Council Oak Steaks and Seafood

Council Oaks Steak & Seafood delivers a truly high-class dining experience. The food was excellent and clearly high quality, with great attention to flavor and presentation. The service was just as impressive—professional, attentive, and welcoming throughout the entire meal. It is definitely on the expensive side, but the elegant atmosphere and upscale feel make it worth it for a special occasion or night out.

Excellent dining experience from the fine food to the courtesy service. First time visitor but will be sure to return. Everything was delicious. Excited to have a finer dinning option and experience in my old hometown. Easily one of the finest prepared branzinos I've ever had.

Council oak is the literal best restaurant in Northwest Indiana. All the steaks are cooked with precision and all the non steak items are all great ways to mix it up if you just don’t want steak. The seafood is always fresh and the salads are cool spins on classic recipes! I eat food here frequently and love everything I taste. The sides are all excellent. They just added a sweet potato mash in time for fall and it the best I have ever had. The service Matches the food the servers there are some of the most professional and talented. You feel like you are at a fine dining restaurant in downtown when you are there. If you haven’t tried this place I highly recommend!!!

We had reservations during the week for a party of 6. This was my first time visiting and the service was outstanding. Our server was polite, friendly, and also offered great suggestions for food. I ordered the salmon and my family ordered steak. The mac and cheese, cheesy potatoes, and Cesar salad were delicious sides.

Came here for my birthday with my wife. Admittedly, we’re kinda food snobs but we went in with no expectations, as we’ve been disappointed more times than not. Well, we had nothing to fear. We’ve eaten at some pretty great restaurants but this was by far the best dining experience we’d ever had. Our server was Christian, who had extremely helpful suggestions and checked up on us just the right amount of times. We were shocked when we got the bill… it was almost $100 less than we expected. This place is a gem.

My party enjoyed salmon, steak, chicken, and pork chops as our entrees. The dinner rolls were soft and fresh. The sides were crab cakes, macaroni and cheese, and whipped potatoes. Dessert was carmel topped cheesecake. Ryan, our waiter, was very meticulous in his service. The restaurant is nicely appointed. The restrooms are individual and very clean. There is plenty of free parking,handicapped assessible entry. We unanimously agreed that Council Oaks did not disappoint! Yes, we plan to enjoy more meals there in the near future!

I had a reservation at Council Oak Steak & Seafood for 6:30 PM, confirmed by email from the host. When we arrived, they told us the reservation did not exist. After I showed them the confirmation email, they said we needed to wait 20 minutes. Then they told us we could enter at 8:00 PM instead. We returned at 7:59 PM, and the front desk employee was extremely arrogant and refused to let us enter because we were “1 minute early.” Completely unprofessional. The server was actually the only good part of the experience — polite and kind. Unfortunately, everything else was terrible. The meat was very bad, half of the menu items were unavailable, and they had nothing for dessert. To make matters worse, this visit was supposed to celebrate my birthday, which they completely ruined. Highly NOT recommended. Do not go there — even if you are offered something for free.

My wife and I celebrated our 42nd birthdays on February 14th at **Council Oak Steaks & Seafood**, and from the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. Located in the heart of **Gary**, this restaurant brings an upscale, vibrant energy that instantly sets the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. The ambiance is beautiful, modern, and welcoming — the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Now let’s talk about the food. We ordered the 28-day aged T-bone steak, steamed spinach, and creamed sweet potatoes — and every single bite was perfection. The steak was aged to absolute precision, tender, flavorful, and cooked exactly as requested. This wasn’t just a good steak… this was a steakhouse experience done right. And before the meal even began, the hot rolls arrived — warm, perfectly seasoned with a spice blend that awakens your taste buds and prepares you for what’s coming next. That detail alone shows the level of care they put into the experience. The wine selection? On point. The staff was knowledgeable and helped guide us to the perfect pairing. The service overall was impeccable — attentive without being intrusive, professional yet warm. It’s clear they take pride in what they do. For context, this isn’t our first rodeo when it comes to steakhouses. We’ve dined at top steak restaurants throughout Michigan and Chicago, and I can confidently say this ranks among the best we’ve experienced. The pricing is very reasonable for the quality, atmosphere, and service you receive. Gary is on the move — and this restaurant is proof. We will absolutely be back. Thank you for making our birthday celebration one to remember.

