Sophia Steak - Wilmette

I patronize Sophia Steak at least once or two times a month if not more frequently, and I must say that the food is not consistent and the quality appears to be declining. Given that Sophia Steak is a rather high end Steak House restaurant, anyone would expect the service to be top notch. However, not only do the staff at Sophia Steak have a poor attitude, they have, by far, the worst attitude that I have ever encountered at any restaurant in Wilmette and the surrounding Northshore area. On two separate occasions, my medium rare Delmonico Ribeye steak was served blue rare. The first time it happened, my stomach was upset all through the night and the next day. The second time it happened, I brought the steak up to medium rare in my home oven, which of course compromised the taste. While my steak was in the oven, I gave Sophia Steak a call, but the woman on the other end, who I believe was one of the hostess, did not issue any compensation – not even in the form of an apology. The first time I ordered their Lobster Shishito, it was great. The second time I ordered it a few months later, it was abysmal. The batter was thick to the extent that there was more batter than there was lobster meat. Some bites were only batter and no lobster. Now let's talk about their Prime Rib special on Saturday nights. I ordered the end cut, but received a normal cut. By this point, I had grew accustomed to the possibility that Sophia Steak had messed up one way or another, so I checked my order before driving home. True enough, they did not serve me the end cut like I had ordered, so I went back to the restaurant. The hostess and one of the male staff who I assume might be in a managerial position because he was wearing a suit, took my order from my hands without exchanging any words with me and walked to the kitchen at the back of the restaurant. Once again, there was no apology whatsoever, and literally nothing was said to me. No words were exchanged at all during this transaction. I simply stood by the side, awkwardly waiting, assuming that they were going to correct it, which they did. I have never encountered such poor and rude attitude at any restaurant in Wilmette and the surrounding Northshore area. I am honestly appalled by the service and attitude at Sophia Steak. The staff seem to pick and choose which customers to be nice to, which is honestly such low behavior and attitude. On this note, keep in mind that if you walk into this establishment and are not a white or at least white-passing, the staff at Sophia Steak will automatically assume that you are a delivery driver here to pick up an order for a customer. Treating a customer who isn't white or white-passing differently is apparently a recurring problem at Sophia Steak as another reviewer commented. I have yet to encounter such discrimination from any restaurants in the area except at Sophia Steak. Keep in mind that this is not isolated only at their Wilmette location; it happens at their restaurant in Lake Forest, which I sometimes patronize. On another occasion, I ordered my usual Prime Rib end cut, which came almost well done, hard, and with very little to no marbling. As you can see from the pictures, the meat was so dry you could shred it. It's hard to imagine that it was USDA Prime rather than Choice given the lack of marbling and dryness of the Prime Rib. When the food at Sophia Steak is done right, it is, by far, one of the best restaurants in the area. When it's done poorly, don't expect any compensation whatsoever including an apology. I will leave this review with a pro tip: Check your order before driving home because half the time, they've got your order wrong. Service: Take out Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Food: 2 Service: 2

Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Shirley was amazing! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Awesome!! Celebrated wife's birthday and they definitely made it special. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $100+ Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Very overpriced food and alcohol. CHECK YOUR BILL CLOSELY. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $100+ Food: 2 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 4