When I think good steak, I think none other than the Little Apple Brewing Company. I also think Little Apple Brewing Company when I hear my parents or grandparents are paying. Need I say more?

I have gone to the brewery only a few times, almost always for some special occasion, but I will say that hands down, it has been worth it. From the moment you walk in, the place is welcoming; it's the kind of place that serves nicer food but doesn't require a nice shirt or tie to feel comfortable. Jeans seem to be perfectly acceptable. Whether you sit in the bar area or the main dining room, you're bound to enjoy your time.

The brewery has great appetizers; one of my favorites is the spinach and artichoke dip — a warm, savory combination of spinach, artichoke and cheeses. The dip comes with pita bread or tricolored tortilla chips. The downside is that very few of my friends enjoy artichoke.

On my latest visit to the Brewery, the waitress recommended I try the ale-battered onion rings. These bad boys are huge onion rings hand-dipped in ale batter, golden-fried and served with spicy ranch dressing. They have a crispy texture and were easy to eat. I was astonished when they were served. The downside is that they are rather greasy, but I would have to say they are worth clogging an artery for.

In terms of steak, I've tried a few of the restaurant's cuts and they all have their merits, but be prepared to pay a little more for it. The cheapest cut, the 10-ounce top sirloin, costs $19.99; the most expensive, the 20-ounce porterhouse steak, costs $33.99. The folks in the kitchen know how to cook a steak, which seems to be a rare trait these days; I asked for a medium steak, and that's exactly what I got. The steak came out juicy and with exactly the right amount of flavor. You can really "taste the meat," as Hank Hill would say. I can't think of anything more American than a nicely cooked steak, although the brewery happens to make a hamburger that, for some personal tastes, might give the steak a run for its money.

Along with the steak, entrees come with a trip to the fully stocked salad bar, and I mean fully stocked — it even has baby corns, which is how I really know it's fully stocked — choice of baked potato, baby red potatoes, mashed potatoes, fresh steamed green beans, rolls and butter. The green beans are both buttery and the right amount of salty. I chose the baby red potatoes, which were warm and buttery, and the texture was light and fluffy. After all of that, I was definitely satisfied.

I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention that the brewing company brews its own beer, with five signature varieties — Black Angus Stout, Bison Brown Ale, Prairie Pale Ale, Riley's Red Ale and Wildcat Wheat — as well as several different seasonal blends. Above the bar is a sign that reads "No Crap On Tap." Unfortunately, I'm a few months away from being able to sift fact from crap.