Abruzzo Italian Steakhouse

Executive summary: Too expensive and poorly executed. Save your money and eat at the food court.

Read on below for the full experience.

Went there because it was the closest thing to being a real restaurant that was still open at the airport. I was the only customer so service and quality of food should be good, right? Felt like treating myself so, damn the prices, ordered away. Ordered the $45 bone-in, aged, 16oz. New York strip, medium rare bien sur. Two overpriced sides and a $45 bottle of red. Total - $135.

Remember, I'm the only customer so the kitchen has the time to get it right. The steak, sides, and wine arrived all around the same time. Newark ounces must be smaller than regular ounces, 10 to 12 at best. Cut into my steak with the silver coated plastic knife and fork (not their fault, airport rules) to find a perfect MEDIUM WELL steak. Cut into the steak a little more says the manager. OK. Make that WELL done.

No objections by manager, steak taken away but now I'm left with two sides and wine. Sides are eaten before new steak arrives. Having made a mistake, you just know that this time it'll be perfect. Wrong. Steak was very grilled on the outside but pushing rare, almost raw on the inside. Letting it rest a few minutes improved it. Taste wise, it was no different than a cheap supermarket steak. Sautéed kale was oily and salty and steak fries were damp. Wine met expectations.

What else can I say. Too expensive and poorly executed. Save your money and eat at the food court.