Savor the Steak at Hyde Park Prime

SARASOTA — Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse is a Cleveland-based chain that brought the first high-end corporate steakhouse to downtown Sarasota. During Savor Sarasota, local foodies have the perfect opportunity to sample its delectable grilled meats, seafood, and desserts with a special three-course prix fixe menu for just $45.

Located in the heart of downtown, Hyde Park offers a distinctly formal ambiance that sets it apart from many of the more casual restaurants surrounding it. It’s the perfect place whether one is celebrating a special occasion or looking to impress an out-of-town client, and it has a lively upscale bar popular with the after-work corporate set.

My first course was a made-to-order Caesar salad with optional chopped anchovies, which were a hard yes for me. The just-enough-crunch garlic croutons were a nice touch that rounded off a standard high-end Caesar.  Other options include a delicious-looking Hyde Park Wedge with smoked bacon, candied pecans, tomato, blue cheese dressing, and port wine drizzle, as well as a hearty lobster bisque. 

Unless one has an aversion to expertly sourced and perfectly prepared filet mignon, the petite twin filets are the way to go for the second course.  Velvety roasted garlic whipped potatoes, bearnaise sauce, and béarnaise complemented my perfectly-rare filets. For a $21 add-on, you can opt for the 8 oz. version, although with three courses, I found the petites adequate.

Crispy romano-crusted chicken milanese in a white wine lemon caper sauce, a salmon filet, and a crab cake Oscar with lump crab & béarnaise round out the options. Premium upgrades also include a 14oz New York Strip (+$25). You can also accent your entrée with jumbo crab (+ $16),  or 4 oz twin lobster tails (+$36)

Dessert is a semi-sweet, flourless chocolate torte, glazed with dark chocolate, Bailey's Crème Anglaise, and Port Wine Reduction, and is everything a post-steak delicacy should be. Firm without being too dense, it's a sinfully delicious treat that doesn't leave much guilt in its wake. 

Savor Sarasota runs through this Sunday, June 14, but stay tuned to see which restaurants extend their specials further into the summer.

Mitch Maley is the editor of the Bradenton Times. In addition to his weekly political column, he does occasional features on local theater, food & wine, travel, and music. Click here for his bio. Mitch's latest novel, Fish Kill, was recently released and is available here.