375655 Tue Feb 27 17:26:28 -0800 2007 35 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2335666 A buddy of mine wants to take his lady out next month for a romantic dinner date. It's a tradition of theirs to go to Morton's or Ruth Chris, but he's asked me for another recommendation, so of course I've come to you, my friends. The first places that came to mind for me were ZUNI and House of Prime Rib. But I'm sure there are some other good options in San Francisco. He's got a pretty good budget (~$200) to work with so I know there are some other great options out there. What say you? Tue Feb 27 17:26:28 -0800 2007 10887 brian j 1 2335677 Zuni doesn't usually have steak and House of Prime Rib never does. Alfred's has a romantic atmosphere in a sort of old-school men's club way. Tue Feb 27 17:31:24 -0800 2007 2335666 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2342692 I second Alfred's, having been there several times, and enjoying every visit. The chateaubriand for 2 is a memorable steak: the flavor of nicely aged beef with a wonderful velvety texture. Side dishes are very good, too. Thu Mar 01 13:44:43 -0800 2007 2335677 14663 pilinut 1 2336189 Bob's Steak House in the Omni Hotel - not exactly romantic but the steaks are pretty good. Tue Feb 27 20:31:36 -0800 2007 2335666 74005 Dog Lover 2 2342196 I just went to Bob's on Sunday night to try it out. Probably was just a bad night for them but we had a pretty bad experience. The valets took forever... I must have been sitting in my car for almost 10 mins waiting for them and when they finally got to us, they didn't even apologize for the wait. Inside the restaurant, we both ordered starters... he the soup and I the Ceasar salad. My salad was pretty good but nothing super spectacular. Then came the steaks (which come with a gigantic glazed carrot and a potato side - which is nice to not have to order seperate sides.) The steaks were alright, but the carrot wasn't good. It was sweet and the glaze got all over my steak and pretty much spoiled the steak for me. I got a baked potato with my steak and they come around to each table with condiments for the potato - like sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, and cheese. Although I like that you get to choose what to put in your potato, it was pretty messy and some cheese fell on me. Once again, no apologies. But it was our first time there and maybe it was just a bad night. I know I'll be asking for no carrot though if I went again. Thu Mar 01 12:11:42 -0800 2007 2336189 51435 lamster 3 2342376 That carrot is one of the worst ideas for a side dish ever. It is one of those dishes that makes me angry enough to write off a restaurant altogether, because Bob's is obvioulsy very proud of that stupid, mushy, way-too-sweet carrot. Thu Mar 01 12:49:01 -0800 2007 2342196 14367 The Dive 4 2345331 I agree. The only way I'd go back there is if someone else was picking up the tab. I hate to say this about food that other people might like, but that stupid carrot really spoiled my dinner. Fri Mar 02 09:37:07 -0800 2007 2342376 51435 lamster 1 2336262 Why don't you advise him to go to Florio on Fillmore and have the steak frittes for two? Great environment and when the steak is good, its very good. Another option would be to go to Absinthe and get their rib eye which is generally good as well. Morton's or Ruth's Chris are real chain-like traditional steak house kind of places. Stay away from Joe Dimaggio's as well unless you prefer the feeling of being in Sacramento and watching some ESPN in the bar before dinner. Tue Feb 27 21:06:10 -0800 2007 2335666 43891 poulet_roti 1 2336573 Not your traditional steak restaurant at all, but I've had really really good steak at Limon. It can be noisy there downstairs, but it's quieter and more romantic upstairs, so he should request a table up there. Wed Feb 28 00:30:08 -0800 2007 2335666 13525 JasmineG 2 2343327 i've actually heard about this as well. 