[chenmau]

In Alberta, we know beef. So I thought this would be appropriate since Spring and BBQ season will soon be upon us!

[Kevin_foster]

Hy's makes a mean steak.

Ruth's chris doesn't serve real beef, and they also charge a first born for it.

That being said, homemade bbq'd steaks are usually the best. So I would vote for "myself" if I could.

[jeffwhit]

The best steak I've ever eaten was about a month ago. It was a rib steak I bought at Sunterra and "grilled" under a broiler. It was 12 bucks and amazing.

[Thunderball]

Any good steakhouse poll has to have Caesar's on there. The best steak I've ever had was there.

[chenmau]

Any good steakhouse poll has to have Caesar's on there. The best steak I've ever had was there.
It's on the list in front of me, I swear. I just missed putting it down. I went to vote for Caesar's and it wasn't there. Sorry

[m0nkyman]

I filled in Other, mostly because I've been vegetarian for the past twenty five years. ;)

[chenmau]

I filled in Other, mostly because I've been vegetarian for the past twenty five years.

But before that where was your best steak?

[Zilla]

They make a hell of a pepper steak in Cartagena, Colombia

[Calgarian]

My vote would have gone to Caesars, but it isn't listed. FOR SHAME!!!

[Kevin_foster]

Come on People HY's is the best, and you know it!
Kevin

[Blue_Cypress]

You listed the keg?! What the hell? That's not even real food. And saltlik is an earls in disguise. Good Lord! Ditch the lousy chain steak outlets, they aren't consistent in their product or original in their offerings.

Best steak: Palomino (7th ave and ctr street S.) when they first opened was goddamn amazing. Vintage is ok too.

[Paper Boy]

I voted other "the Catch" 2nd to one I had in Nashville along music row (cannot remember the name of the place though)

[big W]

THe best steaks are always ones I get at my parents. Help to have ranchers and owners of a slaughterhouse as family friends thus always getting the best cuts for home. Better than what any restaurant has ever given. Just marinate and BBQ. I think I am going home now and grilling a steak.

[Surrealplaces]

I put down Hy's, as the best. I've had many steaks, but Hy's was the first that I remember as being excellent. My parents took me there years ago, and I remember it being the best ever.

I had a steak at the Keg in Banff a few years ago, that for some reason really stuck out. Saltlik is where I usually go for a steak dinner.

[ScottFromCalgary]

Bears Paw should read Bears Den. Only place in Alberta to serve AAAA beef I believe. I also like Vintage and Caesars is of course a classic. Saltlik is pretty good. I was never very impressed with Hy's and didn't shed a tear when they tore that place down. I was more disappointed about Japanese Village, although it is still open, just further away from where I work.

[DizzyEdge]

Trail Dust steakhouse in Denver.
http://www.traildust.com

Best steak I've ever eaten, no ties allowed (word is they'll cut them if you try), and a 2 story slide you can go down once you've had enough beer. It's all contained in a big red barn.
No comment on the prairie oysters though...

[edmontonoilers89]

At Morton's when I was in Vancouver.

It was quite expensive but way worth it, the filet mingnon was just

I haven't been to Hy's yet but I'd like to go there pretty soon and see what all the fuss is about.

[CorporateWhore]

You listed the keg?! What the hell? That's not even real food. And saltlik is an earls in disguise. Good Lord! Ditch the lousy chain steak outlets, they aren't consistent in their product or original in their offerings.

Oh please, ditch the pretentious crap. It's not be the best of the best, but the Keg still makes a good steak. I've been to some of the better steak houses in town, but I'm not afraid to say I eat at the Keg and like it. Sure it's a chain, but to say it's not real food is simply retarded.

[basilbrush]

The Keg is good at having consistantly good steaks (for a chain), but I voted for other. Yeoman's steakhouse on 107th has (or had) awesome steaks. I think they are under new management now - so who knows.

[You Need A Thneed]

I've had some good steaks at the Keg, a great one at Outback Steakhouse when I was there, but I still think the best steaks I've had have been home BBQ'd.

