Best steakhouses in the Midwest? 8 spots that are worth the road trip

There's something iconic about an American steakhouse.

Whether it's a family-owned joint or a regional chain, a steakhouse is often a place where memories are made and special occasions celebrated. And the food is always a cut above, with menu items ranging from USDA Prime steaks and Wagyu filets, to crab legs, lobster, lamb chops and more.

Here are eight of the top steakhouses in the Midwest, from Illinois to Kentucky, that are worth a visit:

Alexander's Steakhouse: Peoria, Illinois

Blake Beason, a chef at Alexander's Steakhouse, works the grill while other customers choose their steaks from a nearby refrigerator at the popular Peoria restaurant. Customers can choose to make their own or let the restaurant's experts do the cooking.

When the restaurant opened more than four decades ago, customers were the only cooks to be found within the establishment. The concept served up a unique, do-it-yourself experience where friends, family and colleagues gathered together around the grill.

Nowadays, restaurant employees handle the cooking, but guests are still welcome to embrace a more hands-on approach.

Whether watching from a table or working grill-side, Alexander’s offers more than a meal. It cooks up an experience.

It is a setup Mercedes Restaurants, Inc. President Ron Helms described as “eatertainment.”

— Cassidy Waigand, Journal Star

Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse: Cincinnati, Ohio

You can't mention the word steak in Cincinnati without the image of Jeff Ruby in his signature flashy suits popping into your head. The New Jersey native turned Cincinnati beef baron opened his first steakhouse, the Precinct, in 1981, followed by several other ventures.

The Lounge features live music and a mother of pearl 1865 Steinway piano with room for 90 people at the new Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse location near Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022.

Three years ago, he opened his flagship Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse location downtown, across the street from Fountain Square. It's definitely the most theatrical restaurant in Cincinnati, with its 1865 Steinway piano studded in mother of pearl hovering above the bar and a dining room that will make you feel like you've stepped into the Copacabana scene in "Goodfellas."

The raw bar is spectacular, as is the sushi and, of course, the dry-aged USDA Prime steaks and selection of Wagyu beef.

— Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jim's Steak House: Peoria, Illinois

Jim’s Steak House has served as a quintessential fine-dining destination for more than six decades. Candle flames flicker and dance atop white tablecloths, chandeliers hang from the ceiling and some nights, the sound of live harp or piano drifts through the dining area.

Dry-aged steaks are a staple at the establishment, though other high-end entrees like crab legs, lobster and lamb chops are also available.

With its classic fine-dining feel, the longtime family restaurant draws locals and visitors alike.

Autographed images adorn many of the walls, providing a snapshot of the countless celebrities who have dined at Jim’s over the decades. Famous faces have included actors such as “Goodfellas” star Ray Liotta, Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase.

— Cassidy Waigand, Journal Star

Le Moo: Louisville, Kentucky

If you can't tell by the complimentary glasses of Champagne near the entrance of Le Moo, you're walking into a party.

"We want people to feel special as soon as they walk in the door," Josh Vasko, Le Moo's beverage program manager, told the Courier Journal. "People are going to remember how we made them feel."

That goes for how Vasko makes Le Moo's most popular cocktail, a smoked Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve double oaked bourbon and an ice cube etched with the restaurant's logo.

Le Moo aims to spread more specialness with its eclectic decor, including lots of cow-themed artwork, chandeliers, and a Louis Vuitton booth. The upscale steakhouse goes hard for its chosen cuisine, by offering a number of cuts and a 10-ounce Miyazaki, Japan Grade A5 wagyu filet. Priced at $259, the steak comes with a certificate of authenticity and is served tableside by the executive chef.

In 2016, just a year after Louisville restaurateur Kevin Grangier opened the grand spectacle, Food Network named Le Moo one of America's top 25 best places for steak in 2016 and it's still a go-to in town. It's also known for a lively weekend drag brunch.

