or something else more to my liking – I declined, because the cheese spread was great, but I liked that he offered a solution right away in case I didn't like it.  Even before the food came out Carmichael’s was making a great impression with the service. 

I ordered the gentlemen’s cut of filet mignon, partially because I had a light appetite and knew it would be a safe (and delicious) bet.  This 12oz cut was exactly as satisfying as you’d expect from a nice steakhouse, but did not go particularly well with the smashed sweet potato side that I ordered (my own fault – should have gone with the garlic mashed potatoes). 

During the meal I decided to get a glass of red wine.  After finding Alamos (a malbec that I particularly enjoy) I flagged the waiter down.  He eyes immediately lit up and he made a passionate case for another malbec, Dona Paula (from the Mendoza region of Argentina).  He called it his sexy wine because as soon as you pop the cork and let it start breathing it gets such a flavor that every sip you take feels sexy. Maybe it was his Spanish accent, but I immediately agreed to go with his recommendation and try this “sexy” wine.  It was DELICIOUS, I plan to look for it immediately when I get home to Minneapolis (Surdyk’s is my favorite Minneapolis wine shop because of the HUGE selection, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they have it).

After dinner I grabbed my book of matches to keep as a souvenir (a new tradition of mine) and headed out.  Overall it was a great experience and I’d certainly recommend it to anyone in the vicinity of W. Monroe Street in Chicago.