The "Manly Man" Steak Dinners of L.A.

[JBC]

Where does one go to satisfy that Neanderthal craving for a BIG slab of Beef?

"Manly Man" Steak dinner criteria:

Steak - Picking just one, I'm still going for a Large Filet Mignon (10 oz. Plus, no petits). Some suggested earlier that it should be a bone-in Rib Eye, so in (.)'s I'll insert that option.

Potato - Baked potato (availabe at almost all places).
Veggie - Assumed it's split between 2 diners.
Salad - Caesar salad, if it comes with a house salad, I've added a split app.

Ranking - The easiest way is by total cost, but good quality costs more, so.....

Restaurant . / . Steak . / . Potato . / . Veggie . / . Salad . / . Total Food Cost
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Damon's ~ 22.95 + inc. + 6.00 + inc. + 5.00 = $33.95 . . (a).
Talyor's ~ 29.95 + inc. + inc + 7.95 = $37.90
The Galley ~ 31.00 + inc. + Inc. + 9.00 = $40.00
Dal Rae ~ 36.95 + inc. + inc. + 8.25 = $45.20
Musso & Franks ~ 32.00 + inc. + 4.00 + 13.50 = $49.95

Fleming's ~ 33.95 + 6.50 + 7.95/2 + 8.50 = $52.93 . . (38.95).
Ruths Chris ~ 34.95 + 7.50 + 7.50/2 + 6.95 = 53.15
The Grill ~ 37.75 + 5.50 + 5.25/2 + 8.50 = $54.53
Arroyo Chop House ~ 36.00 + 7.00 + 7.00/2 + 8.00 = $54.75 . . (37.00).
STK ~ 35.00 + 8.00 + 8.00/2 + 11.00 = $58.00 . . (42.00).

555 East ~ $37.95 + 6.95 + 6.95/2 + 9.95 = $58.32 . . (35.95).
Boa ~ 36.00 + 8.00 + 9.00/2 + 10.00 = $58.50 . . (34.00).
Nic's & Stef's ~ 38.00 + 6.00 + 8.00/2 + 11.00 = $59.00 . . (40.00).
The Arches ~ $50.00 + inc. + inc. + inc. + 18.50/2 = $59.25 . . (b).
The Lodge ~ 37.00 + 8.00 + 8.00/2 + 12.00 = $61.00 . . (49.00).

Jar ~ 38.00 + 7.00 + 8.00/2 + 12.00 = $61.00
The Palm ~ 40.50 + 8.00 + 7.50/2 + 9.95 = $62.20 . . (42.50).
Arnie Morton's ~ 41.00 + 7.00 + 10.00/2 + 9.50 = $62.50 . . (45.00)
Saddle Peak Lodge ~ 45.00 + inc. + 7.00/2 + 14.00 = $62.50 . . (c).
Dakota ~ 38.00 + 8.00 + 9.00/2 + 12.00 = $62.50 . . (48.00).

21 Oceanfront ~ 49.00 + inc ? + 6.00 + 9.00 = $64.00 . . (47.00) . . (d).
Pacific Dining Car ~ 46.95 + 6.00 + 5.00/2 + 9.95 = $65.40 . . (43.95).
Maestro's ~ 44.95 + 7.95 + 7.95/2 + 9.95 = $66.83 . . (41.95).
Dan Tana's ~ 56.00 + 8.00 + 10.00/2 + 15.00 = $84.00 . . (e).
Cut ~ 53.00 + 12.00 + 12.00/2 + 17.00 = $88.00
.
.
REMINDER~ The above "excludes" the cost for some adult beverages, dessert, tax & tip, !!!!
.
.
(a) Includes a split shrimp app.
(b) Includes a split Arches scampi.
(c) Don't know if their fillet is 10. oz. +, they only have 1; also, no Bone-in Ribe-eye, but the Elk Tenderlion is $45.00.
(d) Couldn't tell if the potato was included.
(e) Not a Filet, actually the "Dabney Coleman", a N.Y. 16 ouncer, included it anyway because it's some peoples favorite steak in L.A.

Previous discussion:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/496532

Prices not available on-line (I couldn't find them) - Riordan's Tavern, Tam O'Shanter, Shula 347.

Affordable steak places omitted for various reasons ~ Billingsley's, Trabuco Oaks, Clearman's, Golden Bull, Buggy Whip, Pattrelli's, Smoke House.......

