Been there once just for drinks. Pretty good drinks too. Yes, it is an upscale steakhouse, but the atmosphere was very young. I enjoyed my first experience. The only negative was that the bartender charged us for 2 extra drinks and it took forever to correct the bill...I'll chalk that up to the place being sorta new. I will definately go back...I hear they have a pretty decent Happy Hour.

Judging from the review, I think I'll stick with the Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater on Joppa Road. The steaks there are very good, and they're a good bit cheaper.

The topping had an unfortunate look to it - I'll leave it to your imagination

Oh, dear. That is unfortunate.

I had drinks and snacks in the bar at Sullivan's. That was all good, and as you mentioned, the service is very attentive. What turned me off the place is the blatantly sexist decor. Yes, it is a steakhouse, but do I really need to look at a photo of a 16 year old model about to suck on a big cigar? (When is a cigar not a cigar?) I am a professional woman, who works across the street, makes good money and goes out to eat a lot to spend that money. I know it's a steakhouse and I am not the target market, but c'mon! Is that the best you can do in this day and age?

Try the Stone Crab Claws, a martini from the fab list, and listen to the jazz!
No place like it B'more!
Thanks Sullivan's for picking our city to make home.

The bit about the bleu cheese has me shaking my head. That the kitchen didn't use the bleu cheese dressing but kept the cheese itself on the plate being served to the person who does not like bleu cheese... this is rather stupid. There are other dressings and cheeses that can and should be available.

What's the point or intelligence of still serving the disliked bleu cheese to the person who does not like bleu cheese?

I'm guessing that their next level of attempt would be to just serve the wedge of lettuce without any dressing, cheese, or the diced tomatoes?

As usual I am confused by the review. Appetizers were excellent. Fish was perfect. Steaks were good. You "really liked" the pork shank. You didn't like the sauce on the Delmonico but that doesn't make it bad. Your score? Two stars. As low as I have seen you score a restaurant. Compare to last weeks review. A seafood restaurant where all the fish was overcooked. Not some. All. Your score? Two stars. Just doesn't seem consistent.

You think of two stars as bad. I think of it as fair or uneven, as the key says. I also factor in cost, and whether a problem might be simply because of some factor inherent to the restaurant or not (quality of ingredient vs. oversalting, for instance). Stars are a gross measure of something I've taken 800 words or so to say as accurately as I can. I don't know what the next week will hold, so I can't measure one "grade" against another the way you can in hindsight. I've said all this so many times before I'm not sure why you're still confused. But if you are, why do you even bother looking at the stars since in your mind I'm never going to give you accurate information in them? All I'm really saying with both these "grades" is that the food is fair or uneven relative to cost. It's all I can say with stars. EL

shill alert? lelslie smith? fab martinis?

Yeah, I was wondering that, too, Joyce. Although it is difficult to believe that a PR agency would hire anyone without a passing familiarity with English punctuation.

Maybe lelsie just liked the drink? never know. that is what makes comments fun

I write this as I'm digesting their chipotle (or some southwestern style) chicken salad. It was pretty good- I expected a salad with some pulled chicken on top of it....turns out it was really chicken salad. If that makes any sense?! Initially, I wasn't pleased because I was looking for something a little more healthy but in the end, the taste was great. $12 for a decent sized lunch and some fresh crusty bread. Went with a coworker who had the "Business Lunch" $18 for a 6 oz filet, mashed and veggies, and a bowl of onion soup to start. He said it was fabulous. Can't imagine spending that much on a non business lunch but I'll be back to check out Happy Hour- I hear it's great. Still, I think I'll stick to Capital Grille for my business lunches, better selection, better service.

Who says fab? That's a throwback to the 50s, isn't it?

I have no idea, Eve. I only say "fab" when I'm talking about the space and tools needed to make something.

Who says fab? That's a throwback to the 50s, isn't it?

Well, the Beatles were known as the Fab Four, so it was still being used in '64.

FAB. Going back further, it was also a detergent I believe.

Yes, Bucky, but as we all know, much of the 50's happened in the 1960's, and many of the key events of the 60's happened in the 1970's.

I'm not sure who got shorted, possibly the 80's.

