Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Las Vegas

5/5 stars

You guys. Joe's is AHmazing. Stone crab is perhaps the best crab I've ever had. It's meatier than Dungeness and sweet and alllmooost as good as lobster (and that's saying a lot)! And the horseradish mustard the crab is served with is absolutely perfect. I've never had crab with mustard before and it's a terrific idea.

The service was also exceptional which was surprising because this is a tourist joint. I mean, it's right next to the fountains in Caesars Palace. A millions thanks to Neil & Eric for making our night. We were here for my sissy's whirlwind bachelorette party and we only had time for one nice restaurant so I'm relieved Joe's exceeded expectations.

My only word advice: don't get the steak. Trust me. I would complain about how dry my steak was if I wasn't so enamored with the stone crab.

Oh, actually, I have one more piece of advice: Get the mac n' cheese. It's probably the best mac n' cheese I've ever had. Perfect balance of cheeses and the gooeyness is stunning. I'm dying for the recipe!

Alexander's Steakhouse - Cupertino

3.5/5 stars

We tried the new location tonight!

I think I'll always miss the old, cozy, candle-lit location, but the new Alexander's is bright, airy, and modern. They not only have a new space, but we met new-to-us Justin & Ryan. Great guys. Great mixologists. Justin's Father Thyme (Michters rye, velvet falernum, St. Germain, lime & fresh thyme) and Weekday Retreat (Selvarey rum, velvet falernum, yuzu, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and a black rum float) were delicious. If you want something a bit more sophisticated (and hella STRONG), his barrel-aged 007 is smooth and oak-y. I couldn't NOT order his namesake even though the drink was more my hubby's style than mine. Happy to say that Max (the somm) is still there and he gave my family a tour, including the cellar.

My mom thought the hamachi shots were salty and I thought the cheese plate was perfect. The wagyu sliders were indulgent and the prime rib, though not medium-rare like I asked, was yummy. And honestly a steal at $40.

This place is still Alexander's and yet... it isn't. If you used to be a regular at the old location, you'll know what I mean. If you're new to Alexander's, you'll still have a nice time.

Willard Hicks - Campbell

3/5 stars

Hubby and I came here to celebrate the beginning of a glorious 3-day weekend. 3-day weekends are so rare, so they're all glorious. My want was simple: I wanted steak.

I ordered a Pimm's cup, fried green tomatoes, and a rib-eye.

What we got was a Pimm's cup, TWO orders of fried green tomatoes (one was on the house!), and a rib-eye.

The Pimm's cup (with Pimm's, ginger liquer, lemon juice, strawberries, cucumber, and prosecco) was a refreshing start, though a tad unmemorable. My sister-in-law's homemade Pimm's is better.

The fried green tomatoes are worth ordering again, but my rib-eye was missing a good sear. The candied bacon that came with the baked potato was yummy.

Overall, hubby and I enjoyed our meal! Willard is fancier than Outback, but can't quite cook a steak like Alexander's.

(2015)

Outback Steakhouse - Cupertino

4/5 stars

Hubby and I go here when we're tired. Either tired from hours of painting or moving into our new house on four hours of sleep!

This place is ol' reliable. Recently, we sat at the bar and had great service. The drinks are not anything to write about, so I stuck with margaritas because they're hard to mess up and hubby had beer.

The reason why I like Outback is because of how they season their steaks. I usually order the rib-eye or the prime rib and always have trouble deciding between the mashed potatoes or loaded baked. The bread is strangely good.

(2014)

Alexander’s Steakhouse - Cupertino

5/5 stars

UPDATE :)

Dear Owner of Alexander's Steakhouse,

You hired the right man for the job.

Your General Manager, Kevin Clark, went out of his way to make my mom's birthday yesterday the best birthday she's ever had.

My mom is the bravest woman I know. She left her entire family when she was basically just a teenager. Just a girl. She came to this country by boat. A boat that was attacked by pirates and who stole what little she could bring with her. So she literally came to the U.S. with absolutely nothing.

I have to be honest that it took me years to convince her to come to dinner at Alexander's. I also have to be honest that even though Alexander's had time and again met my expectations, my sister and I were apprehensive that our mom would not enjoy herself.

When Mr. Clark dropped by our table, he didn't know any of what I've just told you. He did not know that the time he spent to make us laugh, the time he took to make my mom feel so incredibly special - that he was doing something so great for this woman's life. It was pure joy to watch our mom be so happy.