'best steak ever' is how i heard this explained to me, i doubt i'd stick my head out that far on a limb, but comes from a fairly reputable source. Thu Mar 01 16:26:12 -0800 2007 2336573 19880 wchane 3 2344261 I think I described it close to that way after the first time I had it. It's really a very good steak, they cooked it exactly the way I wanted (which is hard to find), and it's amazingly cheap for that good a steak. I was talking about it for days after the first time I was there. Thu Mar 01 22:52:27 -0800 2007 2343327 13525 JasmineG 1 2336620 Might just be the Giants fan in me, but I think Acme is romantic. Wed Feb 28 02:31:38 -0800 2007 2335666 10158 susancinsf 1 2337740 Send him to Chez Spencer for a steak. Great environment, good cocktails, off the beaten path. Wed Feb 28 10:26:49 -0800 2007 2335666 43891 poulet_roti 1 2338398 Have you eaten there recently? Wed Feb 28 12:47:31 -0800 2007 2338372 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2338531 nah, haven't been for a long time Wed Feb 28 13:17:05 -0800 2007 2338398 76488 EnderWiggin 1 2338392 Globe (SF, Financial District, near Broadway) always has a "steak for two" - some massive porterhouse / hanger steak thing. I think it's a romantic place, by which I mean small and dark and a great bartender and open late. Steak for Two is immediately more romantic than ordering two steaks. Globe also serves good oysters, if that's your idea of fun. The steak they serve is somewhat unusual. They go for a fatty cut, somewhat thin (maybe only an inch) covering a huge plate. It's dripping with --- drippings. I had one friend report they hated it, because it was "greasy". I thought the flavor was astonishing, luxurious, decadent. Not the standard Harris Ranch / Ruth's Chris - if they're expecting that, they might hate it - although not quite Waygu, but that's a closer picture. But the juice - I wanted to bathe in that steak juice forever, and every bite was an explosion of flavor. I also remember getting a bottle of Ridge something for a reasonable price, which helped. This memory is from a few years ago (4?). I'm pretty sure I saw steak for 2 last time I was at Globe, but don't if the prep has changed or whether I got lucky. While this is unlikely to help the OP, maybe it'll help someone else. Wed Feb 28 12:46:00 -0800 2007 2335666 54804 bbulkow 2 2338685 That sounds like an excellent steak. I like the idea of a large steak, plenty of fat, not too think, covering the entire plate. Wed Feb 28 13:47:44 -0800 2007 2338392 43891 poulet_roti 3 2341330 bbulkow says the steak is thin. I'm sure I would have no problem gulping it down, but I don't favor a thin steak. Thu Mar 01 09:08:58 -0800 2007 2338685 10658 Atomica 4 2341398 Most places these days seem to shoot for about 4 inches. I had a "barrel cut" (you take a large piece of meat and cut out the heart) recently that was cylindrical. What I like about the 1" steak is more grill taste, less insides. It worked out, trust me. Thu Mar 01 09:23:52 -0800 2007 2341330 54804 bbulkow 5 2342467 As I said, I would happily eat it, but since I favor steak that is quite rare, I like something in between the "barrel cut" and a 1-inch steak. A thin steak is bound to be overcooked for my tastes. Thu Mar 01 13:05:36 -0800 2007 2341398 10658 Atomica 2 2344359 I went with friends to Globe recently; they ordered the steak for 2 since they both like it medium -- they loved it and I tasted and liked a more "done" edge. None of us, tho, will return because the place is too, too noisy and cramped, not a nice experience and definitely not romantic. I really love the bone in rib eye at Ruth's Chris and Houston's has delicious prime steaks. Fri Mar 02 01:18:48 -0800 2007 2338392 12520 walker 1 2338927 if you're willing to travel south a bit, Alexander's Steakhouse in Cupertino. dishes are beautifully done and they can satisfy their cravings for Kobe beef. Real classy setting too. Wed Feb 28 14:44:04 -0800 2007 2335666 72348 nicedragonboy 2 2339225 i'll have to agree with nicedragonboy...they have a great wine taster; last time i went it was cain 5, dominus, and i think opus one. their appetizer in a spooin was good too. i think it was like a tuna ceviche. but it's a pretty far drive from frisco Wed Feb 28 15:56:52 -0800 2007 2338927 76488 EnderWiggin 3 2339276 Isn't that