Tom's Steakhouse--Melrose Park

I am heading to Tom's Steakhouse in Melrose Park for dinner this weekend. My LTH search showed some positive comments mostly on steakhouse lists. What I am looking for are any comments from anyone who has been there recently and can confirm what others have said about the restaurant. I am expecting old school, good steaks, potatoes and a stiff drink with wait staff that have been doing it for a long time and know what they are doing. Any insight would be appreciated.

Tom's Steak House
1901 West North Avenue
Melrose Park, IL 60160
708-345-2766

I've been by this place many times and never stopped in. I'll be interested to hear how you like it (your sense of what it's probably like matches mine).

a blast from the past..i havent eaten here since the late 70's..its was good then but cant say how it is 30 some years later

Well my experience is a little more recent than 30 years ago, but still not recent. It's probably been 2 or 3 years since I've been there. But I've always enjoyed it. It's not top of the line steak, no doubt, but it's well above the 'value steak' designation used in the other thread. The wait staff is exactly what you expect, the decor is old school and the portions are good.

I eat there frequently because I have a client who loves it.

As a younger guy (early 30's) I have had many people tell me that it is a perfect representation of what a destination steakhouse was in the 40's and 50's because other than the lack of smoke, it hasn't changed.

The steak is pretty good, and not unreasonable. I believe it runs about $23-24 for a filet with potato, salad, and bread. They bring the steak out on a cart, and have a really good chive sour cream for the baked potato.

It's not Mortons, the meat isn't prime, but it's a very neat place to stop in for a few drinks and a steak. The old fashioned bar is also something that is pretty cool to see.

Family members have eaten here for years. I've been though its been a long long time. I believe it is a no frills, blast from the past steakhouse, as a previous poster said, its not Morton's, its not Gibsons. Its so outdated I think, its maybe in. Younger folk may appreciate its retro atmosphere.

I ate here with my dad for a late lunch/early dinner about 10 years ago. It's definitely a throwback type of place, absolutely no frills (they only have a small baked potato for your potato option) and they even had a minute steak on the menu which pretty much summed it up for me.

I have been to Tom's recently. Tom's is definitely a throwback place. It certainly isn't what it once was, but the old school decor including the bar and the menu still make it a viable place to visit in the value category. I would definitely agree it is not Morton's, Gibson's, etc, but the steaks are still good and the sour cream and chive is worthwhile. I also like a mix of their salad dressing, the garlic and the russian. Things have changed there dramatically in the last 20-30 years, but I would put it with Stacy's on Mannheim Road in Bellwood and the Golden Steer in Forest Park.

I would steer clear of the charbroiled Ribs, which are ok, but I do not like the tangy sauce. My wife likes the Athenian chicken, and the seasoned wedge potatoes. I also liked the saganaki, but alas, I have a weakness for flaming cheese. Overall, the steaks have a good char on the outside and I have not had a problem getting mine medium rare.

Throwback is about as accurate a description as you can get. By no means a "destination" restaurant, but a decent meal at a decent price point for those nearby. Once a usual hangout for the "Chicago outfit". Their steaks are cooked the way you want them. There is nothing pretentious about their food. Salads are simple mixes of iceberg lettuce with maybe a tomato and cucumber served with the old fashioned salad dressing turnstyle with 3 different choices of dressing. Steaks are brought to the table on a cart with a hot plate and "juices". Other items/entrees off the menu whether it be the chicken, ribs, etc. are what you would typically find in any family establishment. Food is well prepared though not overly exciting. Decor is a little dated, but the restaurant is clean and the service is usually excellent.

It doesn't try to be Morton's, Gibson's, etc. but serves reasonably priced meals cooked properly.

Thanks to all who gave us a preview of what to expect at Tom's. Everyone's comments were pretty much right on. Overall, a solid steakhouse that has got their act down pat; honed through decades of practice.

Despite the historically positive feedback from folks here on LTH, I was afraid that I would find a half filled dining room on a Saturday night; that somewhat depressing scene of a once vibrant restaurant on a slow slide to closing. Instead, I found a full room, loaded with patrons of many generations enjoying a dinner out on the town, but not to far from home. Yes, not Gibsons, Kumas or Alinea, but instead, a slice of what one finds in many towns outside the food center that we live in here in Chicago. Yes, it won't knock your socks off as a culinary destination, but like your Mom's potatoes on Thanksgiving, there is a comfort in restaurants like Tom's that should be supported. We won't be back for a while, but I hope others give it a try.

Here are some observations that made it an interesting evening:
Packed parking lot containing many large, American model cars, pre-GM bankruptcy.
Cool, large photos of the restaurant in faded, Kodachrome colors circa 50's or 60's
Three salad dressing options in a single serving vessel--blu cheese too
More secluded tables in the bar area for discrete conversation away from the Feds or your wife--I'm just sayin...