I've been lucky enough, because of the education that my parents gave me, to be able to experience some of the best restaurant service in the world. I've been pampered because it was their job and they all did it well. Mr. Clark's hospitality was on par to other experiences but his was slightly different... different because his effort seemed to come from himself. Not because it was his job (which I'm sure he excels at), but because he's a great guy.

So thank you for making him your General Manager. And thank you, Mr. Clark, for giving my mom such a beautiful birthday.

***

Beau took me here for NO REASON AT ALL!! Just a random Saturday. We went to go see the ducklings and goslings at the park and then he surprised me with Alexander's. I squee-d very much. Beau is a keeper.

Honestly, I don't want to wait for a special occasion before I come back. Alexander's is actually quite reasonable for what you get. Honestly, you can just order a cocktail and a steak and that's more than enough. At least, that's my reasoning so I can come here more often ...

+ Ruby Slipper cocktail was lychee+grapefruit win

+ Hamachi shots ... I have never, ever eaten raw fish in my life, but I finally gave in and did it at Alexander's. Long story short, I will probably not do it again. Heh. Unless there was truffle oil on it. I might be persuaded with truffle oil.

+ Corn panna cotta with a red pepper relish and a sriracha-spiked sauce ... not really a fan because I don't like cold soups. It was the amuse bouche.

+ I said I wasn't going to eat any bread, but their whipped butter and chives is the best whipped butter and chives in the universe. I just used the bread to carry the butter to my mouth.

+ Blood orange snow cone was refreshing and delicious. It was the palette cleanser.

+ My 20 oz. prime rib was ... well, 20 oz. is really, really big. Cooked to my liking (a perfectly pink medium), it came drenched in incredible au jus, and served with a not-too-strong creamed horseradish ... a steal at $39 (IMO) ... the beau ordered the Tomahawk, which was the biggest steak on the menu (it came still attached to its Flintstone-sized bone). Seared so that there was a nice, crunchy crust, it was served with a yummy reduced balsamic sauce. Enough to feed three people. Or two 6'4" guys.

Even though the Tomahawk was tasty and IMPRESSIVE, I liked the other rib eye better. It's a lot juicier.

+ Barbed Wire cocktail was made with strawberries and rhubarb ... it was really, really potent. I liked the Ruby Slipper better.

+ cherry cotton candy ... a perfect ending!

Tanya was our server this time and she surprised the beau and I with awesome chocolate chip cookies to take home. They were bite-sized, chewy, and adorable. Tanya was as good as it gets.

*contented sigh* (Thanks, bubba!)

***

Completely worth the $240 price tag.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS are extremely important. Since we had Michael Buble tix (hello, lover), we had 5:30PM dinner reservations, but were 10 minutes early. I was wondering if the doors were unlocked since they don't even open till 5:30. Well, it wasn't a problem. Not only did they let us in, but I felt like the entire restaurant was at our service. We made ourselves cozy on the plush leather chairs by the fireplace and busied ourselves by looking at the cocktails menu, admiring the different cuts of raw, dry aged beef, and people watching. Since we were their first and only customers at that time, it was people-who-worked-at-Alexander's watching. My first impression of Alexander's was quite pleasant. Everybody smiled at us, politely, but very importantly, not haughtily. Their steps and actions were muted, but with purpose and everywhere we walked, we were acknowledged and not ignored. There was a lot of nodding and slight bows - reminded me of Japan. Kudos to the half-Japanese chef on training his staff well. We didn't even have to lift a finger, the bartender came to us and then later, our drinks were delivered directly to our table. Which, I might add, was not too dimly lit (I'm not a fan of eating in the dark).

I had the BEST MOJITO I've ever had here, the day before yesterday. It was made with sake, a type of Japanese citrus, fresh huckleberries, and mint. Topped with shredded lime, lemon, and orange peels, it was very pretty. And tasted even better. Very light, refreshing, it was sweetened and colored from the huckleberries.

ANGIE was our waitress and I highly recommend her. She was super polite, professional, and friendly, without being overbearing or fake. I felt like I could quiz her on anything and she would be able to answer. We let her know about our time constraints and dinner was whisked to us at the perfect 1 hour and 45 minute pace. I wish we had more time though, because Angie was going to let me make my own cotton candy! Because I couldn't, she came bearing the mother of all cotton candies... it looked like one of Marie Antoniette's wigs! Twice the size of my head and all light orange and fluffy. It was DELICIOUS and non-artificial tastin'.

