Other steakhouses go for the pomp and circumstance with their décor and ambiance, says Ray’s General Manager Joseph Nguyen. Ray’s The Classics strives to be a neighborhood restaurant where “the quality is on the plate.”

This cool and understated outpost of restaurateur Michael Landrum recently lowered prices and added more bistro-type items such as sandwiches. But you can still get a “great steak at a great value,” Nguyen says. A filet or New York strip, for example, costs $25.99, including a baked potato and green vegetable.

Meanwhile, Landrum is juggling three other restaurants in the metro area, with plans in the works for three more.

8606 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-588-7297, www.raystheclassics.com