Smith & Wollensky

My friend and I went to Smith & Wollensky restaurant on 50th Street and 3rd Avenue in New York City a few weeks ago and we were surprised and disappointed with the sub-par quality of the food not to mention the level of service and atmosphere. We were seated upstairs in a dining room that seemed more like a cafeteria than a fine dining establishment. But why I am writing is to complain about the most important thing, the food. We thought the quality of the food that we ordered didn't justify its cost. We both ordered the Caesar Salad for appetizers. The presentation was poor and the Romaine lettuce was not completely dry. The dressing was bland and starchy. The Double Sirloin for Two was tough and also bland. My confidence in the steak (not to mention my appetite) was lost watching the waiter struggling to slice the steak, while the rolling table shook vigorously. For the price, it would be better to go to any other expensive steakhouse in NYC.

My Aunt and I were celebrating, her promotion, my new job. We each craved two things; Meat, and booze. She had eaten at Smith and Wollensky earlier in the week and was craving more, she suggested we make our way there. We ate at the Grill, not the main Restaurant, it was saturday and crowded. We waited with our drinks, and by the time we were getting to the Olives in our Martini's we were seated. What I wish to say in this review, is that my aunt and I had an EXTREMELY satisfying experience At Smith And Wollensky. We shared a Sea Food starter, the shellfish was fresh and delicious, savory stuff that melted in your mouth as good fresh sea food should. For our main course we each had the Filet, and shared sides of Asparagus and Creamed spinich. I like my steaks rare, they sure gave me what I wanted, the meat was delicious, tender, red as I wanted it in the middle, a big huge cut that almost made me forget how expensive the piece was. While the asparagus was fine, it wasn't anything terribly special, the creamed spinach, well that was fine creamed spinach. All throughout the meal, the wait staff was attentive, from the moment we walked in, the hearty host treated us like Queen's, and not only us, He was warm friendly and comfortable with everyone waiting for a table in his busy domain. Our server, was whitty, attentive, well versed in the menu we were choosing from. He also understood upon sizing us up that we were there to talk, talk, talk to eachother as much as we were there to stuff our faces with delicious food. He treated us very well, and gave can't go wrong advice when we easily agreed to dessert at the end of the meal. And for godsakes... everyone, please, go try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake! Folks, I don't dream about steaks, but last night I did. My one thought when waking up this morning is when can I get myself up to Smith and Wollensky for more?

I figured it was about time to try this place for the first time since I've already eaten at all the big name steakhouses around NYC. I usually don't write restaurant reviews but after my experience at S&W I felt I had to say something. At arrival we were greeted promptly when we entered the restaurant and we were seated in the upstairs dining room in the corner near the kitchen. I don't understand why they put us in that corner when the entire room was still virtually empty but that's what they did. Up until now things were fine. The first culinary problem I had with their menu is that it lacked any type of good beer selection. This seems to be the case at a lot of NYC steakhouses and it still boggles my mind. Beer is virtually forgotten on their menu. The very name "Porter-house" steak refers to it's history of being served with a dark Porter style ale, but only Bud and Heinekin styles are available. Boooo! I ordered my Sirloin steak Medium and it arrived in grease...overcooked. When I cut into the middle of my steak, I could tell the beef itself was not a good piece of meat because it had very poor marbling and in fact had pockets of fat throughout the entire steak. I could go on about the sides we ordered which were completely unimpressive but I'll leave that there. The prices on the menu are more expensive than most of the other big name steakhouses around NYC but the quality isn't in the same ballpark.

With all the new and excellent steak places opening in NYC, why do people still go to a place that is so overrated it boggles the mind. I've been to S&W many times for business and it is incredibly inconsistent. Sometimes the steak is fairly good, sometimes poor. The service is gruffy.

Do not order the porterhouse or other steaks, the prime rib is the way to go. The steaks were not tasty, tender & were very fatty. Lucky my boss paid for clients but we were both embarrassed since no one really finished their meal. I was so dissappointed I just ate the sides (mashed potatoes & spinach, how can you go wrong), I would not come back here even on expense acct.

I have been to a few new york steakhouses in the past months. This has been by far the most disappointing experience. We were a party of 4 - 2 couples.The steak (porterhouse) was mediocre. The cream of spinach was OK, aparagus was fine. The service was almost non-existent. Wollensky's is way down on the list of best steakhouses. We did enjoy the seafood appetizer, but little else to be desired from this big name steakhouse.

I've been trying many steakhouses but when I went back there I had to say that at the end Smith & Wollensky is the best...