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For the finest in sophisticated dining, treat yourself to
Old Hickory Steakhouse, where dinner is a truly unforgettable experience. Enjoy Harris Ranch premium beef, artisan cheeses from the cheese cave, hand crafted cocktails, and a cigar terrace.
Located on the Lobby Level of Gaylord National in the National Harbor, MD.
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| Image via Old Hickory Website |
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| Cheese "Cave" |
Old Hickory Steakhouse is the Gaylord Hotel’s exclusive
restaurant named after the 7th President of the United
States – Andrew Jackson.
A great supporter of democracy, "Old Hickory" was just as famous for his stubbornness
as his public parties at the White House – often
serving a large wheel of cheese. Old Hickory Steakhouse pays homage to his legendary
hospitality by providing guests with a fine-dining
experience that combines a classical steakhouse with
a contemporary twist.
Using flavors and influences from the area, Old Hickory uses the finest local ingredients including
premium all-natural 1855 beef; fresh seafood; handcrafted
cocktails; and
an onsite cheese cave and table-side cheese presentations presented by a Maitre d'Fromage.
In fact, we were invited to check out the unique cheese experience firsthand. Guests can choose from a selection of 3 or 6 cheeses.
The Maitre d'Fromage explained the progression of mild to stinky cheeses from around the globe. The favorites that we sampled included
Humboldt Fog - a mild goat cheese that paired well with sweet fig jam;
Piave Vecchio - a nutty Italian cow's milk cheese similar to Parmesan that paired well with a glass of Merlot; creamy young and tangy
Taleggio; and a unique orange bleu cheese called
Shropshire Blue that is slightly sour but sharper than Stilton and paired perfectly with my glass of Sauvignon Blanc. A cheese trend for 2016 is the growth of flavored cheeses, and Old Hickory offers a full range of goat, cow and sheep cheeses that include pepper, wine garlic herbs and some that are personally infused with their own mixture.
After the lovely cheese course, Keith had the
Lobster Bisque made with fresh Maine lobster and crème fraîche. The soup had a subtle salty undertone of saffron and was overall a nice warming appetizer.
I enjoyed the
Wedge Salad of baby iceberg topped with housemade Maytag bleu cheese dressing, Nueske’s applewood smoked bacon, and chopped egg. The lettuce was crispy and the bacon was high quality providing another classic steakhouse appetizer.
For our main course we each ordered our own protein and shared sides of
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and
Roasted Asparagus. Keith opted for the
Porterhouse - 24 oz. of premium beef with both the sirloin and filet cuts. The steak is prepared simply with butter, salt, and pepper and was expertly cooked. He did not need any accompanying sauce, though peppercorn or Bearnaise are offered.
I chose one of the non-beef alternatives, the
Atlantic Salmon. Tonight it was prepared with a caper and brown butter sauce over a small bed of Beluga Lentils and roasted cauliflower. The fish itself had a slight crunchy exterior with a tender pink center. It had mild flavor, but was a nice light option for non-beef eaters.
All in all we had a very enjoyable meal at the Old Hickory Steakhouse.
The food was above par for the typical steakhouse, with the cheese experience being a highlight of the meal. If you overlook the cheese offering as an appetizer, you can also order it as a dessert. The other dessert offerings looked very decadent, however we were too full to indulge any further. Our server, Ruben, was courteous and attentive the whole night without being obtrusive. The dining space itself is very large, with multiple rooms.
We had a great table in the far back by the window that overlooked the National Harbor. If you are a guest at the hotel or even if you live nearby, the Old Hickory Steakhouse is an elegant restaurant worth dining at for your next romantic meal or celebratory event.
Total Rating:
4.25
Food: 4.5, Price: 3, Service: 5, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 3.5
