12. Steve Fields’ Steak & Lobster Lounge
Overall Score: 87.21
5013 W. Park Blvd., Plano
Steak: All of the Prime steaks are wet aged a minimum of 28 days and served with a “loaded” baked potato. Our porterhouse was thick and juicy, but the filet was on the dry side for a steak cooked medium rare. Scores: filet (10 oz., $38) 92, porterhouse (22 oz., $48) 90
Service: Friendly and efficient. 87
Wine sell: Another straight to Oregon Pinot Noir sell. However, our server was well-educated on many of the wines on the list and tossed out wine terms such as “jammy” and “fruity components” with authority. My eagle-eyed assistant spotted a Chappellet Mountain Cuvée for $57 and asked about the blend. Our server didn’t know, but when she returned with the answer, she’d brought along a taste. (Note: the restaurant also offers flights of wine for $15.) 85
Shrimp: Five “wild caught” shrimp served in a traditional metal bowl with spicy cocktail sauce. (U-8-12, $14) 82
Salads: Short list of usual steakhouse suspects, including a retro spinach with hot bacon vinaigrette. 85
Vegetables: Ho-hum jumbo green asparagus. 85
Potatoes: A potato baked in kosher salt comes with every steak, but we opted to substitute whipped sweet potatoes with a hint of citrus and a thin melted marshmallow topping. 90
Dessert: I would not allow myself to order fried cheesecake, but the chocolate caramel buttercream cake was great for breakfast the next morning. 85
Ambiance: The bustling dining room benefits from the live piano music at the adjacent Lobster Lounge. The bar is packed with fun-loving baby boomers, which is a nice way of saying older clientele. The dining room is a mix of families, couples, and guys on “man-dates.” 85