Chicago Cut Steakhouse: A New Classic
Within weeks of Chicago Cut originally opening in October, 2010, we were in the front door. However, our experience, in our own words can be summed up as follows:
“…Failed to fully deliver.”
“Tables are grouped too close together, the service has yet to find their rhythm and aspects of the food leave much room for improvement.”
“Chicago Cut Steakhouse is a lesson in patience.”
It’s been almost 3 years; we gave them enough time to tighten it up. And they have.
Cocktail Hour
The majority of our party had already secured a table by the time I arrived shortly after 7pm. It was a delight to have Messrs. Mark Zebro and Roderick Richards in attendance for the send-off. The bar area was still busy this time around, but not too crowded. I actually appreciated the waitresses brushing by me with a cornucopia of frosty beverages.
The Main Event
We were seated in a booth section closest to the east windows. It felt like the area they would sit the Godfather with a perfect view of the rest of the room, the river and our backs to the wall.
Appetizers: Our appetizers were done very well. In fact, we had to order more of the lollipop lamb chops and got a piece of Neuske bacon (triple cut) for each attendee. Shrimp cocktail and tuna tartare were also quite good. Last time, this category got the worst marks; obviously, it has received some attention. Bravo.
Wine: Pinots and Cabs worked out very well. The wine list on the iPad works. It provides their entire wine list which is sortable and enough information to make a sommelier weep. Only nit is with the software: insufficient filtering (you can only filter on one factor/category at a time).
Steaks: Once again, Chicago Cut did not disappoint. Cooked perfectly, I was thrilled with my Bone-in Ribeye.
Sides: Another strong showing. Creamed spinach, which I rarely go for, was very well done. Hash browns, truffle potatoes, lobster mac and the mixed mushrooms were an epic line-up to back up the steaks.
Dessert: I was lucky enough to be the birthday boy and thoroughly enjoyed the carrot cake.
This was my last steak night as a resident of Chicago – at least for the time being – and I feel like it was one for the books. Thank you, as always, gentlemen. It’s bittersweet to be leaving and this group makes it more difficult. But it’s also great to know that I will always have a seat at a table with no rival on the first Thursday of every month.
Cheers!
Holingwa
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7 Responses to “Chicago Cut Steakhouse: A New Classic”
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Expectations were high for Chicago Cut 2.0. The first time around left little to be desired – yet this place is all the rage, with the reservations usually pushing out 3 weeks. I was excited to give it a second go and send Holinger off proper. Arriving at the bar we saw one Roderick Richards – unwavering dedication making a 24 hour trip to bid holingwa goodbye. Strong to quite strong. Was also great to see Mark “Dr. Crossfit” Zebro – had been far too long my friend.
I went with the usual Oban. The bar was crowded but service was good and we had a nice place to sit. Our table was ready early but the group decided to take in each other’s company and finish our cocktails. Shown to our table, it was a winner, tucked in the corner of the room. The dining room tables are pretty close together – so to have our own space was welcomed.
Apps were stand outs – lamb lollipops were outstanding as was the bacon – perfectly rationed for the group. Shrimp cocktail is hard to mess up but the Chicago Cut version was very good. Closed with tuna tartar and the Chicago Cut was off and running. Fantastic apps and worlds better than our previous experience.
Steak – rib eye, medium rare, delicious and cooked perfectly. I was pretty full from the apps so did a shitty job finishing my perfectly cooked steak which I feel the need to apologize for. Rounded our main course with sides of a nice cream spinach, truffle mashed, lobster mac and hash browns. All with solid marks.
I almost walked free for the night….almost.
A great evening and great to see Zebro and Roddy. A true send off for Can’t Drive 55. As for Chicago Cut, all previous sins are forgiven….I will gladly revisit thee.
9
September steak night was one for the books. This was the swan song for brother Holinger. And Chicago Cut turned out to be a fantastic venue for a send off.
