Best Steak/ Steakhouse on a budget?

[tkgal]

I want to take out my boyfriend to a steak dinner for his birthday. Unfortunately, I am a college student on a budget but still enjoy QUALITY food. Damn my good-taste! Anyways, could anyone give me some advice on where to go and/or where to avoid (because of cost or other issues) ?

[Acmacgregor]

The Golden Steer in Forest Park and Tom's Steakhouse in Melrose Park are both great old school steakhouses without downtown a la carte prices.

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Golden Steer
7635 Roosevelt Rd Lowr 1, Forest Park, IL 60130

Melrose Restaurant
3233 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60657

[jayh]

How about a great skirt steak at Los Nopales in Lincoln Square? Tender, juicy, flavorful, and reasonable. Plus BYO. Or, get even more adventurous and pick a Korean BBQ, like Hae Woon Dae, on the far north side You cook your own meat (like kalbi, short rib beefy deliciousness) on a little grill in the table.

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Hae Woon Dae
6240 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60659

[Acmacgregor]

Golden steer on Roosevelt in Forest Park... Throwback to the 60s and they crank you through the seating but man is it good. And half the price of the big boysndowntown.

[mountsac]

I'd say Tango Sur and Wildfire are the best steakhouses on a budget. In fact, I prefer the steaks from these places over the ones at most of the more expensive steakhouses - simply better execution.

If you can travel to the suburbs, Bob Chinn's Crabhouse actually does a pretty good Porterhouse for two (you can share one huge porterhouse and order something else to share). I haven't tried their other steaks, but I bet they are just as good.

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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

[jbw]

It looks like Sweets & Savories still has steak/frites on its menu, and at a $29 prix fixe (and BYOB) it's one of the better bargains in the area:

http://www.sweetsandsavoriesrestauran...

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Sweets & Savories
1534 W Fullerton, Chicago, IL 60614

[amoncada]

How about steak at a mom and pop Italian restaurant, Greektown(Santorini's or Greek Islands), at a Colombian Steakhouse, etc or Tufano's Vernon Park Tap has been around for 60 years, serves very decent standard Italian fare & steaks in a cozy yet busy atmosphere..dirt cheap too! Also try Las Tablas on Irving Park Road for some Colombian style Churrasco/Steak. Also try Siboney Cuban Cuisine for the Argentinian style Churrasco steak...live music on weekends. These three restaurants serve up very good steak, plus each have their unique fun atmosphere. Good luck and please report back.

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Las Tablas Restaurant
4920 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641

Tufano's
1073 W Vernon Park Pl Ste 1, Chicago, IL 60607

[mlipps]

If you sign up for the email list for Texas De Brazil, they will send you all kinds of coupons. I got one for BOGO for my birthday this year, so you could sign up in your boyfriend's name & go there for 1/2 price, it's amazing!

[Xellosw2099]

Texas de Brazil is great too, their Lobster Bistro is great and so is their meat. Look the rum roast and beef rib.

[libgirl2]

We went there recently. The food was excellent, so many great choices... but the service, yuck. the meat guys were good, but I felt very "unwelcome". We had reservations, they were running nearly a 1/2 hour behind. No one apologized, our server seemed in a hurry.... even when we first walked in, I didn't feel welcomed. I have had better experiences at Applebee's!

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Applebee's
1719 River Oaks Dr, Calumet City, IL 60409

[chicgail]

As you probably already know, the ususal steakhouses price entrees well into the $40 range. That's a lot.

Two suggestions:
Mon Ami Gabi in the Belden Stratford is a French bistro-style restaurant that specializes in steak frites with a surprising array of cuts and preparations (bordelaise, au poive, bernaise, etc.). Prices for steak and fries are in the high teens.

Tango Sur is an Argentinian restaurant on Southport and Grace. They don't take reservations and waits can be long, but it's a a really good deal for steaks. People sometimes send an "emissary" to make the reservations and then the party shows up at the approximate designated time.

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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N. Lincoln Park West, Chicago, IL 60614

[dtbauer21]

I agree with the Tango Sur suggestion. They are BYOB which will also help keep the costs lower. Also, like chicgail said, they waits can be long, but they will take a cell phone number so you can go to one of the near by bars on Southport why you wait for your table. Although, if you are anything like me spending an hour or two waiting for a table in a bar won't help keep your costs down any.

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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

[nsxtasy]

Wildfire tends to be somewhat less expensive than the other big-name steakhouses in Chicago, and is pretty good.

Another possibility is to go to a restaurant other than a steakhouse for steak. For example, many French bistros do a very nice job with their steaks, and don't charge as much as the big steakhouses do.

[Xellosw2099]

I got a suggestion but it is a bit off topic. Because of the cost issue, have you considered buying some roast beef and cook them youself? I made buy Roast Beef and bake it myself and the taste often rival steak house. If you inist of goign out, maybe I suggest Outback? I know I know it is a chain but they are decent for their price.

[libgirl2]

I agree, We go to ours frequently and are rarely disappointed. Plus the bread is great!