Curiosity got the best of me as I observed that the menu at the Prime Rib Loft had changed. Gone was the beef strogonoff as well as other menu items that were there before. The new red, white, and blue menu looked more impressive to me. The prices looked a tab higher than I remembered. With a free ticket to the Don Rickles show, I wanted to eat at The Orleans, so it was The Prime Rib Loft for me on Friday night.

The hostess told me that they decided to go to a lean and clean menu and focus on their best products. That was not entirely convincing to me since it's not my favorite restaurant and all I've had there was their signature dishes. I've never been a fan of their thin meat in a deep dish with lots of juice and the potato swimming in that same juice. Most of all, I never liked their salad with more red colors than green, and that house salad dressing.

I ordered a Beefeater cut of prime rib, baked potato, and Caesar salad, plus an iced tea. The steak is a bone-in cut and comes with a choice of potato for $23. The salad was $6 on the menu but only $4 when added to a meal. The tea was $3. The salad was pretty good, and much better for me than the old salad they had since day 1. The iced tea tasted fresh brewed which surprised me. It was good, but I just don't like paying over $2 for a water based drink that probably cost 15 cents to make.

The prime rib and potato came out and it looked pretty good. The steak was two forks thick and cooked to order. It was in a deep plate with some juice, but not as much as in the past. The potato was a tad overcooked, and sitting in the juice. The prime rib was very good. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it 8.5. It certainly wasn't dairy cattle. It had good flavor, good texture, proper fat content. I was shocked by the quality and quantity so much that I almost held off this report until I could try it again.

Service was very good. My server had been there since they opened and that was 7 years ago. The place doesn't look remodeled although it doesn't look like a 7 year old restaurant. Maybe they recently redid the place using the same colors and styles. It was a very good meal and I will try it again someday soon just to verify quality before I'd recommend it.

Try the annual Thanksgiving bash - I think it is great! FYI: Also, try the Cortez Room in the Gold Coast - pretty good also.

I personaly have not been ipressed with the loft either. The best meal I can vagely recall was before it became the prime rib loft. But for the life Of me, I can't remember what it was before it was the Prime rib loft! LOL

lee wasn't it bones?? the rib joint

DAG, I think you are correct, and my meal was meatloaf with BBQ sause on it, and it was good! Service was never great as I recall, either.

WendelL, what time is thanksgiving dinner?

Tried this place again under the new menu. It was very good and almost the same as last time. This is good because they seem to have consistency after their overhaul.