Chicago's Best Steak 2008

This longtime steak joint dishes up meaty favorites in an upscale supper-club setting.

Reviews:

• “best steak in the city!!! love the claims on the half shell too. Service is excelltne nice comfortable atmosphere and "
• “Best food, Best service”
• “Best Place Just Outside of the City”
• “Best Steakhouse in Chicago”
• “the best neighborhood restaurant in town”

Tips: Live entertainment takes place each Friday beginning at 7:30pm, and occasional karaoke nights amp up the vibe while attracting a youthful crowd.

Myron & Phil’s Steak Seafood

A warm atmosphere and an excellent steakhouse menu make this a local favorite.

Reviews:

• “Friendly yet classy”
• “Host was rude, food was above average”
• “Excellent place for steak”
• “overrated”
• “Mediocre”

Tips: The extensive wine list emphasizes California varietals, with a wide selection of bottles in the $40 range, as well as about 20 offerings by the glass.

Saloon Steakhouse

Chicagoland’s Italian institution adds another rose to its empire with this Loop steakhouse prime for fine dining.

Reviews:

• “Above and beyond all expectations!”
• “Melt in your mouth”
• “Amazing food, nice dining area, service needs help”

Tips: For an additional $2.50, steaks and chops can sport alforno, peppercorn, gorgonzola, Cajun or garlic toppings.

Rosebud Prime

Old-school Chicago spot has been serving up inches-thick steaks and Italian classics to an old boys’ club crowd since 1941.

Reviews:

• “Avoid at all costs”
• “Cardboard Steaks”
• “Not up to what I expected for the price”
• “Customer Service”
• “Completely Over-rated”

Tips: Craving a stogie? Cigar smokers are allowed to light up, but only at the bar.

Gene & Georgetti’s Restaurant

Nothing says “Chicago” like a slab of meat at this nostalgic, clubby local favorite.

Reviews:

• “Traditional Chophouse Fun Dining”
• “Your Hotel Concierge Will Tell You as well, Chicago Chop House is a Tourist Trap”
• “Great Steak "
• “Great local scene and food”
• “Excellent Food and Accomodating Staff”

Tips: From 5pm to 11pm weeknights and 6pm to 11pm weekends, a piano man plays and sings for your pleasure.

Chicago Chop House or email Chicago Chop House

This River North spot draws a Merchandise Mart crowd for salads, sandwiches, steaks and after-work cocktails.

Reviews:

• “ATTENTION ALL CARNIVORES… STEAK ALERT …..STEAK ALERT…..”
• “This is a Steak House????”
• “Just Another Steak House”
• “Our New Favorite Place!”
• “Totally Average!!!”

Tips: Party rooms and customized menus are available for large groups, as well as office catering. Call the event coordinator (312) 543-4405 to set something up.

Kinzie Chophouse or email Kinzie Chophouse

Subdued Streeterville steakhouse draws a heavy-hitting corporate crowd for red meat in sophisticated surroundings.

Reviews:

• “great pick!”
• “Flo’s Filet at the Outback would have been way better”
• “Remarkable dining experience”
• “Host Staff is superior!!”
• “Great Anniversary Dinner!”

Tips: The wine list offers a global selection of more than 500 wines.

The Capital Grille or email The Capital Grille

Heavy hitters and swinging singles mix over martinis and red meat at this flashy carnivore’s paradise.

Reviews:

• “You go for the atmosphere, not the food!”
• “Rome to Chicago for a recommended Steak from American Bob Poulsom, Shame the food wasnt up to his recommendation.”
• “A GIANT DISAPPOINTMENT!”
• “Avoid Completely – Rude Service”
• “Best steak in the city! Fun atmosphere.”

Tips: Gibsons is notorious for long waits, despite reservations. Don’t be surprised if you wait up to half an hour or more for your reserved table.

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

Classy decor, top-notch steaks, stellar service … this is one of the city’s corporate-dining powerhouses.

Reviews:

• “Good Looking Manager, and Great Food is a Plus too…”
• “Excellent Steaks! "
• “very delicious”
• “Great Service! Great Food!”
• “Outstanding!”

Tips: For a more casual lunchtime bite, duck into Keefer’s Kaffe, a simple space a couple doors east of the restaurant, where you can grab salads and sandwiches from a counter.

Keefer’s

Honest-to-goodness prime beef in a tasteful setting.

Reviews:

• “40th bday celebration”
• “Exceptional Service and Superb Food!!”
• “Best steakhouse ever! I can’t wait until the Chicago Prime re-opens again in Schaumburg!”
• “The best defunct steakhouse anywhere”
• “Gave up on the place”

Tips: The cozy fireside room is the place to be in the wintertime. It seats 75 people, and is one of the most requested spaces in the restaurant.

Chicago Prime Steakhouse

The Big Apple had it first, but this steakhouse is all Windy City now—riverfront locale, Bears memorabilia and all.

