There aren’t many restaurants in north Jersey where you can have a luxurious steak dinner, enjoy a perfectly made Pomegranate Martini, and then dance the night away if you’re so inclined. And just in time for summer, on June 4th, CUT will open its 5,000 square foot patio to enjoy small bites and cool drinks. Pretend you’re on South Beach in one of the dozen Miami-style cabanas surrounded by palm trees.
Sam Mickail’s CUT Steak House, specializing in dry-aged steaks, has redefined the steakhouse experience. I took part in a media dinner last month and got to see first hand the complete package that is CUT. Of course, you’ve got the requisite steakhouse fare, such as smoky, thick cut bacon, perfectly charred and lacquered with black honey and walnuts, and an impressive array of oysters, clams, and jumbo shrimp offered at the raw bar. A few lovely fish, chicken, and pasta dishes are available, but let’s face it, you’re here for the steak. And this is where CUT shines.
All their steaks are aged 28-32 days, but what I think makes them unique are the sauce combination accompaniments. For instance, I had the 18 oz Tomahawk steak with a black lava salt crust and served with creamy horseradish. The Porterhouse is served with melted butter, sea salt, and cracked peppercorns. The nice thing about this steak is that it can be ordered for one or two people. Most steakhouses only offer the Porterhouse cut for two. Additionally, CUT offers a14 oz Skirt, which is charred with Roquefort crust, and served with a chimichurri sauce, and roasted marrow. Hmmmmm!
If steak isn’t your thing, try the delicious Double CUT Rack of Lamb, which is herb crusted, and served with goat cheese polenta crouton, braised red cabbage, and rosemary sauce. Or, something you don’t see very often, Braised Organic Veal Cheeks, with grilled fresh corn salsa, Meyer lemon gremolata, with natural veal jus. I wish I had sampled this because it sounds divine. Next time!
CUT is housed at 466 Prospect Avenue, also home to the 466 Club, which bills itself as a “state of the art mega night club.” So not only can you have a great dinner at CUT, but then you can join the fun in the club. The club offers private bottle service, a sunken lounge, and a piano bar. But I think the real draw here is the club and restaurant’s capacity to host special events and of course the new patio will only add to CUT’s alure.
CUT Steakhouse and the 466 Club, perfect together.
Sam Mickail’s CUT Steakhouse
466 Prospect Avenue
West Orange, NJ
973-474-9896
Terry Krongold is a life-long passionate baker. In addition to a full-time job in the pharmaceutical industry, Terry has been involved with food for many years, including co-ownership of a dessert catering company in the late eighties called I Love Cheesecake, specializing in fine cheesecake and unique desserts. Terry is the author of The Cook’s Tour, a blog focused on food, baking, and travel. When not working, writing, or baking, she spends time planning vacations around restaurants to visit. She can be reached at terry@cookstour.net.
