I don't know how to break this to you, but I don't have a steakhouse.

Covino's Italian Restaurant in Plano... the original is in Lawn Guisland... they have the best veal parmagiana - just like my late grandmother used to make!

Tony Packo's Cafe in Toledo is my must-go-to place whenever I'm home. When I lived in NC there was a barbecue joint down the street from my apt and the hospital that had killer Eastern NC bbq (can't get it anywhere else)... it was one of those places that no one called by name so I don't remember what it was called but anyone who went to ECU might know it. For good Tex Mex locally, El Fenix has great enchiladas (very few of the Tex-Mex places here are chains... the locals are too good).

Roys is a chain... more unique than most but it's here in Dallas too

Back home in FL, I looooove Roger's BBQ. They have 3 locations in the area...that doesn't count as a chain does it?

Chicago: La Donna. Two words: pumpkin ravioli. There is nothing better in the world.

Boulder: Sunflower.

OK, I Love Steakhouses...

NYC -- The Palm (Palm, too)
Chicago -- Gene and Georgettis
Tampa -- Bern's (probably my favorite anywhere)
Denver -- The Aurora Summit or Burke's Steakhouse
Las Vegas -- Smith and Wolinski's (Also in NYC)
KC -- The Golden Ox (It's not really great, but owned by a brother Delt)
SF -- Pompei's Grotto (OK, not a steakhouse, but a little place on the wharf)

Have to mention a chain:

Denver, Columbus, NYC, SF, LA, KC, St. Louis, Philly, New Orleans, Vegas, Atlanta, San Antonio, Orlando and a few other cities I can't think of right now:

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Excellent everywhere.

Just thinking of Ruth's Chris' Creme Brulee is making my mouth water!

Smith is a chain and so is the palm. The Palm I take issue with because it is an extremely overpriced crap steakhouse. In NY, the bext steakhouse hands down is Peter Lugar's. I do however think that making a steak is not frigging magic and it's just a giant piece of meat.

And Kath, Trotter has one real restaurant where he is the resident chef and it's in Chicago. He just opened one up in NY at the time warner but I doin't even think it's up and running just yet. He also has a restaurant he opened up in Mexico called C but it's different. There is a fast food "trotters to go" not too far away from me but again, not a restaurant. So chain? No, not at all. I do have a feeling he's going to dedicate more of his time to the NY restaurant because the building houses the best chefs in the world once all the restaurants are up.

There is also a big difference to me in terms of places to go that are hip. In NYC, you have Nobu. Forget the fact that I don't particulary care for sushi, I still don't think the food is that great and it's living off the hip reputation. That's why in Chicago, I picked Ambria even though it attracts an older crowd and the menu isn't that radical. I've been to the hip places like thyme and ...eh, nice decor but not nice food.

-Rudey

Seattle, too!

I ate at Smith and Wolinsky's in Chicago....it was good. I think there's one in New Orleans too.

I forgot to add New Orleans restaurants...

I like Mr. B's. There's a few others but I can't remember the names right now.

Also one of the best places I've had a wine menu is a small place called Indigo in san francisco. The food was eh, but the wine with each course was really great.

In LA, I always wished I loved sea food so I could go to Crustation. Oh well, I hear it's fun.

-Rudey

Sorry, but I have to correct you! Some of my favorite places:

Xochimilco's in mexican town in Detroit
Mexican Fiesta in Dearborn (just as good as Xochi's)
Any of the restaurants in Greek Town, but especially Fishbones, Ole Parthenon, and Pizza Papalis
For real home style Italian- Clemente's in Lincoln Park

My favorites for Steak:
1897 Smokehouse in Trenton: in a beautifully restored historic home across from the old Riverside hospital, very elegant
Sportsman's Den: the restaurant attached to Riverview Highlands
The original chef from Sportsman's Den opened the 1897 Smokehouse so the food is very similar, just different atmospheres (and prices)

Hickey's: especially on piano wars nights!

Dee

New York area:
- Peter Luger (either location)
- La Grenouille
- Le Bernardin
- Sapphire
- Vong
- Shun Lee

Connecticut:
- Cobbs Mill Inn
- Three Bears
- Putnam House
- Taipei Tokyo (good sushi... I think they may be a chain tho')
- Eric & Michael's Steakhouse

Chicago:
- Tru (be prepared to drop lots o' $$$)
- Morton's (yes it's a chain, but it is Morton's of Chicago)

Boston:
- Ambrosia on Huntington
- Aujourd'hui
- Fire & Ice
- Kaya
- Sunset Grill & Tap (for their beer list)
(The Ritz-Carlton Dining Room is off my list because of their incredibly rude service.)

London:
- Veeraswamy
- Le Gavroche

Paris:
- Jules Verne

LOL, my list looks like the Zagat guide...

Chicago: Gulliver's on W. Howard, very funky, diverse menu and spinach artichoke dip to die for!

NYC: (It's been a while since I've been there) Le Cirque

DC: Bullfeathers, the Silver Diner (a chain of about 4 restaurants)

Pittsburgh: Peter's Place, The Common Plea, Max's Allegheny Tavern