Who has the best steak in Chattahoochee? Here’s the winner of the Ledger-Enquirer Steak Bracket

While nearly every restaurant and axe-throwing venue (yes, axe-throwing venue) around has a steak on the menu, a perfect bite is not always an easy find. You helped us narrow down the list of 32 to one singular sensation.

The Ledger-Enquirer’s steak bracket featured 32 of the most popular steak sources in Columbus, Phenix City, Opelika, Ellerslie, Hamilton, Fortson and West Point. Five rounds of voting narrowed the list down to one that reigned supreme: Morten’s at Old Town.

The restaurant started out with a slow burn, squeaking through the round of 32 with 1% of the 248 votes cast. Morten’s ended round two in fifth place with 5% of the 374 votes.

Morten’s started dominating in round three, coming in first place with 63% of the 313 votes. They held onto the lead in round four with 47% of the 2,423 votes going to the Columbus restaurant.

Morten’s had its best showing in the final round. Up against Hudson’s at Main Street, the restaurant took 77% of the 919 votes in the round of the Terrific Two.

Our polls are not meant to be scientific, but they are a lot of fun and you are sure to discover some great places to dine if you give these contenders a try.

Here are links to the original Tasty 32:

• Morten’s at Old Town 3580 Massee Ln., Suite H, Columbus
• 219 Food and Spirits 5167 GA Hwy. 219, Fortson
• The Animal Farm 105 12th St., Columbus
• The Black Cow 115A 12th St., Columbus
• Bodega 1205 19 12th St., Columbus
• Buckhead Steak and Wine 5010 Armour Road, Columbus
• Burt’s Butcher Shoppe & Eatery 2932-3008 Warm Springs Road, Columbus
• The Loft 1032 Broadway, Columbus
• 11th and Bay 1050 Bay Ave., Columbus
• Mabellas 14 W 11th St., Columbus
• Stock Market Dueling Kitchens 1232 Broadway, Columbus
• Salt Cellar 1039 First Ave., Columbus
• The Cannon Brew Pub 1041 Broadway, Columbus
• Luke’s Pub & Steak House 6080 Ga Hwy. 85, Ellerslie
• Hunter’s Pub and Steakhouse 11269 Hwy. 219, Hamilton
• Samurai Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar 1009 Broadway, Columbus
• J’s Catch Market and Grill 502 Martin Luther King Junior Pkwy. South, Phenix City, Ala.
• J.R.’s Steakhouse 9571 Lee Road, Smiths Station, Ala.
• Mark’s City Grill 7160 Moon Road Ste. C, Columbus
• T-Bones Steakhouse & Grill, 3745 U.S. Hwy. 80 W, Phenix City, Ala.
• Wicked Hen 1350 13th St., Columbus
• Trevioli Italian Kitchen 7466 Blackmon Road, Columbus
• Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse 1808 Manchester Expwy., Columbus
• Q Korean Steak House 2643 Manchester Expwy., Columbus
• Nonic Beer Bar & Kitchen 1239 Broadway, Columbus
• Purge Nation 719 3rd Ave., West Point
• Zen Steak and Sushi 2820 Pepperell Pkwy., Opelika
• Southern Oak 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trl., Opelika, Ala.
• Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse 2496 Enterprise Dr., Opelika, Ala.
• Next Level Cafe 1006 1st Ave., Opelika, Ala.
• Epic 1201 Front Ave., Ste. E, Columbus
• Hudson’s at Main Street 6298 Veterans Pkwy., Ste. 7A, Columbus

This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 3:20 PM.

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.

Mona Moore

Sun Herald

Mona Moore was a Service Journalism Desk Editor for the Sun Herald in Mississippi; Mahoning Matters in Ohio; and the Ledger-Enquirer and Telegraph in Georgia. Originally from West Covina, California, she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in corporate and public communication from the University of South Alabama. Mona’s writing and photography have been recognized by press associations in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.