We came to Merrill & Houston's to celebrate my brother's birthday. We came on a Thursday night and were seated immediately. Our waitress was very informative and pleasant. We had the stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta as appetizers. They were both delicious. The salad was gorgeous. My husband, brother and I had the ribeyes and my sister had the seafood Alfredo. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. My husband particularly loved the peppercorn sauce you can order. We then splurged on desserts - let me just tell you, these were ridiculous. Our favorites were the banana bread pudding, sundae and lemon berry mascarpone cake. We did a happy dance with every bite we took. read more

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I have been to Merrill & Houston's multiple times since they opened but have finally decided to sit down and write a review. To start with, the decor is very upscale for Beloit, with a large bar area and additional rooms for banquets or large groups. It does overlook the Rock River and is attached to the Iron Works Hotel. They sometimes have bands that play up front on the weekends. The drinks they offer are very good. The most famous is the Old Fasion which is a Wisconsin staple. Other drinks they make very well include martinis, and they also have a very good selection of wine and beer. The apps are limited for people who are vegetarian, only offering bruschetta. I was not a huge fan, since it is more like a soft roll with tomatoes and onions on top. I have also tried the stuffed mushrooms which are very good. The bread that they give out for free is amazing, almost like butter is baked into the bread. I have tried a variety of their main entrees. In regards to their steak, they do have a large selection of types. I have tried the filet and it has been hit or miss. I have tried it at least 3 times and have to say it is a little inconsistent. When prepared correctly, it is awesome. They do tend to over cook steaks, so it is best to tell them to prepare one level less than what you prefer. As far as desserts, the selection and presentation is excellent. Everything from the Creme brulee to the banana bread pudding are all excellent. Service is also a little hit or miss, depending on how busy the restaurant is. Given the limited selection in Beloit, it is a good choice for fine dining. If you are vegetarian, they will accommodate you with some entrees. If nothing else, it is a great place for drinks and dessert. read more

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint - Eggplant parm - Steakhouses Near Me - Beloit, Wisconsin

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Everything was perfect. One of the best steaks I have ever had. Service was perfect I would definitely repeat

We came here for a work dinner before the Covid days and it did not disappoint. Beautiful atmosphere and the steaks were excellent. You definitely won't leave hungry! read more

This restaurant offers a fine dining experience with a relaxing atmosphere and a great selection of steaks. I had the ribeye and it was cooked to a juicy perfection. Along with that they offer a decent selection of sides that compliment your entree quite well. The next time I am in Beloit Wisconsin I will definitely be stopping back by to try another cut of meat. read more

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint - 18 oz. ribeye with garlic potatoes and scallops. - Steakhouses Near Me - Beloit, Wisconsin

During our visit for dinner 10/2/29 we enjoyed a very good meal at M&H. Unfortunately, we took about 2/3 of it to go. When we made our reservation I inquired if the restaurant observed the mask and distance protocols currently in effect. The hostess stated that they did. A large sign on the door when we arrived stated the same. However, once inside it became very evident that the restaurant was very lax in enforcing the requirement. The hostess stated (and I'm serious) that "the sign is a state requirement, but we don't really follow it". Perhaps we'll be back at some point, but we've soured on this place. Hugely disappointed we informed the Manager, who retorted simply that she was "sorry to hear that". read more

Outstanding food and drinks!! The ambience is just wonderful. Patio dining is perfect on a warm summer night. Who doesn't love a great steakhouse ?! Go! Be amazed and end up with cravings you forgot you had or needed. read more

The chicken carbonara, warm bread rolls and oyster Rockefeller were outstanding. I wish my stomach were bigger because I could not stop eating the carbonara. No dieting. Get ready to fall into a food coma afterwards. read more

This is the best steakhouse in the state line area the lake Geneva Rockford etc. you will find no better steak

Great service. Steak was cooked to perfection, juicy, crusted, flavorful. Shrimp de joung appetizer was outstanding packed with garlic and flavorful breadcrumb crust. Fantastic for dipping the great bread. Bathrooms very nice. Two key litmus tests for me are good bread and nice bathroom. MH Steaks two thumbs read more

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Didn't expect this place to have a decent beer collection . Perfect for the last beer out on the night . They have tonnes of wines also ..Loved the relaxing sofas and lights. This is in the same building as Iron Works Hotel. read more

