Stoney River Legendary Steaks

Located at 3900 Summit Plaza Dr., Stoney River is just off Brownsboro Rd. and easily accessible from the Gene Snyder Freeway and Hurstbourne Parkway. Because Stoney River is in the Summit Shopping Center, there is ample parking nearby. Inside, Stoney River reminds me of a mountain lodge or chalet. There is lots of wood, vaulted and beamed ceilings, and a wide open floor plan. When you enter, the kitchen is visible in the back of the restaurant. Lots of nice touches made tonights meal very memorable for me - real table linens (both the table cloth and the napkins), spotless silverwarer, and impeccably clean glassware. As this was my first visit to this restaurant, I was quite pleased by the laid-back atmosphere. My date and I arrived around 7pm tonight (a Tuesday night) and we were given ample time to look over the menu and decide what we wanted to order. We never felt rushed or hurried at all. While we were deciding what to have for our entrees, we ordered the Buffalo Mozzerela and Beefsteak Tomato appetizer. This had all the right touches including fresh basil, a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing, bacon bits, and some french fried onions on the side. The onions were very thin and very sweet - a perfect compliment to the acids in the tomatoes and the vinegar. There were plenty of other appetizer options that sounded just as appealing. For our entree, we both chose to order a "Legendary Steak." She got the Twin Filet Medallions with sauteed asparagus, while I ordered the "Lodge" (a 10oz. filet) with sauteed green beans. While she was not given a choice of sides, I was allowed to choose from the beans, a baked potatoe, or steamed broccoli. When our entrees were brought to us, the server waited patiently while we both cut into our steaks to ensure that they were done to perfection (they were). Both steaks were well seasoned and flavorful. Stoney River boasts that they age and trim the steaks on the premises, and the attention showed in the flavor of the beef. My date ordered her medallions medium-well and the steak was still quite tender and enjoyable. My steak (which I ordered medium rare) was bliss on a plate. While the side items were good, there was nothing special about them. With our steaks we each had a glass of wine recommended by the waiter to compliment our steaks. The wine complimented the steaks quite well, and we were both happy with our selections. After dinner, we ordered a very special desert in celebreation of my birthday. We split an order creme brulee, and we each ordered a glass of Graham's 30 year old tawny port. At $15 per glass, the Graham's was quite a treat. If you've never had a really good glass of port, this is the best way to try a $100+ bottle of port before you know whether or not you'll like it.

One of the things I liked best about this restaurant was their attention to detail. Everything was beautifully clean. When the waiters would go to the bar to get a drink for a customer, you could see them making sure the glass was spotless before they allowed the bartender to pour anything in it. Between our appetizer and our meal, the table was cleaned (we'd gotten a little messy with the excellent french fried onions). We had plenty of time to eat and enjoy our meal. Our water glasses were refilled as necessary, but the wait staff never "intruded." Overall, it was a wonderful experience. The one small complaint that I have from the evening is that I specifically asked for my wine to be served with my entree (in fact, I asked twice while ordering), and yet it was still brought out in advance of the appetizer. This one misstep however, could easily be explained by the fact that there was a party of 10 or 12 at the table next to us.

Down to the nitty-gritty:

Health Department Rating: A (98%)
Prices:
Appetizers: $8-12
Salads: $8-10 ($4.99 w/ Entree)
Entrees: $16-30
Deserts: $6-8
Alchohol: Full bar including a good-sized by-the-glass wine list
My rating: 9 of 10

Summary: Excellent steaks, average side items, great service, and spotlessly clean. A little too pricey for everyday, but a great place for special occasions.