Boboquivari's

Harris' Restaurant Credit: Courtesy Harris' Restaurant

Craving steak? San Francisco may be best known for its fresh-from-the-bay seafood, but you may not know that we have several steak houses guaranteed to make any meat-and-potato lovin’ Midwesterner cry with cow-induced happiness. Whether you like a straight-ahead steak experience or something that takes local ingredients into consideration, we’ve got a steak house that will have you hankering for some serious steer.

Steak for the Sports Fan: Acme Chophouse
Acme Chophouse gives San Franciscans yet one more reason to love chef and local small-farm supporter Traci des Jardins. Situated in AT&T Park, this perpetually packed steak-centric establishment offers seasonal interpretations of tried-and-true favorites. Acme’s 40-day-aged rib eye in particular would be a contender for any serious steak connoisseur. Twenty-two ounces of tender meat, served on the bone, with a fine flavor that speaks of nearly six weeks of aging. Sides are more than respectable with mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and onion rings. The crowds can be unwieldy on game days, and with the start of the Giants’ season this month, finding a table might be a challenge, but what could be more American than steak and baseball? And for a good meal free of stogie-puffing personalities, this lively establishment is a good bet for lunch, dinner, or happy hour any day of the week.

No Nonsense Steak:Boboquivari’s
Bow to the alter of the almighty bovine at Boboquivari’s (means "Court Jester"), where the USDA-certified prime beef is dry-aged for a minimum of four to six weeks before it is cooked to perfection, pan-seared in its own natural juices with rosemary and garlic, then deemed ready to serve. The bone-in filet mignon is a favorite. Sides such as swiss chard, onion rings, and Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions, capers, and parmesan are delicious, but the large local following comes primarily for the steaks and the always friendly staff. The ambience—think Western saloon takes on the Rat Pack—is just as memorable as the food itself.

Back-in-the-Day Steak: Harris’ Restaurant
When you’re a person of simple needs—an ice-cold beverage and a sizable slab of meat—you need to go to Harris’ Restaurant. To dine at Harris’ is to take a step back in time. Savvy waiters wear burgundy vests and black ties with immaculate manners to match. The atmosphere is elegant enough for a special-occasion date or a post-dinner pow wow. Live jazz (Th–Sa, 7–10 pm) and cozy, comfy booths with lots of dark wood accents spell sophistication without being snobbish. If you’re looking for a super-trendy destination, this isn’t it—but if you want consistency when it comes to the cow, Harris’ delivers. Standby favorites such as Filet Mignon Rossini, a top-notch porterhouse, and a classic béarnaise sauce to die for make it easy to compromise creative preparations and any calorie, carb, or cholesterol consciousness. Plus, unlike some other places, entrées come with a potato and vegetable. This is old-school San Francisco at its best.

First-Date Steak: Izzy’s Steaks & Chops
The list of why you’ll love Izzy’s is long. It’s so casual, you can come in jeans, though dressing up is hardly discouraged. The entrées are well-priced and large enough that you can skip appetizers (but be sure to save room for the light-as-air cheesecake). House specialties such as their city-wide-celebrated prime rib comes with two sides, and Izzy’s Potatoes are an absolute must. Prepared in an au gratin style, these spuds are rich, delicious, and downright addictive. Be sure to make reservations, though on weekends in particular, you can count on waiting for a table with or without them.

Steak Under Seasonal Influence: LarkCreekSteak
It’s hard to find an unforgettable steak in San Francisco for under $40, but Bay Area celebrity chef Bradley Ogden’s latest venture does just that. While it’s located in the Westfield San Francisco Centre, don’t dare think for a second that this is mall fare. Steaks are perfectly grilled over fruitwood and charcoal embers and served with a choice of sauces. The red- wine-marinated hanger steak is a manageable 10-ounce portion, and you can always add seasonal sides—which Chef Jeremy Bearman’s serves as a tasting or family style, depending upon your hunger level and number of dining companions. Beer-braised Brussels sprouts with caraway, butter, and thyme are especially tasty, while desserts far surpass the usual tooth-achingly sweet steak house suspects.

Classic Steak: House of Prime Rib
If you’re meandering down Van Ness Avenue, looking for the absolute holy trinity of any meat-eating experience—a well-crafted martini, a fantastic slab of beef and a wine list that can hold its own—House of Prime Rib answers the call. The menu at this old-school establishment is straightforward and all about the preferred cut of meat—the prime rib. After you down one of their generously sized martinis, the biggest decision you have to make is how much meat you can manage to scarf down (they offer four carving options). The King Henry VIII Cut—an extra-thick slab of meat—sends hungry diners to a state of euphoria. All prime-rib entrees come with a plethora of sides, including a salad, the de rigueur potato product (mashed or baked), Yorkshire pudding, and fresh creamed spinach or creamed corn. Be sure to make a reservation—this place is always packed.

Steak Plus: Seasons Steak & Seafood
Go by land or by sea at the spot that lets you mix and match your meat with something a bit different: fish. For one of the best views in the city overlooking Market Street, not to mention a surprisingly chic adjacent lounge scene, sashay over to the newly revamped Seasons Steak & Seafood at The Four Seasons Hotel. Brit-born Executive Chef Jeremy Emmerson’s signature style of using simply prepared, locally sourced ingredients shines on a brand-new menu where steak and seafood get equal billing. The aged New York sirloin arrives in flawless form—charred medium rare (just ask if you’d like it differently). Tender and juicy with a hint of Madeira and plenty of jus, it gets high marks for flavor. Baked Iaccopa Farm butter beans make the standard mashed-potato side seem wimpy. For the indecisive, Emmerson offers a “Surf ‘n Turf” tasting menu, which allows diners to try six preparations in three different menu courses—a bargain at $59. (Tack on $39 for wine pairings.)

LarkCreekSteak Credit: John Sutton	Seasons Steak & Seafood Credit: © 2007 Frankie Frankeny, FrankenyImages.com
	Izzy's Steak & Chops Credit: John Dent Studios

Information:

Acme Chophouse
24 Willie Mays Plaza
www.acmechophouse.com
644-0240

Boboquivari’s
1450 Lombard St.
www.boboquivaris.com
441-8880

Harris’ Restaurant
2100 Van Ness Ave.
www.harrisrestaurant.com
673-1888

House of Prime Rib
1906 Van Ness Ave.
885-4605

Izzy’s Steaks & Chops
3345 Steiner St.
www.izzyssteaks.com
563-0487

LarkCreekSteak
(at the Westfield San
Francisco Centre)
845 Market St., 4th Floor
www.larkcreek.com
593-4100

Seasons Steak & Seafood
(at the Four Seasons Hotel)
757 Market St.
www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco
633-3838