Maybe Grant Achatz can add Melrose Park 1957 to the menu at Next and use Tom's as the model.

If the Oak Park Boys ever hit the road, this sounds like a good place to meet!

I have eaten there about 6 times in the past 10 years, and had good luck with filets and porterhouse steaks. I would put them above the Golden Steer and Stacy's, especially the GS.

teatpuller wrote:If the Oak Park Boys ever hit the road, this sounds like a good place to meet!

For sure. Kid-less tonight, my wife & I decided on this for dinner. We had not been in about 10 years. And it won't be another ten. I have a real weakness for these kinda places, & Tom's hit all my points. I would even say that I liked it slightly more than Golden Steer. Really tender prime rib, but it was surpassed by grilled pork chops that almost tasted like bacon. The lazy Susan of floppy dressings was another high point.

June?

Vital Information wrote:

teatpuller wrote:If the Oak Park Boys ever hit the road, this sounds like a good place to meet!

For sure. Kid-less tonight, my wife & I decided on this for dinner. We had not been in about 10 years. And it won't be another ten. I have a real weakness for these kinda places, & Tom's hit all my points. I would even say that I liked it slightly more than Golden Steer. Really tender prime rib, but it was surpassed by grilled pork chops that almost tasted like bacon. The lazy Susan of floppy dressings was another high point.

June?

Well, that sounds just peachy, though Golden Steer did not exactly set the bar too high. Lazy Susan is deal maker...but floppy?

Tripping to the Mayan homeland mid-June, but would like to go to Tom's.

We stopped for drinks at the bar last week. Like many other responders, I ate here often a few years back but haven't in the last 5 years. The place has not changed. It's your basic steak house with that old school Greek feel. I doubt many people leave disappointed. In its own way it's all good. The patrons sitting next to us, two local dancers and their door guy, were entertaining in a nice way, and I recognized a few old time Melrose Park regulars at the bar from years ago. They had some "happy hour" food out, which, by the time we saw it, had pretty much dried up. I have a feeling the snacks started out good.
It was a nice visit. Good pro bartenders and servers. I really appreciate that, and bleu cheese and/or anchovie stuffed olives in my chilled grey goose.
I don't know how much Maywood Racetrack helps the business at Tom's anymore. I hate seeing places like this fade away. We do our best to help the cause!

Stiff Manhattan on the rocks - $6


Roughnecks at the bar


"Oysters" Rockefeller - Low point


Chopped Liver. This and a drink would make a nice meal

No pictures of steaks?

Baby back ribs, Chicago style


Salad Dressing Troughs: Garlic, French, Russian


Iceberg Salad. Could have been better. These guys really don't like vegetables


Steaks arrive via cart

Note live coals under platter


Pork Chops


Sour cream for baked potatoes - Kind of odd, like it had cottage cheese mixed in.


Liver and onions - Golden Steer was way better

Panther's T-Bone. I split a rib eye with Zoid. Steaks were OK, not great. about $30 for steak, salad, and potato.


Brandy Ices: Good fun! $10


Panther tries to light it to no avail


NEON!



Summary: Good old school fun if you order right. I'd recommend hanging in the bar area for drinks, maybe some apps. Steaks if your expectations are not too high. I must say they were cooked correctly though.

Mr KajmacJohnson and I ventured into Tom's this evening. We have been passing this place by for years and we have always had a fond affinity for the old school Italian joints like Manzo's on Irving Park, LaVilla on Pulaski and Al's in Cicero, so you can't go wrong with an old school steakhouse. We went to a funeral and on the way home tonight we were looking for a place to eat so my husband suggested it as we drove down North Avenue. I was kind of skeptical though I am not sure why. We ended up liking it but we left a bit underwhelmed. Atmosphere was great. Decor was as old school as you can get. Double baked potato was fantastic. French onion soup was very tasty. Salad was adequate. Service was good even though I may have been less than thrilled about my lack of choices and taken it slightly out on our waitress, who was a doll about it all. Beer selection was not great but I was not expecting craft brews, but some PBR wouldn't hurt (I ended up ordering the Michoeob Lager) But the steaks were lacking something that I do right in my own home: flavor. It was like it had no real seasoning or taste. Mind you, I am not one who purchases prime cuts of meat or even organic rasied farm meat, but I can make a tastier, more flavorful steak out of a crappy cut. Needless to say, I hated to see an excellant cut of steak be so bland, as did my husband. It was a nice dinner, but better meals can be had for what we paid at other old school joints of the same stature. I do not think we will be back, but I am comfortable with the knowledge that we tried it at least once.

