Forget the fact that this restaurant clearly bit off more than they could chew when it was known they were going to occupy the once iconic Oak Street movie theater in the Gold Coast area of Chicago, the reality is that this story of a steakhouse that comes from a long line of highly functioning other restaurants leaves one a bit bemused by the fact that this place was and still is, rather poorly run.

The hope was resting on the fact that after a few years of growing from our first try here, we would have seen an uptick somewhere.  It is quite possible that for the most part, this spot has fallen a few more spots down.  Speaking of down, the crew was down to nearly a bare minimum with a die hard group of 4 gents – Cizzle, German, TDI, and myself only making it out for what was possibly to be this restaurant’s last showing with this group.

Arriving at the bar per usual timing, we found it empty and rather emotionless.  In fact, a comment was made that the 4 of us nearly doubled the restaurant’s current patronage and that probably was not too big of a stretch.  Amazingly the bar service was still remarkably slow and unsteady…I guess unless you are into ordering simple things like a glass of water 3 times before it finally shows up.

8 o’clock arrived and we were seated in a godfather style booth at the back corner of the restaurant where we were quickly introduced to harder and staler than ever bread loaf as well as our esteemed waitstaff (Tristan?).  The name could be totally escaping me but the guy was a little less than memorable and not terribly polite.  I proceeded to get through the host’s responsibilities and ordered (and gladly paid for) a nice ’14 Caymus to attempt to get the show back on the road here.  I do have to say that is one of the best Caymus vintages in years.   That at least was a hit.

The apps order consisted of some thick cut bacon, escargo, and shag-style calamari…all of which were tasty and apportioned well for the group.  Moooving on to steaks, our boytoy Tristan highlighted the special bone-in filet (which I went for) and Rick helped direct the sides as I lost myself in the waiter’s eyes.  I vaguely remember some potatoes au gratin being the #1 choice of the dinner pals.

After some good summer recap banter, a few haunted house stories per Zee German and what probably will fit as more or less the group’s eulogy for DF’s, the steaks came and 75% of them were on point.  In fact, my steak was one of the better ones I’ve enjoyed this year (no attendance jokes please) and it was perfectly tender and flavorful.  It was the defining spectacle de choix as to why bone-in filets can take home the envelope when done with the right amount of seasoning and cook.

With the restaurant emptying out and German’s birthday celebrated with some weak ass cake that we barely ate, it was off into the night where the boys felt like that even with a re-write of the Del Frisco’s script it could take years to get this place in our viewing pleasure again.

6.5/10 (food good/great…rest of the place, wait for it on Netflix)

 

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