Baldamar Steakhouse Review: An Upscale Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner in Roseville, MN

We rolled into the Rosedale Mall parking lot and made our way to Baldamar, which sits in its own standalone building with it’s own parking lot. Inside, we started with a couple martinis and the Wedge Salad. The salad ended up being the biggest disappointment of the night. The red onions were very overpowering and the flavors just did not come together the way they do at other top steakhouses. Things improved quickly with the Whisky Sauce Scallops. They were nicely seared, tender, and paired with a sweet and savory sauce that made the dish feel thoughtful and well executed. For our main course, we ordered the Prime Ribeye. It was cooked exactly to medium rare as requested. The steak was a solid cut, enjoyable and well prepared, although it did not rise to the level of being memorable or exceptional. The wine by the glass selection was surprisingly impressive. They offer some high-end red wines by the glass, which we ordered and really enjoyed. It is worth stepping up your wine pairing if you choose one of their prime steaks. The highlight of the night was the Roasted Brussels Sprouts. They were roasted and charred just right and finished with a fish sauce that added a deep and interesting umami flavor. This was the most memorable dish of the evening. The ambiance and service is exactly what you would expect from a steakhouse with premium pricing. It feels upscale, comfortable, and polished. Our total bill with tip came to about $300 dollars. Overall, it was a solid night-before-Thanksgiving dinner with a mix of hits and a few misses. The meal felt fitting for a pre-holiday splurge and what I’d expect from a suburban steakhouse at the mall.