"The coach's name on an Old Town cellar steakhouse, T.R. Shuttleworth's house-spiced prime rib the draw — book it to close a deal."
When the old Nico's Catacombs closed in 2008, its chef Toby Sheppard joined the businessman Rick Callan and the CSU football coach Sonny Lubick to open a steakhouse under the coach's name. It still runs from a brick-walled cellar below 115 South College Avenue in Old Town, where executive chef T.R. Shuttleworth has cooked since 2014. The house-spiced prime rib, $37 to $67 by the cut, is the dish locals come back for. This is a Fort Collins institution rather than a destination, and it understands the difference: dependable steak, a warm room, and a name that means something here.
The Kitchen
T.R. Shuttleworth runs a steakhouse menu that respects the form without freezing it. The house-spiced prime rib is the signature, slow-roasted and carved to order, sold at $37 for an 8oz cut, $55 for 12oz and $67 for 16oz, with au gratin potatoes and creamy horseradish alongside. The ribeye is the cut to order when the prime rib sells out, which it does on busy nights. Around the beef sit the expected classics: a wedge salad, shrimp cocktail, seafood and a few chef specials that lean more contemporary than the room suggests. The kitchen sources good beef and cooks it accurately, which is most of the job in this genre and more than several newer steakhouses manage. The restaurant carries the name and spirit of Sonny Lubick, who coached the Rams from 1993 to 2007, and the walls reflect it, but the cooking stands on its own. It is not trying to reinvent the steakhouse; it is trying to be the one Fort Collins trusts for an occasion, and it largely succeeds.
The Room
The dining room sits below street level in an exposed-brick cellar, with booths along the walls, white tablecloths and warm, low lighting that makes it feel like an occasion the moment you walk down the stairs. The sound is moderate, conversation-easy in a booth and livelier near the bar at the front. Tables are comfortably spaced, dress is smart-casual with plenty of CSU and business diners, and the room seats well over a hundred across the cellar and bar. Service is seasoned and warm. Ask for a booth in the back rather than a table by the bar.
Best for Closing a Deal in Fort Collins
Book Sonny Lubick to close a deal because the room is quietly built for it. The brick cellar and high-backed booths give you privacy and a sense of occasion that an open dining room cannot. The steakhouse format means easy, confident ordering with no menu to decode in front of a guest. And in this town the Lubick name carries genuine weight, which sets a warm tone before the first course. Reserve a back booth away from the bar, order the prime rib, keep the wine to a solid red by the glass, and make your case over dessert.
Not for
Not for vegetarians or anyone after modern, lighter cooking. Sonny Lubick is a beef-first cellar steakhouse with a short meat-free selection; a plant-based or contemporary diner will be happier at a farm-to-table room across Old Town.
Frequently Asked
Is Sonny Lubick Steakhouse worth it?
Yes, for a classic steakhouse dinner with a real Fort Collins backstory. Named for the CSU football coach and opened in 2008 by the former Nico's Catacombs chef, it serves a dependable house-spiced prime rib and properly cooked steaks in a warm brick cellar. It is not chasing trends, and that is the appeal: a special-occasion room locals have trusted for years. Go for the prime rib and the atmosphere, not for reinvention.
How much is a steak at Sonny Lubick Steakhouse?
The house-spiced prime rib runs $37 for 8oz, $55 for 12oz and $67 for 16oz, with steaks and chops in a similar band. A full dinner with a starter, a side and a glass of wine lands around $70 to $95 a head. That is upper-mid for Fort Collins and fair for a downtown steakhouse. Book through OpenTable or call (970) 484-9200. See our Fort Collins dining guide for alternatives.
How hard is it to book Sonny Lubick Steakhouse?
Not hard most nights, busier on football weekends and holidays. OpenTable carries live tables and a day or two of notice is usually enough midweek; CSU home-game Saturdays and December fill earlier, so book those ahead. Ask for a booth in the brick cellar rather than a table near the bar. Walk-ins can usually find a seat at the bar on a quiet evening.
What should I order at Sonny Lubick Steakhouse?
Order the house-spiced prime rib, the dish the kitchen is known for, cooked medium-rare with the au jus and horseradish. If prime rib is sold out, the ribeye is the next move. Start with a wedge or the shrimp cocktail, add the au gratin potatoes, and keep the wine simple with a Colorado or Napa red by the glass. Save room for a classic dessert.
Is Sonny Lubick Steakhouse good for closing a deal?
Yes. The quiet brick cellar, the booths and the steakhouse format make it an easy room to host a business dinner in, and the local name carries weight with Fort Collins guests. Book a corner booth away from the bar, order confidently, and the room does the rest. For more options, see our guide to the best restaurants to close a deal.