| rev:text
| - O.M.G. THE BONE-IN RIBEYE IS DIVINE. It simply raises the benchmark upon which all other steaks are measured, it is THAT heavenly. The way they season the steak is so incredible that it makes all other steaks seem naked. It's like flying business class on a flat bed; economy just seems anticlimactic and lackluster once you've had a taste. As a carnivorous steak lover, since eating here, every steak I've had just "isn't AS GOOD as Del Frisco's."
4.5 stars and rounding up to 5 because that elusive 5-star restaurant rating implies perfection. 4.5 star rating for: fabulous ambience, stellar service, wonderful food.
Parking: there's complimentary valet by a third-party company that also serves the other restaurants. It can be a little slow but that's not within Del Frisco's control.
FABULOUS AMBIENCE. It's located in a roundabout. They have a patio outside and as a lover of outside dining, it seemed like an afterthought, like a red-headed stepchild -- a mere obligatory presence. Inside, it's quite upscale; there are two floors with a rather grand-esque staircase. There are large-scale floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor is traditional contemporary dressed with dark wood walls and white linen tables.
STELLAR SERVICE. The service is done in pairs, which creates a seamless transition between courses, your drinks are refilled consistently and you have what you need, when you need it. Chuck was our server; he was prompt, attentive, courteous and truly went out of his way to ensure that we had a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience. We indicated that our lobster bisque was too salty and he proceeded to have it taken off our check. It's like Nordstrom, if they stand behind their products, it instills trust and customer confidence. You may be paying a little more but it's worth it. On our second visit, we got the same level of superb service and attention.
WONDERFUL FOOD. In general, the cuisine is artfully prepared and delicious. They start off with warm sesame-covered bread and butter, which is good (I like Capital Grille's bread basket better). We had:
Alcohol. Heavy alcohol pour but still mixed deliciously.
AMAZING:
+++ bone-in ribeye. It's a big portion that my BF and I ended up taking home (but we did order a few appetizers). The steak is tender, moist, and juicy but the seasoning -- it is coated with blissful seasoning that is evenly and skillfully distributed throughout the steak, even on the bone. It was SO good, I gnawed all the seasoning and meat off the bone in the privacy of my home the next day and gave the bone to my Yorkie to further enjoy.
VERY GOOD:
+++ crab claws: we were told that ordering these at the beginning of the season are best. THEY ARE BOMB with the mustard!
+++ Alaskan king crab: fresh, sweet and very meaty. They serve them with butter sitting over a flame so it doesn't harden.
+++ deconstructed caesar salad. Steakhouses really know how to deliver on their caesar dressing, which is a nice blend of creamy, lemony and salty from the hint of anchovy.
+++ oysters. The oysters are fresh and buttery, not briny at all.
+++ shrimp cocktail. The shrimps were plump and succulent and great with the tangy cocktail sauce with a kick to it. The portion is most generous between Capital Grille (5), BLT (4) or Bentley's on 27 (3).
+++ cheesecake. The cheesecake is fluffy; one part cheesecake, one part whipped with white chocolate infused in it. It's perfectly sweet; not too rich.
GOOD:
+++ escargot. This is a very watered-down version and would be considered entry-level escargot. The cream is pretty good but I found it to be a little bland for my taste (Bentley on 27 has the consummate flavor).
PASS:
--- Lobster bisque. My favorite in Charlotte is at Capital Grille. This was way too salty and I LOVE salt. I think it may have been an off night because I can't imagine what we had was their recipe. The lobster was very fresh and sweet but the overly saltiness killed it.
STEAKHOUSE COMPARISON. Which steakhouse? Del Frisco's, BLT or Capital Grille? Each national chain has its idiosyncratic flair and is good for different reasons.
BLT. Trendy upscale contemporary twist; has a fusion undertone; steak served on a skillet, has garlic flower, herbed butter and delicious steak sauce. Pre-dinner popovers and chicken patè. No patio.
Del Frisco's. More traditional upscale; has French influence; steak is thoroughly marinated and served with outside layer of seasoning. Pre-dinner sesame bread. Patio seems like an after thought.
Capital Grille. More casual traditional country club vibe; steak is marinated but served bare. Pre-dinner bread basket. I love the patio there.
Overall, we will definitely be back because I seriously can't imagine steak any other way. Del Frisco's aptly sets the bar for how steak should be served and is absolutely worth the hefty price tag. My mouth is watering just thinking of that foodgasmic steak...
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)