Stephen Starr's Steak 954: Worth The Drive
It is a rare occasion that I’ll drive to Fort Lauderdale for dinner, especially on a Tuesday during rush hour. But sometimes I step out of my comfort zone, put on some good music, and just make the trip. I did exactly that last week and once I was sipping on a cocktail and watching the sunset on the beach, I immediately forgot about all the insane traffic I had to go through to get there.
Stephen Starr’s concept, Steak 954, located in the W Fort Lauderdale is the kind of classic restaurant that you hope never changes. They’ve got a great wine list and a selection of classic cocktails, as well as a few that are a little more boozy and fun. The menu includes several fresh seafood options and a long list of steak choices. Pair that with their fresh take on classic appetizers and truffle macaroni and cheese and you’re pretty much set.
We started our evening with the Lobster and Crab Coconut Ceviche and the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. If you love crab, you need to check these out. The ceviche was like no other I’ve had before. It was light and fresh like you would expect, but the coconut flakes and coconut milk added an island vibe that made me feel like I was on vacation. The crab cake was pure crab and lightly seared until the edges were perfectly crisp, served over a light sauce with apple slices and a little spice to it.
Next, we moved on to our main courses - the THREE pound Maine Lobster served over Risotto and the Prime 40 Day Dry Aged NY Strip with smoked cauliflower and kale and of course an order of the Truffle Mac n Cheese. Everything was heavenly and so deliciously overwhelming. Macaroni and Cheese is easily in my top three favorite foods and this one was outstanding. Sometimes I’m wary that things will be too truffley, it seems crazy but it’s happened before, but this dish was excellent and creamy and I wanted a vat of it! We had way too much food for the two of is and I wish I had an extra stomach to finish it all - however, it all made for great leftovers. We had to leave room for dessert. The chef sent out a Gluten Free Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Oat & Nut Crumbles and berries. The texture was wonderful and the crumbles were a nice change to the usual crust that is found on cheesecake. Of course it was expertly plated and almost too pretty to eat, but that didn’t stop us.
Even though I ate myself into a complete food coma and wanted a nap before driving home, it was worth every bit of traffic and every bite of food!
Now while they are smart to not mess with a good thing and change their menu, they did step up their brunch game, Stephen Starr’s Steak 954 recently debuted six new brunch cocktails. Beverage Manager Simeon Humphreys crafted the not-so-basic libations to reflect the restaurant’s brunch which is “fun and a little flirty, yet polished and true to our history." From cold brew coffee mixers and coconut water ice cubes to a Japanese-inspired drink, the menu offers something to impressive every spirit lover. It’s safe to say it looks like I’ll be back soon!
