Do not confuse BOA with the conventional steakhouse your grandfather used to go to. This contemporary, long-established lounge bar is a who's who, social revamp for steak lovers.

Think Delmonico's in Space, with electronic house music playing in the background and furniture from an Andy Warhol inspired art show. With 3 locations in Santa Monica, West Hollywood (The Grafton Hotel), and now Las Vegas, the corporate giants that brought us Sushi Roku have now made BOA a permanent fixture throughout the west coast restaurant scene.

I dined at BOA's Santa Monica location, which has the distinct advantage of staring out over the ocean. When you first walk in, the lounge and bar setup is to your right, complete with low-to-the-ground booths, cushioned walls, and blue/white glass tinting...to your left you have the dining room in its red, white, and black color motif, broken up by oversized glass windows and twisted limb tree fixtures. The lighting is dark and overall sets a mood for fashionable relaxation.

The Menu:
BOA is a la carte...just like it was in the old days. All sides are sold separately from their protein counterparts, so be prepared for the bill to escalate with every additional request (an extra side of dressing, dipping sauce, special butter). The main event is the meat; I ordered a Petite Filet Mignon (which could have fed two people) and it was like cutting into cream cheese it was so tender and juicy. The beef is Certified Organic and worth the price; if it's friends from the sea you're after, than the Grilled Fish and Lobster dishes are equally tantalizing.

The sides were quite tasty as well, particularly the Truffled Cheese Fries and Creamed Spinach. The Wine List is very extensive and the Sommelier picked us out the perfect bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to compliment the meal. BOA now offers Wine Lovers Sunday which offer bottles at half-price; a very crafty way to get diners in on an off night.

The desserts were a big kid's dream; childhood favorites for adults. We had Cotton Candy, a Banana Split, and an Ice Cream Sandwich with Baked Homemade Cookies. It made the end of the meal fun, even if it meant being rolled out of the restaurant.

Overall, BOA Steakhouse is trendy, expensive, and a tad pretentious, however, the hype can be warranted because the food is actually good, if not great; and they are still on my Top 5 List of Best Filet Mignons I've ever had...and I've had a lot!

THE DETAILS: BOA Steakhouse
101 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-899-4466

BOA Steakhouse
8462 W Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (323) 650-8383

BOA Prime Grill
3570 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas
702-733-7373

Story by Erin Landsberg.