LB Steak: Prime Beef at a prime location
LB Steak is the first restaurant you see driving along Santana Row, San Jose’s premier shopping and dining district, and it’s one of the best. There’s plenty of sizzle on the entire menu, but there’s a reason why steak is in the restaurant’s name. (The other part, “LB,” is for Left Bank; its sister restaurants are the Left Bank Brasseries at Santana Row, Menlo Park and Larkspur.)
Every beef item on the menu uses only USDA Prime Beef, the highest grade, which accounts for only two percent of beef produced in the U.S. This includes six steaks, from the eight-ounce Skirt Steak ($23) and Filet Mignon ($31.50) to the 18-ounce Rib Eye ($44) and New York ($47) cuts. The rich flavor of these steaks are enhanced by green peppercorn, red wine, blue cheese butter or three other sauce choices. Prime Beef is also to cook the Greater Omaha Natural Burgers ($10-$13 with fries) and the Short Ribs ($25), which are braised for six hours.
Diners who don’t eat red meat have many options, too. Like the steaks, which are priced well below what you’d pay for Prime Beef steaks at most Bay Area restaurants, the rest of the menu is full of tasty, creative, artfully presented and affordable fare. For example, there’s a Baby Spinach and Arugula Salad with D’Anjou pear and pecans ($8) and a Ricotta Gnocchi with pea tendrils, leek and spring garlic fondue and basil puree ($13.25). The creatively augmented fish entrees, which include grilled swordfish and lobster tail, are also favorites.
The ambiance is pleasant, with a cheerful wait staff, outdoor tables and glass doors that are opened on mild afternoons. A flock of crystal chandeliers, dark-wood interiors and a wall lined with wines ($5-$15/glass) lend a touch of elegance. Yet LB Steak is refreshingly informal and affordable for a Michelin-recommended restaurant that comfortably meets the standards of fine dining.
HelloSanJose tip: The gooey Chocolate Fondant Cake with bourbon pecan gelato and caramel sauce ($5.25) is to die for.
Posted by Bob Cooper
