| rev:text
| - I really love that old school feeling you get when walking into a dimly lit steakhouse like Barberian's. Not sure what it is, but I just love that vibe.
Six of us went for dinner here recently and I was really looking forward to trying this place. I'd read some great reviews and had been craving a steak for a while. I knew what I wanted before I even sat down. A couple of people at our table had appetizers, but I passed, anticipating that my entrée would fill me up, which it did.
The garlic toast they bring for the table was really good. Fresh, warm, and lightly coated in garlic butter. I could've had a few more pieces but wanted to save room for my main course. The pickled veggies were an interesting addition. Not a huge fan, but I tried them anyway. Some folks at the table loved them, so it's a matter of personal preference I guess.
On to the mains. I had the 8oz. filet mignon with a baked potato and shared a couple of sides - sautéed mushrooms and the golden beets. I have to say, the beets were actually the highlight of the meal for me. The mushrooms were just ok - not very hot.
Sadly, although my steak was cooked to medium rare (as ordered) it just didn't taste as good as I'd expected. I always have very high expectations when I go to a high-end steakhouse, especially when I'm paying over $50 for a steak. The meat was too charred on the outside for my liking, which made the outer edges of the steak too well-done. It ended up being tough and chewy all around the outside. The very middle of the steak was a proper medium rare, but it didn't help the rest of it. One of my dining partners had the same complaint and pointed it out to our server, whose response was basically, "If you cut into the middle of the steak, you'll see it's cooked properly." That doesn't change the fact that the rest of the steak is medium well. Extremely disappointed.
As at least one other reviewer noted, you will get a much better steak at The Keg for a lot less than what you pay here. I would have to agree. I compared a recent trip to The Keg and found that my meal was much better there and my bill was a lot less. Although I loved the ambiance, I won't be returning to Barberian's anytime soon.
|