We weren’t going to go out for dinner for my b-day (have plans on Thursday) today, but Trisha asked where we were going for dinner and she came up with the idea to come here. I have to admit both that, one, I’ve been wanting to eat here for awhile and, two, I haven’t eaten here in the 27 years I’ve lived here in SF. This place is an institution, and very classic dining. We just decided to do a walk-in right as the doors opened (thank you Trisha for getting in line).

We started with a round of martinis since it was before dinner service started. Andrea and I both had dirty martinis which were tastefully dirty.

The menu is quite simple…what cut of prime rib do you want (although there is a fish offering). It’s my birthday and many people believe I have a hollow leg when they see me eat, so of course I went for the biggest which was the Henry VIII cut, medium rare of course, which was served bone in. I went for sides of creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. The women folk went for loaded baked potatoes and Trisha also opted for the creamed corn.

I have to say, the cut I received was not as big as I was expecting and I had no problem finishing it as well as helping Andrea with eating some of hers (neither Trisha or Andrea came close to finishing theirs. I guess I’m a growing boy, but horizontally was not what I had intended).

They did provide some sherbet with a candle for the birthday festivities, although I have PTSD from eating sherbet from having eaten so much when I was allergic to milk in my youth. So we ordered 3 desserts, because of course we did. Andrea had the creme brulee, Trisha had the strawberry shortcake and I had the pecan pie, which was surprisingly not very sweet at all and almost savory with the salted pecans.

For wine, I brought a bottle of 2015 Pride Reserve Claret since we had expected that a steak (meat) house would have a mediocre wine list although their wine list looked pretty reasonably with a greatest hits of California wines.

It’s not fine dining, but it’s just what I was looking for and judging by how busy it was here, and clearly for so many others, it was also what they were looking for. I definitely enjoyed it for what it was and I’d happily come back again.