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Photo Courtesy of Prime & Provisions
When it comes to iconic Chicago traditions, steakhouses are equally as iconic as wind and skyscrapers. Long before deep-dish pizza and hot dogs established themselves as Chicago pastimes, steakhouses formed the crux of the city’s burgeoning restaurant industry. In the heart of America’s breadbasket, surrounded by farms, Chicago quickly became a hub of cattle-ranching; though the Union Stockyards of the mid-1800s earned the city the “Hog Butcher for the World” moniker, it’s beef that really helped shape the dining scene. Central to Chicago lore, the stockyards played a crucial role in developing the city and establishing an urban core in the middle of the country. For decades stretching into the 1900s, Chicago processed more meat than any other place on earth.
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Photo Courtesy of GT Prime
With so much meat on the city’s southwest side, it makes sense that some of the earliest restaurants to take shape there were meat-focused. Nearly a century later, the steakhouse tradition is still going strong, with hot new restaurants sharing zip codes with seasoned establishments that have stood the test of time. A rarity in the food industry, steakhouses seem to be one of the few spots where old-school landmarks and contemporary hot spots not only live harmoniously, but complement one another and thrive. Inspired by the classics, modern whimsy, or celebrity personae, these steakhouses are definitely tops in the city.
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Photo Courtesy of David Burke’s Primehouse
MODERN
David Burke’s Primehouse {616 North Rush Street; 312.660.6000} Celebrity Chef David Burke has a penchant for pushing the envelope, something he does with aplomb at his River North steakhouse that he opened in 2006. Along with Executive Chef Dino Tsaknis, Burke maintains emphasis on high-quality ingredient sourcing combined with a contemporary menu of steakhouse features, proving there’s plenty of room for quirk and creativity in the steakhouse schematic.
SteakBar {1500 North Wells Street; 773.966.0404} The first ever joint venture between Four Corners Tavern Group and Hogsalt, two vets of the Chicago bar and restaurant scene, SteakBar represents an energized progression into an era of contemporary steakhouse experiences. Exceptional and accessible food, iconic design, and distinctive nightlife all work harmoniously at this hip Old Town spot.
GT Prime {707 North Wells Street; 312.238.9896} GT Prime aims to reinvent the wheel with 4oz and 8oz sliced servings of steak, making it easier to share, and mix and match. This game-changer is courtesy of Boka Restaurant Group and esteemed chef Giuseppe Tentori.
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Photo Courtesy of RPM Steak
RPM Steak {66 West Kinzie Street; 312.284.4990} A modern and polished take on the traditional American steakhouse, RPM Steak is one of the utmost see-and-be-seen hot spots in downtown Chicago. Housed in an 11,000 square-foot space that radiates luxury, the chef-driven concept is the second collaboration between partners R.J., Jerrod, and Molly Melman, Chef Doug Psaltis, and celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic.
Prime & Provisions {222 North LaSalle Street; 312.726.7777} “Especially in the Midwest, people want a certain level of comfort in a steakhouse,” says Lucas Stoioff, principal and founder of DineAmic Group, which owns and operates Prime & Provisions. It’s a downtown steakhouse unique in how it harkens back to the classic comforts while elevating those classics substantially. The result is a slick steakhouse that offers a modern approach to meat and potatoes.
Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf {218 West Kinzie Street; 312.624.8154} From the prestigious minds of Hogsalt Hospitality, the group behind such smash hits as Doughnut Vault, Au Cheval, and Green Street Smoked Meats, comes Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf, a rich and timeless French-accented steakhouse in River North. From the dimly lit space to the buttery dishes, everything about this place takes the classic steakhouse in a more exotic direction with masterful results.
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Photo Courtesy of Boeufhaus
Boeufhaus {1012 North Western Avenue; 773.661.2116} One of the most unique recent additions to Chicago’s steakhouse scene, everything about Boeufhaus is distinct and original, from its offbeat Ukrainian Village location to its German and French-inspired menu. Old World techniques fuse with contemporary style, showcasing locally sourced meats and responsibly raised animals in ways unlike any other steakhouse in town.
