Emerging Brands

Top 100 Independents sneak peek

This preview highlights one of the biggest trends to emerge from this year’s ranking.
Photograph courtesy of Swift & Sons

Each year, Restaurant Business ranks the top-grossing independent restaurants across the country. Every time, new trends and themes emerge. One trend to pop out of this year’s list: a resurgence of steakhouses. More than 30 meat-centric concepts from across the U.S. made the ranking, including a few newcomers. 

With check averages often above the $100 mark, these concepts are winning with more than just beef. Menu specialties and attention to ambiance are helping these indies stay a cut above the rest. 

Chicago alone houses nine steakhouses from this year’s ranking, including newcomer Swift & Sons, owned by multiconcept operator Boka Restaurant Group, which is helmed by James Beard Foundation Awards finalists for outstanding restaurateur, Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz.

For a peek into what Swift & Sons is doing right—and what it’s like to operate in today’s restaurant climate—Restaurant Business got the tour and sat down with chef and partner Chris Pandel. Take a look:

In addition to Swift & Sons, other steakhouses found success over the past year, winning guests with classics as well as inventive fare. Here’s a sneak peek at the full list of steakhouses, and where they fell on the list. Stay tuned for the full list, launching Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Steakhouses on the Top 100

9

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

Chicago

10

Smith & Wollensky

New York City

15

Prime 112

Miami Beach, Fla.

17

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Washington, D.C.

18

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Las Vegas

20

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Chicago

23

Carnevino Italian Steakhouse

Las Vegas

24

Maple & Ash

Chicago

25

Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres

Las Vegas

26

RPM Steak

Chicago

27

SW Steakhouse

Las Vegas

30

St. Elmo Steak House

Indianapolis

33

Quality Meats

New York City

35

Abe & Louie’s

Boston

37

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

Oak Brook, Ill.

38

Sparks Steak House

New York City

41

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

Rosemont, Ill.

48

Chicago Cut Steakhouse

Chicago

52

Prime Steakhouse

Las Vegas

56

Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant

Coalinga, Calif.

58

Taste of Texas

Houston

59

Keens Steakhouse

New York City

63

Delmonico Steakhouse

Las Vegas

66

Swift & Sons

Chicago

71

Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse

Chicago

74

Portland City Grill

Portland, Ore.

75

Jean-Georges Steakhouse

Las Vegas

77

Prime & Provisions

Chicago

89

Tavern on Rush

Chicago

91

Timberline Steaks & Grille

Denver

96

BOA Steakhouse 

West Hollywood, Calif.

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