Al's Steakhouse

 One of my foodie friends was raving about a relatively new steakhouse tucked away in a strip on the northwest corner of Preston Royal shopping center so I knew that I had to try Al’s Steakhouse.

Step inside and you’ll swear this was formerly a fish place – porthole windows dot the front and the polished copper salad bar is boat shaped.  But, if it was once a fish house, it’s been redone with an appeal to the testosterone – dark woods and copper artwork.

The place is small – you can count the number of tables on your fingers.  The small bar is stocked with anything you can ask for – heavy on the manly spirits – scotch and bourbon.  With food this good, I can’t imagine why there weren’t more patrons at 7:30 on a Saturday night.  But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

The carnivore is right at home here with meats supplied by Chicago’s Allen Brothers Meat Company – the same supplier that services most of the more established and well known places in town – the Mercury, Eddie V’s, Abacus and Nick & Sam’s to name a few.  Three of us had steak – all came with green beans and carrots and a square of Lyonnaise potatoes.

One of us had the Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Alaskan King Crab Risotto with Mango Beurre Blanc – that’s butter for you non-francophiles.  Each dish was cooked to perfection just the way they were ordered.  For those who don’t like beef, the menu features a sautéed chicken breast and rack of lamb.  All entrees include a trip to the salad bar – no need to order appetizers but they do look tasty – steak tartar, crab & tuna tartar with port wine reduction or Burrata – Italian cheese risotto with braised duck.  The side dishes are steakhouse staples – but the onion rings deserve a nod – they’re absolutely delicious – crunchy and spiced just right.

The salad bar featured a cold pasta, portabella mushrooms, stuffed grape leaves, orzo and olives, fruit compote and broccoli along with the usual tomatoes and an array of dressings. We were too stuffed to even attempt dessert – although others rave about the Grand Marnier soufflé.

Al’s Steakhouse is owned by Yochai & Natalie Pinhas – the proprietors of Natalie’s Kosher Restaurant next door.

HelloDallas tip: Al’s Steakhouse serves half priced wine on Sunday and Monday evenings.

 

- by Constance Hannon, Dallas Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Constance Hannon

Connie Hannon is a freelance writer living in Dallas, Texas. She is a native Texan and has lived in Dallas and Washington, D.C. for the majority of her life. Connie graduated from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and received her masters in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University. She was a staffer on Capitol Hill and worked in CNN’s Washington Bureau, and with most of the television stations in the Dallas market.