Sullivan's Steakhouse, Delaware

Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Wilmington, Delaware, is your garden variety food chain restaurant that plant themselves within parking lots of shopping mall complexes. It is a "theme" driven franchise much like Applebee’s or TGIFridays. Sullivan’s Steakhouse has 20 locations around the U.S. plus a sister franchise Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. Both franchises are under the umbrella of Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon.

We arrived with reservations for 6:30, Thursday evening. The private parking lot was full and the public lot was crowded. Still, all parking is close and there is plenty of it. The entrance to the restaurant opens into a small foyer within the bar, which extends left, and a view of the open dining room in front. The bar is very small but crowded with after work professionals enjoying happy hour. We were seated immediately. From within the dining room you can hear the energetic chatter of the after-work-over-thirty bar crowd. However at 7 PM, happy hour over, the bar went silent. Though it was Thursday night and Sullivan’s advertises live jazz music Tuesday thru Sunday, no live jazz music this night.

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Sullivan’s Steakhouse “theme” is a 1940’s Chicago style steakhouse. The open dining room includes the busy kitchen grill with hustling chefs in tall white hats. The seating consists of tables clothed in white with a few banquette style booths that separate the kitchen from the dining area. The wall opposite the grill is a floor to ceiling brick-bract display of wine, complete with a “library style” rolling latter. The dark wood panel walls display black and white photos of the bare-fisted boxer John L. Sullivan. Wall to wall carpeting and soft amber lighting finalize the theme.

However, the waitresses “theme” uniforms, with black fishnet hose, look tacky and cheap. Almost all of the waitresses black fishnet hose were either torn or “mended.” Maybe it was part of the "fight" theme, but I don’t think so.

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We ordered from the menu: Filet Oscar, an 8 oz broiled filet with Jumbo Lump Crab, $39. The filet was grilled to specification, tender, but without flavor. The “jumbo Lump crab” was actually a garnish, not even a fork full. We also ordered the Seared AHI Tuna Steak, $31 (a menu item and part of the night’s specials.) However, ten minutes after ordering, our waitress returned to say that they were out of AHI Tuna. It was only 7 pm and tables were still empty. We searched the menu and ordered the Pan Seared Sea Bass “Hong Kong Style” with Baby Bok Choy & Sherry-Soy Glaze, $32. Standard size portion with a standard "Chinese takeout" taste. Ordering fish in a steakhouse is usually a gamble.

Our entrees included salad. I highly recommend the salads. The Iceberg Lettuce Wedge with Blue Cheese Dressing is huge, with the Blue Cheese Dressing out of this world delicious! Also, the Caesar Salad; it was large enough to serve four, expertly tossed in dressing, and seasoned to perfection. Excellent!

I absolutely recommend the side orders: Creamy Horseradish Mashed Potatoes, $7 and Sweet Potato Casserole, $7. The portions are large and served “family style” in individual casserole bowls. A single order easily serves four. Both are fabulous but the Sweet Potato Casserole is the winner! Desert was atypical, the standard Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Torte.

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We were disappointed. We were not familiar with Sullivan’s Steakhouse: it is not a real steakhouse; it is a chain restaurant with a steakhouse theme. Overall, it is an overpriced “Sizzler.” (Sizzler steakhouse, now defunct, used to be the “McDonald's” of steakhouses with steak entrées at $6 .) However, it was crowded, mostly families and couples late 30’s and over. Check out the MENU, it is expensive. The wine list is also overpriced and the cocktails are weak. Sullivan’s highly promotes their “Knockout Martini." A large water cooler size jug sits atop a table in the center of the dining room. Inside, pineapple slices and vodka ferment for two weeks. It makes a nice centerpiece but a weak $10 martini. Honestly, I don’t know what the draw is. Our waitress wasn't inattentive but seemed distracted. The atmosphere was a bit subdued after the bar crowd was gone.

PROS
Great salads
Excellent side orders

CONS
OVERPRICED
Flavorless steak
Questionable fish
Unavailable menu/chef special
Weak cocktails

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Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Wilmington Delaware
5525 Concord Pike (Cross Street: Between Route 202 and Naamans Road)
Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 479-7970

www.sullivansteakhouse.com

Dinner Hours: M – F: 5 PM - 11 PM Sat: 4:30 PM - 11 PM Sun: 3 PM - 10 PM
Happy Hour: 5 PM – 7 PM
Entertainment: Live Jazz Tuesday through Sunday in bar

Executive Chef: Tim Baker Cuisine: Steakhouse/Seafood Price: $31 to $50 Cocktail: $10 and up
Extensive Wine List: Unavailable Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa Reservations: Requested Walk-Ins: Accepted Attire: Business/Casual Parking: Free Private Lot Additional Parking: Free Public Shopping Center Lot
Private Party Facilities: Semi-private rooms able to accommodate 12-100 guests.
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

http://www.delfriscos.com

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