You could say that legendary crooner Frank Sinatra was pretty particular about his eating and drinking habits. When he performed, he demanded there always be Coca-Cola in his dressing room, and when he wanted a meal in New York City, he preferred the veal Milanese at Patsy’s Restaurant. But when it came to his steaks, the singer with Italian roots craved steak pizzaiola.
Steak pizzaiola has origins in Naples, the same southern Italian city that put pizza on the culinary map. The name means “steak pizza style” and traditionally describes a dish consisting of tough cuts of beef that are long-simmered in a tomato-based sauce reminiscent of pizza sauce, until the meat becomes easier to cut and chew. Today, some recipes forgo the tough steak in favor of tender cuts like strip or sirloin and might not cook the meat in the sauce at all, but rather serve the sauce with the meat.
Sinatra famously and regularly ordered the dish at the Golden Steer Restaurant in Las Vegas when he was in town (which was quite often in the latter part of his singing career). The vintage steakhouse is located off the Strip and was frequented by another Vegas icon, none other than Elvis Presley.
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Steak pizzaiola was Sinatra’s dish of choice in Las Vegas
Black plate with steak covered with tomato sauce and salad – Alleko/Getty Images
The Golden Steer has seen its share of famous faces since opening in 1958, but it certainly holds Frank Sinatra in especially high regards. It has named one of its red leather booths in honor of the singer, and when the company released a cookbook in 2017, it included a section dedicated to the dishes Sinatra often ordered, including steak pizzaiola. The restaurant grilled a New York strip steak and served it topped with tomato, garlic, butter, oregano, marinara sauce, wine, and spices, all thickened with a roux.
If you go the traditional route with your own steak pizzaiola and would rather simmer thinner cuts of beef for a long time, it’s best to choose more economical cuts, like chuck roast, top or bottom round, flat iron steaks, or even blade steaks. When you make the sauce, feel free to add vegetables and let pizza be your inspiration. Tasty additions include green or red peppers, mushrooms, olives, fresh basil, and roasted garlic. If you want to spice it up, sprinkle in dried chili flakes or a few Calabrian chilies.
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Dining and Cooking