Grill 23, Ruth's Chris, Flemings.

A trifecta of places you can't go wrong

http://www.ruthschris.com/Steak-House/4999/Boston

http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com

http://grill23.com/

Smith & Wollensky to round uut the superfecta

Every big city has the standard: Morton's, Smith and Wollensky, Ruth Chris, Capital.

So I say: Don't go there. You've been there. You've seen what they have.

Boston boasts three different, original steak houses in the back bay:

KO Prime
Grill 23
Abe and Louies

Grill 23 and Abe and Louies are traditional steak places serving the usual style and fare, but certainly more elegantly and with more local seafood expertise than their larger chain competitors. Abe and Louie's has a very active vibrant bar, while Grill 23 has, overall, better food and a wine list that is amazing and extensive (a pinot noir from the Flowers winery is fantastic) but is much more "businessy". The "truffled tater tots" are difficult to pass up.

KO is similar to Craft and other modern steak places. It does a "take" on steak-houses and has "sashimi" influence with its japanese style. Think small portions, interesting sides. Wagyu beef at $100 for 3 oz that's served almost rare. Hen Of The Woods mushroom sides. That sort of thing. Beautiful presentations. It's more "romantic" than other steak houses. And more expensive.

In Boston proper, Abe and Louie's