in a strip mall as well? Hard to compare with a something in the city. Wed Feb 28 16:09:17 -0800 2007 2339225 43891 poulet_roti 4 2339513 true...but if you can avert your eyes until you get in the restaurant you should be pleased. here's the website for pics. if that doesn't get you drooling, i don't know what will. http://www.alexanderssteakhouse.com/ Wed Feb 28 17:19:50 -0800 2007 2339276 72348 nicedragonboy 5 2339971 That's the closest thing to flickr-style food porn I've seen on a restaurant's own website... Wed Feb 28 19:38:32 -0800 2007 2339513 22016 Pincho 6 2341117 I am drowning in my own saliva!!! What an incredible series of food pictures..artistic and very seductive! If you want to see what we are talking about, click on this link, and THEN click on FOOD http://www.alexanderssteakhouse.com/ Thu Mar 01 08:23:39 -0800 2007 2339971 10485 ChowFun_derek 4 2339975 It's across the street from the mall. Wed Feb 28 19:39:23 -0800 2007 2339276 10039 Melanie Wong 2 2342204 I also agree with nicedragonboy here. Love the place. There's another discussion going on about Alexander's -- http://www.chowhound.com/topics/376059. We've been many times and will continue to go back. Thu Mar 01 12:13:19 -0800 2007 2338927 51435 lamster 1 2340024 If they are willing to trek to St. Helena - Press (Leslie Rudd's establishment) is for those who appreciate a good steak. I'm not a steak person, but I have enjoyed the cuts and preparations there. Portions normally serve two. The beef is midwest and custom-aged to's the restaurant's specifications. The chocolate souffle or baked alaska are a nice finish to the evening. Wed Feb 28 19:57:44 -0800 2007 2335666 55002 SanseiDesigns 1 2340116 what's everyone else's opinion of Vic Stewart's in Walnut Creek. also across from a mall. I've had mixed experiences there from outstanding to wish i could get my money back. i've had the prime rib, porterhouse, ny and ribeye. The porterhouse and ny were both quite good, but the prime rib was relatively bland though they do give you one of the biggest slaps i've ever seen while the ribeye with their so-called signature barbeque sauce was down right gross. the cuts i had were about average to slightly above average for the price you pay, nothing spectacular. Wed Feb 28 20:30:33 -0800 2007 2335666 72348 nicedragonboy 2 2340221 Never been but always used to see it advertised on those "Top 10 Steakhouses of North America" advertisements on UAL. I've heard its good but again, not a big fan of huge slabs of meat, especially with a bbq or other type of sauce. I've always found that a good steak should generally speak for itself, of course with the help of a bit of salt and pepper. Wed Feb 28 21:10:22 -0800 2007 2340116 43891 poulet_roti 2 2340983 I only went to Vik Stewart's once. The food was mediocre. It certainly is no more romantic than any chain steak house. Thu Mar 01 07:52:08 -0800 2007 2340116 10264 rworange 1 2341219 Harris' or El Raigon...neither is particularly romantic, but what steakhouse is? Both offer excellent, albeit different, steaks... Thu Mar 01 08:46:11 -0800 2007 2335666 15835 Husky 1 2341360 Though Jeanty at Jack's doesn't have an extensive steak menu, what they do have they do perfectly. Ask for one of the more intimate tables on the mezzanine or second floor when making reservations. Thu Mar 01 09:17:33 -0800 2007 2335666 34428 scarmoza 1 2344727 My wife and I had a couple of fine steaks at Boca in Novato the other night. The meat was very good, but the baked potato stole the show...it seemed like they baked it in a crust of salt which imparted a wonderful leathery and slightly salty character to the skin. It was our first trip to Boca and my objective was to try their dry-aged steak. Unfortunately, the only dry aged item on the menu was the Gaucho Steak for two, but my wife wasn't up to eating half of that. So I had to do without. Drives me crazy when a restaurant offers their main attraction in a manner that excessively limits customer choice. Consequently, I'm looking for a place that will serve dry aged steak in single portions. Fri Mar 02 07:10:41 -0800 2007 2335666 17335 chilihead2006