What: Restaurant
When: October 11th, 2008
Where: San Tan Flats (Queen Creek, Arizona)
What I had: Main: The Flat Iron a 10oz USDA Prime steak with fully loaded Baked Potato, fresh salad bar, Creamed Corn, and a roll. Dessert: Roasted marshmallows.
What I thought: First off, Austin needs a place like this. Fire pits surround a large outdoor seating area that completes a semi-circle facing a stage for live music. While you might think we have places similiar to this, we don't. The difference is in the atmosphere. This place smells of fun, not up-tight music snobs. This is one of the last restaurants I ate at with my Dad so maybe this is a slightly skewed review but I will be fair on the food. Like I said the atmosphere is great. People are roasting marshmellows over open flames, dancing, drinking, and having a great time while enjoy incredible food for a wonderful price. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think there is anywhere in Austin that I can go and find a prime steak with all the sides for only $9.99. Yes, it was only $9.99 for all of that.
Now there is not a whole lot I can say about how great the steak was, because, it was simply, well....great. How can I sit an say anything critical about a perfectly cooked prime steak. I won't. The baked potato had something special going on as well as the outside crust had a slightly sweet taste to it. Maybe it was tossed with a little sugar or maybe it was just the cold weather outside but it was delicious and a perfect compliment to the beef. Being in the Barbecue business, I can be a pretty hard judge on the traditionally famous Texas fare, but San Tan Flats will someday be famous, not for the steak, but for the creamed corn. Maybe it's just cream corn in general that is so good but this stuff was top notch. It was perfectly sweet, perfectly textured and oh so satisfying.
As far as steak dinners go this will be my number one choice for a long long time. With a price point that is on point, a atmosphere that is incredibly fun and the option to roast marshmallows and make s'mores it is impossible to go wrong here. I will probably make it a point that anytime i visit Arizona that I also visit San Tan Flats. The great thing about it is that you can top your night off with a fire roasted marshmallow any way you want. Burnt to a crisp or lightly toasted, it is completely up to you.
Pros: $9.99 prime steak dinner, family entertainment, great atmosphere, best steak in Arizona and so far the best outside of Texas.
Cons: If eating outside in the cold your food will get cold fast, leave smelling like smoke.
9/10