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint - Steakhouses Near Me - Beloit, Wisconsin

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Great service and delicious food. The perfect place to celebrate my birthday. My family took me here Saturday night and it was awesome from beginning to end. Such a cool space. Our meals were really good. The steaks cooked perfectly. I was even served a complimentary dessert for my birthday. Such a nice added touch to a wonderful evening. We will definitely return!! read more

The food is amazing! Service was great and servers all very polite. Sat at the bar for a bit and the bartender made an incredible old fashioned for me, blue cheese stuffed olives and all!! read more

Excellent dinner. Excellent bar. Prices and service need slight improvement We enjoyed Grouper and chicken marsala. Salad was great as was soup and bread. Wine and cocktails solid. We will be back. read more

BRAVO, CHEF WALKER!!!  Best of close to a dozen superb fine dining meals over a five year span our family, from the Seattle area, has enjoyed together at The Steak Joint!!   Everything about the steaks was outstanding: - the seasoning was superb, - perfectly seared steaks, and - were served exactly to order.   The Mushroom Caps were the best we've had in our visits to TSJ and were prepared flawlessly!   The Ravioli dinner was so good that our fussy eater finished it all...so that's a true measure of excellence! Desserts were excellent, especially the huge sundae (shared by 2 of us). The New York Style Cheesecake was a sweet and subtle finish to an incredibly delightful dinner! Amanda, our Server, performed in an exemplary manner, with special attention to getting all the details of our order correct while paying close attention to the children!  The rest of the Dining Room staff paid appropriate attention to us without being intrusive. The bar has a good stock of alcohol, flat screen TVs, local musicians and is convenient to both the Dining Room having both tables and booths while the waiting area has soft easy chairs. Reservations are not required BUT, you could have a long wait or be disappointed when you are told they are totally booked. Best to take no chances, so do yourself a favor. The Steak Joint is in the old Ironworks building which has been renovated into a hotel sharing space with the restaurant. Parking is iffy only because of the heavy volume of customers in the hotel and restaurant; however, there is plenty of parking within the immediate area. CHEF, to you and your staff, a huge THANK YOU for a wonderful experience at The Steak Joint!  We will be back!! TSJ is located in the downtown area and is proximate to Beloit College, high quality locally owned stores and a great view of the Rock River. A nicely developed Riverside Park, with walking paths, mini pavilions with picnic tables, boat launch area, lagoon with paddle boat rentals, is located about a 1/4 mile north. After a day of shopping, walking the downtown area and enjoying the Riverside Park, The Steak Joint is a perfect ending to a memorable visit. _____________________________________________________ A note of concern....the "pours" for servings of wine were miserly and, sadly, very disappointing.  They certainly did not compare favorably with our past experiences at TSJ. read more

Last time we ate here we were very disappointed. We have had a very good experience here and this didn't seem to be the same restaurant.

Where to even begin. Let's start with the positive: the steak was very good. However, for a "nice steakhouse" the service and experience was sub par. Let's start at the beginning of the meal. The menus are plastic, no specials and little variety. The sides collection is insulting. For a nice steakhouse experience you should be getting your plates cleared at the appetizer, bread, salad and dinner. You should also have separate butter knives, appetizer and salad forks from your meal forks. They do not provide any of those things, we were reusing silverware and plates at every turn. Subpar service experience for a semi pricy meal. The servers are not in a cohesive uniform, the bar service lagged and turnover was slow. Our server was very nice and I think the problems stem more from management. There were tray stands leaning up against the door as well. If you're looking for a good steakhouse experience go to Chicago and learn what expectations are for a full service three dollar sign experience. Do not settle for this "joint" with people in jeans and hats. It's insulting to a steakhouse experience. read more

