Beef 'N Bottle Steakhouse

"This 1958 steakhouse in LoSo sticks out amongst its new, shiny neighbors like it doesn’t belong. The thing is, Beef n’ Bottle very much belongs. It was on lower South Boulevard long before any of the breweries and apartments made their way down. There’s a reason it has persevered: the steaks, with a choice of blue cheese, mushroom gravy, or horseradish on top, are known as some of the best in the area. The oysters Rockefeller and shrimp cocktail taste and look like a trip back in time. In the dark, dim-lit dining area, customers’ senses are heightened  — the sounds of clinking knives and forks, the melodies of old-timey tunes through the speakers, the aroma of garlic and butter and what could possibly be cigar smoke from decades ago." - Kayleigh Ruller

"Every town has at least one classic steakhouse, and Beef ‘N Bottle is Charlotte’s. You know the type: dark wood paneling, white tablecloths, and a seared beef smell so pungent, you couldn’t get it out of the burgundy carpeted floors no matter how hard you tried. It’s the kind of place you go for an anniversary, because you can eat by candlelight and the restaurant has been making top-notch steaks for longer than you’ve been married. Start with a round of martinis, dirty, with blue cheese-stuffed olives, then move to the filet mignon, cooked no more than medium-rare, please. Non-negotiable sides include a build-your-own house salad, onion rings, and creamed spinach served in those classic, stainless steel au gratin dishes." - tess allen

"Every town has at least one classic steakhouse, and Beef ‘N Bottle is Charlotte’s. You know the type: dark wood paneling, white tablecloths, and a seared beef smell so pungent, you couldn’t get it out of the burgundy carpeted floors no matter how hard you try. It’s the kind of place you go for an anniversary, because you can eat by candlelight and the restaurant has been making top-notch steaks for longer than you’ve been married. Start with a round of martinis, dirty, with blue cheese-stuffed olives, then move to the filet mignon, cooked no more than medium-rare, please. Non-negotiable sides include a build-your-own house salad, onion rings, and creamed spinach served in those classic, stainless steel au gratin dishes." - Tess Allen

"Maybe it’s the cocktails: all classics — paragons — and potent; a single Old Fashioned to begin, and the night will end with dancing. It could be the shrimp cocktail —  star of the starters — and the wicked housemade cocktail sauce that servers warn first-timers to wade into carefully. Or, maybe it really is the steaks and a kitchen with the precise talent needed to cook them just so. Several theories exist to explain the many decades-long staying power of Beef ‘N Bottle Steakhouse, but the most likely one is its defiance to exist in the social media reels of circa now while also refusing to wear labels like “old school” or “vintage.”  Inside the dining room, the traffic noises of lower South Boulevard are silenced, Frank Sinatra plays on the speakers, white Christmas lights hang from low ceilings, and ambiance means sharing a table with pictures of the Rat Pack — time moves slowly within these wood-paneled walls." - Timothy DePeugh, Kathleen Purvis

"This is a roadhouse with throwback appeal. Far from fancy, it's a little rough and tumble and this place hasn't changed since the 1950s—exactly what the loyal regulars love about it. The food is classic steakhouse and it's all about the beef here. Lobster tails make a perfect ride along for that filet mignon, and the sides are delicious." - Nancy DePalma