Best steakhouse, east-ish? (Aurora, Frisco: school, live, restaurant)

[Quietude]

Looking for a top-notch steakhouse, preferably on the Aurora side of the 'plex, for a birthday dinner tomorrow. Something old school where the prices are what steak prices have to be these days, without compromising what's plated. (E.g. the Outback quarter-inch cut ploy.) But preferably not just $$$$+ for its own sake.

[SkyDog77]

Del Friscos or Shanahans in the DTC

[Quietude]

Thanks. They look pretty head to head... arguments for one or the other?

[Coloradomom22]

Originally Posted by Quietude

Thanks. They look pretty head to head... arguments for one or the other?

I'd stick with Shanahan's. Del Friscos oddly enough can be hit or miss. We had one dinner where we were seated in a freaky back room with strangely loud music, no ambiance. Then we had the worst over-salted steak of our lives and actually sent it back. But then other times have been great.

[Augie Daugie]

From a quality standpoint, I think Shanahan's is better. But, if you are looking for more moderate pricing and a very old-school atmosphere, check out Bastien's on Colfax.

[Quietude]

Shanahan's it is. Thanks.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Quietude

Shanahan's it is. Thanks.

I think either would be fine. Enjoy the birthday.

[emm74]

Originally Posted by Augie Daugie

From a quality standpoint, I think Shanahan's is better. But, if you are looking for more moderate pricing and a very old-school atmosphere, check out Bastien's on Colfax.

Old School, like you want to pretend that any minute Frank, Sammy and Dino might stop by! lol!

[Quietude]

So, let me change the question.

I am not sure I am up to a top-end restaurant tonight - I'd love a really good experience, but I am cranky and short-tempered and the slightest whiff of BS (being shunted to the lounge, forgotten orders, etc.) at that price level might be... a bad combination.

So... is there a reasonably modest place that serves damned good cow? Some place not pretentious, but far better than the sad spectacle that the price-bound chains like Outback have become? Where some faults might be forgivable at $50 a head, not $150?

Alternative, are there any good butchers, this side of town, open on Sunday, who'd like to sell me a couple of prime cow-chunks?


(And what the HELL is it with grocery butchers who can't seem to shelve anything thicker than a quarter inch? You can't cook a strip or porterhouse that thin! Outback proves it!)

[suzco]

Originally Posted by Quietude

So, let me change the question.

. . . Where some faults might be forgivable at $50 a head, not $150?

. . .

Well, not on the east side, but definitely an experience, with emphasis on the meat, there's always the classic Buckhorn Exchange.