Even though Council Oak is located inside the Hard Rock Casino, this steakhouse is first rate. When we arrived for our reservation, Head Chef Adam was up front and we spoke with him for a few minutes since it was our first time there. The staff were very attentive and started by bringing us bread service. Eugene was our server, suggested wine and recommended several dishes. We each had a couple appetizers to start. I had the calamari which was lightly breaded and very good and also the wood-fired octopus (outstanding!), while my wife had the Caesar salad and oysters. Chef Adam later came by our table and as we were thinking about a main dish he suggested the risotto with shrimp addition so we ordered that and he was spot on as the taste, consistency and presentation was amazing! Overall, we had a great evening with outstanding service, food and ambience!

Service was equivalent to Applebees. Waitress was inattentive, dishes piled up, glasses sat empty, and the waitress was no where to be seen. If your paying $68 for a steak, the service should to the 9's and it wasn't today on 12/7 at 7.pm, and talking to the manager on duty was useless.

This place is inside the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana. The ambiance is nice inside. It's dark and intimate. Our server was really nice and attentive. Definitely had no issues with her at all. The food was good! I will say they overcooked my steak, but it was still good. I also had the cream spinach which I liked. For dessert, I had the turtle cheesecake. That was also good.

The steaks were perfectly cooked and tender. Delicious sides as well. The ambiance was amazing, I forgot I was in a smoke shop casino . The service was quick and friendly. Wonderful service and server. Would recommend as a good time.

Overall great experience food was well prepared and flavorful. Nice atmosphere, we went on a Thursday night and there was hardly anyone there. The service was very good. Always helpful and informative. The only negative I can say is that the dessert menu is kind of lacking. Would definitely return if I were in the area again!

We ate there recently. The wife had a Filet Mignon it very good, I had the Diver Scallops, they smelled fishy. Took 3 home tried to reheat, but they smelled so bad had to throw them out. They got 3 stars because the streak was good & the scallop potatoes were very good. The lobster bisque smelled fishy too. Which means my seafood dinner was not fresh. Never order again. Service was very good.

The ambience service and Dodd are always outstanding!!! We have been there at least a dozen times and it never disappoints!

Went to HardRock Casino for a concert decided to get reservations at Council Oak. I have to say that I was completely blown away by how good of an experience we had at the casino. When we arrived at Council Oak I liked the upscale feeling it had. Service was great and the food was excellent for the price I think. The tomahawk steak didn't come with the long bone attached but for 70$ I was pleased. We had the calamari for an appetizer and was actually seasoned which is rare for calamari. Super good. My wife had the sea bass and was kinda disappointed it lacked flavor but the sides are what stood out. This was the best creamed spinach I ever had. It had a goat cheese crust on top that added an extra layer of flavor and texture that was amazing. The broccolini was garlicky and coated in Parmesan which was really good as well..

Ryan was our server for the second time there. We love this guy. Very professional and down to earth. Highly recommend. Food was fabulous as always.

4-Star casino steak house with 5-star prices. Outside of its setting, I may have pulled back on the elevated rating. No disrespect to service or hospitality...our hosts were helpful and visible throughout. Rounds of complimentary warm bread and seasoned butter quickly quelled relative "hanger". Skirt Steak topped with Chimichurri fit the bill. A few hiccups along the way and a plate of inedibly rendered duck fat hash browns unfortunately highlighted the memorable lowlights. Had the Council Oak been situated in a well-trafficked metropolitan hub, their rating would undoubtedly suffer harsher criticism and negative impact. In consideration of its Gary/casino locale, its a solid steak house despite its shortfalls. PS They clearly have issues honoring your reservation time. Book early!

