Liz Biro: Swanky steakhouse moving into Illinois Building
Hyde Park's 8,000 square feet will comprise the ninth upmarket steakhouse Downtown
A Cleveland-based restaurant group's high-end steakhouse is the latest tenant in Downtown Indy's reemerging Illinois Building.
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse opens in early 2016, Illinois Building owner Keystone Realty Group announced early Monday. The posh, 200-seat ode to beef joins casual, Chicago-based pizzeria Giordano's, opening in November, on the building's first floor.
A yet-to-be-named indoor/outdoor rooftop bar would crown the 11-story structure on the southeast corner of Illinois and Market streets.
Wagyu beef from Japan and professional golfer Greg Norman's Australia ranch, including a 34-ounce, bone-in rib-eye, are on the Hyde Park sample menu at the restaurant's website. Thirty-six- and 40-day dry-aged prime steaks are listed, too.
Among cuts and chops are a 15-ounce bone-in filet mignon; a 14- or 18-ounce N.Y. strip steak au poivre with fresh peppercorns and cognac bordelaise sauce; and lobster, asparagus, mushrooms and béarnaise sauce atop a 10- or 12-ounce filet mignon set over bordelaise sauce.
Like its Indy competition, St. Elmo Steak House, the Hyde Park raw bar features a jumbo shrimp cocktail with freshly shaved horseradish in the sauce. Chicken parmesan, dry-aged burgers, crab cakes, "one-pound" baked potatoes, and a grilled beef tenderloin sandwich are other selections. Lunch prices range from $10 to $18, minus steaks running $30 to $44. Expect to pay around $50 per person at dinner, much less for bar specials.
The business is Hyde Park Restaurant Group's first in Indiana. Founded in 1988, the company operates 16 high-end steak and seafood restaurants scattered among Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida. Other brands are Eleven, Jekyll's Kitchen, ML Tavern and Black Point Prime Steak & Seafood.
Hyde Park's 8,000 square feet will comprise the ninth upmarket steakhouse Downtown. Others besides St. Elmo include Mo's, Prime 47, Harry & Izzy's and The Capital Grille.
"Having watched the Indy market for a long time, it's clear that people here know and appreciate a fine steakhouse," Hyde Park Restaurant Group co-owner Rick Hauck said.
Keystone in 2014 purchased the long-vacant Illinois Building, which dates to 1926. Indiana Landmarks in 2007 named the structure one of Indy's "Ten Most Endangered" properties. Keystone owner and CEO Ersal Ozdemir wants an upscale hotel to anchor the 150,000-square-foot property.
"We are breathing new life into a long-empty corner of Downtown Indianapolis with our plans to revitalize the Illinois Building," Ozdemir said.
Ozdemir also owns Indy Eleven Professional Soccer of the North American Soccer League.
The General Assembly is considering legislation to fund construction of an 18,000-seat Indy Eleven stadium on the IUPUI campus. Indiana University estimates the stadium's would cost $50 million to $60 million. The stadium would be financed through user fees and, if necessary, the Illinois Building development.
Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbirodish and Facebook. Email her at liz.biro@indystar.com.