[Ginty]

* 2 garlic cloves, crushed
* 4 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
* 2 tablespoons scotch
* 2 tablespoons maple syrup
* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* Salt & freshly ground pepper

It sounds weird, but let it soak in the juices for hours and deny the flavour. You cant. Yeah thats right i'm posting recipes and i do enjoy scotch

[Spencer]

I voted other because I'd say the best (beef) steak I've had was at Von's just south of Whyte. Although, I've had Musk Ox steak at Normands and believe it or not it put anything else I've ever eaten to shame. If you're ever there and they're serving the musk ox steak be sure to try it.:D

[unibrain]

I like Ceasar's and Carver's. :)

[Thinner6]

Ceasar's by a country mile. Surprised to see it isn't on the list.

[Beltliner]

Full disclosure: I make a damn good steak here at home.... ;)

Drizzle over the cut of your choice (I recommend a marbled sirloin tip):

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon herbes du Provence
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground kosher salt

When the steak regains consciousness, sear it over an open flame at four minutes per side for rare doneness, four minutes per side thereafter for medium doneness, and four minutes per side after that for well doneness. Serve with baked potatoes and a proper homemade Caesar salad, and of course a drinkable Cab Shiraz. :D

[JBinCalgary]

there is a place near brooks i think, i ate there about 10 years ago.
you pick your own steak from about 100 cuts of meat, and you cook it your self over an open flame. that was a good eatin

[IntotheWest]

I do make a very good steak, and actually prefer it to most restaurants. But, like anything else, it needs to be a quality piece to begin with. Either from my in-laws farm (dry-aged properly)...or, if need a quick fix:

- "Sterling Silver" at Sobey's
- Midtown Market Co-op "Dry aged" (only Co-op to have this)
- "Sunterra Farms" brand (not "Sunterra Choice") - as jeffwhit had pointed out

Of course there are many other small producers/butchers to get quality.

Best restaurant steaks:

- AAAA Prime at 529 Wellington in Winnipeg (I'm sure that was on the list just for me ;-).
- A tie would be at the Scottsdale TPC Clubhouse "The Grill"...USDA Prime dry-aged ribeye (also, ranked as one of the ten best steakhouses in the west by "American Cowboy" magazine ;-)

- Cattle Baron (SE location) is a consistently good mid-$20s "Sterling Silver" steak. Other food is average.

Other notable places I've tried, and could care less to go again:

- Carvers (though, my wife likes it)
- Ceasars (must be a born-in-Calgary thing...like Peter's...I don't get it)
- Hy's (not bad steak, but far from the best)
- Keg has decent cuts (AAA 28-day aged), but I've personally never had a good steak there.
- Ruth's Chris...this place reminds me in some ways of Hy's. It is a good steak, but not great in my opinion. I'm hesitant to try it when it opens in Calgary - since I personally don't agree with serving USDA in Calgary.

Yet to try:

- Chicago Chophouse - claims to also serve at least one cut of Alberta Prime, others are at least Dry-aged.
- Vintage - I liked Murietta's (not for steak), so I'd like to see what Ned Bell did for steak at this place.

At home: Everyone has their preferences for how to cook, marinate/not marinate, etc. But I would suggest that if the steak is well marbled and aged, the best way to get it's flavour is to not drown it in any liquids (i.e. not marinades). A light rub, and maybe a brush of oil (mostly so it doesn't stick) is the best.

My formula, using my kick-butt Beefeater BBQ, is to let the steak reach at least room temp on the counter.
- Rub some Montreal Steak Spice or Hy's Seasoning Salt (or if you have a personal mixture) on just one side.
- Brush some good quality olive oil lightly on (doesn't have to cover the whole piece).
- Get the grill up to about 250-270 degrees. Make sure the temperature is consistent before throwing steaks on.
- Season the grill with veggie oil. Let sink in for a few minutes - but not so it's completely burned off.
- Throw steaks on grill, close lid, and let sit for ten minutes (at that temperature, no flare-ups should occur).
- Flip (using tongs!), and let sit about 8 minutes more for rare, 10-11 minutes for medium, and - if you absolutely must - 13 minutes for well done.
- Take off grill, and throw a Tbsp of butter (or garlic butter...not margarine) on steak. Take a piece of tin-foil and tent over steak to let settle for about 2-3 mintes.

