| Address | 2020 K St., Washington, DC 20006 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (202) 466-8811 |
| Fax | (202) 466-2010 |
Best beef in DC. Funky atmosphere that adds to the show. All other steakhouses are runners-up. Great place to celebrate. Don't forget your jacket & tie.
Let me say right up front that my reaction to the Prime Rib is probably idiosyncratic. I actually like the DC power steakhouses -- the table of hefty union bosses at an adjoining table packing away the food was a big plus for me. I enjoy watching the decadence of DC politicos and powermongers. And the appetizers and salad were excellent, as was the highly professional waiter. But the prime rib, which I expected to love, was so soft and fluffy it felt like eating a beef marshmallow. After a few bites, I just couldn't eat any more. Again, it's probably just me, but I'm very glad somebody paid for this really expensive meal.
Business contacts took me to the Prime Rib, a classic K Street expense-account kind of place. The ambience was pretty much as you'd expect -- lots of dark leather (not THAT kind of leather!) and tablecloths; fat, self-satisfied K Street lobbyist types; a rather dimly lit room suitable for cutting deals; waiters with big peppermills ready to en-pepperate anything and everything you are eating. I had the London broil -- a nice change for somebody who lives with a vegetarian. The beef was quite good --tender, sliced thin, cooked medium-rare exactly as I'd asked. The side mashed potatoes were good but not exceptional; however the side dish of fresh spinach was very good. Had a glass of the house red wine which was good -- but only after the waiter recommended and we declined a $100 bottle of something red.
The four of us ran up a tab that topped $150, before tip. Dinner is apparently more expensive with much bigger portions, but the lunch-time portions were quite big enough. This is a better place to take a business colleague to impress than a date. It's fine, but I wouldn't go if I was paying the tab.
Eating here is like eating in a department store or office, including the white acoustic tiles on the suspended ceiling. The food is nothing special and could be gotten at any diner for much less. The service was not impressive either. The only thing impressive is the prices. I had lunch here for restaurant week and it was by far the least impressive meal I had all week. Blackie's is much, much better in every respect.
The interior the Prime Rib is like visiting the love child of The Godfather and Miami Vice. In a good way. I imagine if my grandparents had been a lot cooler and connected to the mob, they would have eaten here once a week. The prices are not for weekly consumption, but the Prime Rib would be a great place for special occasions.
The service is excellent, surpassed only by the food. Man is the steak good. Not good, bellisima! A must-visit for meat lovers and those who appreciate service and quality done old school.
The beef is great, this is a steakhouse. My wife did find shells in her crab imperial. Service was very poor, our server forgot at least one item on every course and never came back to check. The tables are too close together and even the servers could not get through. We left at 10:00 and people at the bar were saying that they had 9:00 reservations and still had not been seated.
I chose The Prime Rib because I wanted to treat an out-of-town guest to a true blue American steakhouse experience. In that respect, The Prime Rib was a resounding success. My guest said his filet mignon was the best steak he'd ever had. I found the ambience very appealing, despite being younger than the average diner. The live piano/bass made it all the more enjoyable. The food and wine were good, but above all I have to commend the service, which was probably the most attentive and pleasant I've ever encountered. If I had to find any fault with the meal, it would be the prices, which seem a tad excessive, and the size of the prime rib serving, which is beyond any reasonable person's digestive capacity!
