Great steak house
Aug 28th, 2008 | 11:14 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
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Great steak house
Council Oak Restaurant at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood Florida
My husband the Crabby Old Guy (an affectionate term) has decided to search for the best steak restaurants he can find.
Here is another installment in The Crabby Old Guy’s review of Steak Houses.
This time the adventure in steakary takes us to The Council Oak Steak House Restaurant in the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Hollywood Florida. The Savvy Old Lady and I visited here for a fun evening of gaming and dinner all under one roof. This casino hotel, which is also convenient to the Port of Miami and Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Terminals, is a great layover to and from that dream cruise. It is part of the Seminole Native American group of hotel casinos.
Let’s face it, the last place a steak aficionado would think of going to for a great steak is a casino hotel restaurant. Well, let me tell you, if you are around Miami, Florida and in the mood for a great steak, fantastic and knowledgeable service and some interesting people watching add this restaurant to your list. Located in Hollywood, Florida, just a short drive from Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, this 2008 Zagat Rated “Very Good to Excellent” has earned and keeps earning this distinction.
After a bit of gaming and in-casino people-watching Savvy and I headed off to the smart, contemporary and clubby-casual Council Oak restaurant off the casino main floor. The front of this 400 person restaurant has a cozy bar with a jazz quartet playing there most evenings; this bar is a nice retreat from the action in the casino even if you are not going to dine at the Council Oaks. Toward the rear of the spacious and bright main dining area are some wonderful windows looking out on to the tropical landscaping that surrounds the resort. And, for private parties of up to six special guests, there is a private dining wine cellar-atmosphere room off of the main seating area that is quite special.
While atmosphere is important you can’t eat it, so now to the main event – the steak and accoutrements. Top line – Exceptional! The meats here are carefully dry-aged, giving them a nutty-beefy flavor. The servings have a texture, quality cut and taste that rival the best steaks I have had anywhere. In a steak-house, portion size matters. At Council Oak one phrase sums it up – “Take home bag, please”. The potions on the steaks and the sides are HUMONGOUS. The ones that we tried and saw passing our table were very well prepared. One of the extra special specialties here is the Lobster Mac & Cheese. This dish is becoming increasingly popular as a lux-comfort food side dish. It is a great dish if well prepared and let me tell you that this rendition is THE BEST this Crabby Old Guy has had. Service here was professionally attentive, knowledgeable about both the food and the wine and quite efficient. The standard high-end steak house pricing applies but with the quality, portion sizes, people watching and complimentarily “gourmet” bottled water selection (Fuji or Voss, if you please) it is well worth it.
For this dining experience The Savvy Old Lady and I decided to stick with the classics. Savvy started with the French Onion Soup, very tasty with a rich beef stock flavor. Here’s a tip though, this same great potion is also served up in the Blue Plate casual restaurant on the other end of the property and it is every bit as good. I was feeling very much in the mood of a Diamond Jim Brady and for a starter ordered the Oysters Rockefeller. These came six to a platter served very traditionally, they, themselves and the plate. The sauce on top of these little jewels was crispy outside and had nice velvety inside. The oysters and spinach nestled underneath were done perfectly warm, not overdone as in some cases. The dish seemed just a tiny bit sweet for my taste (a bit too much Pernod perhaps) but not at all unpleasant. By the way, a bit of fine food trivia. Do you know why the oysters are presented on a bed of green? Ah, to represent “greenbacks”, of course. These two appetizers were great ways to start our classic steakhouse meal.
Next, we split a Ceasar Salad. This, of all the dishes we had that evening, was a bit of a disappointment. In sum it was adequate, at best. The salad came out premade. While the Romaine lettuce was crisp and the croutons crunchy neither the dressing nor croutons had that freshly-prepared quality or taste. There were no anchovies served and none were offered. This is a shame, as a Ceasar well prepared at table side with a bit of flourish speaks volumes about true steakhouse tradition.
Next was the star of the dinner – The Beef. Savvy had the Queen Cut prime rib with Yorkshire Pudding (something that we heard was one of the specialties of the house). Their idea of a queen-cut at Council Oak is quite reminiscent of the rather round-and-fully-packed Queen Victoria; quite a large serving. Same for the Yorkshire Pudding, huge and prepared as a cross between a popover and a pan-bread. The prime rib was served just as ordered and had a nice brown look to the finish, not that steamed look you see in all too many platters. It was very well marbleized but not so much so that you had to spend half your time dissecting morsels of meat. But most of all that dry aging process magic comes right through the dish and the meat’s taste is magnificent. The Yorkshire Pudding was also well done and a perfect accompaniment.
