440537 Wed Sep 12 08:44:02 -0700 2007 12 12 Boston Area 0 2934089 My husband's birthday is coming up and he mentioned that other day that he might like to go to a big chunk of meat" sort of place for his birthday. We would like something a bit more unique than one of the chains and these places came to my mind, but since they are all fairly new and some of the initial reports were mixed with some mentions of opening jitters, I was wondering if anyone has any recent takes on any of these three. Also, if none of them are great, let me know - I think I could also tempt him with the idea of really good wine at Troquet for his birthday. Thanks! Wed Sep 12 08:44:02 -0700 2007 27702 LauraB 1 2934700 I absolutely loved Boston Public when I went there a few months ago (it had just opened) but I loved Restaurant L, too. Here is my review: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/406957 I recently read the interview with Pino Maffeo in Stuff @ Night and was surprised to read that he believes this menu is so different from that of Restaurant L. I thought the steakhouse/Asian flair was still alive and well, and to me, that is his signature and the element that sets him apart from all the other steakhouses. I loved Restaurant L and was thrilled to see that the menu hadn't changed that much. I guess maybe there are fewer seafood options, but I always ordered steak there, so maybe that's why it doesn't seem to have changed as much to me. With that said, a raw bar will be debuting shortly, according to the article. With all of that said, I would like to try both KO Prime and Moo (which is written up in the current Improper and sounds delicious). Wed Sep 12 11:07:52 -0700 2007 2934089 101438 hsquare2southend 1 2935034 I had a great lunch at Boston Public (Meat?)I still don't know..:) The dinner menu is very similar..a few more large steaks..we had skirt. http://flickr.com/photos/61246842@N00/sets/72157600541629578/ With a few friends, I had apps at the bar at KO..a few apps ended up being almost an entire menu sampling..highlight being the skirt steak, bone marrow, and a buttery mashed potatos, charcuterie plate...only clunker was the short ribs. I'd recommend either...haven't been to Moo Wed Sep 12 12:27:04 -0700 2007 2934089 10111 9lives 2 2939871 Went to MOOO for lunch...it was good - had the endice salad with sliced steak - the steak was very tasty and moist!! Burgers were called "excellent" by lunch companions others had the TLBT - seared tuna blt. may not hekp for dinnerm but it was good Thu Sep 13 18:46:27 -0700 2007 2935034 42534 halaluia13 1 2943242 KO Prime is your best bet for what you're looking for. Jamie Bisonette is doing a great job in the kitchen there. Dining room is pretty cool, good date place. The atmosphere at BP and Troquet are boring. You'll get good "value" for wine by the glass at Troquet, but I was there on a Saturday night a few weeks ago and it was dead. Fri Sep 14 19:14:38 -0700 2007 2934089 127425 XBG07 2 5024816 KO Prime is the best of the best! Ambiance/service/cleanliness and oh my God the food! One of the moulon brouche (sp?) Jamie served was a Sunchoke puree. I had never even heard of sunchokes but that little appy drove me insane! To heck w/ all the others in Boston and hit KO Prime! Sat Sep 12 12:16:14 -0700 2009 2943242 1108858 Classicrocknbear 3 5024939 Jamie Bissonnette hasn't been at KO Prime in about a year. He left there for Toro, another Ken Oringer joint. That said, the conventional wisdom on this board is that KO Prime isn't a top steakhouse--opinions differ, but folks prefer Mooo, Abe & Louie's, and Grill 23. My personal favorite is Grill 23, although I also quite like Mooo. Sat Sep 12 13:24:05 -0700 2009 5024816 193495 rlove 4 5025072 Aren't they using choice these days? Maybe they should change the name. Sat Sep 12 14:30:09 -0700 2009 5024939 16672 phatchris 5 5026208 That's all they ever used. Incidentally, "Prime 128" - which failed to open in Newton - also planned to use only choice, and likewise, "Legal Prime," coming in the future, has no plans to use any prime beef. Apparently it's a trend. Sun Sep 13 08:42:44 -0700 2009 5025072 102066 almansa 6 5026484 prime beef has become wildly expensive and is and was only a very small percentage of beef produced. about 2% of all american production if memory serves... Sun Sep 13 11:08:05 -0700 2009 5026208 30273 hotoynoodle 7 5026525 And yet luxury steakhouses around town have not dramatically raised their prices on their prime cuts. I do find it comical that KO Prime serves choice. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Sun Sep 13 11:31:48 -0700 2009 5026484 10143 MC Slim JB 8 5026614 they don't really make money on the beef. it's why a baked potato costs $10 though, lol. agreed about ko. Sun Sep 13 12:23:55 -0700 2009 5026525 30273 hotoynoodle 9 5027880 Bingo. Mon Sep 14 05:06:15 -0700 2009 5026614 102066 almansa