We had more than a full boat with an aggressive, 24 hour appearance of Mr Richards, and a surprise attendance for Mr. Zebro. Strong showing to say the least. Cocktail hour was in full swing, with scotch, gimlets, and the like. It foreshadowed an excellent evening all around.
We were sat at a great table; tucked away in a corner with plenty of room.
Apps were spectacular. We had to go seconds on the lollipop lamb chops they were so good. And the bacon filet if you will was outstanding. I think there were shrimp, but old gims swiped the last one before I could get to it. nevertheless, I gave apps an “A” rating.
I went with the standard bone-in ribeye, rare+. It was excellent. Sides included creamed spinach, hash brown potatoes, lobster mac, and mushrooms. Again, an “A” in my book.
Holi was the birthday boy, carrot cake was the order. Delicious was the result.
This steak night was bittersweet being the last with Holi for a while. He’s off to a new adventure for a while and we wish him the best. Go west young man. Just come home soon.
Cheers!
The thing I like best about Steak night is you can be gone for months, return, and nothing has changed. It’s still the same group of guys, enjoying the one thing many of us enjoy eating the most.
I was happy to get the invite from Holinger to be there for his going away steak night. Glad it was such a successful evening, all in all an excellent way for him to go out as a Chicago resident.
Cocktail hour started hot. I believe we had almost a full boat at about 7:30 which is quite an efficient showing. I had a nice Lagavulin 16 year, neat. Not as peaty as some commented, in fact, delicious. The Islay (eye-la) region scotch the bartender poured had about 7 oz of scotch in there. Note to you rocks drinkers, order your scotch neat with a few rocks on the side. It will double your intake at Chicago Cut. I was quite thrilled with the pours I received so I ordered a Macallan to follow up. I was told I missed last month’s bar tab so I opted for the 12 year, whereas I would have gone for the 40 year Macallan if I was there one month earlier.
Seating was prime. Loved the location, and really appreciate the openness of this venue. Lot’s of the steakhouses we have visited are dark, enclosed areas. Chicago Cut, of course with the benefit of the river location, opened things up, and has great views outside the restaurant. Really a great place to show this beautiful city off.
Apps were all outstandingly selected, and well delivered by the steakhouse. Holinger left nobody’s plate empty. The bacon was the only low point of the apps. I’ve had better bacon, but let’s be honest, average bacon is still good. That was all I could complain about, and it’s probably a reach in doing so.
The meat was a gorgeous looking ribeye, medium rare. Probably one of the better steaks I’ve enjoyed in a steakhouse in this town.
Happy to see the group head to Aliveone for after dinner drinks. Good times again fellas. Holinger, we’ll miss you in town, but you’re going to be a valuable contribution to San Francisco.
We graced Chicago Cut with our presence back when it opened three years ago and it left a lot to be desired. The room and bar was uncomfortably crowded, the service was average, the steak just ok and there was a group consensus that they were the worst aps in the history of steak night. Did they work out the kinks, did they age gracefully? I was excited to give it another go and find out.
The cocktail hour was well attended with just about everyone in the group arriving before 7:30. This included Roddy and Mark “Nurse Focker” Zebro as special guests, even Glick was there on time this month. The bar atmosphere was comfortable, much less crowded then last visit. The happy hour set in motion a great evening and an appropriate send off for Mr. Holinger who will be headed to the land of fags and fog. I am pretty sure that is not an official tag line for the city but as a former resident I can attest there are plenty of both, not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s a great city and Holinger will love it.
We had a corner table which kept us away from the bustling middle of the dining room. No appetizer debacle this time. The bacon and lamb lollipops were great. In fact I think most of the aps we hated last time are not even on the menu anymore. The sides were solid as well particularly the truffle potatoes. I went with a Porterhouse medium rare and it was good and cooked well but just lacked flavor. I feel like this is the same thing at a place like Mastro’s, steaks are cooked properly and are good but just lack that explosion of flavor. Overall marked improvement over the previous visit and a worthy addition to the long list of great steak places in Chicago.
