Sparks Steak House

(646) 568-4693

210 E 46th St (3rd Ave)
New York, NY 10017 40.7531 -73.9724

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Midtown East (Turtle Bay), Midtown, Midtown East

www.sparkssteakhouse.com

Hours:

Mon-Tue, Thu 11:30am-11pm

Fri 11:30am-11:30pm

Sat 5pm-11:30pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 5.12.12

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Gift Certificate, American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Fine Dining, Private Rooms, Business Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Steakhouse, Seafood

Dress Code:

Dressy

What People Are Saying About Sparks Steak House

Featured Review

Josh Ozersky

Contributor

Sparks gained its most enduring fame when mobster Paul Castellano was assassinated on his way in, but that just proves that its meat is worth dying for. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration. Certainly no one comes here for their health--or the decor, which consists mostly of paintings of dead trees in winter and vast expanses of tables filled with hungry he-men and their dates. What you do get at Sparks is some of the city's best prime beef, expertly broiled and served unsliced and without effeminate garniture. The lamb chops, veal and other meats are also of the highest order, and the wine list…

Editor's Tips

What to Eat:
The so-called "sirloin steak" is in fact a boneless New York strip, and definitely what you want to get.
Know Before You Go:
If your taste is for the distinct funk of dry-aged meat, this isn't the place for you. The meat has a young flavor that tastes purely of mellow-sweet prime beef.
The Extras:
The restaurant can handle parties of up to 150 people.
What to Drink:
Skip the Scotch and go for a lower-end Bordeaux. There are some great relatively affordable ones on the list.
ambiance
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. even the waiter was warm and cordial, and, need i mention, very handsome...come to sparks for wonderful decor, great steak and a beautiful night.
  2. Fantastic service atmosphere, and above all, food!
  3. ull be treated like a king and u will love the decor
  4. Yes it is pricey but the steaks are great and the ambience is what you want at a steak house.
  5. would totally recommend this as one of New York's best steakhouse experiences and the history of the place only makes it more fun.
  6. Fantastic service atmosphere, and food!
  7. The steak is amazing, the portions are huge, the atmosphere is lively and great for people watching and the service is exceptional.
  8. The filet was awesome, the wine was great, the ambiance was what it should be!
  9. The restaurant has a warm "tavern like" decor; lots of wood and good table spacing.
  10. Walked in, the bar area/atmosphere was great; bartender made a mean martini.
  11. decor/persona. I recently dined at sparks over the thanksgiving holiday, and thought overall it was excellent quality.
  12. The cavernous room may overwhelm some but the service, food and decor are outstanding.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. Everything from appetizer, to steak, to dessert was incredible.
  2. The desserts are also excellent.
  3. desserts are also wonderful, wine list is most extensive I've ever seen at any NYC restaurant, and they take credit cards.
  4. Sides and desserts were also excellent.
drinks
86.16999626159668% positive
  1. Great steaks, great service and great wines.
  2. The steaks are well flavored, and the wine is excellent.
  3. The waiters were friendly, and helpful with suggestions on cuts of meat, temperatures (rare vs med rare) and wines (we selected an Italian Barolo Reserve which was excellent!
  4. I've had several great steaks at Sparks though I've been frustrated the last few times I've eaten there that even with a reservation we waited almost an hour at the extremely overcrowded bar.
  5. The steaks are cooked to perfection, the service wonderful (although the wait staff is not overly friendly) and the wine list is unbelievable.
  6. Service is professional but totally colorless, service at the bar a bit better.
  7. Not sure why this is supposed to be THE place: (1) meat is great, but only 2 premium cuts (filet and sirloin, and these are not everyone's favorites); (2) even if you have reservation, you'll have to wait 20 minutes; (3) lousy side dishes; (4) people who
  8. The steaks are great and the wine list is unmatched in other NYC steakhouses.
  9. The filet was awesome, the wine was great, the ambiance was what it should be!
  10. The waiting game seemed to be geared soley towards making customers pay for expensive drinks.
  11. desserts are also wonderful, wine list is most extensive I've ever seen at any NYC restaurant, and they take credit cards.
  12. He recommended some fantastic wine (which was not overly priced) and gave you that true NYC steakhouse experience.
  13. If you be a great addtion if they served some good beers on tap.
  14. If you like wine this is the place for you, they must have had 1000 different bottles on their menu.
  15. We arrived on time and were seated immediately despite a good sized crowd in both the restuarant and the bar.
  16. Walked in, the bar area/atmosphere was great; bartender made a mean martini.
  17. Steaks here are as good as they get and the wine list is the most extensive I've ever seen.
  18. The wine list had many notable selections at reasonable prices.
  19. Expect to find good wine, but no bargains.
  20. The establishment adds to their quality with an extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff
