Ask the restaurant what kind of USDA certified beef they're planning to use in your steak meal. The very best (and the type you should shoot for) is certified Prime Grade Beef, which is well-marbled and provides the juiciest and tender flavor. Second best is Choice Grade, which is less marbled but still high-quality.

How long your steak meal should be cooked depends on the thickness and type. To cook to medium rare or medium doneness, you should allow a 1-inch filet 13-18 minutes on the grill; a ¾-inch boneless ribeye 6-8 minutes (9-12minutes bone-in), and a 1-inch porterhouse or T-bone needs 14-16 minutes.

Before cooking your own steak meal at home, you should make sure that your steaks are properly thawed before cooking. To accomplish this, you should leave a steak in the refrigerator for one day. To thaw your meat more quickly (but still safely), put it in a plastic bag and place it in a container of cold water.