If you’re looking for a steakhouse that stands out from the rest, STK is the place you should go. All it takes is one step inside the building, a once-over on the décor, and a quick glance at the menu and you literally won’t be able to say no to sitting down for dinner. Just don’t fight it…
Besides the extremely sleek look of the place, my other favorite things about STK include their diverse menu, especially for a steakhouse, and their innovative cocktails. Before I even get started on the good stuff, I feel obligated to mention that STK has happy hour Monday through Friday from 5pm-8pm that features half off of all of their incredible cocktails. That is the hugest steal in the entire city, especially for the quality you’re getting.
As soon as I heard about this deal, I celebrated the fact that I happened to visit during happy hour with a cocktail, of course. I opted for the Cucumber Stilleto, which is made with Ketel One Citroen, St. Germain, muddled cucumber, and mint. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know this light type of vodka-based drink is pretty predictable for me, but I just couldn’t resist. My friend decided to be a bit more daring and order the Green Intensity, made with vodka, fresh lime, basil, and jalapeño for a little spice.
Like I mentioned before, the menu at STK is incredible (not to mention super gluten-friendly) and you can’t really go wrong. However, I do think I ate some of the best things on the menu and I’m pretty proud of it. For the appetizer course, I started with the Jumbo Lump Crab Salad and the Crispy Rock Shrimp. In addition to a healthy portion of lump crab, the salad also featured grapefruit, melon, and hearts of palm. The salad was extremely light, and perfect for summertime. I am typically not a huge fan of fruit with savory dishes, but I thought the grapefruit added a nice flavor and the melon added a nice, dense texture to the dish in comparison to the lump crab.
The Rock Shrimp were out of this world and probably my favorite thing of the entire meal. The shrimp are battered and fried, but are battered in cornmeal rather than flour, so it is gluten-free! I personally enjoy cornmeal more than flour as a batter anyways, so I’m glad STK decided to entertain that option. The crispy shrimp were served over a chili remoulade, which added a delightful creaminess to the dish. If I had to choose one word to describe this dish, it would be “indulgent” and I loved every second of it.
For the main course, we of course had to get steak. We opted for the 16-oz sirloin with a couple sides as accompaniment. All steaks are gluten-free, so again, you can’t go wrong here. The first of these sides was the jalapeño cheddar grits. Not only did these taste delicious, but they were also absolutely gorgeous to look at. I asked my waiter specifically about this dish and he explained the process behind the green hue. Apparently you have to be very choosy with your jalapeños and only use the healthiest. That is definitely dedication.
The second side was the sweet corn pudding, which was also very nice. The flavor was great, and the dish was so unbelievably creamy. Both of these sides went together very well with the steak, which was fantastic, by the way. The steak was cooked to the proper temperature, and had a very nice crust to it, which is always a sign that whoever was cooking the steak knows what they’re doing.
For dessert, my friend tried a few scoops of the Rainbow Sherbet, while I tasted an assortment of sorbets. These were light and the perfect amount of sweet – a perfect ending to a great meal.
There are already some items on the menu I know I’m going to order when I go back. Besides trying another cut of steak, these include the Beef Carpaccio, Ceviche, and Seared Tuna, which is gluten-free without the sauce. STK also has a gluten-free dessert called the Berry Parfait, which has rainbow sherbet, berry compote, and an almond crumble. If you’re looking for a nice meal with an ambiance and atmosphere to match, definitely head to Dupont Circle to STK.