L.A.'s Best Steakhouses

A thick, juicy steak, wedge salad, baked potato, and a vodka martini to wash it down.  Twenty years ago, those were the elements of a fancy fine meal in Los Angeles. They still are: today, the upscale steakhouse remains a staple of L.A.'s food scene.   From trendy star-studded restaurants on the Sunset Strip to dark leather-clad old school favorites, each steakhouse offers up sizzling prime steaks and delicious sides.   Here is a sampling of prime LA eateries to satisfy any carnivore's craving.

Arroyo Chop House

The Arroyo Chop House reflects the contemporary craftsman architecture of many neighboring Pasadena buildings. Dark mahogany wood paneling, shiny brass accents, muted lighting from chandeliers and amber glass sconces, cozy booths, an outdoor fireplace and a huge pained art deco mural provide a stylish Arts-And-Crafts atmosphere in which to enjoy traditional American steakhouse fare. Steaks are offered with a variety of sauces, including peppercorn sherry cream, béarnaise, caramelized onion Dijon and portobello mushroom cabernet.  Although beef is the main attraction with half a dozen cuts to choose from, the menu also offers a good variety of seafood including Maine lobster, Ahi tuna, swordfish and oysters.

BOA Steakhouse

If you're craving elegance, sophistication and nightly movie star sightings, BOA on Sunset is the place to be seen.  Diners can choose from 13,000 square feet of seating including the dramatic outdoor dining patio, lounge, and indoor dining room.   All convey a warm, sleek, modern design with concrete floors, huge windows, and cozy circular leather booths.  Appetizers including Caesar salad and steak tartare are prepared tableside.   Steaks come with a choice of rubs and house made sauces including BOA's J-1 sauce.   Sides are traditional including creamed spinach, seven potato choices, lobster mac and cheese and chile lime corn.

The Palm

The original location opened in New York in 1926, and The Palm's West Hollywood counterpart is steeped in the same tradition both in atmosphere and menu items.  Walls are adorned with celebrity caricatures and cartoons and everything here is old school including the white-jacketed waiters, tin ceiling, white linen tablecloths and rich leather and wood booths. Standouts on the menu are the enormous lobsters and steaks, and other favorites include the lobster bisque, Gigi salad, signature Palm surf and turf, and the New York-imported cheesecake.

CUT

CUT transformed the Beverly Wilshire Hotel into a destination dining location.  Wolfgang Puck's signature steakhouse with a 90210 zip code offers all kinds of cuts including Japanese Wagyu, corn fed 35-day dry aged Nebraska, and 20-ounce New York steaks as well as Indian spice-inspired Kobe short ribs and lobster.  The atmosphere is modern with an exhibition open kitchen, local artwork and tableside displays of raw meat cuts.  Sides are traditional with a variety of vegetable and potato choices.  Dessert highlights include the dark chocolate soufflé and baked Alaska.