Subscribe to RSS
We always love to dine in New York City. One can find every type of cuisine with prices that range from amazingly reasonable to outrageous. Steakhouses are always a good bet… in NYC there is so much competition that restaurants either flourish or fold. One of the biggest challenges for any restaurant is the large party. We of course waited until the last minute and decided to go to a Steakhouse so we looked on www.Opentable.com to see who could accommodate a party of twelve.
The Empire Steak House which seats 200 was able to offer us a reservation at 8:00 PM. The reviews were good so we took cabs to Midtown and were ready to dine. The Restaurateurs are the Sinanag Brothers who had worked at Peter Luger SteakHouse in Brooklyn for twenty years before being able to realize their dream of opening their own steakhouse. The décor is classic and we loved seeing walls of wines and large magnums around the room. The staff was quite gracious, as half of our party arrived 30 minutes late, since traffic was a challenge for one of the cabbies. Cocktails are always a good barometer of what to expect and they passed with flying colors! We enjoyed the bustling atmosphere as we sipped our Belvedere Vodka “Martinis”.
Appetizers
We ordered Appetizers for the table which gave us a chance to taste most of the starters. You must have the Fresh Oysters on The Half Shell, Maryland Crab Cakes and the Tuna Tartare. Another great choice was the delicious Empire Hot Platter which included Shrimp Scampi, Stuffed Mushrooms, Clams and Crabmeat. We also enjoyed the Portabella Mushrooms stuffed with Crabmeat and Herbs. Everything was very fresh and seasoned perfectly. We were all getting quite full and didn’t want to spoil our appetites for the main courses, so we skipped the Caesar Salad which looked great at a neighboring table.
The wine list was impressive as expected with wines from France, California’s Napa and Sonoma Valleys, New York State and around the world. We appreciated that offerings ranged from large Magnums to by the Glass options and that there were excellent choices which were approachable for those that did not want to spend a day’s pay. The Sommelier helped us choose wines that paired perfectly with our dinners and all were decanted before serving, allowing the wines to aerate for better appreciation. We loved the 2008 Raymond Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 La Crema Carnerous Pinot Noir.
Bone In Rib Eye
The Steaks are the main attraction. The Dry Aged U.S.D.A. Prime Steaks are aged in house for 21-28 days which brings out the flavor. Japanese Imported A5 Grade Kobe Steaks are also available. We particularly loved our Bone-In Rib Eye Steak which was served rare as ordered. You will find it difficult to find a better steak anywhere! The Filet Mignon was also an excellent cut which just melted in your mouth. Poultry and fresh Seafood are also served, so no need to fear that someone in your party will not be happy with the menu choices. In fact, the Shrimp Scampi over rice was delicious. We also enjoyed many of their sides. The Creamed Spinach was our favorite but the Sautéed Asparagus, Sautéed Mushrooms and Truffled Mac & Cheese are sure to please.
We did save room for dessert and enjoyed Apple Strudel a la Mode and Carrot Cake. We had a great time at The Empire Steak House. The service, cuisine and wines were all exceptional. This was a memorable meal and at some point we hope to come back to experience their $10,000 Dinner for Two!!
By
Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives
Empire Steak House
237 W. 54th Street
New York, New York 10019
212-586-9700