Impeccable service. Good food overall. The burrata appetizer was fantastic, as was my sea bass entree. My husband's steak was perfectly cooked. I ordered an espresso martini for dessert, and it was delicious -- shaken to the perfect foaminess and not full of cream. The only disappointment was the side dishes. The whipped potatoes with truffle jus just tasted like potatoes with a light gravy -- no truffle flavor at all. And the cauliflower steak was was way over cooked and completely mushy. I did mention our disappointment with the cauliflower, and the server had it taken off our bill. I wish I could remember our server's name. He was fantastic and is the main reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 3.

Delicious food! Our party had steaks and lobster. The place is clean, ambiance is great and the employees are top notch. Our server was on point the entire time. Drinks were delicious and made well. Couldn't have asked for a better experience!

I frequent this establishment for business dinners. It's the best option outside of Chicago for a steak house experience. The in-house dry aged steaks are not to be missed, and be sure to get a glimpse into the aging room through the windows on the wall outside the restaurant before entering. The kitchen is an open concept with lots of tables placed for adequate viewing. The coal-fired options are delicious and the act of cooking them leaves a pleasant aroma throughout the dining room. The roasted beet salad is superb, but it is served cold, despite the name. The meatballs are to-die-for and served with an excellent grilled and seasoned bread that is not overwhelming and perfectly complimentary. The oysters are always very fresh and usually have at least 3 varieties on-hand. The only 1st course that I steer clear of is the melted burrata - fresh burrata is already "melty" enough and you loose this unique quality of the product by heating it. If you can't order the steak, the sea bass is very good. If you can order the steak, be sure to add a sauce, they are all good, and the gorgonzola is my favorite. For sides, the mac 'n cheese is literally the best I've had at any steak house ever - and I've been to A LOT. If you like wine, they have a really good list with some unique finds at every price point. Now "for the rub" (reason for only 4 instead of 5 stars). As many of you have mentioned, the dessert menu is lacking, and the desserts themselves are not that good. You'll be better off doubling-down on apps and mains here, or maybe just more wine! Service and pace are another faux-pas that I've encountered here frequently. They are slow, even when they are not busy, and the servers tend to pass your table without checking-in. I've had to flag them down more than once, and at a place where the bill is often over $500, this is not acceptable. Also, they have a half-priced wine night (Tuesday?) where they only put the limited half-priced wine list at the table - you have to request the full wine list explicitly. My suggestion would be to put the half priced list somewhere in the regular list and make it obvious that it's only on certain days - this would not only reduce confusion, but would also act as an advertisement for anyone that might not know about the special and would potentially come back for it. It would also avoid the worst experience I've had at a steakhouse - I asked for the full wine list and our server directed me to the half-priced list, making me ask again. Upon receiving the full list, we picked a very nice bottle and ordered it with our server. Then the manager comes out with the server and asks me to point out which wine we ordered. When I pointed to it, he loudly proclaimed the price of the bottle (so loud that other tables took notice) and asked me if I "was sure". I almost got up and walked-out, but we were with business guests and our respective partners, so I did not want to embarrass them. TL/DR - Food is good, except dessert. Service can be slow and rude.

The service was outstanding I will be back for the sea food 1 to 10 it's a 9 all day. Ambiance was was romantic food top notch.

Love this place. I have been twice, the most recent time was August. I am from an area that knows steaks and how to grill them. This place was excellent. They have a wood fire grill - no gas used so all you taste is the meat. We had a rib eye and fillet - cooked medium rare - perfect. On the other visit had the scallops and they were cooked well. The beat salad was wonderful - so we ordered a second one.