CLASSIC
The Chicago Chop House {60 West Ontario Street; 312.787.7100} Opened in 1986 by advertising guru Henry Norton, The Chicago Chop House takes the mantra of historic Chicago dining very seriously. Stepping into the meticulously restored building transports diners to the city’s past, a time when meat packers, politicians, and gangsters would feast on succulent steaks in opulent dining rooms.
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Photo Courtesy of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House {58 East Oak Street; 312.888.2499} Golf aficionados might recognize the term “double eagle.” Rarer than a hole-in-one, it’s the ultimate achievement in the sport, and it’s something Del Frisco’s applies to their culinary mantra in striving to be the very best. Opened in 2012 in the former Esquire Theatre, the massive steakhouse nods to the downtown neighborhood and swanky steakhouse traditions with its impeccable wine list, decor, and steak selection.
Erie Cafe {536 West Erie Street; 312.266.2300} It’s quite the steakhouse dynasty at Erie Cafe, owned by iconic Chicago family the Lenzis. Inspired by the supper club vibes of the ’40s, the River North restaurant nods to the original Erie Cafe that operated from the ’30s to the ’80s, and that classic style and flavor carries through with every visit.
Mastro’s Steakhouse {520 North Dearborn Street; 312.521.5100} A truly inimitable dining experience, Mastro’s collection of classic, elegant steakhouse and seafood locations are lauded for their combination of world-class service, high-quality cuisine, and live entertainment. Altogether, the Mastro’s brand is masterful at curating an immersive and transportive experience for diners looking for a little pomp and circumstance with their steak.
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse {1028 North Rush Street; 312.266.8999} Every dining experience at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, one of the most popular restaurants in Chicago, is an unforgettable one. Owned by Steve Lombardo and Hugo Ralli, the Gold Coast staple is the type of iconic institution whose hallowed walls are lined with photos of celebrity diners, whose steaks are legend, and whose dedication to quality and customer service are second-to-none.
The Palm {323 East Upper Wacker Drive; 312.616.1000} Originated in New York City in 1926, The Palm is about as classic as it gets when it comes to steakhouse experiences, a tradition that runs strong at the Chicago outpost in Lakeshore East. The restaurant was founded by Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi, who combined their shared passions for quality cooking and generous hospitality to create an enduring brand that customers would come to love for generations. It’s clearly working. To this day, The Palm is still run by members of both the Bozzi and Ganzi families.
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Photo Courtesy of Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Sullivan’s Steakhouse {415 North Dearborn Street; 312.527.3510} There’s a lot to be said about simplicity—something Sullivan’s Steakhouse has mastered over its years in downtown Chicago. The all-American bastion of beef isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather perfect the wheel and ensure customers a consistent, incredible experience that’ll keep them coming back time and again.
Morton’s, The Steakhouse {1050 North State Street; 312.266.4820} It all started in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast, where the original Morton’s, The Steakhouse emerged as one of Chicago’s founding steakhouses in 1978. Founded by Arnie Morton and Klaus Fritsch, the subterranean restaurant has hosted celebrities and Chicago’s elite for years, along with a loyal cadre of locals who feel right at home in the iconic institution.
III Forks {180 North Field Boulevard; 312.928.4303} USDA Prime beef is king at this Lakeshore East stunner, an outpost of a Texas-based brand that originated as a territory trading post near the confluence of three rivers. 160 years later, in 1998, III Forks re-emerged as a Dallas steakhouse, spawning successful locations in cities like Chicago.
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Photo Courtesy of Shulah’s Steak House
CELEBRITY-DRIVEN
Shula’s Steak House {301 East North Water Street; 312.670.0788} Inspired by the 1972 Miami Dolphins perfect season, Shula’s celebrates coach Don Shula, who was the most successful coach in NFL history with 347 career wins. Lovers of sports and steaks will be in heaven, especially since menus are hand-painted on NFL footballs, personally signed by Shula himself.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House {505 North Michigan Avenue; 312.321.8823} Jointly inspired by the rich history of the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile and the king of basketball himself, Michael Jordan’s Steak House is a restaurant that fuses the classic with the modern. Rustic materials in the landmark building lay a fine framework for an intimate and convivial space decorated tastefully with basketball accouterments that honor Jordan’s many accomplishments.
Matt Kirouac, Contributor
Note: For the full story, and more menu favorites, pick up our Fall/Winter issue, on newsstands now.
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