Sam and Harry's Public House - Schaumburg
The best steakhouses aren’t all downtown. OpenTable’s 2017 Diner’s Choice winner Sam & Harry’s delivers a top-notch steak without Chicago traffic and parking. Sam & Harry’s has the chops to deliver a meat or seafood dinner you won’t likely forget. Located in the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel, Sam & Harry’s cozy sofa seating and modern touches make for a more contemporary atmosphere than you’ll find at most steakhouses. However, as noted by Chicago Tribune food critic Phil Vettel, “The USDA prime beef is worthy of any steakhouse in the country.” At its heart, Sam & Harry’s is dedicated to delivering mouth-watering cuts cooked with precision.
Before getting to all that delicious steak, you’ll want to give the starters a try. Roasted bone marrow with oxtail marmalade, lush and juicy, will satisfy even those with the most decadent of tastes. Fried Delaware oysters are a stand-out from the seafood section of the menu, remaining true to the flavor of the shellfish within beautifully fried breading.
You can also whet your appetite with classic appetizers like Caesar salad, French onion soup, and lobster bisque with butter poached lobster.
The artisan board is a solid choice for the table to share before the main course. Complemented with local honeycomb, seasonal pickles, preserves, and toast, the board offers flavorful combinations of cheese and charcuterie sourced from Midwest farms. From Wisconsin Roth Cellars’ blue cheese to duck prosciutto from Smoking Goose in Indiana, it’s a tasty sampler of some of the best products of the region.
By now you must be ready for the main event; those steaks are calling your name. Sam & Harry’s steaks hold up to the highest standards and are sourced from local farms, which are noted right on the menu. You’re sure to find a dish you’ll love among their array of cuts. Enjoy the 8 ounce filet mignon with béarnaise sauce or go for the 12 ounce top sirloin.
For bigger appetites, the Delmonico serves up 22 ounces of prime bone-in rib eye. The 16 ounce rib eye is also a great order for steak lovers; the beef is dry aged for 22 days before making it to your plate, ensuring lots of flavor in each bite.
Steak purists may want their order to come as is, but if you like a little extra something to add to your steak, Sam & Harry’s offers delicious accompaniments to their cuts. Crust your meat with blue cheese or horseradish, or pair it with attractive seafood options including crab cake, jumbo lump crab, and Maine lobster tail.
While we highly recommend going with one of the excellent steaks – for which Sam & Harry’s is rightly acclaimed – the menu has a selection of creative non-beef entrees that are just as pleasing. The Berkshire pork chops come dressed in pineapple chutney and macadamia nuts. If you’re craving a little surf, try the lemon sole with carrot puree and 5 grain risotto, or the striped bass with lentils and blood orange.
Dinner is a given, of course, but let’s just say your steak craving hits you around lunch time? Sam & Harry’s is there for you with a lunch menu that includes several steak cuts that are perfectly portioned for your midday meal. The filet mignon and top sirloin are both on the lunch menu and provide a lot of carnivorous satisfaction in a smaller package. If a sandwich is more your speed, you should try the prime beef dip smothered in provolone or the fried bologna sandwich with housemade black truffle bologna. It’s lunch – and bologna! – on a whole other level.
Things never get boring over at Sam & Harry’s. Specialty menus pop up often, giving diners new dishes to try and a special reason to dine out. These limited-time-only menus may revolve around a holiday, an ingredient, or a theme. Recent menus included a spring-focused menu highlighting dishes of lamb and chicken and a menu with twists on classic tequila cocktails. The kitchen’s creativity makes Sam & Harry’s worth a return visit.
Every good steak dinner deserves something nice to sip on, and Sam & Harry’s has you covered with over 200 bottles of wine, 50 of which are available by the glass. Their wine list focuses on artisan, sustainable, and organic producers, so you’re likely to discover a glass you can feel good about drinking at a price that’s right for you. If you need some guidance, the knowledgeable staff can direct you to the wine that will be the perfect match for you and your meal.
