Smith & Wollensky
New York, NY 10022-6226
Phone: (212)753-1530
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- 49th Street
- Directions:
- 6; E, V at Lexington Ave-51st/53rd St
- Hours:
- Daily 11:45am-12am
Editorial Review for Smith & Wollensky – by Paul Adams
The Scene
Inside the imposing corner space is a boisterous, clubby atmosphere of large, crowded dining rooms packed with moneyed men wearing ties and feeding noisily. The waitstaff hovers and joshes in white jackets, carts laden with meat travel to and fro and the downstairs bar seethes with activity. The surfaces are a bit scuffed with age, but the experience is highly polished.
The Food
The menu here includes sirloin, double sirloin, filet mignon, prime rib and a chateaubriand for two, as well as a host of other beef-eating opportunities. The steaks, particularly the sirloins, are of good quality. A smoky Cajun-spiced filet mignon makes a nice variation. Seafood choices abound, including a tasty tuna steak and lavish raw-bar options. Among sides, the creamed spinach is excellent and steamed vegetables, such as asparagus and string beans, are fresh and simple. Desserts taste like an afterthought.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe all-American wine list has breadth and depth, as well as lofty prices, although it's not uncommon for the restaurant to be out of many of the options. A few by-the-glass choices can be had, with prices that hover around $20.
Know Before You GoWollensky's Grill, adjoining the restaurant with a separate entrance, stays open until 2am every night, serving a reduced menu, and a broader selection of wines by the glass.
User Reviews for Smith & Wollensky
08/12/2008 Posted by mecnyc
This place is just underwhelming. From the giant warehouse-room seating, to the overcrowdedness, to the average quality of the food, to the boasting of the waiter (highest volume steakhouse in the country--is this a plus?). There are many better places to have a steak in NY. Leave this one to the tourists.
05/26/2008 Posted by SouthernDahlin
I took my sister and her husband here for her birthday and their anniversary. I had high expectations, and for the price, I figured it'd be a safe bet. They both ordered filet mignon. I don't eat red meat, so I had the grilled salmon instead. Completely and utterly subpar in every way imaginable. The salmon was not a great cut; it wasn't very flavorful and was very fatty. It tasted like someone bought it frozen at the grocery store and threw it on a George Foreman grill. I'm serious, it was that bad. To add insult to injury, it was unevenly cooked. For $33, it better be one of the best cuts of fish I've ever had in my life. Suffice it to say, that was NOT the case. My sister reported that her steak was decent. My brother in law said that his wasn't bad but not great either. I'm sorry, but "decent" and "not bad but not great" doesn't cut it when you've chosen what is supposedly one of the best steakhouses in NYC. Either their cooks were having an off night, or people with no taste buds are the ones heralding this place. Regardless, I don't care to find out. I absolutely, without a doubt, will not ever return to this establishment.
Cons: NOT a good value, food is NOT good.
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