What a shame. I loved Roy’s place
- Thread starter champdawg.sixpack
- Start date
Ehhhh, I'm surprised it made it this far. Wife and I went 4 or 5 times over the years and always left thinking it was lacking. The quality of the meat wasn't anywhere near what you would expect from a high end steakhouse. Personally I can remember a medium rare filet that was about the size of a hocky puck and cooked like a well done hamburger and a NY strip that looked like it was fished out of the clearance bin at Aldi.
I never went but everyone local I talked to that had been said the same thing, good (not great) but not worth the price.
Is any high priced food ever really worth the price?
Yes. Love high-end meals. I went to Prime 44 several times revolving around games. It wanted to be a high-end restaurant without the food quality or service, just the prices. I am not saying it was bad, but it was a run-of-the-mill steak place trying to punch out of its weight class. But I guess when you think of a high-end steak place, a college town like Starkville most likely does not have one.
If you're comparing to the Sizzler, yeah, the steaks were fine. Problem is you were paying Ruth's Chris prices for run-of-the-mill steaks. If you want a high-end steakhouse, and you're going to charge like a high-end steakhouse, it needs to be a high-end steakhouse experience.
Rules for good steak:
1) Buy a good steak
2) Don't overcook it
if it's tough, and isn't overcooked, they cheaped out on the meat quality
I asked a few people about it last year about it because I was considering taking my wife for our anniversary. Everyone I talked to told me it was overpriced for what it was. I have eaten at high-end steak places across the US, and it can be worth it at the right spot.
We went to Anthony's for the first time instead, and I am glad we did.
We went to Anthony's for the first time instead, and I am glad we did.
I had the same experience. The wife and I enjoy a high-end restaurant from time to time but I expect the evening to be an experience. The one time we went there food was above average but it was missing the experience for the price.
Same. I, like our former mascot, love to take Mrs. Devil to all kinds of high-end dining experiences. We have enjoyed meals at places both domestically and abroad that were definitely worth the price in terms of the entire experience. If the food quality, and the experience are right, I almost never even think about price. Prime 44 was like a lot of small town restaurants in Mississippi to me. They want to be seen as high-end destination places for meals, but they lack the important components like service and food quality that really matter. I have seen many a BBQ place claiming to be award-winning, and then you are like I could have done better than this on my backyard smoker.
Basically will echo everyone's sentiments. A true high-end steakhouse would struggle in Starkville, so one that just had high end prices was destined to fail. It wasn't that the steaks were bad, but they weren't worth what you were paying. If I can drive to Anthony's for a better steak AND PAY LESS, why wouldn't I do that?
^^* this 100%. I can cook a better steak on my weber kettle than you can get at Does, Shapley’s Ruth Chris, Gibbs, etc. Actually there’s mo more overrated place than Does in Greenville, so remove them from the list above.
My guess is that they tried to get middle grade meat and middle grade chefs, and charged high end prices thinking that no one in Starkville would be any the wiser…..given that every other steak in the whole town is godawful.
Trouble is….all the money that keeps high end places in Starkville open comes from out of town. Students, their parents, fans visiting for games and events. And all those folks from Jackson, Bham, Memphis, the Coast, Huntsville, and surrounding areas actually 17ing know what a good steak is supposed to taste like.
Trouble is….all the money that keeps high end places in Starkville open comes from out of town. Students, their parents, fans visiting for games and events. And all those folks from Jackson, Bham, Memphis, the Coast, Huntsville, and surrounding areas actually 17ing know what a good steak is supposed to taste like.
I'm sure I'll get hate for this but Starkville locals aren't ready for what a legitimate nice restaurant cost. Locals think Harvey's is high-end. Most college kids dont have the bankroll to support a place like this. A lot of what make the people of Starkville great is what will keep them from at least semi-regularly dropping $200-$300 on a dinner for 2.
Last edited:
Turns out he is reopening out on poor house road from what I was told. I’ve eaten there 3 times and have no complaints. Pricey? Yes. But I knew that going in so I can’t complain
I was told by the owner a couple of weeks ago that they’re close to opening a more family oriented restaurant out on Poorhouse Road. He didn’t mention 44 Prime closing so I wonder if this is sudden or if it’s been coming.
Short answer, absolutely.....if a great dining experience is your thing. I will pay a lot for a great experience, and great food.
I love Starkville, chose to make it home, but Starkville does not support its local businesses. And, yes any high end restaurant will fail.
In my opinion steak is the one food that eaters expect a specific flavor profile for it to be “great”. Over the years I’ve experimented with seasonings and cooking methods to find my perfect steak but I also realized that my perfect steak may be too salty, or too peppery, or too charred for other people. That’s why you hear so many people say that they can cook a better steak at home. It’s not because it’s not a good steak it just doesn’t meet their preconceived expectations.
Speaking of steaks, is Old Hickory in Columbus worth stopping in ?
I’ve always wanted to try it but never taken the time, either hurrying to get to Starkville or leaving well before dinner time.
I’ve always wanted to try it but never taken the time, either hurrying to get to Starkville or leaving well before dinner time.
Congrats. You can cook one or two steaks on your grill at home better than a grill cook can cook 50 plus steaks in a shift.
I grew up in columbus, haven't had it in years but it was always solid.
Just a country steakhouse with baked potato and ribeye. The meat they use isn't some high end stuff so don't expect something that you cant get anywhere else.
Since you’re from Columbus, you may know this but there used to be a old brick building kind of downtown but out more towards the W that was a bar/restaurant that was seemingly easier to go in and sit at a wooden booth and order beer when I was 16-17 years old.
I guess I had a fake ID, do not remember, and I always thought it was called Bobs Place but after doing some research, Bobs was out closer to The Club.
This place was known as The Depot for a while but I do not think that was what it was called in the early 80’s but I could be totally wrong.
I know what building you are referring to. I'm in my 30's so that was before my time and growing up it was just an abandoned building. I believe it's been turned into an event space though for weddings and stuff.
That area of columbus had really gone to **** throughout the 90's and early 00's so the only reason for people to go out that way was for kids' baseball games at propst park or to go eat at mexican kitchen. otherwise stay away