I had the bone-in Cowboy Rib Eye. What a beautiful piece of meat. What a great presentation. What perfection on the grill. This splendid cut was, no kidding I measured it, 14 inches long from the tip of its nicely butchered bone to the tail of its lovely beef steak. It was served au natural on a long unadorned white platter that barely held its magnificence. Ok, my eyes and mind are impressed…now to taste. Ah, yes! Sheer culinary steakary heaven. Buttery, nutty and beefy. Perfectly grilled and tender as is should be, just needing attention from the steak knife but not needing any distracting effort to cut.
As a side we split the Lobster Mac & Cheese. This was a very different preparation than I have had in the past. It was lovely. The cheese sauce was just understated enough so that the sweetness of the large and generously dispersed chunks of lobster meat popped through. This side dish went well with the steaks but it certainly was about as rich a side dish as I would ever want to have. But I must admit it was worth having to suffer through.
For desert we split Savvy’s all-time favorite, chocolate soufflé. This confection came out in perfect rise and our experienced and personable server, Pascal (who opened this restaurant with pride four years ago), elected to serve the soufflé with the Grand Marnier vanilla sauce on the side. That, I think, is the perfect way to do it. I could never understand why folks take the light, delicate chocolaty puff of a soufflé and weigh it down taste and look wise with a sauce.
This is a thoroughly delightful and classic steak meal in an unexpected and “happening” casino resort hotel venue. For a sure thing in a classic steakhouse experience while in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or en route from a Caribbean cruise, going for an evening of gaming excitement and classic steakhouse fare at The Council Oak at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is something to put onto your travel agenda. You will not be disappointed.
Hugs,
The Savvy Old Lady and the Crabby Old Guy
www.thesavvyoldlady.com
Hollywood Florida
My husband the Crabby Old Guy (an affectionate term) has decided to search for the best steak restaurants he can find.
Here is another installment in The Crabby Old Guy’s review of Steak Houses.
This time the adventure in steakary takes us to The Council Oak Steak House Restaurant in the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Hollywood Florida. The Savvy Old Lady and I visited here for a fun evening of gaming and dinner all under one roof. This casino hotel, which is also convenient to the Port of Miami and Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Terminals, is a great layover to and from that dream cruise. It is part of the Seminole Native American group of hotel casinos.
Let’s face it, the last place a steak aficionado would think of going to for a great steak is a casino hotel restaurant. Well, let me tell you, if you are around Miami, Florida and in the mood for a great steak, fantastic and knowledgeable service and some interesting people watching add this restaurant to your list. Located in Hollywood, Florida, just a short drive from Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, this 2008 Zagat Rated “Very Good to Excellent” has earned and keeps earning this distinction.
After a bit of gaming and in-casino people-watching Savvy and I headed off to the smart, contemporary and clubby-casual Council Oak restaurant off the casino main floor. The front of this 400 person restaurant has a cozy bar with a jazz quartet playing there most evenings; this bar is a nice retreat from the action in the casino even if you are not going to dine at the Council Oaks. Toward the rear of the spacious and bright main dining area are some wonderful windows looking out on to the tropical landscaping that surrounds the resort. And, for private parties of up to six special guests, there is a private dining wine cellar-atmosphere room off of the main seating area that is quite special.
While atmosphere is important you can’t eat it, so now to the main event – the steak and accoutrements. Top line – Exceptional! The meats here are carefully dry-aged, giving them a nutty-beefy flavor. The servings have a texture, quality cut and taste that rival the best steaks I have had anywhere. In a steak-house, portion size matters. At Council Oak one phrase sums it up – “Take home bag, please”. The potions on the steaks and the sides are HUMONGOUS. The ones that we tried and saw passing our table were very well prepared. One of the extra special specialties here is the Lobster Mac & Cheese. This dish is becoming increasingly popular as a lux-comfort food side dish. It is a great dish if well prepared and let me tell you that this rendition is THE BEST this Crabby Old Guy has had. Service here was professionally attentive, knowledgeable about both the food and the wine and quite efficient. The standard high-end steak house pricing applies but with the quality, portion sizes, people watching and complimentarily “gourmet” bottled water selection (Fuji or Voss, if you please) it is well worth it.
For this dining experience The Savvy Old Lady and I decided to stick with the classics. Savvy started with the French Onion Soup, very tasty with a rich beef stock flavor. Here’s a tip though, this same great potion is also served up in the Blue Plate casual restaurant on the other end of the property and it is every bit as good. I was feeling very much in the mood of a Diamond Jim Brady and for a starter ordered the Oysters Rockefeller. These came six to a platter served very traditionally, they, themselves and the plate. The sauce on top of these little jewels was crispy outside and had nice velvety inside. The oysters and spinach nestled underneath were done perfectly warm, not overdone as in some cases. The dish seemed just a tiny bit sweet for my taste (a bit too much Pernod perhaps) but not at all unpleasant. By the way, a bit of fine food trivia. Do you know why the oysters are presented on a bed of green? Ah, to represent “greenbacks”, of course. These two appetizers were great ways to start our classic steakhouse meal.
