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| - Ever feel like donning a fedora and walking into an establishment where you could truly feel like Don Draper from Mad Men? That is the Tornado Club Steak House.
My wife and I went there for the first time a few weeks ago on our anniversary. While we waited for our table to be ready, we sat at the bar, which had the look and feel of a place that hadn't been touched since 1963. Unlike a gross, greasy-spoon diner, this is not a bad thing. It felt very classy and made for a great atmosphere.
Now, my go to cocktail is a simple Jameson on the rocks. At a place like this I was prepared to pay $8-9. Not so. Instead, a more reasonable $5 price. Impressive! They also have a wide variety of martinis that I wasn't brave enough to try this night, but hope to soon.
As for the food? Let's put it this way: My wife, a filet mignon connoisseur, found the Tornado Club Steak House's far tastier than the uppest-scale member's only dinner clubs in Chicago we've been invited to. It was very well seasoned and cooked to my wife's exact specification. I had the salmon, which I'll admit was probably the best salmon I've ever had. Again, perfect seasonings and cooked perfectly. I have never been to a place that had a side for dinner of shredded hash browns. Not only was this a smart choice for a side, but they give you practically a pound of potatoes, all well-seasoned. Plenty of leftovers that re-heated perfectly with the next day's breakfast.
Word of caution: Make your reservations early. Calling even a day or two in advance will get you a Saturday night reservation of either 5:30 or 8:30. Being the parents of small children, 8:30 would near our bedtimes. Also, the deliciousness isn't cheap. Prepare for a hefty bill. Not "oh my god I have to mortgage my house" expensive, but it's going to cost more than your average dinner at Chili's. But fear not, you definitely get what you pay for.
I definitely look forward to donning my fedora next time I come in, even if but for a drink.
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