Dinner conversation centered on the start of football season and honestly I can’t remember any other specifics. Although I’m sure the obligatory what we don’t like about ESPN conversation took place at some point. Jevon deserves a gold star for listening to all of us idiots tell him every month what we don’t like about ESPN. I guess that’s what happens when you have a bunch of sports obsessed friends and you work for the world wide leader. That being said sportscenter is barely watchable.
After dinner drinks were at Alive to conclude a great evening .After year of saying he was going to move to San Francisco Holinger is actually doing it this time. It is still not confirmed weather he is doing it because the time was right or because he was sick and tired of all his friends giving him shit about saying he was going and then not going and wanted to spite us. None the less he will be missed and will always have a seat at the table the first Thursday of every month if he is in Chicago.
Loved the idea for Chicago Cut redux, especially after the first time around left so much on the proverbial table to be desired. A poster earlier noted this place remains very popular, but was probably worth noting that on our night the restaurant was only about 75% full…maybe they knew we were coming. We were celebrating the reluctant departure of Mr. Christopher Holinger and we had some other distinguished guest in Hot Rod Richards and Dr. Slowhand Zebro — good to see both of you guys.
The pregame drinks were well attended and we had a nice comfy spot in the center of the lively bar. Upon seating at our table, we had a nice spread and view of the city.
Apps were led by tuna tartar up until the bone in ribeye steak I ordered. Came pretty close – still think it was closer to medium (even though the group disagreed) but it was still delicious. Had to love the compliments, of a creamed spinach, lobster mac being the winners.
Afterwards we had a sweet trip to another local fav of Mr. Holinger’s “Alive One” bar. Place is always top notch and has a good crowd. Managed to pop a few more down there before heading home to a long sleep. Well done fellas!
8.5
A return to Chicago Cut and for a very important send off with two special guests in tow, this had the makings for a truly epic evening. Chicago Cut’s bar area was packed, I mean shit packed. The table spacing is way off the comfortable distances and the waitress was wandering around with her ipad in town like a high schooler. But this aggravation was alleviated by our old friend, bourbon. Catching up with young Roderick and Zeebs after some time was well received by all. Holingwa made a dramatic and timely entrance for the second half of the cocktail hour.
Agreed on the table, one of the better we have had, outside of Saloon of course. I was facing in and staring at our line up of gents as opposed to a good view of the Chicago River, but still a good view.
The apps have been well reviewed and described by all to make the case for some of the best we have had. I dont know what they do to that lamb but it is exquisite. Who doesnt love bacon/ Obviously we did as it didnt last more than a couple minutes.
My steak selection was brash, having been lured in by the special of the day and toppings du jour. Lesson learned let the meat do the talking and sides take the back seat. The wise GW Bush once said, fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on me. I will not make the same mistake again. This post is my proclamation of topping free steaks here on out.
Dessert was well received but the anticipation of a trip down memory lane to Alive One over ran my appetite. It has all the same bar tenders serving all the same drinks, but some how it just never gets old. Hello old friend. Oh and it was even sweeter having not paid a penny for dinner, booyah!
Like Mariano Rivera exiting stage left – Chris picked a fine place to leave the scene. While I was running late, I was warmly welcomed by a good looking cast of characters at a long table on the wall.
Like Hans above, I went for the special filets three ways. Wish I had stuck to old faithful. These were good, but perhaps trying to do a bit too much.
Enough has been said about the food above, so I will focus on the people and the place. It was like old-timers day with Roddy and Mark in attendance. Hard to go wrong there. The place was great, but not all that crowded. There have been so many new places opening in Chicago – it is hard for anywhere to remain vibrant all the time. It will be interesting to see how Chicago Cut continues to evolve.
We will deeply miss Chris – but have no doubt he will be back for many a visit. Chicago Cut would be a good place for any goodbye or welcome home.
8.5