Although I don't usually order steak in places other than steak houses, Christopher Daniel stands out for me as one place where I broke with habit and was glad I did. I had a steak and crab cake there the first time I went and now order it every time I go back. Steak frites at Petit Louis is good too if you're there and just must have beef, but I rarely order it because the other dishes are so good (e.g. scallops).

wow. that's a really tough question.

I think I had a pretty decent steak at sobo cafe, though, obviously not memorable that I have to tell you about it.

it's hard to have something incredibly memorable unless it's dry aged. and you usually only get dry aged at a steakhouse. my $.02

The Brewers Art and Crepe du Jour both have very nice steak with awesome frites!

The steak with oxtail stew at Woodberry is quite good. But I always get their hamburger. It is amazing.

Bruce Bitner's on Churchville Road in Bel Air serves local Deer Creek Beef, which we get at the Bel Air farmers market in season and which is also available at the Waverly market.

My picks...

The steak frites at Brewers Art - a big cut that is the right balance of flavor and tenderness. Oh, did I forget that it comes on top of a pile of their famous garlic rosemary fries? The odd salad it comes with adds to the presentation but nothing more.

The ribeye at Woodberry Kitchen is another big winner. It doesn't hurt that the potato gratin in the cast iron is amazing as well.

I recall the filet at Linwoods being very nicely done, and sizable as well.

The wife and I didn't have a great experience at Crepe du Jour with their steak. Since Baltofoodie paired it with the Brewer's Art offering that I highly respect, maybe we both caught the kitchen on an off night.

Hamilton Tavern uses local grass-fed Roseda beef for their burgers.

I always enjoy the strip steak at Peter's Inn. Yum.

OK, this will elicit some laughs, but Bare Bones in Ellicott City puts together a fine prime rib. It ain't fancy, and the atmosphere is drab and suburban, but for under $20, you get a decent steak and acceptable sides. Plus, and acceptable brew...

The Hungry Heifer has an excellent surf and turf special for $12.95, if you like bif and loobster.

Zevonista - I'm not laughing at Bare Bones -

I've just realized that only twice in 2008, did I eat steak out and both times were at Bill Bateman's. For 12.95 (or something like that) Filet mignon, baked potato with butter and sour cream and another side. One time was "wow, am I shocked at how good this is!". The next time was "wow, am I shocked at much this sucks!" Bill Bateman's not known for consistency.

The James Joyce does steak well (quality beef, cooked as ordered, appropriately seasoned), at a decent price around $20, and sometimes has it even cheaper as a special. When I've had it, it came with sublime mashed potatoes and perfectly cooked fresh vegetables. I lovelovelove steak and this is my fav place to get it at a reasonable price.

The Owl Bar filet mignon I had a couple times was perfect, cooked with real butter and a red wine and mushroom reduction, though it was at least $25-32.

John Stevens, Ltd also makes a very respectable steak. I know they're known for seafood but I take out of town guests there often enough that sometimes I'd just rather have meat and it's always good.

And for something a little different, the carne asada at Arcos is fantastic and it is served with the freshest red, green, and yellow peppers I've tasted in town, cooked perfectly,with their fresh and super awesome guacamole on the side. The service is really good there, too.

Ummm...the hanger steak at Chameleon Cafe.

There was a time when arguably the best steak in Fells Point could be had at The Fishery. Alas, The Fishery is long gone.

I love the steak frites at Petit Louie and hubby says the best steak he ever had was the dry aged Ny strip at The Oregon Grille.

Beef at the Oregon Grille is generally a good choice, but pricey.

I absolutely adore Brewer's Art, but the one time I had the steak frites there I was incredibly disappointed.

It was a tasty, well-seasoned cut, but also incredibly tough. The frites and the gourmet lettuce salad that came with it were great but man that was one of the most difficult to eat cuts of meat I've ever experienced.

I've heard that the steak at Peter's Inn is good (and always on the menu) but I haven't tried it yet - I always seem to gravitate towards other things, and there is only so much room in my tum.

Mama's on the Half Shell has a good New York Strip.

About five or six years ago I had a great filet mignon at Ze Mean Bean, of all places. Nothing fancy about it, but it was so good I still remember it.

i am a big fan of the steaks at many of the places in little italy. Rocco's has an excellent cut of beef in a couple of different styles, De Mimo's was top notch for years even though their quality has dropped since Mimo's departure. Aldo's though pricey had one of the best Cake and Steaks i've ever had though

A second that on Rocco's steaks. Even the impossibly finicky one loved her filet there - twice in one week.

Yes it's a chain, but we've gotten quite good steaks at Carrabba's...go figure.

Dottie,
I agree. Carrabba's filet marsala is quite good.

Carrabbas, Outback etc etc etc. I biked past the Outback in Canton yesterday on my way to my rebirthing coach and thought: Outback? How unappealing. I just don't understand what people see in buying simple steaks in a restaurant when it's so much easier and cheaper to make a better one at home. I guess some people can't cook or pick out meat.

I guess some people can't...pick out meat.

Guilty as charged. I will get the top sirloins from Omaha Steaks now and then.

But I don't like Outback either. I'll go to Longhorn's or the Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater on Joppa Road if I want steak. But its not often I want steak when dining out.