A great steak house on Willett ave??

For many years I have heard grand tales of The Willett House of Port Chester.  Unbelievable steaks, cooked to perfection, mouthwatering food completely worth the very high price.

What a disappointment.  All these years of built up thoughts and expectations led me to a below average experience at The Willett House.  Upon entering the place, the minimal décor was appealing.  The exposed brick almost factory look gives it a nice atmosphere.  I did really enjoy the old photos of parts of Port Chester, it ws really interesting to see.  Our waiter was polite and friendly. 

This is what we had:

To start:

Lobster Bisque & Gorgonzola salad.  The Lobster Bisque was sour to put it frankly.  There were a few good size pieces of lobster in it, but overall too sour for a lobster bisque.  It had come to the table with a film on the top of it already, so it sat too long, or it seems like it was microwaved.  The salad was good, fresh and crisp. 

Main Course:

Prime Rib & Filet Mignon.  The prime rib I ordered as rare as can be for a roast, the cut did come out medium rare looking pink, I was excited.  Then I took my first bite.  Dry.  Now I knew why it sat in a pile of Au Jus on the plate.  The rib did come with 2 sauces, a horseradish sauce, and a “homemade” steak sauce.  The steak sauce tasted like a cheap bottle of cocktail sauce that was colored brown.  It would have been great if I had ordered seafood.  The filet mignon was ordered medium rare.  It came out well done.  Cooked all the way through with no pink at all. 

Dessert:

Key Lime pie & fresh fruit.  Both were good, but the pie seemed like it was bought and not in house made.

Overall if you are going to bill yourself as a steak house you should be very wary of that fact and live up to the expectations people will have when they come to dine.  When the least costly steak runs $42.50, you really should back those prices up with quality meats and preparation.  I think people still go for the status and the history of the place, and what it may have been at one time, but now is not that time.