Diamond Grille ~ Akron, Ohio

Rude Dante also spent a couple of years in the fine town of Akron. He's back for a revisit. And yea, definitely Regular Joe's Guide Hall of Fame signage right there. Also note the extra e on Grill. Yea, man!

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(77 W Market St, Akron, OH 44308)

This is a pretty amazing place - but not the best steak you'll ever have. What it lacks in 'fancy' is more than compensated for in ambience. F'rinstance: when it comes time to pay your bill, no credit / debit / other cards are accepted. Cash. Or a check.  Or they can invoice you. That is one bill that I would pay promptly.

Dinner options are steak and steak and steak. Truth be told, there is also chicken, seafood, lamb and vegetarian options. But why?

I did ask for my steak to be 'Oscar' - then recanted when they said they'd have to check and see if they had crab. And absolutely Zero asparagus. I didn't even ask about hollandaise sauce - just said gimme the meat!'

Came here last for a retirement celebration for a guy who worked at Goodyear 50 +/- years. Great guy, hard worker, funny as hell. My dinner was a wedge salad and the 'long bone' - a bone-in ribeye. It was good, not the best ever, but a solid cut of meat. The kind you want to salt a bit more - and maybe add some fresh ground pepper (because, well, no Oscar). For sides, they brought a full plate of home fries, family style - looking like one of those monster German pancakes they serve you at the Pancake House franchises. Too much food, all good. 

It's not outrageous pricing, with the most expensive steak just topping $50. Dinner for 8 was under $600 - including a bottle of wine that was $125 or so and a couple cocktails. You don't get out of meals for under $60 / head at most steak joints.

Previous visit was one of those lunch-with-stock-broker deals with a guy who I liked a lot but did horrible things with my investments for a few years. Better friend than broker. 

- Rude Dante review