Restaurant Review: Simply Skirt Steak

A hidden treasure in Queens that has steak you need to try

Argentinian Steakhouses are one of the best ways to enjoy a juicy and flavorful steak.  The myriad of spices that are used brings out some of the best flavors in a thick cut of steak, making for a delicious and satisfying meal.  And recently, we got a chance to try out a new addition in Queens called Simply Skirt Steak.  Simply Skirt Steak is the brainchild and newest addition to the Rainhas Churrascaria family.  When they realized that the skirt steak was one of the most popular menu items in their restaurant, they decided to create an entire restaurant out of it.  And Simply Skirt Steak is a very straightforward restaurant that really puts the focus on the natural flavors of the steak.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the manager of the restaurant who then showed us to our table.  At Simply Skirt Steak, you have the option of dining outdoors in their beautiful patio, or sitting inside in their massive and gorgeous restaurant.  We opted for the indoors on the hot day we went.  But, if you have the opportunity to sit outdoors we recommend it because there are plenty of games and activities you can enjoy while you dine here.

To start we ordered the Pineapple Cabana Cocktail which is their specialty cocktail that is a concoction of the many delicious Caribbean spirits and served up in a fresh pineapple.  The presentation of the fresh pineapple was a fun vessel that makes you feel like you’re on a tropical island in the Caribbean.  The flavors in the drink had a lot of tropical fruit flavor and also absorbed some of the pineapple flavor from the drink “glass.”  We could taste a lot of the rum in this drink which was the perfect spirit base to really accentuate the fruit forward flavors.

For food, Simply Skirt Steak has a very straightforward menu where you choose how you want the steak cooked and between a classic style steak or a garlic butter style steak.  The meal also comes with a Caesar Salad, cheesebread, hand cut French fries, and fresh chimichurri for the steak.

We started with the Caesar salad and this was actually one of the best Caesar salads we have tried.  The salty parmesan melts into the thick cut of lettuce.  There are croutons that add a nice crunch with each bite.  And the creamy Caesar salad dressing has a pronounced, but not overwhelming, anchovy taste to it that marries beautifully with the parmesan topping.  This light appetizer really helps ready your palate for the flavors to come.

Next was the cheesebread.  This was done where there was a soft, buttery pastry exterior with warm gooey cheese in the middle.  Each bite exploded with cheesey flavor and goodness.  The only thing you need to be aware of is that eating too much of this addicting cheesebread will fill you up quickly before you can even indulge in the skirt steak to come.

And the last portion of the meal was the steak, which came to the table served in a sizzling skillet.  And as the steak was sizzling, the garlic butter placed on top slowly melted all over the steak so that the flavors could soak into the tender piece of meat.  As we cut into the steak, we found a perfectly cooked steak done in a medium rare temperature, which is just what we asked for.  The seasoning on the steak was incredible, having a variety of different herbs and spices coming out.  With each bite, you get an umami bomb that envelops your palate and makes you want to go back for more.

As we ended our meal, we couldn’t help but think about how amazing that steak experience was.  Each portion of the meal was simple, clean, and delicious making for a perfect meal.  Steak is something that is so common in restaurants but when it is done well, it is something to remember.  And we will definitely be visiting Simply Skirt Steak again.