America’s fanciest, wildest, and quirkiest steakhouses

Finding a great steakhouse is easy. It’s an instantly comforting place that serves big chunks of meat, shrimp cocktails, cold martinis and more. But finding the “best steakhouse” requires a follow-up question: “Best for what?”

When we ask Eater editors about their favorite steakhouses, we often come back with very specific, niche love stories. Most of it is not about the food, but about the special experience outside the plate. So our slightly unusual Steakhouse Superlatives are a series of cheeky awards for steakhouses we like for a variety of reasons, including the immersive time travel feeling the restaurant offers, its essential location in the community, the sound of its interior, or the length of time it stays there. Some are traditional, some are less distinct. These are the best steakhouses in America for a very specific reason.

The centuries-old Musso & Frank may be the last place on Hollywood Boulevard where the stars on the inside are better than those on the sidewalk. On any given night, you can find yourself sitting near the Rolling Stones (true story), Metallica (true story), or watching Jon Hamm and John Slattery drinking and chatting. crazy man Characters (and incredibly true stories). There’s no better place to enjoy an icy martini and steak on a hot indoor grill (barring LA’s ordinance banning charcoal indoors). Ask for the Marilyn Monroe booth. — Hillary Pollock

Dai Due, an Austin restaurant and butcher shop, is secretly one of the best steak places in Texas. Jesse Griffiths is one of Texas’ timeless chefs. All of the meat he supplies comes from the state, and he often hunts it himself. For a meal you won’t find anywhere else, try the glorious dry-aged Texas Wagyu ribeye. — Nadia Chowdhury

Creators parks and recreation Nick Offerman’s bachelor party for Ron Swanson was held at St. Mary’s, a vintage steakhouse in Indianapolis. It could only be held by Elmo. What makes this place special isn’t literally Ron Swanson, but what the character’s tastes represent. It’s an ideal old-fashioned restaurant with a huge porterhouse, neat prawn cocktails and a wide selection of wines and whiskeys. It’s a return to another era without baggage (never mind the doubt). parks and recreation (Newt Gingrich cameo). —Ben Messilow

In Las Vegas, time tends to melt. It’s all too easy to lose yourself in the flashing lights and rolling dice in a confusing and thrilling way. But what a relief it is to cancel your 5 p.m. dinner reservation, push back your 8 p.m. rebooking time, and suddenly find yourself past midnight to find that Herbs & Rye is ready to serve great steaks, classic sides, and outstanding cocktails until 3 a.m.BM

More of a neighborhood gathering place serving steaks than a traditional steakhouse, DC’s Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse has been a vibrant hub for the city’s LGBTQ community and the entire Dupont Circle neighborhood for nearly 80 years. Regulars head to the 17th Street location for strong martinis, grilled London with mushrooms and gravy, and shredded steak drizzled with cabernet. The inclusive destination’s status as an icon was immortalized with the 2019 James Beard America’s Classic Award. — Missy Frederick

Over the past 70 years, the team at Bern’s has amassed one of the world’s leading wine cellars, with more than half a million bottles of wine across 6,500 labels. You might expect it to have something to do with a sophisticated vibe, but this is Tampa. The Laxer family tore down the decorations. There are a variety of themed rooms (based on Laxers’ art collection), from the hotel’s ballroom to Dracula’s Castle. It’s extravagant, extravagant, and you can’t beat the vintage wines and dry-aged steaks done in the upscale Florida style. — BM

While many steakhouses are decked out in kitschy Old West décor, a visit to the Old Place, housed in a 100-year-old former post office in the Santa Monica Mountains, is basically like stepping back in time. Getting there requires a winding uphill road from modern-day Malibu into the dusty woods of a classic Western. The low-ceilinged room has a few rustic booths and a long bar, decorated with animal skulls and smelling of oak smoke. Order a big steak, a bottle of local wine, and some amazingly delicious clams, and try not to get caught up in the outlaws. — BM

Gibson’s classic steakhouse fare is worthy of its distinction, but its bar is also the beating heart of the Viagra Triangle, Chicago’s Gold Coast nightlife district. This is a place where financially stable, mature adults can meet like-minded partners (regardless of age, but usually younger). Bars are fun, loud, colorful and offer some of the best people watching. Then head to the restaurant for a signature Chicago cut bone-in ribeye and another paper airplane or two. — BM

The first food-centric venue from New York’s Tao Group’s club restaurant experts, West Chelsea’s Crane Club Steakhouse Bar is ideal for drinking, dining, and people-watching among a crowd that’s sure to have money. The bar has low ceilings, crimson booths and fan-shaped lighting fixtures, giving it a hideaway feel. Behind the bar, Chris Lemperle presents a sharp riff on a classic with the Vintage Vesper 1953, a James Bond drink made with the now-discontinued Kina Lillet for $350. If you arrive between 5:30 and 6 p.m., you can try one of the 12 burgers off the nightly menu. — Melissa McCarthy

Some steakhouse menus are like phone books. The menu at Colorado chain Quincy’s reads like a tweet. Filet mignon starts at $19 for 6 ounces and includes a roast potato and salad. The sides are mac and cheese and lasagna, and the only desserts are chocolate cream pie and cheesecake. Prime rib on weekends. That’s it. — Nick Mancall-Vittel

Superprime Steakhouse is San Francisco’s new steak hub from chef Marc Zimmerman, combining master-cut beef and wagyu with an amazingly killer vintage JBL sound system. Songs from Zimmerman’s previous project, Yokai, set the mood for steak-eating, with jazz vinyl warming the room. It’s part listening bar, part steakhouse, and has an undercurrent of San Francisco style. — Diane de Guzman

It’s not often you have to pass through a package liquor store to get to a steakhouse, but this affordable meat joint and speakeasy in Albuquerque is more than its humble surroundings. Featured on Eater’s list of essential Albuquerque restaurants, the food at Monte Carlo is well-marbled, reasonably priced, and unpretentious. Think simple sides and starters like baked potatoes, fried zucchini, and mozzarella sticks. Naturally, the restaurant also serves a mighty green chile cheeseburger. — MF