The butter along with natural fats/marbling will help any tanins in the Cab you accompany with it slide right over the tongue.

[Xelebes]

I don't eat steak very often - like maybe once every two years. It's not a common dish for me to eat at the dinner table and I, for some reason, don't order it at restaurants. Roast beef, soups and stews on the other hand...

[Policy Wonk]

A place called Pondarosa in some shithole in central Flordia,

[itom 987]

Home cookin' is the way to do it!
For me, the more fat on the steak the better.

[CMD UW]

Any good steakhouse poll has to have Caesar's on there. The best steak I've ever had was there.

F*ckin rights man....nothing has come close to the steak I had at Caesar's.

[tuffyy]

Best steak I have ever had are the ones I make at home.I like T-bones,Rib-steak and Rib-eyes (Just cut the bone out of the rib steak and you have a rib-eye (Meat cutters secret).I also you used to be a chef so that helps...Dont go crazy on bbq sauces or spices,just a little pepper and salt at the end.I like to taste my steak!!!Tenderloin is real good too,that one requires a little spice as its rather bland by itself...If I am eating out the best steak in Edmonton I have had was at Yeoman's,best steak ever was at a place called ''beef'' in El paso,texas.

[The_Bachelor]

Anyone like Smugglers on Macleod? I'm not saying it's the best ever, but I've enjoyed some good one's there. I thought it was a Calgary institution from back in the day?

[Salmo]

This conversation is truly in my wheelhouse, I like nothing better than a great strip. That being said the best was always the Bredalbane Inn in Fergus Ontario, unfortunately they have switched ownership and are now back mid pack. A close second and don't laugh is the old gerenal store just north of the marina in Cold Lake. I don't know if it was due to lowered expectations, but wow. Another great steak I had in town and have not seen mentioned is Stirling on 17th behind Westgate Mall. A very pleasent surprise. I was in Hy's about a week before it closed, definately a nice piece of meat, but felt a little disappointed. The Keg has seemed to have really slipped. Their seasoning doesn't have the impact it used to,

Excuse me I need to go dig through the freezer, I beleive their are a few strips that if I take out today will be thawed for tomorrow:slob:

[chuber]

So many people mentioning Ceasars, but I haven't heard of them. I take it they are only in Calgary? Can someone tell me where because everytime we are in Calgary we always have trouble finding a good place to eat (relatives down there only seem to go to Moxie's and local pubs).

[The_Bachelor]

So many people mentioning Ceasars, but I haven't heard of them. I take it they are only in Calgary? Can someone tell me where because everytime we are in Calgary we always have trouble finding a good place to eat (relatives down there only seem to go to Moxie's and local pubs).

4th Ave, between 4th and 5th Street SW, north side of the block. Or just follow Ralph Klein around for a while, he'll lead you there pretty quick.

[KrisYYC]

Harvey's steak burger...

Just kidding.

Best I've had other than home BBQ was probably at Smugglers on MacLeod. Mind you, I haven't eaten at many of those places listed!

Kris

[slapshot™]

The best steak for me is at home on the deck.

There is something about cookin' up your own steak the way you want it.

Sure, restaurants can cook up a mean steak, but they don't come close to picking your own out at the store and BBQing it yourself.

BBQing at our house is a year-round activity. Many times in the winter I'm out there in the cold bundled up flipping steaks or burgers.

[chuber]

4th Ave, between 4th and 5th Street SW, north side of the block. Or just follow Ralph Klein around for a while, he'll lead you there pretty quick.

Thanks, what is the average price per plate so I whether is is a place I just go with my wife or I pay for the other relatives down there to join us.

[IntotheWest]

So many people mentioning Ceasars, but I haven't heard of them. I take it they are only in Calgary? Can someone tell me where because everytime we are in Calgary we always have trouble finding a good place to eat (relatives down there only seem to go to Moxie's and local pubs).

