America's Top 10 Steakhouses

Even in 2007, the familiar image of an American steakhouse somehow prevails.

You know: a dark room full of wood, brass, leather and expensive cuts of red meat, where carnivorous businessmen flash big knives and plot hostile takeovers.

That stereotype still exists because those kinds of places still exist; in fact, some of the choices on our list fall into that camp.

Others are more modern spots with bright interiors, organic ingredients and —egad! —women servers.

We scoured America for the 10 best steakhouses, whether contemporary or traditional, focusing on elements such as service, ambiance, wine list and sides.

And, above all, we are interested in the meat: No matter what the room looks like and who's in it, every place on this definitive list has the highest quality beef, richly marbled and mouthwatering.

And if a famous mobster got whacked just outside the front door —as at Sparks in New York —hey, bonus points.

Click on the menu below to bone up on America's top 10 steakhouses, listed in no particular order.