It was 5 past 6 on a Friday night as we began our journey to the new and somewhat popular Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint in Beloit, Wisconsin. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a hostess which informed us that it would be a minute until we would be seated at our table. I took this time to gaze upon the bar and rustic yet nice feeling ambiance the place had. The noise level was loud but nothing one can't get used to. To my left I saw an array of leather furniture, adding to the overall feel of the place. Here is what I found strange about these leather couches and chairs: people were sitting there and having dinner? Shouldn't a proper setting at a table be used to enjoy your steak or seafood? As we were shown to our table, we passed walls full of blown up pictures of Beloit and it's surroundings. I enjoyed the overall ambiance. The service was good. Their beer selection was lacking, missing some common choices of darker beers that go great with steak. They did offer Guinness, which we ordered, but whoever poured it from the tap did a poor job at creating the "layering" effect that Guinness beers are so famous for. There were no porters or stouts available in bottles which was unfortunate. I would highly recommend the steak joint to keep couple good stouts and porters in stock as they go very well with heavier meats like beer and pork. The dinner was meh. The food was there, but it lacked something. Everything we had was decent but not amazing. It seemed like everything just blended together into one bland flavor instead of individual dishes really standing out with their unique flavor. Given that this is a new restaurant I would be curious to see how it changes over the next months or so. TIP: Check in on Yelp to get a house wine for FREE. read more

I moved to South Beloit nearly 2 years ago, but just had the good fortune to visit Merrill & Houston's last weekend. Having lived in the Chicago suburbs, also in Rockford (which also has some astounding restaurants to choose from, despite what some naysayers might claim)-my expectations are usually high. Also relevant...I am a "supertaster." What that means is I have a higher concentration of taste buds, which makes me kind of a big deal and more qualified than your average YELP reviewer. This review can totally be trusted (more so than the others.) I run and ride my bike past M & H often. The exterior sports some old iron workers machinery (or equipment) projecting out from the entrance. I thought it was SWEET, as looking at heavy metal things nourishes my soul and cravings to work with my hands and feel "macho." Walking in, the interior was absolutely beautiful. Lots of woodwork, classy, clean and elegant. The booth we had was on the upper level in the dining room. It was very isolated and gave my girlfriend and I complete privacy. We had a picturesque view of the top of some old guy's head and the river from our table. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. I have never been a "steak guy." I love burgers, but when it comes to steak, not so much. I guess I never felt like the price tag met up to my expectations of flavor. While I have had steaks at the chains, like Lonestar and Outback, even the steak at Wildfire in Chicago didn't quite seem worth it. A memorable steak I had at Wildfire-mostly tasted good because it was drenched in the toppings of crushed up Ritz, blue cheese and enough butter to clog an artery of a donkey. I have also eaten at Fogo De Chow in Chicago and also had a good memory of a very tasty steak...but nothing quite like Merrill & Houston's. We ordered the Siciliano steak bites appetizer (requested without the breading - default) and they arrived with a siracha aioli sauce for dipping. The sauce impressed me more than the steak! It was astounding. My girlfriend ordered one of the petite steaks. She gave me a bite and it was the most amazing steak I can recall ever sinking my teeth into. Cooked perfectly, the inside of the steak was tender and as juicy as could be-the outside was crisp and flavorful. There was nothing "tough" or chewy about this steak. Also, I love butter on my steak, but it didn't seem to contain a hint of any butter, no salt, pepper, or flavoring of any kind. It was as if the chef made this cut of steak specifically for Jesus at the last supper. I went safe and ordered the wild mushroom ravioli, which was fabulous, but honestly the one bite of my girlfriend's steak made me soon forget the awesomeness of my ravioli. Lastly, and most importantly, we ordered and shared the chocolate decadence cake. (They don't make these in house, but order them from outside the server claimed.) It is one of the most amazing desserts to ever grace my palette. I don't recall any dessert at Greenfire in Rockford being quite as good as this. Check this place out. Some other reviewer claimed it was one of the best steak houses they've been to, I would tend to agree. read more

Used to be consistently good and eclectic . Last 3 trips food has been cold, not cooked as ordered and sides have been cold or incorrect. Service has also been slow, no drink orders taken or retaken. Something is going on for the worse . Servers appear to be incapable of doing more than 2 tables read more

