Why Mastro’s Ocean Club Is A Cut Above Other Steakhouses

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

When word got out that Mastro’s Steakhouse was opening its first Massachusetts location this summer, many Bostonians questioned whether the city needed yet another steakhouse in the Seaport District, but Mastro’s Ocean Club has proven to be a cut above the rest.

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

From the moment you walk through the glistening front doors to the beautiful hostesses ready to show you to a comfortable table with floor-to-ceiling waterfront views of Boston Harbor (patio seating is available in the warmer months), you know you have stepped into someplace special.

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

Our friendly server, Yennie, quickly greeted us and got us started with a glass of pinot grigio and cabernet. Service here was tremendous – while she was delivering our wine, another server was filing our water glasses while yet another was presenting our table with their enormous bread basket (it’s almost impossible not to fill up on the warm pretzel rolls and crunchy cheese crisps).

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

While steaks are what Mastro’s is best known for, the Ocean Club version elevates traditional seafood offerings at this high-stakes luxe steak and seafood restaurant. Sure, you can find the traditional steakhouse starters like ahi tuna tartare and crab cakes, but the real standout here is the enormous create-your-own seafood tower (the dry ice gave it an extra wow factor), featuring shrimp cocktail, Alaskan king crab claws, Duxbury or Washington State oysters on the half shell and chilled lobster. In addition to their raw bar offerings, they also have a nice selection of sushi (think shrimp rolls, ahi tuna tostada, hamachi with crispy onions and our favorite, the delicate jalapeno tuna sashimi).

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

Moving right along, we opted for the enormous 22-ounce bone-in ribeye, which was perfectly charred on the outside with a juicy medium rare center. The 18-ounce bone-in Kansas City strip, which General Manager Peter Papagelis recommended when he was stopped by our table, was the declared winner of the evening. Seared to perfection, the well marbled cut was melt-in-your-mouth tender served on a sizzling plate with a simple drizzle of butter. Other steaks and chop offerings include a bone-in filet, 24-ounce porterhouse, double cut pork shop, rack of lamb and herb roasted chicken. Look for seafood dishes like Chilean sea bass, Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna, twin lobster tails, halibut and Scottish salmon filet.

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

Complement your steaks or seafood dishes with some of Mastro’s massive side dishes (large enough for two guests to share). We recommend the loaded baked potato, lobster mashed potatoes and sauteed wild mushrooms, classic steakhouse staples, or the creamed spinach, sauteed asparagus and gorgonzola mac and cheese, but the real standout here is the Alaska King Crab Black Truffle Gnocchi. This rich dish is made with fresh crabmeat, aged cheddar cheese combined with pillowy potato gnocchi and earthy black truffles. Trust us, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Photo Credit: Mastro’s Ocean Club

Be sure to save room for a taste of their famous butter cake because this one is worth every overindulgent calorie. If we had to find a flaw (and we really had to search for one), the only minor drawback worth a mention is the extremely low lighting in the dining room (we simply followed suit of other guests illuminating their menus with their iPhones), but the enormous portions, sophisticated setting, spot-on service and beautiful location more than made up for it.

Mastro’s Ocean Club is located at 25 Fan Pier Boulevard in Boston.