Pat's Steakhouse vs Stoney River

Occasionally a feller gets a Jones for a piece of red meat and somewhat less occasionally a feller gets a Jones for a piece of red meat HE didn't have to cook. Such was the case last night when we made our first visit to Pat's Steakhouse.

Until last night the only (beef) steak experiences we'd had in L'ville were visits to Z's Oyster Bar and Steakhouse and Stoney River Legendary Steaks, a "micro-chain" out of Atlanta (hey, PR people take notice, I think I just invented a new term - "Micro Chain"), so we were jacked for our first visit to a true L'ville icon. After dinner, the lovely bride and I found ourselves on the patio at home enjoying a frosty adult beverage and comparing notes on our two most recent (beef) steak experiences....Pat's and Stoney River.

Ambiance definitely goes to Pat's. Pat's "we've been here forever" location along with it's subdued lighting, dark wood and relaxing atmosphere are what we look for in a steak house experience. Stoney River on the other hand, while not uncomfortable and not unattractive, is a bit brighter and less relaxing. The ambient noise level in Stoney River can also be a little high...at least on the "bar side" of the restaurant.

First Quarter Score: Pat's 9 - Stoney River 7

Service - We had excellent service in both places but Pat's gets a slight edge in that their service seems a bit more refined without being overly "stuffy". The service at Stoney River, while excellent, seemed a bit "chipper" and had a wee bit of a corporate training manual feel to it.

Second Quarter Score: Pat's 10 - Stoney River 8

Food <sigh> I've tried to write this paragraph twice and it ends up sounding like a poor excuse for one of Robin's well written reviews. Suffice it to say that Stoney River wins this category hands down. Without bothering to dissect every dish at each restaurant, our major complaints with Pat's were salads past their prime, unimaginative sides and steaks (that while VERY tasty and cooked to perfection) had obviously been rested on the serving plate...which resulted in them being served swimming in a two or three tablespoon "soup" of blood and steak juice. Not very appetizing. To Pat's credit all three people in our party enjoyed desert (Cheese Cake, Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Chip Pie) and they were ALL "to die for" excellent.

Third Quarter Score:

Pat's: Sides 4, Salad 5, Steak 7, Dessert 10 (26)
Stoney River: Sides 8, Salad 8, Steak 9, Dessert 7 (32)

Price Point - Once everything is factored in, the price point is virtually identical for Pat's and Stoney River. Both seem a little pricey in terms of overall value...but then I'm still coming to grips with the idea of a 36 dollar steak.

Fourth Quarter Score: Pat's 6 Stoney River 6

Final Score - Pat's 51, Stoney River 53

Pretty much sums it all up for me, Steve. I may be the only person born, bred and raised in Louisville that has never had a good steak at Pat's. We've chalked it up to the regulars get the good steaks and the very rarely visitor gets what's left. Our favorite remains Del Frisco's and our back up is Stoney River. Well, our actual favorite is ribeye from Butchers Best on our grill but when not cooking them ourselves the above applies

Agree Steve is pretty much on the money. I have to say I like Pat's for the sense of tradition but my food nod would go to Stoney River.

Actually we usually find great steaks at other venues...Palermo, Seviche, Le Relais, and so forth. My next carnivore treat will be the "Big Ass" ribeye at 732.

Our favorite remains Del Frisco's...

I just experienced Del Frisco's for the first time on Thursday and I absolutely loved it. The service was excellent: attentive, but not every three minutes. The steaks were great and the potatoes au gratin were to die for. The owner said goodbye to us as we left and was pleased when my Mom told her we would be back.

I've been to Pat's one time as well, last July. Service was excellent there as well. Not rushed or over the top. I do remember the salad not being anything special. The steaks were good. Dessert was passable... we ordered the strawberry shortcake and for the first of July, I remember thinking that it should have been much better.

So, I agree with Ed... at this point, I'm ranking Del Frisco's #1. I can't rank Stoney River since I've only had carry-out from there.

Steve... I love the "micro-chain" term.

Steve... I love the "micro-chain" term.

Yes, I was very pleased when that term sprang from my meager little mind. I may just have to copy right it and charge all of these PR types a royalty when they use it. Regardless, remember you heard it here first, all others are simply imitations.

Yes, I can see it now <stares wistfully at the sky>. A day when we no longer speak of the just the merits of chain vs local...but rather micro-chain vs chain vs local (cracking myself up)

Anyway...Del Frisco's. My mother was in town visiting and is not (shall we say) the adventurous diner. For some reason "Pat's" just popped into my mind when the subject of where to dine out came up. I've GOT to remember Del Frisco's the next time. Too many good people have had too many good things to say about the place not to give it a try.

All things considered, I'm in agreement with Ed. The best steaks of the year seem to come from Butcher's Best and off the charcoal grill at home.

