The schedule required a quick bounceback from Holiday merrymaking and gluttony, and we headed out on the town on the 4th to enjoy one of Chicago’s best steakhouse kitchens: RPM Steak. Early comments were offered about the aggressiveness of calling the table an eight-top, and the aggressiveness of having all the waiter’s personal steak recs in three-digit pricing. And both were valid. But we soon settled in to a menu that was ready to deliver a series of excellent apps, and perhaps the greatest breadth of steak options in Chicago (fourteen cuts?).

My strongest memory from the groups last visit was the Coal Roasted Crab. I made the hosting decision to order four, so each of us could enjoy two pieces. I hope we all were as happy about it as I was. I recall the bacon also being excellent, as well as octopus being involved.

Conversation was lively and on point as usual. We set the waiter firmly on his heels with some nuanced questions about tipping. I believe there is still an unsettled matter before the committee regarding whether Bison counts as steak. I saw true irritation behind Jevon’s eyes at my decision to not call a single item of greenery to the table. And we were able to extract some nice wines without burning too much cash from a wildly inflated wine list.

The tastes that RPM provides are as good as any on the circuit. Rating was pulled down by a waiter who was clearly not in a contract year and some optimistic wine pricing with no readily available somm.

8.75/10

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