I've been here many times over the years. Mostly cocktails and a few times for dinner. There fish fry from a year ago(which is no longer available, no surprise) was mediocre at best. This weekend I was there with friends. They sat us at a six top in there new back enclosed area, nice atmosphere. The heaters were to hot, we asked to have them dialed back and they cooperated. My friend and I ordered a Tito's Martini, up and dirty w/bleu cheese Olives. They came out half full $16.50. My wife had wine with soup and salad only. I had there special of the evening Crab stuffed Mahi $35 w side salad. It was flavorful and good, could have been heated through better. Service was slow, cocktails were 10-15 minutes on reorder (switched to 7/7 after the half full martinis) There were a lot of issues with getting sides right for everyone and pricing on cocktails when the final bills came out. Martini should have been $13.50 The manager had to come out and straighten out the bills after the waitress failed twice. Big picture, you're going to pay chicago prices for average food and half full small pour cocktails in Downtown Beloit. I've never had there steak, can't judge. Total bill $124.00 with tip. I won't be back. read more

One of our favorite restaurant. We all most always order the duck. Highly recommended, I give it 5 stars.....

Not impressed at all. Over priced for mediocre food and service. Go to the 615 club instead for amazing food and great service. Would not recommend this place to eat. read more

In town with the Boss for business. Asked around about the best steak in Beloit, and 2 out of 3 locals told us to come here. A nice evening out. I liked the location and décor. The place looks and feels classy and sophisticated. We ordered drinks to start. The beer selection was ok - I found something to suit. The wine list was great. The Grey Goose martini was a bit too dirty and overwhelmed the fine vodka - if you are going to dump that much olive juice in it, just make it with Popov. However, it was very inexpensive, so I was pleased. In the same vein, we gleefully examined the menu. I doubt the sanity of anyone complaining about the prices here. Unless you generally get your food from a drive-thru, this place is gloriously low priced. I invite you to check out the website and menu from Gibson's, a mere hundred miles away in Chicago, for a taste of what steakhouses usually charge. The prices here are more than reasonable, with a couple of silly outliers like lobster tails for $100. I thought about it, but I knew how the interaction would unfold: Me: Are these lobsters fresh? Server: Oh, yes sir! Most definitely! Me: Are you sure they aren't frozen? We are a long way from the ocean. Server: Yes, sir. Absolutely fresh! Me: (With a sour look on my face after discovering the lobster is frozen and overcooked): These suck. Take them back and bring me the mushroom ravioli, please. Server & manager: :( So after being delighted at the prices, we ordered a couple of steaks. The boss' steak was more medium than rare, and while points to the server for knowing what "Pittsburgh rare" is, the execution wasn't correct, as my steak was definitely charred on the outside while medium-well on the inside. In any case, the steak was tasty and tender, the au gratin potatoes were outstanding, and the bread was phenomenal. Salad just ok, field greens with not much else to set it apart. We ate at the bar, and the server started out great and gave us a couple valuable tips, but with only 4 people at the bar, he spent his all his time down at the serving station and had to be waived down every time we wanted something. Look, if this was Applebee's I wouldn't give a shit, but this is supposed to be fine dining, and for the $30 tip this guy was gonna make, he could glance down the bar and come by once in a while and ask if we need anything. So, a pretty good meal, well worth it for the price. Some flashes of brilliance, along with a couple of disappointments gives it a solid B. I will return next time I'm in town. Plenty of parking in the hotel lot as you fight through the swarms of river bugs. read more

I hosted a dinner lecture here a month ago. I waited until now to post a review hoping someone would get back to me. A month after my concerns were shared with Darla, I still haven't received a response. For starters: the room wasn't set as instructed in the contract. Luckily I arrived early to correct the seating before my guests arrived. The room is as far as possible from the kitchen and bar. The server would disappear to do other duties while the guests were arriving. One guest commented that it seemed like our drink orders were a chore and we were "putting her out." The room echoed. So it isn't conducive to hosting a dinner lecture. The service was so slow some guests had to leave before dessert was served. Water glasses were empty most of the time. After the last guest left and most of the dishes were cleared, it took another 20 minutes to receive the bill. I was charged for 16 people even though only 13 showed. Most restaurants will make the food for 16 due to the predetermined headcount and allow the host to take the extra meals home - a fair practice since I paid for the meals. Shame on me. I hosted another dinner lecture at this restaurant a couple years ago with similar results. I remember having to clear my guests tables, poor water and bring togo boxes. I never received a response from management that time either. This venue is not suitable for dinner lec Update- management has never contacted me. I still can't understand why they charged me for meals that they did not make. read more

