Happy 2026! Staying a little close to home for this first WTGW of the new year, thanks in part to Mother Nature being a whore and throwing a massive snowstorm at us on this Wednesday evening.

I mean, I get it, it’s January in northeast Ohio. But it’s also past Christmas which in my book means the novelty and purpose of snow is basically nil.

Anyway.

Shane was very excited to have a brand new restaurant as his first pick of this year. This location actually was a former Rocknes, not that you could tell from looking at it. Truthfully I was maybe in that location once or twice so my memory is a bit hazy, but Ted said he thought the bar area was opened up a bit to make it more open concept.

SteelHouse actually opened for carry out only at the end of last year, to give the kitchen time to perfect their dishes before opening things up to dine-in seating. What a novel concept. Can we please ask that this is implemented at all new places upon opening?

And judging from the packed dining room on a Wednesday during a snowstorm it seems to have worked.

Our server was quick to approach and take our drink orders – and they even had a separate drink menu that they gave us as we sat down so bonus points there for allowing us to be prepared when she arrived.

Ted got a Truth. Shane and I both went with tequila and soda, because after all it is a new year and if you don’t vow to be at least a little bit healthier after the holiday food bonanza then are you really human?

Also please don’t judge us when we then go on to order enough food for seven people.

We started with calamari as an app. It’s been a hot minute since we’ve ordered that anywhere.

Ted got six wings, which he was going to order with his burger anyway (because, say it with us, we like burgers and wings) but opted to have them as an appetizer after the server asked.

I got the ribeye Philly. Because if Shane can use beef enchiladas as his test food in every Mexican place, I may as well start doing the same thing with Philly sandwiches, no?

It comes with fries but I opted for the side salad for an upcharge. Remember we’re being healthier here.

Shane got the steelhouse burger. He was a bit skeptical since all the burgers are two 1/4 lb patties instead of one larger half pound burger – which we’ve learned over the years usually means they don’t ask how you want them cooked (and they didn’t). We should also mention that he had been burned on another burger just like this very recently and the memory made him question this option as soon as the server walked away to put in our order. But he decided to take a chance.

Ted also got the same burger, but only after asking the server if she recommended that, the meatball sub or the Cuban.

Two things that surprised us about ordering our meals:

1) our orders came out correctly despite the server not writing anything down. As soon as she walked away Shane said to Ted, you know your burger is going to arrive with cheese on it, right? Shockingly we were wrong.

2) our meals appeared at our table approximately five minutes – or as Ted timed it “three wings” – after we placed it. I don’t think we’ve ever seen food cooked that quickly someplace that isn’t specializing in Mexican cuisine.

So back to that perfecting the food before focusing on the dine-in customers concept, we’d say it works.

The guys both liked their burgers. Partially because they somehow managed to order the same thing but have two burgers arrive at the table done to the temperature that each of them prefers without ever uttering a word about how they like their burgess cooked. Shane’s burger arrived with patties that were pink in the middle, just how he prefers them. Meanwhile Ted’s were a bit more well done, which is his preference.

Either the cooks read this blog or they might be psychic.

We definitely would return here. The service was amazing and the atmosphere was casual. Our drinks were reasonably priced ($7.25 for a tequila soda, which beats out some other places we’ve been recently) and they seemed to have a decent selection. We’ll call this one a win. Looks like 2026 is starting off in the right direction.

Picked by: Shane