"Chef Scott Crawford is opening a long-anticipated new steakhouse in Cary’s Fenton development, ending the year with a bang; he also opened Brodeto (serving Croatian fare and dishes from Italy’s coast) and Sous Terre (an underground cocktail bar at his French bistro, Jolie) earlier this year. The menu focuses on prime-aged steaks—with a glass-walled aging room inside the restaurant—alongside chops, duck, burgers, and seafood, plus an extensive wine list (about 700 bottles), classic cocktails, and spirits. At first glance it’s all about decadence: a dim interior with black leather chairs and luxurious rarities such as the A5 Japanese strip loin, Australian Waygu ribeye, Siberian caviar, and vintage Port and Madeira dating back to the 1930s; there’s also antique chartreuse, “a treat worth exploring” with beverage director Jordan Joseph and sommelier Mathieu Brochard. Steaks can be finished with white truffle butter, Bearnaise, king crab Oscar, and caviar; sides include twice-baked potatoes with cheddar and chives, creamed spinach with garlic and parmesan, and a house-made bread course. Pastry chef Suzanne Downs has created desserts including baked Alaska, a multi-layered “Steakhouse Chocolate Cake,” ginger meringue cheesecake, and a soft-serve sundae. Crawford was most recently a James Beard Award finalist for “Outstanding Hospitality” for his flagship Crawford & Son, and reservations to the newest restaurant are open now." - Henna Bakshi