It's surely a sign that North Scottsdale's DC Ranch has lost its buzz when a new restaurant called DC Steak House opens in Chandler.
The new eatery, which debuted last Friday, fills the void left by the short-lived Fat Cat, and before that, 98 South, in a primo spot along San Marcos Place's restaurant row.
And the name isn't as out-of-place as you'd think: the "DC" stands for "Downtown Chandler." So take that, North Scottsdale!
Owners Dean and Lorie Laplant moved to town from Wisconsin five years ago; Dean brings with him many years of experience in the restaurant biz, starting with his parents' long-running Milwaukee steakhouse, The Rafters.
A friend who stopped by for early recon tells me that the interior hasn't changed much from the restaurant's previous incarnations, aside from some fresh paint and a new mural.
What's different with DC Steak House is simply the concept. Gone is the wine bar/bistro fare, replaced by classic steaks, chops, ribs, seafood entrees, and appetizers like shrimp cocktail, onion rings, and Caesar salad. Nope, they're not reinventing the wheel here, just sticking to all-American classics. Heck, there's even a U.S. flag on the menu, so what does that tell you?
DC Steak House is at 98 S. San Marcos Pl., in Chandler. Call 480-899-4400 for info.
