In the famous words of Parks and Rec: “TREAT YO SELF”. February is a birthday month, so the wife and I decided to employ the use of some gift cards and experience the fine dining at Del Friscos on I Drive. Entering the awkward parking lot - because the valet and the entrance off I Drive are terribly close to each other - you’re met with the choice to valet and or self park. Listen, it’s complimentary valet; which means you already paid for it in the meal, so use it! Yeah, you’ll need to tip, but what’s $5 to not worry about parking when your meal is $60 a person? That’s a life tip to all the young readers at home.

Exiting the parking lot though, and your experience turns pleasant. The foyer is sparse. Flanked by a well lit wine rack serving as both decor and wall, it conceals the rest of the restaurant nicely. The bar is in the room adjacent with artwork and wood tones dominate. The main dining area is where the restaurant shines — it’s classy and modern. The lighting feels light enough; although it’s definitely darker than other restaurants. But still wonderfully ambient with a nice mix of artwork adorning the walls mixed with multiple levels of textures. You had wallpaper, tile, mosaics. There was layered metalwork over paint - and in our dining area it had this beautiful tray ceiling. With inlaid wood planks laid in a Chevron pattern. The different materials, all had a very consistent geometric pattern which lended itself beautifully to the modern feel of the restaurant. And the dining rooms were well laid out. It didn’t feel like you were stacked on the table next to you, and it also wasn’t too loud since they had partitioned the restaurant into multiple dining areas with wine rack walls to drown the adjacent noise. Even though the restaurant was entirely full, there was no struggle to enjoy the conversation from my better half that evening.

The Double Eagle Steakhouse

But, it’s a restaurant. So the food has to shine. The appetizer menu honestly didn’t jump out at me. They have three sections to it, chilled, hot, and soups/salads. I had the lobster bisque, and my wife got the burrata salad.

I’ll start with her salad - it was billed as a burrata and heirloom tomato salad. She’s a sucker for burrata cheese, but the lettuce and salad is dressed with a basalmic dressing and pesto. She was careful to ensure sh e got greens, and tomato, with some of that creamy burrata on top in each bite because it was so well balanced. The basalmic hits the taste buds first with its sweetness, but then that burrata marches in, with pesto laden tomatoes, plump and acidic, as they pop in to mellow out the basalmic. Or so she said.

Prosciutto and burrata salad with basalmic glaze and pesto

The lobster bisque was something else. Most of them have an orange color and the heavy cream is the most focal component of the dish. This was a very nutty brown color, and it gave off a wonderfully buttery and nutty aroma as well! I would have loved to know how long they cooked the roux to bring that flavor out. It had big chunks of poached lobster and the dish was so creamy and rich. While so very different from most lobster bisques I’ve enjoyed, this set itself apart both flavor, smell, and look wise; and it was delicious! A great start to my meal.

An AMAZING lobster bisque

We both ordered the filets with their luxurious lobster mac n cheese, and creamed spinach as sides.

Honestly, the spinach was a miss. :( Jordan was most excited for this spinach dish and it was a total let down. It was very one dimensional as a dish. Creamy. That’s really it. There was bacon in there, and everytien you got a chunk of bacon it was a welcome distraction from the overwhelming and monotone cream flavor texture that overwhelmed the dish.

But the lobster mac n cheese was Adonis in noodle form. Possibly a contender for a side dish on my last meal. It started with a yummy buttered panko crust and took the plunge with a textbook cheese pull on the first serving! A proverbial gooey waterfall of cheese from spoon to dish. If I had to be critical, it felt a smidge oily. But man, that flavor was worth it. Savory, cheesy, nutty. Be warned though! It’s incredibly rich! if it identified as a dessert, it would identify as a cheesecake.

Hear the angels sing in cheesy and delicious hymns

The filets cut so easily. I wanted this beautiful money shot, so I tried to gently to cut the steak so it wouldn’t move and smudge the dish (I know, first word problems), but I didn’t need to be that careful because the meat easily separated with the faintest of touch from the teeth of the knife. I ordered mine rare, the way the Bovine Deities demand. Their seasoning blend is excellent! It has that wonderful burst in your mouth; a textbook Umami salty, savory flavor. And with the perfect crispy crust the seasoning blend stays put on the steak, bite after bite. Cutting thin slices, the flavor and texture of the meat just demand you savor the flavor.

Our waiter Chris was excellent. I actually had to compliment his sales skills as he introduced the menu. I was torn between the filet and the surf and turf (though leaning very heavy to the filet) and he very nearly got me to flip my choice. The table next to us actually got the surf and turf and it was not only as Chris had described, but also looked exactly how I imagined it. That said, I’ll get the surf and turf if there is a next time - I just really wanted to do a signature steak at an upscale spot like Del Friscos. Overall though his service was excellent. No complaints at all! And, he treated us to a small birthday cheesecake for me. It was a strawberry and hibiscus water cheesecake. The cheesecake honestly was too dense for my liking - and the graham cracker crust was soggy and stale tasting. Even the strawberry coulis felt a little too tart for what was overall a cakey cheesecake. However, the strawberry and hibiscuis whipped cream was absurdly intriguing and tasty. It was a mild flavor. On the front end of the bite was strawberry, on the back end was this very pleasant floral note.

Overall, we definitely would have made Donna and Tom proud. Treat yo Self was accomplished and our appetites sated. Our bill for two entrees, the family style lobster mac, creamed spinach, two sodas, the bisque and salad came out to $215. Cocktails run $15-20 each, but we didn’t imbibe that night. It’s not cheap. Let’s not pretend this is “affordable”. But it was fun. And it definitely was delicious. And if you have a little extra, Del Friscos could be a great spot for a really wonderful, and intimate conversation with your spouse or loved one. Or I suppose you’re a pro athlete and are deciding to treat your family to dinner on a Tuesday night. I guess life is all relative.

But this restaurant was a definite win!

If you’re interested in their menu, check it out