By Raymond Bill
Whether I am going for cocktails during their, “Social Hour” or for a dinner date in the dining room, Sullivan’s is the place to be. There is a reason why this restaurant can stay busy all summer and that is their combination of amazing food and genuine hospitality. Sullivan’s Steakhouse has recently made some changes to their menu and I had to see for myself just how this hot spot was going to get any hotter!
We arrived on time for our reservation and were greeted by a charming, smiling staff. Though I often enjoy a cocktail at the bar before being seated, we would enjoy a couple specialty martinis at our table before dinner. The, “Knock out” is a favorite of mine that I seem to order each time I visit. This signature concoction is made with fresh pineapple infused vodka and it is quite easy to have a few before they hit you! Our server, Karli was attentive without being overbearing. We were given just enough time to enjoy our beverage before she allowed us to place our order.
Perhaps a summer promotion, Sullivan’s is offering a $39 Prix Fixe multi-course meal they have called, “The Sure Thing” that offers a choice of appetizer, soup or salad, and entrée. Seeing that this option was quite tempting, my date was quick to decide. She began with the Cheesesteak Eggrolls with a sweet and spicy chili sauce while I enjoyed the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. The eggrolls were crisp and full of steak and melted cheese… YUM! The crab cake was hands down, the best crab cake in the desert (and I have done quite a bit of research on this one)! With virtually no fillers, this crab cake was full of sweet crab meat!
For our second course, my date received their wedge salad while I had a cup of the shrimp and lobster bisque. While the wedge was nothing new or spectacular, the bisque was addicting! I could taste the sherry and there were chunks of shrimp and lobster throughout the cup. I could eat that every day!
For our main course, my lovely guest was presented with a six ounce Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes while I had selected the eight ounce Filet Duxelle, A generous Filet Mignon stuffed with mushrooms and topped with a savory, chunky mushroom sauce. I opted to add on a lobster tail as I often do when visiting a Steakhouse and it was almost as large as the steak! The steaks were cooked perfectly and the lobster was truly a work of art. Too often, lobster is over cooked and rubbery but Sullivan’s got it just right! Our entrées were accompanied by two selected side dishes. We shared some thin green beans and the macaroni and cheese, both served piping hot in a mini cast iron skillet. The macaroni and cheese was absolutely irresistible! I will never visit Sullivan’s Steakhouse without ordering a side of this deliciousness! We paired our meal with a glass of wine from their list of wines by the glass and my Bella Glos “Meiomi” Pinot Noir was a superb selection and a great value at $13 a glass.
I would love to share with you their sweet dessert selections but as you could imagine, there was simply no room on this visit for even one bite! Had there been enough room, I would have certainly ordered the blondie topped with butter pecan ice cream! Perhaps next time we’ll have that first and check it off the list immediately. Sullivan’s offers a new Social Hour menu, live music and great summer specials. It is truly the best time to see what’s new at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. Located at the Gardens on El Paseo, Sullivan’s recommends reservations. Call 760-341-3560 or visit www.sullivanssteakhouse.com for more information.