Ceasars is a Calgary-thing...it's kinda like Peters. I'm curious for all those that say Ceasars is great, how many of them grew up in Calgary (it's the same in Winnipeg with Peggers saying Ray and Jerry's has a good steak).

I'm not sure how you can have trouble finding a good place to eat (or do you have kids with you?)...there are a ton of fantastic restaurants downtown (8th Ave especially), and in the Beltline, Mount Royal, and Kensington...and I'm still likely missing some areas.

[Rusty van Reddick]

Harvey's steak burger...

Just kidding.


Seriously- one of my friends said that Harvey's doesn't actually use "meat" in their burgers. I went to Harvey's by Brentwood Mall the other day (ah, the joys of all the lunchtime spots to walk to from the university!) and finally tried their angus burger-

:yuck: :yuck: :yuck:

The patty is this gelatinous... THING. It tastes spongy and absolutely disgusting. Harvey's veggie burger (which is excellent) tastes more like "meat" than do their "beef" burgers. I've never experienced anything quite like this at any fast food chain- the way Harvey's tastes artificial, like it's held together with carageenan.

[Western Spaghetti]

So many people mentioning Ceasars, but I haven't heard of them. I take it they are only in Calgary? Can someone tell me where because everytime we are in Calgary we always have trouble finding a good place to eat (relatives down there only seem to go to Moxie's and local pubs).

I guess it's one of things where you have to know where the places are. There are a billion places to eat in Calgary, especially if you like ethnic food.

[IntotheWest]

Seriously- one of my friends said that Harvey's doesn't actually use "meat" in their burgers. I went to Harvey's by Brentwood Mall the other day (ah, the joys of all the lunchtime spots to walk to from the university!) and finally tried their angus burger-

:yuck: :yuck: :yuck:

The patty is this gelatinous... THING. It tastes spongy and absolutely disgusting. Harvey's veggie burger (which is excellent) tastes more like "meat" than do their "beef" burgers. I've never experienced anything quite like this at any fast food chain- the way Harvey's tastes artificial, like it's held together with carageenan.

I agree, the veggie burger is about as far as I'd go...the whole "Angus" thing just means the use ground-up old Angus vs ground-up old dairy cows...who know what else they throw in there.

As far as decent "fast food" burgers, I only go to Fat Burger now - which does use AAA ground (fresh) AB beef. For a great burger though, Buchanan's on 3rd can't be beat in Calgary. Both would be an extremely far walk for lunch from the University. ;-)

[chuber]

I guess it's one of things where you have to know where the places are. There are a billion places to eat in Calgary, especially if you like ethnic food.


Oh I know there are a ton of good places, I just don't have the time to find them when I'm down. My wifes family lives there and we go and tell them we want to take them out for dinner and all they ever suggest is some so-so chain or pub close to their place. Every time they are in Edmonton and we take them out they are so impressed with the food, but it is only because we seem to know the city better than they do.

I will definitely be trying out Ceasars next time I'm down there.

[Me&You]

Thanks, what is the average price per plate so I whether is is a place I just go with my wife or I pay for the other relatives down there to join us.

I find Caesars to be one of the most consistantly good steak houses in Calgary.

Pricing seems no higher than a comparable meal at, say, The Keg. Much better value, IMHO.

[Rusty van Reddick]

chuber- the western canada board on chowhound.com is an invaluable resource - nice and knowledgeable people there.

[rapid_business]

some of the most memorable steaks I've ever had:

- The Keg - Cal. Beltline location, Aug/04 (I know, a chain that does a mediocre job... but they nailed it that time! So much so that I still remember it.)

- Chop - (suburban chain gone 'classy') Mar/07 - I wouldn't have driven way out to this had it not been for my sister's choice of restaurants. What an unreal sirloin though...

- Lux Steakhouse & Bar - Dec./05 - May/06 - Bias aside (I worked there during said time) I consumed some great steaks. Not your marked up Sterling (over-priced for value IMO), but better cuts done well. The 28-day dry-aged bit is common place now, but tastes amazing if done right.

- My own 'special' steaks from custom cuts. Top dollar for top taste though.