So now, I'm skipping my appetizer and amuse-bouche reviews to get to the main star of the show. The STEAKS:

I ordered the 2LB RIB EYE because I listen to Yelpers. It was KILLER. My most prized steak I've ever had ever. 4 people delivered our entrees to us. It was quite the procession. One person carried my Fred Flintstone size steak, the second person carried the bf's equally impressive porterhouse, the third carried a huge, heaping bowl of truffle mousse (omg, gold in a bowl), and the fourth person carried our decadent mac n' cheese laced with truffle oil.

Steakhouses should learn how to cook their steaks from Alexander's. Slow and steady is the process. Their medium was the definition of medium. Glazed with a smokey BBQ sauce that didn't hide the meat and roasted baby tomatoes... and when I stole a dollop (what a fun word) of the bf's truffle butter mousse concoction, it was sinful. Complete with bone and perfectly marbled it glistened.

AMUSE-BOUCHE #1 was me being a daredevil. I don't like raw meats and fish. It's a mental thing. But I sucked it up and thought "it's just like prosciutto" over and over again. It was a very thin slice of who knows how high quality beef. Sprinkled with basil-infused salt, and served with a side of fresh huckleberry jam and a pure coco vinaigrette - it was very delicate and the everything melded together remarkably. The salt added a crunch, and the coco and sweet huckleberry hid the scariness of the raw meat for me.

AMUSE-BOUCHE #2 was utterly delightful. It was honey jello served with a tangerine slice and topped with what tasted like a mustard sprout. It was such a happy, YUMMY dance in the mouth. I could've had a whole bowlful and been content.

We also ordered the raved about hamachi shots, the gazpacho (even though it tasted like really fresh salsa, I wouldn't order this again), and a $20 shot of PEAR-INFUSED APPLE BRANDY. It was smoooooth and I didn't make any "that tastes like gasoline" face. At Morton's, they roll out a cart of meat, vegetables, and a live n' kicking lobster for you. At Alexander's, it's a cart of after-dinner drinks - an array of fun bottles to look at. Alexander's wins.

At the end of the day, it was the perfect steakhouse.

(2008-2012)

Pampas - Palo Alto

5/5 stars

With all-you-can-steak, EVERYDAY is Christmas at Pampas!

We were able to get a table for an early birthday dinner without reservations and I was soo excited. I was not disappointed when things just kept getting better and better and better ...

They don't just give you free bread, but delicately fried plantains and cheese-filled biscuits. The service was extremely polite and attentive and the restaurant was Über chic, clean, and modern. The cocktails were exotic, crisp, and perfectly-made, and the food ... Oh. The. Food. The $44 all-you-can-eat food.

The meats just melt in your mouth. Most were perfectly seasoned, though, I must admit, there were a couple items that were allllmost too salty. But it's okay because there's a ton of food. If you don't like something, try another. There are more things to like than to not. My favorites included:

* Picanha (Brazilian cut top sirloin with rock salt and olive oil)
* Medalhao Com Alho orCom Queijo (filet seasoned with garlic/herbs or parmesan)
* Maminha (tri-tip seasoned with rock salt and olive oil)
* Frango (chicken marinated with smoked paprika and lemon)
* Abacaxi (slow-roasted pineapple)
* Peru (turkey breast wrapped in smoked bacon)
* Fraldinha (skirt steak with onion-herb marinade)

Are you drooling yet? I told you. Christmas.

And I haven't even mentioned the side bar. There are delicious cheeses, salami, cold pasta, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, beans, rice, cold soup, and tossed salads.

And dessert! The chocolate torte came with BACON-TOFFEE and sea salt. It was definitely a treat. This whole experience was a treat!

(2010)

Black Angus Steakhouse - Milpitas

3/5 stars

I haven't been back to Black Angus in 5 years? I remember it being less than mediocre - gray and teeny portions. This particular Black Angus was pretty great, probably the best in the Bay Area. Changed my mind about Black Angus for sure!

SERVICE: we were with our favorite couple and so beer and lots of laughing were involved. our waiter was really patient, chill, and attentive. He recommended the mango mojito and it was delish! 

ATMOSPHERE: a lot nicer than other Black Angus restaurants I've been to and well-lit - for a steakhouse.

