Brothers Jeffrey and Mike Mastro talk bringing their popular high-end steakhouse concept Steak 48 (steak48.com) to Beverly Hills.
Jeffrey Mastro PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAK 48
“We are always improving what we do as we grow,” says Jeffrey Mastro, whose surname became synonymous with upscale steakhouses after he and his family opened Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills in 2001. After selling that brand in 2007, James Beard-nominated brothers Jeffrey and Mike Mastro continued their supremacy in the steak world by co-founding restaurants including Arizona’s Steak 44, Dominick’s Steakhouse and Ocean 44, and locations of Steak 48 in Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Charlotte and, as of January, Beverly Hills. Here, the brothers talk growing Steak 48 (whose name nods to their home state of Arizona being the 48th state in the Union) and how the Beverly Hills outpost on Wilshire reflects what Jeffrey describes as their ultimate goal: “Giving our guests that feeling that they are exactly where they want to be.”
Mike Mastro PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAK 48
What inspired you to open a Steak 48 in Los Angeles, and why now?
JM: Los Angeles is a world-class city, and, when the opportunity came up to open our newest Steak 48 in Beverly Hills, my brother Mike and I were thrilled and immediately said this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we are getting it twice—and said yes!
A New York strip with the black truffle sauteed Maine lobster enhancement. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAK 48
How did you select this Beverly Hills location?
MM: Beverly Hills is unique to any city in the world and we loved being in business here years ago when we opened our Mastro’s Steakhouse in 2001. Being in Beverly Hills put our company on a global stage and provided us the opportunity to grow. When we sold the company in 2007, we had always desired to come back here someday, and we are very excited to bring our new Steak 48 concept here. This area—Los Angeles/ Beverly Hills—has so many fantastic restaurants; we are excited to be one more great reason for people to go out for a fantastic dining experience.
New Beverly Hills restaurant Steak 48 features a collection of intimate spaces and a warm, contemporary feel PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAK 48
How will this outpost compare to the ones in other cities?
MM: Steak 48 in Beverly Hills is unlike any of our restaurants. This is a first-ever design; we worked hard to give Steak 48 an enhanced look and feel, one intended to be a complement to our new neighborhood and city. With newly designed finishes in all of the dining rooms, Steak 48 is a collection of intimate spaces with great energy and a warm, contemporary feel that has many options for everyone to enjoy.
Maine lobster escargot. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEAK 48
What are some of your favorite steak cuts, dishes and drinks?
JM: The wagyu butchers cut is my favorite steak that we offer. It is not on the menu, it is a very limited item, and our in-house master butcher only cuts what we can each day. For me, the experience is so much about the interesting and unique hors d’oeuvres and side dishes—such as our crispy shrimp deviled eggs, chicken fried lobster tails, or chef’s one-of-a-kind take on au gratin potatoes and corn creme brulee. The menu has so much to offer. Our signature cocktails are thoughtfully created, and the wine list has over 600 of the best wines available from California and around the world, and we are proud to offer 48 of them by the glass.
What inspired the restaurant’s layout and design?
MM: We are always improving what we do and learning from our guests’ experiences in our restaurants. This design is special—we spent a great deal of time here in Beverly Hills prior to starting construction to really get a feel for the city and the people here. They are amazing and inspiring, and we built something complementary that we are proud to share.
What’s next for you and the brand?
JM: Mike and I, and our families, really love being in Southern California. It is one of our favorite parts of the country. Following our Beverly Hills opening, we are building a Steak 48 in Del Mar and our upscale fine dining seafood concept, Ocean 48, in Newport Beach. This will be the first-ever Ocean 48. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to enjoy our life’s work of growing our family business and offering the best possible food, drink and luxury personal service that we can. Every time someone chooses one of our restaurants, it is a huge compliment— one that we do not take for granted.
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