While it's true that sometimes nothing beats the atmosphere and personal attention of dinner at a fine restaurant, it can also set you back $100 or more. Try re-creating the experience at home for less than half that amount.


Family advice blogger Amy Clark had to give up dining out after a decrease in income and the birth of her two children. Now she and her husband indulge themselves in a great steak dinner by hauling out the fine china, pouring wine into fancy stemware, and cooking up some prime cuts of beef right in their own kitchen.

Clark did some digging and put together a great menu (complete with instructions) of marinated, grilled steak, roasted red potatoes, and pan-friend asparagus that rivals just about any steak joint out there. If you're not into grilling outdoors in the middle of a blizzard, she's got you covered there, too—just use a heavy, cast iron grill pan right on the stove top.


The toughest part of getting your steak cooked to perfection is knowing how long to grill it. The ideal length of time depends on what cut of meat you start with and how rare you want it, but Clark offers a general timetable to get you started:

Filet: 13-18 minutes Ribeye, Boneless: 6-8 minutes Ribeye, Bone-In: 9-12 minutes T-Bone /Porterhouse: 14-16 minutes Top Sirloin: 13-16 minutes Strip, Boneless: 10-12 minutes

You can also determine the doneness of a steak by how it feels when you press on it. Check out the post to grab recipes for Clark's potato and asparagus side dishes. Add a salad and a good bottle of wine, and you're all set.

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To cut even more corners while still enjoying a tasty dinner, be sure to check our previous tip for making a $5 steak taste more like a $50 steak.


How do you re-create your favorite aspect of dining out when you're actually staying in? Fresh flowers on the table? Special music? Appetizers? Shoot us your ideas in the comments.


The Best Steakhouse Dining Experience on a Poor House Budget [Mom Advice]