Steak 48 has locations in Houston, Charlotte, Chicago, and Philadelphia
Its restaurants in Chicago and Philadelphia have recently adopted a new policy
Steak 48 was intended as a luxury experience from the start. It opened in September 2020 and in the same month, executives told The Inquirer that it was aiming at a $120 check average, in line with other high-end steakhouses in town.
According to its website, Steak 48 serves "the finest steaks and high-quality seafood in an intimate and vibrant setting. Our diverse menu will satisfy any personal craving, as we serve the best USDA prime steaks, succulent seafood, and shellfish along with inventive and classically inspired side dishes and appetizers."
But some people might not get to enjoy any of that now. Twitter user Dennis The Menace — whose Tweet we included in this listicle — hasn't been to Steak 48 prior to seeing the tweet posted showing the $100 minimum and it sounds like he's not going to.
Dennis believes the strict dress code has racial undertones. "I think, combined with their extremely specific dress code, this restaurant has made it clear that they don't want to serve people of color, and the community at large should act accordingly," he told Bored Panda. "People need to stop supporting places that are harming our communities."
Not everyone shares this sentiment. Black foodie Ernest Owens finds this current controversy a misplaced outrage. "It's obvious that faux-woke people in Philadelphia have drunk the anti-Black Kool-Aid and bought into stereotypes that suggest Black people are cheap and poor and lack taste. That is so far from the truth. In fact, we are the complete opposite," Owens wrote in Philadelphia Magazine.
"Go to any major steakhouse in Philly, and Black people are there," Owens continued. "Before the pandemic, Del Frisco's, Ocean Prime, Capital Grille, Chima, and other places along what I often describe as Center City's 'Steakhouse Row' were hot spots for Black diners. Any Black professional in town has likely gone to these places multiple times and will tell you so."
"From political networking to engagement parties, we’ve made these restaurants our idea of a good time. I’ve hosted dinner parties at them, and members of my diverse social circles paid and tipped well without a sweat. And yes, I can cook my own damn New York strip just as well — but with steakhouses, it’s always been about the ambiance and experience of going out and being dapper. Dress-code policies that call for professional attire never bothered us because — just like anyone else — Black people know how to respect the rules of engagement. While some superstar athletes and musicians may have come to these places in their super-casual fits and sneakers, many more Black customers have shown up dressed to the nines."
Steak 48 ultimately responded to the whole ordeal. "Like many restaurants in our industry, we’ve had to make some updates to our policies, like the $100 per person minimum in [an] effort to support our staff and restaurant’s operations, and provide the ability to be successful as a steakhouse designed for the full sit-down experience," the chain told Bored Panda in a statement. "Our standard 18 percent minimum gratuity also helps ensure our staff is supported, especially as our community continues to reemerge after a challenging year."