food quality
86.89000129699707% positive
  1. the steaks, you choose between a sirloin or a filet, were awesome.
  2. Sparks is a good time with great food.
  3. The steaks were quite nice -- blackened outsides which I love.
  4. The cold asparagus salad was to die for.
  5. the service was horrible first to begin with second the steak was ok and the salad and seafood was good but i asked for my steak to be well done due to the bussy night the waiter or kitchen laacked to cook my steak properally blood red in the middle i ask
  6. The steak was good, and the service was good under the very crowded circumstances.
  7. went my first time during the week , i was very impressed with the food, very very good steak.
  8. Great steaks, great service and great wines.
  9. The waiters were friendly, and helpful with suggestions on cuts of meat, temperatures (rare vs med rare) and wines (we selected an Italian Barolo Reserve which was excellent!
  10. we dined on juicy, succulent steak that made me feel quivery inside.
  11. Thinking the mid-west is the best place for a steak similar to getting a cheesesteak in Philly, Sparks kick some serious Grade A Beef!
  12. Old school and old relationships do not necessarily mean great food.
  13. even the waiter was warm and cordial, and, need i mention, very handsome...come to sparks for wonderful decor, great steak and a beautiful night.
  14. Not sure why this is supposed to be THE place: (1) meat is great, but only 2 premium cuts (filet and sirloin, and these are not everyone's favorites); (2) even if you have reservation, you'll have to wait 20 minutes; (3) lousy side dishes; (4) people who
  15. Make sure to get the hash browns to soak up the yummy steak juices.
  16. since this restaurant has a good rating, all i can think is they have two cuts of meat there.
  17. Decent steaks
  18. The crabmeat and smoked salmon appetizers were both very good.
  19. the service was excellent and the food was delicious as expected.
  20. great service even better steaks
  21. love steak, and their sirloin was just unbelievable.
  22. Very large portions of great food.
  23. Despite service that can be hit or miss, the steaks are superb, cooked exactly to your standards, and just BUTTAH!
  24. Excellent steak
  25. eat only a great steak.
  26. Old boy atmosohere, prompt service, great steaks and sides.
  27. As the entrees arrived, our anticipation of a great meal vanished.
  28. The food was horrible.
  29. steaks were decent.
  30. but the lamb chops medium rare & 2 1/2 lb lobsters tenderly steamed were superb!
  31. guess Sparks will continue to draw crowds due to its name (and the steak was quality) but the poor wait-staff won't get me back anytime soon.
  32. The steaks are great and the wine list is unmatched in other NYC steakhouses.
  33. amazing steak!
  34. It was the BEST meal ever!
  35. Steaks were delicious.
  36. Gotti saved Castellano a bad meal and a big check
  37. The waiter was very attentive and the food was great.
  38. Sparks serves up the best steak in NYC.
  39. In my opinion Gotti saved Castellano a bad meal and a big check!
  40. cannot stress enough how disappointing this meal was.
  41. The atttentive waitstaff kept the water glasses filled and the fresh rolls were plentiful.
  42. That having been said, we really did enjoy this meal and would definitely recommend for the occaional "splurge" outing.
  43. The best steak I have ever had, anywhere was in Lancaster, PA at JMs Bistro.
  44. What I got was a good steak and good sides (no better on either count than any number of good steakhouses in NYC however) and some of the lousiest service I've ever had.
  45. I've had several great steaks at Sparks though I've been frustrated the last few times I've eaten there that even with a reservation we waited almost an hour at the extremely overcrowded bar.
  46. This Manhattan classic (also the spot where Paul Castallino was gunned down) has possibly the best steaks in the City.
  47. The steaks are great and the place just feels like a steakhouse.
  48. The service is the best I've ever had, and there is nothing like having the person bringing your steak to your table singinf O' Sole Mio!
  49. The best steak in NYC.
  50. Fantastic service atmosphere, and above all, food!
  51. The steaks were fantastic, the veggies very good.
  52. chose to eat a red snapper at Sparks after having too much red meat of late and having had terrific fish at other NY steak houses.
  53. The appetizers, meal everything - great portions!
  54. Even when down on 18th st. they served wonderful steaks.
  55. cook a great steak.
  56. The cavernous room may overwhelm some but the service, food and decor are outstanding.
  57. Ordered ceasar's salad-the lettuce was stale.
  58. It's a good steak, but you could get just as good at other fine restaurants in NYC for same price with a better all-around experience.
  59. The steaks had a wonderful light crust and the meat was melt in your mouth.
  60. The salad dressing was just perfect, with nice and fresh tomatoes.
  61. Awesome steaks
  62. If you want some good steak.
  63. The food wasn't that great either.
  64. Maybe because of its connection to a organized crime slaying it attracts this type but i really regretted ever going there on a Saturday Go to this place during the week its worth a trip to have a great steak but avoid during the weekends at all cost.
  65. Great steak, excellent menu.
  66. This is defeinitely the place for u. The steak was Good as Excellent!
  67. The food was excellent when it finally arrived.
  68. Service and food absolutely outstanding.
