The Met

[Schielke]

Hey everybody,

Tomorrow I am attending a friend's b-day party at the Metropolitan Grill in Downtown Seattle. I have never ventured into this (or any other) shrine to top notch beef. I love beef, but since I have recently been a college student, I have not been able to justify a $40 steak.

I have decided to take the plunge and see how good steak can be. Does anybody have any suggestions for items not to miss at the Met?

What is your perfect steak night experience?

Thanks a bunch!

Ben

[mamster]

I haven't been to the Met, but porterhouse seems to be a win-win proposition at most top beef houses. Often you have to order it for more than one person, but I suspect that won't be a problem. Do tell us how you like it!

[girl chow]

I've been to the Met a few times and I loved it. The atmo was fantastic. Make sure you budget enough for cocktails. One of the best Cosmos I've ever had was there. This is a great steakhouse experience. I actually strayed from the usual suspect on my last visit and had the "steak salad." Don't laugh! It's great -- and I didn't feel like loading up on a hefty piece of meat. The Met's "salad" comes with London Broil, an obscene amount of blue cheese crumbles, chunky tomatoes, etc.

I've also had the filet mignon there. Yup, it ruled.

I'm a filet kinda girl, but hubby is in the Mamster vein of "porterhouse" rules. He usually can eat it himself. It makes me sick to watch.

I've also been to El Gaucho (Seattle and Portland ... and soon to be Tacoma), Morton's, Daniel's and Fleming's. I liked all of the above, but I would pick The Met for atmosphere and Fleming's for the prices (and they have a lot of wines by the glasses). When I'm on a real budget and not picky about getting prime steak, I head to Jak's in Issaquah or West Seattle. That's a great place for a well-priced steak.

After reading this post, I realize just how much I miss my expense account. Damn cutbacks.

[Blue Heron]

When I'm on a real budget and not picky about getting prime steak, I head to Jak's in Issaquah or West Seattle. That's a great place for a well-priced steak.

After reading this post, I realize just how much I miss my expense account. Damn cutbacks.

I guess that makes me not picky about my steaks, because I love JaK's! Of course, since it's in my neighborhood, I'm biased.

I've been to the Met as well as El Goucho and both were fantastic. However, I have not been in recent years.

[girl chow]

Don't get me wrong!! Jak's is fantastic, especially for prices and a great atmo. I have never ever ever had a bad steak at Jak's, but I was trying to make the distinction that Jak's does not serve prime graded beef, while The Met, Morton's, El Gaucho, etc.are prime steakhouses and thus command prime prices.

Big difference on the pocketbook.

[Schielke]

Now the thing I have always wondered is what these high end steak houses do to the meat that is different than what I can do at home either on the grill or in a cast iron pan (god I need one, but I am scared! )

Is it just the quality of the beef that sets them apart or some special little tricks?

Ben

[tighe]

I probably should leave this to an actual chef to answer, but incomplete knowledge never stopped me before.....

My understanding is that high end steak places have access to a higher grade of beef than you ever see in most grocery stores for starters. They also have broilers that get much hotter than anything that mere mortals have at home which allows them to create the crusty outside, while the inside stays juicy. One trick I learned to approximate the finish they put on steaks is to get a frying pan really hot, drop a thick steak in for a couple minutes and then put the whole pan into a 400 degree oven until its done.

[mamster]

tighe's got it, I believe. Incidentally, the method you recommend is great for thick fish fillets, too.

Schielke, do not fear the cast iron. Love the cast iron.

[Schielke]

So I had my steak last night.

We ended up in one of the private dining rooms since we had more than ten people in our party.

Back to the steak.

I had a bone in filet cooked medium (my girlfriend was sharing and freaks out at the sight of blood on her plate). I had the bleu cheese salad and mashed potatoes for my sides. The salad was very nice, it had hazelnuts which added a nice dimension to the cheese. The potatoes were pretty mediocre, nothing special. The steak was very good. It was the best piece of beef I have ever had, but it was still a piece of beef which limited it in some sense.

The service was good, they were attentive and polite, but I am a little ticked at the management. When our food came, so did two platters of asparagus and two of mushrooms "for the table" said the server. Nobody remembers ordering these and so we assumed they were a comp. Not so on the bill.

Despite this I had a great time and have finally tried out a high end steak house. The Met has reaffirmed my love of beef. I do think, however, that my money could be much better spent at other types of establishments. I think I prefer a little more unique or inventive style of food when I eat out. I plan on shopping for a cast iron pan in the coming weeks as well as some top end beef. heh heh heh. Expect a thread about butcher shops soon.

Thanks for the help!

Ben

[tighe]

Schielke...I'm with you in feeling that, for the price, the big steak places don't give me great satisfaction. It seems like there are other places where you can get a steak for half the price that is much more than half as good. For the times that I do have a jones for a high-end steak experience, I really like Spencer's at the SeaTac Hilton (yes, you read that correctly, both times). For me, the quality is right there with the Met and the others and, while not inexpensive by any means, it is a little more gentle with you wallet.......

[girl chow]

I've been to Spencer's twice and loved it (once was for a company party and the other was for dinner). I was so glad when it opened... there are so few good restaurants in SeaTac and Tukwila. Spencers' servers are a doting bunch, which I love.

The prices are a bit more expensive than Jak's though, but less than Fleming's.

What's weird about Spencer's is the atmo. It's pretty generic, but it has to be because the restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch. A steakhouse atmo would not work for those purposes. But that's my only real gripe about the place, and that's not even really a legitimate gripe considering the steaks rock.

Oh, another thing I love is they offer you perrier or san pellegrino for the table (and keep the stuff coming). I think that's a great touch -- and they only charge a few bucks for the service. It's a nice addition to the meal.

