America's 13 Most Expensive Steakhouses

Steakhouses are one of America's best innovations, the first having opened in the early 19th century. Over the years, they've proliferated, spreading from coast to coast to feed the public's demand for professionally prepared meat. Such demand has also seen steakhouses diversify. Some, including the likes of Texas Roadhouse, cater towards those seeking an affordable and dependable steakhouse experience. Others, such as Seattle's Bateau, attempt to redefine what a modern steakhouse can be. Most attention-grabbing of all are America's most expensive steakhouses, where luxury is prioritized above all else.

America's most expensive steakhouses charge incredible amounts of money for their services. This is partly down to the high costs associated with procuring, processing, and preparing some of the world's best steaks. However, expensive steakhouses also charge a premium because they are associated with big spending occasions, including corporate lunches and birthday celebrations. Many steakhouses cater directly to these events by stocking meat of incredible and rare quality, building highly prestigious wine collections, and employing a well-drilled team of impeccably dressed waiters. When dining at such establishments, it's not hard to see why some steakhouses are among the most expensive restaurants in the entire country. We're here to take a look at the absolute priciest in the nation.

Few things come cheap in Las Vegas and steak isn't one of them, especially when eating at Bavette's Steakhouse & Bar. An average meal for one — defined in this article as an hors d'oeuvre, salad, and steak — costs around $130. This is a large amount considering wine, service, sides, and dessert are not included. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of this money is spent on one of Bavette's steaks which range in price from a $56 petit duchess cut 6-ounce filet mignon to a 20-ounce bone-in ribeye priced at $99.99. Those really looking to make a statement should order larger format steaks such as the 42-day dry aged porterhouse. At 32-ounces, this $188.99 steak makes a fantastic centerpiece for any table.

A large part of Bavette's appeal is its extensive bar which boasts an impressive range of 18 classic cocktails, all priced $19.99 or more. Those looking to drink straight whiskey have even more options including a choice of nearly 30 different varieties of scotch, including Macallan 25 Year, which costs $350 when ordered on the rocks. An equally impressive wine menu concludes Bavette's beverage offerings. Here, wines are separated by region with some of the world's premier vineyards being represented, both old and new world. Bottles that cost hundreds of dollars are the norm, but they're also only the beginning — big spenders will be drawn to the likes of La Tâche Grand Cru 2014, a Burgundy that's priced at an incredible $16,380.

Chicago is the spiritual home of American steakhouses, thanks to the prevalence of prestigious restaurants such as Chicago Cut. Founded by two veterans of Chicago's steakhouse scene, Chicago Cut boasts all the attributes of other upscale steakhouses, including a selection of dry-aged USDA Prime beef. This meat is both aged and butchered on site, two time consuming processes that markedly boost the quality of the finished steak. Such attention to detail does not come cheap, however: A meal for one at this steakhouse usually costs more than $130.

Unlike many other steakhouses on this list, Chicago Cut does not serve wagyu. For this reason, the restaurant's most expensive dish, a surf and turf style serving of an 8-ounce filet steak and two lobster tails, is priced at a comparatively modest $103. What's more, Chicago Cut also stocks bottles of wine priced under $100. This is not to say the steakhouse's wine list is devoid of heavy hitters. On the contrary, it stocks wines from the likes of Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Pétrus, including an $8,000 bottle of Bordeaux.

RPM Steak garnered huge attention before it even opened thanks to the celebrity duo – Giuliana and Bill Rancic – behind the restaurant. Respect soon followed thanks to the steakhouse's impressive selection of meat, which includes nearly 20 cuts of steak sourced from a variety of cattle breeds. The cheapest of these is a $68 10-ounce ribeye filet called The Duke. Prices increase dramatically when opting for the 28-day dry-aged prime steaks. This subgroup is led by an impressive $295 48-ounce porterhouse. Other menu highlights include a $260 Australian wagyu tomahawk and a serving of Château Uenae Snow Beef which costs a massive $64 per ounce. Such a cost is to be expected for this hugely respected type of wagyu, which is painstakingly reared by a single farm in Japan.

If such indulgences are passed over, an average meal at RPM Steak can be had for around $130. However, once drinks and sides start being factored in, this number will invariably climb. How much it goes up depends on the selected beverages. RPM Steak sells a collection of cocktails under $20, but it also stocks bottles of wine that retail for well over $1,000.

As the home of the United States government, Washington D.C. is all about power lunches. Bourbon Steak hosts more than its fair share, thanks to its reputation as one of the city's foremost steakhouses. Here, an average meal for one costs just under $140 if patrons only select steaks from the Black Angus section of the menu. If tempted by the restaurant's more luxurious offerings, such as the $496 A5 Wagyu Duo, the price of the meal will balloon dramatically. Startlingly, this nearly $500 entrée is not even the most expensive dish on Bourbon Steak's menu. That honor belongs to the duo of Imperial Daurenki and Imperial Ossetra caviar that's priced at $590 and served with blinis.