My wife and I live in the area and this place is our favorite. We have been to steak houses all over the country and this place is one of the top for price and value. The prices are consistent with the area and the atmosphere is everything a steak house should be. We stick to the steaks since it is a steak house. Staff is good at recognizing locals and the frequent flyers. We like spending our time at a place that we can rely for not letting us down on taste, price, and fun. Highly recommended. read more

I go to Beloit about once every 3 months for business. It was suggested that I stay in the Ironworks Hotel and Merrill & Houston's is attached so it seemed logical to stay close. I met a client there for dinner this past Wednesday. The place is awesomely decorated with the fireplaces and wood, very well done like a good steakhouse ought to be. It seemed busy at the bar and the 2 "hosts" and the restaurant were clearly unprepared for the influx of people. We were seated about 6:45 for a 6:30 reservation and the tables in the dining area were not full at all. Our server was excellent. He did a great job explaining the specials and was prompt, courteous. I couldn't ask for anything else. We ordered the coconut shrimp which were unimpressive for the price. They were clearly frozen out of a bag, and best described as "meh". The Brushetta was excellent. I'm used to crusty bread with the tomatoes and spices on top. They chopped in mozzarella which was a nice change, and the bread was "puffy" and softer. It was good. Both of our steaks were excellent. Nice cuts of Ribeyes that were cooked 100% perfect. They have this down. It was well seasoned, tender and delicious. Highly suggested. The butter sauteed mushrooms were forgettable and the fried onions I could have done without. I'm wavering between 3 and 4 stars so I'll give the benefit of the doubt to Merrill & Houstons. read more

I loved the decor, old photos and sculptures in the bar area where we ate. We didn't eat in the dining room bc we didn't have reservations and we would have had to wait. I had the halibut special which was $33, a little pricey but delicious, it came with broccolini and garlic mashed potatoes. My hubby had the veal Marsala and sadly the veal was very tough. With dinner you get a choice of soup or salad, I had the French onion soup. It was outstanding! I loved everything we were served but the veal. I would definitely go back again! read more

Went with my parents on a Friday and was really pumped because I heard it was the "hip" new place in southern Wisco. Let me tell you what's not hip...a one man band and 2 giant TVs at the bar. If we could eliminate those 2 things and the slightly TGI-Friday's feeling entry waiting area, the interior would be pretty nice (and the rusty metal canopy at the entry is pretty impressive). The food was good; chicken liver appetizer was a tad greasy but really tasty (probably the grease) and my steak was good though cooked well past the requested Medium Rare. My mom's filet was awesome and perfectly Medium Rare as she ordered. The service was great to start but after the food arrived we never got a check-up from the waitress (drinks were empty and the place wasn't full). I'll be a maybe for another dinner there. read more

Really great place I have to give kudos to the staff especially the bar staff. The POS system went down and they all adjusted very professionally. They busted their tails to keep patrons happy. Says alot about the staff read more

The bomb! My steak was premium and the service was excellent! When we got there we had enough time to stop at the bar for a drink and the bartender was great. He helped us chose a great wine and then we were seated right away. They have reading glasses at every table, and for me they came in handy. I really just cant say enough of how happy we were. read more

I just realized today how I hadn't written a review for this place and couldn't believe it. I love this restaurant so much that I actually received a gift certificate to it for Christmas last year. The food is delicious, the staff is very friendly, and the drinks are great. I actually had my wedding reception at the Iron Works, but it was catered by the restaurant and I've had people tell me how much they loved the food and want to go to the restaurant to try it now. My personal favorite for the appetizer is the coconut shrimp and I am a fan of prime rib. If they have specialty cocktails, you can't go wrong with ordering one. They also have live bands perform on various nights of the week, so I would call ahead in case you wanted a quiet night or a night when a band is there. read more

Went on a Wed. and they were very crowded. Hostess said 20m., I checked around and saw several empty tables. Perhaps not enough wait staff? I got seated in 15m., had a great server. I ordered The Ironworks, a $36.95 ribeye, "medium rare". It was very, very rare, which was ok for the leftovers, but not so great that night. This comes with "the works": "shrimp, scallop & lobster meat blended with buttery breadcrumbs". It tasted like seafood, but any meat was chopped too fine to taste individually. I'd pass on "the works" in the future. I planned on ordering the Oysters, but discovered they are frozen. Instead I got the French Onion soup, which was just above average, with minimal onions and no toast inside. Nicely browned cheese, tho! The Au Gratin potatoes were so bad I didn't bother taking them home. The $30 wine I ordered retails for under $10 on-line. About the usual high markup, I guess. I've had better. I might go back, but not soon. I filled out the Questionnaire in depth, with my email address. Ten days later, no response. read more

