Hopeful sign amid a tired trend: Locally-owned steakhouses

As frequent business-dinner hosts, we dread the deathly bore that is the luxury steakhouse, especially national chains. So we're grateful that three independents - Boston Public (234 Berkeley Street, Boston, 617.266.4680), Mooo .... (XV Beacon Hotel, 15 Beacon Street, Boston, 617.670.2515), and KO Prime (Nine Zero Hotel, 90 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.772.0202) - have emerged to bring some local flair to this creatively bankrupt category. We're hoping this trio of upstarts can inspire Bostonians to demand more than just another oversized ribeye and quart of creamed spinach. Might they do well enough to send some of our dullest high-end steakhouse outlets packing? One can dream.