Golden Steer Steakhouse Las Vegas — Restaurant in Las Vegas

I have lived in Las Vegas for the past year, and I'm a big foodie, which translates to my friend asking me for any recommendations on the best steak I've ever eaten. I'm not a big steakhouse person, so I just gave him a generic restaurant as an answer. Which was, I don't know? BJ Restaurant and Brewery. His jaw dropped to the floor, and he told me I had to head down to Golden Steer immediately. He was giving me the history behind where Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis dined here, and it was an iconic restaurant that is the soul of Vegas. So I waited and daydreamed about going to this restaurant.

My brother was visiting me out of town, and he wanted to try out a Vegas restaurant. and I had the perfect place for him. We drove to the restaurant and waited outside until it opened because we didn't have a reservation, plus there was open seating at the bar. The inside was decorated with a 1940s mob theme in mind. My brother and I were in awe at the history that passed through this place. When I was seated at the bar, I regretted my decision of not getting a table because I wanted to be sitting at the tables to experience the restaurant to its fullest because the artwork and frames of firearms were such a classy touch on the decor, but next time.

I was very excited about the place where I ordered an old-fashioned cocktail to celebrate my brother being in town and my birthday that passed. He also got a cocktail, but I don't remember. As we scanned the menu, an appetizer caught my attention, and it was the toasted ravioli. I can't place my finger on who recommended it, but I vividly remember an influencer saying these are to die for, so I ordered them. My brother and I decided to split the cost by requesting a steak for both of us. We went with Longhorn (Special New York Cut) Extra Thick 24oz* and paired it with two sides, french fries and asparagus.

First, the ravioli with marinara sauce was mouth-watering, crispy, and toasted on the outside with a sensational first-bite crunch that satisfied your taste buds when you hit the filling of seasoned beef and light cheese. I did my best to be mindful of how much I was eating because my brother was also sharing with me. I just couldn't help but eat 4 of them, and the sauce was exceptional. I tried a ravioli without it, and it was perfect. I tried it with the sauce, and it was even better. I enjoyed this dish.

Now, onto the entrée: never had I ever had a steak cooked with impeccable precision. I mean, the sear on the surface of the steak was absolute perfection, and the stage of doneness for a steak I love is medium rare, and they hit it right on the nail. I mean, it was beautiful, the temperature was beyond what I expected, and when I took a bite of the steak, it melted in my mouth because it was so tender. I said MELTED, like how better can you get than that, where the juices just explode full of flavor as it just slides down your throat? I can still recall the sensation from 4 months back. That's how good it was. The side of fries and asparagus was also delicious too, steak fries, to be exact, with a golden crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, just how I prefer them.

The asparagus was pan-fried and finished off with a steam, I believe. The Golden Steer still roams around in my mind from time to time, and I'm saving up my checks so that I can order the tomahawk steak with the table-side caser salad. I believe that this is the #1 steakhouse in Vegas, and it has five stars.

I understand there are many on the strip and around the city, but I can't expect them to be better than this place. There's so much that elevates your meal here that I find it almost impossible. This is where you need to be for dinner if you're out of town. A++++++ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. I can't stress it enough. You will...

(This is one of my most noticed reviews!!)

Heard rave reviews about this place and it is a top rated steak house but I'm convinced they did not give me a quality cut. They were close to closing so I'm thinking maybe they just wanted to finish it quickly.

Although, nothing else was really good. The bread was hard and not tasty.

I ordered the short horn, asparagus, and a side of peppercorn sauce.

One thing I'm very particular about steak is that when an establishment gives you a crocodile dundee knife, it is a bad sign. Good steak can be cut with a butter knife. Shouldn't need a jagged saw but that's what they gave me. And that's what it needed.

I opted for grilled asparagus and it was hard in some places and limp in others. Not appetizing. The sauce was the only thing good and now I'm wondering if it's even made in house.

About the steak. It came out crispy on the edges with a burnt flavor. Then it wasn't evenly cooked. Really bad sign. And it was chewy so I sent it back. The server agreed it was not medium but later told me the chef cut it and it was medium in the middle??? Like... what? Steak should NOT have uneven cooking. At all. It was like it was frozen and they thawed it out then quickly tried to cook it in a salamander. This is not how a high class steak place should serve steak. Ever. I sent it back and the second was worse than the first. They served the second medium rare, not fresh. It was just really chewy. With a huge piece of gristle on it. What are they actually serving here??

