Holy Cholesterol! Steak House Triple Play

Photo Courtesy of SwiftandSonsChicago.com 

I try to be good and eat healthy – most of the time – but once in a while a gal just has to have a nice, thick juicy steak! Lately it has been more than once in a while. I’ve been to three great steak houses in the span of about two weeks, and two of them I visited on back-to-back evenings. Holy cholesterol! Here are my recommendations:

Photo Courtesy of SwiftandSonsChicago.com 

Swift & Sons is a year-old, classic American steak and seafooder from the Boka Restaurant Group – owners of award-winning Chicago spots such as Girl & the Goat and Balena as well as GT Fish & Oyster. This place is huge and high energy – read “noisy” – and the food is fantastic. Our clients and I all had filets and shared salads and sides of killer mashed potatoes and crispy brussels sprouts with lime and soy.

Photo Courtesy of SwiftandSonsChicago.com 

We loved the swanky, industrial vibe, which is spot-on for the location – the restaurant is in a former meatpacking facility that is now the Google building. Expect it to be crowded on nights when the Bulls or Hawks are in town - the restaurant is about a mile from United Center! Be sure to check out the bi-level bar too – it’s as impressive as the dining rooms, and packed with men. Just sayin.’

1000 W. Fulton Market
312.733.9420
SwiftandSonsChicago.com
Photo Courtesy of Yelp.com 
McGregor's Blink Bonnie Supper Club in the Northwoods of Wisconsin couldn’t be more different than Swift & Sons.The day after my feast in the West Loop I flew out of O’Hare on an eight-seater plane to Iron Mountain Michigan. That night my aunt and two cousins took me to Blink Bonnie in St. Germain. Talk about old school! This place has been around forever, and it’s the real deal, rustic and casual with about 15 tables and hard wood chairs. I was completely appropriate in my new black-and-red flannel shirt with jeans and rain boots. Variety isn’t on the menu here, but it doesn’t matter. I ordered  a filet with the ONLY salad available. You can have a baked potato, hash browns or rice and there are no veggies except for grilled onions or mushrooms to smother your steak. Dessert is easy, there's just one, but cocktails abound. I would give you their website or Facebook address, but they don't have either. You should make a reservation, however, because there’s a line out the door at 4:30 PM when they open.

1506 County Road C, Saint Germain, WI
715.542.3678

Photo Courtesy of DelFriscos.com 

Del Frisco’s   Whether you’re attending a champagne #SommWars event as I did recently, planning a romantic dinner or entertaining clients with the full-on, red meat experience, Del Frisco’s feels like a celebration. And at 500 seats on two levels, it can be quite a party. This Gold Coast steak house is a festive mix of elegant and energetic - it's a see-and-be-seen kind of place, or you can hide away in one of the extra-tall booths if needed.

Photo Courtesy of DelFriscos.com 

The bar is large and welcoming and there’s a dramatic two-story, glassed-in wine tower in the middle of the dining room. Out front is the restored marquee from the iconic Esquire Theater, which once occupied this space. The 16-ounce rib-eye may be too much, but so what? You’ll appreciate the leftovers the next day. If you want more reasonable portions, however, the trio of filet medallions with red wine demi-glace, haricots verts and garlicky “chateau” potatoes is just right. For the #SommWars event I attended - sommeliers from New York, Dallas and Chicago vied for top honors – we had a five course meal. My favorite bites? Squash risotto!

58 E. Oak St.
312.888.2499
DelFriscos.com