I need a steak in Highland Park (or nearby)

Alright, so as some of you know, we're coming back to Chicago. We've had enough of sunny San Diego and we miss the Chicago food scene. And you all

So I'm back for a week putting finishing touches on the house before we move in- we're down the street from Ruth's Chris, Morton's, and some other chain stuff, but who can point me in the direction of a truly excellent steak in that area? Help?

Cheers to all and I'm excited to be coming home.

Jonny

I have never been myself, but have heard good reports about the Tavern in Libertyville from family. Unsure if that is too far though.

I have not been personally but have heard good things about the steaks there. Most people in town that I know are into steak houses do the Mortons thing.

If you don't mind a short drive Deleece on Southport has a few excellent steak dishes.

Jonny-

Welcome back to Chicago! I don't know much in Highland Park, but I read on another thread that Royce has apparently added steaks to their menu.

The steaks at Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook are excellent.
and tallgrass beef,
plus you have the bonus of the BEST pie for dessert

Well, there's Roseb... oh wait, never mind.

Seriously, though, Royce - the new incarnation of John Des Rosiers's restaurant in the former Rosebud space - has a filet as well as a skirt steak on their menu, along with a 16-ounce bone-in ribeye as their Saturday special. It's worth a try. You can often find a really good steak at a restaurant that's not known as a steakhouse (such as the previous mentions of Deleece, which I love but it's awfully far from Highland Park, and Prairie Grass Cafe).

Along similar lines, another option you might try is Cafe Central (filet) or Happ Inn (skirt steak), both from Carlos Nieto. (There's no steak on the web menu for his new place, Nieto's.)

And if you want to go to a traditional steakhouse, there are lots of them not too far away in Lincolnshire (Wildfire, Sullivan's, Fleming's, Eddie Merlot's) and Wheeling (Pete Miller's, Tramonto's). I've found Sullivan's and Merlot's to be quite pricey, though. Lately I've had several meals at a relatively new place that's a bit further away, Beelow's in Lake Zurich, and it's been consistently excellent, as well as more reasonably priced.

EJ's in Skokie is a quick hop down 94 - and quite good.

lovell's in lake forest, but i haven't been in quite awhile.

I did have an amazing steak at Flemings in Lincolnshire- now that you mention it-
and I've never had a difficult time w seating,

unlike Wildfire, which is always packed, but does have good steaks, too.

I would second both Lovells, and The Tavern (which is a bit further away). Both are white tablecloth, but Lovells is more formal and quiet, unless you sit downstairs in the captains quarters, which we usually do, and there is entertainment on fridays and saturdays. Your beef there is pretty much limited to strip and filet, though they occasionally have a cowboy cut ribeye special, which is excellent. Tavern is louder and less formal, and has a better selection of steaks, including both a "wagyu" and a Uruguayan strip.

-Will

nsxtasy wrote:Seriously, though, Royce - the new incarnation of John Des Rosiers's restaurant in the former Rosebud space - has a filet as well as a skirt steak on their menu, along with a 16-ounce bone-in ribeye as their Saturday special. It's worth a try.

At the end of yet another delicious dinner at Inovasi this evening, I was chatting with Des Rosiers about this discussion. He said that the 16-ounce bone-in ribeye at Royce is a fantastic preparation, that it's one of the absolute best steaks you'll ever eat, anywhere. Granted, he's not entirely impartial in the matter, but the man definitely knows food, so I would definitely try it if you're looking for a great steak in Highland Park. He also confirmed that it's available only on Saturdays.

Royce
1850 2nd St.
Highland Park 60035
847-433-8600

Thanks all! I'll report back with where I end up!

I think EJ's is by far the best steak place in the North Shore. Super expensive though.

nsxtasy wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Seriously, though, Royce - the new incarnation of John Des Rosiers's restaurant in the former Rosebud space - has a filet as well as a skirt steak on their menu, along with a 16-ounce bone-in ribeye as their Saturday special. It's worth a try.

At the end of yet another delicious dinner at Inovasi this evening, I was chatting with Des Rosiers about this discussion. He said that the 16-ounce bone-in ribeye at Royce is a fantastic preparation, that it's one of the absolute best steaks you'll ever eat, anywhere. Granted, he's not entirely impartial in the matter, but the man definitely knows food, so I would definitely try it if you're looking for a great steak in Highland Park. He also confirmed that it's available only on Saturdays.

Royce
1850 2nd St.
Highland Park 60035
847-433-8600

Four of us ate at Royce tonight, and three of us got the 16-ounce bone-in ribeye. Chef Des Rosiers was right - one of the absolute best steaks you'll ever eat, anywhere. It was $38.

Note, quantities are limited. I think our server said they had 15 of them available at the start of the night.

Almost without exception, on a 16 oz. bone-in ribeye, I have to go by outside recommendations before ordering one, which is not that often. A well-prepared great cut of meat will make my week, while a not-up-to-par ribeye will have me talking to myself, because I don't eat red meat all that much. But I know what I like--an easily cut steak where the juices run out upon slicing, light char on the outside, hot & pink inside, good, beefy taste.

Gibson's/Rosemont: excellent, and I expected it that way; Buckingham's/Grand Victoria, Elgin: this was 24 oz., massive, marbled perfectly, best I've ever had (this was 10+ years ago); Carson's/Wells: not good, stringy. Have had better luck at their Deerfield operation. Beelow's/Lake Zurich: just OK, not memorable at all.