What gets a Steak House into the Top Steak Houses in the World list on the right?  There are three criteria:

  1. The Steak House must be a Steak House.  Many fine restaurants prepare an delicious steak, and provide a suitable atmosphere and experience.  These establishments are included in the overall listings for various cities, however to be included in the Top Steak Houses in the World listing, the establishment must be a bonafide Steak House.
  2. The Steak House must receive a rating of Exceptionally Excellent (8), Magnificent (9) or Exceptionally Magnificent (10).  We don't believe in promoting a run of the mill place.
  3. The Steak House must have been visited at some time within the past five years.  This is necessary to ensure that the rating remains valid.  Unfortunately this means that some fine Steak Houses will fall off the list if it has not been possible to make a return visit.  SteakGuys.com endeavours to confirm that a Steak House continues to offer the experience described herein.  A Steak House rating will be adjusted after a return visit, and Steak Houses that are no longer in business will be removed from all of its listings at such time this determination is made by SteakGuys.com.

A Steak House is graded from 0 to 10 and then categorized into the following five ratings. For example, a Steak House that is rated a 7 is considered Excellent, and an 8 is considered Exceptionally Excellent.  For simplicity, these ratings are displayed in the 6 categories described below, with the "Exceptional" designation ensuring that the best of the best get ranked higher.

Magnificent! Any Steak House that gets this rating deserves it. These places provide the best steak eating experience that can be had! Unfortunately there aren't enough places like these around.
Excellent There can only be so many magnificent places. You wont be disappointed at a Steak House with an Excellent rating.
Average No surprises here, good or bad. Average is just what it implies.
Ho Hum There is a ubiquitous quality and atmosphere. We're not sure why it's called a Steak House.
Avoid It's just our opinion, but there's probably somewhere better to eat.
Disappointing Should have ranked Excellent or better (but didn't for any number of reasons). Will probably get a second chance when we feel like it.

If we don't enjoy our meal, or any other aspect of these supposedly fine dining establishments, then we'll slam the place - period. We are very particular and rightly so when the dinner tab can run several hundred dollars.