RI’s Best Steak Restaurants for Father’s Day
Thursday, June 07, 2012
We all know Dad claims to watch what he eats all year long. We appreciate it Dad, but we know the truth: DEEP DOWN INSIDE YOU CRAVE A STEAK! It’s no mystery; we’ve been eating giant pieces of fire cooked meat since we were able to stand upright. And so it is with Dad. He may have evolved but he still can’t resist a good steak. We set out to find 5 places where Dad can channel his inner caveman and came back with these.
The Capital Grille, Providence
Steak lovers from here to Seattle and back have long known that you really can’t beat Capital Grille when it comes to steak. What most people don’t know is that the chain started right here in Rhode Island. Local restaurateur Ned Grace of Hemmenway’s and Bugaboo Creek fame started the Capital Grille chain with the idea of having a great steakhouse here in Rhode Island and it grew beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Now operated by a national restaurant group, the Capital Grille remains an elegant steakhouse. The dry-aged steak selection is outstanding and never leaves us wishing we were elsewhere. Over the course of two visits we found ourselves drawn to the incredible Kona coffee-rubbed bone-in dry aged sirloin. It is served with a caramelized shallot butter that melts over the coffee-infused steak with hints of sweetness and smokiness. We paired it with classic potatoes gratin and creamed spinach. It was perfect! 1 Union Station, 521-5600, www.thecapitalgrille.com
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMuse By Jonathan Cartwright, Newport
When rumors began swirling that Grace Hotels had purchased the Vanderbilt Hall Hotel, food lovers took note because of the connection between the Grace Hotel Group and Chef Jonathan Cartwright. Chef Cartwright made the White Barn Inn, in Maine, destination dining by combining fresh, locally-sourced food with great technique in a beautiful setting. Well take that concept to one of the most beautiful cities around and let him loose with the incredible culinary bounty that Newport offers and you have a no-brainer. His menu changes frequently and features all the flavors of the season. The current steak dish is a wonderful sautéed beef tenderloin with a shallot glace, portabella mushrooms, potato puree and a sauce made in the pan with Merlot. All of the flavors hit right on and the things that make Merlot a less-than-desirable drinking wine make it perfect for this sauce. The steak was cooked to a nice medium rare and had the wonderful flavors of the shallots and wine. Dad will love it! 41 Mary St. 846-6200, www.vanderbiltgrace.com
10 Prime Steak and Sushi, Providence
It was a little more than 10 years ago when John Elkhay set out to create his homage to surf and turf. Always a lover of big, juicy, prime steaks, Chef Elkhay sought to combine them with creative, upscale sushi… and 10 was born. It’s a sleek, fun place for giant Mojitos that are perfectly balanced and delicious, prime steaks and awesome sushi. On a given night you may find a bubble machine blowing at you at the door as you walk in and a raucous crowd at the bar, but don’t let that fool you. The steaks are deadly serious. All are aged for at least 28 days and the time shows in the depth of flavor. We dare your Dad to try to become a member of Club Ten by finishing a colossal 40 ounce prime double porterhouse steak. This is a “get your name on a plaque” challenge and it is well worth the price. The steak is tender and delicious and, obviously, big enough for two, but what fun would that be! The sushi is creative and, if Dad is new to sushi, easy for beginners to “get” with several cooked rolls to help get his feet wet. 55 Pine St. 453-2333, www.tenprimesteakandsushi.com
The Dorrance, Providence
One of the longstanding Dad traditions is the power lunch: big men eating big steaks in big places. Well if you find yourself taking Dad for a daytime steak, we suggest you check out the Dorrance. Now, just on the building and history alone, this is a winner. A former federal reserve bank building that is amongst the most beautiful in Rhode Island has been transformed into one of the hottest restaurants in the region. One of the reasons is talented chef, Ben Sukle. One of the things a chef must be good at is picking assistants -- or “sous”-chefs, and Ben has a couple of good ones. Manning the range during lunch service is the talented Zach Tenen, who wows with his classic steak frites. A Maine flat iron steak is perfectly grilled and topped with a house-made herb butter and served with crispy fries. It is a wonderful place to eat and absorb the atmosphere with Dad. Oh yeah, and tell him on the way in that the stone figures above the door were done by the same guy that carved Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial. Dads love that stuff! 60 Dorrance St. 521-6000, www.thedorrance.com
River Falls, Woonsocket
Families in Northern Rhode Island have been flocking to River Falls for several years now, with its blend of good food, relaxed atmosphere and affordable prices. River Falls is also a northern Rhode Island food museum – of sorts. The good people at River Falls have resurrected two culinary traditions that made the Woonsocket/Blackstone, Mass. Restaurant scene famous. First, they have Ma Glockner’s Famous Chicken Dinner, a tasty, crispy chicken dinner that puts some more famous chicken dinners to shame. Second is the famous prime rib. River Falls has a delicious 28 ounce prime rib that uses the special recipe of a closed city institution called The El Dorado. For more than 30 years people enjoyed the special blend of spices that made their rib special. The owners of River Falls convinced the owner to share the recipe and the classic was re-born. This is classic, tender prime rib topped with a light au jus. And let’s say Dad can’t decide between prime rib and something else, well check out the 8 ounce prime rib paired with 12 different menu items for surf and turf…or turf and turf! 74 South Main St. 235-9026, www.riverfallsri.com
Related Articles
- Best Calzones in Rhode Island
- Best Spots for Outdoor Dining
- RI’s Best Summer Farmer’s Markets
- Rhode Island’s Best Calamari
- The 5 Best Wiener Joints in Rhode Island