These premium ingredients can be washed down with equally prestigious spirits, as Bourbon Steak stocks the likes of Pappy Van Winkle 12 Year, Bowmore 30 Year, and Michter's 20 Year. Unsurprisingly, pours of this nature cost hundreds of dollars. Wines by the glass are much more affordable, ranging in price between $11 for a serving of semi-sparkling moscato d'asti to $101 for a 9-ounce pour of Burgundy.

Aside from the blockbuster food and drink served by Bourbon Steak, location also plays a part in its expensive nature. The steakhouse is situated in Washington D.C.'s prestigious Four Seasons hotel, a magnet for big spenders.

Maple & Ash is another plush, self-assured Chicago steakhouse, and it boasts the prices to match. A meal consisting of an hors d'oeuvre, salad, and steak is likely to cost patrons $135 each, and that's assuming they manage to stay away from the steakhouse's notoriously expensive luxury items and add-ons. Chief among these is an 8-gram Alba white truffle supplement that can accompany any steak for $90. This transforms even Maple & Ash's most affordable steak, a $69 8-ounce filet mignon, into a $150-plus splurge.

In a rare move for a steakhouse, Maple & Ash's most expensive dish is not steak, but a $280 seafood tower. This item boasts premium ingredients including Alaska king crab, oysters, and Maine lobster. That being said, a large number of prestigious steaks are found in the Butcher's Reserve section of the menu. These include a number of wagyu steaks and a formidable 40-ounce 45-day aged Tomahawk that costs $250. Another option that is sure to entice those with deep pockets is the Wagyu Experience, a $265 choice that sees patrons enjoy a 2.5 ounce serving of three different wagyu steaks, all sourced from Japan's famed Kobe Prefecture. Such a selection of premier ingredients, when served in a city as steakhouse-obsessed as Chicago, makes dining at Maple & Ash an unsurprisingly expensive experience.

José Andrés is an internationally-renowned celebrity chef with a collection of restaurants located across the United States. None are more celebrated than Bazaar Meat, a steakhouse located in the Sahara Las Vegas.

Despite Andrés' fame and the high quality of food on offer, meals can be had at Bazaar Meat for a reasonable price, with some entrées costing less than $30. That being said, an average meal at Bazaar Meat will likely cost around $130. Although this is less than some of the steakhouses on this list, Bazaar Meat is definitely distinguished by these premium dishes, which can quickly swell the final bill to epic proportions, including an incredible $620 suckling pig. Weighing between 9 and 11 pounds, this animal is fire-roasted to perfection and served with great aplomb.

Those seeking a more varied dining experience are spoiled at Bazaar Meat, thanks to its two tasting menus: José's Way and The Ultimate Tasting. Costing $205 and $290 respectively, both of these options include a host of Bazaar Meat's most celebrated dishes, including cotton candy foie gras and marinated 'Ferran Adrià' olives. Where The Ultimate Tasting distinguishes itself is in the type of beef offered, with Japanese A5 wagyu taking the place of ribeye from a Black Angus-wagyu cross. Large sharing steaks are also offered à la carte, rounding out Bazaar Meat's expensive, yet incredibly varied, menu.

Ford Fry is a chef and restaurateur who boasts an empire of 13 restaurants located across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas. Marcel, a steakhouse in Atlanta, is perhaps the most eye-catching of these, thanks to a dining room located in an old slaughterhouse and décor featuring historical photos of French boxers.

At Marcel, an average meal for one will cost approximately $145. The reason for this is simple: The steaks are very expensive. Cheapest of all is an 8-ounce New York strip, priced at $57.95. The next cheapest is an 8-ounce filet madame at $74.95. Keep climbing and you'll soon reach dizzying heights with a 22-ounce dry-aged ribeye clocking in at an eye-watering $116.95. These single portion steaks only scratch the surface; Marcel specializes in large format sharing steaks, including a 42-ounce porterhouse for three or more people priced at $229.95. The steakhouse even sells a $189.95 beef wellington for two that's stuffed with chateaubriand, prosciutto, and mushroom duxelles. Marcel also boasts both a 28-page wine list and a cigar menu, further cementing this steakhouse as a place of luxury.

Hyun is a Korean steakhouse that serves Japanese A5 wagyu that's butchered in the restaurant itself. Only a set menu, known as hyunmakase, is served, featuring 12 different cuts of wagyu for $159. Customers can also opt to add a number of accompaniments, including rice topped with uni and truffle for $130. Other accompaniments are much more affordable, including doenjang-jjigae, a stew featuring A5 wagyu rib finger that costs $24, and naeng-myun, noodles served in a wagyu broth for $24.

Aside from the meat itself, the biggest draw is the fact that Hyun is an all-you-can-eat restaurant. After completing the first round of their hyunmakase, diners have the option to receive any dish again without further expense. While the meat served at Hyun is of excellent quality, eating so much wagyu can be somewhat overwhelming. That being said, $159 for unlimited wagyu doesn't sound like a bad deal when some steakhouses on this list charge more than that for a single steak.

