The atmosphere at Del Frisco’s is that of a typical American steakhouse with dark wood and white linens serving as the backdrop for an upscale experience. Large portions are the attraction, where side dishes tend to outshine entrees. It’s a solid choice for a classic steakhouse, but if your focus is the beef, there is better to be had elsewhere in town. The meat may be good, but lacks the intense beefy flavor of other meat-centric spots that have their own aging program (or source from others that do). If prime is all you need, this place will hit the mark. If you’re looking for the best dry-aged or wagyu you’ll need to look elsewhere.
It was a long meal that took much longer than it should have. Luckily I was in good company. My wife and I (along with out son) were celebrating our wedding anniversary. It was nice of the staff to acknowledge the occasion when we checked in and when we were seated. An added touch was when they presented a signed card from their staff. The whole experience was good for the most part, but there were enough misses or lowpoints that made it less than perfect.
Our meal began with a shrimp platter ($19) consisting of six large shrimp and three different sauces. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the cocktail sauce was the best of the three, but it was tough to get past the fact that I was paying $19 for six shrimp. That’s one hell of a markup.
The next two appetizers proved to be the best and worst of the night. The crab cake ($19.50) was, by far, the best one I’ve had in town. Little to no filler, seasoned just enough to compliment the sweetness of the meat, and a cajun sauce that added a slight tinge of heat and depth. As perfect as that was, the steak tartare proved to be its exact opposite. It was essentially minced meat with very little seasoning. Nothing of note was mixed in and making matters worse was the tough, almost inedible texture of the beef. It’s in the running for the worst dish I’ve eaten.
In a town with some amazing steakhouses, the meat we had here was good enough and plenty satisfying. The 12 oz. filet ($47) had a slight char, was lightly seasoned, and had a firm, yet tender texture. Unfortunately, it was unevenly cooked with parts of the interior ranging from rare to medium. I requested medium rare. My wife’s order of a filet trio ($61) consisted of three small, approximately four ounce, servings topped with a variety of ingredients ranging from scallop and shrimp to crab and asparagus to brie cheese.
Aside from the crab cake appetizer, the side dishes stood out as memorable dishes. The creamed corn was plenty creamy with bits of bacon sprinkled throughout. The potatoes au gratin were my favorite side dish. Large chunks of potatoes filled the dish, accompanied by ham, bacon, and cheese, making it rich and delicious.
Ending the meal was a complimentary Lemon Doberge cake (normally $11). Six layers of light, airy, and subtley sweet cake with lemon buttercream icing and a lemon glaze. It’s good enough to win over anyone who doesn’t like lemon desserts and plenty big enough for the three of us to share with some left over.
Despite an awful tartare appetizer, it was a good night. The company, obviously, was top notch, as was the service. And, there were enough good dishes to make this an enjoyable dining experience typical of a classic steakhouse. It’s difficult for them to contend with similar places in town, but there’s plenty here that will satisfy those in search of the familiar.
4 Stars
3925 Paradise Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 796-0063