Next, we split a Ceasar Salad. This, of all the dishes we had that evening, was a bit of a disappointment. In sum it was adequate, at best. The salad came out premade. While the Romaine lettuce was crisp and the croutons crunchy neither the dressing nor croutons had that freshly-prepared quality or taste. There were no anchovies served and none were offered. This is a shame, as a Ceasar well prepared at table side with a bit of flourish speaks volumes about true steakhouse tradition.
Next was the star of the dinner – The Beef. Savvy had the Queen Cut prime rib with Yorkshire Pudding (something that we heard was one of the specialties of the house). Their idea of a queen-cut at Council Oak is quite reminiscent of the rather round-and-fully-packed Queen Victoria; quite a large serving. Same for the Yorkshire Pudding, huge and prepared as a cross between a popover and a pan-bread. The prime rib was served just as ordered and had a nice brown look to the finish, not that steamed look you see in all too many platters. It was very well marbleized but not so much so that you had to spend half your time dissecting morsels of meat. But most of all that dry aging process magic comes right through the dish and the meat’s taste is magnificent. The Yorkshire Pudding was also well done and a perfect accompaniment.
I had the bone-in Cowboy Rib Eye. What a beautiful piece of meat. What a great presentation. What perfection on the grill. This splendid cut was, no kidding I measured it, 14 inches long from the tip of its nicely butchered bone to the tail of its lovely beef steak. It was served au natural on a long unadorned white platter that barely held its magnificence. Ok, my eyes and mind are impressed…now to taste. Ah, yes! Sheer culinary steakary heaven. Buttery, nutty and beefy. Perfectly grilled and tender as is should be, just needing attention from the steak knife but not needing any distracting effort to cut.
As a side we split the Lobster Mac & Cheese. This was a very different preparation than I have had in the past. It was lovely. The cheese sauce was just understated enough so that the sweetness of the large and generously dispersed chunks of lobster meat popped through. This side dish went well with the steaks but it certainly was about as rich a side dish as I would ever want to have. But I must admit it was worth having to suffer through.
For desert we split Savvy’s all-time favorite, chocolate soufflé. This confection came out in perfect rise and our experienced and personable server, Pascal (who opened this restaurant with pride four years ago), elected to serve the soufflé with the Grand Marnier vanilla sauce on the side. That, I think, is the perfect way to do it. I could never understand why folks take the light, delicate chocolaty puff of a soufflé and weigh it down taste and look wise with a sauce.
This is a thoroughly delightful and classic steak meal in an unexpected and “happening” casino resort hotel venue. For a sure thing in a classic steakhouse experience while in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or en route from a Caribbean cruise, going for an evening of gaming excitement and classic steakhouse fare at The Council Oak at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is something to put onto your travel agenda. You will not be disappointed.
Hugs,
The Savvy Old Lady and the Crabby Old Guy
www.thesavvyoldlady.com
Aug 28th, 2008 | 11:20 AM
#2
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
One question. Do they smoke like crazy there? We stopped for dinner at the Seminole Casino in West Miami off 41. Apparently they are exempt from all "no smoking" laws. When we got home we had to strip and wash our clothes and shower immediately. Several days later my neighbor got into my car and said, "Who's been smoking in your car?" and SHE SMOKES!
But what a great and detailed review!
But what a great and detailed review!
Aug 28th, 2008 | 12:32 PM
#5
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
I'm often the first one to point out advertisers here, but thesavvyoldlady is a regular poster here. Click on her name and you'll find lots of posts. Yes, her blog is listed at the bottom of this particular post, but if you go there you'll see her very funny disclaimer about not being related to any business or anything else --except to the Crabby Old Guy.
She's very funny. Personally I don't mind that you can go check out her very funny blog. This is a far cry from the usual ads here -- like the one for Chinese Gift Baskets I just saw this morning!
She's very funny. Personally I don't mind that you can go check out her very funny blog. This is a far cry from the usual ads here -- like the one for Chinese Gift Baskets I just saw this morning!
Aug 28th, 2008 | 04:14 PM
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Hi Neo,
The Council Oak Restaurant and the bar and jazz area is non-smoking. Recently they also added a non-smoking slot room in the casino for the convenience of their patrons.
I appreciate your kind words regarding my blogs and your right I'm only related to The Crabby Old Guy. LOL
Hugs,
The Savvy Old Lady
The Council Oak Restaurant and the bar and jazz area is non-smoking. Recently they also added a non-smoking slot room in the casino for the convenience of their patrons.
I appreciate your kind words regarding my blogs and your right I'm only related to The Crabby Old Guy. LOL
Hugs,
The Savvy Old Lady
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