As its name suggests, 4 Charles Prime Rib is a steakhouse renowned for its USDA prime rib. The restaurant also serves a selection of other steaks, including a formidable bone-in ribeye. The space itself is small, dimly lit, and packed with old-school charm. It's also packed with people; the bookings for 4 Charles Prime Rib are snatched up almost as soon as they come out. The small size of the restaurant, and the esteem it's held in, ensure dramatically high prices, with a meal costing most diners at least $160.

In terms of meat, the most expensive dish on the menu is the King Cut, a double cut bone-in section of prime rib that's served alongside horseradish cream. While an excellent piece of meat, those seeking more flavor should opt for the 4 Charles Cut, a gorgonzola-aged prime rib. Elsewhere, a 16-ounce bone-in wagyu New York strip is offered for $129.99, while a full pound of Hokkaido king crab comes in as the most expensive menu item at $179.99.

Wolfgang Puck has been one of the most famous chefs in the United States ever since he opened Spago in 1982. CUT demonstrates the same prioritization of quality ingredients that brought Spago such acclaim, as well as Puck's trademark innovative style. Given the restaurant's location in Las Vegas and Puck's reputation, CUT is known as a bona fide celebrity magnet, drawing A-listers all year round.

Of course, the restaurant's quality and hype is evidenced in its pricing. A regular meal is likely to cost more than $160 per person with the potential for it to be much higher. This is thanks to standout dishes such as a $120 bone-in rib chop and a 40-ounce Australian wagyu tomahawk priced at $425.00. Even these premier options pale in comparison to the 50-ounce bone-in Japanese wagyu ribeye sourced from Kagawa Prefecture, which costs an astonishing $1,200.

Spending big is expected at CUT, with even the cocktails regularly topping $25. You do get what you pay for, however: Everything at CUT, from the steaks to the service, is world class.

SW Steakhouse is situated in one of Sin City's premier resorts, the Wynn Las Vegas. The restaurant is suave, modern, and even boasts a climate-controlled patio that overlooks the resort's waterfall. It's a decidedly decadent setting, complemented by an even more luxurious menu that features the likes of Japanese wagyu, ossetra caviar, and Alaskan king crab.

That being said, some people will be able to order a meal at SW Steakhouse for approximately $160 before sides, drinks, and service. It won't get much cheaper than that because steaks aren't priced under $80. Some steaks, such as a 4-ounce portion of Kobe beef sourced from Hyogo Prefecture, cost a whopping $300. Diners with larger appetites can request bigger cuts of Kobe, however, they must be willing to pay $75 per additional ounce. Further indulgences, such as the addition of Maine lobster to create surf and turf, see prices increase by a further $55.

Prices remain high elsewhere on the menu. A 50-gram serving of the aforementioned caviar costs $350 while an entrée of broiled Alaska king crab clocks in at $180. It being the Wynn, these prices will cause few to gasp in surprise. However, it's always a bit of a shock to see a filet of sole priced at nearly $100.

Alexander's Steakhouse is a small restaurant brand that serves some of the world's best beef, including both Australian and Japanese wagyu. In terms of the latter, the restaurant stocks Japan's most famed varieties, including Château Uenae snow wagyu and olive-fed wagyu. The prevalence of this exclusive meat on the menu means that it's difficult to enjoy a steak meal with salad and a starter for less than $180.

At this price, many customers will opt instead for the chef's tasting menu. This is priced at $185 and offers a selection of excellent dishes such as wagyu tataki and scallop with daikon radish. Those with a carnivorous streak will be unable to look past Alexander's Steakhouse's fantastic array of beef, however. Not only are steaks such as the $132 24-ounce porterhouse exemplary, they come with an array of flavorful accompaniments — in this instance, blue cheese fonduta, watercress, and grape.

Niku Steakhouse is one of San Francisco's best restaurants, and is known for serving a painstakingly prepared selection of A5 wagyu. This meat — and other varieties of beef — are sourced from across Japan and the United States by head butcher Guy Crims, who runs an adjoining butcher shop. This excellent meat is expertly grilled over wood embers in a display of skill that has contributed to Niku becoming one of the few American steakhouses to be awarded a Michelin star. 

As an internationally renowned steakhouse, Niku is incredibly expensive; guests can expect to pay $190 before drinks, sides, dessert, and service. Those who wish to splash out also have ample opportunity to do so. The A5 tasting, boasting three different types of wagyu, costs $275, while an American wagyu tomahawk comes in at $255.

In terms of drinks, Niku Steakhouse sets itself apart from its competitors by stocking an impressive range of sake. Bottles range in price from $75 to $555. Numerous world-famous wines are also available; the steakhouse has been awarded Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence. Here, you'll find excellent bottles like an incredible 2004 Pétrus priced at $7,500. All of this food and drink leaves little doubt that Niku Steakhouse is about as luxurious — and expensive — as a steakhouse can get.