When Maywood racetrack was busier, Tom's was as well. I'm sure over the last decade business has taken a sharp drop at Tom's and perhaps the reason for a less quality cut of meat. I stopped there over the summer and our table was infested by fruitflies. The waitress advised me it was because so many people grow grapes for wine in Melrose Park, the flies are everywhere!? I noticed the difference in the steak quality.
After that visit, I decided to stick to Golden Steer. Always good quality, quantity and nice.

TooHot wrote:When Maywood racetrack was busier, Tom's was as well. I'm sure over the last decade business has taken a sharp drop at Tom's and perhaps the reason for a less quality cut of meat. I stopped there over the summer and our table was infested by fruitflies. The waitress advised me it was because so many people grow grapes for wine in Melrose Park, the flies are everywhere!? I noticed the difference in the steak quality.
After that visit, I decided to stick to Golden Steer. Always good quality, quantity and nice.

For whatever it is worth it was actually pretty packed the night we went. My sister n law lives in Melrose Park and I have never seen swarms of fruit flies anywhere near. Perhaps next time we will be giving Golden Steer a shot.

In the interest of preserving the old-school dining destinations, I will share my experience from last weekend. My wife and I went to Tom's on Saturday night, and it was a first time visit for us. We've been to Golden Steer many times and really enjoy that restaurant, and Tom's has a completely different vibe. The decor is definitely 1970's, and the crowd was a bit older...I guess that's due to Melrose Park vs. Berwyn demographics?

When we arrived just after 7pm, the dining room was only 50-60% full...again, upthread mentions of the glory-days-gone-by may be the reason. We started with a cocktail (martinis are a must) and our server let us enjoy them without rushing us for our dinner order. I like that. She has worked at Tom's for 22 years and had a pretty set routine.

We then placed our dinner order, we ordered Shrimp De Jonghe (decent) and Saganaki (delicious), and opted for the salad instead of soup, just so we could try their trio of dressings...which came in a HUGE caddy! French, Russian and "sweet and sour" which was more like a garlicy-Italian came in pint-sized containers and they encourage you to blend your own.



My wife ordered prime rib with a baked potato, and I chose the NY strip with the twice-baked. Our entrees arrived via a dining room cart, with the beef resting in an au jus-laden pan over hot charcoal...nice touch! She plated our meat and potatoes, with a little au jus for both cuts, along with a caddy of "cheese and chive sauce" which is sour cream mixed with cottage cheese and chives - delicious on the potatoes.



My steak was cooked perfectly medium-rare, and we both had to take some home for leftovers.



We brought our own wine from our cellar...since we are both in the wine business, we preferred an older Napa cab to the selections on their list. $15 corkage was just fine. No dessert for us, although we did see an old couple at a neighboring table ordering jello...?

On the way out, we walked through the cocktail lounge, and the crowd was lively and fun...we will stop here again for drinks and apps.

Please give this spot another try if you haven't been recently, places like this should not disappear!

wino66 wrote:Please give this spot another try if you haven't been recently, places like this should not disappear!

Agree 100%

Bride and I attended a Sunday afternoon birthday party for 20 adults and a gaggle of children at Tom's Steakhouse, ages ranged from 8 to 85, we had our own area and ordered off the menu. Service given the crowd was above reproach, friendly, efficient, informed. Water kept filled, drinks brought in short order, menu explained, special requests honored with a smile all the while dogging energetic ten-year-old kids.

Tom's Steakhouse is true old school, no ironic BS in the bar, dining room, food or service and, while the signature steaks are not top quality prime, what I'd guess are solid choice grade steaks cooked perfectly, are reasonably priced with included signature salad and baked potato.

Our host ordered ordered multiple share appetizers, tasty shrimp cocktail, a fun flaming Saganaki, which went wonderfully with the overflowing bread basket, and individually cut ribs. Not surprisingly I was not a fan of the ribs, but everyone else seemed to enjoy.

My brides main was a throwback entree of Baby Beef Liver with Charcoal Broiled Bermuda Onions, tender liver with a huge delicious slice of onion and I had a spot-on medium-rare bone-in rib-eye. Enjoyed the salad, they make a production of the three house-made dressings, and loved the fluffy baked potato served with a flavorful cottage cheese/sour cream/chive mix.



When we left, Sunday around 6pm, the bar was full, dining room three quarters full with a multi generational crowd, and everyone seemed to be having a good time, including those working in the restaurant.

Comfortable dining rooms, large bar, parking lot, reasonable pricing, efficient friendly service, if I lived closer I'd be a regular.

Tom's Steakhouse, count me a Fan!

Tom's Steak House
1901 West North Avenue
Melrose Park, IL 60160
708-345-2766
Menu

Note:
Steak knives were serrated, I was under strict orders to keep my opinions to myself, which I did. I had a BYOB steak knife in my pocket but did not employ after a ~look from my bride.