A $28 prime filet? The Gables' Sexy New Steakhouse Is Head-Scratchingly Affordable.
Don't ask questions. Just shut up and enjoy the steak.
There’s a trend going on in steakhouses right now, and I’m not mad about it. For the second time in a row, I went to check out a new meat palace, looked at the menu, and said to my server, “That’s it?” After years of being torched to the tune of $60-80 a steak, I’d become accustomed to the sticker shock. Then I went into Ro Steakhouse last night, looked at the selection, and saw an 8oz prime filet for…$28? I don’t think you could even get that at Outback.
I’m not sure how Ro, the swanky new steakhouse inside the Alhambra Tower in Coral Gables, is selling beautifully prepared steaks for less than you’d pay at Wild Fork. But live in Miami long enough and you learn not to ask questions. And while I’m not sure how long these prices are going to last, if you love fine steaks in a sexy, smoky space, this place needs to be on your weekend agenda.
Are these steaks for real? And are they any good?
To paraphrase Teri Hatcher, they’re real, and they’re spectacular. I was suspicious of the too-good-to-be-true prices too, but then the 14 oz NY Strip ($42) and my filet ($28) arrived perfectly cooked, and they were as good as nearly any steakhouse in the city. My advice it to just shut up and eat the steak until the owners figure out they’re undercutting other restaurants by half.
The space: Is yet another stunner, which makes the low prices even more curious. It’s made to create an earthen fire den, where you walk through an LED-lit entry that looks like embers glowing through firewood. The dining room is filled with similar effects, including a steamy bar made to appear like a fire pit, with no actual fire. A light could of smoke lends the place a campfire-y atmosphere, and it’s just dark enough to give Ro some serious sex appeal without needing a flashlight to see the menu.
What to eat and drink: The steak, obviously, is not to be missed. Because a $28 oz ribeye center cut only comes around so often. The rest of the menu isn’t so head-scratchingly affordable, but the burrata garden salad actually comes with greens, and a solid pesto. The emerald guacamole includes pineapple, a fun twist on the classic. And the truffle risotto and spicy rigatoni do the job if you’ve got a vegetarian at the table.
The other straight up banger is the Old Fashioned, a must for those of us who enjoy a little pre-steak bourbon. It’s perfectly balanced and the odd OF made so the booze doesn’t overpower the rest of the drink. I don’t rank these kinds of things, but I’m hard pressed to think of a better one in Miami.
Perfect for: Fancy dinners that won’t break the bank.
Expect to pay: You could be out the door for under $50 if you just order steak. If you go all-in, and get a couple cocktails, you’re looking at $100.
Pro tip: If you’re not starving, split a big steak. They come pre-sliced so they’re easy to share, and at these prices it’s a surprising cheap date.
How’s the parking? Decent. On-street parking abounds on Alhambra.
@rosteakhouse // 121 Alhambra Plaza Suite 110, Coral Gables
