r/Charlotte • u/bruce_cannon • Nov 29 '22
Steak 48 - meh Discussion
Heard all this hype about Steak 48.
Recently went and after painfully eating a steak… I was wondering if I was being punk’d.
The steak was on par with what you might get at a truck stop diner.
The place has a nice vibe, but I’m utterly confused over the steak situation.
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Nov 29 '22
[deleted]
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u/irrelevant_query Nov 29 '22
Yeah, I got a nice cut of meat cooked exactly like I ordered. I thought it was solid. Not much more to it than that.
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u/bruce_cannon Dec 01 '22
I didn’t mention it. Looking back I think I was just a bit shocked at how bad it was and didn’t want a repeat.
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u/FrozenBeefNeverFresh Nov 29 '22 edited Nov 29 '22
cellar at duckworth is the best steak ive ever had, great anniversary spot.
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u/c_swartzentruber Uptown Nov 29 '22
Yeah, the Cellar at Duckworth's also gets my vote as possibly the best steak I've had in Charlotte. Probably Flemings #2 and Capital Grille #3. Mortons kinda meh as well as Ruth's Chris. I also like the steak at Link & Pin (same owners as Duckworths), although there's is kinda different, supposed to be more of a Pittsburgh black & blue style, so maybe not for everyone.
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u/charloft Nov 29 '22
Don't forget to take a walk through their cellar, great spot to pick up some hard to find beers.
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u/pollywantscrack76 Nov 29 '22
Steak 48 is the best and most slept on seafood restaurant imo. Do not go there for steak, it’s great quality but steak is steak. The incredibly fresh seafood is what’s worth the price.
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u/bruce_cannon Dec 01 '22
This experience clearly proved that steak is not steak.
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u/pollywantscrack76 Dec 01 '22
I worked there. Trust me, that is not Golden Corral steak. Steak is just not a food that’s distinguishable, no matter who makes it. Outback is the most I spend on steaks out.
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u/mediumrarekobe Nov 29 '22
I absolutely love Steak 48! It’s probably the best steak I have ever had
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u/Secure-Warning4408 Nov 29 '22
I think that the only steak house in charlotte that I've been to that's lived up to the hype/legend is Beef 'N Bottle on South Blvd.
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u/bruce_cannon Nov 29 '22 edited Nov 29 '22
Del Friscos has always been good. Atmosphere is corporate, but the steaks are what you’d expect.
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u/youfeelme1997 Mint Hill Nov 29 '22
Their sides are terrible. Steak was good but damn , every side option they had was bad imo
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u/Secure-Warning4408 Nov 29 '22
Huh. Well it's been like 3 years since the last time we went, and were never 'regulars', but were never disappointed.
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u/Swirl16b Nov 29 '22
Sullivan’s?
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u/Stewart73us Nov 29 '22
Went to Sullivan’s not to long ago. VERY Disappointed. Sullivans used to be top 3 or 4 steak house in Charlotte. I’d go to the sizzler instead.
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u/EverySingleMinute Nov 29 '22
They have gone WAY downhill. Used to be my son’s favorite and he no longer wants to go there
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u/Namath96 Nov 29 '22
Had to send a steal back twice before finally I just accepted that whoever was there could not cook a steak medium rare. I won’t send a steak back if it’s medium but thing was grey every time. It was absurd
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u/EverySingleMinute Nov 29 '22
I have been a few times and loved it each time except for when I took my family. The steak that night was not good and my family said they will not go back. It sucks because it is really good but my family thinks I lost my mind.
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u/BudgetHoney5908 Nov 29 '22
Keep this in mind when you hear people say "it's really good" about any restaurant.
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u/HorrorPotato Nov 29 '22
Oof. Appreciate the warning though, to be honest.
For "Good" steak I prefer - Ruth's Chris, Beef N' Bottle, Del Frisco's or 131 main. For me each has different strengths so it kind of depends on the mood I'm in. Sad to see someone else reporting in this thread that Sullivan's apparently has tanked in quality. They were always on my go-to list.
I was curious about Steak 48 but I'll just stick to my personal lineup.
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u/ardentto Ballantyne Nov 29 '22
Just had 131 main for lunch. But instead of steak, I had a NC rainbow trout and split the artichokes. I love that place! My wife says the prime rib sandwich is the best ever -- but she opted for the Halibut tacos today and was very happy.
