Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Conversation Bites Gristly Adams: The Quest for Cheap but Decent Steak
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 4:04 PM
As my girlfriend and I were discussing where to go to dinner one night, we came up with a question which I'd like to offer as a query to the readers of Bites:
Other than off your own grill, is there a steak in town worth eating for around $10 or less?
As the weather becomes nastier and grilling becomes more problematic, sometimes you just want a decent cheap piece of red meat. What's out there better than Bonanza but cheaper than Morton's? Specify the cut of meat, if you'd like.
I'll start...the ribeye at Demos' is decent and not a bad way to start an evening of downtown debauchery.
Discuss.
Comments (12)
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Ran across this same dilemma a couple of years ago. I wanted a steak but didn't want to pay $50 for it.
Ended up at Logan's. It was ok.
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Don't know about the $10 requirement, but O'Charley's, Outback, and Longhorn have acceptable product for "less than Morton's."
No question- it's Demo's. Best inexpensive steak in town, hands down. Love the chicken soup as well.
I'd go with the churrasco at Back to Cuba Café on Trousdale. Delicious, inexpensive, and the portions are generous.
I know this isn't what you mean, but when I crave beef I order the Daimyo bento box at Sonobana.
Miso soup, salad with house ginger dressing, a reasonable 4- or 5- ounce portion of sliced steak (medium rare), steamed rice, a heaping portion of tempura veggies and two jumbo tempura shrimp, an order of Cali rolls (I always ask for yellowtail roll to be substituted), a small portion of steamed broccoli and carrots, and a little bean sprout salad. It costs, I believe, $13.95, about the same as it was 20 years ago when the place was called Benkay.
After a phase with goopy teriyaki sauce, they seem to be making it from scratch lately. You can always order no sauce.
Tried Logan's in 100 Oaks to scratch the itch. Momma always said to chew each bite 30 times, and a $10.00 sirloin made it easy to follow that advice.
But damned if it wasn't tasty and cooked perfectly medium rare. The extraordinarily personable service and atmosphere made it well worth the trip.
And I don't even eat peanuts.
I'm a fan of O'Charley's steaks. It's not Flemings, but it works for me. When ordering, I ask them to used the "blackened" seasoning on the steak, it's a worthy addition. I've been to Morton's and can't really justify the price to visit again. It wasn't all that great.
Also, I like Santa Fe (on Music Valley Dr. by Opryland). Their steaks are pretty good and its easy on the wallet. Quick and you get to toss your peanut shells on the floor (a la Logan's)
Even with the cold weather sitting in, I'd still prefer to grill it myself.
Got to agree on Demo's.
That KC Strip they have is the best kept steak secret in town.
Probably the last steak I had in a restaurant was the filet at Hermitage Steak House. Ten years ago, it was $14.95 and a helluva deal (really good quality). A quick check on their website indicates the price is up by $10, but the meal includes the salad bar and a side. It was once a really good salad bar and had real whipped cream to top some berries. If that's still the case, it's a great value.
Though I don't advocate meat consumption at all, but if you're going to eat it, don't eat the cheap stuff. Sheesh.
One of my favorite steaks was at Dan McGuiness for 11 bucks. They don't offer it anymore. It was a special I believe on Tuesday or Monday. They discontinued it, but left the $6 fish and chips there (thank God!). Now I go to Calhounds for their Ale steak. It's awesome and around 15 or less with 2 sides. YUM!!!!!
