Dining Out in Austin Going Downhill

Roberta and Craig B. wrote:
>
> Someone wrote:
> Someone wrote:
> : >Also, be aware that some dislike Ruth's Chris for
> : >some reason, so ymmv.
>
> : Maybe that's because it's regularly touted over the airwaves by Rush
> : Limbaugh, but that's a whole nother argument, ain't it?  ;^)
>
> Ummmmm...in all honesty, it's been several years since I've been to
> Ruth's Chris, but my current aversion to it isn't because of Rush;
> it's because, let's face it, the place is expensive as all hell.
> Everything is ala carte--how much does a baked potato cost?
>
> Then again, after having dropped $80 for a wholly unsatisfactory
> meal for two at the Austin Land and Cattle Co., perhaps I should
> re-examine Ruth's Chris as an option...although this Limbaugh thing
> scares me, what...does the menu feature a "14 oz ribeye with Rush's
> views on FemNazi's" for only $19.95?
>
> Craig

   Craig, Rush is Right!  And he is right about Ruth's Chris Steak
House.  It's Emmmmm goood.
 On the menu you will find delectable delicacies like the 28oz T-bone complete with a great appetizer: Baked Spotted Owl with barbecue sauce. The barbecue sauce is a home grown mixture created by Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbit.
  The price is high, but if you're like most of us, you have made a
fortune on the Dow recently, so you won't mind paying for great food.

Someone wrote:
>
> Gordon G. wrote:
> >Someone wrote:
> >>Also, be aware that some dislike Ruth's Chris for
> >>some reason, so ymmv.
> >
> >Maybe that's because it's regularly touted over the airwaves by Rush
> >Limbaugh, but that's a whole nother argument, ain't it?  ;^)
> >
>
> Yeah, it must be the bitter and greasy implication there :)
>
> Seriously though, I've never had anything but a perfect meal there, though
> as I've warned before, bring piles of money, though I still spend less
> that Craig did at Austin Dirt-n-Cow.
>
> A slightly less expensive alternative that has nearly the same quality is
> Dan McKlusky's. It actually has very reasonably priced lunch specials.
>
> I'd like to hear a comparative review of Sullivan's from someone who's
> already tried Ruth's Chris and McKlusky's. Let me know what you thought of
> all 3 so I can adjust accordingly. (i.e.; "I hated them all", said Fred
> the vegatarian.)
>
> --Pete

OK, I can't compare Ruth Chris (because I haven't been there), but I've been to 2 Dan McKlusky's and Sullivan's. I'd rate the 6th street Dan McKluskys' #1 on quality of food, service and price The meat was perfectly done, flavorful, the servers were friendly and unobtrusive.

The Arboretium location of Dan McKlusky's didn't impress me as much on the food (I ordered the exact same thing in both locations - the small cut of prime rib). The prime rib here was drier, wasn't cooked evenly and didn't have as much flavor. To be honest, I was kind of suprised the food would vary *that* much in location. Bread, veggies, appetizers - those were excellent in both locations.

I was a bit disappointed with Sullivan's. Maybe I listened to much to people who said it was the best steak house in town...I ordered beef brochette thinking it was small medallions of tender meat. What I got was 2 skewers of shishkabobs which were burnt in some places and underdone in others. The restaurants I've been to in other cities (and overseas in Europe) never had brochettes in shishkabob form, and the menu didn't describe what the dish was. It wouldn't have bothered me, except that only a third of the meat was edible - I had to cut around the parts that were still moo-ing as well as the cuts that looked like a fire extinguisher was required in the kitchen. It was a bummer. The dessert was great - it was a chocolate souffle, perfectly done. Another suprise I had at Sullivans was the fact that steaks were basically the only thing on the menu. There was filet minon, but no prime rib. I think there was one chicken dish, and a salmon dish as well. At any rate, it will be a while before I go back. It could have been what I ordered, since my husbands' steak was juicy and thick (although it was ALSO not cooked properly - totally raw in some places, medium in others). I'm thinking Sullivans is excellent if you order the right things off the menu. Other peoples' experiences may vary.