If you're going to spend someone else's money, you may as well do so with beef. At Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, you'll be treating yourself to what is easily one of the best steaks in the city. The barely year-old location in the heart of downtown is impeccably classy, with an open dining room showcasing handsome wood paneling and a gorgeous marbled-topped bar with seating facing an open kitchen. The steakhouse continues to wow with beautiful cuts of prime beef (many of which are dry-aged onsite), luxurious seafood towers, and incredibly satisfying sides and desserts, like the über-sweet gooey pecan pie, which you most definitely want to tack onto the tab. Order some bottles — you're not paying, after all — from the standout collection of 2,000 wines overseen by advanced sommelier Bill Elsey, or have an incredible cocktail from Matt Tanner, formerly of Anvil Bar & Refuge. (Don't miss a selection from his cherry-picked whiskey cart.)
READERS' CHOICE: Pappas Bros. Steakhouse