Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
1904 Steakhouse
Bugatti’s Steak & Pasta · Ameristar St. Charles
High rollers can splurge (or give back their winnings) on such specials asWagyu beef ($6 per ounce) or a 44-ounce USDA Prime tomahawk for two. The merely affluent can dine on a Prime strip or a selection of Choice cuts. The leather-and-wood interior, with soaring ceilings, gives Bugatti’s an air of stylish elegance. 1 Ameristar.
Final Cut Steakhouse · Hollywood Casino
Though some casino restaurants try to downplay the nearby gambling action, this one embraces it. Display windows look out onto the flashing promenade. The usual suspects (steaks) are supplemented by occasional surprises, such as a Nueske bacon appetizer; dinner is served in a modern interior designed for the original occupant, celeb chef Kelly English. 777 Casino Center.
The Grill · The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
Over time, the dining rooms in The Ritz have had more identities than Jason Bourne. They’re way too chic to have names, n’est-ce pas?, so now they’re simply called The Restaurant, The Grill, and so on. These days, The Restaurant is limited to upscale breakfast and lunch, and The Grill’s latest incarnation is described as “An Urban Infusion; Seasonal Elements, Simply Crafted, Perfectly Grilled.” (Read: half a dozen small plates and full entrées, mildly complex and as pretty as any still life.) 100 Carondelet Plaza.
Tenderloin Room · The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis
Chandeliers, dark wood, white linens, leather banquettes… This is 1960s elegance, perfectly preserved. It’s a backdrop for great steaks and old-school service, courtesy of the Karagiannis family. Look around today, and you’ll still see power lunchers, special-occasion celebrants, and diners who are simply in search of a great steak. 212 N. Kingshighway.
Prime Steakhouse · Casino Queen
Open only on Friday and Saturday evenings, Prime offers a private, formal dining experience. The menu is centered on steaks, but there are also seafood and pasta offerings. 200 S. Front, East St. Louis, Illinois.
1904 Steak House · River City Casino
With stained glass and red light–highlighted ceilings, the interior has the vibe of 1904 World’s Fair–meets–House of the Rising Sun. The steaks are excellent (grass-fed beef), and “modern American” entrées (grouper with squash risotto and kale) give a tip of the cap to local producers. 777 River City Casino.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House · Hyatt-Regency St. Louis at the Arch
If you’ve eaten at any Ruth’s Chris, you know the drill: superb Prime beef and a sprawling wine list. At the downtown location, the backdrop is a spectacular view of the Arch. Longtime locals can wax nostalgic for the space’s original occupant, Faust’s, and fondly remember sommelier Bob Kabel. 315 Chestnut.
