More than 100 years ago, patrons would drop by Select Cut Steakhouse for a fresh cut of meat. No, the Lakeview East restaurant wasn't actually around then—it opened in 1994. But its building housed a butcher's shop at the turn of the century, and Select Cut Steakhouse honors this legacy with a menu of hearty steaks and upscale seafood dishes.

The chefs hand-cut each steak to order—everything from the 8-ounce petite filet to the 18-ounce T-bone—and they can complete each freshly grilled morsel with a finishing touch, such as sautéed mushrooms or peppercorn sauce. Beyond steak, the menu also features a collection of broiled swordfish, South African lobster tails, and Alaskan king-crab legs. Shrimp kabobs and stir-fried beef teriyaki round out the selection of refined comfort foods with an international twist.

Much like its menu, Select Cut Steakhouse's dining room manages to feel refined and casual at the same time. White linens adorn each table, chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and a wooden wine rack's sizable collection matches the bottles lined up behind the granite-topped bar. And yet, the restaurant's exposed brickwork and hand-crank Internet connection give the space a slight rustic vibe—one that hearkens back to the building's history as a friendly place where neighbors could gather and point at meat together.