Prime rib at the Fredrick Inn Steakhouse and Lounge

1627 Frederick Ave., 364-5151

"I am in town visiting family, and they took me to the Fredrick Inn Steakhouse. I must say they have the best bone-in prime rib - the best I have ever had. It was fresh, hot and full of flavor, and the salad bar was crazy good. The service I got from Anette was great. It made me feel at home. I have been there three times and am going back again. I wish they would move to D.C. They would make a lot of people happy - me for one. On my last night, I am going to get the 16-ounce cut to go. I have never tasted better anywhere.

- Bob Scott, Washington D.C.

Unless you are a longtime local or attentive to details, you might not notice that the Fredrick Inn Steak House and Lounge is spelled differently than the street it's on: Frederick Avenue. Karen Evans, the owner, says it's because the spelling is the way her late husband spelled his name.

Her brother, Rick, was also working with them when they started up the restaurant in 1980, so it worked for both. But it's not a big deal if people spell it wrong, she says, as long as they come in. And plenty of people do. She worked with her mother and father, Rosie and Jack Miller, when they ran the Hoof and Horn in St. Joseph for 15 years, so the restaurant already had a following when it opened. Although Jack is now deceased, Rosie still helps out at the Fredrick Inn with about everything, including making her famous steak soup, a regular EATS nomination. She says they cut their own steak for it, so there really is steak in it, along with beef juices off of their popular prime rib they offer in the evenings. (The steak soup is only available on Saturday evenings after 4 p.m.) Some of the other customer favorites are the certified Angus beef prime rib, fried chicken dinners, spinach salad with a homemade dressing, homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls, plus Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. They also cut raw steaks to order for people to grill at home. And they do catering as well. Fredrick Inn has a good selection of wines, cocktails, alcoholic ice cream drinks such as brandy Alexanders and grasshoppers, plus non-alcoholic specialty drinks. Smoking is allowed in the lounge, but not in the restaurant. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday and Tuesday. They are open until 9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and are open 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.