ONLY steakhouses can make you feel both primitive and fancy at the same time. You dress to impress, get your teeth around Flinstonian slabs of beef and pay a huge bill plus tip. But it’s worth the time, money and effort if it’s a perfectly marbled, “pain-steak-ingly” prepared, expertly seared piece of meat, yes?
From dry-aged to grass-fed, the best steaks are those cooked exactly how you want them (which is never beyond medium, please), in a low-lit setting and with brilliant starters and sides. In honor of National Steakhouse Month, here’s a guide to the Cebu’s cult destinations for carnivores.
1 Acacia Steakhouse
Where: Acacia St., Green Valley Subdivision, Cebu City
Store hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
This is where you can have steak at its most stripped back state. The young chef here seasons his steaks with just salt and pepper to let the quality of the beef speak for itself. The non-steak entrees don’t disappoint, either.
2 Angus Dan’s
Where: 777 Jasmine St., Capitol Site, Cebu City
Store hours: 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays, up to 11 p.m. on weekends
Committed to providing Cebuanos with quality yet affordable dining, foodie entrepreneur Stan Tanchan introduced his newest food business earlier this year. This New York City-inspired steakhouse offers premium cuts alongside seafood and fusion salads.
3 Anzani Prime
Where: Second floor, The Tinderbox, Gov. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City
Store hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 6 to 11 p.m. daily
Raising the bar when it comes to steaks, Anzani Prime focuses on meat in grades. Its beef is sourced from the finest cattle in the United States, Australia and Japan. Take the flavor several notches higher and have your steak served on a Himalayan salt block.
4 Fat Jim’s
Where: FLC Center, 888 Hernan Cortes St., Mandaue City
Store hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday
From the interior to the food, simplicity is Fat Jim’s mantra. USDA Angus ribeye, USDA Prime Angus ribeye, USDA wagyu ribeye or USDA tenderloin steak that’s nicely charred and seasoned, you will want nothing else, but the gravy and sides are still very much welcome.
5 Grillers Steak House
Where: Unit 5 TP Building, A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad, Cebu City
Store hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 to 10 p.m. daily
The meats here range from choice to CAB (Certified Angus Beef) and CAB Prime. Grilled to your desired doneness by a kitchen that understands the ways of meat, Grillers’ steaks pair well with a salad of your creation and a bottle of vino.
6 Luzern Steakhouse
Where: St. Moritz Road (Gorordo Ave., Archbishop Road), Cebu City
Store hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
Of all the things you’d expect to find plonked down in this neck of the woods, a steakhouse isn’t one of them. This real gem in the city plates up premium cuts that have earned it Best of Cebu’s Best Steakhouse in 2018. One bite and you know it’s something you’ll be talking about and coming back for for years.
7 Marble and Grain
Where: bai Hotel Cebu
Store hours: 12 to 2 p.m., 5:30 to 10 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
Stylish and upscale, this steakhouse serves the finest custom-aged USDA Prime beef. Melt-in-your-tongue tender, full-bodied steaks plus great service and an extensive wine selection? This is another meat mecca for beef purists.