Let me be clear: by “stupid” steakhouse, I pretty much mean every steakhouse… ever. Don’t get me wrong, I love meat, I’m not going vegetarian now or anytime soon. I have no problem going out to a nice restaurant and ordering a big piece of steak. In fact, I love to do it, especially if it’s dry aged or some kind of game meat. I’m particularly fond of elk.
So… at this point you are probably wondering what my problem is. Shouldn’t I be a huge fan of steakhouses, then? Well, to that I say one simple thing: “No. They are stupid.”
Let me get a little more specific, because while I wish “it is stupid” were good enough for me to always prove my point, I have slowly learned that this is not always the case. When it comes to steakhouses, there are a few problems. For one, they are usually really expensive. I know that you are paying for a really nice piece of meat, but all too often that is the only thing you are paying for. There is a distinct lack of creativity in most steakhouses I’ve visited. A meal usually just consists of a piece of meat, cooked how you like it (and some can’t even get that right).
Would you like something to go with your steak? I don’t know many people who enjoy having a big piece of beef for dinner with nothing else. Well, at the traditional steakhouse this will cost you extra, and sides usually come “family style,” meaning you are forced to buy a monster plate of steamed broccoli or mashed potatoes to go with your overpriced steak. This is both inconvenient and hard on the wallet.
Frankly, I’d much rather pay out the nose to get a nice creative meal. I don’t know about you, but oftentimes I decide what to order based on what the side dishes are. You can throw whatever you want on a bed of lobster risotto and I would eat it. Garlic braised bok choi? Sign me up, I don’t care what else comes with it. My point here is that a meal should be something that is put together meticulously and with loving detail. Each separate part should play off the others, forming a complete and well-rounded flavor palette. Sticking some potatoes on a plate with a dripping steak just doesn’t accomplish this.
Now… I wouldn’t really have a problem with the concept of a steakhouse, except for the fact that so many people seem to think it is the highest form of dining. Really? Whenever I travel for business people just want to “go out and get a steak!” There are some amazing restaurants around the country. Why is it that I inevitably seem to be the only one who is looking for a culinary adventure, not just a ticket on the fast track to colon cancer?
Certainly I can’t be alone with this line of thinking, right? Oh well, I suppose these are the burdens that I must deal with as a complete food snob.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jul 30, 2009 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
For the price of a steak in a steakhouse you can buy it in the store and cook it yourself for 2-3 people plus buy potatoes or whatever side you like. Also I usually think it tastes better than what I’ve gotten in a steakhouse. That’s why in a steakhouse I wind up getting a burger. It comes with fries AND its cheaper.