The Perfect Restaurant Steak

By Derrick Riches, About.com Guide

Now it's time to season the steak. Typically this includes coarsely ground black pepper and a coarse sea or Kosher salt. The oil is going to hold the seasonings in place and if you choose to make a sauce in the pan later, this will provide the extra flavor.

Apart from salt and pepper, many restaurants add dried parsley or other herbs to the mixture. You can use anything you like, but keep it light. We want to maximize the flavor of the steak, not the seasonings.

If nothing else, you need the salt to react with the surface of the meat to produce the right flavor.