  69. Definitely one of the best steaks i've had in my life.
  70. Great steaks
  71. Really excellent meal
  72. This is one of the best steak restaurants in the city.
  73. Hands down the best steak in NYC.
  74. Great sirloin, caesar salad, and most memorably the service was top notch.
  75. The steaks are well flavored, and the wine is excellent.
  76. Fantastic service atmosphere, and food!
  77. Firstly, this was an expensive meal.
  78. The mediocre, wildly overpriced food in a dining room that looked like a basement surely did not help.
  79. Mr. Castellano would have experienced an excellent steak, excellent service, and who knows may be alive today to talk about the experience.
  80. For apps-the melon with proccuitto, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, and the shrimp and baked clam combo were all nicely portioned and full of flavor.
  81. You want the best steaks in NYC?
  82. For anyone who loves steak this is an absolute must!
  83. but trust me--the steak is worth the cold wait staff.
  84. The food was impeccable.
  85. Everything from appetizer, to steak, to dessert was incredible.
  86. The tomato and onion salad (must order it "chopped") with roquefort cheese dressing was delicious.
  87. So if you love a good steak, are past the staring longingly into each other's eyes phase and can afford it- go for it!
  88. The food was just as amazing as the service.
  89. take great pride in knowing good steak.
  90. The lamb chops were acceptable.
  91. Yes it is pricey but the steaks are great and the ambience is what you want at a steak house.
  92. The service is great, the food is great, and the setting is great.
  93. Sparks Steak House has been serving excellent food for a long time.
  94. If you want to have the perfect NY experience (I'm from europe) go there and order one of the depicius prepared steaks.
  95. The steak is amazing, the portions are huge, the atmosphere is lively and great for people watching and the service is exceptional.
  96. The salmon had a nice doneness and was moist and flavorful.
  97. The steaks are cooked to perfection, the service wonderful (although the wait staff is not overly friendly) and the wine list is unbelievable.
  98. get great food, excellent service and more personal attention than fom any other dining establishment in NYC!
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. The establishment adds to their quality with an extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff
  2. desserts are also wonderful, wine list is most extensive I've ever seen at any NYC restaurant, and they take credit cards.
  3. Steaks here are as good as they get and the wine list is the most extensive I've ever seen.
  4. That was one of the most extensive winelist we've been presented with in the US.
  5. Great steak, excellent menu.
  6. The wine list had many notable selections at reasonable prices.
  7. If you like wine this is the place for you, they must have had 1000 different bottles on their menu.
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. don't know what the good ratings are about, this place is etched in my mind as the worst dining experience of my life.
  2. The steaks are great and the place just feels like a steakhouse.
  3. would totally recommend this as one of New York's best steakhouse experiences and the history of the place only makes it more fun.
  4. great place!
  5. Thinking the mid-west is the best place for a steak similar to getting a cheesesteak in Philly, Sparks kick some serious Grade A Beef!
  6. Sparks is my favorite restaurant/ steakhouse in NYC.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. All in all I give it a 9 out of 10, with the only down side being the price, but in NYC everything is overpriced, all in all a great dining experience, and I will definitely go back.
service
80.17000198364258% positive
  1. Fantastic service atmosphere, and above all, food!
  2. My filet mignon tasted more like rump roast and the service was obnoxious and slow.
  3. My friends and I had a WONDERFUL time, the wait staff was very friendly - I have great pictures of my friend and some of the staff!
  4. The steak is amazing, the portions are huge, the atmosphere is lively and great for people watching and the service is exceptional.
  5. The service is great, the food is great, and the setting is great.
  6. Not to mention that the maitre'd was rude and obnoxious.
  7. Despite service that can be hit or miss, the steaks are superb, cooked exactly to your standards, and just BUTTAH!
  8. The service is the best I've ever had, and there is nothing like having the person bringing your steak to your table singinf O' Sole Mio!
  9. was surprised at how crowded the place got early on a saturday evening but the service was great.
  10. The service is awesome.
  11. Service is professional but totally colorless, service at the bar a bit better.
  12. one for people dining at regular tables and an inferior cut for people coming in a larger group in a private room.
  13. The cavernous room may overwhelm some but the service, food and decor are outstanding.
  14. The service was good but that not why I go to a steakhouse.
  15. Great sirloin, caesar salad, and most memorably the service was top notch.
  16. the service was horrible first to begin with second the steak was ok and the salad and seafood was good but i asked for my steak to be well done due to the bussy night the waiter or kitchen laacked to cook my steak properally blood red in the middle i ask
  17. get great food, excellent service and more personal attention than fom any other dining establishment in NYC!
