Ruth’s Chris elegant fountain of water at the entrance sounds similar to the steaks you are soon to hear sizzling on the plates as you are being escorted to your throne. The Palms with its big city glitz and colorful, cartoonishly drawn characters of more of the city’s elite drawn throughout reminds you that you are eating at one of the best the city has to offer. But how do these three stacks up to each other? Come along for a journey as I try to cook up my best comparison of the three.

Let us first venture to into the Palm. This place for fine dinning, located down town San Antonio, still has that New York artsy feel to it. As you walk in you see why it is a favorite among the writers and artistic type. There are the cities news makers drawn through out in cartoon fashion on the walls. A sense of playful elegance surrounds you as you take your seat.

As always when I indulge at one of these fine places I order the filet mignon and lobster. The large (4-8 pound) Nova Scotia lobsters simply melt in your mouth. It’s hard to even dip it into the buttery sauce out of fear of losing some of the lobsters’ flavorful taste. The steak however leaves something to be desired. They sear their meat at The Palm. I find the steak to have a bit of a sour tang to it. Although good, I would prefer my steak charred. A little less New York ritz and more Texas ruggedness would suit my palette more.

Ruth’s Chris steak house is next on the royal binge. With its classy southern Louisiana charm this place is better then The Palm. It has more of a classy atmosphere with its fountains and low lighting. Simple classiness I guess you could say. It shows off none of its high class clientèle like most fine dinning establishments. Ruth’s Chris also sears its meat, however it is great.

Nothing is left to be desired here. When your fillet is served it is served sizzling. Your plate screams fresh from the broiler to the table. The taste is mouthwatering! Another of my favorites here at Ruth’s Chris is the dessert. The flourless chocolate cake is like nothing you have ever tasted before. It is a rich chocolate dish that bites at your salivary glands. If you order this dish it is a must you order the King Louis XII cognac to help cut through the mouthwatering experience. When you are eating the finest, drink the finest! For our final endeavor we are dinning at my personal favorite; Morton’s. You are sure to know who the big spenders are eating here. As you walk into this restaurant located next to the Alamo the first thing that you see are the wine lockers. Mahogany and brass shout out the names of former mayors, Spurs players, actors, high powered lawyers, the list goes on. Their personal wine is at the ready. The smell of meat charring shouts out to you 100% USDA PRIME!

This Chicago steak house has plenty of down home Texas ruggedness. The fillet here is simply unbeatable. It is charred to perfection on the outside, with a warm pink center and smothered in Bearnaise sauce. The Bearnaise sauce is a buttery sauce made with egg yoke, butter and tarragon. It brings out the flavor of the meat unparalleled in any other sauce. It is also fantastic poured over the fresh asparagus, asparagus that is colossal in size. If it is your first time eating here you must ask for “the show”. They will bring you a tray and personally show you each cut of meat and vegetable to inspect along with the lobster, still alive of course. It will be a show you surely get and a show you won’t soon forget.

For dessert I suggest you try the chocolate lava cake with a nice cold frosted glass of milk. The whole experience is regal. Simple Midwestern charm at it’s best.

My dad always told me that it only cost a little more to go first class. First class dinning is what all three of these restaurants have to offer. So depending on your style or the occasion there is something for everybody. From east coast glitz and glamor to southern charm and Midwest ruggedness it is all there to be sampled. Weather you like seafood or steak, simple or elegant you are sure to satisfy your taste and desires at one of these three fine dinning establishments. My personal favorite as I mentioned above, Morton’s “The King of Steak House’s” .