Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House has finally found its way to Philadelphia. The nationally acclaimed, award-winning steak house is certainly most famous for its savory steaks, but it’s also revered for its cold water Australian lobster tails, oysters and crab cakes (entrees ranging from $28.95-49.95), as well as an encyclopedic wine selection. Appetizers fall around the $15 range, with soups, salads and sides averaging out to around $8. It’s expensive, sure, but so is every other quality steak house in Philadelphia. The real question is, is it worth it? I am tempted to say that the bone-in filet (an unusual offering) served by my ever-attentive waitress is the greatest piece of Prime USDA beef I’ve ever had, just as she assured me it would be. Del Frisco’s claims to be the best place to get a quality steak in town, at least if your looking for the stuff of legends.
Beyond nationally acclaimed food and service, Del Frisco’s — hardly older than three months — deserves special attention because of its spectacular venue, the old Packard Building. The restaurant, like its surrounding location (City Hall, Wanamaker building, Bellevue) is bold, boasting a three-story glass wine tower and two-story burgundy drapes hanging from the fifty-foot ceiling. The ornamentation — including colossal columns and a ceiling of hand carved limestone from the early 1900s — gives the restaurant a Greco-Roman ambience, particularly in the VIP section on the third floor. It is at times difficult to remember you are indeed in a restaurant.
From the third floor looking down over the other patrons, I noticed a wide array of Philly folk, from couples young and old to businesspeople to old friends. Del Frisco’s impressive atmosphere sets it apart from the other steak houses this city has to offer. Should you go, don’t be surprised to see local celebrities — Mayor Nutter and the Philadelphia Eagles are supposed regulars. While it might be a bit too over the top, such luxury is worth your appreciation.
Del Frisco's Steak House 1426 Chestnut St. (215) 246-0533