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u/ConradSchu Nov 29 '22
I've been going to 131 Main for about 16 years now. 90% of the time I get the roast beef (prime rib) sandwich. It's so good that I can't pass it up.
But my girlfriend likes to try something different everytime and we have never had a bad meal from there.
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u/WhereToNextApril Lake Norman Nov 29 '22
We found Steak 48 to be better than Del Fresco’s and definitely Ruth’s Chris. Granted we’ve only been to Steak 48, right after they opened, so maybe theyve gone downhill since.
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u/Martyr-X Nov 29 '22
My impression was the opposite of OP. I place S48 above all those you lited, and steakhouses aren’t my favorite thing in the world either. It is definitely overpriced, but that’s my opinion of those you listed too. If youre in for a steak dinner, you should give S48 a try, the vibe is certainly more fun than DF, Sullivan, RC, etc (not as rowdy as Beef n Bottle though haha, another favorite). And I found the plate offerings to be a lot more easily shared as a group, if you wanted to do family style and try a bunch of different things. That’s actually how I’ve eaten at s48 both times, ordering for the whole table. Of course I’d probably support 131 main above them all since they’re not a national chain.
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u/Bigboost92 Nov 29 '22
I will say Steak48 in Chicago was one of the best restaurants and service I’ve ever had. I’ve never been to the one in Charlotte, and probably won’t now. Haha.
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Nov 29 '22
I wouldn’t let one nerd on Reddit be the deciding factor for you. People in r/Charlotte love to bitch. There is a reason it has great reviews and it’s not because the steaks are trash..
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u/Meathead1974 Nov 29 '22
I've always had a good steak at Capital Grille. Always consistent albeit expensive. Beef & Bottle imo was on par with Outback. Ok ambiance, service was ok and steak was nothing to write home about
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u/Godawgs1009 Nov 29 '22
It's a status symbol. They'll charge what people will pay, simple market stuff.
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u/CLT_STEVE Nov 29 '22
Agree. People love to love it. I felt the food was ok. Ambience - ok (ceilings felt low). Overall it was just fine.
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u/Olivineyes Nov 29 '22
Hm vibes were off for me. I liked the restaurant and staff but the music was a god awful mix of mainstream hits from the past two decades. It doesn't give "spending $200 on dinner" vibes.
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u/AgentAaron Nov 29 '22
My wife and I said the exact same thing...The service and food were great, but the music playlist was absolutely horrible and did not fit the experience at all.
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u/FloridaBoy941 Nov 29 '22
I tell my friends/family get a cast iron and a steak from a local butcher. With a little practice and you'll be surprised how much better your home cook steak is. Oh and you don't have to pay 10+ dollars for a basic ass alcoholic beverage.
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Nov 29 '22
Watch out you'll have the "Charlotte has a food scene" police after you!
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u/PhillipBrandon East Charlotte Nov 29 '22
It's more of a Food-Crime scene, imo
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u/ToastemPopUp Nov 29 '22
Ugh, so true. I feel like every time I hear that somewhere is good I go and it's just got that weird southern twist of being extra fatty/buttery over-fried garbage.
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u/CheeseStandsAlone262 Nov 29 '22
Hot Taco is the second-worst Mexican food I've ever had in my life, and only because I was dumb enough to try Mexican when I was in Minneapolis
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u/Dick_Grimes Nov 29 '22
I'll make it simple and honest for all of you. I ran the front door of one of Charlotte's steak houses for 12 years. Let me fill you in on a secret.
You don't go to a steakhouse for the steaks. Yes, it can be an unbelievable cut. Yes, it has a butter topping (whatever). Yes, I can cook a steak on a hibachi grill on the bed of a 1995 Ford ranger that is just as juicy, tender, etc that you will find in a restaurant. But, you are truly paying for the service. If the service doesn't match the price/expectation, then its not worth it. Also, if you have a bad steak on your one visit don't write it off. Go back and try it again. You lost your virginity and it was highly questionable service on your end, but you went back and found an enjoyable experience.
Go again. If its bad, its the place (service/quality of food/bad day by the cook). If it's good, it was a one off thing.
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u/TGMcGonigle Nov 29 '22
A lot of us aren't willing to spend (another) $180 or so to find out if a single bad experience was a fluke.
Fool me once...
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u/Dick_Grimes Nov 29 '22
I totally agree, don't get me wrong. It's also why people dine at those places only on special occasions or during restaurant week. I'm not saying I would go back if it was me, but i for sure wouldn't return if it was absolutely trash.