Reservation was 8pm. They struggled to get us seated by 8:15 It's warm and cute. They had several large parties so they get a pass on the delayed seating. Bone in filet medium well was ok but not served hot. Chilean Sea Bass - This was my first ever and it was perfectly flaked and cooked to perfection for a first timer. The temp was better than the steak but not hot. Buttermilk whipped potatoes had a good taste but were a bit puréed as opposed to "whipped". They were served in a cast iron dish but were nearly cold. Brussel sprouts Caesar were ok. Could've been a bit more tender. The flavor wasn't for me. I can't describe it but the waiter said that they tossed it in Caesar dressing and there's some type of crust on top that taste like a basic toasted bread crumb topping. Kind of flavorless... My husband enjoyed the potatoes, sea bass and steak.

Dined here for appetizers and soup after a show. We were so disappointed. We ordered the calamari, oysters and crab cakes.The oysters were ok but strange with candied bacon . The calamari was incredibly small and tough with more breading than calamari and a tiny shmear of sauce. The two small crakes were small and dry. We also ordered lobster bisque and French onion soup. Everything was extremely salty. The only thing tasty were the dinner rolls that also were topped with salt. My sister ordered a Killer Bird drink. It was too bitter yet sweet to drink. After we paid, the very nice chef asked how our food was. We told him that our food was salty and undesirable. He apologized and gave us complimentary desserts to go. I tried the cheesecake with salted caramel and the cheesecake was also salty! I don't think I would be willing to come back. I can say that the rolls were great. I hope they can improve. The restaurant is nice and the service was good.

2nd time I've had " stomach issues " after eating here steak was served rare 2x instead of medium lobster and shrimp were both undercooked weird Indiana restaurant deserts suck as well

Thoroughly impressed by this steakhouse inside the Hard Rock. Went with two friends. Pre-meal bread was fantastic, really good. Hard to not over-indulge on those. We each had a French onion soup and loved it. Not a typical French onion. Steaks we ordered came out perfectly -- two filets and a marvelous bone-in ribeye. Sides: duck fat hash browns were just a little greasy and good, whipped potatoes were above average. Broccolini was good. We didn't order dessert. Server went above and beyond to make sure we got our comps used properly. If you gamble, be sure to get a players card so you can earn comps for the restaurant. It's a great way to have the casino "pay you back" for all the money you gamble. And even if you don't gamble, get the players card so you can earn points toward future meals.

Excellent service and food! Our server was attentive and her recommendations were on point. I was visiting family and I can't wait to make it back up to NWI for another steak.

We at Council Oaks a few weeks ago and it was outstanding. Great service, delicious oysters rockafella and a bartender who knows how to make a cocktail.

Great food, Great service and for a casino real nice ambiance. Drinks are really good.

Amazing food and service. We came here for a birthday and will definitely return. My steak was delightful, everyone enjoyed their food.

While on vacation, I visited Council Oak Steaks & Seafood and was quite pleased with the cuisine and service. I'd like to start off by saying that our server Richard/Ricardo deserves recognition because he was incredibly attentive and enhanced our dining experience. I've tasted many wonderful steaks considering I'm from California, but the filet mignon we had at this restaurant was unquestionably one of the best steaks I've ever had. We also enjoyed their raw bar sampler (pictured below), which was fantastic and beautifully presented. They also have a delicious baked potato, which I highly recommend. Overall, Council Oak is a fantastic choice for a quality dining experience.

Tried to make a reservation for a family dinner of 7. Was told that an event coordinator would call me back within 48 hours (really for a normal 7 person dinner). Over a week later someone actually called me back. Needless to say I already made a reservation somewhere else. The sad thing is none of us had ever eaten here and probably won't bother to; since it appears to be a hassle. We are eating at a different steakhouse that was more than happy to give me a reservation on the first call. Poor service and not customer focused

