This town needs more steak houses like the Republican Party needs more presidential candidates. And yet two meat palace openings are imminent: Swift & Sons in the West Loop (Boka Restaurant Group) and Maple & Ash in the Gold Coast (M&A Management).
“It’s the Chicago dream,” says Chris Pandel, executive chef of the Boka group. A steak house proves your mettle here, he explains, “so it’s time for us to do one.”
Every person opening a steak house says: This one will be fresh, new, different. But with so many contenders, how fresh, new, and different can a place really be? They all offer prime aged meat. The main differences are their prices and vibes. Here’s how Chicago’s best locals stack up. (National chain steak houses, such as the Capital Grille and the Palm, have been excluded because they would have made this chart far too—ahem—beefy.)
Swift & Sons (new!)
Masterminds a unique in-house service: a concierge desk
Offers all-natural hormone- and antibiotic-free beef from a private farm in Arizona
Sits in the heart of the Viagra Triangle, to the never-ending delight of its devotees
Originated the iPad wine list
Ages its beef in a cellar room tiled with Himalayan rock salt
Sells custom-blended cigars and has a separate patio just for smokers (see review)
Boeufhaus
Converted from a 1920s butcher shop
Has the coolest corkage in town—share one glass with another table
Thrives in the Gold Coast on its original and oh-so-hokey show-me-the-meat show
Leads the league in celeb sightings
Maple & Ash (new!)
Hired an in-house butcher for custom cuts
Boasts the American version of Japanese Mishima beef
Bakes up a 23-layer chocolate cake to celebrate His Airness
Sports (sports, get it?) a Smithsonian-worthy collection of football photos
Parks your car for free!
Feels exactly like its name
Sings “Happy Birthday” louder, longer, and more often than any spot on Rush Street
Pays attention to kid customers, too—booster seats and child-size filets
Very expensive |
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Old-school |
Sceney |
Benny’s Chop HouseOffers all-natural hormone- and antibiotic-free beef from a private farm in Arizona David Burke’s PrimehouseAges its beef in a cellar room tiled with Himalayan rock salt BoeufhausConverted from a 1920s butcher shop Morton’s The SteakhouseThrives in the Gold Coast on its original and oh-so-hokey show-me-the-meat show Chicago Chop HouseBoasts the American version of Japanese Mishima beef |
Tavern on RushSits in the heart of the Viagra Triangle, to the never-ending delight of its devotees Swift & Sons (new!)Masterminds a unique in-house service: a concierge desk Chicago Cut SteakhouseOriginated the iPad wine list Prime & ProvisionsSells custom-blended cigars and has a separate patio just for smokers (see review) Bavette’s Bar & BoeufHas the coolest corkage in town—share one glass with another table Maple & Ash (new!)Hired an in-house butcher for custom cuts RPM SteakLeads the league in celeb sightings |
Expensive |
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Old-school |
Sceney |
Michael Jordan’s Steak HouseBakes up a 23-layer chocolate cake to celebrate His Airness Gene & GeorgettiParks your car for free! Erie CafeIncludes a salad and cottage fries with any steak WildfirePays attention to kid customers, too—booster seats and child-size filets |
Mike Ditka’sSports (sports, get it?) a Smithsonian-worthy collection of football photos Community TavernFeels exactly like its name Gibsons Bar & SteakhouseSings “Happy Birthday” louder, longer, and more often than any spot on Rush Street |