  18. Despite the rough start, the service with dinner was excellent.
  19. Not sure why this is supposed to be THE place: (1) meat is great, but only 2 premium cuts (filet and sirloin, and these are not everyone's favorites); (2) even if you have reservation, you'll have to wait 20 minutes; (3) lousy side dishes; (4) people who
  20. Excellent service.
  21. What I got was a good steak and good sides (no better on either count than any number of good steakhouses in NYC however) and some of the lousiest service I've ever had.
  22. even the waiter was warm and cordial, and, need i mention, very handsome...come to sparks for wonderful decor, great steak and a beautiful night.
  23. We were seated quickly and our allocated table served by a pleasant and attentive waiter - Juan (from Argentina, we later learned).
  24. guess Sparks will continue to draw crowds due to its name (and the steak was quality) but the poor wait-staff won't get me back anytime soon.
  25. the service was excellent and the food was delicious as expected.
  26. great service, great filet!
  27. The food was just as amazing as the service.
  28. The waiter was very attentive and the food was great.
  29. Mr. Castellano would have experienced an excellent steak, excellent service, and who knows may be alive today to talk about the experience.
  30. The service was very attentive so we did not focus much on our waiters ins and outs.
  31. That said, the service was pretty good and the famed NY Strip deserves the praise.
  32. Fantastic service atmosphere, and food!
  33. Great steaks, great service and great wines.
  34. Walked in, the bar area/atmosphere was great; bartender made a mean martini.
  35. Great staff!
  36. Our waiter was rude - forgetting to place an order and then telling us it was our fault he didnt place it.
  37. Old boy atmosohere, prompt service, great steaks and sides.
  38. The steaks are cooked to perfection, the service wonderful (although the wait staff is not overly friendly) and the wine list is unbelievable.
  39. The steak was good, and the service was good under the very crowded circumstances.
  40. The staff was so friendly and gracious, they even came by our table a few times to chit chat with us.
  41. great service even better steaks
  42. The service throughout the night was impeccable and our waiter was full of energy and personality, but NEVER rushed us!
  43. Our waiter was both friendly and knowledgable.
  44. don't know about the other posts and why people waited so long, but we were sat 30 seconds after we arrived and the maitre d was nice, and it was crowded on a Thursday.
  45. The establishment adds to their quality with an extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff
  46. but trust me--the steak is worth the cold wait staff.
  47. The waiter was cold, rude and unfriendly.
  48. The waiters were friendly, and helpful with suggestions on cuts of meat, temperatures (rare vs med rare) and wines (we selected an Italian Barolo Reserve which was excellent!
value
65.99999904632568% positive
  1. It's a good steak, but you could get just as good at other fine restaurants in NYC for same price with a better all-around experience.
  2. All in all I give it a 9 out of 10, with the only down side being the price, but in NYC everything is overpriced, all in all a great dining experience, and I will definitely go back.
  3. Wine list was priced right and offerd plenty of great values.
  4. The steak is amazing, the portions are huge, the atmosphere is lively and great for people watching and the service is exceptional.
  5. The wine list had many notable selections at reasonable prices.
  6. Yes it is pricey but the steaks are great and the ambience is what you want at a steak house.
  7. The restaurant is huge, and busy.
  8. Firstly, this was an expensive meal.
  9. but trust me--the steak is worth the cold wait staff.
  10. The appetizers, meal everything - great portions!
  11. Maybe because of its connection to a organized crime slaying it attracts this type but i really regretted ever going there on a Saturday Go to this place during the week its worth a trip to have a great steak but avoid during the weekends at all cost.
  12. Very large portions of great food.
  13. The mediocre, wildly overpriced food in a dining room that looked like a basement surely did not help.
  14. Not sure why this is supposed to be THE place: (1) meat is great, but only 2 premium cuts (filet and sirloin, and these are not everyone's favorites); (2) even if you have reservation, you'll have to wait 20 minutes; (3) lousy side dishes; (4) people who
  15. The waiting game seemed to be geared soley towards making customers pay for expensive drinks.
wait time
68.00000190734863% positive
  1. don't know about the other posts and why people waited so long, but we were sat 30 seconds after we arrived and the maitre d was nice, and it was crowded on a Thursday.
  2. My filet mignon tasted more like rump roast and the service was obnoxious and slow.
  3. Sparks Steak House has been serving excellent food for a long time.
  4. Not sure why this is supposed to be THE place: (1) meat is great, but only 2 premium cuts (filet and sirloin, and these are not everyone's favorites); (2) even if you have reservation, you'll have to wait 20 minutes; (3) lousy side dishes; (4) people who
  5. There are plenty of fine establishments in this city that usher diners in with a warm welcome, seat them promptly and apologize when tables are over 30 minutes late.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/01/12