And not that I really care but I sat at the bar and the bar staff kept making crude jokes and gestures with each other like I wasn't even there. Normally I wouldn't care but after getting this dog meat tasting steak, it was just not funny to me.

I am going to have to NOT recommend this place if you ask me. Judging by others reviews, I guess this was unusual but 2 tries and everything else was also poorly made and it almost feels intentional. Hard pass. 100 bucks and I should be at least able to finish it but I couldn't.

UPDATE : The cookie cutter response and generic reply tells me they don't care. Which is funny because I was told the owners were standing right behind me during my meal and possibly overheard (or at least saw) every thing. Which is great!! Now I know where to go when I have a few thousand to blow to bring people for dog meat. Oh, and I've been doing reviews for awhile with over 50 million views of my reviews. I've also formerly been a steak house chef at a very high rated steak house that would put this place to shame. So, you continue to serve raw hide and I will continue to give honest and informed reviews, deal...? Great.

Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere.

Had to laugh. Reading other bad reviews...Any bad review, the response you get from the owner is like the guest must be wrong. They can't believe someone might have had a bad experience. They take zero responsibility. Would love to see Gordon Ramsay tear this place up and the owner cry because they can't handle it.

One other side note. I read a Vietnam veterans review and he was not happy they made him take his ball cap off otherwise dressed the part. The reply was that they have a strict dress code to keep the ambiance. Meanwhile, another review said there was a full family all wearing shorts after being told there's a strict code of not wearing shorts. Again, they don't seem to really care. A couple of words to act like it...

Ambiance - Rat Pack Vibe: One of the standout features of Golden Steer Steakhouse is its nostalgic ambiance reminiscent of the Rat Pack days. Adorning the walls are pictures of iconic figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. This classic touch adds a unique charm, transporting diners back to the glamour and sophistication of that bygone era. Tonight, we are here to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday, and the restaurant's ambiance has added a special touch to the occasion.

Service: The staff at Golden Steer Steakhouse exude professionalism and friendliness. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm smile and promptly seated. The waitstaff was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that our celebration went smoothly. They even brought out a beautifully presented birthday dessert for my father-in-law, adding a thoughtful touch to the evening.

Steak Taste: While the steak selection is extensive, the taste did not live up to the high expectations set by the restaurant's reputation. The steaks, although cooked well, lacked the extraordinary flavors that one might anticipate at this price point. It felt somewhat ordinary, and we were left wanting a bit more for the premium we paid.

Voucher Hiccups: However, our dining experience took a sour turn due to a significant issue with a voucher that was given as a tip to my father-in-law. Despite being a legitimate certificate from the restaurant, it was declared void on their end. This incident resulted in confusion and disappointment, as we had anticipated using a $250 voucher during our reservation, only to find out during payment that it was not accepted.

Price Discrepancy: This unforeseen circumstance led to a substantial increase in our final bill. What could have been a $160 payment turned into a staggering $412. Jack, the manager, offered some credits that brought the total down to $373, but it was still far from the expected price we had in mind when deciding to dine at this restaurant. This miscommunication and the subsequent financial impact left us dissatisfied with the overall experience.

Improvement Suggestions: While it's understood that mistakes can happen, especially with voucher handling, this incident highlights the need for a more robust and transparent process. If the restaurant continues to distribute certificates that may potentially end up in the wrong hands, there should be a reevaluation of their system. Digitizing the voucher process or implementing clear rules and disclaimers on the certificates could prevent future misunderstandings and financial inconveniences for guests.

Conclusion: Golden Steer Steakhouse, despite its charming ambiance and pleasant service, falls short of expectations due to the significant hiccup with the voucher system. The disappointment stemming from the voided certificate and the subsequent unexpected expenses overshadowed the positive aspects of our dining experience. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for guests who may receive such vouchers, urging the restaurant to reconsider their approach to prevent similar occurrences...