The Aperitif: Opening Your Palate
An aperitif cocktail is designed to stimulate the appetite and prepare your palate for the meal ahead. Classic choices include a dry martini, a Negroni, or a Champagne cocktail. The key is choosing something with enough acidity or bitterness to wake up your taste buds without filling you up. A well-made martini, with its clean spirit-forward profile and hint of vermouth, is the quintessential steakhouse opener. At Blu' Steakhouse in Hollywood, FL, arriving a few minutes before your reservation to enjoy an aperitif at the bar sets the stage for the evening. The blue velvet and brass atmosphere creates the perfect backdrop for that first anticipatory sip.
With Appetizers: Light and Bright
Your appetizer cocktail should complement lighter dishes without overwhelming them. A gin and tonic with its botanical notes pairs beautifully with seafood starters. A vodka soda with a squeeze of citrus is refreshing alongside salads. If you are starting with something richer, like a crab cake or charcuterie, a lighter whiskey cocktail like a Whiskey Sour provides enough body to match without being too heavy. The goal during the appetizer course is to enjoy your drink while leaving room for the main event. Sipping slowly and savoring each course builds anticipation for the steak that is still to come.
With Steak: Bold and Spirit-Forward
When the steak arrives, your cocktail needs to match its intensity. An Old Fashioned is the classic choice, with its caramel sweetness, bourbon warmth, and citrus oil complementing the smoky, charred flavors of a well-seared steak. A Manhattan, with its vermouth-sweetened rye whiskey profile, brings enough complexity to stand alongside a Bone-In Ribeye Au Poivre at $89 or a 32oz Tomahawk at $235 at Blu' Steakhouse. A Boulevardier, essentially a Negroni made with bourbon, bridges the gap between the bitter aperitif and the spirit-forward entree cocktail. Keep the cocktail simple and bold to match the steak.
With Sides: Versatile Sippers
Side dishes at a steakhouse add variety and contrast, and your cocktail should be versatile enough to complement the range. If you are sharing multiple sides at the table, a medium-bodied cocktail like a Boulevardier or a French 75 can transition between creamed spinach, roasted mushrooms, and crispy potatoes without clashing with any of them. At Blu' Steakhouse, where sides are designed to complement the steak program, a cocktail that sits in the middle ground between light and heavy works best. The key is not to overthink it. If your drink tastes good to you alongside the food, it is the right choice regardless of any pairing rules.
After Dinner: The Nightcap
The after-dinner cocktail is your chance to wind down and savor the final moments of the evening. Aged spirits shine here: a neat pour of single malt Scotch, a barrel-aged bourbon, or an aged rum sipped slowly as you reflect on the meal. For something more constructed, a Sazerac or a Vieux Carre brings New Orleans sophistication to the close of your dinner. An espresso martini bridges the gap between dessert and cocktail, providing both sweetness and caffeine. At Blu' Steakhouse, lingering over an after-dinner drink in the warm glow of the dining room is one of the greatest pleasures of the entire experience.
Plan Your Cocktail Journey
The beauty of pairing cocktails through a multi-course steakhouse dinner is the variety and progression of flavors. You move from light and appetite-stimulating to bold and spirit-forward to warm and contemplative, tracking the arc of the meal itself. At Blu' Steakhouse at 1900 Harrison St in Hollywood, FL, the bar program supports this kind of thoughtful cocktail dining alongside Chef Javi Cano's steak-focused menu. Whether you choose wine, cocktails, or a combination of both, the goal is to enhance your enjoyment of every course. Open Wednesday through Saturday evenings, call 754-260-5189 to reserve your table.
Ready to Experience Blu' Steakhouse?
Open Wednesday–Saturday from 5 PM. Located at 1900 Harrison St, Hollywood, FL 33020.