Knock it off guys. I was planning to grill up my 3 D Valley Angus Rib Eyes tomorrow, but now I'm not so sure I can wait that long.
Me

Knock it off guys. I was planning to grill up my 3 D Valley Angus Rib Eyes tomorrow, but now I'm not so sure I can wait that long.
Me

What time is dinner....Grill boy ?

Agree with earlier post about the "regulars". There is a clique up there, especially at the bar, and they get the good service and maybe the better steaks ? I'm definitely not a regular. I visit maybe once every couple of years or so. I've gotten decent steaks there, not great. Forgot about the veggies if you like fresh. Much better steakhouses elsewhere.......

How best to say this...

Pat's kills it on ambience, yet the past couple of steaks I have had there have been 'loose,' in texture. This generally happens when your grade of meat > your cooking technique. I ordered ribeyes which will show this flaw easier than any other cut- due to thier interior fat line. Rendering only exacerbates this.

I have no dining experience at Stoney. Shame on me for not being there sooner. Yet, I think they don't run prime or supers. At best, they run CAB- maybe house-aged. Truly, MAYBE, house-aged. If you can't show me a primal hanging in the fridge, then I know you are a poser...

Stoney is killing them right now. Get up, folks and do it like you do it. Don't care how you do it. Just do it!

(me and alliteration = friends)

To me, still, the best steak in town is at Z's. Get the fatty, flavorfull cut that is the NY Strip- smaller size, because of thier butchering. Medium-push. It is not even close, trust me. Crazy, when one understands that I should have a bone to pick with management...

Yet, great is great. Just go and try them all- you'll agree.

EDIT: This is Stephen. I'm at Gayle's house, taking a break from cooking a meal. I was sure I had relogged under my own name. Oh! And this dang Apple keyboard. like tap-dancing in a minefield...

Whew, thanks for clearing that up, Stephen.

I was reading the post and for a second thought Gayle was channeling your spirit.

It's just a little bit difficult imagine Gayle calling somebody out for being a poser.

Whew, thanks for clearing that up, Stephen.

I was reading the post and for a second thought Gayle was channeling your spirit.

It's just a little bit difficult imagine Gayle calling somebody out for being a poser.

Yeah that had me going as well! Funny!,
I'll dog-pile on what's already been posted here... Pat's has great ambiance but their culinary offerings are pretty 1965. Perhaps that has a great deal to do with their steady clientele (why upset the diners you already have?) I dunno but at some point most of Pat's current , habitual diners will go/drift away and in order to compete they will have to update their menu and culinary skills. I would imagine it's a pretty tricky business trying to stay hip without upsetting your patrons that insist on more "traditional" fare. Sounds like a good subject for Robin or Marsha to address.

I've long been a fan of Pat's menu and ambiance (back to its days as Min's)...and would patronize them more frequently were it not for (IMO) their steadily escalating prices...despite Stoney River's "micro-chain" environs, we've always enjoyed our meals there and, although not cheap, it offers a better price-value than Pat's...

Pat's has one porterhouse @ $51 labeled "prime", while the rest of the steaks aren't labeled (meaning they are likely choice). I have no idea if they are aged, or if so for how long. Stoney River uses "premium Angus", which corresponds to top-level choice through prime (Angus breed can use such cross-over grades according to USDA), and they wet age. We tend to prefer Stoney's steaks.

We still feel that the best steaks in Louisville by far are at Jeff Ruby's, which is the only restaurant to dry age their beef. It's certainly not a relaxing dinner there, but if you want the best beef it's the only choice!

Pat's has great ambiance but their culinary offerings are pretty 1965. Perhaps that has a great deal to do with their steady clientele (why upset the diners you already have?) I dunno but at some point most of Pat's current , habitual diners will go/drift away and in order to compete they will have to update their menu and culinary skills. I would imagine it's a pretty tricky business trying to stay hip without upsetting your patrons that insist on more "traditional" fare. Sounds like a good subject for Robin or Marsha to address.

While my wife and I don't visit either of these restaurants on a regular basis, I certainly agree with these comments about Pat's culinary offerings. Personally we also don't think much of the ambience or should I say lack thereof. While it has improved since the smoking ban it still seems very much like a cold dark cellar. I've been to many of the old school steak houses in other cities and have found each of these to have a much more vibrant atmosphere even if they are old facilities. Maybe part of the reason we don't think much of Pat's is because we're not Louisville native's and have experienced many other restaurants in this category that we felt were much better.

I have to agree that I didn't quite care for the ambience at Pat's. I felt very claustrophobic in the upstairs area. Maybe it was because I was newly pregnant and was still having a hard time with food. And their bathrooms are the size of coffins, which was a lot of fun as well. The steaks were decent, but I've eaten better at home. And we also didn't realize until we were outside that the server had taken a share of our change eventhough we had already left him his tip on the table (and we left over 15% and only had a party of 3). My husband was steaming by the time he realized that we had been jipped. We won't be going back.
On the other hand, we loved Stoney River. It is a louder place, and the wait was crazy, but the food was very good and the service was much better.