Chances Are, You're Making This Sauce Mistake When Dining At A Steakhouse - Tasting Table

"While a condiment like A.1. Original Sauce is a popular choice to complement basic beef, this doesn't necessarily go well with the elevated offerings of a steakhouse dinner. The overwhelming flavor of a thick gob of standard steak sauce will easily drown out the delicate tasting notes of the higher-quality steaks you'll find at a steakhouse. In fact, most steakhouses will not offer bottled steak sauce as the steaks featured are meant to be served with lighter accompaniments."

"If you want to order at a steakhouse like you know what you're doing, skip the steak sauce and be open to recommendations from the waitstaff as to what sauce, if any, would make an ideal pairing. Sauces like chimichurri, peppercorn, and Béarnaise are excellent choices that can accent the richness of your steakhouse dinner and create a more pleasing overall flavor profile."

Heavy bottled steak sauce can overpower the delicate flavors of high-quality steaks and ruin the dining experience. Many standard steak sauces have overwhelming flavors that drown out subtle tasting notes and are therefore uncommon at steakhouses. Steakhouse steaks are typically meant to be served with lighter accompaniments that enhance the natural essence of the meat without masking it. Waitstaff can recommend appropriate pairings based on cut and doneness. Different cuts have varied marbling, taste, and texture, so sauce choices should match the specific steak. Lighter sauces such as chimichurri, peppercorn, and Béarnaise can accent richness without covering flavor.

Read at Tasting Table