The second location of LB Steak, a luxurious modern American steakhouse concept specializing in fresh, in-house butchered steak, now resides on the inside of City Center at Bishop Ranch. Led by a James Beard-nominated French chef, the restaurant just opened its doors in San Ramon.
The shopping center, already home to popular, modern fine-dining restaurants like San Francisco-based De La Rosa and Mendocino Farms, now houses the steakhouse founded by Roland Passot – the same chef who ran San Francisco’s La Folie for more than 30 years.
When visiting, you’ll find the dining room is designed with large sliding glass doors and windows for passersby to get a glimpse of the modern décor-filled setting, and for restaurant-goers to enjoy the natural ambient lighting when diving into a full plate of made-to-order entrees.
Clearly the buzz of the new space opening has gotten around, considering just two days after the grand opening in late May, we found the restaurant filled with couples on dates, business personnel meeting after hours and even families enjoying a Friday night dinner – and managers say they had already welcomed in repeat customers.
This isn’t the first time Bay Area residents have been introduced to the restaurant. This is the second LB Steak location. The first, opening in 2009, sits along Santana Row in San Jose, where it’s been an established dining destination for over a decade. Now, it’s time for the East Bay to get a slice of the tender steak heaven.
Though known for its steaks and other fine-dining options, LB’s wine and drink menu is another selling point and highlight of what the space offers. Diners are tempted with a full menu of unique craft cocktails, a build-your-own martini specialty and wines from local makers across the state and country.
If going for dinner, start the night off with a glass of the LVE sparkling rosé to sip while enjoying the rich appetizers, like the garlic-sautéed white gulf prawns garlic, seasoned with a sharp hint of cayenne pepper and served with fresh crostini, or the seared ahi tuna with a Furikake-seasoned crust and served in oolong consommé, a dish only served at this new location.
As for the main course, the obvious choice at a steakhouse will be the food in the restaurant’s namesake, but in this case – with such a vast variety of beef options – which do you choose?
The bone-in 14-oz. New York with bourbon mash is a signature dish, and it’s very obvious why. If the size isn’t a selling point, the well-marbled cut of the beef and attention to detail in the accompanying seasoning – which simply magnifies the richness of the beef – is without a doubt a must try. All bone-in selections, like this, are served with house-made wagyu butter. When we say make sure to use the wagyu butter, we mean…make sure to use all of it on not just your steak but any sides you may get as well. It’s fantastic, and a favorite of the staff as well.
If you’re looking for a more tender and leaner cut, a filet mignon plate will be a perfect option. The hand-cut prime steaks are made with USDA-certified prime angus steaks which are both aged and hand cut in LB’s butcher shop. Whichever cut you choose, pair it with truffle fries with parmesan and chives.
Though the appetizers and main courses are hearty and rich, which will definitely satisfy you, leave room for dessert, even if you need to take some of your food to go. For those wanting something as rich as their entrée but to indulge their sweet tooth: chocolate molten cake and the caramel chocolate cremeux dark chocolate walnut brownie or the warm bread pudding will do the trick. For those wanting something on the lighter side, check out the toasted brown sugar marshmallow or the vanilla bean crème brûlée with fresh berries.
Also on the menu, LB Steak offers the Flight for Allyship – a three-pour wine flight consisting of wines made by different winemakers, each season, to highlight under-represented winemakers. This is the company’s way to help provide more awareness and representation in an often more traditional industry. Fifteen percent of all proceeds from the sale of the Flight for Allyship go toward providing scholarships and grants to create a more diverse and inclusive food and beverage industry. In honor of Pride Month, the current flight features winemakers of the LGBTQ community: En Cavale Wines, Camins 2 Dreams and Château Franc La Rose.
LB Steak is open Sunday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m. To make reservations, visit www.lbsteakbishopranch.com.