To kick off December, Dee Lincoln, also known as the “queen of steaks,” opened the doors of her highly anticipated new sushi bar and steakhouse, Dee Lincoln Prime. Prime comes seven years after Lincoln parted ways with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, of which she was one of the co-founders.
During Lincoln’s seven-year hiatus, she spent time traveling the world, learning firsthand about international dining cultures, and studying the craft of chefs she admires. Over the course of the past two years, she began to conceive what is now Dee Lincoln Prime.
This past Thursday evening, I got the chance to have dinner at Prime before it opened its doors to the public.
In a previous interview, Lincoln mentioned that when creating Prime, she had the “young, hip millennials” in mind. This was evident with the restaurant’s simple black and white setups and the upbeat music playing throughout the night.
I decided to kick the night off with a drink. Prime’s drink menu contains a variety of uniquely-named beverages, including “Asian Persuasion,” “Fashionably Western Manhattan,” “Bubble Bubble,” and “Voodoo Smoke.” I decided to go with the latter, which consists of Roca Patrón Reposado, Apple Brandy, Benedictine, Dolin Rouge Vermouth, and Aromatic Bitters. The Voodoo Smoke was packed a very strong, citrus flavor, similar to that grapefruit. It was sour, but for the most part, tasty. Apart from taste, the drink was beautifully presented. It was purplish-pink in color, with a blackberry and mint for garnishing.
For the rest of the night, I refrained from drinking alcohol and opted to drink water. As strange as this sounds, even the water exceeded my expectations. Instead of water from a spigot or a fountain, Prime’s standard “free” water is actually Fiji Water. At this point, I could tell I was in for a meal of lavish proportions.
I selected the Char Grilled Oysters as my appetizer. The plate contained six oysters with a lemon and slice of toasted bread in the center. The bread had an olive oil and garlic spread, and the oysters were covered with this spread as well. Personally, I’m not much of a seafood eater, however, the oysters were absolutely phenomenal. They were chewy, easy to pull apart, and tasted like chicken. The oysters had the consistency of tapiocas or bobas and were more juicy and saucy with each bite. The outer shells of the oysters were very clean, and not crusty or grimy, like those of other restaurants.
Dee Lincoln Prime’s Char-Grilled Oysters
When it came time to select the main course, I chose the eight-ounce filet mignon with lobster macaroni on the side. I had never previously tried lobster macaroni, but Prime’s set a very high bar to reach. The lobster chunks in the pasta were meaty and had a taste similar to that of breakfast sausage. The cheese in the dish was hot and melted to a consistency that gave the dish a soupy texture. As for the steak, it was very thick, however, fairly easy to cut. It was marinated with just the right amount of spices and juices to allow for a bold, sharp, and distinct flavor.
Apart from the incredibly delicious food, Prime’s front of house staff did a great job tending to me and other guests that night. In her interview, Lincoln described choosing only the best of the best for her staff or “internal guests,” and her staff most definitely did not rest on their laurels. By frequently visiting with me, asking me questions, and fulfilling my food and drink orders in a timely manner, the staff demonstrated how much they cared about the quality of my dining experience.
(Photo credit: Tammany Stern)
Dee Lincoln Prime is currently open in The Star in Frisco.