To get back to your question on why the valet is cheaper than parking yourself. I suspect that garages make deals with valets, becuase a space used by a valet is a high turn-over space. Its usually only in use for a few hours, then can be used again by another person. Howver, if you park your own car there, who knows how long you'll stay?

I think the young clientele, the fishnets and the house music are what distinguish Sullivans from the other steakhouses. If it were just about the food, I don't think Baltimore would need another steakhouse outside of the Prime Rib.

Oh, and as to the bass tinged house muzak, while I'm not a big fan of it, at least I can understand it being played in the evening. It is weird, but whenever I'm in Canada it seems like the hotels I stay have that same CD playing in the hotel. For whatever reason the Canadians seem to think that music is nice pairing for a breakfast buffet.

much of the 50's happened in the 1960's, and many of the key events of the 60's happened in the 1970's.

This explains so much about my life.

It's not just fab. it's GEAR, fab.

Lissa, I think the 80s got snorted.

Good point, Stacy.

I once heard it explained that the 50s ended on November 22, 1963. The 60's ended with the withdrawal from Viet Nam. They were more eras than decades.

Excellent point, Eve.

To take it one step further, the 1970's ended on August 1st, 1981, when the following words were the first to ever be spoken on a new start-up cable channel: "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll." And MTV was officially born.

So is it safe to assume that Sullivan's is to Baltimore steakhouses what Ra is to Baltimore sushi restaurants? Some kind of lounge/club/restaurant hybrid? Cloungaurant? Restacluge? I don't remember the Sullivan's in King of Prussia PA having that atmosphere at all. Is it unique to each location what 'vibe' they choose?

Sullivan's is not at all "is to Ra". I think the sushi at Ra is quite good. The food at Sullivan's is fair at best and the only reason I would go back is for drinks. I think EL hit it on the head pretty good - the steaks are simply average and for a few bucks more you can get prime beef at Flemings (my fav), Mortons, Ruth's Chris, Prime Rib and a few others in town.

Unfortunately, there is no good sushi in Baltimore (although I haven't eaten at Ra, I've looked at their menu, and...that isn't sushi).

This keeps up, and we'll have to split Japanese cuisine like we do Chinese - authentic and American-style.

I had lunch there last week with a friend. Our server was male, so thankfully no fishnets. Missed the poster of the girl with the cigar, too. We had a booth in the dining room with a nice view of some picasso-like painting.

The service was perfect from the moment we walked in the door to when we left. And while I was standing alone waiting for my friend, every employee who walked by said hello, which made me feel like they were happy I was there.

I had the "business lunch," which included one choice between two soups and two salads as a starter, and a main course choice between a 6 oz.filet or a salmon fillet. I had a ceasar salad (decent size, with really good dressing) and the salmon fillet, which was cooked perfectly, served over horseradish mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables, with a delicate sauce closely resembling buerre blanc but better-tasting. It was $18.

We were served warm bread at the outset, which was very tasty. The iced-tea I ordered was obviously freshly brewed, and among the best I've had in town, with the right amount of ice.

There was no house music at lunch. Ella Fitzgerald was playing when I walked in, and there was some R&B playing later on. It was a little loud at times, but in this small town it's better than having the room so quiet that your table neighbors can hear what you're saying.

Overall, I was really happy with the food and service and will definitely go back often.

Things I will try next time: asparagus bisque and the stone crab claws.

Our server was male, so thankfully no fishnets.

No fair! I think Dr. Frank N Furter would be a most excellent waiter.

Not that they'd consider doing it, but what a funny April Fools day joke that would be, Lissa. To have the male servers all in Frank N Furter drag! Especially if everybody did it completely "straight" faced (pun intended). It would make a great Candid Camera episode (if there were such a show anymore anyway).

I'm just curious, what is the right amount of ice?

Depends on how far you want to skate, RayRay.

My husband and I have been to Sullivan's approx 10 times since it opened. We think it is just great. The blue cheese meatloaf is so much better than I could have expected. Each time I go I try to get something different and so far I have not been disappointed. My only issue with them is that on their website the dessert menu lists a souffle... however they do not offer it at the Baltimore location. When I asked why I was told that people don't like them. ????

They just need to put some Old Bay on that souffle, and it'll sell like crabcakes.