Anyone been to D.C.'s Steakhouse in Sammamish? I went about a year ago and wasn't impressed. I've heard they've gotten better though. My steak was overcooked medium well instead of medium rare. That was a pisser. I sent it back and the waiter, who had just started there after working at Red Robin in Issaquah, was flabbergasted that I was sending it back to the kitchen. He looked really scared, like he didn't know what to do. I felt really bad, but I also didn't want to eat shoe leather for dinner either. It worked out Ok. He survived and so did I.

I'd love to hear about any other steak house -- whether it be a prime steakhouse or a neighborhood joint or the best place for a $6.95 steak (if that's possible outside of Vegas).

[girl chow]

Oh, I meant to ask Shielke, did you talk to a manager about the confusion with the asparagus and mushrooms? What was the response? Was it one of those awkward situations where nobody wanted to question the bill? Or did you fight the charge and lose?

Write a letter if you're still mad about it! That's completely lame.

[tighe]

GC....Its starting to sound like you and I should collaborate on a review of dining on the South Siyeed! An unlikely place that I think has very good food in general and at times truly great steaks and prime rib is Rascal's Casino. No, really! Have you ever tried it GC? You seem to have been every where else on the south end......

I concur with you observations about the atmo at Spencer's. I think part of it is the decorating choices of the entire hotel. Someone got a little to creative and ceiling in the restaurant is a bad joke, kind of like Wyland does his version of the Sistine Chapel. I try not to look up with my mouth full.....

[girl chow]

HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!! I agree 100 percent about Spencer's and The Hilton. Now everyone has to go there to see what we're talking about. You all will laugh...

I have never been to Rascal's!! Mostly because I know that's where the Buzz shock jock BJ Shea holds his wet T-shirt contests or bikini contests or some kind of man fest thing. It seemed a little too dude-driven for me and frankly a little too much on the South End White Trash angle (like a trip to WalMart for dinner). Maybe I should go on a weekday afternoon so I miss all that dude stuff? When would you suggest a visit? Didn't you post once that the ribs were really good or something like that? Something about how they boil the ribs in the sauce? ...

Have you ever been to Pacific Crest Brewing Company and Hole in the Wall BBQ? That place rules. It's one of my favorite finds in Tukwila.

[tighe]

I go to Rascal's pretty frequently and haven't run into any over the top testosterone type scenes. Wonder if you're thinking of some other place (Funsters, maybe?). Rascal's (on Des Moines Mem Drive) is really low-key for the most part and the restaurant is completely separate from the casino/bar area. Most patrons are seniors, couples or families. The worst I can say is they have some pretty bad bands playing occasionally.

Yes, the ribs!! Extremely good, except for an occasional hiccup. They also have an entire Chinese menu, most of which is very solid.

Haven't been to Pacific Crest (where is it?), have been to HITW BBQ which I thought was good. Their beer isn't bad either.

I have to say that your term "South End White Trash", seems somewhat redundant to me.

On a totally different south end dining subject.....do you know if Le Bonaparte in Des Moines is kaput? Tried calling them a couple weeks ago with no luck. Too bad if they are, always thought it was a nice little place....

[Schielke]

girl chow,

Unfourtanately we did not challenge the bill, everybody was in the process of leaving and I was talking to the person who paid for the bill (to be reimbursed later via paypal ). I asked him about the side dishes and he looked to see if they were on there and they were.

He did not remember ordering them or anybody else ordering them, but we all wanted to go home by that point so he didnt argue.

Doh!

Ben

[girl chow]

Unfortunately, B.J. Shea has his dude fest "listener" parties at Rascal's AND Funsters (and Sliders and the Emerald Queen Casino). Of course, they aren't held every night, but I generally have avoided those places for fear of running into some sort of Tom Leykis wannabe fest. Uck. But if you say the restaurant is insulated from the shenanigans of the bar, I will def check it out.

The Pacific Crest Brewing Company link is here: http://www.pacificcrestbrewing.com/

They have several brews on tap and serve decent Q from Hole in the Wall. The HITW sauce is great. They're located off East Marginal Way in Tukwila. Kind of difficult to find, but worth the hunt. Go to the URL above for directions

Have you ever tried Warthog in Fife? Love that place. It's kitschy and the Q is mighty fine. Also for South County Q, I like Cedar River Smokehouse in Renton and there is a place in Auburn called Smitty's. In Kent, everyone knows about Caveman, but I actually think H.D. Hotspur's is technically better. But H.D.'s has a lot of service problems and other things. This is probably a different thread, so I'll stop yammering now :)

Let's hear more about steaks!!!

Schielke, write a letter! It'll make you feel better :)

[tighe]

OK, I'm a moron. I failed to realize that Pacific Crest and HITW BBQ were one-in-the-same place. I have been there and really enjoyed it. It ticks me off a little that they close so early though. Its very convenient for me, just have to roll down the hill.....

[girl chow]

I bet Col Klink has already tried this place out, I'd love to hear what he thinks of HITW.

Also, in addition to its Tukwila franchise, HITW has a franchise on the Eastside as well as a downtown Seattle location:

10845 E. Marginal Way S., Tukwila; 206-764-1731 (located in Pacific Crest Brewing Company) see above post for URL

215 James St. Seattle; 206-622-8717 (near Smith Tower)

12437 116th Ave N.E., Kirkland; 425-821-6141; (located in Northwest Brew Werks) click here for more info: http://www.brewwerks.com/Brewwerks/default.htm

I would never say HITW has the best Q I've had. But it's reliably good and cheap and those two things make it work for me :)

[col klink]

GC, I haven't tried Hole in the Wall so I don't know it compares. Look's like there some homework ahead.

[MsRamsey]

I love the sign on the Pioneer Square branch of HITW. It says something like, "Open 11-2 or run out." I walked by there at about 1:00 and they were already closed.