FOOD: the cowboy bread was warm, fresh, and nutty. I shared the Dinner for Two with my friend which is a terrific deal! We each got to pick a steak of choice, soup or salad, and shared an appetizer, and dessert. A TON of food. I had the prime rib and it was a good size and juicy! but a part of it was just solid fat. We also had the shrimp appetizer and the shrimp were huge and crisp! Strawberry cheesecake for dessert and I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't taste like it had been frozen.

(2007)

Morton’s The Steakhouse - San Jose

3.5/5 stars

A couple months ago, the bf and I watched an episode of "Iron Chef America" where the secret ingredient was none other than kobe steak! So of course, after that, we needed to get us some steak! 

ATMOSPHERE: We made reservations on opentable.com and after our car was conveniently parked by valet we were promptly seated. Outside, the restaurant looks like a bank on Wall Street, but inside, it was all steakhouse - dim lights, white table cloths, sharp steak knives, wine bottles on display, and black & white photographs. What I liked most was that it wasn't at all pretentious and not all businessmen. There were couples and families and many Happy Birthdays being sung (listen for the "impressive" waiter/opera singer). As we sat down, about 4 different people made sure that we had water, the wine list, an onion loaf fresh from the oven, and that my jacket was hung neatly on a chair. Sometimes it's true - with money, comes service! Our waitress was enthusiastic, though a mite spacey. I don't have any complaints about the atmosphere, the service, or the looks of the place - though I'm not quite sure how I feel about being shown a cart of raw beef, a live lobster, a potato, an onion, and a head of broccoli before being handed my menu. It was really quite unnecessary.

FOOD & DRINKS:

- the ARNOLD PALMER was one of the best I've ever had. The lemonade really stood out. I don't know if it was sparkling or just, really expensive bottled lemonade, but it was really good! Not too tart and sweetened just right!

- the BACON WRAPPED SCALLOPS weren't special, but were perfectly prepared. I wouldn't recommend eating the scallops with the apricot chutney that came with the dish because the flavors don't really go well together. Instead, eat the bacon with the chutney!

- I also had a bite of my bf's BEEFSTEAK SALAD: sliced red tomatoes and chopped red onions on top of a leaf of green lettuce, drizzled with a vinaigrette. Though the plate was pretty and colorful, the tomatoes were bland. They should've used heirloom tomatoes or something better.

- my 24oz PORTERHOUSE was divine. Done medium, the NY portion was exceptionally juicy and just awesome. It was one of the juiciest steaks I've ever had. The other side, the filet mignon, was not as flavorful as the NY, but it was soo buttery – it literally fell apart when I nudged it with my knife.

- the right wine to order with your steak is a glass of the TWO HANDS GNARLY DUDES. Order it for the funky name, order it again because it pairs up really nice with red meat.

- the MASHED POTATOES were creamy and salted, probably made with buttermilk. What's cool is that the potatoes were served with sour cream, butter, and real bacon bits on the side so you could make baked potato mashed potatoes if you wanted! They tasted even better with sour cream mixed in!

- side of MUSHROOMS were decent – I think mushrooms always compliment beef. They had a sort of smokey flavor to them...

- MORTON'S LEGENDARY HOT CHOCOLATE CAKE was the best molten chocolate cake I've ever had. Must be because the middle was made with Godiva chocolate. It came fresh and hot out of the oven, with raspberries, vanilla ice cream, and powdered sugar. After a complete dinner like I had, sharing one dessert was enough.

All of the above was about $200. The price tag was appropriate, but I can't say if I'd come back. I could go either way. I will say this though: the House of Prime Rib blew me away, Morton's did not.

(2007)

House of Prime Rib - San Francisco

5/5 stars

THE FOOD: The menu is simple. It's prime rib. But you get to choose how you want it cut. The House of Prime Rib KNOWS how to do it right. The meal is perfect. The sourdough is warm and it's crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. It is after all San Francisco and I would've been disappointed if they got the sourdough wrong. The salad is tossed with beets and their house dressing is very very good. They do it tableside in a bucket of ice and it's great! The creamed spinach will be the best you've ever had and the baked potato is prepared right by your table (sour cream, butter, cheese, chives, the works)! You're introduced to the chef who will carve your prime rib and it's beyond succulent.

THE ATMOSPHERE: The service was wonderful and the atmosphere cozy. I loved the fireplace and the dark, aged wood. Don't expect to come here without a reservation though. It's expensive but it's WORTH IT!

THE BAD: Don't come here if you're a vegetarian. I don't know what you'd order...

(2007)