Old Homestead Steakhouse

What is it?

A Las Vegas version of the legendary steakhouse that has been operating in New York City since 1868.

Where is it?

At Caesars Palace on the Center Strip.

What kind of food is served?

Very, very large steaks and seafood along with a mostly traditional array of steakhouse options.

What is the atmosphere like?

A bit loud since its open to the casino. Not really good for an intimate dinner.

How is the service?

Absolutely terrific – both friendly and knowledgeable.

What are the prices like?

It’s very expensive to eat here but the steaks are so good you probably won’t care.

What else do I need to know?

The cow’s name is Annabelle. You’ll know what that means when you get here.

What’s the bottom line?

One of the best steakhouses in Vegas.

I know what you’re thinking: not another steakhouse! But stick with me here because Old Homestead at Caesars Palace is definitely worth knowing about and is, in fact, one of the best steakhouses in all of Las Vegas.

Old Homestead opened in New York City in 1868, making it the oldest continually operating steakhouse in existence. You don’t stay in business for more than 150 years without doing something right and the Vegas version of the restaurant has captured the same kind of indulgent spirit that has made the original such a popular destination.

The menu is about as steakhouse traditional as you can get but there are some interesting twists to keep things lively.

Starters include the usual suspects like Oysters Rockefeller, crab cakes, calamari, and steak tartare. A special raw bar section includes shrimp and lobster cocktails and a shellfish platter that comes to the table in a massive two level contraption that oozes dry ice fog. For presentation alone it gets a gold star.

There are a few salads (wedge, Caesar, etc.) and soups to get you going as well.

We went in several different directions to kick off our meal. The traditionalist got the French onion soup, which was made from sweet onions and was topped with tangy gruyere cheese. A salad of roasted heirloom beets, arugula, goat cheese, and tangerine vinaigrette went to the light eater of our bunch. And the adventurer got the Kobe meatball, which was roughly the size of a softball and came sitting in a bed of tangy marinara and topped with ricotta cheese. All three were stunning in both construction and flavor and you couldn’t go wrong with any of them, but if you don’t mind a bit of meat overload (there are steaks on the way, don’t forget), the meatball should be your first choice.

Old Homestead is known for its remarkably sized portions – this is, after all, the restaurant that invented the doggy bag. I tell you this because the sizes of their steaks, seafood, and other entrees will evoke various gasps and expressions of surprise when delivered to the table.

Take their signature porterhouse. It comes in three sizes, one of which has enough meat to serve four people. It’s roughly the size of a Buick. Other steaks range from a “petite” filet mignon, coming in at a still large 8 ounces, up to 32 ounce rib eye. Most of the steaks weigh in at well over a pound.

We tried the 16 ounce filet cooked and served on the bone and the 18 ounce sirloin au poivre. Both were epic and entirely too much food to be consumed by one person but one bite made us want to try. Both steaks were prepared perfectly to our instructions, with the filet having a deliciously peppery tang and the sirloin full of juicy, smoky flavor. They didn’t really need them but you can get a variety of accompaniments such as peppercorn or horseradish cream sauce, blue cheese, truffle butter, foie gras, and sauteed onions and bacon among others. I asked for a side of the bacon and onions and it was fantastic, but I wound up not using very much of it because the steak was so good on its own.

Other main course offerings include chicken, rack of lamb, beef short ribs, and a variety of seafood like Maine lobster, wild salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, and Dover sole. The latter was fileted tableside and came in a sublime simple butter sauce that was out of this world.

Sides include everything from the usual baked, mashed, and tot-variety potatoes to mac and cheese and a long list of sauteed, steamed, or roasted vegetables like beets, asparagus, mushrooms, broccoli and spinach. The mac and cheese and tots were terrific but if you only have room for one side go with the potato gnocchi, served in a so-rich-it-will-make-your-teeth-ache truffle butter. Our server described them as little bits of heaven in your mouth and once I tasted them I completely agreed.

Stuffed to the gills, we almost considered passing up dessert but I’m glad we decided that our respective waistlines and cholesterol levels could take a bit more abuse. The old-fashioned cheesecake with a raspberry coulis was as perfect an example of the dish as you can expect to find anywhere and the red velvet cake was a surprising delight. But again, going for the “if you can only have one” theory, you absolutely must get the chocolate chip cookie, baked in its own skillet and topped with vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream. You’ll never look at your Toll House cookies quite the same way again.

Service was spectacular throughout the meal, with our wait staff both knowledgeable and chattily familiar. It was like taking dining recommendations from a trusted friend.

About the only demerit I could come up with went against the dining room itself. It’s nice enough but relatively forgettable in decor and definitely on the noisy side. Since the bulk of it is open to the casino and a heavily trafficked hallway, a quiet and intimate dinner is not really on the menu. Plus you’ll have hundreds of flip-flop wearing tourists walking by trying to see what you’re eating. The good news is you’ll be enjoying your meal so much you probably won’t care.

Now on to the cost, which could be a demerit depending on your point of view. It certainly is one of the more expensive steakhouses in town with starters mostly in the $15-20 range and most of the steaks hovering around the $50 mark – and that’s ala carte; you want sides, they are going to be $12 each. More expensive steaks like the shareable porterhouse and the Australian Wagyu will run well over $100. Our bill for three people, which included drinks, three appetizers, three main courses, several sides, dessert, tax, and tip came out over $400 but we ate A LOT so you can definitely do it for less.

To those who exclaimed “not another steakhouse!” I say when it comes to Old Homestead the resounding answer is “Yes!”