Written by A couple of weeks ago, I went to a fancy steakhouse with a couple of friends. One of them thought it was odd that I chose to dine there, given that I always order my steak medium well. He believes it’s a waste of money to enjoy a quality steak cooked that way. But I enjoy my steak medium well and I wanted to experience the ambiance of a nice steakhouse.
When my steak arrived, it was well done. My friend commented that this was common because people at upscale restaurants typically don’t order their steaks medium well or well done. He assumed the chef thought anyone who does isn’t a true steak enthusiast and just wanted it cooked thoroughly. I didn’t want to argue, but I thought to myself, if they can’t get medium well right, how can I trust them to cook a medium rare or rare steak? I’m not concerned about eating something red inside, I know it’s not blood but myoglobin. But based on past experiences, I usually end up with stomach pain after eating rare steak. The menu even has a warning that consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs may increase the risk of foodborne illness.
Once again, my friend suggested I should just accept the well done steak instead of telling the server. Do they even monitor the temperature that closely? My steak had no red visible, it was fully cooked, despite my order. Then, he suggested that if I wanted a medium well steak, I should go to a cheaper restaurant rather than a fancy one. While I understand his point to some extent, I still want to enjoy a high quality, fresh steak in a nice setting. I know that overcooking a steak can ruin the experience of a premium cut, but I prefer it cooked to my liking and want to savor the fresh cuts that upscale restaurants are known for. Unfortunately, it feels like my friend is more interested in belittling me than enjoying a nice time out together.