Best Stake in NYC

by MoisesCS

Every time I go to NYC for business a visit to Sparks is a Must.

Best Stake, great service, incredible wine and cigars selections.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/20/12

Good Old Sparks Steak House

by Robert76

I have been coming to sparks since the 80's what a great food. You get what you paid for. The greatest cuts of beef around. 5 stars for me.

3 Star Rating: Average

02/02/11

Gash browns were the bomb!

by CSMobileUser3

Not enough stars

1 Star Rating: Poor

01/11/11

RIP Sparks (NO STARS)

by missotis1

Sparks used to be great. But it seems like the shootings and staff lawsuits have taken a toll on the establishment as it's now a complete den of disfunction.

I made a reservation 2 weeks in advance for my husband's birthday. They confirmed the date and time and I never thought twice about it. The night of our reservation we showed up for dinner to find the doors locked and the place closed. Needless to say we were furious. What decent NYC restaurant will make a reservation on a night they're closed?!

When I called the next day the managers could not have been more rude or unhelpful. The only thing they were concerned with was the date and time I called to make the reservation and the closest thing I got to an apology was "I hear you."

I WILL NEVER RETURN TO THIS RESTAURANT. If the staff is this completely incompetent making a simple reservation, there is no way I'd trust the food there. My husband and I went around the corner to Palm Too and had an INCREDIBLE dinner complimented by an amazing, super accommodating staff. RIP Sparks. You're officially dead to us.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

04/12/10

hard of hearing

by Alexa73

the service was horrible first to begin with second the steak was ok and the salad and seafood was good but i asked for my steak to be well done due to the bussy night the waiter or kitchen laacked to cook my steak properally blood red in the middle i asked for well done they brang me medium rare ughh makes me mad but atleast i enjoyed the raw ruberr seafood the only reall dinner i had was salad . sad to say i could of seen a mouse but the waiter yelled at me " we have no mouses "!

  • Pros: great food
  • Cons: dumb waiters

The Details on Sparks Steak House

Place Categories:

  • great succulent steak
  • excellent service
  • great food
  • rude waiter
  • great place
  • bad meal
  • cold wait staff
  • great steakhouse experience
  • great fantastic wine
  • superb filet
  • favorite restaurant steakhouse
  • great restaurant
  • worst dining experience
  • excellent desserts
  • big buttery ny sirloin
  • inferior cut
  • great caesar salad
  • great dining
  • fresh tomatoes
  • outstanding decor
  • recommend highly
  • great setting
  • enjoyed raw ruberr seafood
  • pushy u
  • excellent quality
Advertisement

Featured In

Recent Reviews In Manhattan

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Curry Dream

66 W. 39th St, New York, NY

4 Star Rating: Recommended

Libation

137 Ludlow St., New York, NY

4 Star Rating: Recommended

Blackstones Pub & Restaurant

245 E 55th St, New York, NY

1 Star Rating: Poor

Garage Restaurant and Cafe

99 7th Avenue South, New York, NY

Advertisement