Brett Favre's Steakhouse - Green Bay, WI

While in Green Bay recently, I took one of my new dealers out to dinner at Brett Favre's Steakhouse, located at 1004 Brett Favre Pass just south of Green Bay's legendary Lambeau Field (see map).  I've wanted to try the place for sometime and my dealer accepted my invitation to dine there one evening.

Now, for those of you who aren't sports fans, or have been living in a Turkish prison for the last 20 years, Brett Favre is the longtime quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.  He recently announced his retirement from the game after 18 seasons and three NFL Most Valuable Player awards. 

The original Brett Favre Steakhouse began in 1997 in downtown Milwaukee.  Farve partnered with Richard Monfort, the son of a long-time beef producer from Colorado, and owner of the big Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus, MA.  Favre's steakhouse in Milwaukee was very upscale, but it was only open for a few years before closing in 2000.  The restaurant then became Joey Buona's Pizzeria and Restaurant, a somewhat upscale Italian restaurant.  Farve still owns part of that restaurant. 

Favre and his family, along with some other investors, opened the Brett Favre Steakhouse in Green Bay in 2003.  It combines the look and feel of an old time upscale supper club with some variations of southern recipes Favre grew up with. 

It was a Tuesday evening when we got into Favre's steakhouse around 7:30.  There was a big gathering in one of the meeting rooms back in the bar, and a few guys were in another meeting room toward the back of the restaurant.  But the dining room was about a quarter full.

We took a seat at a table where we had a huge mural of Favre looking at us the whole evening.  It sort of looked out of place with the dark wood tables and chairs. 

We got our menus and looked things over.  I proposed getting a bottle of wine, but my dealer was on the downhill side of a bad cold and he didn't think he'd better be drinking wine with the medicine he was taking.  OK, fair enough.  He didn't object to me getting a couple beers during the meal, so that was good. 

Steaks dominate the menu, although they did have Cajun appetizers and some entrees.  I thought about a number of things - including the 12 oz. filet or the 16 oz. prime rib.  I ended up starting out with Brett's Famous Chopped salad - chopped lettuce, prosciutto, olives, onions, blue cheese crumbles and other assorted veggies in a red wine vinaigrette.  My dealer got the same thing.

I ended up getting the 22 oz. bone-in rib eye, medium-rare, with the garlic mashed potatoes.  My dealer ordered Brett's Signature Steak - a 20 oz. top-round London Broil topped with cracked black pepper and sauteed mushrooms.  That was my second pick.  He said, "It's a lot of meat, but I usually take it home and have it for lunch the next day."

Our waiter was pretty good, but he was also busy with the small party going on in the small back room of the restaurant.  We went about 15 minutes before getting our salads.  And we weren't even half done with them when he brought the steaks out.

I've had bone-in rib eyes before and this one was, well, average, at best.  It was slightly overcooked, it wasn't all that moist and juicy and there was a lot more bone on the rib eye than I've seen on others.  I'm guessing the total amount of meat was about 10 to 12 oz.  The garlic mashed potatoes were good, but nothing to get excited about.  I make 'em much better at home.

My dealer did like his London Broil.  I should have gotten that.  Dammit!  Oh, well.  It's not like I won't be back in Green Bay at some point.  I can always try that on my next visit.

Our meal with tip came to just under $90 bucks.  My dealer was impressed that we went to such a nice place on my first visit.  I said I'd like to try some of the other places in town on subsequent visits and he said that was very doable.

Before we left, we walked around the restaurant and bar area and looked at the loads of memorabilia on the walls and in glass enclosed cases.  Being a big sports nut and a closet Green Bay Packer fan for a number of years, I was mesmerized by the large selection of items they had throughout the place.  They also had a gift shop at Brett Favre's Steakhouse that I looked through, but I didn't buy anything.

Brett Favre's Steakhouse is one of the central points for tailgate parties before and after Packer games in the fall.  I've talked to friends who have gone to games up in Green Bay and they've told me it gets pretty nuts around Brett Favre's Steakhouse on game day. 

All in all, Brett Favre's Steakhouse was what I expected from a restaurant with a famous person's name on it.  The food was good, but not outstanding.  I would like to go back at some point and try the London Broil.  I wasn't overly impressed with my steak, but it was OK.  If you're a sports fan, it's a great place.  And if you're in the Green Bay area for business, Brett Favre's Steakhouse is a nice place to take clients.         

Comments

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He made a great connection with a long time beef producer. Those are the deals that people like. When a valuable player and a beef producer are involved in a Sports Bar.