York Steak House

Dining Out review: Simplicity meets perfection at Muskegon steakhouse

Now I can add C.F. Prime Chophouse to the list of truly great over-the-top places for steak. It's a restaurant that Muskegon should be proud to call its own.

C.F. Prime is owned and operated by the Harris Group, which also owns Pints & Quarts Pub and Grill and Docker's Fish House, two of Muskegon’s established eateries. Chef Fred Scharmer, a Muskegon native, does a fantastic job of bringing his passion for great food to the lakeshore.

The menu at C.F. Prime is simple and straightforward. It lends itself nicely to focus on what a chophouse should focus on – great steaks. There are other offerings on the menu, such as grilled salmon with cracked mustard and maple-horseradish glaze ($21.99) and seared scallops with sautéed spinach, roasted tomatoes and lemon basil vinaigrette ($25.99), but if you are going to a steakhouse, order a steak.

I am a carnivore; I love a great steak.

On this visit, I ordered the New York strip steak ($28.99) with classic Béarnaise sauce and a side of roasted-garlic Yukon gold mashed potatoes. My wife ordered the seared rare tuna ($24.99) with miso (soy) vinaigrette. We both agreed that the meals were prepared perfectly with the presentation being clean and simple.

Each steak on the menu is served with a signature sauce like horseradish cream, cognac-infused wild mushroom cream, or rosemary au jus. For a small additional charge, you can have it prepared in a classic style — like with a Gorgonzola crust or au poivre (with peppercorns).

The side dishes at C.F. Prime are plentiful and well done. They're traditional steakhouse sides like roasted crimini mushrooms, tempura asparagus and caramelized onions.

As with any great steakhouse, the service was outstanding. Our server was professional, knowledgeable and attentive. I miss having truly great service in restaurants. It was sweet to see that the wait staff at this Muskegon restaurant knows what truly professional restaurant service is.

C.F. Prime boasts an impressive wine list and one of the best scotch lists I have seen in a while. Prices for the wines range from reasonable ($30) to expensive ($200). The wines and beer are accurately described and, if you are not sure of a wine to complement your meal, the wait staff will offer suggestions.

One steak that I would like to see on the menu is a t-bone or related porterhouse. I know the menu changes from time to time, but a good chophouse should always have a cut of beef that comes on the bone. The current menu offers prime rib, New York strip, filet mignon and sirloin.

WHTM abc27 - Fire at former Lone Star Steakhouse in York ruled arson

A fire that caused an estimated $750,000 in damage to a former restaurant along Route 30 this morning was intentionally set, according to state police investigators.

Police have not disclosed what was used to set the fire to the former Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon, which had been vacant for three years and had no electricity.

Firefighters said the flames apparently originated inside the rear of the building at around 3:00 a.m.

York City Fire Chief Steve Buffington said officials have made periodic checks on the property to prevent such a fire. He said the blaze quickly became a three-alarm fire because of the size of the building.

"My first instinct was fear of the safety of my firefighters," Buffington said. "Commercial buildings such as this with heavy roof units on top is always a great concern. That's why we went to multiple alarms very quickly."

Investigators said they were attempting to contact the owner to follow up with their investigation.

A section of Route 30 was closed as a precaution for about an hour.

Catalog of copyright entries

Who owns whom, North America

Fodor's New York City 2010

New York Magazine

Steak lover's cookbook