[acidspit]

Thank you, JBC. I was just doing a steakhouse search for this weekend date w/ my bf and found this thorough list. Awesome. t h a n k y o u .

[JeMange]

A manly man eats a ribeye (better if it's "bone-in). The fillet is the least masculine of steak cuts.

[Jack Flash]

Great list, although I would suggest that a "manly man" never orders something with as wimpy a name as "filet mignon." It's NY/Delmonico, ribeye or porterhouse.

[wutzizname]

Speak for yourself Flash. I eat dirt for breakfast. And filet mignon at night.

[rogermexico]

Agree wholeheartedly. When I think manly man, the last cut of meat that comes to mind is the wimpy filet: it's rarely ever served over 16 ounces and it's essentially the leanest of the cuts -- oh my poor wittow teeth hurt chewing a well-marbled, more flavorful steak.

There's a reason some refer to the bone-in ribeye as the "cowboy steak."

[paulfromla]

didn't see craft be on that list? not strictly a steak house but steak is a specialty
love this list, emailing to all my friends

[JBC]

Why didn't Craft make the Cut?....... Because it didn't meet the first qalification: no large Filet, no petit Filet or rib-eye either. According to it's on-line menu, it has a Flat-Iron, NY Strip, & a Wagyu. Using the NY Strip (Is it big enough? - ounces?):
51 + 11 + 12/2 + 17 = $85.00

http://www.craftrestaurant.com/craft_...

[Servorg]

One of my favorite rib-eye places is Bandera (Houston's sister restaurant) on Wilshire & Barrington. The serve a beautiful Rutherford Rib Eye with farmer's market tomato and blue cheese, plus fries for $40. If you're ever in the area check it out.

[DrBruin]

Seriously, this list is insane. And, at CUT, you could spend a whole lot more if you chose the Wagyu or Kobe options.

I'd be interested if you've been to all of these places and which one would you spend your hard earned money on?

My personal faves... love Maestro's... hard to go wrong with a Ruth's Chris steak sizzling in butter.... thought Arroyo served a great New York steak (the filet was good but not as good as the first two)

The Not Too Shabby: Flemings (pricewise) , Mortons (good but overpriced), and JJ's

The I would eat it for free but wouldn't spend my money again there: BOA

I'm not sure if they qualify for manly man steaks, but, you forgot JJ's Steakhouse in Pasadena. And, well, the chains (shuddering) of outback and black heinous.... I mean angus.

[CulverJack]

Well done, JBC!!

The write up, that is.... Truly impressive accounting. Interesting how much less a rib eye turns out - nearly 50% less at most places. Wow, I wouldn't have figured that much difference - I would probably only order filet at the Palm, cause I find they do that better than their other steaks, so I don't notice prices on the filets too often.

Mmmmm - elk tenderloin...

[wutzizname]

No, I believe the cost in parentheses is just for the rib eye itself. So, it looks like those are priced on par with the filet, give or take a couple bucks depending on the restaurant.

[AGENT FOODIE]

whats STK? man time to eat steak again......

[wutzizname]

Brand new New York import. Just opened on La Cienega...

http://la.eater.com/archives/2008/02/...

[JBC]

No, the cost in the (.) is for the rib-eye steak "only". Example - Arnie Morton's complete rib-eye dinner would be $4.00 more @ $66.50. The word "option" was a bad choice on my part.

[CulverJack]

Ah - makes sense. Now I'm hungry for steak again....

[fatassasian]

Jesus, man. Thank you.

[gadflier]

Please take over all research and administrative aspects of my life. Seriously.

But for the love of beef, please do not include Patrellis on your list.

[PhilLevel]

People keep telling me the steak at Capo is great but I haven't yet been, however...

If you really want to separate the "Men" from the "Boys", we went to Fogo de Chao a couple weeks back. Not your traditional "steak dinner", but with a multitude of meats, including excellent beef, sliced off the skewer and right onto your plate.

I think it was $55 for all you can stuff into yourself, including the salad buffet, before tax & tip.

I felt ill for 2 days from overeating, and I'm a huge carnivore.

[PayOrPlay]

Great work; this has instantly gone into my "favorite topics" pile.

[ExtraCheesePlease]

I went to STK last week. Had the 34 oz rib-eye for $84. Couldn't even finish half of it but it was delicious.

[wutzizname]

Surprised to see the new STK land in the center. Sounds reasonable.

[Wolfgang]

That's a great list.

Thank you for your work.

[wutzizname]

My god.

No, I mean...you are "my God."