craving steak in Austin

I was driving down I-35 on the way to a meeting Saturday morning and noticed that JC's Steakhouse had closed, with no warning or explanation. Just a "Thank you" on the marquee sign outside, and the JC's logo sign above it was gone.

The Beau and I have been eating occasionally at JC's for maybe a year. We were looking for a not too pricey, not too crowded place to enjoy steak and I think we read about it in an Austin Chronicle article on local steakhouses. It wasn't a long drive for us, either. The steaks were pretty good, the service was fine, and I liked the garlic mashed potatoes too.

I searched the Web, particularly Austin sites, but couldn't find any news about why the restaurant closed. I will be sorry to see them go. We went to Texas Land and Cattle last night, because talking about JC's closing made me want a steak. I got the smoked sirloin, which I remembered liking before, but it didn't bowl me over. I had a particularly good filet there on my birthday, so maybe as long as I stick to the regular non-smoked steaks I'll be fine. Still, it's a little noisier than JC's, and I don't like it quite as well. Also, it's a chain, and I'd rather avoid chains.

Our other steakhouse options aren't great: we don't like Outback Steakhouse, Austin Land and Cattle is absolutely perfect but too expensive for anything other than a very special occasion, ditto Ruth's Chris (and since they moved their headquarters out of New Orleans post-Katrina, I am even less interested in going there), Dan McKlusky's is sadly long gone. Saltgrass Steakhouse is another big chain. Hoffbrau frightens me a little. Mesa Ranch is close to the house and we haven't been there, but my hairdresser told me it was pricey and the quality of the meat was inconsistent. (Mesa Ranch is located where Cathy's Steakhouse, the weirdest restaurant I ever encountered in Austin, used to be.)

We may need to learn to broil or grill a good steak at home. Perish the thought.

If I'm missing some wonderful Austin-area steakhouse, or any old restaurant that happens to make a good steak, let me know in the comments.

Posted at February 5, 2006 10:59 AM