I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for a coupon, especially when it involves red meat.

The September special at the Poodle Club in Minneapolis was a New York Strip dinner for $9.95. As I’ve said before, cheap steak is judged in an entirely different category than expensive steak. For it’s cost, the Poodle was a winner. But, you need to remember how much you’re paying.

My dinner included the steak, a salad (iceburg with carrot shreds, grocery store cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices) and potato (I had baked). We were also able to get big mugs of beer, which is always a plus on cheap steak night. The same meal would normally cost $12–still a bargain.

The Poodle is a south Minneapolis classic. It’s also taken a bit of a hit because of the smoking ban in Minneapolis. Almost all of the clientele was outside on the patio when we arrived so they could dine and smoke at the same time.

My only complaint would have to be the live band that started up around 30 minutes after we arrived. It was loud to the point that we couldn’t have a conversation while they were playing. Eh, for $9.95, who can complain.

If this were a small, obscure theater company blog, I’d go into detail about our 2nd stop of the evening–at the Bedlam Theater’s 10 minute Original Play Festival. Imagine young “avant garde” playwrights, trying to make a deep lasting point in 10 minutes. Yeah, it was interesting to say the least. Thankfully, this isn’t a small obscure theater company blog so you’re spared the details.

So, on the hunt again last week we headed to The Steak Knife, in Minneapolis’ Dinkytown neighborhood, near the University of Minnesota. I should have known that a steak place by a university, with a coupon in the Happenings book wasn’t going to make us very happy. But we had a coupon!

Most notably, the place was empty. Granted, it’s summer and school’s out but empty? We should have known. It was set up fast food style–you ordered at the counter and if you were getting it to go, you loitered at the other end to get your sack of food. For those lucky enough to dine in, table delivery was provided. But they had two for one beers and we had a coupon!

I ordered the “Filet” medium well with a baked potato and beer. Charlie got the 18 oz cut medium with fries and beer. Oh yeah, I should mention the sign by the checkout that says, “due to an error, we are not accepting Happenings coupons”. Dang, no coupon!

The chef seemed to be the order taker and the server and the busser but since the place was empty, he was handling it all well.

When food arrived, my medium well steak was what I’d consider well done–and it wasn’t really a filet, it was a small thin piece of meat roughly shaped like a filet. But, I was hungry, had low expectations and didn’t feel like complaining. Poor Charlie’s medium slab of meat was more than well done. Since we’d been robbed of our coupon, we felt like we could demand a bit of customer service so Charlie returned his steak an asked for a new one, less cooked.

A few minutes later, the manager arrived at our table. Apparently, Charlie’s steak had been the only 18 oz one left so would he take a smaller one if they’d refund the difference. As if he had a choice.

Charlie’s 2nd steak arrives a bit later. He sliced in and, surprise! Now medium translated to barely cooked. Back at the counter a 3rd time, the manager apoligized–apparently the chef/cashier/server/busboy was now nervous and screwed up again. We thought he’d just throw it back on the grill but instead, he got out a 3rd steak and started over.

By now, I was long done with my meal. Thankfully, Charlie’s 3rd steak was nicely done and very tasty.

Whew!

So, no, I don’t recommend The Steak Knife in Minneapolis–unless you’re a college kid who can’t afford anything else. Even then, you could go around the corner to several other places and get a better meal. I’m not sure how this place stays open–but I suspect that the cheap beer has something to do with it when school is in session.