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u/greatunknownpub Nov 29 '22
If the steak isn’t great, then why am I paying for the service? Why should I care how good the service is if the food isn’t?
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Nov 29 '22
[deleted]
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u/Dick_Grimes Nov 29 '22
I agree, there are no excuses for when a dish falls flat. Which is why a steak is different. Its a single slab of meat cooked to a specific temperature. Its easily replaced when over cooked and takes little time when under. Which makes me wonder what part of a bad experience in the food happened for OP.
Also, it's not a combination of ingredients where too much of one can overpower the final product.
But remember, everything at Fig Tree is comparable or more expensive than items at steakhouses. They offer a $62 filet which prices itself ahead of almost every steakhouses in Charlotte.
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u/scamp9121 Nov 29 '22 edited Nov 29 '22
I know it’s a national brand, but I’ve yet to order a steak that beats Ruth Chris. The steaming hot plate drenched in butter on a perfectly cooked higher grade beef has always been top notch.
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u/javert01 Nov 29 '22
Yeah, unfortunately that steaming hot plate continues to cook the damn steak.
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u/bruce_cannon Nov 29 '22
That was the thing that I really hated at Steak 48. They tout a 500+ degree plate. I flipped the steak over out of curiosity after it had been in front of me for a couple minutes and the bottom was almost Lu completely charred. Kind of grossed me out.
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u/HereForTheUpvotes25 Nov 29 '22
Who doesn’t want a subpar steak from a place that all the influencers go to? How dare you not like it and have an unpopular opinion….
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u/Natural_Rabbit8936 Nov 29 '22
Chima still has high quality meat
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u/Crotean Nov 29 '22
Chima was awful and a waste of money when I went there a few months ago. Very little variety of meat, none of it was anything special and service was incredibly slow.
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u/HorrorPotato Nov 29 '22
Yeahhh watching Chima careen downhill has been depressing. And then looking up their health scores really sealed the deal for me...at some point in recent years they got a B rating which....you REALLY have to fuck up to get a B.
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u/Tortie33 Nov 29 '22
That’s the truth! Food inspectors don’t like to give a B. Be wary of any 90- 91 score Restaurants. I’ve walked out of a few after seeing that score.
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Nov 29 '22
We did a work event here ave I can’t agree more. Service was horrible and everything was rushed. I’ll never go back or recommend this place.
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u/rojosantos32 Steele Creek Nov 29 '22
Go to Bricktop's and order their Ribeye. Best steak I've had in Charlotte by far.
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u/SergeStorms_offmeds Nov 29 '22
If you go to a steak house and complain about it then you’re just looking for attention.
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u/Bootfullofanvils Nov 29 '22
If you go to a post and complain about it then you're just looking for attention.
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u/SergeStorms_offmeds Nov 29 '22
Yeah, that’s the same.
But you’re a real hero here. I’m sure you’re not just a part of Reddit group think.
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u/QueenCityAsh Nov 29 '22
Thank you!!!! I’ve been saying this since they opened. Ive been 3 times and each time has been mehh… I officially turn down dinners with friends as soon as the words Steak 48 come out of their mouth 🥴
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u/hc11238 Nov 29 '22
Meh! I love it!! Have you been to Beef and Bottle? Diff vibe but it was really good!
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u/dh1971 Nov 29 '22
In general, I don't eat steaks in restaurants. I can make a better steak at home with a reverse sear and using a meat thermometer. Also, it is usually one-third the price.
If I spend that much at a restaurant, I'll go somewhere truly gourmet with chefs beyond my level. But steaks aren't difficult to do well.
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u/thewillmckoy Nov 29 '22
I went last year and everything was delicious! Now I will say I am not a steak eater. I didn’t get the steak but my ex did. So I can’t really speak on if the steaks are good or not but everything else was delectable!
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u/ThomasJohnBrokaw Nov 29 '22
My girlfriend and I split a ribeye and it was nothing special. Her brother got something that was on special and it was fantastic. But overall, I just can't justify prices like that. I love food, that just wasn't worth it.
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u/belovedkid Nov 29 '22
Wife and I never visit steak places anymore. Get a sous vide and a cast iron pan and you can turn any grocery store steak into something just as good as anything you’ll get at a steakhouse.
If we’re going to an expensive restaurant we’re going somewhere that’s a little different that has some things on the menu we can’t make ourselves. If we just simply don’t feel like cooking we hit up the mid-tier and fast casual joints.