Monday, Jun. 29, 2009

Porter's Steakhouse: Collinsville restaurant has new look, new menu

COLLINSVILLE -- Along with the $12 million renovation that transformed the former Holiday Inn into the new Doubletree Hotel came a face-lift for Porter's Steakhouse. Now, black and white vintage photos of Fairmount Park decorate the walls. Oysters are flown in fresh daily.

For more than a decade, the restaurant inside the hotel has lured steak lovers with a menu big on beef. Its reputation and loyal following are precisely why Lodging Hospitality Management, a St. Louis-based company, knew it had to keep the Porter's brand alive when it purchased the property in 2008 and took on the renovation, said general manager Stacy Cutler, of Lebanon.

The hotel restaurant has gone through several lives since opening as The Black Swan in 1982. Now, 27 years later, the 175-seat dining room has a modern feel that boasts deep reds, earth tones and wood accents.

Because the racetrack is nearby and such a big part of Collinsville history, it became the focal point for photographs decorating the walls, Cutler said. Three private dining rooms accommodate groups of 12 to 50 guests, perfect for anything from a club luncheon to a corporate dinner.

There is a sleek new bar as well, with plush seating, flat-screen TVs and live music two nights a week. In the bar, which is open to the lobby, guests can order off the dining room menu. There is also a cocktail menu.

"We want some of the social scene to come back here," Cutler said.

Porter's menu has been revamped to offer diners a wider array of appetizers, seafood, salads and, of course, steaks.

"We are a classic steakhouse, but we have people who stay here who are from all over, so we want to appeal to all kinds of diners," said executive chef Jon Hoffman, 27, of St. Louis, who took over the reins in the kitchen last October. "We went from casual to upscale with fine china and crystal to try to capture a fine dining feel."

Appetizers include oysters flown in fresh daily ($12); Lobster Bisque soup ($7); and Porter's Salad, mixed lettuce with hearts of palm, tomatoes, honey-peppered walnuts, dried cranberries, goat cheese and a light Italian dressing ($8).

Though the restaurant's look and menu has changed, diners can still sink their teeth into memorable meat, particularly the signature Grilled Pepperloin. It's a beef tenderloin marinated 48 hours and rolled in a cracked peppercorn and special herb mixture ($28 to $38).

Steak entrees are served with a baked potato or a fresh vegetable of the day. Choices range from a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye ($39) to a 12-ounce strip steak ($32) to an 8- or 12-ounce filet ($32 and $39).

Available sauces include Porter's house mustard sauce, bordelaise, bearnaise or cognac peppercorn.

Don't want a steak? Try lamb chops, chicken, a combo of 8-ounce lobster tail and ribeye or pepperloin ($59), broiled Atlantic salmon ($27) or jumbo lump crab cakes ($29).

The dessert menu includes Seven-Layer Carrot Cake ($7) as well as Hoffman's favorite, Banana Chocolate Mousse ($10).

Also, a sommelier is available with expertise on pairings from the extensive wine list.

Cutler said one of the specialties of Doubletree Hotels is its extensive hot breakfast buffet. To accommodate the buffet ($13.95 served from 6 to 10 a.m.), part of a wall was removed in the restaurant to open up the space.

Porter's Steakhouse

Location: Inside the Doubletree Hotel, 1000 Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville

Hours: Daily breakfast, 6 to 10 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner, 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Special Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lounge: Live music 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays; 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays.

Information: 345-2400