Cleveland, OH --

We must admit our staff has tried hundreds of different types of steak, from Kobe to Filet; they have all been under our scrutiny for finding the best steak. The best we found to date was Al Biernats located in the home for steak, Dallas, Texas. This was a restaurant that matched a great ambience with an excellent steak. We have been searching the past two years for a perfect steak and it wasn’t until we traveled back to Cleveland and found a gem in XO Prime Steaks. This gem not only offers a great prime steak, but a dining experience that is fit for a King.

The perfect prime steak starts with owner, Zdenko Zovkic’s attitude to what makes a great steak. He has used his culinary travels from overseas and brought it out in the quality of food that has the “Who’s Who” in Cleveland coming back time after time and telling all of their friends about the experience as well.  “Z”, as most of his regulars call him, does not want you eating something that he would not enjoy. His love for food is transpired into a great dining experience and the best quality food found anywhere in Cleveland.

If you simply love appetizers, then this is your place. There is no shortage of choices here, with 13 different options; there is something for the beef and seafood lover in mind.

Our recommendation of an appetizer is the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, which is served with Avocado, Cocktail Sauce and Meyer Lemon Sorbet for $12.95. These shrimp are simply out of this world and they are weighing at four to a pound.  The size of the shrimp makes this a meal of its own. You can add additional shrimp for $3.95 each, but trust us on this one; there is more than enough shrimp to share here.

The next appetizer that simply cannot be missed is the Skewers of Prime Beef Tenderloin.  Here the best in beef is accompanied with Prosciutto Wrapped Dates stuffed with Chorizo and served with Pomegranate Demi. This is a great mix and the skewers simply melt in your mouth the beef is so tender.

If you like Scallops, then you have come to the right place to get the best prepared Sea Scallops Cleveland offers. Served with Foie Gras and an Aged Balsamic Reduction on Bibb Lettuce, the taste and presentation and price at $13.95 are award winning.

Now that you have had a chance to see and feast your eyes on some of the best appetizers Cleveland has to offer in quality and taste then wait until you order one of their Prime Steaks.

For those who have not educated themselves on the difference between the quality of steak that you purchase at the grocery store and the ones that XO Prime Steaks serves… well here is a bit of education that might surprise the most seasoned beef eaters. All of the steaks served at XO Prime are USDA Prime, which makes up for only 2 percent of all beef. Certified Angus whom you will find at many of their chain competitors makes up 17 percent of all beef and the Choice Steak, commonly sold in grocery stores is 38 percent of all beef and select is 40 percent of all beef.  Once you bite into one of XO’s steaks you will know you might pay a few dollars more for the best, you will taste the difference within the first bite.

The two steaks selected by Zdenko for our sampling were the 12-ounce Double Cut Filet and a 14-ounce New York Strip. Both the strip and the filet are available in two different sizes depending on how much room you have left over from their amazing appetizer selections.

Three topping are available for all steaks. Both Crab Oscar and Lobster Oscar are available on all steaks for 8.00 and 12.00 respectively.

We highly recommend the 7 Pepper Rub for any of the steaks as it makes the juices flow with each bite.

When the steaks arrived we found that the New York Strip had very little fat remaining and the knife cut the steak like a stick of butter. As for the Filet, it was so much beef we had to look twice to make sure this was the filet. Again, immense flavor, and some of the tenderest beef you will ever slice into.

You can also add Australian Lobster and Crab Legs to your steak for Market pricing. The customization that they offer at XO is the most we have seen any steakhouse offer.

Just as you will find at many steakhouses, side dishes served family style are fairly common, but what is not common at XO are their accessories to the steaks or seafood.

Offering 12 different selections for accessories and seven different types of potato preparations from a Loaded Baked Potato to Large Pancake Fritters served with Smoked Bacon and Bleu Cheese, XO’s gives all patrons an offering of a side that will match the appetite of all types.

Two accessories that can not be missed are the Truffled Creamy Sweet Corn, that tastes like something that your grandmother made and the 3 Cheese Truffle Mac with Peas and Prosciutto. These are very unique to XO and you will have a tough time finding these anywhere else and you will probably ask for the recipe, because you will want to eat these again after dining here.

While the steaks steak the spotlight at XO Prime, we highly suggest one of their Chef’s Compositions such as the Herb Roasted Striped Sea Bass with Fried Butternut Squash Ravioli, Sautéed Swiss Chard topped with a Caramelized Onion and Brown Sugar Sauce.

Another must have composition is the Lobster Gnocchi, served in a Caviar Vodka Cream Sauce. Something this good is certainly fit for a King. It is also a great value at $23.95. Huge chucks of lobster accompany each bite and the cream sauce is another one you will want to find out how to make at home.

After a dinner experience like this one, you will want to end it on a “sweet” note and what a better way to do that then with their dessert selections. If you like cheesecake, then you can not leave without trying their Bananas Foster Cheese Cake, a perfect compliment to an excellent meal. This is one piece of cheesecake that would make your grandmother proud, so good we asked for seconds.

If you are looking for a place to hold your next private function, XO Prime Steaks offers a private dining room that will seat from 10-40 patrons. This is great place for a family function, birthday party or corporate outing.

Whether you are looking for a romantic evening, or just want to pop in for a drink and see who might be dining there from Cleveland’s elite, XO offers one of the best dining experiences found in a steakhouse nationwide.

XO Prime Steaks is located at
500 West St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio