Best Steak in Chicagoland (Tinley Park, St. Charles: houses, restaurant, prices)

[mdz]

Back to Meat. Let's hear your recommendations.

[Drover]

I used to be partial to Biasetti's on Irving Park just west of Ashland, but they closed down recently. Ergo, I'm gonna have to go with The Hideaway in Valley View/St. Charles with Lawry's The Prime Rib in River North coming in a close second (does it count if it's a chain that doesn't originate in Chicago?).

I've tried some of the "upscale" steakhouses in Chicago. Maybe my palate just isn't sophisticated enough, but they all seemed like a letdown to me. I swear Outback has better chunks of meat than some of these places; or at least, they have a better handle on how to prepare them....

[mdz]

My buddies and I used to love biasetti's (especially the old guy that used to play keyboard in the front room)--but one night about 10 years ago they essentially kicked us out of the table we were in. We weren't being rowdy or anything, we were still ordering beers, and the manager comes over and told us that he needed the table for someone else.

Never went back again. Really a shame because I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, but that really ticked me off.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

I swear Outback has better chunks of meat than some of these places; or at least, they have a better handle on how to prepare them....

Youre not alone in that thought. In all seriousness, my favorite steak around here is at Lone Star. Chicago just isnt really a steak town. If you want a good steak, you have to head west of the Mississippi and stay east of Cali.

Al Capone's Hideaway is pretty good, but I like their cigars more than anything.

[NSH]

For best cooked steak Bogart's in Tinley Park does a great job, you'll never eat at outback or lonestar again after tackling one of their monster thick steaks, and the open grill at the waitress counter is pretty cool too.

For best value I will go with Brazzaz on State, for their $50 all you can eat Brazilian steak and salad bar.

I once had a friend take me out for a steak in Kansas City. She took me to the best restaurant in town and I order a Kansas City bone in. I was prepared for the best meal of my life, but was more than underimpressed. I told her it was good but had better, she said yeah that is the usual response as they sell off their top cuts to the big markets like Chicago LA Houston and NY and leave KC with the scrap.

That being said, the best steak I ever had was in Wisconsin at a supper club in super small market Lake Geneva.

[NSH]

Oh and how could I forget about Krapils in Worth on 111th st. One of only three steakhouses in illinois that are licensed to age their own steak. It is beyond superb, they also don't put prices on the menu, so if you don't think you can afford it, don't bother going. ^_^

[Frank the Tank]

I'll go with old standby of the porterhouse at Gibson's with a twice-baked potato - pricey but well worth it. I enjoy the steak at Wildfire with a parmesan crust topping, as well. Brazilian steakhouses (Fogo De Chao, Brazzaz, etc.) top my list of the most significant developments of the 21st century just above the iPod.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

I'll go with old standby of the porterhouse at Gibson's with a twice-baked potato - pricey but well worth it. I enjoy the steak at Wildfire with a parmesan crust topping, as well. Brazilian steakhouses (Fogo De Chao, Brazzaz, etc.) top my list of the most significant developments of the 21st century just above the iPod.

Have you tried Sal Carvao on Butterfield near 355? Just curious...

[nanannie]

In the city,"Chophouse" second is "Gene & Georgetti",In the burbs( by me),,"five O'clock steakhouse" in Fox River Grove. I didnt care for Gibsons just because I paid about a thousand bucks for a steak(OK,slight exaggeration) and my steak arrived on a naked plate with not so much a sprig of parsley..I also will never go back to La Strada which opened in South Barrington,,the place is so sterile,cold and bland AND I was charged 1.50 for a glass of ice on the side when I ordered a cosmo..The waiter said "people in the suburbs dont realize thats whats done in the city" !! For the first time in ages,I gave a less then generous tip. I would disagree with the poster who said Chicago is not a steak town. I rarely eat meat,but a nite out for a steak dinner along with an excellent side dish and martini is a real treat

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by nanannie

I would disagree with the poster who said Chicago is not a steak town.

That was me. Trust me, Chicago is not really a steak town, nor a place known for its steaks. Sure theyre decent, but far from outstanding. If you want a good steak, head to Texas (or even parts of AZ). When I go out west I am often left feelilng unfulfilled the whole trip because most western food just sucks compared to Chicago. I make it a point to hit up a few steakhouses on vacation, and ALL of them have been wonderful out west. So when I get back to Chicago, I indulge in my pizza, hot dogs, gyros, etc, etc. But when it comes to steak, Chicago just cant compete with the western joints.

My personal faves out west:

Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo, Texas

Pinnacle Peak Patio Steakhouse - Scottsdale - Phoenix - Arizona - Original Cowboy Steakhouse (http://www.pppatio.com/home/default.asp - broken link)

Black Angus Steakhouse - Black Angus Restaurant, Steak House (broken link)