Prime Rib Steakhouse: A Meatetarian in Downtown Cleveland

One day, while driving home on Superior a friend and I saw a sign that made these meatetarians stop and take notice. Prime Rib Steakhouse. Located just east of the Superior Bridge, just south of the Warehouse district and diagonal from Tower City, the new food establishment is easy to get to and with plentiful street parking and near by lots, Prime Rib makes for the perfect celebration destination.

A few weeks later, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, three of us, after catching a flick at Tower, decided to investigate the new Cleveland food addition. We walked in and were greeted by a very personable host who showed us to our booth.

The first thing you’ll notice about Prime Rib is the decor. The interior resembles a mid-sized European restaurant, with careful attention to detail such as red walls, immaculate tables and and beautiful woods. We later learned that the owner’s wife decorated the intimate setting.

The wine list is impressive and commences the experience. The menu, English-inspired, is intentionally kept simple. There’s the spinning salad, prepared fresh, right in front of you and warm bread to enjoy while waiting for the main course. The prime rib varies in size and each cut is named after British nobility. It’s a very clever approach and is consistent with European branding. Owner and chef Attila Salka, who grew up in Hungary and has worked in restaurants both in Europe and on America’s two coasts, opened the establishment at the turn of the year.

When Attila pushed the cart towards us, we were very excited with anticipation. Attila, tall white hat and all, sliced our prime rib right in front of us while we eyed our meals. When the three of us received our prime rib, we couldn’t wait to dig in. When we asked for steak knives, our waiter told us, “You won’t need them.” He was right.

Our meat was tender, delicious, moist and rich. It glided from the plates to the forks to our mouths. Then, it simply melted.

I don’t think any of us have ever had meat that tasted like this. As friend Jessica Weese, who, a month later, took her parents to Prime Rib Steakhouse for Mother’s Day, shares, “The tableside service adds a dimension of personal attention that you don’t find anywhere else. From the spinning salad to carving the prime rib, the whole experience was so much fun. And the prime rib was the best I’ve ever had!”

And, she’s right.

In the past nine years that I’ve lived in Cleveland I’ve been fortunate enough to have enjoyed Cleveland Chop House, Morton’s, Ferris and John Qs. While in Chicago, I’ve also frequented Lawry’s and Gibson’s. I’ve also had the amazing pleasure of enjoying beef in bucolic England.

Nobody does it better than The Prime Rib Steakhouse on Superior, right here in Downtown Cleveland.

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com.