If there be one thing about having a meal here at Stirling Steaks in the basement of Capitol Theater, it is that you can be sure your meal will be good.
Stirling Steaks has- as far as I know- two outlets, one at Capitol, one at East Coast Road. I have had the privilege of going to both, but in recent months I have had the double privilege of going more to one.
Stirling Steaks Capitol has their restaurant down at the basement. It's a lovely, cozy place, quiet and serene, great for a weekday office lunch, a weekend lunch date, or a business meal where you can have cordial conversation without multiple distractions.
It just so happens that we are at the downtown area a lot.
It also so happens that we have been wanting a meal that is keto-leaning, protein-rich yet filling and full of taste.
What makes the experience here unique is just how personable the staff are.
You show up, they check your name on the reservation list, direct you straight to your table.
I like how the menu is sufficient, but not too extensive, that you can see the sides and the mains all at one go and you can make up your mind without having to vacillate too much.
This early evening we went for what I think is the tenderloin, or maybe it were the rib eye, and a flank steak, which, on the looks might have been small, but not so small that it was insufficient for a lady's meal.
What makes the steak here exceptionally pleasant is that the meats are all charcoal grilled.
Whilst that means they do take some time to come out from the kitchen, it also means that they're really good.
I don't quite know the best way to describe the steak, but let's just say you get that bit of smoky burnt taste so distinctive with meats that have been grilled over charcoal, and then there's that bit of roundedness that comes with the slow(er) method of cooking.
It is the warmth that I'm meaning.
The warmth that wraps itself around your tongue and has you sensing the chew of the meat even before you bite into it.
We had our steak with fries today, an order, I think, of truffle fries.
I would have wanted mashed potatoes, but hey, this friend of mine digs truffle, so yep, truffle fries it was tonight going to be.
It was lovely, slicing up the steak bit by bit and dipping it with the salt.
I had my fries with ketchup, for no reason other than because eating such fries (or chips, really) dipped in ketchup seemed like the right thing to have.
There're more mains to be tried here at Stirling Steaks.
For those of us who aren't in the mood for steak, they've got the Stirling Burger and the Empire Fish and Chips. The Stirling Burger's got the angus beef patty, the tomatoes, the shiitake mushrooms and paprika fries. The Fish and Chips do a breaded dory with paprika fries and coleslaw, which, by the way, I tried once (at their East Coast outlet) and found it incredibly fresh and refreshing.
Then they've got Grilled Chicken, Crispy King Salmon and Smoked Duck Breast.
I wouldn't mind their Crispy King Salmon.
Not so much for the salmon itself but the crushed potato, and the creamy dill & leek sauce.
I wanna know how it tastes like.
Of course, I wouldn't mind going for their dessert too.
Churros are always a great choice, as well as what I will presume is a thick, fudgy Muddy Mud Pie.