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+

Up Next - Fish and Veggies

In honor of the upcoming new year I've decided to re-visit some of the fish recipes I've tried and liked (like the Weber Big Book of Grilling 'Simple Salmon') and pair each meal with some grilled veggies.

Red meat in moderation, for as long as I can hold out at least, and healthy cooking will be the name of the game as I work toward a weight loss challenge.

Once summer rolls around again, however, all bets are off!

Upcoming steakhouse reviews:
December 2011 - Manny's Minneapolis (round 2)
March 2012 - Gibson's Chicago
June 2012 - Restaurang Rosmarin Stockholm
June 2012 - Griffin's Steakhouse Stockholm
July 2012 - Saddle & Sabre Stockholm

Off to the races!

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.