Steakhouses in Martinsville

Diners recline on the aged-black-leather chairs at Christie's Steakhouse, sipping martinis as they watch as they watch international travelers drift in and out of the Crowne Plaza hotel. Servers emerge from the kitchen, nimbly juggling plates of Black Angus steaks, fresh seafood dishes, and artisanal pizzas. They set plates down on linen-clad tabletops, their faces illuminated in the glow of soft hanging lights and five glimmering widescreen TVs.

Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar's hibachi chefs pull double duty, acting as entertainers in addition to grillmasters. They captivate large groups of diners with whirling knifework, dynamic spatula twirls, and the occasional spout of flame at tableside hibachi grills, flipping hot portions of lobster and chicken directly onto waiting plates. Behind the bamboo-finished bar, the sushi chefs move more slowly as they carefully seal colorful combinations of veggies, seafood, and vinegar-anointed rice within sheets of delicate seaweed. Like a poltergeist beauty pageant, not all of the talent is visible to the eye—the culinary team makes some of the restaurant's most exotic dishes, such as kobe beef sliders and wasabi-crusted filet mignon, behind the closed doors of the kitchen.

Classics never go out of style, a truth that is both known and celebrated at Sweet Waters Steak House. Here, iconic American dishes showcase the menu’s combinations of comforting flavors. Chefs line the grill with as many as seven cuts of steak, including dry-aged sirloins and certified Angus strip steaks. Roasted organic chicken breast, pan-seared Norwegian salmon, and caramelized French onion soup serve as upscale takes on steak-house traditions.

With its dark wooden wainscoting, gilt-framed paintings, and green leather furniture, the restaurant’s décor mirrors the classical elegance of its menu. Crisp white linens adorn each table, catching the small bits of light cast by the dining room’s softly glowing lamps.

Bloomfield Steak & Seafood House dishes up a dry-aged menu of steak, seafood, and Italian classics. Dinner guests marvel at the building’s 341 years of history before being startled into the present by the wild-eyed stare of angry jumbo shrimp ($12), a spice-flecked starter that careens from the kitchen still glistening from the pan. Having undergone 28 days of in-house dry-aging, steaks, such as the 16-ounce new york strip, fill plate centers, flanked by a garden salad and a choice of garlic mashed potato, baked potato, yellow rice, french fries, or broccoli ($36). Pelagic delights swim amid the menu's steak islands, as well, singing siren songs with such entrees as jumbo shrimp stuffed with jumbo lump crabmeat and butter sauce ($22) and add-on options including broiled 6-ounce lobster tails ($16). Moods can be marinated in soft drinks ($2), house wine ($21/bottle), or a selection of draft beers and spirits.

Chic contemporary surroundings, dozens of fine wines, and thick cuts of prime choice beef—KC Prime sets the stage for an upscale dining experience. But the restaurant goes beyond steak. Whether diners visit the New Jersey or Warrington location, they can delight in a dinner of sesame-crusted ahi tuna, tender baby back ribs, crab-cake sandwiches, or Scottish salmon with mustard spaetzle. But the main event, of course, is the beef—filet mignon with bourbon sweet-potato mash, succulent prime rib with wasabi mashed potatoes, and a hefty chunk of porterhouse drizzled with a peppercorn steak sauce.

At South Fin Grill, the ocean breeze mingles with a menu of upscale seafood and steakhouse dishes praised by New York magazine. Amid what critic Ethan Wolff describes as a "priceless" ocean view, servers roll out lobster, crab, swordfish, and salmon incarnated as pasta, soup, and sushi dishes. The "turf" portion of the menu showcases grilled new york sirloin, filet mignon, and barbecued pork, but the focus once again turns seaside at a raw bar that features clams and oysters kept fresh by pearl-shaped breath mints.

Beams of blue and yellow lighting hover above the interior dining tables, each blanketed with a white tablecloth and centered with a flickering candle. Outside, the ocean deck's sea-blue umbrellas shelter views of the boardwalk, ocean, and seagull beach volleyball tourneys. The restaurant bolsters its elegantly plated cuisine with occasional entertainment acts, which have included DJs.