— Amanda Hancock, The Courier Journal

The London Chop House: Detroit, Michigan

In its prime, The London Chop House was a swanky steakhouse for Detroit’s elite. When it opened in 1938, it became a meeting place for auto industry power players and celebrities alike.

Since it opened in 1938, London Chophouse has offered star-quality treatment to everyday diners.

Today, more than 80 years later, the dimly lit underground restaurant continues to offer star-quality treatment to everyday diners. Choose among leather banquettes nestled into corners dimly lit by wall sconces, floor seating steps away from live jazz performers or high tables along glass cases filled with sketches of the celebrities who have graced the Chop House with their presence over the years.

The menu here is exactly what you’d expect of a traditional steakhouse — think oysters Rockefeller and chilled shrimp cocktail with fresh horseradish, crab cakes and caviar service. And of course, there’s a wide selection of steaks served with au poivre, chimichurri or bearnaise sauce. There are multiple varieties of strip steaks and ribeyes, as well as veal chops, pork chops and lamb chops. An Oscar-style side tops asparagus with bearnaise sauce and lump crab meat for a vegetable dish fit for a king.  

— Lyndsay Green, The Detroit Free Press

Losanti: Cincinnati, Ohio (Over-the-Rhine neighborhood)

If you're looking for a modern take on a classic Italian steakhouse — something with a minimalist vibe and maximalist food — Losanti is your spot. Since 2019, it's been serving some of the best steaks, pastas and shrimp scampi in town.

The butter cake from Losanti, in Over-the-Rhine.

All of the pastas are made in-house and include spaghetti tossed with crab meat and lobster cream or rigatoni in creamy vodka sauce enlivened with a punch of Calabrian chiles and plenty of garlic. Steaks are cut to order and come with a head of slow-roasted garlic and charred lemon. With such a huge selection of rich and delicious food, Losanti can lead to a little belt busting if you're not careful.

— Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer

Repeal Oak Fired Steakhouse: Louisville, Kentucky

Preparing steaks with a grill fueled by reclaimed American Oak bourbon barrels, Repeal leans into its Prohibition inspired name. Along with entrees such as lobster tail and beef short rib, you'll find a selection of oak-fired steaks, ranging from New York strip to filet mignon and Australian or Japanese wagyu offerings.

Try the "Churchill Style" petite filet, with broiled lobster and bone marrow butter or the "Repeal Style," with king crab, asparagus and black truffle béarnaise. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week and offers brunch on weekends. Starters include a spicy tuna tartare ($21) and baked crab cake ($25) with six salads and soups ($12-$15) and a raw bar.

— Amanda Hancock, The Courier Journal

Rudy's Prime Steakhouse: Detroit, Michigan

Rudy’s Prime Steakhouse delivers a modern voice to Clarkston, a small city with old world charm. The space itself is consistent with the Oakland County village’s overall vibe. A stone façade blends into the row of quaint boutiques and small dining establishments. Inside, vaulted ceilings and contemporary lighting create a warm and cozy but sleek feel.

Rudy's Prime Steakhouse merges old-world traditions with a modern approach.

As for the menu, chef Joshua Stockton has designed something entirely new. Sure, there are steakhouse classics — a range of prime meats in individual servings or large formats to share. But unlike most steakhouses, at Rudy’s, the menu is ever-evolving as Stockton cooks with the seasons. A fall salad features grilled radicchio, butternut squash and toasted pumpkin seeds. And in summer, a panzanella tossed heirloom tomatoes and juicy cucumbers in a roasted tomato vinaigrette.

There are also creative sides that nod to the favorite pastimes of the standard steakhouse. In place of crab cakes, Stockton has crafted crispy arancini stuffed with blue crab meat and garlic confit for a gooey burst of flavor, and loaded potatoes are translated into creamy mashed potatoes topped with a sweet bacon jam and tangy sour cream.

— Lyndsay Green, The Detroit Free Press