A Texas man went to a steakhouse. Then he ordered something that commenters said could cause a health code violation. The order in question? A 100% raw ribeye steak.
Steakhouse employee Dvon (@iamdvon) posted a video with more than 28,000 views. In it, he showed exactly what the fridge-to-table steak looked like at a new Primal steakhouse located at the Colony near Dallas. The content creator said that a customer requested the steak and that servers at the establishment “listen and… don’t judge.”
What Is A Fridge-To-Table Steak?
Raw steaks usually lead to disappointment from restaurant-goers. In this case, though, Dvon and the kitchen staff at Primal Steakhouse were fulfilling a specific request.
In the video, DirtyDvon shows the barren, raw 24-ounce Delmonico. He handed the wooden board the steak was placed on to another restaurant employee. Then he placed it on the pass-through for his manager to swing by and bring it to the table. “He’s gonna walk this to the table,” Dvon says.
In the comment section, he added, “I’ve seen a lot of [expletive] in this industry. Never heard of fridge to table steak. comment your thoughts.”
The term “fridge-to-table” is not a widely known term associated with raw steaks. But viewers were able to infer that it generally refers to a steak that is taken out of the fridge and served with minimal to no cooking.
There are dishes that serve semi-raw or raw beef, such as beef tartare, carpaccio, and Pittsburgh blue steaks. All of those dishes, however, have some level of preparation, whether it be seasoning, slight grilling, or freezing.
‘Directly From Fridge To Table’
In a comment to BroBible, Dvon added more context surrounding the order.
“It was a slow night, a gentleman and a woman showed up as one of the last tables of the night… After a few minutes at their table, the server comes back with this bewildered look on his face,” Dvon wrote. “I ask him what’s the issue, and he says ‘the gentleman says he wants his steak cold.’
Dvon said he paused for a moment to process the request. Then he asked questions. “Ok so like black and blue and just let rest to room temp or what?” the hospitality worker said he asked.
The waiter responded and told the man that he wanted his steak “directly from fridge to table.” And that he didn’t want it to “even touch an ounce of heat.” Dvon waited for a punchline, but it never came.
Dvon said he immediately went to the restaurant’s chief operating officer (COO), who was working as a floor manager that night. He relayed the information accordingly. The COO then went to the table to ask them questions about the order.
“After a small series of nods and laughs, our COO comes back and confirms that he indeed would like his steak (he ordered our 24oz delmonico) directly from the fridge to the table with nothing more than a side of salt and Pepper (which he [also] specified needed to be separate). The lady accompanying him ordered a med rare 8oz filet and requested it be black pepper crusted,” he said.
“Upon serving the food, our staff stood by in the shadows observing whether or not this was real or some sort of social media gimmick,” Dvon said. “He did indeed enjoy his steak, even packing up the last bit of it to take home when he was full.”
He also clarified that Primal Steak house has consumer advisories for its menus. The customer was advised that there was a risk if he consumed raw meat.
Is It Safe To Eat A ‘Fridge-To-Table’ Steak?
The USDA recommends that those cooking steaks reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit during the cooking process with a three-minute rest. Publications such as Steak Advisor, however, say that the act of eating raw beef is relatively “low risk.”
That doesn’t mean there’s no risk, though. Raw beef may have harmful contaminants, bacteria, and parasites, which can make those who consume it sick. Illness-causing bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus can emerge in raw dishes, according to Healthline.
How Did Viewers Respond?
A few viewers guessed that the customer was trying to get the restaurant a health code violation rather than ordering in earnest.
“He needs to sign something because ain’t no way i trust that without written consent,” one viewer said.
Another viewer said the customer was a “vampire.”
“I’m calling the police lol,” another viewer said.
@iamdvon I’ve seen a lot of shit in this industry. Never heard of fridge to table steak 😅🤣🤣🤣 comment your thoughts. #foodtiktok #restaurant #newrestaurant #dallas
BroBible reached out to Primal Steakhouse via email for more information.