Delaware Dines Out: Sullivan's Steakhouse

Let me start off by saying I think the Delaware Dines Out dinner menu at Sullivan's Steakhouse is a pretty good deal.

Just like all the participating restaurants this week, you get three-courses for $30.

Since Sullivan's isn't exactly an inexpensive dining experience, this is a bargain, especially since one of the entrees is a 6-ounce filet mignon. (An 8-ounce filet, alone, on the regular menu, is $35; and Sullivan's also has a seasonal prix fixe menu of three-courses for $42.)

That said, just getting a Delaware Dines Out menu proved to be more of a chore than it should have been.

Before our hostess sat us at a cozy booth, she answered a phone call from a diner asking about the Delaware Dines Out menu. She politely read some of the offerings to the caller, hung up the phone and then seated us in the clubby dining room that oozes high-end, American steakhouse elegance.

So given her recent conversation, I was surprised when we were handed regular menus that did not include the separate one-page DDO menu. I asked for the menus and she said she would get them and - never came back to the table. It was a little embarrassing to ask our server, again, for DDO menus. He gladly brought them. But, sheesh, talk about making you feel like the poor relations.

OK, things happen. But then I watched and heard as the same thing happened to at least two other tables - a party of four, and a larger party of six or seven - seated near our booth. They came for DDO - and also had to ask for the menus.

Is it a big deal? Maybe not. We got the menus, and so did others who asked. But Monday night at Sullivan's you wouldn't know about Delaware Dines Out unless you already knew it.

I got a glass of Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia, a beautiful, elegant wine, and looked over the menu. (Yes, at $15 a glass, the wine was a major splurge, but after the whole menu situation, I felt like I had to prove I wasn't only a bargain hunter, which is ridiculous, I know.) There are other glasses of wine that are less expensive.

First course has three choices: Iceberg lettuce wedge with blue cheese dressing, Caesar salad or Kennett Square mushroom soup.

We went with a steakhouse classic - the wedge - and a local classic - the mushroom soup. You can't go wrong with either one.

The wedge was served icy cold with a tangy cheese dressing and chopped tomatoes sprinkled on top. It's not a tiny portion. The soup is full-bodied, creamy, not too thick, and very good.

Our server, who couldn't have been nicer, nestled a crusty loaf of warm bread between us. It comes with a knife for cutting, but it's easier to just tear off hunks with your hands.

The three choices for entrees are: 6-ounce filet mignon, broiled 8-ounce Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia) salmon filet, and balsamic chicken.

Again, another no-brainer - we got meat and fish.

(Who gets chicken in a steakhouse? If you answer yes, I never want to dine with you.)

The entrees came with slightly bigger than golf ball-size plops of garlic horseradish mashed potatoes and a side of zucchini, squash and red peppers sauteed in, maybe? a hint of mustard? and what a manager told us was a house mix of spices.

The filet was beautifully tender and cooked a perfect medium-rare. (I heard a server tell another table they could upgrade to an 8-ounce filet for $5 more - we didn't get that spiel - but I felt the 6-ounce was a good size, though the ravenous might beg to differ.)

The salmon was moist and very good. (I'd still pick the filet mignon over the salmon.)

I wish I could show you more photos of the food, but the ones I snapped were, for the most part, too dark. Dimmed lights and candles in this attractive dining room enhance the atmosphere, but aren't so good when it comes to making Instagram moments.

Dessert choices are house made cheesecake, bananas foster bread pudding and vanilla or butter pecan ice cream.

Dibs was already called on the cheesecake. (Drat!) My dining buddy laughed knowing that butter pecan is the one flavor of ice cream I can never find an appetite for. I already had my fill of bread, so I got vanilla ice cream - you get three scoops - and sneaked bites across the table of the creamy cheesecake.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Delaware Dines Out, a News Journal sponsored Restaurant Week, is off and running. This week, staffers are experiencing some of the 27 participating restaurants and writing about their experiences.

Participating restaurants are offering $30 three-course meals, Sept. 22 to Sept. 28, and some also are serving $15 two-course lunches. Keep checking back to Second Helpings this week for more reviews.