Steakhouses tend to blur together after a while. You find meat, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, some sort of hash browns, and overpriced cabernets, and that’s pretty much the standard formula. It takes a special place to break the cookie-cutter mold. The Oregon Grille succeeds in differentiating itself from the fray by offering not only a terrific selection of impeccably prepared steaks (all beef is dry-aged USDA Prime), but also a creative selection of classic American cuisine, including free-range poultry, fresh seafood, and vibrant first courses that stay true to regional ingredients. But it’s not just the food that sets it apart. The attentive, tuxedoed waitstaff succeeds in making every diner in the room feel special, and the décor takes a step back from the typical boys’ club. The restaurant, set in a renovated 19th-century stone farmhouse, has four fireplaces and is filled with deep, luxurious banquettes. Its long, rich, mahogany bar is the perfect spot for lingering pre- or post-steak.

The Oregon Grille Information:

• American menu. Lunch, dinner, Sun brunch. Bar. Jacket required. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating.