FILET MIGNON
Filet Mignon is a boneless cut of beef that is also the most tender cut of steak.
CHÂTEAUBRIAND
Châteaubriand and Filets are both tender and both come from the tenderloin, the long tender part next to the Strip. The difference is that Filets are generally cut smaller and broiled with the grain running up and down; heating through easier and broiling faster.
The Châteaubriand is broiled laying down with the grain running horizontally against the heat. It is more difficult for the heat to penetrate and it results in a better crust with a nice pink or red warm center. Chateaubriand takes longer than other steaks of equal thickness to broil but achieves greater charcoal flavor.
SPECIAL CHÂTEAUBRIAND
Loin-aged, cut and trimmed to order.
STRIP SIRLOIN
Strip Sirloin or New York Strip, is very popular because of its flavor. If you like rare to medium-rare steaks, we highly recommend that you order a larger cut as you’ll get far more flavor from the slower, longer exposure to the coals.
DELMONICO
Delmonico is the eye of the rib (called “Rib-Eye” in meat circles). It is known, generally, for its richness; because of the greater quantity of fine fat grains – especially in the outer part of the eye and when cut nearer to the chuck end. Some people mistake this outer section for “tail” or flank, but it is absolutely the sweetest and juiciest of beef eating (in our opinion) in the world.
PORTERHOUSE
Porterhouse is sort of “two steaks in one”: an aged-on-the-loin Filet (better because of longer dry aging) and a Strip. The Porterhouse is one of the most aged steaks we have and should be ordered only if you like well aged steak. Remember also, that this popular steak may have one or two tougher bites because the true sirloin begins here and is connected with a seam that we do our best to remove.
T-BONE
T-Bone is the same as Porterhouse, except with a smaller filet. This is the only steak not practical to serve fresh because it’s in the center of the loin and would necessitate cutting a fresh loin in two. It is generally not quite as aged as the Porterhouse.
A thick steak for two is always better than two single steaks - when charbroiled rare or medium rare. Individual steaks are better for medium well or well done. A thick steak gives you much greater charcoal flavor. And there’s nothing quite like a beautiful, dark brown charred crust over a juicy red or pink center.
If you’d like a larger steak charbroiled medium well or well done, we recommend that you have it “butterflied” or opened up and cut almost in two. You’ll get more to eat that way, and it won’t be so heavily crusted or as dried out.
Do not over order. Don’t order a 16 oz. Strip, for example, in order to get 10 ounces of steak; order 10 ounces. Because we try to trim away what you cannot enjoy, the inedible, fatty tail is replaced with a cut of tenderloin. The fat is reduced to the minimum that will enhance your steak flavor. On Delmonico steaks, the ribeye is opened and the fat and gristle are removed and replaced with Filet where necessary. On T-Bone and Porterhouse steaks, some of the bone is even removed.
Why do we “age” steaks?
When you consider the cost, the work, and the waste, is it really worthwhile to age beef a long time? Most people and most eating places say beef is aged when it is one or two weeks old.
However we have found that extra-extra quality beef continues to improve for five, six, or seven weeks. Like great wines that improve for 50 years, great beef gets sweeter, more tender, and acquires a taste that cannot be duplicated, except with proper age.
This is our kind of beef and it’s extremely expensive. We pay more in the beginning and we throw away more in the end. And the meat, in the meantime, demands very special care. Each piece must be stored at exacting temperatures, with controlled humidity, and exceptionally fine circulation.
So why do we “age” steaks so long?
We think it’s all worthwhile when one single customer tells us he or she has eaten “everywhere” and ours is the “best.” It’s all in the taste.
Aged meat is already tender (and never bloody). You can order it cooked less done than you would fresh meat. In fact, fresh meat is cooked well done to tenderize it, and aged meat becomes tougher the longer you cook it.
You can also combine two adjacent degrees of doneness in one thicker steak (please refer to our chart).
If you want your steak broiled medium rare and your guest prefers medium, for example, we generally can accomplish this. If you prefer rare, and your guest likes well done, we will gladly cut your steak and cook your halves separately, even “butterflying” the well done to avoid excess shrinkage. Just tell your waiter.
Or... you may also order your steak broiled between two degrees of doneness. Perhaps between medium rare and medium, for example.
Or, even on “the rare side of medium rare.” Exactly the way you’d like it broiled.
Prefer fresh steak? Other than T-bone, we can cut your steak any way you wish unaged, since we cut your steak after you order anyway. No extra charge. No problem, just tell your waiter.
Our beef is the most beautiful and most costly in America. However, in order to be beautiful, it must be well-fed. And this is the problem: what to do with the excess fat.
We remove it (and the gristle, too, where possible) even though it gives you a less-perfect looking steak. It’s our weight loss. But we want you to know that we cut our steaks to give you good eating, not necessarily good looking.