This is an incredible addition to the area! A true destination of a restaurant to enjoy an evening out with loved ones to celebrate a special event, a win at the casino, or just a midweek evening out. The service is hands down, the best of the best. Servers and bussers are pleasant and helpful. The atmosphere is elegant and yet approachable. The best of both worlds. They have everything right, from the big stuff down to the little details. The Heirloom Chicken was moist, and had the most incredible crispy skin. The sauce was mouth watering. Duck-fat Hashbrown! Do I need to say more?!? A skillet cooked hashbrown cake that was cooked in duck fat! Can it get better than that!?!? My mouth is watering as I sit here and think about the mushrooms! I could've just ordered them and left happy. Simply the best combination of char, moisture, and flavor! The Filet was tender and juicy, and cooked just the way my wife likes it. The baked potato was so good that she didn't even need to add any of the topping onto it to enjoy it. Desserts aren't listed on the menu so be sure to ask about them. The French Toast Donuts are light, crispy, and cinnamon sugar coated. A great bite to end a meal there for sure.

I have been here about 6-7 times and by far this is the best steakhouse in northwest Indiana. Finding a steakhouse this good with the level of service they provide outside of Las Vegas would be a difficult task. Highly recommend.

Dined here this past Saturday night. I had a not great food quality experience about a year ago and hadn't returned since. Service and ambiance were good, but I yet again encountered a food quality issue. After ordering the almost $70 Porterhouse and requesting it rare, it came out overcooked, at best medium rare. Another steak on the table ordered medium rare was rarer than what I received. I informed our server and the manager offered to replace it, but I do not waste food and did not want my other guests to wait. I get things happen, but this is the exact same thing that happened last time I dined here. For a restaurant specializing in steak, I would not expect to encounter this again. Kind of disappointing for the price paid. I would steer clear of steak at this place, or try somewhere else altogether.

Great steaks and seafood for a reasonable price service is great as well as the ambiance my favorite steak house

Food was delicious and service was so considerate and welcoming! Date night atmosphere for sure. Will come again!

Amazing!!!! To say the least!!!best steak I've had in this area yet!! Great service, great wine, steak is to die for.

Not worth the time. This is my 2nd time here. Both times my steak was overcooked or undercooked. This last time I ordered a Fliet medium, came well done. They realized they gave me the wrong steak and came back with what they said was medium, but it was rare. The waitress came back around after about 15 minutes and everyone was done eating so i was just done didn't want it fixed. After I left I went to White Castle which tasted a lot better then what I had received. I will not be back.

Great restaurant. Good ambiance. The waiter was so lovely and attentive to us. The French onion soup was excellent. The steak was cooked perfectly. We enjoyed every aspect of the meal. The drinks were fabulous.

When the server brought our appetizer to the table, her braids spilled all over the plate. And then she just left like that was normal. That was the end for us, never dining here again.

We thoroughly enjoyed the food & service at Council Oaks Hard Rock. The dining room was absolutely gorgeous so the ambiance was a 10. We will def be back!

Everything that I ordered was cold or Luke warm. Soup was warm. Alaskan king crab was ice cold and part was frozen was very salty, asparagus was not grilled basically uncooked to the raw side. Shrimp some were served warm and cold. Not what I expected from a steak & shrimp house. Staff service not to pleasant. Only time the waitress was at the table was to take the order and bring the check. Never came to ask how anything was. I would not recommend this place.

We had never been to Hard Rock casino and my eldest son wanted to celebrate his 44th birthday at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood. Tried to get a reservation for 7 and with new covid restrictions we had to get manager approval. That when a young lady by the name of Connie assisted us in joining the players club and helping us with your reservations. We arrived and our table was ready and set. Our server by the name of Starr was off the charts amazing. The prime meats were top notch. Simply everything we tried was truly amazing. On a huge plus side try the in house Cabernet produced by Broken Earth Winery for $36 is absolutely worth it. Take from someone who sample the best wines like Caymus, Stags Leap cabs. Thank you to all for great food and services.

