There aren’t many (or even two, for that matter) football teams that have achieved an impeccable record for an undefeated season (although our beloved New England Patriots have certainly come very close), but the Miami Dolphins did just that in 1972.
Achieving a “perfect season,” the only team in NFL history to finish a season 17-0, is a tribute to the team’s great coach – Don Shula. Continuing on his quest for perfection, the winningest coach in NFL history with 347 career wins opened his namesake steakhouse in Miami in 1989. Today, with nearly 30 locations throughout the country and continuing to expand, Shula’s has proven to be a cut above the competition.
We recently visited the Chandler, Arizona haute spot located on the second floor of the Wild Horse Pass & Casino where we were quickly greeted by our knowledgeable server who presented us with the restaurant’s impressive wine list, extensive dinner menu and selection of steaks hand painted on an official NFL game football signed by Shula himself.
Photo Credit: Kellie Speed
Get started at this high-end steakhouse with one of their creative cocktail specialties like the straight up martini or our favorite, the Cocorita, a sweet combination of coconut with the flavors of a traditional margarita.
Photo Credit: http://www.wingilariver.com/steak-house-chandler
We tried one of their specialty appetizers a delicious sampling of four enormous oysters from Louisiana (served Rockefeller style) overstuffed with spinach. The gulf shrimp cocktail is served with a side of spiced up cocktail sauce and fresh lemon. Be sure to save room for the reason you came here – the steaks. We recommend the fork-tender, six-ounce filet mignon and enormous 22-ounce bone-in ribeye, which seared to our medium rare liking. All of the center cut steaks (better known as the Shula Cut) here are aged for an average of 28 days to optimize flavor and tenderness. If you are feeling hungry and up to a challenge, order up the 48-ounce porterhouse. If you finish it, you will join the elite Shula’s 48-Ounce Club, which currently has more than 26,000 members.
Photo Credit: Shula’s Steakhouse
For sides, the twice-baked potato here is loaded with applewood bacon, white cheddar and parmesan cheeses while the crispy Brussels sprouts are combined with bacon and caramelized onions tossed in a delicious soy glaze. We couldn’t get enough of the roasted corn filled with smoky bacon, shallots, garlic, red pepper and fresh thyme.
Photo Credit: Shula’s Steak House
If you can save room for dessert, which we barely did, the multi-layered carrot cake is worth a mention.
Shula’s Steakhouse is located at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard in Chandler, Arizona.
