Duo in empire state of mind with Steak Ministry Bar & Grill

The paint is barely dry on their fourth Glen Waverley restaurant, Steak Ministry Bar & Grill. But how many diners have heard of owners Craig Lane and Gerrard Velupillai?

Lane designed the fitout for the New York-style steakhouse, which opened next to Glen Waverley station last month, using timber from Phillip Island trees felled by floods, fittings from an old tannery and metal lights he copied from a restaurant in the Big Apple. His aim was to make it female-friendly. "It's not a whole lot of businessmen sitting around eating meat."

Chef Chris Wade is flipping the steaks, including Sher wagyu rump cap. Lane and Velupillai also own Sri Lankan restaurant Elephant Corridor, Paradise Road (Thai) and Shine Cafe (Italian) in Glen Waverley. Next up? A Cuban-Puerto Rican joint, says Lane, whose mother was a home economics teacher but whose own background is in hairdressing (he also owns two salons and a day spa).

Steak Ministry Bar & Grill, Ikon Centre, 39-51 Kingsway Parade, Glen Waverley, 9560 1818.