Orders Filet Mignon, Lobster Bisque, Grilled asparagus and Tiramisu for myself; was looking forward to try this new steak place however was disappointed. Service and dessert was good, everything was a huge no no. Over seasoned steak, under seasoned asparagus and the worst lobster bisque I have ever had! Potatoes in the lobster bisque soup? Hmmmmm no no and no!

This was the first and last visit I will make at this establishment. First, customer service was horrible beginning with the host stand. Stood there for 15 minutes without any type of acknowledgment from the staff. At one point there were 4 employees standing there and not even a wave or smile. No eye contact whatsoever. The food was severely overpriced for what was served. The filet had absolutely no flavor and the lobster was mostly tail, no actual meat. So much for 2lbs. Appetizer and salad were good. The server was ok, nothing great but not terrible. The bus boy was phenomenal however. Very attentive and stayed on top of the table. For the amount that is charged for these meals, you'd be better off somewhere else. I would not recommend.

Average overpriced food at best, great service. Good cocktails. Steak was dry cooked correctly which is difficult at best for most steak place, side adequate.

Went for our anniversary. Flagged that it was our anniversary when we made the reservation. (The reservation form asked if there was a special occasion being celebrated) No mention or acknowledgement by anyone that it was our anniversary. Restaurant is large, too large. And the rock music playing throughout the casino was also playing in the restaurant. There was no sense of upscale or intimacy. Felt like an expensive chain restaurant. Had calamari for appetizer. Chewy as rubber bands and bland. My husband had lobster corn chowder which tasted nothing like what he expected and had 2 small pieces of lobster. He said it wasn't bad, but wasn't great either. I had the French onion soup. It was inedible. Unbelievably salty and 2/3 of the bowl was nothing but bread. For the entree my husband had the bone-in ribeye mid-rare, with a baked potato and asparagus. He said his steak was perfectly fine, but nothing special. The asparagus was a bowl of mush with a weird sauce and just unappetizing. He LOVED the baked potato. Said it was perfect and the toppings were generous. I had the bone-in NY Strip rare and a baked potato. The steak was mid-rare and tough as old boots. The potato was crunchy in the middle. The server was very nice (she took the onion soup and asparagus off the bill),but not very attentive. Had to ask for salt and pepper, butter for the potato and a dessert menu (didn't order any). Our celebratory dinner was a huge (and expensive) disappointment. We won't be back. Don't waste your money.

I was so disappointed with this place! I brought my husband here for his birthday. We specifically came for the lamb chops. They were horrible. They were all fat and very little meat. They didn't even have the mint jelly to go with them. Who serves lamb chops without the mint jelly? I ordered the salmon. It was extremely bland and had no seasoning. I also ordered their grilled shrimp and it was the worst shrimp I have ever had. I don't know what they put on it when they cooked it but it was horrible and the flavor did not pair well with the shrimp. We ordered several sides that were also very bland and unseasoned. My girlfriend ordered the steak and she did not like it. In fact she said Outback had better steaks. This place is definitely not worth the money. They need to learn how to season their food. But as far as the service; the service was good. We were seated promptly and on time with our reservation. Our waiter was excellent!

Ok, let me start off saying that you have any food allergies stay far away from this. Especially if you have a gluten intolerance or are Celiac. Our mistake was believing that a high end restaurant would be able to fulfill our needs. The wait staff was very pleasant but uneducated on food allergies. When asked her about Gluten free she said " ok no bread or bread crumbs?" We had to explain to her about it and figured she would talk to the Chefs. Not sure if she did or the Chefs figured that they didn't give a S**t. This was worse than cross contamination, my wife is still sick 16 hours later. She has not slept at all. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary NOT very special. Also to bring things to an end, we were brought a cake desert and asked if it was gluten free. The waiter had to go back and ask? Came back and said no and there was nothing she could bring us gluten free! The food was not good at all, everything was covered up with sauces that overwhelmed the main item. I guess you live and learn. Sad that this new venue did not work out.