Great cocktails to order at a steakhouse

A steakhouse cocktail should survive salt and smoke. That usually means stirred whiskey, a martini, or something bitter — not a frozen novelty unless that is truly the house move. Old Fashioned, Manhattan, martini, Negroni, and espresso martini all work for different moods. If the list is short, a highball or a glass of wine is not a failure. Ask how they build the Manhattan; rye versus bourbon changes the meal. Skip twenty-ingredient signatures unless you trust the bar. A steakhouse lives on repetition. Classic drinks get made more often, which means they are usually better executed. If you want bubbles with beef, sparkling wine is a legitimate order. So is beer. TheDrinkPlace is not here to shame either.