Benton's Steak and Chop House, 20th floor of the Nebula hotel. Visited Saturday January 5, 2002. This is the restaurant that you see on the top of the hotel in the picture on the Nebula weekend web site.

There is no dress code, but folks were dressed well. Most men wore jackets but no tie. The setting is elegant, there is a nice view and a display of art by KC's Thomas Hart Benton. My table, without a reservation, was toward the back side of the restaurant. I still was near the windows, but the view was primarily of Hallmark instead of the downtown.

Entrees run $26-50, which includes a bucket of shrimp; Caesar or house salad or vegetables; baked potato, rice or Benton's potatoes; and an assortment of breads. Appetizers run $5-8. I didn't think to check the wine list. 

There were about 20 items on the menu: beef, lamb, assorted seafood, one chicken dish (the cheapest on the menu). Today's special was another lamb dish. One of the more interesting items on the menu was a combination of 1/2 lobster tail, swordfish and ahi tuna for $40.

I had the 14 ounce Kansas City strip for $36. Today's items in the bread basket were a very good walnut bread and hard rolls which I didn't care for. They were accompanied by herb and regular butter.

The shrimp were 6 medium steamed shrimp. The shells has been split to make them easy to open. The cocktail sauce was quite flavorful. The shrimp was followed by a warm moist towel.

The Caesar salad was VERY good. The best that I have had in a restaurant.

The steak is served on a sizzling platter. It was accompanied by Benton's potatoes and cooked mixed vegetables. Medium rare, the large steak was very good. So were the potatoes, au gratin potatoes sliced very thin. They were particularly good with the juice from the steak. The vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, onions, sweet red pepper and carrots) were a little tough, the only thing about the meal that I didn't much care for.

Service was attentive without being intrusive. When my principle server noticed that I had a book, she asked if I would like the light over my table turned up. The pacing was good.

I give this one 3 1/2 stars out of 4. (Warning, my star ratings will probably average fairly high, I don't plan to visit the restaurants I don't think I will like:-)

  Keith Stokes