Steak Time: Where to Get the Best Cuts of Beef for Savor Sarasota 2018

With nearly 90 restaurants participating in the biggest Savor Sarasota celebration yet, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the options. We've broken the choices up by category, and selected some of our favorites. Arranged in alphabetical order by restaurant name, check out our picks on where to get the best steaks and other cuts of meat at Savor Sarasota 2018.

Get ready to take a bite out of the biggest culinary event of the year in Sarasota County.

Family owned and operated for 43 years, Alpine Steakhouse has earned its reputation for prime dry-aged steaks and German specialties. The Savor Sarasota menu does not disappoint with offerings that include USDA Prime Aged N.Y. Strip Steak and Slow-Roasted Prime Rib with twice-baked potato, duck fat-roasted brussel sprouts, and creamed horseradish sauce au jus. While we realize we're here to talk about the beef, we also feel compelled to mention that the restaurant's famous "Turducken," featured on Food Network, is also on the Savor Sarasota menu — just in case you catch a craving for a chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey.

Housed in an antique filling station, Bijou Cafe has been a cornerstone of the culinary scene in downtown Sarasota since the 1980s. Don't miss the flavorful Grilled Prime Skirt Steak with mint-basil pesto, roasted red pepper, jasmine rice, pickled jalapeno, and sliced avocado on this year's Savor Sarasota menu.

Compared to the aforementioned Bijou Cafe, Brick's Smoked Meats is a relative newcomer to the downtown Sarasota culinary scene. Brick's opened its storefront on State Street in 2017, but got its start serving scrumptious barbecue at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market in 2013. If you haven't been initiated yet, take advantage of the Savor Sarasota deal on Brick's Texas-Style Trinity Meat Basket, featuring the restaurant's "pride and joy" 18-hour USDA Prime brisket, ribs, and sausage. We recommend the Smoked Poblano Queso for your first course.

Founded in 1973 and located on St. Armands Circle, Cafe L'Europe celebrates its 45th anniversary in Sarasota this year. The Savor Sarasota menu features a variety of Old World European classics — but we're here to rave about the Sirloin Frites: a delicious pairing of truffle-parmesan steak fries served alongside grilled USDA Prime seven-ounce sirloin and sauce béarnaise.

The Capital Grille pairs dry-aged steaks with its award-winning wine list. For Savor Sarasota, enjoy the eight-ounce Filet Mignon or 14-ounce Bone-In, Dry-Aged New York Strip. For an additional $10, add jumbo shrimp with herb butter to the Filet Mignon dish, or upgrade to an 18-ounce Bone-In, Kona-Crusted, Dry-Aged New York Strip with shallot butter.

Chaz 51's Savor Sarasota dinner menu offers a delectable trio of six-ounce Angus Filet Mignon, grilled jumbo shrimp, and jalapeno mac and cheese. Stop by at lunchtime for Chaz 51's Naked Kobe Burger — served without a bun, sizzling on a skillet with sautéed, mild cherry peppers and onions.

Try the surf and turf stylings for Savor Sarasota at Chef Rolf's New Florida Kitchen. This year's menu features a Six-ounce Filet with béarnaise sauce, crab-stuffed shrimp, and broccoli rabe. Chef Rolf's Savor Sarasota 2018 menu also includes Veal Oscar Style.

Duval's Fresh Local Seafood is known for its seafood (check out the Shrimp Po'Boy in the second course of Duval's four course Savor Sarasota menu) — but red meat eaters should not overlook Duval's Flash Grilled Ten-Ounce Sirloin, offered in the third course with a black pepper demi-glace, asparagus, and steak frites.

H2O Bistro, located inside the lobby of downtown Sarasota's Hotel Indigo, comes to the Savor Sarasota table offering New York Strip with with a chive and butter compound, and paired with pan-seared diver scallops and grilled asparagus.

Take advantage of Savor Sarasota offerings at Hyde Park Steakhouse, voted one of America's top steakhouses. Dry-Aged Sirloin Chop Steak with mushroom bordelaise sauce and Petite Twin Filet Mignon with béarnaise sauce make the cut on this year's menu.

In Englewood, Farlow's on the Water has some of one of the most diverse and interesting menu selections for Savor Sarasota 2018. We're enchanted by the Mango Chimichurri New York Strip: a Recado spice-rubbed steak topped with Farlow's mango chimichurri and served over a brussels sprout and sweet potato hash.

Longtime Siesta Key fine dining cornerstone, Ophelia's on the Bay, consistently offers Savor Sarasota menus that are made to dazzle. The 2018 menu is no exception, and includes a South American-inspired Churrasco of Florida Wagyu Beef Bavette (flank steak) prepared en sous vide with mojo marinade, and flash-grilled with chimichurri, sweet onions, and yuca frita with guasacaca (Venezuelan avocado salsa).

Rodizio Grill brings the Brazilian tradition of meats carved tableside to town with an all-you-can-eat offering for Savor Sarasota Restaurant Month. Sink your teeth into as much Maminha, Miolo da Paleta, Picanha, and Bife Com Alho as you can eat. Check out Rodizio's full menu to learn about the Brazilian cuts of meat we listed and get your mouth watering for your date with delicious destiny at Rodizio for Savor Sarasota.

The Rosemary offers some of the most abundant choices on its Savor Sarasota menu this year, with a hearty lean into meat and barbecue options that include: Texas-style whiskey-chip smoked and bourbon-braised boneless short ribs, Kansas City or Mexico City-style ten-ounce grilled prime strip steak topped with a choice of a cracked peppercorn and brandy demi-glace or chimichurri, and George’s Texas Platter: hand-rubbed, house-smoked brisket; smoked sausage, and two center-cut baby back ribs with blue cheese coleslaw, cheese grits, and Chef George’s proprietary "Interesting Sauce."

As always, Ruth's Chris Steak House offers a straightforward six-ounce Filet Mignon we would be remiss to overlook among the best cuts of steak on special during the 2018 Savor Sarasota celebration.

Visit Tommy Bahama on St. Armands Circle to indulge in the Char-Grilled Flat Iron special for Savor Sarasota — featuring a rosemary-balsamic reduction, roasted potatoes, pearl onions, and haricot verts.