Reviews:

• “A top Chicago steakhouse…not”
• “HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!”
• “Stay away from this tourist trap!”
• “Maggots anyone?”
• “GREAT STEAKS THAT TASTE LIKE PRIME BEEF ARE GETTING HARD TO FIND”

Tips: The more casual Wollensky’s Grill, open later and for lunch on weekends, offers a lighter, limited menu and wine list.

Smith & Wollensky

Classy ’40s-style American joint where conservative high rollers get carnivorous.

Reviews:

• “One of the best steaks in town!”
• “Great place to eat”
• “Hits the spot every time!”
• “Can’t wait to go back”
• “Great Service”

Tips: Drink specials include $5 apple martinis (Tuesday), $4 glasses of pinot grigio (Wednesday), and $6 martinis (Thursday). Weekdays, in the bar from 5pm to 7pm, nibble on oysters, shrimp and fried calamari for just a couple bucks.

Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush or email Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush

USDA prime beef, elegant tableside service and mammoth martinis.

Reviews:

• “Best Steak I Ever Had in my Life!”
• “One of the best dinners I’ve had in Chicago”
• “Exceptional Service and Great Steaks”
• “Delicious Steak and Dessert…”
• “Disappointed, really needs better supervision”

Tips: Rare means rare: If you don’t want a cool, red center, move to medium.

Morton’s – The Steakhouse or email Morton’s – The Steakhouse

Prime beef, a comfortable atmosphere and an extensive, user-friendly wine list are the signatures of this upscale steakhouse.

Reviews:

• “Not worth the $”
• “A nice place, attention to detail would make it a great place”
• “Finally, I don’t have to travel to the city for a great steak!”
• “Highly Overrated”
• “Valet service and price is a plus!!!!!!”

Tips: The wine list has 100 selections, all available by the glass. Wine flights—-three two-ounce glasses of different wines—-allow for experimentation. A reserve wine list has more than 80 selections available by the bottle.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar or email Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Nostalgic Italian restaurant pays homage to the dearly departed Cub announcer.

Reviews:

• “Holy cow or Holy cr@p?”
• “Big Portions!!”
• “Good food but bad service!!”
• “great service "
• “Best Veal Chops Anywhere.”

Tips: Cub fans clamor to sit at table 70 in the front corner (Harry’s favorite), which boasts a great view of the entire room. However, keep in mind that the table is reserved for parties of 5-6 guests.

Harry Caray’s Restaurant

A Miami legend puts some welcome swank into Chicago’s steak-and-seafood scene.

Reviews:

• “Crab bisque was very good but overall I did not feel this restaurant was a five as othes have.”
• “Best Overall”
• “THE BEST FRIED LOBSTER”
• “Great all-around experience”
• “Excellent food and service!!!!Be sure to visit”

Tips: To get Joe’s stone crabs packed in ice and shipped directly to your door, call (800) 780-2722.

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

This retro steakhouse takes you on a trip through time with its old-fashioned hospitality and classic cuisine.

Reviews:

• “Excellent customer service to accentuate the great steaks.”
• “Simply a Perfect Night Out”
• “Don Roth’s Blackhawk Restaurant”
• “good place”

Tips: The wine list has 35 selections ($19 to $29) and eight “special selections” ($33 to $63). A half-dozen wines are available by the glass; there’s also a handful of specialty cocktails, martinis, ports and scotches.

Don Roth’s Blackhawk Restaurant

Shawn McClain brings his culinary talent to the Printer’s Row neighborhood with this upscale modern steakhouse.

Reviews:

• “Great food”
• “Snazzy”
• “salt and bitterness”
• “Disappointment!!!”
• “Great Food in a Small Booth”

Tips: Small parties of up to 12 people can opt for one of the semiprivate circular booths in the two far corners of the dining room. An 18 percent gratuity will be added to checks for parties of five or more.

Custom House

Swank, spacious restaurant draws a corporate River North crowd for steaks, stogies and martinis.

Reviews:

• “Dean Martin would’ve eaten here.”
• “Bad service, fair food.”
• “Great Steak”
• “Bad stuff”
• “Great Place”

Tips: With its posh leather couches, bar, and multiple TVs showing sports, the upstairs lounge is the perfect place for cigar lovers to puff away.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse or email Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Steak, seafood and swank bring chef-driven, city sizzle to North suburban Wheeling.

Reviews:

• “Average to worse not acceptable in Chicago’s Steakhouse market”
• “Great Customer Service”
• “Very Disappointed…”
• “OVER THE TOP!!! Highly recommended!!!”
• “Beautiful restaurant, overpriced, disappointing food and ambiance”

Tips: Impress the in-laws with a whole foie gras ($80) for the table, or a 40-ounce “tomahawk” cut bone-in ribeye ($75).

Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood