I love steak, I eat about a pound at any given serving. Primarily sirloins, a mix of rib-eyes and t-bones, and occasionally a filet. A nice sirloin, about 14oz, should be a common item on any restaurant menu. But it's difficult to find one. And at what cost? It led me to challenge myself to find the answer, "How low can you go?", in price that is, and still maintain quality and flavor?
Starting at the high end you have your steakhouse cuts. These are wonderfully marbled and aged but cost a pretty penny. They top the list for $$$$ ($40+) and ala carte means they don't even come with a sprig of parsley. This is your
Capital Grille,
Fleming's or
Ruth's Chris type menu.
Next are your fine dining choice cuts of beef. Plated with your choice of two sides, these normally cost about the same or slightly less than their steakhouse cousins. I'm still talking valet parking and table linens, for $$$ ($28+) you expect a good piece of meat. You can find this quality cut at most fine restaurants around town and it should be good. I say should because if they can't get something this basic done well then forget about the rest of the menu.
Where is the next price point? I went lower, to $$ ($22) at one local
tavern, L'Attitude and ($18) at another local fave, Governor Francis
Inn. For $18 the GFI was ok/good. At best. For $18 I got a choice of
soup or salad, 12oz sirloin and two sides. But the steak was a bit small
and although tasty and a great value, I felt that I had gone too low...
But the local tavern choice at
L'Attitude Modern Eatery in Pawtuxet Village for $22 was clearly a winner in my book. A juicy 14 oz strip sirloin, cooked crispy on the outside and perfectly even pink on the inside. It arrived dripping with a scoop of Shallot-Gorganzola Butter melting over the top. I ate every bite. It even came with potatoes and a veggie.
Absolutely pure, steak lovers heaven, out of the house, in a restaurant, with no dishes to do, for $22. What a world.
L'Attitude Modern Eatery is located in historic Pawtuxet Village, just north of Governor Francis Farms, Warwick, RI.
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