Check out such major names entering the steak house business as Tony Vallone - Vallone's in Houston, Emeril's Del Monico Steak House, and Charlie Palmer's in Las Vegas. Also, Gallagher's, Peter Luger, Ben Benson's, Pietro's, The Post House, and Sparks, with one of the best wine lists, with the exception of Bern's Steak House in Tampa. Let's not discuss the success of Outback, which continues to set new records, or the turnaround at Sizzler by re-emphasis on, you guessed it, steak. Eating out at the upper strata level of restaurants is not cheap, and sometimes can be confusing, as the customer attempts to justify the expense by deciphering what it was that they ate, and whether it was memorable and worth the cost of the experience. Steak, chops and lobsters keep the experience manageable, and within the comfort zone of non-foodies, who make up a substantial portion of the market.
Consumers love their meat and potatoes, and when it comes to lobster, that's an experience.
In Washington D.C. you do not have Restaurant Row, you have Steak House Alley. Ltd. Mr. Haas is a food service industry consultant specializing in strategic marketing, and is a leading analyst in the industry. All rights reserved.