St. Elmo Steak House

• 2011 Winner

  Best Steak

• 2010 Winner

  Best Steak restaurant

The 110-year old bastion of dark wood, business deals and big steaks was recently named one of America's 50 favorite iconic restaurants by Nation's Restaurant News. St. Elmo's timeless appeal has done a lot for that status, as has its fiery shrimp cocktail sauce and the fact that Peyton Manning signed his first contract there and used to eat there after every home game. Despite the white tablecloths and tuxedoed diners, "St. Elmo is not fine dining. It's a steak joint," co-owner Craig Huse has said. When people want to mark life's important milestones, they do it here, with the 10-ounce, $35.95, melt-in-your-mouth filet. The St. Elmo 1933 lounge on the second floor is styled like a speakeasy, and the signature drink is the Elmo Coke -- a glass of Maker's Mark bourbon infused with vanilla and imported Italian maraschino cherries, served with a small glass bottle of Coca-Cola or Diet Coke.

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