Annual Steak Frites Discussion?

[maillard]

I just read Mark Bittman's discussion of steak frites in Paris in the NYTimes and now I've got a craving. I looked through old posts on this subject and it seems to come up about once a year. Seems like this would be as good a time as any for Steak Frites 2007. :)

I'm looking for somewhere that serves hanger or skirt steak, not rib eye. I don't want truffles or flavored butters, though a nice pan sauce would be okay. Excellent fries of course (pommes souffles would be even better, but I've never seen them on a menu here). A casual bistro type place would be much preferred over a fancy-pants restaurant.

Any suggestions? Have any new places started serving steak frites since last year?

[phoebek]

Went out with friends the other night to Garden at the Cellar. Two DCs ordered the steak frites (hangar steak, IIRC), and though I only had a morsel of the steak, it was mighty tasty. As I was seated between them, I helped myself to many frites. . . (with their blessings, of course!)

[Rubee]

Just saw this steak frites option:

Steak Frites Friday at Pigalle

http://bostonchefs.com/news/viewArtic...

[DoubleMan]

I hate to go against the grain, but of all the steak frites I've had, Bouchee was far and away the worst. They use a big slab of sirloin, a cut I don't like much in general, and underseason both the steak and the fries. Sirloin just seems out of place in the dish. I actually prefer the chewy texture and meaty flavor of hanger, flat iron, skirt, or even flank. If they really want to use a more expensive cut, ribeye is an obvious choice.

[phatchris]

For a cheaper option (18$) the hangar steak at Navy Yard Bistro is pretty good, also Aquatine serves a mean steak frites.

[wittlejosh]

I had the Bouchee steak frites last night... well, I got through half of it, anyway. The interior of the sirloin strip had that cottony, mealy texture like it had been "tenderized" for hours.

The fries (fresh-cut) were thin enough to stay pretty crisp, anyway---needed salt (easy to do), but the burnt rosemary was offputting.

[ShakeNBake]

I like the steak frites at West Side Lounge- really good fries and a nice sauce. I also added a side of mashed potatoes- I love potatoes! Ariadne in Newtonville also does a nice steak frites.

[wittlejosh]

I think the Franklin Cafe steak frites is excellent.

[saridt]

I had a nice steak frites at The Independent a few years back...just got back from Quebec City so I am actually very "frited out" at the moment!

[bear]

I second the Sel De La Terre recommendation. Had it about a week ago. I think
it was ribeye, perfectly medium rare, sliced, flavorful and juicy, with a red wine sauce and great rosemary fries.

[ShelT54]

I've never personally had it there, but I would suspect that steak frites would be tasty at Brasserie Jo, given how well they do other standards.
The rest of Pigalle's menu is too good to order steak frites.

[hotoynoodle]

i've had the frites as a side at brasserie jo, and they are very good.

[B. Savarin]

I've had the steak frites at Jo, and it is indeed good. They use a proper cut of steak, not ribeye, and it's chewy and flavorful.

[Food4Thought]

I'd offer up the SF at Pigalle. Your choice of skirt or tenderlion with a crushed black peper crust and a medallion of compound butter. This is placed on the steak just before service so it isn't all melted in case you want to keep things real simple. Lightly herbed perfect frites, no accompaniment necessary save for salting to your taste. Served w/ a side of creamed spinach that's recognisable as spinach. Simply briiliant.

[Dreamworks]

I preferred the steak frites at Chez Henri in Cambridge to ES, though I do love ES for many other things. I found the fries at ES a little too crispy , which made them a little unfriendly to the juices with the steak.

I also recently had the steak frites at the Navy Yard Bistro and that dish was good there as well.

Now I'm jonesing for some meat and potatoes.

[hotoynoodle]

i've had it as les zygomates and sel de la terre. yum on both places.

i 2nd esk.

pommes souffle are time-consuming and labor-intensive. only places i've ever had them in boston are clio and troquet.

[heathermb]

On a recent visit to Eastern Standard my DC had the steak frites - cooked to a perfect MR and served sliced with a blue cheese sauce on the side (good for dipping the frites). The frites at ESK are some of my favorite and my (small) taste of the steak was delicious (DC cleaned his plate and wasn't too keen to let me have more than a small bite!

[Dr.Jimbob]

I've done steak frites (or more specifically my wife has) at Les Zygomates, Butcher Shop in the South End and Chez Henri. All three are pretty darned good, though I think I'd give the nod to Butcher Shop for prime cut of meat and perfect rare-ness.

[steinpilz]

I thought the steak frites at ES was VG, it was an onglet as I recall (I don't like their moules frites however, as they serve cream sauce from the mussles for the fries rather than some sort of mayo). I've been meaning to get to Central Kitchen for their steak frites and with the nice weather might do this soon.