Great steak, great atmosphere, great dinner with my dad. One thing blew me away. The floor was nailed down by old school cut nails. Talk about attention to detail. A billion stars. read more

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint - Steakhouses Near Me - Beloit, Wisconsin

Wow! Very impressed with this place. I love the decor and the brick walls and the ambience is on point. Tonight we ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer, and the special baked cod and the petite filet. The stuffed mushrooms were good but I couldn't taste the crab. The baked cod was meh... Not much flavor at all. The petite filet was excellent! I do have to say the best filet I've ever eaten, hands-down! My martini was served in a stainless steel glass, which was nice to keep it ice cold. The menu doesn't have a whole lot of options. One option that was confusing was the farm raised Atlantic salmon, which I'm not sure why they would put farm raised on their menu and how can it be farm raised and from the ocean. All in all it was decent and we may return for the petite filet sometime. Oh yeah, and Alex was our server and he was great! read more

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint - They supply readers at the table. The first I've ever seen that. - Steakhouses Near Me - Beloit, Wisconsin

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It was good but not great. My reasoning for four stars instead of three is that it seems like the only better restaurant in town where people of color are welcomed. My steak was great but everything else was just OK. read more

Mother's Day brunch was a bust. We arrived 5 min early to allow for crowds only to find many tables available. I expected a Mother's Day even atmosphere but was disappointed. When breakfast arrived I was underwhelmed. I ordered chicken fried steak with potatoes and fresh fruit. The steak was good but cool. Not hot. The portion was the size of my palm. They did though, smother it with gravy to fully cover the plate to add to the illusion of a full normal size portion. The fruit was not fresh at all. Old,mushy strawberries and pine apple with that brown tinge color. One grape maybe two on the skewer. About 8 small chunks of potatoes to balance the plate. I ended up eating part of my nephews French toast. He did not eat it as it was mushy. My mom thought the same of hers. Not impressed. My wife's quiche was obviously prepared in advance and was sitting under a heat lamp. And the kids breakfast pizza looked the same. Old and rubbery. At the end of the meal they offered desert to pump up the ticket but not coffee. We finally just said enough. Let's go. The prices are high. Expect 25-34$ per plate for dinner It looks like a quality steak house. Decor awesome. Old steam punk industrial look. Beloit needs a place like this so I have high hopes. AlSo as we waited for our tables we were about to get seated when the host was about to seat us when a buddy showed up to get a big hug. They decided to chat for a minute leaving my 80 year old mom standing and waiting. Not cool. Pay attention! I'll go back once more. I hope the other reviews hold up but my first experience was a 2 if 10. Saved only by the history. Train the staff in customer service to match the decor and prices. Finally. Pay attention to quality. Could be a great place. Not this time though. read more

Experience a down-to-earth dining environment and enjoy a variety of succulent prime cut steaks, fresh seafood selections and an assortment of delicious house specialties. Perfect place for events and weddings!! read more

One of the best steak houses I have been to. One of the best steaks I have ever had in my life (the other was at Greig's Grill & Restaurant in London). My Aunt took the family out for dinner, and I, not wanting to be too spendy, ordered the sirloin. The steak served had the deep beefy flavor (and more) of a sirloin with the tenderness of a filet mignon. Unbelievably great experience! Service was good, ambience was nice as well, good for groups or for a special night out. A must go if you want to have the best steak of your life. read more

I love this place. It really is a nice establishment and it is a classy place. Love the old building although I wish the old floors could be polished a little bit. My husband and I both had the sirloin steak and we both said, it was the best steak we have ever had. We had soup and salad and those were great. Rolls delicious. Bloody Mary's great. Staff always friendly. It is nice to eat outside as you are looking out over the Rock River and there is a band playing. I will be coming back this fall when it turns a little bit more crisp outside. read more