Where the Strip is not quite a tease

It was the name that first caught our eye. Another new steakhouse didn't seem like news, but would Strip House offer something different? With its playful name, which gambols around the popular New York strip steak, Strip House sounded like it would offer a fun evening out and hopefully, a great meal, too.

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This New York-style steakhouse was opened in May 2012 by local celebrity chef, Harlan Goldstein who was also associated with Harlan's and the offshoot three-venue concept at IFC - H One, The Box and G Bar.

Goldstein has since struck out on his own with Gold in LKF Tower, and most recently, Strip House.

Dressed in warm red, charcoal and silver, Strip House's 1940s-themed decor is nostalgic and complemented with evergreens by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and sultry "Big Apple" jazz.

On a weekday night, Strip House was almost at capacity, which is a testament to how good the food considering that it is on the fifth floor of a dingy looking commercial building in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong.

The wine list is extensive and several pages long. On the evening we ate at Strip House, there was a large table of diners obviously sampling a number of the wines. The boisterous group was enjoying the food and wine and definitely having a good time.

To start off the evening, try one of the signature cocktails. We recommend the Striptease Martini (HK$120) with sweet lychee and a spicy kick.

We had the beef tartare and house-cured bacon to start with. The beef was very creamy with a bit of spice and served with a soft-cooked egg. I would have preferred a little less sauce, but overall, the dish was full of flavor and a good starter.

The house-cured bacon came highly recommended. It is a thick cut, so is not served crispy. The dish came with tangy green apple and mustard apple cider dressing which helps to balance the richness of the meat. We didn't get to try the signature crab cakes, so we will save those for another visit.

The thick-cut Japanese Saga organic pork chops were juicy and reminiscent of an amazing tonkatsu .

The surf and turf of filet mignon and half a Maine lobster (photo below) were both cooked well and showcased the flavors of the fresh ingredients. We finished our meal with the Reese's peanut butter cup cheesecake, which was rich, decadent, and what dessert is all about.

sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn