Ron’s Steakhouse – A Diamond In The Rough

Inside this little locals casino is a genuine find…and a throwback to the days of “high-roller dining on a budget”.

Authentic affordable steakhouses are a longtime tradition in this city. And much like the classic showgirl extravaganza and cheap buffets, they are becoming increasingly harder to find.

My favorite bargain steakhouse, The Flame at downtown’s El Cortez, was shut down last year in favor of a hybrid concept that merged their inexpensive cafe with higher-priced fare. The resulting Siegel’s 1941 is unsatisfying on nearly every level. It serves as a sad reminder that not all change is favorable.

Since The Flame’s demise,  I’ve been on the lookout for another venue that offers a wonderful steakhouse experience without breaking the bank. And I’ve finally found it at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur.

0115161626Ron’s Steakhouse recently celebrated five years inside the “locals casino” at 740 S. Decatur Boulevard. It’s the brainchild of Arizona Charlie‘s general manager/executive vice president Ron Lurie, a 32-year veteran of the gaming industry. Lurie’s biography stresses that he has kept pace with Vegas trends, and Ron clearly remembers when value and great service were the norm. Those qualities, along with several Open Table “Best Of” awards, are exactly what Ron’s Steakhouse deserves to boast about.

To commemorate their anniversary, our VegasBright team was invited to dine as guests of Ron’s. “Vegas On Two Wheels” contributor Greg Bennett and I secured reservations and met at the small casino, located in the Charleston Heights area of Las Vegas. Admittedly, this isn’t the most scenic part of town, and in fact was the first time that this writer had ventured out that way. Nevertheless, it was easy to find and only a short drive from downtown.

Screenshot 2016-01-19 at 4.10.40 AM - Edited

The entrance to Ron’s Steakhouse is very simple and somewhat elegant, a sharp contrast to the no-frills casino it calls home. The hostess seated us and we were invited to sample whatever we desired. A short but thorough wine menu was offered both at the beginning of the meal and during the main course, but as neither of us are wine aficianados, we opted for cocktails from the bar.

0115161648

Our server went over the list of the day’s featured items, then helped us with recommendations for the various courses from their full menu. For appetizers, Greg chose New England Crab Cakes ($10), two small flavorful portions made with jumbo crabmeat and spices, served over a wonderful mustard creole sauce.

0115161647

I opted for Crab Cocktail ($11), Ron’s spin on the traditional shrimp cocktail and presented over a bed of colored kosher salt. The serving size was enormous, absolutely delicious and more than enough for two to share. Although listed as an appetizer, the crab cocktail could easily make a small meal for someone with a light appetite, and at eleven dollars was more than a steal.

0115161732a

For the next round, we sampled two of the soups. Greg chose a cup of New England Clam Chowder, which was included with his entree selection. It had a rich flavor and was notable for the absence of chunky potatoes and bacon. My bowl of Lobster Bisque ($9) was generous with large lumps of lobster, a light cream-based broth blended with brandy, and garnished beautifully at table-side into a small work of art.

0115161731

For salads, our favorite KTNV ABC morning weatherman went for Caprese Salad ($7), a platter of sliced buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar reduction and olive oil. Greg said it’s hard to mess up caprese, and the secret is the moisture level of the mozzarella, which he claimed was “just right” for this presentation. He seemed satisfied but not overly excited.

0115161748

The same could be said about my House Salad, which was beautifully wrapped inside a cucumber slice. The house-made blue cheese dressing was somewhat lacking in oomph, but as the salad was included with my entree, I can say that it at least made for a nice photo.

Ron’s also offers Caesar Salad for one ($8) or two ($12), prepared table-side. Entree Caesars with Chicken ($20) and Salmon ($25), either grilled or blackened, Spinach Salad with pancetta and hot bacon dressing ($7) and Wedge or Chopped Salad (also $7) round out the choices for this course.

0115161806

After so many seafood starters, we made the deliberate decision to choose land-based fare for our entrees. Greg’s Veal Oscar, garnished with asparagus, crab, bordelaise and Bernaise sauces ($30) was another gorgeous plate, delicious and moderate in both flavor and portion size.

0115161807

Larger portions don’t mean much if the meal is lackluster, but that isn’t the case at Ron’s. My Certified Angus Prime Rib ($20 for 14 oz, $24 for 18oz) was easily the most tender that I’d had in a very long time. It was served the traditional way with au jus and creamy horseradish. As delicious as the cut was, I barely made it to the halfway mark before throwing in the, er…napkin. Like all other steaks on the menu, Prime Rib can be requested “Oscar style”, garnished like Greg’s veal dish for an additional charge ($12).

Eleven shareable sides are offered a la carte for an extremely reasonable $5. We went with Creamy Cheese Gnocchi, which was so delicious that we nearly had a tug-of-war to finish it off. I can’t say the same about Ron’s Special Au Gratin Potatoes, which neither of us found to be very special.  The full list of entrees, side dishes and appetizers is listed here.

0115161846b

VegasBright-er Greg Bennett reacts with shock to Bananas Foster at Ron’s Steakhouse

After the hearty dinner, we were offered a selection of martinis, coffees and desserts. We went with the server’s suggestion of Bananas Foster ($8 for single, $12 for shareable), created at our table with a flaming flambe pan. The sweet buttery taste of this hard-to-find treat was just as luscious as the thrill of seeing it prepared. I suspect that Mr. Bennett is still recovering from his sugar rush.

Other desserts for $6 included Crème Brûlée of the Week, Flourless Chocolate Cake,  New York Cheesecake and Tiramisu. The full compliment of after-dinner selections can be viewed by clicking here.

If you’ve read this far, you can probably surmise that I recommend Ron’s Steakhouse without reservation. But reservations are suggested for you if you plan on giving Ron’s a try. Follow this link or phone 702-258-5201 to make arrangements.

Ron’s Steakhouse is open Wednesday through Sunday, 4pm to 9pm. Diners can receive 10% off their bill by presenting an ace/PLAY card, the program shared by Stratosphere and both Arizona Charlies locations.

 

Photos: [Sammaseur, dining room photo provided by Ron’s Steakhouse]

One thought on “Ron’s Steakhouse – A Diamond In The Rough

Comments are closed.

Previous post Downtowner Motel: VegasBright Receives An Official Response
Next post Official: Human Nature Brings “Jukebox” to Sands Showroom