Buying steaks online

[elohel]

Hey fellas,

I'm looking for a site that sells high quality steaks. I'm trying to find my dad some nice steaks for the holidays, and I'm thinking something along the lines of those nice bone-in ribeyes that cook up nice and crusty on the outside and stay butter-tender on the inside.

My local options (Butcher, grocery stores) have failed me by selling me really bland-tasting steaks. My problem online is that every nice place I keep finding that people are recommending are charging like $40-50/steak, which seems awfully high when you can go to a top end steakhouse in Manhattan and get a steak made for you for that much. I would think a raw/unseasoned steak would go for a little less than what a high end restaurant would sell it for cooked to your table, but maybe I'm wrong.

The only reasonably priced site I'm finding so far is Omaha Steaks, but I've had some of their products before and they were nothing special. Does anyone know how their ribeyes are? Right now I'm aiming for a ribeye similar to what my local steakhouse cooks up, a fairly large bone-in that cooks up just perfectly. They also sell it for $23, so I'd like to keep my steaks in the $20-30 range if possible.

Thanks for any help

 

[pops6927]

You could buy a whole bone in rib, age it for a couple weeks (there are kits to do this) and cut between the ribs for thick cut steaks far cheaper than ordering them.

Here is one of many links for Dry Aging, there are ones for Wet Aging too.  

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/111150/dry-bag-aging

 

[daveomak]

elohel, morning.... These steaks look good...  Dave

 

[chef jimmyj]

My wife is the Asst Purchasing Manager for the Harrisburg Hilton. They use these guys exclusively for their high end Restaurant, I have also eaten these and they are Awesome! Go for the Dry Aged Beef, rich with intense Beefy flavor and butter tender...JJ

http://www.allenbrothers.com/usda-prime-bone-in-ribeye-steaks.html

 

[dls1]

elohel - I personally don't think that you're going to find the top quality bone in ribeye that you're looking for in the price range you mention.
 

I have a client that has sent me a box of 4 ribeyes from Omaha steaks during holiday season for at least the past 15 years. While I certainly appreciate the gesture, they steaks are OK, but nothing really special. I can get much better at a lower price at my specialty neighborhood butcher.

I checked their web site and 2 things struck me. I couldn't find any mention of the grade of beef they sell so I have to assume it's choice. Everything else that you're seeing at a higher price is no doubt prime grade which would account for a good portion of the price differential. Also, the steak on their site that you're referring to is normally $36, but now on sale for $23. It appears that everything else on their site is also on sale. Maybe they're having a freezer inventory clearance of items that have been hanging around for an extended period of time. Also, there is no mention of aging be it wet or dry.

I emphatically second JJs recommendation for Allen Brothers. I've known the family that owns the business for over 25 years, and during that time I've purchased a whole lot of meat there for myself on special occasions, or as a gift. Never has been anything been less than perfect. They're considered the world's largest buyer of USDA prime grade beef and supply many of the top steak houses and restaurants in the US and elsewhere. Depending on a customers needs, their beef is wet aged for 4-6 weeks, or dry aged for 4-8 weeks. If you don't see something that you want on their site, or have any questions, pick up the phone. Their customer service in unequaled, and they will do all that they can to accommodate any special request.

As I see it, the Omaha bone in ribeye is a 16 oz. choice grade unknown-aged mediocre steak for a sale price of $23. The Allen Brothers bone in ribeye is a 22 oz. prime grade outstanding steak with a price of $55 for wet aged and $62.50 for dry aged.

Hey, it's your dad and it's the holidays. Splurge a little and get him something that he won't forget.

 

[kadoka]

Ditto on Allen Brothers. Expensive but for your dad it's worth every penny. I don't live too far from them, so I drive up there and save on

delivery costs. There phone # is 1-800-957-0111. Good luck... Rick

 

[oldschoolbbq]

Elohel, I have found that a good friendship with a good Butcher Shop and it's employees get some marvelous results. They can cure the steaks for you and you'll get a better price than "Omaha" or any of the other mail-order Meat Purveyors.

Start with buying a Butt(or something), taking it home and returning with an offering of what their quality meat taste like (everyone likes a -bribe- gift) .

I cringe at the price of Meat anyhow, but the mailorder stuff is over the top, costly. I've been seriously thinking of collecting fresh 'Roadkill' . Used to see Deer all over the road from the house to RT20 ; now there's none. Did the Deer get smarter , or do the people claim them for themselves (funny,I thought I'd see the accident sites, but none). I see flattened Coon and Skunk, but...

 no.

Hope you find a good supply and have an enjoyable Holiday Season , meanwhile as always...

 

[flyfishjeep]

I grew up in Minnesota and "No Name Steaks" was produced in St. Michael.  I don't know if they sell online, but they make a great steak.  I'm sure you have heard of them.  If it were me I would get in touch with the local butcher and pay for some great steaks.  Dehmer's in St. Michael is a great butcher and I will drive out of my way to get meat from them when I'm up to visit.

Good Luck!

 

[elohel]

Thanks for the info guys. I just can't believe a good steak costs $60! That's the cost of a great steak at a top steakhouse, so I guess I just expected them to be cheaper.

I just lost my job today, so I'll need to think long and hard if I should be spending $60/steak for xmas gifts. I figured the Omaha steaks would be rather.. meh.

Thanks folks

 

[thechefswife]

Hi!

I know! It's really hard to find great steaks online, especially Waygu beef, to buy for an affordable price. My husband is a chef, so I used to be a little intimidated about handling gourmet meat like that on my own, but after all these years, I'm starting to feel like a pro.

I have ordered from a few other places before, but just recently found this site that I had a really great experience ordering from. My husband is a huge fan of the Cowboy Steak, so I went on some blind faith and ordered this one here to try it out: http://hhwagyu.com/wagyu-steaks/wagyu-dry-aged-cowboy-steak.html

They have a lot of videos on the site that have their chef showing you how to prepare the beef properly. I knew a lot of it already, but he did teach me a few new tips.

The steak came, and my husband loved it. He said it was the best one I have ordered for him thus far, so, even though I've only ordered once so far, I have to throw my hat in for www.hhwagyu.com. I'll definitely buy from them again.

 

[supercenterchef]

looks tempting ChefWife...may have to start saving up!

 

[thechefswife]

Definitely do Supercenter Chef!

I actually went back and got some Wagyu ground beef from them (running a little low on cash myself, so had to keep it more simple this time!) and we used some for burgers, and then my husband made Picadillo. SO DELICIOUS.

I might have to get a second job to feed my new Wagyu beef addiction. haha.
 

 

[jonahan]

We use a local place that does hormone-free beef. They have free delivery in the area, but you can get them shipped around the country for reasonable rates. Awesome stuff... http://pushetacreeksteaks.com