I love steakhouses but, let's be honest, they're a vibe. I can't go to one and NOT hear the phrase, "I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." Is that just me? It's ok if it is!
But, recently, I finally checked out a steakhouse that's been on my radar for far too long: Black & Blue.
The space was warm and inviting - and slightly more casual than other steakhouses. I mean that in the best way. It's not a hole in the wall, but it's not pretentious, either. It's a place where you can have a delicious meal and talk to one of your best girlfriend for hours - and that's what I did.
They have a great wine by-the-glass selection... I know because we ordered several different kinds (I said we were there for hours, after all!). We made a conscious decision to skip the appetizers to leave room for dessert (as well as a certain side dish we knew for sure we were ordering... more on that in a bit!). We each ordered filet mignon for our main - and they were perfect steaks. Cooked and seasoned perfectly. And, they were served on a piping hot plate (similar to the way Ruth's Chris does it), but this was better than anything I've had from Ruth's (and I consider that to be a pretty reliable steak). For a side - we knew days before going (because we studied the menu, obviously) that we were ordering the orzo mac and cheese. It's the one thing from that night that I can't stop thinking about. It too, was perfect. Made with three cheeses (all the good ones, I promise), it was creamy with a bit of parmesan crunch and straight up delicious. If you go, do not skip this side. You won't be disappointed. For dessert, we ordered the key lime pie, which we could barely eat because we overdid it with the mac and cheese (the right decision, by the way).
The service at Black & Blue is just as good as the food. Our waiter, Kosta, felt like an old friend. He made us feel right at home at Black & Blue and didn't care how long we stayed, how long we gabbed or how many questions I asked him about the menu.
If you're able to check out Black & Blue and lucky enough to have Kosta serve you, you're in for a fun and delicious night!
